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PAGE 2 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
JAMB to<br />
release 2019<br />
UTME results<br />
from tomorrow<br />
The Joint Admissions<br />
<strong>and</strong> Matriculation Board<br />
(JAMB) has assured<br />
c<strong>and</strong>idates of the 2019<br />
Unified Tertiary<br />
Matriculation<br />
Examination (UTME) that<br />
results would be ready<br />
from tomorrow, April 29.<br />
The Board’s Head of<br />
Media <strong>and</strong> Publicity, Dr<br />
Fabian Benjamin,<br />
disclosed this in an<br />
interview with News<br />
Agency of Nigeria (NAN)<br />
in Bwari.<br />
Benjamin said that<br />
screening of the results<br />
would soon be over <strong>and</strong> the<br />
results released.<br />
“We are still screening<br />
but hopefully, anytime<br />
next week, the results will<br />
be ready,” he said.<br />
Speaking also on the<br />
board’s readiness to screen<br />
results of UTME<br />
c<strong>and</strong>idates from 2009 to<br />
2018, Benjamin said this<br />
would begin after the<br />
release of the 2019 results.<br />
He said this was part of<br />
the board’s effort to<br />
address the issues of<br />
malpractice in the system.<br />
The board had stated<br />
that it would only release<br />
the 2019 UTME results<br />
after under<strong>go</strong>ing thorough<br />
screening to identify <strong>and</strong><br />
apprehend examination<br />
cheats.<br />
The process would<br />
identify those involved in<br />
multiple registration<br />
through biometric<br />
capturing <strong>and</strong> also<br />
address group registration<br />
by some elite schools, who<br />
end up mixing c<strong>and</strong>idate’s<br />
data.<br />
The board said:<br />
“<strong>No</strong>rmally, results are<br />
expected to be out within<br />
24 to 48 hours as obtained<br />
in previous examinations<br />
held in 2017 <strong>and</strong> 2018.<br />
“However, the board<br />
does not want this to be<br />
business as usual.<br />
“Hence the programmed<br />
delay, which is part of its<br />
deliberate effort to<br />
properly scrutinize,<br />
identify <strong>and</strong> address all<br />
forms of examination<br />
malpractice.<br />
“The board will continue<br />
to act decisively with<br />
regards to any irregularity<br />
discovered even after<br />
results are released.<br />
“However, the board has<br />
made it a point of duty to<br />
screen all activities at all<br />
centres via CCTV<br />
recordings, to ensure that<br />
it does not release results<br />
of compromised<br />
examinations.”<br />
The board, while<br />
regretting<br />
all<br />
inconvenience caused in<br />
the process, reaffirmed its<br />
commitment to providing<br />
equal opportunity to all<br />
c<strong>and</strong>idates in order to<br />
articulate their<br />
aspirations.<br />
JAMB said that effective<br />
from when it would<br />
officially release the<br />
results, all c<strong>and</strong>idates can<br />
simply send RESULT, via<br />
SMS, to 55019 using the<br />
same number that was<br />
used for registration.<br />
The result, it said, would<br />
be replied as an SMS<br />
shortly after.<br />
This process, the board<br />
explained, was simplified to<br />
eliminate exploitation by<br />
business centres <strong>and</strong> cyber<br />
cafés who often take<br />
advantage of c<strong>and</strong>idates.<br />
It also urged c<strong>and</strong>idates to<br />
ignore all messages in<br />
circulation on how to check<br />
the results as they were all<br />
products of deceit.<br />
Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (2nd right) with the<br />
Catholic Bishop of Enugu Doicese, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga (middle);<br />
Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Prof. Christian Anieke<br />
(right); son of Hon. Justice Priscilla N<strong>go</strong>zi Emehelu, the Chief Judge of<br />
Enugu State, Ogugua (left) <strong>and</strong> daughter of Chief Dubem Onyia, former<br />
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mukosolu, during the couple's Wedding<br />
Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Parish, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, yesterday.<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s NANS spokesperson<br />
stabbed to death<br />
Some<br />
hoodlums<br />
stabbed to death<br />
Aderibigbe Oshin-<br />
Adisa, the public relations<br />
officer of the National<br />
Association of Nigerian<br />
Students (NANS), joint<br />
campus committee, La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
State chapter.<br />
Mr Oshin-Adisa, a fresh<br />
graduate of the Federal<br />
College of Fisheries <strong>and</strong><br />
Marine Technology, La<strong>go</strong>s,<br />
was attacked at the<br />
Okokomaiko area of the<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s-Badagry expressway.<br />
Bleeding profusely from<br />
the stab wounds, on<br />
Thursday Mr Oshin-Adisa<br />
managed to get to the police<br />
station at Okokomaiko <strong>and</strong><br />
was rushed to the Badagry<br />
2019 World Malaria Day: Mortein, <strong>FG</strong> Partner<br />
for a Malaria Free Nigeria<br />
In continuation of its<br />
fight against malaria<br />
<strong>and</strong> as part of<br />
activities to mark this<br />
year’s World Malaria Day,<br />
held under the theme:’ Zero<br />
malaria starts with me’ ,<br />
Reckitt Benckiser (RB),<br />
makers of Mortein<br />
insecticide, joined forces<br />
with the National Malaria<br />
Elimination Program<br />
(NMEP), La<strong>go</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Abia<br />
State <strong>go</strong>vernments, to<br />
scale up action on the<br />
elimination of malaria in<br />
Nigeria.<br />
Speaking at the press<br />
briefing in Abuja to<br />
commemorate the 2019<br />
WMD, the Marketing<br />
Director, RB West Africa,<br />
Leferink Aliza, said the<br />
collaborations were part of<br />
numerous activities by the<br />
company to end the<br />
prevalence of the malaria<br />
scourge in Nigeria <strong>and</strong><br />
General Hospital by police<br />
officers, PREMIUM<br />
TIMES learnt.<br />
He died the next day.<br />
Yusuff Abdulrasaq, the<br />
NANS La<strong>go</strong>s State<br />
Secretary, said the rising<br />
state of insecurity in their<br />
area is becoming<br />
unbearable <strong>and</strong> the students<br />
would dem<strong>and</strong> justice for<br />
Mr Oshin-Adisa.<br />
“The same road (La<strong>go</strong>s-<br />
Badagry expressway)<br />
harbours two tertiary<br />
institutions, La<strong>go</strong>s State<br />
University <strong>and</strong> Adeniran<br />
Ogunsanya College of<br />
Education, if the students’<br />
spokesman can be attacked<br />
<strong>and</strong> eventually lost his life,<br />
definitely many of the<br />
students <strong>and</strong> commuters are<br />
Why companies are closing down<br />
in Nigeria — Expert<br />
r Aliyu Ilias, the<br />
MExecutive Director,<br />
Save the Consumers<br />
Initiative, yesterday, said<br />
companies in Nigeria <strong>and</strong><br />
Africa are closing down due<br />
to bad customer services.<br />
He made the assertion in<br />
Abuja at a public presentation<br />
of a book he authored on<br />
“Underst<strong>and</strong>ing Customer<br />
Experience in Africa”.<br />
According to him, if<br />
companies must secure high<br />
patronage of <strong>go</strong>ods <strong>and</strong><br />
services they produce, they<br />
must give people <strong>go</strong>od<br />
experience that will<br />
guarantee high patronage<br />
<strong>and</strong> make for high profit.<br />
“Manufacturers, producers<br />
need to redirect their products<br />
<strong>and</strong> services to offer <strong>go</strong>od<br />
customer service experience,<br />
if not, companies from<br />
outside Nigeria <strong>and</strong> Africa<br />
will come <strong>and</strong> take the money<br />
away.<br />
“They must learn how to<br />
give people <strong>go</strong>od experience,<br />
<strong>go</strong>od experience will make<br />
people to patronise them.<br />
Some companies are <strong>go</strong>ing<br />
out of business because of<br />
bad customer experience.<br />
“African’s, Nigerian’s, don’t<br />
complain but they will <strong>go</strong><br />
behind <strong>and</strong> tell each other<br />
Africa as a whole. Aliza<br />
said the partnership with<br />
state <strong>and</strong> Federal<br />
Governments, which has<br />
been on-<strong>go</strong>ing for years,<br />
further demonstrated the<br />
company’s efforts <strong>and</strong><br />
commitment at different<br />
levels in the fight to ensure<br />
a malaria free country.<br />
“The theme challenges<br />
all of us to make a<br />
personal commitment to<br />
saving lives <strong>and</strong> helping<br />
communities to thrive by<br />
ending malaria. Decades<br />
of significant progress<br />
against the disease have<br />
slowed as cases of malaria<br />
increased in 2016 <strong>and</strong><br />
2017. There is an urgent<br />
need to re-energise the<br />
fight to eliminate the<br />
disease, which still<br />
threatens half of the global<br />
population <strong>and</strong> kills one<br />
child every two minutes” ,<br />
she added.<br />
not safe,” Mr Abdulrasaq<br />
said in a statement.<br />
“We call on all security<br />
agencies to investigate this<br />
matter <strong>and</strong> bring all<br />
culprits to justice, the<br />
students will not hesitate to<br />
choose a date to protest<br />
against the insecurity in our<br />
vicinity. An injury to one is<br />
an injury to all.”<br />
Phone calls <strong>and</strong> text<br />
messages to Bala Elkana,<br />
the police spokesperson in<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s State, were not<br />
responded to.<br />
Mr Abdulrasaq told<br />
PREMIUM TIMES,<br />
yesterday morning, that the<br />
students’ association would<br />
<strong>go</strong> to the police station<br />
today “to get full report<br />
about the case which might<br />
lead to peaceful protest as<br />
the case may be.”<br />
about what they experienced<br />
with such companies.<br />
“This is why a book like this<br />
is written to guide people to<br />
retain their customers <strong>and</strong> to<br />
stop customer shunning,” he<br />
said.<br />
Ilias said that Africans do<br />
not want to spend their<br />
monies where they would not<br />
be appreciated, adding that<br />
competitors would always<br />
want to push rival companies<br />
out of business due to lack of<br />
<strong>go</strong>od customer service<br />
experience.<br />
He said that for Africa to<br />
have st<strong>and</strong>ard consumer<br />
policy, the African Union<br />
must come together to<br />
formulate the policy <strong>and</strong><br />
ensure that companies<br />
adhered to them.<br />
Br<strong>and</strong> Manager, West<br />
Africa, Reckitt Benckiser,<br />
Phoebe Larry Izamoje,<br />
explained that, through<br />
the grassroots community<br />
engagement, RB educates<br />
communities on the<br />
importance of hygiene <strong>and</strong><br />
how the simple habit of<br />
maintaining clean<br />
surroundings <strong>and</strong><br />
drainages can significantly<br />
help to reduce malaria<br />
exposure.<br />
Minister of Health, Prof.<br />
Isaac Adewole, in his address<br />
at the event, said this year’s<br />
campaign draw significant<br />
attention to the need to<br />
completely eradicate the<br />
malaria scourge in the<br />
country. He commended<br />
all stakeholders for their<br />
work <strong>and</strong> sustained<br />
support in the fight against<br />
malaria through<br />
collaborations with the<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment.<br />
Why we are sponsoring CNN<br />
African Voices – Glo<br />
lobacom, national tele<br />
Gcommunications operator<br />
<strong>and</strong> exclusive sponsor of<br />
African Voices on CNN International,<br />
says the need to give<br />
Africa a genuine platform to<br />
tell its own story informed its<br />
decision to sponsor the programme<br />
since 2010.<br />
The Executive Vice Chairman<br />
of the company, Mrs<br />
Bella Disu, said this at the<br />
10th Anniversary Cocktail<br />
held by CNN in Victoria Isl<strong>and</strong>,<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s, on Thursday to<br />
celebrate a decade of uninterrupted<br />
broadcast of the<br />
programme.<br />
She told the audience,<br />
which comprised Glo dealers,<br />
publishers <strong>and</strong> chief executive<br />
officers of major media<br />
organisations, popular<br />
bloggers, entertainment stars<br />
<strong>and</strong> prominent Nigerians,<br />
that CNN African Voices had,<br />
in the past ten years, brought<br />
to limelight several African<br />
legends <strong>and</strong> budding talents<br />
who are making a difference<br />
in various fields of endeavour.<br />
These include young entrepreneurs<br />
like Ethiopia's Abai<br />
Schulze <strong>and</strong> legends like the<br />
late Chinua Achebe.<br />
"Africa has always had rich<br />
stories, cultures <strong>and</strong> innovations.<br />
We have never lacked<br />
talents, what we lacked were<br />
platforms to amplify them in<br />
a reverend <strong>and</strong> authentic<br />
manner," she stated, adding<br />
that CNN African Voices, had<br />
"played its part by sport-lighting<br />
a continent that has a lot<br />
to offer to the world, <strong>and</strong> undoubtedly<br />
accelerating its<br />
global influence".<br />
"At Globacom, we play our<br />
C&S Council of Prophets celebrates<br />
50 years of Mount Horeb<br />
Members of the Cheru<br />
bim <strong>and</strong> Seraphim<br />
Movement worldwide will,<br />
from 29 April -3 May, gather<br />
at Orile-Igbon, Oyo State, for<br />
the Annual Mount Horeb ascension,<br />
a programme organized<br />
yearly by the<br />
International Council of<br />
Prophets of the Cherubim <strong>and</strong><br />
Seraphim Movement<br />
Church (Worldwide) Ayo Ni<br />
O. The programme will also<br />
take in the 50th anniversary<br />
of Mount Horeb ascension<br />
<strong>and</strong><br />
Thanksgiving. According<br />
to Prophet Abiodun Ogunsakin,<br />
Conference General<br />
Secretary, the theme of the<br />
part by providing world class<br />
telecommunication services,<br />
<strong>and</strong> supporting platforms<br />
that promote growth <strong>and</strong> success.<br />
And to this end, I look<br />
forward to many more years<br />
of mutually beneficial partnership<br />
with CNN", she concluded.<br />
Also speaking at the cocktail,<br />
Account Director, CNN<br />
International Commercial,<br />
Zara Driss, said, “we are<br />
proud to work with such a<br />
committed, long-st<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
sponsor of a show that shares<br />
our passion about the diverse<br />
culture of Africa. Together<br />
with Globacom, we look forward<br />
to this new era of African<br />
Voices <strong>and</strong> its television<br />
<strong>and</strong> digital programming<br />
that will raise the profile of<br />
the continent’s change makers<br />
amongst international<br />
audience”.<br />
In her own remarks, the<br />
Supervising Producer of African<br />
Voices, Jenni Watts,<br />
said, “it is humbling to come<br />
to Africa to see the impact of<br />
the stories <strong>and</strong> have time to<br />
reflect,” adding that she was<br />
a huge fan of Chimanm<strong>and</strong>a<br />
Adiche who is well loved by<br />
Mrs Michelle Obama.<br />
Among those who attended<br />
the event were juju music<br />
maestro, King Sunny Ade,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Orente singer, Adekunle,<br />
Gold who entertained guests.<br />
Globacom started sponsoring<br />
African Voices nine years<br />
a<strong>go</strong>, <strong>and</strong> has over the years<br />
contributed to changing the<br />
narrative in the world information<br />
order by allowing Africans<br />
to tell their own stories<br />
to the world without misrepresentations.<br />
programme is “Conquering<br />
Faith; The Triumph of the<br />
Church”.<br />
“Today’s church is confronted<br />
by enemies on every<br />
side <strong>and</strong> the persecution of<br />
believers is severe in nations,<br />
said Ogunsakin, who added<br />
that the theme has been carefully<br />
<strong>and</strong> prayerfully chosen<br />
to further reiterate the great<br />
commission which is the triumph<br />
of the church through<br />
the power of Jesus Christ.<br />
The conference will include<br />
keynote addresses, workshop,<br />
seminars, presentations,<br />
games, spiritual fitness programmes,<br />
vigil <strong>and</strong> 2019 Ascension<br />
of Mount Horeb.<br />
Tecno Launches Spark 3<br />
Series with AI Technology<br />
By Destiny Eseaga<br />
frica's preferred smart<br />
Aphone maker, TECNO<br />
Nigeria has launched a<br />
new smartphone series, the<br />
SPARK 3, witnessed by<br />
Government representatives,<br />
dealers, celebrities<br />
<strong>and</strong> the media amongst<br />
<strong>others</strong> in La<strong>go</strong>s, recently.<br />
The phone maker noted<br />
that the latest device will<br />
make better pictures with<br />
bright <strong>and</strong> clear selfies as<br />
it comes upgraded with AI<br />
Technology to light up<br />
smartphone experience.<br />
Welcoming guests, Br<strong>and</strong><br />
Manager TECNO<br />
Nigeria, Luke Pan said: '<br />
We are proud to announce<br />
the release of TECNO<br />
SPARK 3 series. Equipped<br />
with the latest AI Technology,<br />
the success of SPARK<br />
3 is predicted to surpass<br />
that of its predecessors.<br />
SPARK 3 takes photography<br />
to a whole new level<br />
as it is a by-product of ri<strong>go</strong>rous<br />
research of many<br />
human faces. Come <strong>and</strong> try<br />
SPARK 3 series, the AI<br />
Beauty Mode will blow<br />
your mind.'<br />
Also speaking, PR <strong>and</strong><br />
Strategic Partnership<br />
Manger, TECNO Nigeria,<br />
Jesse Oguntimehin said:<br />
'TECNO, as Africa’s most<br />
preferred smartphone<br />
br<strong>and</strong>, is known for devices<br />
that provide premium<br />
experiences at a price <strong>and</strong><br />
value that dwarf those of its<br />
closest competitors, so<br />
without a doubt, SPARK fans<br />
will be delighted to have <strong>and</strong><br />
share experiences with the<br />
new SPARK 3 series'<br />
In its customary way of<br />
giving back, TECNO mobile<br />
also kicked off the 3rd edition<br />
of its Light up Your Dream<br />
campaign through a feature<br />
short film that detailed the<br />
journey <strong>and</strong> achievements of<br />
previous winners.<br />
Announcing this, Deputy<br />
Marketing Manager, Tecno<br />
Nigeria, Atai Oguche mentioned<br />
that unlike previous<br />
editions, this year's edition<br />
would produce seven millionaires<br />
who would be selected<br />
via online <strong>and</strong><br />
offline platforms
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 3<br />
I don’t know<br />
how banking<br />
innovations<br />
<strong>go</strong>t into my<br />
head<br />
— Balogun,<br />
founder, FCMB<br />
By Akoma Chinweoke<br />
Otunba<br />
Michael<br />
Olasubomi Balogun,<br />
founder of FCMB<br />
Group <strong>and</strong> Olori Omooba<br />
of Ijebul<strong>and</strong>, has attributed<br />
his outst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
success story in life <strong>and</strong> the<br />
country’s banking sector in<br />
particular to divine intervention,<br />
insisting that he<br />
just could not explain how<br />
great banking innovations<br />
<strong>go</strong>t into his head.<br />
The business icon, who<br />
disclosed this in La<strong>go</strong>s in<br />
an interview, said he was<br />
still amazed at his achievements<br />
<strong>and</strong> would remain<br />
grateful to God for making<br />
him strong <strong>and</strong> articulate<br />
even age 85 plus, adding<br />
that, day-after-day,<br />
there was a strong conviction<br />
that he had a duty to<br />
devote the rest of his life to<br />
service of God, <strong>and</strong> always<br />
do things that add significant<br />
value to humanity.<br />
Speaking on how he became<br />
successful , the Olori<br />
Omo-oba of Ijebul<strong>and</strong>, who<br />
has reached an altitude in<br />
life that is continuously<br />
shaping his attitude of gratitude<br />
to God, had this to<br />
say:<br />
“This is what made me,<br />
in addition to divine intervention.<br />
At a point in time,<br />
the <strong>go</strong>vernment of this<br />
country decided to set up<br />
indigenization whereby all<br />
foreigners would sell their<br />
shares to Nigerians, 40<br />
percent, 60 percent or the<br />
whole <strong>and</strong> we required an<br />
issuing house to do it at<br />
the Stock Exchange. I had<br />
gained some fame in selling<br />
UAC. “<br />
*Full interview next week.<br />
L-R: Globacom's Executive Vice Chairman, Mrs. Bella Disu, <strong>and</strong> Account Director, CNN<br />
International Commercial, Zara Driss, cutting the 10th anniversary cake of African Voices,<br />
exclusively sponsored on CNN by Globacom at a cocktail party held at Sky Lounge, Eko<br />
Hotel at the weekend.<br />
NUC unveils <strong>go</strong>vernance structure<br />
for private varsities<br />
•Ade-Ojo gives 2 graduates N5m<br />
to start business<br />
By Dayo Johnson, Akure<br />
THE National Uni<br />
versities Commission<br />
(NUC) says it has developed<br />
a blueprint for<br />
the rapid revitalization of<br />
university education in<br />
the country for the years<br />
2019 – 2023. Its Executive<br />
Secretary, Prof. Abubakar<br />
Rasheed, disclosed<br />
this during the 3rd convocation<br />
ceremony of<br />
Elizade University, Ilara-<br />
Mokin, Ondo State<br />
“The development of<br />
the blueprint was thought<br />
on an extensive multistakeholder<br />
base <strong>and</strong> inputs<br />
were sought from<br />
students, parents, teaching<br />
<strong>and</strong> non-teaching,<br />
Vice-Chancellors <strong>and</strong><br />
other stakeholders”, Rasheed<br />
said.<br />
“Data were gathered to<br />
determine our rank <strong>and</strong><br />
challenges faced in the<br />
system in this time, as<br />
well as to seek practicable<br />
<strong>and</strong> sustainable solutions<br />
to the challenges<br />
Nine Nigerians arrested in<br />
US for $3.5m wire fraud<br />
*Two in trouble over bitcom scam<br />
Nine Nigerians have<br />
been arrested in the<br />
United States (US) for defrauding<br />
individuals <strong>and</strong><br />
businesses of more than<br />
$3.5 million.<br />
Geoffrey S. Berman, the<br />
United States attorney for<br />
the southern district of New<br />
York, <strong>and</strong> James C. Spero,<br />
special agent in charge of<br />
the Tampa, Florida, field<br />
office of U.S. immigration<br />
<strong>and</strong> customs enforcement’s<br />
Homel<strong>and</strong> security investigations<br />
(“HSI”), disclosed<br />
this in a statement on<br />
Thursday.<br />
The suspects are Oluwaseun<br />
Adelekan, Olalekan<br />
Daramola, Solomon Aburekhanlen,<br />
Gbenga Oyeneyin,<br />
Abiola Olajumoke,<br />
Temitope Omotayo, Bryan<br />
Eadie, Albert Lucas <strong>and</strong><br />
Ademola Adebogun.<br />
The US officials said the<br />
suspects committed the<br />
fraud through business<br />
<strong>and</strong> the cost implication for<br />
the solution”. Speaking<br />
on the challenges of <strong>go</strong>vernance<br />
in private universities,<br />
the NUC ES said,<br />
“The Commission has also<br />
produced the board of corporate<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernance for private<br />
universities to guide<br />
the Proprietors, the Board<br />
of Trustees, Governing<br />
Council <strong>and</strong> management.<br />
“The document clearly<br />
delineates the role of each<br />
level of <strong>go</strong>vernance structure<br />
to improve university<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernance in Nigeria”.<br />
He lauded Elizade University<br />
for grooming the<br />
graduates “into potential<br />
experts, future leaders <strong>and</strong><br />
next-generation solution<br />
providers in various sectors<br />
of our national life”.<br />
The Vice Chancellor of<br />
the institution, Prof Olukayode<br />
Amund, who said<br />
131 students from four faculties<br />
graduated, noted that<br />
the university lays emphasis<br />
on character moulding.<br />
“Our emphasis is to produce<br />
graduates that would<br />
email compromises, a Russian<br />
oil scam, <strong>and</strong> a romance<br />
scam.<br />
“As alleged, these defendants<br />
deployed three<br />
different email schemes to<br />
defraud their victims.<br />
The common denominator<br />
in all three schemes was<br />
the defendants’ alleged<br />
fleecing of their victims<br />
through fictitious online<br />
identities,” said Berman.<br />
“The schemes allegedly<br />
earned the defendants $3.5<br />
million – <strong>and</strong> also arrests<br />
on federal felony charges.”<br />
The defendants are accused<br />
of participating in a<br />
scheme to defraud businesses<br />
<strong>and</strong> individuals<br />
through several cate<strong>go</strong>ries<br />
of false <strong>and</strong> misleading<br />
representations.<br />
They are each charged in<br />
the indictment with one<br />
count of conspiring to<br />
commit wire fraud <strong>and</strong><br />
each defendant faces a<br />
positively affect the society<br />
when they occupy high<br />
public offices or political<br />
positions in future or as<br />
captains of industry or<br />
commerce in the private<br />
sector”, Amund said.<br />
The founder of the University,<br />
Chief Micheal Ade-<br />
Ojo, admonished the new<br />
graduates to <strong>go</strong> <strong>and</strong> excel<br />
in the chosen careers even<br />
as he gave N5m to two of<br />
them to start a joint business.<br />
18 of the new graduates<br />
had first class, 73 second<br />
class upper division,<br />
35 second class lower division<br />
<strong>and</strong> five third class.<br />
maximum potential sentence<br />
of 20 years in prison.<br />
In a related development,<br />
two Nigerians are in<br />
trouble in the US after being<br />
indicted by prosecutors<br />
for running a fraudulent<br />
bitcoin investment<br />
scheme.<br />
Onwuemerie O<strong>go</strong>r Gift<br />
<strong>and</strong> Kelvin Usifoh were<br />
charged by Ore<strong>go</strong>n District<br />
Attorney’s Office with 11<br />
counts of wire fraud, as<br />
well as conspiracy to commit<br />
wire fraud <strong>and</strong> money<br />
laundering, according to<br />
a report. From December<br />
2017 to June 2018, Gift<br />
<strong>and</strong> Usifoh allegedly promoted<br />
the fake bitcoin investment<br />
scheme via three<br />
websites<br />
Gift <strong>and</strong> Usifoh falsely<br />
claimed that victims’ bitcoins<br />
would be invested<br />
using “unique trading<br />
methods” <strong>and</strong> that they<br />
would maintain a “constant<br />
high interest rate.”<br />
The pair also allegedly<br />
encouraged investors to<br />
transfer bitcoin to their<br />
own cryptocurrency wallets.<br />
Once transferred, Gift<br />
<strong>and</strong> Usifoh would exchange<br />
it for Nigerian<br />
naira. In over six months,<br />
the defendants stole 10.88<br />
bitcoins (worth approximately<br />
$56,391 at press<br />
time) from three victims,<br />
one residing in Ore<strong>go</strong>n<br />
<strong>and</strong> two in California, according<br />
to the indictment.<br />
They also used a photo of<br />
a fourth victim to promote<br />
their scheme.<br />
In total, the prosecutors<br />
alleged that Gift <strong>and</strong> Usifoh<br />
received more than 50<br />
bitcoins ($259,000)<br />
through the scam.<br />
STARS University felicitates<br />
with Ned Nwoko over FUPRE’s<br />
doctorate award<br />
The Project Implemen<br />
tation Committee<br />
(PIC) of the proposed<br />
STARS University, Idumuje-Ugboko,<br />
Delta State has<br />
congratulated Hon. Prince<br />
Ned Nwoko on his conferment<br />
with an Honorary<br />
Doctor of Science Degree<br />
(Honoris Causa) by the<br />
Federal University of Petroleum<br />
Resources, Effurun<br />
(FUPRE), Delta State.<br />
A statement signed on behalf<br />
of the committee by<br />
Professor Nduka Uraih,<br />
who heads the team, said,<br />
“The conferment is a tacit<br />
recognition of Ned Nwoko’s<br />
Buhari asked to give Isoko<br />
minister<br />
By Etop Ekanem<br />
The leadership of Isoko<br />
Equity Group, IEG,<br />
has again appealed to the<br />
Federal Government to appoint<br />
the next minister to<br />
represent Delta State in the<br />
Federal Executive Council<br />
from Isoko nation.<br />
The group restated its dem<strong>and</strong><br />
during a meeting with<br />
President-General, Isoko<br />
Development Union, IDU,<br />
the umbella body of Isoko<br />
people world wide, at the<br />
national secretariat of the<br />
union in Oleh, headquarters<br />
of Isoko South Local Government<br />
Area of Delta<br />
State.<br />
The Convener of IEG, Mr<br />
Silas Buowe, who spoke to<br />
newsmen after the closed<br />
door meeting, said: “We are<br />
here to intimate the President-General<br />
Isoko Development<br />
Union, High Chief<br />
Iduh Amadhe, of our agitation<br />
for President<br />
Muhammadu Buhar to appoint<br />
an indigene of Isoko<br />
Elders take Ekiti Blueprint<br />
to monarchs<br />
By Rotimi Ojomoyela<br />
EKITI Council of<br />
Elders is taking the<br />
Ekiti State Blueprint to palaces<br />
across the state to acquaint<br />
monarchs <strong>and</strong> the<br />
people with the content.<br />
The advocacy kicks off<br />
tomorrow at the Ewi palace<br />
in Ado Ekiti. The idea of the<br />
Blueprint was conceived by<br />
the Council with contributions<br />
from sons <strong>and</strong> daughters<br />
of Ekiti home <strong>and</strong><br />
abroad with the aim of<br />
putting the state on a progressive<br />
track.<br />
In a statement by the<br />
Chairman, Prof. Joseph<br />
Oluwosanmi; General Secretary,<br />
Hon. Niyi Ajibulu,<br />
<strong>and</strong> PRO, Dr. Bayo Orire, the<br />
Council congratulated the<br />
Ewi <strong>and</strong> the people of Ado<br />
towering contributions to<br />
the growth of society<br />
through human capital development<br />
initiatives”.<br />
The statement posited<br />
that the congratulatory<br />
message stemmed from<br />
Nwoko’s attributes as “an<br />
iconic pathfinder, indefatigable<br />
philanthropist, quintessential<br />
facilitator of novel<br />
projects prominent<br />
amongst which is the proposed<br />
Sport, Technology,<br />
Agriculture, Research <strong>and</strong><br />
Science (Stars) University,<br />
Idumuje-Ugboko, with the<br />
trail-blazing concept of a<br />
sports university”.<br />
as minister to represent<br />
Delta State in the new Federal<br />
Executive Council<br />
come May 2019.<br />
“The IDU President-General,<br />
who is the father of<br />
Isoko Nation, said he had<br />
been following the trend <strong>and</strong><br />
was very proud of what<br />
Isoko Equity Group is doing<br />
<strong>and</strong> promised to help in<br />
whatever legal way possible<br />
to enable the group realise<br />
its set out <strong>go</strong>als.<br />
“<strong>No</strong> Isoko man or<br />
woman has been appointment<br />
minister since 1973.<br />
That is how deep rooted we<br />
have been marginalised as<br />
a people. We also extensively<br />
discussed the lack of Federal<br />
Government presence<br />
in Isoko particularly in<br />
terms of big ticket infrastructure,<br />
despite its vast oil<br />
resources contributing.<br />
“On the entourage of the<br />
Convener Isoko Equity<br />
Group is the Secretary General<br />
<strong>and</strong> Patron of the<br />
Group, Dr. Prosper<br />
Awhoregba, <strong>and</strong> Lucky<br />
Okperi among <strong>others</strong>”.<br />
Ekiti for the urbanization<br />
that has taken place in the<br />
city from 1996 till date.<br />
“Ekiti Council of Elders<br />
appreciates His Royal Majesty<br />
The Ewi & his Council<br />
of Chiefs for supporting the<br />
Government & the town<br />
people affected by this vital<br />
developmental process”?,<br />
the statement said.<br />
“The Council is happy<br />
that the New Iyin Road<br />
project has finally taken off<br />
<strong>and</strong> that the ab<strong>and</strong>oned<br />
Civic Centre will be completed<br />
by December all of<br />
which will make Ado Ekiti<br />
more cosmopolitan.<br />
“The resolve of <strong>go</strong>vernor<br />
Kayode Fayemi not to ab<strong>and</strong>on<br />
projects initiated by his<br />
predecessor such as the<br />
New Oja Oba which is also<br />
of great importance to the<br />
people is highly commendable”.<br />
BEDC connects Omozogie-Uteh community to national grid<br />
It was mass jubilation<br />
for the residents of<br />
Omozogie in Uteh Community,<br />
Ikpoba Okha Local<br />
Government Area of<br />
Edo State last Friday as<br />
BEDC Electricity Plc<br />
(BEDC) connected the<br />
community to the national<br />
grid after years without<br />
electricity supply.<br />
The commissioning of<br />
the substation which started<br />
with a town hall meeting<br />
organized by the community<br />
had in attendance<br />
BEDC management team<br />
led by the Head, Community<br />
Relations Officer, Mrs<br />
Virginia Osineme, Business<br />
Manager of Ikpoba<br />
Hill, Mrs. Ekaete Ntukidem<br />
<strong>and</strong> her Business<br />
Head Distribution, Engr.<br />
Mamah, the Odionwere,<br />
electricity committee<br />
members <strong>and</strong> residents of<br />
Uteh Omozogie community<br />
was meant to brief the<br />
residents on need to see the<br />
substation as a collective<br />
responsibility which<br />
should be protected<br />
against v<strong>and</strong>alism <strong>and</strong> all<br />
other forms of energy theft.<br />
Addressing the town hall<br />
meeting, the Head, Community<br />
Relations, Mrs Osineme<br />
said “The protection<br />
of the substation is<br />
everybody’s business. If<br />
there is no light, you know<br />
who to meet <strong>and</strong> talk to. If<br />
you see anybody in the<br />
substation that is not authorized<br />
by BEDC <strong>and</strong> the<br />
electricity committee, he<br />
or she is a v<strong>and</strong>al <strong>and</strong><br />
should be apprehended”.<br />
The General Okae-Don,<br />
Uteh. Mr Iyoha Omozogie<br />
lauded BEDC for keeping<br />
fate with the Community<br />
saying “we thank the management<br />
<strong>and</strong> staff of BEDC<br />
for how they have been<br />
able to direct us in ensuring<br />
Omozogie community<br />
is connected to the national<br />
grid. We also thank<br />
the members of the community<br />
for their selfless<br />
donations <strong>and</strong> doggedness<br />
in ensuring the yearning of<br />
the people becomes a reality.<br />
We now have light in<br />
Omozogie”.
PAGE 4 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
L-R: CEO, Jumia Nigeria, Mrs. Juliet Anammah; Chairman, Senate Committee on<br />
Works <strong>and</strong> a former <strong>go</strong>vernor of Kano State, Kabir Gaya; Nigerian Agent Manager,<br />
Xiaomi, Kevin Zeng; <strong>and</strong> Head, Regional Marketing, Xiaomi Global, Steven Wang,<br />
during the official launch of Xiaomi Redmi <strong>No</strong>te 7 Phone in La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
L-R: Mr. Seun Oloketuyi , Founder, Best of <strong>No</strong>llywood Awards; Mr Tunde Fatuntele,<br />
CEO, Kobz Media; Ajuka Peniel, General Manager, Media Panache Nigeria; Mr.<br />
Michael Makinde, Managing Director, Passion Broadcasting Television Services<br />
Limited; Mrs Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, CEO, WomenFM 91.7, <strong>and</strong> Mr. Tolu<br />
Olorunmoteni, Sports Analyst, during a press conference by Passion TV Provision of<br />
Entertainment Programmers in the UK, US <strong>and</strong> Nigeria held in La<strong>go</strong>s on Friday.<br />
CONTROVERSY<br />
2019 PRESIDENTIAL POLL: The Story<br />
Of INEC’S IT Server<br />
•Facts •Fiction •Myth<br />
By Jide Ajani<br />
If there is anything, or a<br />
combination of things, that is<br />
fanning the embers of doubt<br />
about the credibility of the 2019<br />
general elections, it is to be located<br />
in the response of the All<br />
Progressives Congress, APC, to the<br />
petition of the presidential<br />
c<strong>and</strong>idate of the Peoples<br />
Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku<br />
Abubakar.<br />
Perhaps, whether owing to a lack<br />
of underst<strong>and</strong>ing of the letters <strong>and</strong><br />
the spirit of the 1999 Constitution,<br />
as amended, or a lack of<br />
underst<strong>and</strong>ing of the powers of the<br />
Independent National Electoral<br />
Commission, INEC, “to make its<br />
own rules or otherwise regulate its<br />
own procedure (which) shall not be<br />
subject to the approval or control of<br />
the president,” or a cognitively<br />
distant syndrome that appears to be<br />
very pervasive now, or deliberate<br />
mischief, or a combination of all of<br />
the above, the recent brouhaha<br />
about the authenticity,<br />
appropriateness or otherwise of<br />
some social media content, wherein<br />
officials of INEC were explaining<br />
the intendment of its decision to use<br />
ICT to ensure the fidelity of the 2019<br />
general elections, signpost the very<br />
reason why Nigeria remains both<br />
undeveloped <strong>and</strong> underdeveloped<br />
(depending on which you choose to<br />
apply).<br />
A recent voter education video<br />
recorded before the 2019 general<br />
elections, which has been trending<br />
on the social media, explaining the<br />
use of e-collating officers, has<br />
created doubts about the status of<br />
the Commission’s IT Server used<br />
during the elections. This does not,<br />
in any way, validate or debunk the<br />
claims made as part of Atiku’s<br />
petition before the Presidential<br />
Election Tribunal. What the videos<br />
merely do is to create a<br />
recapitulation of what was said<br />
before the elections as a basis to<br />
either defend INEC or crucify it as<br />
an Election Management Body.<br />
In one of the videos, INEC<br />
Chairman, Professor Mahmood<br />
Yakubu, said INEC “…will deploy<br />
a new platform for electronic<br />
collation <strong>and</strong> transmission of<br />
results.”<br />
In another video, INEC’s Resident<br />
Electoral Commissioners, RECs, for<br />
Akwa Ibom <strong>and</strong> Ekiti States, Mike<br />
Igini <strong>and</strong> Agbaje, gave hints of an<br />
existence of a server, explaining the<br />
potency of same to guarantee free,<br />
fair <strong>and</strong> credible elections. In fact,<br />
in another video, the INEC<br />
Chairman gave details of how <strong>and</strong><br />
why the platform may not be fully<br />
used, citing problems of ICT nonconvergence.<br />
Unfortunately, responses from<br />
APC, particularly Festus Keyamo,<br />
its presidential election committee<br />
spokesman, are only providing<br />
more fuel for those opposed<br />
to the election of<br />
P r e s i d e n t<br />
Muhammadu<br />
Buhari. This, too,<br />
does not mean<br />
Keyamo is<br />
wrong on his<br />
score that<br />
only the<br />
Supreme<br />
Court,<br />
<strong>and</strong> not social media videos, would<br />
determine the success or failure of<br />
Atiku’s petition.<br />
Inquiries made within INEC, to<br />
unearth why the Commission was<br />
denying the status of its IT Server<br />
<strong>and</strong> the election results compiled by<br />
it, revealed some distinction<br />
between the purport of the videos<br />
<strong>and</strong> the actual claims made by the<br />
PDP regarding results purportedly<br />
obtained from the server. According<br />
to sources in INEC, they have never<br />
retreated from the fact that the<br />
Commission made plans <strong>and</strong><br />
procured facilities for electronic<br />
transmission.<br />
In fact, information available to<br />
Sunday Vanguard suggests that<br />
this has been on<strong>go</strong>ing since 2011<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Commission had put<br />
everything in place prior to the<br />
elections to kick-start the use of<br />
electronic transmission of election<br />
result.<br />
However, all the procurements<br />
made <strong>and</strong> the hardware that were<br />
used had been done with the hope<br />
that the enabling law will be signed<br />
in the form of the new Amended<br />
2019 Electoral Act, but when assent<br />
for the Act was not obtained, the<br />
Commission had to downgrade the<br />
full implementation of the electronic<br />
transmission back to pilot status.<br />
What this then meant was that it<br />
resulted in asymmetrical use of the<br />
electronic transmission in some<br />
areas more than <strong>others</strong>, hence the<br />
Commission realized that any data<br />
emanating therefrom could not be<br />
wholly relied on, which was why it<br />
relied more on the hard data<br />
compiled directly in the old format<br />
for compiling the final results of the<br />
2019 general elections.<br />
Taking this explanation by sources<br />
within the Commission, it can be<br />
evinced that the INEC is not<br />
denying the existence of data from<br />
its IT server but is only trying to<br />
clarify that the data that the PDP<br />
may be referring to, in their<br />
reference <strong>and</strong> supporting with the<br />
trending videos, refers to the on<strong>go</strong>ing<br />
pilot the Commission hopes<br />
to use fully in future elections when<br />
the enabling law is assented to.<br />
However, there is the decision of<br />
the Supreme Court regarding some<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernorship elections of 2015, that<br />
the Card Reader is alien to the 1999<br />
Constitution, as amended, because<br />
electronic identification process was<br />
not included. By the same token, the<br />
refusal to give assent to the amended<br />
Electoral Act, wherein details of the<br />
processes of electronic transmission<br />
of result had been captured, poured<br />
cold water on all the efforts to have<br />
it used in the 2019 elections.<br />
Unfortunately, the emphasis on<br />
politics continues to trump the<br />
need for a solid jurisprudence<br />
that would enthrone a culture<br />
of civility in a growing<br />
democracy like Nigeria’s.<br />
Section 52(2) of the<br />
Electoral Act, that was<br />
signed into law some few<br />
days before the 2015<br />
general elections, an<br />
amendment which, in<br />
more ways than one, paved<br />
the way for an APC victory,<br />
but which is now being<br />
junked by the selfsame<br />
APC, specifically,<br />
<strong>states</strong>:”Voting<br />
a t<br />
•Mahmood Yakubu,<br />
INEC Boss<br />
an election under this Act shall be in<br />
accordance with the procedure<br />
determined by the Independent<br />
National Electoral Commission.”<br />
What this provision does is to remove<br />
the prohibitive clause(s) earlier<br />
placed on the path of INEC in<br />
ensuring that its electoral guidelines<br />
are given effectuation, specifically,<br />
in the area of ICT.<br />
<strong>No</strong>w, the question to ask is, did<br />
those Supreme Court justices who<br />
gave judgment regarding some<br />
elections held in 2015 not know<br />
about this clause?<br />
Contrary to the hoopla generated<br />
when President Muhammadu<br />
Buhari did not sign the amended<br />
Electoral Act into law, the absence<br />
of a new Electoral Act couldn’t have<br />
been basis for Nigerians not to have<br />
free, fair <strong>and</strong> credible elections in<br />
2019.<br />
Section 153 of the 1999<br />
Constitution, as amended,<br />
guarantees INEC the latitude to do<br />
as it wishes in the area of regulating<br />
its activities.<br />
Under paragraph 15 of the Third<br />
Schedule, the power to “organise,<br />
undertake <strong>and</strong> supervise” conduct<br />
of elections into certain offices is<br />
listed in the Constitution.<br />
Section 160 of the same 1999<br />
Constitution <strong>go</strong>es <strong>ahead</strong> to state<br />
cate<strong>go</strong>rically that “… any of the<br />
bodies may with the approval of the<br />
president, by rules or otherwise<br />
regulate its own procedure or confer<br />
powers <strong>and</strong> impose duties on any<br />
officer or authority for the purpose<br />
of discharging its function; provided<br />
that in the case of the Independent<br />
National Electoral Commission, its<br />
powers to make its own rules or<br />
otherwise regulate its own<br />
procedure shall not be subject to the<br />
approval or control of the<br />
president”.<br />
Those who granted INEC this<br />
unfettered powers to determine how<br />
best to regulate its affairs regarding<br />
elections appeared to have done so<br />
with a view to ensuring that the<br />
Commission is able to conduct<br />
elections that would be free, fair,<br />
credible <strong>and</strong> devoid of<br />
interference.<br />
The truth that needs to be told<br />
now, according to sources from<br />
INEC Chairman’s office, is that<br />
when the negativity, occasioned by<br />
President Buhari’s refusal to sign the<br />
Electoral Act, cast a pall on the<br />
entire process, the Commission<br />
needed to explain that its processes<br />
were still unique <strong>and</strong> secure<br />
enough to guarantee free, fair<br />
<strong>and</strong> credible 2019 polls.<br />
The question that<br />
INEC is tongue-tied to<br />
fully explain to<br />
Nigerians now is:<br />
Why did the<br />
Commission <strong>go</strong><br />
to town to<br />
promise electronic transfer of<br />
results, particularly when its election<br />
manual captured the training of e-<br />
collation officers - mind you, at the<br />
ward collation centres, INEC had<br />
two officers, one for manual<br />
recording <strong>and</strong> the other for<br />
electronic transmission of result?<br />
Only INEC can answer truthfully<br />
what happened.<br />
On President Buhari’s part,<br />
nothing would hurt his reputation<br />
<strong>and</strong> electoral victory if he engages<br />
a Blue Ocean Strategy to admit<br />
- as did late President Muar<br />
Musa Yar’Adua - that an election<br />
result process that was televised<br />
live, where figures didn’t add up<br />
in some instances, is not the best<br />
for Nigeria. He can also swing<br />
into action by signing the<br />
amended Electoral Act.<br />
Furthermore, he can prevail on<br />
some loquacious party members,<br />
who continue to pour cold water<br />
on his manifest humility, to stop<br />
fanning the embers of division<br />
<strong>and</strong> hate, but help the process of<br />
healing the nation by avoiding<br />
comments that only continue to<br />
divide, rather than unite<br />
Nigerians.
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 5<br />
L-R: Br<strong>and</strong> Manager, Goldberg, Olufunmilayo Ogunbodede, Senior Br<strong>and</strong>, Goldberg <strong>and</strong><br />
Life, Maria Shadeko, Goldberg Br<strong>and</strong> Ambassador, Olamide Adedeji <strong>and</strong> Portfolio Manager,<br />
Mainstream Br<strong>and</strong>s, Nigerian Breweries, Omotunde Adenusi at the Official Announcement<br />
of Olamide as Br<strong>and</strong> Ambassador for Goldberg.<br />
L-R: Emmanuel Daniel, Chairman, Asian Banker; Dolapo Orelaja, Head, Consumer<br />
Propositions, Access Bank Plc; <strong>and</strong> Ashan Abeyratne, Senior Manager, Business<br />
Development – Africa , Asian Banker at the Prestigious Asian Banker<br />
“Excellence in Retail Financial Services”, Awards held in La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
<strong>No</strong> <strong>delaying</strong> <strong>minimum</strong> <strong>wage</strong>, <strong>go</strong> <strong>ahead</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>pay</strong>,<br />
<strong>FG</strong> <strong>tells</strong> <strong>MDAs</strong>, <strong>states</strong>, <strong>others</strong><br />
By Soni Daniel,<br />
Editor, <strong>No</strong>rthern<br />
Region<br />
With the assent of<br />
President Mu<br />
hammadu Buhari<br />
to the new <strong>minimum</strong> <strong>wage</strong><br />
of N30,000, there is no other<br />
hurdle barring or <strong>delaying</strong><br />
state <strong>go</strong>vernments, ministries,<br />
departments <strong>and</strong> agencies<br />
(<strong>MDAs</strong>) from implementing<br />
the new <strong>pay</strong> structure,<br />
the Federal Government<br />
clarified last night.<br />
The Attorney General of<br />
the Federation <strong>and</strong> Minister<br />
of Justice, Abubakar Malami,<br />
who made the clarification<br />
told Sunday Vanguard<br />
that there was no other requirement<br />
on the part of the<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment for the commencement<br />
of the <strong>pay</strong>ment<br />
of the new <strong>wage</strong>.<br />
The minister’s explanation<br />
came amid a report that<br />
his office was yet to release a<br />
certain instrument authorizing<br />
<strong>pay</strong>ment, the absence of<br />
which would unduly delay<br />
the takeoff date of the new<br />
<strong>pay</strong>.<br />
Malami told our correspondent<br />
that the signing<br />
into law by Mr. President<br />
completed the process of<br />
implementing the new<br />
<strong>wage</strong>, which takes effect from<br />
this month (April).<br />
According to the minister,<br />
the <strong>minimum</strong> <strong>wage</strong> law<br />
does not authorize the office<br />
of the AGF to do anything<br />
more for <strong>pay</strong>ment to commence<br />
once the President has<br />
given his assent to the bill.<br />
He said: “The incidence,<br />
operation <strong>and</strong> application<br />
of a law is automatic unless<br />
otherwise stated by its commencement<br />
provision. The<br />
new <strong>minimum</strong> <strong>wage</strong> law is<br />
automatic <strong>and</strong> envisages no<br />
further action on the part of<br />
the Hon. Attorney General<br />
of the Federation, not having<br />
been so m<strong>and</strong>ated by the<br />
enabling law.<br />
“Bureaucratic processes are<br />
not rooted in the action or inaction<br />
of the Attorney General,<br />
legal obligation having<br />
arisen by the commencement<br />
of the law upon assent by the<br />
President.<br />
UNITY SCHOOLS ENTRANCE EXAMINATION<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s tops list with 25,000 c<strong>and</strong>idates as Zamfara fields 59<br />
*Sanitation exercise delays commencement<br />
By Dayo Adesulu<br />
<strong>and</strong> Joseph Erunke<br />
National Examination<br />
Council, NECO, <strong>and</strong><br />
parents of c<strong>and</strong>idates,<br />
yesterday, commended<br />
the conduct of the entrance<br />
examination into the 104 Unity<br />
Colleges across the 36 <strong>states</strong><br />
in the country.<br />
At the examination centre<br />
monitored by Sunday Vanguard,<br />
parents <strong>and</strong> NECO<br />
officials, who spoke with Sunday<br />
Vanguard, lauded the<br />
conduct, adding that the examination<br />
was orderly <strong>and</strong><br />
peaceful. According to them,<br />
no stranger or parent was allowed<br />
to get close to the centre,<br />
as parents were asked to<br />
keep a distance from c<strong>and</strong>idates<br />
at the examination hall.<br />
The students were tested in<br />
Mathematics, Basic Science,<br />
English Language, Social<br />
Studies, Quantitative <strong>and</strong> Verbal<br />
Attitude.<br />
The NECO official in<br />
charge of Oriwu Senior Model<br />
College Centre, Ikorodu,<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s, Mrs Ijeoma Elekwe,<br />
said: “Unlike last year, the examination<br />
started 5 minutes<br />
past 12 noon because of the<br />
clean-up exercise in many<br />
parts of the country”.<br />
Parents <strong>and</strong> c<strong>and</strong>idates, she<br />
noted, who came as early as<br />
7am, felt they were unduly<br />
delayed for the commencement<br />
of the examination, as<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s <strong>and</strong> some other <strong>states</strong><br />
in the South-west <strong>and</strong> Southeast<br />
were not observing the<br />
environmental sanitation like<br />
other <strong>states</strong>. She explained<br />
The Nigerians Citizens<br />
Association in South<br />
Africa (NICASA) says<br />
another Nigerian, Mr Tony<br />
Elochukwu, from Nnobi Anambra<br />
State, has been killed<br />
by an unidentified gunman in<br />
South Africa.<br />
The President of NICASA,<br />
Prince Ben Okoli, said this in<br />
a letter sent to the Consular<br />
General, Nigerian Consulate<br />
in Johanesburg.<br />
Three Nigerians had been<br />
killed between April 6 <strong>and</strong><br />
April 9 at different locations<br />
in the country.<br />
In the letter, obtained by<br />
“Ministries, Departments<br />
<strong>and</strong> agencies of <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
are automatically expected to<br />
execute their own side of statutory<br />
obligations in giving effect<br />
to the law that has taken<br />
effect <strong>and</strong> remains applicable,<br />
valid <strong>and</strong> subsisting.<br />
“This is a law the application<br />
of which commences<br />
upon assent by the President”.<br />
The report, yesterday, had<br />
said that the National Salaries,<br />
Incomes <strong>and</strong> Wages<br />
Commission had blamed the<br />
delay on <strong>pay</strong>ing the new<br />
<strong>wage</strong> on non-release of a copy<br />
of the Act to enable it prepare<br />
that for the examination to<br />
start the same time, the authorities<br />
shifted it to 12 noon.<br />
Elekwe said that the only<br />
complaint from parents was<br />
those whose children’s passport<br />
photographs were missing<br />
on the registration form.<br />
Meanwhile, La<strong>go</strong>s maintained<br />
its lead as state with<br />
the highest number of registered<br />
c<strong>and</strong>idates for the examination.<br />
News Agency of Nigeria<br />
(NAN) in Abuja, yesterday,<br />
Okoli decried the death <strong>and</strong><br />
continued killings of Nigerians<br />
in South Africa.<br />
“We received yet again the<br />
sad news of the death of another<br />
Nigerian in Witbank<br />
Mpumalanga province”, he<br />
said.<br />
“Mr Tony Elochukwu from<br />
Nnobi Anambra State was<br />
shot twice in the head by an<br />
unidentified Nigerian gunman<br />
on April 24 at around<br />
2:45pm”.<br />
Okoli said that a lone Nigerian<br />
man walked to some<br />
Zamfara State,which had<br />
the least registered c<strong>and</strong>idates<br />
for the examination in<br />
2018,was equally seen trailing<br />
behind all the <strong>states</strong> of the<br />
federation including the Federal<br />
Capital Territory,FCT,<br />
Abuja. 75,635 c<strong>and</strong>idates<br />
wrote the examination across<br />
the country.<br />
The registration data, obtained<br />
from the Federal Ministry<br />
of Education, showed<br />
that<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s had over 25, 000<br />
the memo for state <strong>go</strong>vernments<br />
to commence <strong>pay</strong>ment.<br />
The Chief Press Secretary<br />
of the agency, Mr Emma<br />
Njoku, was also quoted as<br />
saying that they were still expecting<br />
a signed copy of the<br />
Act assented to by Mr. President.<br />
But, the Senior Special Assistant<br />
to the President on<br />
Media <strong>and</strong> Publicity, Mr.<br />
Garba Shehu, was quoted as<br />
saying that there was no issue<br />
to be sorted out again<br />
once the President had directed<br />
that the new <strong>pay</strong> should<br />
start in April.<br />
registered applications while<br />
Zamfara fielded 59 applicants.<br />
Speaking to newsmen after<br />
monitoring the exercise in<br />
some centres in the FCT,the<br />
Permanent Secretary, Federal<br />
Ministry of Education,<br />
Sonny Echono,who represented<br />
the Minister of<br />
Education,Mallam Adamu<br />
Adamu, said the Federal<br />
Government had begun the<br />
renovation <strong>and</strong> rehabilitation<br />
of the 104 Unity Colleges.<br />
Another Nigerian shot dead in South Africa<br />
Heavy security as APC narrowly wins House of Reps re-run election in<br />
Ajeromi Ifelodun<br />
By Olasunkanmi<br />
Akoni & Monsuru<br />
Olowopejo<br />
mid heavy deployment<br />
Aof military <strong>and</strong> other<br />
security personnel, the All<br />
Progressives Congress, APC,<br />
c<strong>and</strong>idate for Ajeromi/<br />
Ifelodun Federal<br />
Constituency, House of<br />
Representatives, Kolawole<br />
Taiwo, has been declared the<br />
winner of the rerun election<br />
held, yesterday.<br />
Taiwo defeated the<br />
incumbent <strong>and</strong> close rival,<br />
Rita Orji, of the Peoples<br />
Democratic Party, PDP, with a<br />
narrow margin.<br />
The supplementary election<br />
was conducted in 71 polling<br />
units across eight wards in the<br />
constituency following the<br />
inconclusive February 23<br />
House of Representatives<br />
election.<br />
Declaring Taiwo as winner of<br />
the rerun, the Returning Officer,<br />
Prof. Mathew Ilori, from<br />
University of La<strong>go</strong>s, said he<br />
scored 36,115 votes as against<br />
Orji who scored 32,557 votes.<br />
Earlier, there was mild<br />
drama when some voters in the<br />
area attacked journalists in<br />
some polling units shouting,<br />
“We don’t want media in this<br />
place.”<br />
Some correspondents were<br />
nearly beaten up at Polling<br />
Unit 002, Turner Street in Ward<br />
10, Mosafejo area of the<br />
constituency.<br />
“Don’t take our picture, we<br />
don’t want media. We will<br />
destroy your phone. We will<br />
punch out your eye,” one of the<br />
voters shouted at reporters.<br />
Police officers on election<br />
duty at the unit, who could not<br />
guarantee safety of the<br />
reporters, had to tell them to<br />
leave.<br />
Stakeholders to discuss petroleum sector reforms<br />
S<br />
takeholders in oil <strong>and</strong><br />
gas will tomorrow in La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
brainstorm on the way forward<br />
for the sector in terms of<br />
reforms <strong>and</strong> securing greater<br />
benefits for Nigeria <strong>and</strong> her<br />
citizens.<br />
The event, organized by the<br />
Nigeria Natural Resource<br />
Charter (NNRC), a not-forprofit,<br />
policy institute that promotes<br />
reforms in Nigeria’s<br />
petroleum sector; <strong>and</strong> Order-<br />
Paper Advocacy Initiative<br />
(OAI), will take place at the<br />
Eko Hotel, Victoria Isl<strong>and</strong><br />
La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
The programme is an offshoot<br />
of the Development Dialogue<br />
Series (DDS) of OrderPaper<br />
Advocacy, a non<strong>go</strong>vernmental<br />
organization<br />
focused on policy-related, especially<br />
legislative engagements<br />
that exp<strong>and</strong> the frontiers<br />
of <strong>go</strong>od <strong>go</strong>vernance <strong>and</strong><br />
deepening of democratic<br />
practice in Nigeria.<br />
It is being organized<br />
against the backdrop of the<br />
ding-dong affair between the<br />
National Assembly <strong>and</strong> President<br />
Muhammadu Buhari<br />
on the Petroleum Industry<br />
<strong>and</strong> Governance Bill (PIGB)<br />
which was recently passed<br />
again by the former after an<br />
initial rejection by the latter.<br />
In a statement signed by<br />
Tengi George-Ikoli, Program<br />
Coordinator, NNRC <strong>and</strong> Oke<br />
Epia, Executive Director of<br />
OAI, the dialogue seeks to<br />
consider the economic, financial<br />
<strong>and</strong> social implications<br />
of not embracing reforms in<br />
the petroleum sector.<br />
Nigerians at a restaurant <strong>and</strong><br />
inquired from them where to<br />
get some weed to smoke<br />
He said those st<strong>and</strong>ing,<br />
however, told him that they<br />
did not know where since they<br />
do not smoke.<br />
Okoli said the man then<br />
pulled out his gun <strong>and</strong> shot<br />
Elochukwu on the head <strong>and</strong><br />
sped off in a car parked down<br />
the street.<br />
He added that a case of<br />
murder had been opened at<br />
the police station by NICASA<br />
Chairman in Mpumalanga,<br />
Mr Obeji Chukwuma.<br />
“This look like another<br />
case of Nigeria killing themselves.<br />
This ugly trend of Nigerians<br />
killed by fellow Nigerians<br />
is on the increase <strong>and</strong><br />
is disturbing to our community”,<br />
the President said.<br />
“NICASA is deeply worried<br />
over the death <strong>and</strong> continued<br />
killings of our citizens in<br />
South Africa.<br />
“People are worried <strong>and</strong><br />
scared, since none of the perpetrators<br />
had been arrested<br />
or charged over it”.<br />
He appealed to the consulate<br />
to pressure the South African<br />
police to pursue the case<br />
of death of any Nigerian with<br />
seriousness.<br />
“The South African police<br />
must stop attempting to encourage<br />
this killings by lack<br />
of investigation <strong>and</strong> prosecution<br />
with aim of bringing to<br />
justice every criminal involved<br />
in these heinous<br />
crimes,” he said.<br />
The Consul General, Nigerian<br />
Consulate Johannesburg,<br />
Mr Godwin Adama,<br />
had condemned the killing of<br />
Nigerians at different locations<br />
in the country.<br />
“It is clear that as much as<br />
any form of criminality <strong>and</strong><br />
xenophobic attacks against<br />
foreigners, including Nigerians<br />
in South Africa is condemnable,<br />
the killings do not<br />
fit into xenophobic attacks”,<br />
Adama said.
PAGE 6 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
Anti-graft group calls for probe of controversial<br />
employment at NSIA<br />
Anti-graft civil soci<br />
ety organization,<br />
Coalition Against<br />
Corruption <strong>and</strong> Bag Governance,<br />
CACOBAG, has<br />
called on President Muhammadu<br />
Buhari to order<br />
the immediate probe of the<br />
alleged appointment of Ms<br />
Aisha Abba Kyari, the<br />
daughter of his Chief of<br />
Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari,<br />
as an Assistant Vice President<br />
at the Nigerian Sovereign<br />
Investment Authority<br />
(NSIA).<br />
A statement by the group’s<br />
Chairman, Alhaji Toyin Raheem,<br />
expressed worry that<br />
Ms Abba Kyari’s appointment<br />
is considered controversial<br />
because it “violates<br />
set procedure at the NSIA,<br />
which is the legally constituted<br />
agency that manages<br />
Nigeria’s excess crude oil<br />
revenues”.<br />
“According to media reports,<br />
the position was not<br />
publicly advertised, contrary<br />
to what is expected of<br />
such position” , the NGO<br />
stated, stressing that such<br />
practice at the highest level<br />
of <strong>go</strong>vernment runs contrary<br />
to the avowed posture<br />
of the Buhari administration.<br />
The statement went on:<br />
“Equally disturbing is the<br />
revelation that the new employee<br />
is starting up with<br />
an annual package of N32<br />
million. We have chosen to<br />
call for a thorough investigation<br />
of this case because<br />
a similar thing happened<br />
in Pension Commission<br />
recently <strong>and</strong>, at the<br />
end of the probe, those involved<br />
were relieved of<br />
their jobs.<br />
“Five days after the Abba<br />
Kyari employment sc<strong>and</strong>al<br />
leaked in the media,<br />
neither the Presidency nor<br />
the management of NSIA<br />
has deemed it fit to deny<br />
any of the following<br />
claims: That: members of<br />
staff at the NSIA are infuriated<br />
by the appointment;<br />
that a few of the high-level<br />
personnel privy to the recruitment<br />
initially refused<br />
to interview Ms. Abba-<br />
Kyari.<br />
“We are by this statement<br />
giving the Presidency<br />
notice that we shall<br />
commence series of lawful<br />
civil actions in a matter of<br />
days to compel the Buhari<br />
administration to order a<br />
comprehensive investigation<br />
of this employment issue.”<br />
Emir Sanusi at SUN matriculation: Kano will soon<br />
have quality doctors, engineers, <strong>others</strong><br />
Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna attacks: We won’t spare<br />
anyone found wanting irrespective of status — Buhari<br />
By Bashir Bello<br />
President Muham<br />
madu Buhari has<br />
vowed that the<br />
Federal Government will<br />
not spare anyone found<br />
wanting in the wanton destruction<br />
of lives <strong>and</strong><br />
property in Zamfara,<br />
Katsina <strong>and</strong> Kaduna<br />
States.<br />
Buhari, who condemned<br />
b<strong>and</strong>itry in the<br />
three <strong>states</strong> in strong<br />
terms, gave a marching<br />
order to security chiefs<br />
to, within the shortest<br />
time possible, route out<br />
b<strong>and</strong>its tertorising parts<br />
of Zamfara, Katsina <strong>and</strong><br />
Kaduna <strong>states</strong>.<br />
The President spoke<br />
through Governor Aminu<br />
Bello Masari of Katsina<br />
State, who, accompanied<br />
by security heads in the<br />
state, visited Yar Santa<br />
•The SUN Registrar, Mr Satya Vir Sighn, administered matriculation oaths on students<br />
yesterday.<br />
<strong>and</strong> Tsamiyar Jino villages<br />
in Kankara Local Government<br />
to condole with<br />
the people over recent<br />
terrorist attacks on the<br />
communities resulting in<br />
the loss of lives <strong>and</strong> property<br />
running into millions<br />
of naira.<br />
According to a statement<br />
by his Senior Special<br />
Assistant on Media,<br />
Abdu Labaran Malumfashi,<br />
Masari said the situation<br />
was unacceptable,<br />
assuring that the <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
was prepared to<br />
deal with it.<br />
“We will not hesitate to<br />
deal appropriately with<br />
anyone found to be connected,<br />
or in anyway involved,<br />
in the b<strong>and</strong>itry”,<br />
the statement quoted the<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernor as telling his<br />
guests.<br />
“Peace <strong>and</strong> nomalcy<br />
must return to the the<br />
area, as securing lives<br />
<strong>and</strong> property is the essence<br />
of <strong>go</strong>vernment, <strong>and</strong><br />
failure to do that is tantamount<br />
to shirking the<br />
responsibility of the oath<br />
of office.<br />
“Be rest assured that<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment will not<br />
ab<strong>and</strong>on you in your hour<br />
of need, because we will<br />
take the fight to the b<strong>and</strong>its<br />
where ever they may<br />
be”.<br />
The President, however,<br />
noted that security was<br />
the business of everybody,<br />
more so that there was no<br />
sufficient security personnel<br />
to be posted to every<br />
part of the country in adequate<br />
measure.<br />
“Security <strong>and</strong> the maintenance<br />
of law <strong>and</strong> order<br />
are beyond the capacity<br />
of the men <strong>and</strong> officers of<br />
the security agencies.<br />
Therefore, there is the<br />
need for everyone, especially<br />
leaders in the society,<br />
to contribute towards<br />
ensuring the safety <strong>and</strong><br />
security of their respective<br />
environment” , Buhari<br />
said.<br />
By Abdulmumin<br />
Murtala, Kano<br />
Skyline University Nige<br />
ria, SUN, the first private<br />
university in<br />
Kano,yesterday, matriculated<br />
82 pioneer students.<br />
The students were admitted<br />
into various bachelors’<br />
degree programmes in the<br />
School of Arts Management<br />
& Social Sciences,<br />
SAMSS, as well as the<br />
School of Sciences & Information<br />
Technology, SSIT,<br />
based on the requirements<br />
of the National Universities<br />
Commission, NUC.<br />
The Vice-Chancellor,<br />
Prof Sudhakar Kota, in his<br />
address during the maiden<br />
matriculation ceremony,<br />
held at the university premises,<br />
challenged the students<br />
to take advantage of<br />
the opportunity to become<br />
successful.<br />
“The 2018/2019 academic<br />
year is indeed a <strong>go</strong>od start<br />
for Skyline University Nigeria”,<br />
Kota said.<br />
He urged the students<br />
to make the best out of the<br />
university, saying, “SUN<br />
has given assurance to<br />
provide you with quality<br />
inputs, technological integration,<br />
learning resources<br />
<strong>and</strong> use internationally<br />
accepted peda<strong>go</strong>gies<br />
that will enhance<br />
your knowledge, skills<br />
<strong>and</strong> competencies with<br />
values”.<br />
The Vice Chancellor disclosed<br />
that the university<br />
will provide programmes<br />
on legal studies, engineering<br />
<strong>and</strong> basic medical<br />
courses that are in dire<br />
need in Nigeria <strong>and</strong><br />
across the world.<br />
Kota told the students<br />
that it will not be an easy<br />
ride, but stressed the university’s<br />
commitment to<br />
ensuring that they are<br />
comfortable <strong>and</strong> attain<br />
their dreams at the end<br />
of it all. He affirmed the<br />
university’s commitment<br />
to the protection of the<br />
environment <strong>and</strong><br />
charged the students to<br />
contribute to transforming<br />
SUN to green <strong>and</strong> sustainable<br />
campuses.<br />
In his remarks, the special<br />
guest of honour, the<br />
Emir of Kano, Muhammadu<br />
Sanusi II, encouraged<br />
Kano residents to<br />
apply to the university in<br />
view of its global st<strong>and</strong>ards.<br />
He expressed optimism<br />
that Kano would soon get<br />
more quality doctors <strong>and</strong><br />
engineers after graduating<br />
from the institution.<br />
Insecurity: Ortom calls for fasting <strong>and</strong><br />
prayers<br />
By Peter Duru, Makurdi<br />
Benue State <strong>go</strong>ver<br />
nor, Mr. Samuel<br />
Ortom, has appealed to<br />
the people of the state to<br />
fast <strong>and</strong> pray against<br />
what he described as<br />
evil forces behind bloodshed<br />
<strong>and</strong> destruction of<br />
property in the l<strong>and</strong>.<br />
He also urged the people<br />
to participate in a<br />
one-week prayer <strong>and</strong><br />
fasting programme organized<br />
by the Christian<br />
Association of Nigeria,<br />
CAN, in conjunction<br />
with the state <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
starting next tomorrow.<br />
The <strong>go</strong>vernor, who<br />
spoke, yesterday, at the<br />
NKST Church, Iortyer,<br />
in Makurdi during the<br />
wedding of Mimi Terhemba<br />
<strong>and</strong> Tavershima<br />
Amase, stressed that<br />
God had, severally in the<br />
past, answered the<br />
prayers of the people of<br />
the state during challenging<br />
times.<br />
“We must therefore collectively<br />
approach the<br />
throne of grace by <strong>go</strong>ing<br />
into sincere prayers coupled<br />
with repentance<br />
<strong>and</strong> sustained fasting<br />
particularly against the<br />
rising wave of crime because<br />
such problems<br />
emanate from the spiritual<br />
realm,” Ortom said.<br />
While commending<br />
the church for playing a<br />
pivotal role in his reelection<br />
during the last<br />
general elections, he<br />
pledged to provide quality<br />
leadership that would<br />
uplift the fortunes of the<br />
state.
SUNDAY, Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 7<br />
The couple: Temitope Ademiju <strong>and</strong> his<br />
wife, Omoyeni Oluwapelumi<br />
Pomp as NPAN Secretar<br />
tary’s<br />
daughter weds<br />
IT was pomp <strong>and</strong> pageantry when Omoyeni<br />
Oluwapelumi, daughter of Elder Feyi Smith, the Executive<br />
Secretary of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria<br />
(NPAN), wedded her heartthrob, Temitope Ademiju, son of Pastor<br />
Olukayode Adeyanju penultimate Saturday, in La<strong>go</strong>s. The couple<br />
took their oaths at The Redeemed Christian Church of God,<br />
Fountain of Life Sanctuary, Ikeja Industrial Estate, Ikeja, La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
Photos: Bunmi Azeez<br />
Vanguard’s reporter<br />
er,<br />
Providence<br />
Emmanuel, weds<br />
VANGUARD’S business reporter, Providence<br />
Emmanuel, has signed off her maiden name<br />
to become Mrs. Adeyinka after being joined<br />
in Holy Matrimony with her heartthrob,<br />
Idowu Amos Adeyinka.<br />
The wedlock, which was witnessed by the<br />
families, friends <strong>and</strong> colleagues of the couple,<br />
took place at The Apostolic Church Nigeria,<br />
Morogbo Area Headquarters, Agbara, La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
State on Saturday, April 6, 2019. Photos by<br />
Lamidi Bamidele<br />
L-R: Funmi Ogundeji, Blessing Ajetunmobi <strong>and</strong><br />
Maryjane Ogezi.<br />
Elder Feyi Smith, bride's father; Mr. U<strong>go</strong><br />
Onuoha, former Editor, Champion Newspapers<br />
<strong>and</strong> Mr. Oladiran Smith.<br />
Mr. Olaleye Adeyinka, representing the father<br />
of the groom; Deaconess Theresa<br />
Emmanuel, bride's mother; Mr <strong>and</strong> Mrs<br />
Idowu Amos Adeyinka, (the couple); Mrs<br />
Alice Adeyinka, groom's mother <strong>and</strong> Overseer<br />
Emmanuel Orisi Emmanuel, bride's father<br />
L-R: Pastor Libert Nasamu, his wife<br />
Pastor[Mrs] Bisola <strong>and</strong> Mrs. Wumi Adedo.<br />
L-R: Mrs. Nihinlolamiwa Smith, Mr. Oladiran Smith<br />
<strong>and</strong> Pastor Oluwaseyi Smith.<br />
Kelly Ejimofo <strong>and</strong> Jesse Dati wed<br />
The wedding ceremony between Miss Kelly Ejimofo, <strong>and</strong> Mr Jesse Dati was held at ECWA Church, Jos<br />
L-R: Pastor Jeremiah Olusegun Akinwusi,<br />
Superintendent, The Apostolic Church<br />
Nigeria, Morogbo Area; Mr Olaleye<br />
Adeyinka, representing groom's father; Mr<br />
Oji Joshua <strong>and</strong> Overseer Emmanuel Orisi<br />
Emmanuel, bride's father .<br />
Mr <strong>and</strong> Mrs Jesse Dajen Dati , receiving thier wedding<br />
certificate from the President of ECWA , Rev Stephen<br />
Panya Baba<br />
WMD: Nigeria accounts for 32 per cent of global<br />
malaria deaths — LAPO<br />
By Esther Onyegbula<br />
<strong>No</strong>n-Governmental Or<br />
A ganisation, the Lift<br />
Above Poverty Organisation<br />
(LAPO), says Nigeria accounts<br />
for 32 per cent of the global<br />
estimate of 655,000 malaria<br />
deaths annually with 97 per<br />
cent of the population at risk<br />
of the disease.<br />
The Chief Executive Officer,<br />
LAPO NGO, Ms Sabina Idowu-Osehobo,<br />
made the disclosure<br />
while speaking at the<br />
2019 World Malaria Day<br />
(WMD)programme organised<br />
by the organisation at Akinola/Ifesewapo<br />
Community,<br />
Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA in<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
Idowu-Osehobo, represented<br />
by Mrs S<strong>and</strong>ra Asowata,<br />
Regional Officer, LAPO La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
2 Region, noted that LAPO<br />
was pleased to be a key stakeholder<br />
promoting efforts towards<br />
a zero-Malaria prevalence<br />
in Nigeria.<br />
She said: “Malaria disease<br />
has significant impact on national<br />
economic development<br />
<strong>and</strong> household income.<br />
“Malaria constitutes a huge<br />
epidemiologic burden in Africa<br />
<strong>and</strong> continues to cripple<br />
the economic development in<br />
the region.<br />
“Malaria remains an important<br />
cause of morbidity<br />
<strong>and</strong> mortality in Nigeria with<br />
all year transmission <strong>and</strong> 97<br />
per cent of the population at<br />
risk.<br />
“Nigeria also accounts for<br />
32 per cent of the global estimate<br />
of 655,000 malaria<br />
deaths annually. Malaria victims<br />
are mostly pregnant<br />
women with their unborn babies<br />
<strong>and</strong> children below the<br />
age of five years.”<br />
Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, Deputy Governor-elect of Nassarawa State,<br />
Mrs. Tosan Akabe, with the couple, Miss Kelly Ejimofo <strong>and</strong> Mr.<br />
Jesse Dati, son of Plateau State Commissioner of Information, Hon<br />
Yakubu Dati.<br />
*Dignitaries during the World Malaria Day programme organised<br />
by LAPO.<br />
According to her, Malaria<br />
is responsible for 60 per cent<br />
of outpatient visits to health<br />
facilities, 30 per cent of<br />
childhood death, 25 per cent<br />
of death in children under one<br />
year <strong>and</strong> 11 per cent of<br />
maternal death in Nigeria.<br />
Idowu-Osehobo noted that<br />
Malaria was a major cause<br />
of increasing household poverty<br />
<strong>and</strong> slow phase of national development<br />
as over N132 billion was expended<br />
annually on treatment costs,<br />
prevention <strong>and</strong> loss of man-hours.<br />
On his part, the Baale of Ifesowapo/<br />
Akinola Kingdom, Chief Amos Akinola,<br />
Otatu 1, thanked LAPO for extending<br />
the anti-malaria sensitisation<br />
to the community <strong>and</strong> also for distributing<br />
free insecticidal treated nets<br />
to his people.<br />
L-R: Mr Babajide Komolafe, Deputy Business<br />
Editor; Mr Tony Ubani, Group Sports<br />
Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; a guest, <strong>and</strong><br />
Mr. Bonny Asieba.<br />
L-R: Pastor Olayooye Samson, General<br />
Overseer, Tabernacle of Safety Church,<br />
Goshen Camp, Igbesa; his wife, Favour;<br />
Overseer Emmanuel Orisi Emmanuel, bride's<br />
father <strong>and</strong> Mr. Hassan Balogun, Admin Manager,<br />
Vanguard Newspapers.
PAGE 8 — SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
08112662589<br />
Are men who deny paternity cowards?<br />
When Bukky’s husb<strong>and</strong> died<br />
suddenly of a heart attack<br />
tude was touching, refusing the<br />
in his early 60s, she was inconsolable.<br />
They’d been inseparable over<br />
out of the door. “That was my<br />
offered refreshments, he bolted<br />
the decades <strong>and</strong> the obituary she<br />
half-brother” Wemi, my relative<br />
put in the papers would draw tears<br />
told me, “But my mum knows<br />
from a sadist’s eyes. She cut a pitiable<br />
figure as her husb<strong>and</strong> laid in<br />
the last person to tell her’.<br />
nothing about him, <strong>and</strong> I will be<br />
state in the beautiful expensive<br />
Apparently, Wemi’s mum is the<br />
casket she had insisted he bought.<br />
type who has a tight control over<br />
As sympathisers filed past the<br />
her husb<strong>and</strong>. He’d promised her<br />
corpse, a little boy of about ten<br />
when they <strong>go</strong>t married that he<br />
stood rooted to the spot, gazing<br />
would never take a second wife.<br />
with the morbid fascination children<br />
have for the dead. The<br />
have children by other women?<br />
But did that mean he would never<br />
widow was now curious. “Whose<br />
Wemi was just 15 when her halfbrother<br />
was born. “My dad never<br />
child is that?”<br />
She wanted to know thinking<br />
acknowledge him publicly for<br />
he might be a relative’s child.<br />
fear mum would leave him”, she<br />
<strong>No</strong>body offered an answer in<br />
said. “As a matter of fact, I was<br />
spite of the fact that she could be<br />
the lad who came to introduce<br />
heard loud <strong>and</strong> clear. That really<br />
himself to me when he <strong>go</strong>t admission<br />
into a polytechnic <strong>and</strong><br />
made her suspicious. She then<br />
asked one of her daughters to<br />
his mother couldn’t afford the<br />
find out who the little boy was.<br />
fees. He was a spitting image of<br />
The daughter shrugged <strong>and</strong> told<br />
my dad too <strong>and</strong> I promised to see<br />
her mother they would discuss<br />
him through his higher education.<br />
Since then, he’d always been<br />
the matter later. That she knew<br />
who the boy was.<br />
there for me whenever I want<br />
time for heaven’s sake. Everyone tell me of the existence of a wife<br />
She quickly for<strong>go</strong>t her grief<br />
anything done – unlike my full<br />
has their skeletons rattling in the with whom he had a child who<br />
<strong>and</strong> comported herself. Were<br />
siblings.<br />
cupboard <strong>and</strong> I would have preferred<br />
my late husb<strong>and</strong> to tell me children”. Wouldn’t it have saved<br />
was as precious to him as my<br />
people laughing at her show of<br />
“When I asked dad about him,<br />
deep bereavement, knowing of he<br />
he looked a bit frightened. He<br />
about the existence of a child a lot of people unnecessary<br />
little boy’s presence <strong>and</strong> probably<br />
her mother’s? Or do they<br />
but when I told him that I’d al-<br />
pleaded I shouldn’t tell my mum<br />
rather than find out in this cruel heartaches if Bukky’s husb<strong>and</strong><br />
way. I mean you can imagine how had come clean about his other<br />
feel sorry for her? Talk about the<br />
ready agreed to see the poor lads<br />
desperate he boy’s mother would child before he died? And poor<br />
wife being the last to know! But<br />
through school, he was so pathetically<br />
grateful that I felt sorry<br />
have been to <strong>pay</strong> his last respect Bukky’s daughter was so afraid<br />
did that make her departed husb<strong>and</strong><br />
any less the wonderful hus-<br />
for him. Why was he hiding the<br />
to his father.<br />
to tell her mum about her halfbrother<br />
for fear of what? Some<br />
“She’d carefully dressed him up<br />
b<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> father she remembered<br />
child? What about the poor boy’s<br />
in his best suit <strong>and</strong> the boy had years back, I was with a relation<br />
him to be?<br />
mother? I later learnt she hadn’t<br />
obviously been schooled not to when she had this male visitor<br />
“That’s hardly the point, is it?<br />
married well <strong>and</strong> her three other<br />
utter a word. He just stared. I who looked a bit apologetic<br />
She said heatedly a few days after<br />
the funeral. “He succeeded in<br />
my half-brother. A little financial<br />
children weren’t better off than<br />
will never forget that scene as long when he was ushered in. He’d<br />
as I live. It is sad that we were obviously discussed money matters<br />
with her as she presented him<br />
deceiving me over he years.<br />
help from dad from time to time<br />
married for so long without my<br />
Things like this happen all of the<br />
would have made a lot of difference.<br />
The thing is dad had<br />
husb<strong>and</strong> trusting me enough to with a fat envelope. His grati-<br />
been<br />
in trouble with the law once <strong>and</strong><br />
it was mum’s family that bailed<br />
him out. But that doesn’t mean<br />
he has to be grateful to her for<br />
the rest of his life.”<br />
Wemi’s dad finally kicked the<br />
bucket early this year <strong>and</strong> the<br />
truth was out when the obituary<br />
came out with the man’s name<br />
as the third child. He’s done well<br />
at school <strong>and</strong> has a very <strong>go</strong>od<br />
businesses selling cell phones<br />
<strong>and</strong> SIM cards to various outlets<br />
all over the place.” Mum<br />
pretended to be shocked at first”,<br />
Wemi said. “But I had this feeling<br />
she knew all along about this<br />
man (you can hardly call him a<br />
boy now!)<br />
He formally met mum before<br />
the funeral but came the day of<br />
the funeral reception, his table<br />
was impressive. It was with pride<br />
that I poached choice wine <strong>and</strong><br />
food from his wife who showed<br />
me more respect than my siblings<br />
<strong>and</strong> their partners! I was<br />
proud of the difference I made<br />
in his life.<br />
“I wish dad were alive to see<br />
how well turned out his secret<br />
son had been. He knew he was<br />
doing well, but he would never<br />
guess it was well enough to almost<br />
outshine his other `legitimate’<br />
children. <strong>No</strong>body gives a<br />
damn these days how you have<br />
your child or with whom as long<br />
as that child is not delinquent!”<br />
Thankfully, as far as the law<br />
<strong>go</strong>es now, there’s no ‘illegitimate’<br />
child as long as such child is acknowledged<br />
by its dad. This will<br />
surely bring some sanity to inheritance<br />
law <strong>and</strong> the right of the<br />
‘other’ child.<br />
Sex, Marriage And Relationship<br />
– A Practical Guide<br />
oday I am yielding this<br />
Tcolumn for an excerpt from<br />
the book, Sex, Relationship &<br />
Marriage: What Your Mother<br />
Didn’t Tell You. This unputdownable<br />
book is authored by Ade<br />
Ebimomi, the CEO of FDIB Limited.<br />
Ade, a friend of over three decades,<br />
is a very brilliant <strong>and</strong> successful<br />
investment broker <strong>and</strong><br />
Consulting Economist with specialities<br />
in Development Economics<br />
<strong>and</strong> Foreign Direct Investment.<br />
A straight-talking individual<br />
<strong>and</strong> a compulsive writer,<br />
Ade does not limit himself in any<br />
way. I have read a lot of his writings<br />
- from politics to economics<br />
– <strong>and</strong> I am always amazed at the<br />
clarity of his thoughts <strong>and</strong> ideas.<br />
Below is a cut from Chapter 13<br />
of the book, titled – Do <strong>No</strong>t Be In<br />
A Hurry, Guys. Ade asks a few<br />
questions on why society puts too<br />
much pressure on newly wedded<br />
couples to have children. Enjoy<br />
the excerpt -<br />
One of the felicitations friends<br />
<strong>and</strong> family kept sending my way<br />
after my daughter's wedding was,<br />
"Congrats! You will soon become<br />
a gr<strong>and</strong>pa".<br />
While this message is obviously<br />
a beautiful <strong>and</strong> well-intentioned<br />
one, I've had to ask a few of these<br />
friends why they think I would<br />
actually want to be a gr<strong>and</strong>father<br />
right after my daughter's marriage.<br />
Kids are great - <strong>and</strong> coming<br />
from me, that's really an understatement<br />
- <strong>and</strong> their arrival is<br />
seen as completing the family, as<br />
well as it is incontrovertible evidence<br />
that the newly-married couple<br />
is fertile.<br />
But kids that come even before<br />
the ink dries on the marriage certificate?<br />
I have my strong reservations<br />
about that.<br />
And I had a long discussion with<br />
my daughter <strong>and</strong> her husb<strong>and</strong><br />
about this a few days after their<br />
wedding.<br />
What is wrong in a newly-married<br />
couple - especially one where<br />
both spouses are still relatively<br />
young - spending the next one or<br />
two years just enjoying themselves<br />
exclusively?<br />
<strong>No</strong> kids for that one or two years,<br />
that is.<br />
What is wrong in spending the<br />
next one or two years solidifying<br />
their love <strong>and</strong> friendship, building<br />
bonds <strong>and</strong> creating memories<br />
that would last a lifetime?<br />
What is wrong if they spend the<br />
next one or two years <strong>go</strong>ing to<br />
work, coming back <strong>and</strong> generally<br />
being each other's companion, to<br />
the exclusion of all <strong>others</strong>?<br />
Why should a young, newly<br />
married couple rush into becoming<br />
parents?<br />
Yes, that's what the society wants<br />
<strong>and</strong> that's what the society expects,<br />
but who cares?<br />
Has the 'society' ever bothered<br />
to pause <strong>and</strong> look at the drawbacks<br />
of early parenthood for a<br />
newly married couple?<br />
Child-bearing <strong>and</strong> child-nurturing<br />
are two of the hardest endeavours<br />
in life, <strong>and</strong> most stressful.<br />
They bring so much dem<strong>and</strong> on<br />
the couple's time, finances <strong>and</strong><br />
physical wellbeing that often times,<br />
extreme <strong>and</strong> debilitating stress<br />
(<strong>and</strong> sometimes, illness) becomes<br />
inevitable.<br />
Apart from the ever-present danger<br />
of post-partum depression on<br />
the young mother's side, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
obligatory dem<strong>and</strong>s on the finances<br />
of the young father, childbirth<br />
<strong>and</strong> child-nurturing leave<br />
a young couple feeling like the<br />
other party is responsible for the<br />
state they are in <strong>and</strong> are not doing<br />
enough to help the other out.<br />
Friction, resentment <strong>and</strong> subconscious<br />
regrets usually follow.<br />
A young woman who, barely 10<br />
months a<strong>go</strong>, was in total control<br />
of her time <strong>and</strong> her resources<br />
wake up <strong>and</strong> <strong>go</strong> to bed whenever<br />
she wants, pursues her business<br />
or professional hustles without<br />
let or hindrance, to now have<br />
to wake up at odd hours, hardly<br />
even sleeping herself, <strong>and</strong> rather<br />
than the constant snuggles of the<br />
strong, warm body of her husb<strong>and</strong>,<br />
cradles an infant, an adorable<br />
infant nonetheless, one who<br />
tugs at the strings of her heart as<br />
she tugs at her sore nipples.<br />
A young man who, barely 10<br />
months prior, enjoyed the weekend<br />
watching the English Premier<br />
League, his beautiful babe<br />
on his lap, a bottle of beer in his<br />
left h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> the TV remote in<br />
his right.<br />
Today, as his young wife spends<br />
practically every waking hour<br />
tending a baby whose three pre-<br />
occupations in life for that<br />
period are sleeping at odd<br />
hours, crying <strong>and</strong> getting<br />
fed, the young man feels<br />
left out <strong>and</strong> side-tracked.<br />
Of course, his attempt at<br />
fatherly role at that early<br />
period is most often rebuffed<br />
by the mother-inlaw<br />
who has come for<br />
omugwo.<br />
Naturally, a mother's caring<br />
instinct is to her offspring<br />
first (ever seen a<br />
brooding hen fight off a<br />
threatening hawk?) before<br />
her husb<strong>and</strong>. That is the<br />
way Mother Nature <strong>go</strong>t it<br />
made.<br />
Men are, therefore, left<br />
to hold the extremely<br />
short end of a stick that<br />
came in already short to<br />
start with. They are wont<br />
to feel estranged <strong>and</strong><br />
ab<strong>and</strong>oned - even when<br />
they barely notice or willing<br />
to admit it.<br />
Subconsciously, they would<br />
start wishing for the <strong>go</strong>od old<br />
days when it was just him <strong>and</strong><br />
his babe, getting all the attention<br />
<strong>and</strong> rolling in the hay whenever<br />
the body needed it.<br />
Sadly, some of these new husb<strong>and</strong>s,<br />
in a selfish bid to connect<br />
with their strafing bachelor days,<br />
reopen lines of communication<br />
with an ex-girlfriend or two, <strong>and</strong><br />
end up rekindling an affair with<br />
her. And putting his new marriage<br />
in danger.<br />
Where the ex has been a onceloving<br />
<strong>and</strong> ever-caring lady,<br />
chances are that she may dig her<br />
fangs so deep into the new husb<strong>and</strong><br />
that extricating himself <strong>and</strong><br />
finding his way back to his babynursing<br />
young wife becomes an<br />
onerous task.<br />
And this circle is hardly ever<br />
interrupted or stopped before irreparable<br />
damage occurs.<br />
For, while the man (<strong>and</strong> the<br />
wife) is still trying to get to grips<br />
with not having his wife to himself<br />
during the day, <strong>and</strong> barely<br />
able to recognize his present<br />
sleeping (or lack of it) arrangement,<br />
the second child pops in.<br />
And then the third.<br />
And possibly the fourth.<br />
Sadly, also, many men never<br />
truly recover from this fall.<br />
Many have been known to just<br />
coast along with the wife at home,<br />
keeping up appearances of a<br />
perfect husb<strong>and</strong>, while the heart<br />
<strong>and</strong> mind are really with the girl<br />
outside - one whose total, unfettered<br />
<strong>and</strong> unshared attention he<br />
gets.<br />
And people tend to underestimate<br />
the importance of regular,<br />
uninterrupted sexual encounters<br />
in a fresh marriage.<br />
For a guy who has perhaps kept<br />
himself celibate for years during<br />
dating - either deliberately or<br />
forced on him by the fiance - you<br />
better know it now that that guy,<br />
by the time his marriage rolls<br />
around, already has a quiver full<br />
of arrows, arrows that he has serious<br />
plans to shoot the way of<br />
his sexy <strong>and</strong> delectable wife, one<br />
night after the other.<br />
Then, because society expects<br />
the wife to carry a protruding<br />
stomach a few months into her<br />
new marriage, Mister Lover Boy<br />
would only have shot only one<br />
or two of the arrows in his quiver,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Aunty New One would start<br />
spewing sputum <strong>and</strong> vomiting<br />
all over the place.<br />
I ask, what does the society<br />
expect our strafing the young<br />
man to do with the remaining<br />
arrows - a young man literally<br />
bursting at the seams with all the<br />
stocked-up 2-year semen in his<br />
scrotal sac?<br />
C'mon, let's get real!<br />
This guy wakes up in the middle<br />
of the night to enjoy his Godgiven<br />
<strong>and</strong> society-sanctioned<br />
better half, <strong>and</strong> what does he see?<br />
A poor woman exhausted from<br />
carrying a protruding stomach<br />
around all day, characteristically<br />
deeply snoring!<br />
Even a hard-pressed, sexstarved<br />
man would just take pity<br />
on her; cover her up while bottling<br />
his sexual needs.<br />
It gets worse when the baby finally<br />
arrives.<br />
Get a copy of Sex, Relationship<br />
& Marriage: What Your Mother<br />
Didn’t Tell You, by Ade Ebimomi<br />
to read this <strong>and</strong> many more practical<br />
stories. Available on Amazon<br />
C<br />
M<br />
Y<br />
K
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 9<br />
•Ngige- Minister<br />
of Labour <strong>and</strong><br />
Employment<br />
BUHARI’S MINISTER’S ‘SURPLUS DOCTORS’ CONTROVERSY<br />
Why Nigerian doctors are<br />
rushing abroad – NMA, <strong>others</strong><br />
•’We have excess doctor<br />
ors s if we add traditional healers’<br />
•My stor<br />
ory, , by y Ngige<br />
By Chioma Obinna<br />
For almost a decade, the<br />
exodus of Nigerian doctors to<br />
other countries has led to<br />
acute shortages in the nation’s<br />
various medical specialities.<br />
Some years a<strong>go</strong>, a former President of the<br />
Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr<br />
Osahon Enabulele, had said that about twothirds<br />
of Nigerian doctors who leave the<br />
country end up practising medicine in<br />
foreign countries while some of them switch<br />
professions.<br />
According to him, of the 72, 000 doctors<br />
registered with the Medical <strong>and</strong> Dental<br />
Council of Nigeria (MDCN), only about<br />
27,000 are practising in Nigeria while<br />
<strong>others</strong> are practising outside the country.<br />
Enabulele also revealed that up to 7,000<br />
Nigerian doctors<br />
combined work in British<br />
<strong>and</strong> American public<br />
health sectors, while some<br />
have left the medical<br />
profession on account of<br />
better working conditions<br />
in other professions. While<br />
WHO recommends one<br />
doctor to 600 patients, in<br />
Nigeria, due to the acute<br />
shortage, one doctor<br />
attends to around 6,000<br />
patients.<br />
And with the nation’s<br />
population put at 170<br />
million some years back,<br />
experts said the country<br />
needs not less than<br />
283,333 doctors to meet<br />
global st<strong>and</strong>ards. <strong>No</strong>w,<br />
Nigeria obviously needs<br />
more than 283,333 as the<br />
population has reportedly<br />
escalated to almost 200<br />
million with over 2,000<br />
doctors migrating to the<br />
United Kingdom, United<br />
States, Canada, Australia,<br />
United Arab Emirates<br />
(UAE), <strong>and</strong> South Africa,<br />
among <strong>others</strong>, every year. Also, figures<br />
released in February 2018 by the British<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment indicated that no fewer than<br />
5,405 Nigerian-trained doctors <strong>and</strong> nurses<br />
were working with the British National<br />
Health Service (NHS). It showed that<br />
Nigerian medics constituted 3.9 per cent of<br />
the 137,000 foreign staff of 202<br />
Even a blind<br />
man knows<br />
we don’t have<br />
enough<br />
doctors<br />
except he is<br />
referring to<br />
traditional<br />
doctors<br />
nationalities working alongside British<br />
doctors <strong>and</strong> nurses in the United Kingdom<br />
(UK). Nigeria’s poor doctor-patient ratio<br />
(roughly 1:6000) is regrettable, according<br />
to analysts, when compared to the ratio of<br />
doctor-patient in India (1:2083) <strong>and</strong> in the<br />
United States (1:500) apparently due to the<br />
fact that fresh doctors no longer see a bright<br />
future within the shores of Nigeria. Despite<br />
this disturbing scenario that has worsened<br />
the nation’s health indices <strong>and</strong> promoted<br />
medical tourism, the Minister of Labour<br />
<strong>and</strong> Employment, Dr. Emeka Ngige, last<br />
week, was quoted as saying he was not<br />
worried about the situation. “<strong>No</strong>, I’m not<br />
concerned at all. I’m not worried. We have<br />
surplus. If you have surplus, you export. It<br />
happened at one time with Indian teachers<br />
here. I was taught biology <strong>and</strong> chemistry<br />
by Indian teachers in my secondary school<br />
days. They’re surplus in their<br />
country. We’re surplus in<br />
the medical field here. I can<br />
tell you, it’s my area. We have<br />
excess. We have more than<br />
enough”, Ngige allegedly<br />
said on a television<br />
programme. He was<br />
reportedly responding to a<br />
question on alleged braindrain<br />
in the medical sector<br />
against the backdrop of the<br />
recent visit of a delegation<br />
from Saudi Arabia to recruit<br />
doctors to work in the<br />
Middle-East country.<br />
Sunday Vanguard spoke to<br />
some leaders of the various<br />
medical associations,<br />
among <strong>others</strong>, on the<br />
controversy the Labour<br />
Minister’s statement, who<br />
is also a medical doctor, is<br />
generating. To them, the<br />
statement was a reflection<br />
of the fact that those who<br />
make policies have no<br />
solution to the problems in<br />
the health sector. They<br />
argued that Nigeria needs<br />
about six times of what we<br />
have on ground for minimal acceptability.<br />
Ngige displayed ignorance –<br />
National Secretary, NMA, Dr<br />
Olumuyiwa Odusote<br />
I see the statement of the Minister of<br />
Labour as displaying ignorance of the<br />
problems on the ground which is<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment’s primary responsibility to<br />
solve. It is not true <strong>and</strong> I am sure the rest<br />
of us know that many doctors are leaving<br />
in droves. We have less than 40,000 doctors<br />
<strong>and</strong> many are leaving on monthly basis<br />
which further drops the number <strong>and</strong> the<br />
population of those leaving keeps<br />
increasing. If you have one doctor to about<br />
5,000 Nigerians, is what he said is surplus?<br />
Then we have a big problem in our h<strong>and</strong>s.<br />
When the World Health Organisation,<br />
WHO, is saying that the <strong>minimum</strong> we<br />
should have is one doctor to 600 patients, I<br />
don’t underst<strong>and</strong> the basis for the minister’s<br />
assertion <strong>and</strong>, definitely, it is not supported<br />
with facts. His statement is on the contrary.<br />
I think that the problem here is on the<br />
utilization of skilled manpower. It is the<br />
duty of <strong>go</strong>vernment to assess the need <strong>and</strong><br />
distribute available resources appropriately<br />
<strong>and</strong>, if the <strong>go</strong>vernment cannot assess <strong>and</strong><br />
determine what we need, then we have a<br />
major problem. If those who make policies<br />
are saying we don’t have problems, it means<br />
no one will find solution to the problems<br />
because they don’t perceive that there are<br />
problems. It also means that the health<br />
system has a very long way to <strong>go</strong> if this<br />
opinion is what is held in the Federal<br />
Executive Council. The NMA has been<br />
doing a lot in terms of brain-drain. Last<br />
year, the theme of our conference focused<br />
on brain-drain. And next week we are <strong>go</strong>ing<br />
to hold our annual delegates meeting in<br />
Abakaliki, Ebonyi State <strong>and</strong> brain-drain is<br />
also <strong>go</strong>ing to be the main theme. We are<br />
trying to bring it to the fore <strong>and</strong> find<br />
solution. We have invited all the tiers of<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment, from the President down to the<br />
chief medical directors of teaching<br />
hospitals <strong>and</strong> general hospitals, to attend<br />
the meeting so that we can brainstorm <strong>and</strong><br />
everybody will appreciate the magnitude<br />
of the problem. And then work out a<br />
solution. We have been in the media<br />
advocating, making noise <strong>and</strong> trying to<br />
push for a solution. In 2017, the Vice<br />
President responded that <strong>go</strong>vernment was<br />
<strong>go</strong>ing to do something to reverse braindrain.<br />
It is pathetic that two years after, one<br />
of the serving ministers is encouraging<br />
doctors to <strong>go</strong> abroad because he knows one<br />
or two doctors who went abroad, 25 years<br />
a<strong>go</strong>, <strong>and</strong> came back to establish one or two<br />
centres which are catering for 10 or at most<br />
30 patients a month in a country of 200<br />
million. That is like a drop in an ocean. It is<br />
not <strong>go</strong>ing to impact any of the worst indices<br />
that we have in the world. We are talking<br />
about reversing the trend by ensuring that<br />
Nigerians are able to live longer, <strong>and</strong> in<br />
<strong>go</strong>od health, <strong>and</strong>, for that to happen, we<br />
have to look at it in totality. <strong>No</strong>t just what<br />
happened in a few urban centres where only<br />
the rich can afford the service. We are<br />
talking about what is happening in the rural<br />
areas where the people cannot access basic<br />
care <strong>and</strong> survive long enough to change<br />
their economy <strong>and</strong> the economy of the<br />
nation.<br />
It is unfortunate that a<br />
minister is encouraging<br />
brain-drain – La<strong>go</strong>s NMA<br />
Chairman, Dr Saliu Oseni<br />
It’s an unfortunate situation that a<br />
minister of the federation is encouraging<br />
brain-drain. Currently, we have about<br />
35,000 doctors serving a population of over<br />
200 million, which means you have one<br />
doctor to about 5,700 citizens. This ratio is<br />
frightening in some rural areas. Studies<br />
have shown that Nigeria has 0.2 doctors<br />
per 1,000 populations compared to the UK<br />
<strong>and</strong> Germany which have 2.8 <strong>and</strong> 4<br />
respectively. WHO has recommended one<br />
doctor to 600 populations; so if a minister,<br />
who happens to be a doctor, can be saying<br />
we have surplus doctors, it’s clear why our<br />
health sector is in ruins. We currently have<br />
one of the highest perinatal mortality,<br />
maternal <strong>and</strong> infant mortality <strong>and</strong> yet a<br />
minister is encouraging brain-drain. It<br />
means we have more problems than we<br />
think, as there is need to have appropriate<br />
insight into a problem to render solution.<br />
So, one can best imagine the advice of such<br />
doctor in the Federal Executive Council<br />
meeting on matters of manpower deficit in<br />
the health sector. Even a blind man knows<br />
we don’t have enough doctors except he is<br />
referring to traditional doctors. We will still<br />
advise <strong>go</strong>vernment to improve the welfare<br />
package of health professionals to<br />
discourage their migration <strong>and</strong> also support<br />
the establishment of more medical schools<br />
to churn out more doctors. It’s clear why we<br />
had the rot in the health sector. We can be<br />
sure that even the ministry of health doesn’t<br />
have the correct population of its staff. Well,<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment is trying to show some interest<br />
of recent but complete sincerity is only what<br />
God knows. That’s why we are saying that<br />
medical tourism should be denied public<br />
officers, so that they can feel the effect of<br />
bad <strong>go</strong>vernance on the people. Also, don’t<br />
Continues on page 10
PAGE 10 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
’We have excess doctors if<br />
we add traditional healers’<br />
•Dr Odusote<br />
•Dr Oseni<br />
• Dr Olokpa<br />
•Dr Adeyeye<br />
Arigbabuwo •Dr Moronkola •Prof Lesi<br />
Continued from page 9<br />
forget that a doctor sees between 50 <strong>and</strong> 70<br />
patients per clinic in eight hours.<br />
He appears not to be abreast<br />
with challenges of the health<br />
sector - National President,<br />
Association of Resident<br />
Doctors, Dr Olaopa<br />
The minister appears not to be abreast of<br />
the challenges in the health sector. It is<br />
unfortunate he had to delve into a matter<br />
he did not appear to know much about.<br />
When the minister begins to think about<br />
the foreign exchange of a critical social<br />
issue <strong>and</strong> health of Nigerians, it is a<br />
misplaced statement on Nigeria’s health<br />
indices. He should work on his<br />
subordinates to give him correct<br />
information or he should seek information<br />
by himself <strong>and</strong> sincerely approach such issue<br />
of national importance because, how do<br />
you address the challenge of inadequate<br />
manpower in the health sector when you<br />
think you have enough? The few doctors<br />
that are still around are unemployed or<br />
underemployed. And the<br />
employed ones are battling<br />
to provide services in a poor<br />
work environment <strong>and</strong><br />
improper remuneration.<br />
What is obvious is that the<br />
minister doesn’t even<br />
appreciate the problems of<br />
job stress <strong>and</strong> dissatisfaction,<br />
a patient having to wait long<br />
hours to see the few<br />
available doctors amid the<br />
overall disenchantment with<br />
the Nigerian health sector.<br />
He can be excused of such<br />
reckless statement as a<br />
politician but the Federal<br />
Ministry of Labour <strong>and</strong><br />
Employment should have<br />
done better.<br />
Statement is<br />
display of comedy -<br />
President, HCPAN,<br />
Dr Adeyeye<br />
Arigbabuwo<br />
The unfortunate utterance<br />
of the Hon. Minister of<br />
Labour, Dr Ngige, has irked<br />
virtually all groups in the<br />
healthcare industry,<br />
especially those with a fair<br />
sense of responsibility <strong>and</strong><br />
unbiased appraisal of the<br />
situation. For this reason,<br />
what we could obtain from<br />
the archives of the leadership<br />
of Healthcare Providers<br />
Association of Nigeria in the<br />
form of objective <strong>and</strong><br />
reasonable statistics are as<br />
follows: Estimated<br />
population of Nigeria of 710<br />
million people while the<br />
population of registered<br />
doctors from the records of the appropriate<br />
authorities is 40,000. Nigeria has urban <strong>and</strong><br />
rural population. In the urban population, we<br />
have 30% of 170,000,000 = 50,000,000<br />
people <strong>and</strong> rural population of 70% of<br />
170,000,000=120,000,000. 30 per cent of<br />
40,000 doctors give 12,000 doctors. These<br />
12,000 doctors cover the healthcare services<br />
of 120,000,000 rural population while 70 per<br />
cent of 40,000, that is, 28,000 doctors, provide<br />
services for urban 50,000,000 people. In<br />
conclusion, more doctors (28,000) serve urban<br />
population of 50,000,000 people whereas<br />
lesser doctors (12,000) serve the thickly<br />
populated rural areas of 150,000,000 people.<br />
To the urban population, absence <strong>and</strong> shortage<br />
of specialists is the real brain-drain while to<br />
the rural settlement, the absence of the<br />
primary care doctor is the de facto braindrain.<br />
What is the tail of an elephant to<br />
someone with a <strong>go</strong>od sight may be perceived<br />
as a stick to a blind man. This is maldistribution<br />
of statistical paradox <strong>and</strong><br />
parallax. Also, a faulty elitist summary is<br />
drawing a conclusion to assert that we have<br />
urban ‘pseudo’ overpopulated doctors without<br />
considering even where doctors are needed<br />
most in the rural population that is grossly<br />
underserved. <strong>No</strong> matter the angle of<br />
My ‘excess doctor<br />
ors’<br />
stor<br />
ory, , by y Ngige<br />
he ,Minister of Labour <strong>and</strong> Employment, Dr Chris Ngige,<br />
Tdenied saying Nigeria has medical doctors in excess even<br />
as he insisted that Nigeria has enough medical personnel to<br />
h<strong>and</strong>le non-specialist areas in the rural areas of the country.<br />
He claimed he had been misquoted, (in his TV interview) <strong>and</strong><br />
that what he actually said was that since there was insufficient<br />
space for residency training for medical doctors in the country,<br />
graduates of medicine who could not find space were free to<br />
seek such training in other countries <strong>and</strong> become professionals<br />
in their chosen fields.<br />
The minister said he is aware that Nigeria is in dire need of<br />
specialists in various branches of medicine.<br />
“I speak from the vantage position of being a medical doctor<br />
<strong>and</strong> member, Nigerian Medical Association, since June 1979<br />
<strong>and</strong> enriched by my vast knowledge on health administration,<br />
having retired as a Deputy Director, Medical Services <strong>and</strong><br />
Training from the Federal Ministry of Health in 1998, member<br />
of Vision 2010 Committee on Health as well as senior member,<br />
Senate Committee on Health 2011-2015,” he said in a statement<br />
released by his media aide, Nwachukwu Obidiwe.<br />
“Therefore, the truth no matter how it hurts, must be told <strong>and</strong><br />
reality, boldly faced. I invite opinion moulders especially those<br />
who have spoken or written on this issue to watch the full clip of<br />
my interview with the channels.<br />
“And it is for this reason that I admitted having a little cause to<br />
worry about brain drain among medical doctors. The fact is<br />
that while the Federal Government has recorded a remarkably<br />
steady improvement in our healthcare system, Nigeria is yet to<br />
get there.<br />
“We do not at present have enough health facilities to<br />
accommodate all the doctors seeking to do tertiary specialist<br />
training (residency) in the Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical<br />
Centres <strong>and</strong> few accredited state <strong>and</strong> private specialist centres<br />
in the country where roughly 20% of the yearly applicants are<br />
absorbed while the remaining 80%, try their luck elsewhere.”<br />
observation, be it in rural or urban areas, we<br />
have a statistical distribution of the faulty<br />
doctor-patient ratio in Nigeria. Somehow,<br />
some other groups experience some form of<br />
shortage. The pattern may be different. But it<br />
is clear doctors are leaving en masse. What<br />
we expect, according to the NMA President,<br />
Prof Francis Faduyile, <strong>and</strong> WHO index for a<br />
poor nation like Nigeria is 1:600 doctorpatient<br />
ratio; but we are currently grinding<br />
with 1:3,600; it appears, therefore, we need<br />
about six times of what we have on ground for<br />
minimal acceptability. We have nations on<br />
1:200; 1:150; 1:1000; 1:500 etc. But why is<br />
the Nigerian situation this bad? Even the<br />
abysmally poor health indices are enough<br />
signals of the poor quality, quantity,<br />
harmonisation <strong>and</strong> coordination of human<br />
resource in health in Nigeria. Training<br />
facilities <strong>and</strong> structures are not even enabling.<br />
Private providers cry loud <strong>and</strong> relocate. Why<br />
do we shy away from accepting responsibility?<br />
Why don’t we own up when we are wrong?<br />
Some people in authority advised these doctors<br />
recently to <strong>go</strong> for fashion designing, fishery,<br />
<strong>and</strong> perhaps carpentry. They believe that, as<br />
doctors, they would fare better in those areas<br />
of specialty. It is public humiliation <strong>and</strong><br />
embarrassment. Alas, some who have also<br />
crossed the river but removing the<br />
bridge are still suggesting that the<br />
sojourn in the diaspora is a form of<br />
s’<br />
profitable medical tourism for<br />
Nigeria. Is this not acceptance of<br />
self-exile to endorse corporate<br />
slavery knowing well that the<br />
Nigerian <strong>go</strong>vernment has not<br />
created a seamless environment for<br />
health workers as exemplified by<br />
the doctors’ case now? A man is<br />
not short changed until he submits<br />
himself deliberately for oppression.<br />
Let no one be deceived. If the cabinet<br />
members of our President hold this<br />
view concerning doctors, then their<br />
multitude of counsel to Mr<br />
President, who is not a member of<br />
the health sector, will simply be that<br />
the best testimony of all season is<br />
the one you obtain directly from the<br />
very major stakeholders. After all,<br />
no one can be more Catholic than<br />
the Pope. HCPAN, therefore, views<br />
the unfortunate statement of the<br />
minister as a mere display of<br />
comedy, oiled with executive<br />
utterance <strong>and</strong> painfully painted<br />
against national interest. We are<br />
gradually bringing the medical<br />
profession to the lowest ebb even by<br />
the supposed custodians. We are,<br />
therefore, monitoring closely, <strong>and</strong><br />
want to restate our unalloyed<br />
cooperation with the NMA <strong>and</strong><br />
other professional groups, whose<br />
interest <strong>and</strong> perhaps relevance is<br />
being brought to disrepute before<br />
the population they serve whenever<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment is faced with seeming<br />
failure in their responsibilities. It is<br />
doctors today. Who knows whose<br />
turn it will be tomorrow!<br />
We don’t have enough<br />
doctors – Provost of<br />
College of Medicine,<br />
University of La<strong>go</strong>s, Prof. Lesi<br />
Afolabi<br />
We don’t have enough doctors because if<br />
you have a population of 190 million <strong>and</strong>,<br />
given the number of doctors practising in the<br />
country, which is about 32,00 to 35,000<br />
doctors, that number is inadequate. It is about<br />
a ratio population of one doctor to 5000<br />
patients in contravention of WHO<br />
recommendation of one to 600 patients. Even<br />
though we have about 72,000 registered<br />
doctors, that will not give us a true reflection<br />
of the number of doctors because many of<br />
them are practising in the diaspora. There are<br />
not enough doctors for our population. In our<br />
medical college, we produce about 200<br />
medical doctors <strong>and</strong> dentists annually. <strong>No</strong>t<br />
all medical colleges have the same quota of<br />
training. We <strong>and</strong> the University of Ibadan have<br />
the largest quota <strong>and</strong> a few first generation<br />
universities. Others have less; there are over<br />
40 universities offering medicine <strong>and</strong>, if you<br />
do the maths, on the average, they will be<br />
producing not more than 2000 or 3000<br />
doctors per year. The more competent person<br />
to talk about this is the Minister of Health<br />
<strong>and</strong> not the Minister of Labour. I cannot<br />
comment on the statement of the Minister of<br />
Labour because he is not the competent person<br />
to talk about the health workforce. The<br />
Minister of Health is the person to answer<br />
your questions.<br />
Statement reflects <strong>go</strong>vt.<br />
position on brain-drain<br />
threatening our health sector<br />
- Dr Moronkola, a former ARD<br />
President, LUTH<br />
The statement is quite unfortunate<br />
especially coming from a Minister of<br />
Labour who is expected to have statistics of<br />
the workforce in the country. It is even<br />
more worrisome knowing that the<br />
minister in question is a medical doctor.<br />
His statement shows he is either out of<br />
touch with the reality regarding the<br />
medical profession or he is simply being<br />
mischievous. As we speak, there are about<br />
40,000 registered doctors in Nigeria. This<br />
does not translate to the workforce as<br />
some have left clinical practice for other<br />
more economically rewarding jobs. Some<br />
of this number practice abroad <strong>and</strong> only<br />
renew their practising fee in Nigeria so<br />
they remain in <strong>go</strong>od st<strong>and</strong>ing with the<br />
Medical <strong>and</strong> Dental Council of Nigeria,<br />
MDCN. Statistics show that Nigeria has<br />
about one doctor to 5,000 patients as<br />
opposed to the 1/ 600 recommended by<br />
WHO. This means Nigeria needs roughly<br />
10 times the number of doctors we have<br />
presently. Unfortunately, his statement<br />
probably reflects the mindset of the<br />
Federal Government on the issue of braindrain<br />
that is threatening to crumble our<br />
health sector. There are lots of doctors <strong>and</strong><br />
health professionals still jobless in Nigeria<br />
while service delivery in our hospitals<br />
continues to suffer. Instead of ensuring<br />
doctors are employed to fill the spaces in<br />
our hospitals, the minister is busy denying<br />
the obvious. The Federal Government<br />
needs to declare a state of emergency in the<br />
health sector in the interest of the nation.
2019 POLLS: CONTRADICTIONS IN POLITY<br />
I see electoral<br />
corruption amid loud<br />
noise of fight against<br />
corruption<br />
— Nwabueze<br />
Professor Ben Nwabueze (SAN), in this<br />
piece, titled, ‘Incidence of Corrupt<br />
Practices And <strong>No</strong>n-Compliance with<br />
the Provisions of the Electoral Act during the<br />
February/March 2019 general elections’,<br />
writes on what he describes as contradictions<br />
in the polity.<br />
In addition to the decisive factors of violence<br />
<strong>and</strong> the intimidating presence of armed<br />
uniformed military men, another important<br />
factor affecting the genuineness of votes<br />
ascribed to c<strong>and</strong>idates is corrupt practice <strong>and</strong><br />
non-compliance with the provisions of the<br />
Electoral Act. This factor is important because,<br />
like the factors of violence <strong>and</strong> the intimidating<br />
presence of armed uniformed military men, it<br />
determines the character of an election as a<br />
democratic election, which may be here defined<br />
as the exercise of a right guaranteed by law to<br />
every citizen of the prescribed age to vote in<br />
freedom for the choice of leaders at an election<br />
fairly <strong>and</strong> impartially conducted, <strong>and</strong> to<br />
exercise the right without interference by the<br />
authorities, civil <strong>and</strong> military; it is important<br />
for the additional reason that, as Olu Fasan<br />
said in the Vanguard of 28 March 2019,<br />
corrupt practice or rigging, in all its variegated<br />
forms, breaches “the fundamental doctrine of<br />
consent of the <strong>go</strong>verned”, which deprives the<br />
“emergent <strong>go</strong>vernment the legitimacy <strong>and</strong><br />
moral right to <strong>go</strong>vern.”<br />
Nature And Effect of Corrupt Practices as<br />
Contradistinguished from <strong>No</strong>n-Compliance<br />
with the Provisions of the Electoral Act<br />
It needs to be stated at the outset that<br />
“corrupt practices” partakes of a nature <strong>and</strong><br />
effect altogether different from “noncompliance<br />
with the provisions of the Electoral<br />
Act”, with which it is juxtaposed by section<br />
145(1) of the Act, which provides that “an<br />
election may be questioned” on the ground,<br />
inter alia, that it “is invalid by reason of corrupt<br />
practices or non-compliance with the<br />
provisions of this Act.” The juxtaposition of<br />
corrupt practices with noncompliance in this<br />
provision is a statutory recognition that they<br />
are two different things <strong>and</strong> provide separate<br />
grounds for questioning the validity of an<br />
election. Corrupt practices at elections must<br />
therefore be kept distinct from non-compliance<br />
with the provisions of the Act.<br />
First, non-compliance implies a failure<br />
to do something which the law requires to be<br />
done, or doing wrongly what the law requires<br />
to be done, whereas corrupt practice implies a<br />
positive act the doing of which is prohibited<br />
by law; the latter is illegal <strong>and</strong> is often a<br />
criminal offence as well, while the former is<br />
ordinarily neither an illegality nor a criminal<br />
offence. Second, an electoral malpractice or<br />
corrupt practice is also not a “defect”. The side<br />
note to section 146 of the Electoral Act 2006,<br />
quoted below, reads: “Certain defects not to<br />
invalidate election.” Although a side note is<br />
not part of an enactment, it has an important<br />
bearing on the interpretation of its meaning.<br />
The word “defect” contemplates or at any rate,<br />
it suggests, an irregularity. It is defined by New<br />
Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language<br />
as “fault; an imperfection”. It has therefore<br />
nothing to do with an electoral malpractice or<br />
corrupt practice, as defined later below. Section<br />
146 (now section 139(1) of the 2010 Act)<br />
should therefore be restricted in its application<br />
to non-compliance not constituting a corrupt<br />
practice. It provides as follows:<br />
“An election shall not be liable to be<br />
invalidated by reason of non-compliance with<br />
the provisions of this Act if it appears to the<br />
Election Tribunal or Court that the election<br />
was conducted substantially in accordance<br />
with the principles of this Act <strong>and</strong> that the non<br />
compliance did not affect substantially the<br />
result of the election” (emphasis supplied).<br />
The fact that “corruption practices” is not<br />
mentioned in this section, as it is mentioned in<br />
section 145(1), shows that the law-maker never<br />
intended section 146 to apply to corrupt<br />
practices.<br />
•Professor Ben Nwabueze<br />
Third, the term “corrupt practices” is derived<br />
from the word “corruption” which connotes,<br />
according to the definition of it in Black’s Law<br />
Dictionary, 7th Edition, “(1) depravity,<br />
perversion or taint; an impairment of integrity,<br />
virtue or moral principle. (2) The act of doing<br />
something with an intent to give some<br />
advantage inconsistent with official duty <strong>and</strong><br />
the rights of <strong>others</strong>.” In relation to an election,<br />
the term means, therefore, a perverse,<br />
dishonest, immoral, improper or illegal act or<br />
practice intended to influence the election in<br />
favour of a particular c<strong>and</strong>idate sponsored by<br />
a particular political party.<br />
Whilst it may be a crime, as in the case<br />
of the corrupt acts or practices made a crime<br />
by sections 131 <strong>and</strong> 137 of the Electoral Act<br />
2006, it has a meaning wider than that, <strong>and</strong><br />
embraces perverse, dishonest, immoral,<br />
Improper or illegal acts or practices which,<br />
though not made a crime by statute, are<br />
intended to influence an election in favour of a<br />
particular c<strong>and</strong>idate sponsored by a particular<br />
political party – an act may be illegal without<br />
being a crime. This is what<br />
makes corrupt practice at an<br />
election, whether or not it is<br />
made a crime by statute, so<br />
inimical to free election. It<br />
strikes at the very root of free<br />
<strong>and</strong> fair election; it is<br />
irreconcilably anta<strong>go</strong>nistic<br />
<strong>and</strong> hostile to an election in the<br />
sense required by democracy.<br />
The character of corrupt<br />
practice at an election as<br />
something which, by its<br />
intrinsic nature, undermines<br />
the quality of an election as a<br />
free election. <strong>and</strong> therefore its<br />
credibility <strong>and</strong> integrity, is<br />
attested by the penalties<br />
attached to conviction for it by<br />
section 122( I) of the Electoral<br />
Act 2002, where corrupt<br />
practice is made a crime by<br />
statute. The subsection<br />
provided as follows (the<br />
provision is omitted from the<br />
2006 Act):<br />
“Any person who is convicted<br />
of an offence under this Part of<br />
this Act which amounts to corrupt practice or<br />
is convicted for aiding, abetting, counseling<br />
or procuring the commission of such offence<br />
shall, in addition to any other penalty, be<br />
disqualified during a period of four years from<br />
the date of his conviction from being – ¬<br />
(a) registered as a voter or voting at any<br />
election; <strong>and</strong><br />
(b) elected under this Act or if elected<br />
before his conviction, from retaining the<br />
office to which he was elected” (emphasis<br />
supplied).<br />
Thus, under section l22( I) of the Electoral<br />
Act 2002 conviction for corrupt practice where<br />
it is made a crime by statute nullified the<br />
election of the person concerned, regardless of<br />
whether or not the corrupt practice<br />
substantially affected the result of the election.<br />
The gravity of the penalties under section<br />
On this matter of<br />
corrupt practices<br />
at elections, we<br />
seem to have<br />
<strong>go</strong>tten ourselves<br />
enmeshed in the<br />
web of two<br />
contradictory<br />
positions<br />
122(I) above is a statutory recognition of the<br />
nature of corrupt practice as a matter so<br />
fundamental to the principle of free, fair <strong>and</strong><br />
credible election, so fundamental indeed that<br />
conviction for corrupt practice made a crime<br />
by statute nullified the election of a person<br />
convicted of it.<br />
There is something intriguing about the<br />
omission of the provisions of section 122(1) of<br />
the 2002 Act from the subsequent Acts of 2006<br />
<strong>and</strong> 2010. The reason for its omission is not<br />
stated, but it may not be unconnected with the<br />
fact that nullification of an election strikes<br />
greater fear <strong>and</strong> aversion in politicians than<br />
criminal punishment – imprisonment or fine.<br />
They would rather face the hazards of criminal<br />
punishment than the perilous risks of<br />
nullification of an election. Yet the abolition of<br />
the provisions of section 122(1) above does<br />
suggest a certain unseriousness, if not<br />
hypocrisy, in our so-called drive to exorcise<br />
corrupt practices from our electoral system.<br />
The provisions of section 122(1) above should<br />
be brought back for the greater deterrent effect<br />
of nullification.<br />
Corrupt practice must be<br />
regarded as a matter<br />
intrinsically “substantial” in<br />
nature by reason of the fact<br />
that it impairs the quality of<br />
an election as a free election<br />
<strong>and</strong> therefore its credibility<br />
<strong>and</strong> integrity. It follows,<br />
therefore, that corrupt<br />
practice, if shown to have<br />
occurred, need not be proved<br />
to have substantially affected<br />
the “result” of the election<br />
under section 146(1) of the<br />
Electoral Act 2006. Being<br />
something intrinsically<br />
substantial in nature, <strong>and</strong><br />
because it strikes at the very<br />
root of free election <strong>and</strong><br />
thereby undermines its<br />
integrity <strong>and</strong> credibility,<br />
corrupt practice, if proved to<br />
have occurred, has the effect<br />
of invalidating an election by<br />
its intrinsic force; it is<br />
irrefutably presumed to have<br />
substantially affected the<br />
result of an election.<br />
The first leg of the provision in section 146(1)<br />
above, i.e. that “the election was conducted<br />
substantially in accordance with the principles<br />
of the Act” is also incompatible with the nature<br />
of corrupt practice. An election featuring<br />
corrupt practices on a massive scale cannot<br />
reasonably or meaningfully be said to have<br />
been “conducted” in accordance with the<br />
principles of the Act; the principles underlying<br />
the Act, being those of free, fair <strong>and</strong> credible<br />
election, are excluded by corrupt practices<br />
occurring on a widespread scale, which makes<br />
it untenable to say that the election was<br />
conducted substantially in accordance with the<br />
principles of the Act.<br />
In interpreting <strong>and</strong> applying section 146(1)<br />
a distinction needs to be made between noncompliances<br />
amounting to corrupt practice<br />
<strong>and</strong> those not amounting to corrupt practice.<br />
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 11<br />
The subsection applies only to the latter.<br />
It is not, however, suggested that, being<br />
anta<strong>go</strong>nistic to free, fair <strong>and</strong> credible election<br />
<strong>and</strong> being of a nature intrinsically substantial,<br />
a single, isolated incident of corrupt practice<br />
renders an election null <strong>and</strong> void. Its impact<br />
on the “result” of an election is the function of<br />
how perverse a particular corrupt practice is,<br />
<strong>and</strong> how massive <strong>and</strong> widespread its incidence<br />
is; in other words, corrupt practice, including<br />
non-compliance amounting to corrupt<br />
practice, is a ground for nullification if it is<br />
proved to have been perverse in nature <strong>and</strong><br />
fairly massive <strong>and</strong> widespread in its incidence,<br />
in which case it is irrebuttably presumed <strong>and</strong><br />
taken to have substantially affected the result<br />
of the election, without further proof.<br />
The question which the court is to consider is<br />
not as to whether corrupt practice, by its<br />
intrinsic nature, is antithetical or not to free<br />
election (its utter incompatibility with free<br />
election has the truth of an axiom), but as to<br />
the amount of it, in terms of the degree of<br />
perverseness of particular corrupt practices<br />
<strong>and</strong> their spatial incidence, that renders an<br />
election null <strong>and</strong> void. <strong>No</strong> doubt, the<br />
determination of the question leaves<br />
considerable discretion to the court, but, like<br />
all judicial discretion, it must be exercised,<br />
not by perverse legalism, but<br />
judiciously <strong>and</strong> with due regard to<br />
truth, justice <strong>and</strong> the Rule of Law.<br />
The application of<br />
section 146 of the Electoral<br />
Act 2006 by the courts in<br />
cases where corrupt<br />
practices or electoral<br />
malpractices are<br />
complained of in<br />
an election has<br />
had the sad result<br />
that the extensive<br />
array of corrupt<br />
practices of<br />
g r e a t<br />
perverseness<br />
a n d<br />
widespread<br />
extent proved<br />
t o<br />
have occurred<br />
in the Buhari v.<br />
Obasanjo<br />
Case, [2005]<br />
13 NWLR<br />
(Part 941 –<br />
943), was<br />
dismissed <strong>and</strong> the election sustained, because<br />
such corrupt practices proved to have occurred<br />
were not proved to have substantially affected<br />
the result of the election – a perverse application<br />
of the law.<br />
The application of section 146 to the<br />
complaint of corrupt practices in the Atiku<br />
Abubakar v. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Case,<br />
(2008) 12 S.C. (Pt 11)1, produced a result no<br />
less saddening. The petitioner in that case, Atiku<br />
Abubakar, had averred, inter alia, as follows<br />
in his petition:<br />
(i) deliberate non-supply, under-supply<br />
<strong>and</strong> late supply of electoral materials,<br />
including ballot papers;<br />
(ii) multiple voting, voting by people<br />
not registered to vote, voting in private houses<br />
<strong>and</strong> other unauthorized <strong>and</strong> undesignated<br />
places;<br />
(iii) voting was not by open secret<br />
ballot, as prescribed by the Act, owing to<br />
failure by INEC to erect polling booths in<br />
most places, which resulted in the secrecy<br />
of the ballot being violated;<br />
(iv) stuffing of ballot boxes, ballot<br />
boxes snatching, intimidation, use of<br />
violence <strong>and</strong> threats, bribery, falsification<br />
of results;<br />
(v) Form EC8A series showing<br />
scores of c<strong>and</strong>idates were not signed by<br />
presiding officers at the polling units nor<br />
countersigned by party agents (except for<br />
those of Umaru Yar-Adua’s party), as<br />
required by the Act;<br />
(vi) Counting of votes <strong>and</strong><br />
declaration of results were not done at the<br />
polling units, as required by the Act; results<br />
were instead collated at state level based<br />
on “scores transmitted electronically from<br />
polling units <strong>and</strong>/or local <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
areas” across the nation;<br />
(vii) Arbitrary allocation of scores<br />
to c<strong>and</strong>idates <strong>and</strong> falsification of scores.<br />
The complaints listed above were dismissed<br />
by the Court of Appeal on the ground that<br />
“most of them appear trivial in character” –<br />
i.e. non-substantial within the meaning of<br />
section 146(1). <strong>No</strong>thing perhaps betrays<br />
more glaringly the predisposition of the<br />
Court of Appeal to use section 146(1) as a<br />
shield to protect infractions of the Act than<br />
its dismissal of the Petitioners’ complaints<br />
listed above on the ground that they are<br />
“a logistic problem <strong>and</strong> not a defect”.<br />
Admittedly, an act or omission to act<br />
which would otherwise be condemnable<br />
as a corrupt practice would not be so<br />
regarded if it is due to accidental or<br />
logistical reasons or other lawful excuse,<br />
but not when it is deliberate or willful. as<br />
the massive, widespread incidence of nonsupply,<br />
under-supply <strong>and</strong> late supply of<br />
ballot papers <strong>and</strong> other electoral materials<br />
during the April 2007 presidential election<br />
indisputably was.<br />
The character of such deliberate or wilful<br />
non-compliance as electoral malpractice or<br />
corrupt practice is attested by making it a<br />
criminal offence punishable with 12 months<br />
imprisonment or NlOO,OOO fine or both.<br />
•Read more on www.vanguardngr.com
PAGE 12— SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
*Saraki *Tinubu *Dogara<br />
2023, Tinubu <strong>and</strong> the<br />
NASS leadership tussle<br />
National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,<br />
last Sunday, lashed out at the leadership of the National Assembly amid the jostle<br />
by members-elect to succeed the current principal officers. Sunday Vanguard x-rays<br />
the situation <strong>and</strong> its concomitant effects on the party’s preferred aspirants especially<br />
in the House of Representatives.<br />
By Levinus Nwabughiogu<br />
The name Asiwaju Bola Ahmed<br />
Tinubu,resonates across the l<strong>and</strong>. He’s<br />
a master strategist <strong>and</strong> <strong>go</strong>al getter. He<br />
is a gr<strong>and</strong> politician, savvy, sagacious, likeable,<br />
intelligent, sociable, phenomenal but<br />
sometime, fierce in his political arithmetics.<br />
Tinubu was a senator in the botched 3rd<br />
Republic. Between 1999 <strong>and</strong> 2007, he held<br />
sway in La<strong>go</strong>s as <strong>go</strong>vernor. In 2015, he became<br />
the National Leader of the ruling All<br />
Progressive Congress, APC.<br />
From his base in La<strong>go</strong>s, Tinubu survived the<br />
ferocious attacks by former President Olusegun<br />
Obasanjo’s <strong>go</strong>vernment. The Peoples<br />
Democratic Party, PDP, as it happened then,<br />
had made inroads into all the States of South-<br />
West <strong>and</strong> seized power but Tinubu made La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
a no-<strong>go</strong>-area for then-ruling party. His Alliance<br />
for Democracy, AD, weathered the storm.<br />
When the AD outlived its usefulness, Tinubu<br />
played smart <strong>and</strong> caused<br />
his structures to<br />
metamorphose into<br />
Action Congress, AC. The<br />
new party blossomed but<br />
with no national<br />
colouration. In the pursuit<br />
of the national spread <strong>and</strong><br />
recognition, the Asiwaju<br />
added “Nigeria, to the<br />
party’s name which then<br />
read “Action Congress of<br />
Nigeria’ , ACN. With this,<br />
Tinubu’s political<br />
stronghold exp<strong>and</strong>ed.<br />
Cashing, in on the angst<br />
against the ‘weak’<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment of former<br />
President Goodluck<br />
Jonathan <strong>and</strong> the eventual<br />
withdrawal of Obsanjo’s<br />
support, Tinubu’s ACN<br />
launched an alliance with<br />
three other political<br />
parties <strong>and</strong> transformed<br />
to All Progressives<br />
Congress, APC, which is<br />
While political actors who<br />
are opposed to Tinubu’s<br />
choices could only make<br />
insinuations of a possible<br />
2023 game plan, Tinubu, in<br />
a bid to clear the fog,<br />
accused Senate President<br />
Bukola Saraki <strong>and</strong> the<br />
House Speaker, Yakubu<br />
Dogara, of padding<br />
national budgets in the last<br />
four years<br />
today the ruling party at the federal level.<br />
APC was later to see Tinubu as its National<br />
Leader having been jolted into power by his<br />
political sagacity in 2015.<br />
A legion of persons has benefitted from<br />
Tinubu’s political tutelage: Babatunde Fasola,<br />
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor<br />
Kayode Fayemi, Comrade Adams<br />
Oshiomole, Rauf Aregbesola, Akinwunmi<br />
Ambode” , in fact, the names are endless.<br />
Even President Muhammadu Buhari would<br />
not deny that he has not benefitted from Tinubu<br />
as it was his clout that gave him the presidency<br />
in 2015.<br />
With APC, Asiwaju has since exp<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
from his South-West enclave <strong>and</strong> established<br />
allies across the country <strong>and</strong>, to that extent, he<br />
has,become a toast of many Nigerians. That<br />
is, for sure, benevolence at work.<br />
But a man whose chi has cracked his palm<br />
kernel even before he was born needs not to<br />
take everything <strong>and</strong> everyone for granted.<br />
That was the case in 2015 when after<br />
producing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,<br />
Tinubu went <strong>ahead</strong> to project Senator Ahmed,<br />
Lawan from Yobe State <strong>and</strong>, of course, Hon.<br />
Femi Gbajabimila, from his La<strong>go</strong>s State, as<br />
his preferred choices for Senate President <strong>and</strong><br />
Speaker, House of Representatives respectively.<br />
The disappointment that later followed had<br />
since found a place in the political lexicon of<br />
the country’s democratic experience.<br />
Unfortunately, four years after, the same<br />
scenario appears to be playing out. Tinubu<br />
<strong>and</strong> the party have expressly endorsed the same<br />
men again for the same position. Would it<br />
work? Time will tell.<br />
Tinubu’s allegations against<br />
N / A s s e m b l y<br />
Leadership<br />
In a statement released by his<br />
media aide, Tunde Rahman, on<br />
Sunday, Tinubu predicated his<br />
choice of Lawan <strong>and</strong> Gbajabimila<br />
on the aspiration of the party <strong>and</strong><br />
the <strong>go</strong>vernment to achieve their<br />
objectives seamlessly.<br />
He said: “Since the inception of<br />
the APC, my focus has been to assist<br />
President Buhari develop, refine<br />
<strong>and</strong> implement a progressive<br />
agenda that would give every<br />
Nigerians a fair chance to prosper<br />
<strong>and</strong> provide for their loved ones.<br />
“As he enters his second term,<br />
President Buhari has stated that he<br />
will give the economy special<br />
priority.<br />
“His <strong>go</strong>al is to defeat poverty <strong>and</strong><br />
joblessness while spurring the type<br />
of growth <strong>and</strong> development that<br />
will make Nigeria a durable <strong>and</strong><br />
flourishing economy. These <strong>go</strong>als<br />
are laudable <strong>and</strong> necessary to<br />
move Nigeria forward.<br />
“It is against this backdrop that my support<br />
of the party’s position regarding the National<br />
Assembly leadership must be interpreted.<br />
“There is no surprise in my supporting the<br />
party <strong>and</strong> the president’s position regarding<br />
the National Assembly positions. <strong>No</strong>r is it<br />
wrong that I do so.<br />
“That I have actively <strong>and</strong> publicly supported<br />
the party <strong>and</strong> president should not result in<br />
such public backbiting.<br />
“We all know how important these positions<br />
are to the fulfillment of the president’s agenda”.<br />
War of words<br />
While political actors who are opposed to<br />
Tinubu’s choices could only make insinuations<br />
of a possible 2023 game plan, Tinubu, in a bid<br />
to clear the fog, accused Senate President<br />
Bukola Saraki, <strong>and</strong> the House Speaker,<br />
Yakubu Dogara of padding national budgets<br />
in the last four years of their administration.<br />
Perhaps, unknown to him, that was the first<br />
salvo that may have launched an attack to his<br />
support for Gbajabimila in the House.<br />
In response to him, Dogara did not only<br />
dismiss the allegations of budget padding, he<br />
also called Tinubu a fascist <strong>and</strong> power grabber<br />
who wants to control all levels of <strong>go</strong>vernment.<br />
He said: “The parliamentarians are<br />
representatives of the Nigerian people <strong>and</strong><br />
you don’t expect them to rubber stamp budgets<br />
that are heavily skewed <strong>and</strong> lopsided against<br />
most sections of the country. It is their<br />
responsibility to ensure equitable <strong>and</strong> even<br />
distribution of capital projects across all the<br />
nooks <strong>and</strong> crannies of the country, if the<br />
Executive fails to do so. In any case, it is false<br />
to state that legislative intervention in the<br />
Budget Process is to benefit the legislators <strong>and</strong><br />
not their constituencies. We challenge Asiwaju<br />
Tinubu to prove otherwise. He should also<br />
show in what way the 8th Assembly acted<br />
differently from other Assemblies of the past<br />
to warrant the kind of language used. In any<br />
case, all the aspirants to the Senate Presidency<br />
<strong>and</strong> Speakership he is sponsoring are majority<br />
leaders in the 8th Assembly <strong>and</strong> took part in<br />
the Budget Process that he made the chief basis<br />
of his crude attack. This proves beyond doubt<br />
the hypocrisy of Asiwaju’s stated reasons for<br />
supporting his c<strong>and</strong>idates. He should find<br />
better reasons other than the lies being peddled<br />
about the Budget <strong>and</strong> obstructing <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
business. Asiwaju shouldn’t take better<br />
informed Nigerians for fools. Otherwise, when<br />
he sought to take control of the 8th Senate <strong>and</strong><br />
8th House in 2015, was it because of any<br />
Budget Saraki <strong>and</strong> Dogara had delayed or pet<br />
projects they had inserted into any Budget<br />
before 2015? Asiwaju must come clean on this<br />
matter. He should let Nigerians know why he<br />
wants to install both the Senate President, the<br />
Speaker <strong>and</strong> leadership of the 9th Assembly.<br />
He may yet win the support of some of them if<br />
he comes clean on this matter. We do not expect<br />
Asiwaju Tinubu to dwell on brazen mendacity,<br />
much less murder facts <strong>and</strong> decorum in his<br />
rabid bid to justify his patently clear facist<br />
agenda of controlling all levers of power in<br />
Nigeria.”<br />
Don’t pitch Buhari against<br />
members-elect— Ba<strong>go</strong><br />
Campaign organization<br />
The APC leader also dwelt on the issue of<br />
loyalty so much so that the campaign<br />
organization of Hon. Mohammed Umaru<br />
Ba<strong>go</strong>, another aspirant to the speakership from<br />
Niger State, <strong>No</strong>rth-Central, suspected a<br />
mischief <strong>and</strong>, in its reply, reply asked him to<br />
allow Gbajabimila to run on his record <strong>and</strong><br />
reputation.<br />
The statement signed by its spokesman,<br />
Hon. Victor Ogene, read in part, “We have<br />
perused the statement released by the National<br />
Leader of our Party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed<br />
Tinubu, especially as it concerns the leadership<br />
of the House of Representatives, <strong>and</strong> wish to<br />
respectfully disagree with him on some of the<br />
conclusions therein.<br />
“For starters, even though he took extra care<br />
not to mention his choice c<strong>and</strong>idate by name,<br />
the laborious attempt to pass off same desire<br />
as the onerous craving of President<br />
Muhammadu Buhari clearly leaves his real<br />
intentions exposed.<br />
“<strong>No</strong>t too long a<strong>go</strong>, in 2015, when Tinubu<br />
tried to foist the same mentee of his as Speaker,<br />
in spite of the rational voices of caution by<br />
many stakeholders, many had been left<br />
wondering if the enforcement effort was at the<br />
instance of President Buhari <strong>and</strong> the Party.<br />
“Although, a greater portion of the statement<br />
centred on his probable scheming for the 2023<br />
presidential election, real or imagined, our<br />
concern revolves around the oblique reference<br />
to loyalty as basis for his decision to st<strong>and</strong> by<br />
his adopted as the next Speaker of the House<br />
of Representatives.<br />
“It is on this score, <strong>and</strong> several other<br />
incontrovertible facts that we disagree with the<br />
position of our national leader.<br />
“It is our contention that nobody has the<br />
monopoly of loyalty. Put succinctly, it is not<br />
anyone’s exclusive preserve <strong>and</strong> no one is a<br />
custodian of it.<br />
“In deed, the pursuit of equity <strong>and</strong> fairness in<br />
an enterprise where we are all stakeholders<br />
cannot vitiate our c<strong>and</strong>idate’s long st<strong>and</strong>ing,<br />
earned reputation as a loyalist of President<br />
Buhari, our party, the All Progressives<br />
Congress, <strong>and</strong> above all, the people of his<br />
constituency, his state, Niger, <strong>and</strong> the <strong>No</strong>rth<br />
Central zone who have invested their trust in<br />
him to represent them.<br />
“Instead of seeking to pitch party faithful<br />
who seek their just due against the President,<br />
we rather expect Asiwaju Tinubu, as a father to<br />
all, to critically consider the legitimate<br />
aspiration of the <strong>No</strong>rth central zone <strong>and</strong> ensure<br />
that justice is done.<br />
“At the risk of sounding repetitive, we restate<br />
that no one currently jostling for the<br />
Speaker’s position is more loyal to President<br />
Buhari than Hon. Ba<strong>go</strong>.<br />
“From 2003 when he became a member of<br />
The Buhari Organization (TBO), to 2011 when<br />
he contested <strong>and</strong> won election to the House of<br />
Representatives on the platform of the defunct<br />
CPC, to 2015 <strong>and</strong> 2019 when he won reelection<br />
on the banner of the APC, Hon. Ba<strong>go</strong><br />
has remained a core Buharist, <strong>and</strong> any attempt<br />
to tar him with any brush of disloyalty cannot<br />
stick.”<br />
Gbajabimila should make<br />
sacrifice, step down to move<br />
Nigeria-Onyejiocha<br />
For Hon. Nkiru Onyejiocha, another<br />
aspirant from Abia State, South-East,<br />
Gbajabimila, even though the preferred choice<br />
by the party, should take the path of honour<br />
<strong>and</strong> step down in the interest of peace <strong>and</strong><br />
stability in the parliament.<br />
While formally declaring her intention on<br />
Tuesday, she said: “All of you know very well<br />
that Mr. President is a <strong>go</strong>od man. Mr president<br />
even before this time had taken his vice<br />
president from south east. Dr. Chuba Okadigbo<br />
was his running mate <strong>and</strong> all that. And so, there<br />
is no way the president will sit down <strong>and</strong> tell<br />
people that south east does not matter. And of<br />
course, you know that we have 3 arms of<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment. Moving forward, there is no way<br />
our party will not want work with the members<br />
of House of Representatives including people<br />
from the opposition parties because you are<br />
talking about <strong>go</strong>vernance now.<br />
“And I also know that the leader of the House,<br />
Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, a <strong>go</strong>od gentleman.<br />
But there is a time in somebody’s life that any<br />
leader who is a leader indeed will make<br />
sacrifice. And that time is now for the leader of<br />
my party <strong>and</strong> the leader of 8th Assembly; he<br />
was the minority leader <strong>and</strong> now majority<br />
leader an so, he is a leader in all rights. And so,<br />
this opportunity comes only once in a leader’s<br />
time when a leader will look self <strong>and</strong> says it is<br />
not about me, it is about Nigeria. And I believe<br />
that Nigeria needs healing. The l<strong>and</strong> needs<br />
healing <strong>and</strong> so, somebody has to make<br />
sacrifices to say let us move to the next level”.<br />
Any Implications for<br />
Gbajabimila’s aspiration?<br />
To keen observers of the political trend in the<br />
country, Tinubu’s latest statement is thoughtprovoking.<br />
In essence, the observers are of the<br />
view that the statement has become an<br />
albatross to Gbajabiamila’s aspiration <strong>and</strong><br />
inadvertantly swayed sympathy to other<br />
contestant like Ba<strong>go</strong> whose campaign is<br />
underst<strong>and</strong>ably gathering momentum by the<br />
day. They had preferred the APC National<br />
Leader to have maintained a subtle silence or,<br />
best, push remotely from behind instead of<br />
the open lash at the National Assembly<br />
leadership. They believe that the<br />
leadership even though is exiting the scene<br />
can still exert some influence. But the cat<br />
is already out of the bag. How much of its<br />
impact would however be seen in the days<br />
<strong>ahead</strong> when Gbajabimila who is currently<br />
performing lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia returns.<br />
Whichever way it <strong>go</strong>es, the ultimate result<br />
would be known on the inauguration day of<br />
the 9th Assembly in June.
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 13
PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
What having two kids from<br />
two different men taught me<br />
— Toyin Lawal<br />
Serial entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani of Tiannah’s Place Empire, once<br />
said she can do whatever she wants because no man <strong>pay</strong>s her bills or<br />
controls her life but she’s obviously not oblivious of the stigma that comes with being a<br />
single mother in a society such as ours. In a recent epistle posted on her Instagram page the<br />
beauty therapist who keeps romancing the sensibilities of many with her rather sensually<br />
explicit visuals, gives an insight into the lives of single m<strong>others</strong>, being a<br />
single mother with two kids from two different men, herself.<br />
“When you are different the world will hate you for no reason; when they<br />
don’t underst<strong>and</strong> your life choices or theories they will castigate you <strong>and</strong><br />
everything you st<strong>and</strong> for. The women that <strong>go</strong> through the most in life are<br />
single moms , they are blamed for their choice of not being married or in<br />
a man’s house. They take care of their kids, day in day out, pushing them<br />
to greater heights without uttering any complaints <strong>and</strong> still let the<br />
fathers play their role in the child’s life, they struggle, day in day<br />
out, to give the people around them joy <strong>and</strong> happiness. When you<br />
want to blame a woman for being single or having kids with<br />
different men, think twice because it can happen to anybody,<br />
either by death or by pain . At times we don’t choose our situations,<br />
at times, our situations choose us ,” she writes.<br />
She revealed that she had her first child at 23, having married<br />
at 19, possibly implying she never planned to be a single<br />
mom until situation spiraled out of her control <strong>and</strong><br />
bemoaned having lived through an abusive relationship.<br />
“A long time a<strong>go</strong>, a friend sent me a message which I<br />
still have, mocking me that I was in an abusive<br />
relationship showing off to me that she had a better<br />
husb<strong>and</strong> than me, I took my kids <strong>and</strong> walked away<br />
•Timi Dakolo<br />
S<br />
o<br />
from the relationship, said nothing to the public <strong>and</strong> focused on my<br />
business <strong>and</strong> kids. I had my first kid when I was 23 years old, I <strong>go</strong>t<br />
married when I was 19years old, there are many things y’all don’t<br />
know about me, I have been through hell <strong>and</strong> back with no complaints<br />
r pity party".<br />
What my children hate<br />
about me —Timi Dakolo<br />
BY ROTIMI AGBANA<br />
ensational soul music singer, Timi Dakolo may be reviewing his fatherhood skills anytime<br />
soon as his three lovely children, Hallel, Zoe <strong>and</strong> Alex<strong>and</strong>er, have boldly confronted<br />
him with what they dislike about him.<br />
According to the distraught singer who is now confused as to how else to deal with his kids,<br />
he is yet to come to terms with, if the methods he has been adopting in bringing them up<br />
are <strong>go</strong>od or bad.<br />
“While enjoying our breakfast, I asked my children what they don’t like about me or things<br />
I do that they don’t like. Hallel said, ‘Daddy you shout too much’ <strong>and</strong> I <strong>go</strong> like how? Don’t run<br />
on the stairs, drop my phone now, <strong>and</strong> turn off that TV now. Respect your brother Hallel, this is<br />
my house Hallel, this is my house. Turn off that TV or I will disconnect the TV. Hallel those are<br />
not real tears, leave my room'. Alex<strong>and</strong>er said ‘You are too harsh on me; you still won’t let me play<br />
PS4 even if I have nothing to do. You always shout ‘respect your sisters’ even if they look for my<br />
trouble a lot. When we do our family meeting, you talk a lot, you keep repeating the same thing<br />
<strong>and</strong> we are children we just want to play <strong>and</strong> watch TV but you don’t let us. You bought ipads for<br />
us but you always hide it'.<br />
He added; “Zoe said ‘You don’t let me wear what I want. You always say that is for outing. You<br />
never let me sleep in your room but you call me baby of the house. And you lie daddy, you will say<br />
you will come back soon but you don’t come back soon <strong>and</strong> you travel a lot. You say you have<br />
money in the bank but when I say I want more clothes you say, no money, Zoe'. My people, what<br />
is my crime?”<br />
Who knows, the ‘Iyawo mi’ crooner may soon embark on a journey in search of a rule book on<br />
how best to train his children to avoid a repeat of such bold confrontation from his kids.<br />
NEC Live 7 unravels<br />
thinking behind BBNaija<br />
frica’s leading marketing <strong>and</strong> public relations technology company, Plaqad.com<br />
Ahas announced the release of the first-ever Big Brother Naija report. The Report which<br />
was released at the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NEC) on Wednesday April 24, provides<br />
valuable insight into the public perception of the reality TV show, its impact on the youth<br />
culture in Nigeria <strong>and</strong> its effect on the Nigerian economy.<br />
While the show has remained popular especially with the young population, many have<br />
questioned the thinking behind it as well as its general impact on Nigeria’s economy <strong>and</strong><br />
youth culture.<br />
“While the popularity of BBNaija is never in doubt especially as it relates to its entertainment<br />
value, the direct <strong>and</strong> indirect impact of the show on youth culture <strong>and</strong> our economy is not as<br />
visible,” said Gbenga Sogbaike, CEO of Plaqad.<br />
“Does the show actually provide opportunities for young people to thrive in the creative<br />
industry? Does it indeed drive any growth in Nigeria’s entertainment, telecoms, fashion,<br />
hospitality, tourism, <strong>and</strong> media sectors as some have claimed? Why do thous<strong>and</strong>s of people<br />
show up for its auditions year after year? What makes the show appealing> Discovering the<br />
answers to these questions <strong>and</strong> many <strong>others</strong> require that one digs deeper <strong>and</strong> look beyond the<br />
surface.”<br />
“However, <strong>and</strong> rather unfortunately, there exists no concrete body of research on the BBNaija<br />
show till date. Hence the need for this report.”<br />
Among other exciting findings, the report revealed that Bisola Aiyeola, a 2017 contestant<br />
on the show, is the most loved BBNaija housemate ever. It also claimed that a majority of<br />
Nigerians believe the Big Brother Naija show is a more viable path to success than a university<br />
degree <strong>and</strong> a 9-5 job.<br />
• T o y i n<br />
Lawani<br />
•Ronke Tiamiyu<br />
Any man I date<br />
must respect me<br />
— Ronke Tiamiyu<br />
R<br />
onke Tiamiyu, ex<br />
beauty queen who hit<br />
stardom after clinching the Miss<br />
Charismatic crown at the 2013<br />
Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria<br />
(MBGN) has clearly defined<br />
what she requires of the man who<br />
wants to be with her, either for the<br />
moment or for life <strong>and</strong> her<br />
request is simple – respect! Ronke<br />
let the cat out of the bag in a<br />
recent chat with Potpourri when<br />
she was asked what would<br />
make her cheat on a guy.<br />
“There is nothing that<br />
would make me cheat, I<br />
would simply leave him. Any<br />
man I date must respect me<br />
as a woman, an intelligent,<br />
beautiful, hard working<br />
woman. He must love <strong>and</strong><br />
support me the same as I will<br />
love <strong>and</strong> support him. This<br />
world is a difficult place <strong>and</strong><br />
you need a partner that you are<br />
in it together with. If a man is<br />
disrespectful, talks down on you,<br />
insults you, or even worse,<br />
abuses you, a woman should<br />
leave him instantly because the<br />
man does not truly love her. I<br />
have too much respect for<br />
myself to be with a man who<br />
does not respect me,” she said.<br />
Apart from owning her own<br />
pageant called Miss<br />
Charismatic Nigeria pageant,<br />
Aderonke Tiamiyu has made<br />
the cover of House of Maliq<br />
<strong>and</strong> has featured as guest star<br />
in Flatmates as well as as<br />
many shows. She’s an actress<br />
<strong>and</strong> a model too.<br />
Legend the Musical set<br />
to tour Nigerian <strong>states</strong><br />
EGENDS: Kings <strong>and</strong> Kingdoms, a musical play centred on the lives <strong>and</strong><br />
Ltriumph of some Africa’s iconic legends has geared up to tour the <strong>states</strong> of<br />
Nigeria with a gr<strong>and</strong> show in Abuja the federal capital after their successful<br />
outings in La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
Following LEGENDS debut production in October 2018 during the 22nd<br />
edition of the annual MUSON Festival of the Arts, LEGENDS has since then<br />
been staged 16 times in La<strong>go</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Bonny Isl<strong>and</strong>. LEGENDS the musical<br />
performance surmounts each show leaving a ‘wow’ expression on the audience;<br />
making them ask for a comeback on stage after every performance.<br />
The producers <strong>and</strong> directors of LEGENDS the musical - Gbenga Yusuf <strong>and</strong> Ayo<br />
Ajayi, disclosed that the need to embark on a nation wide tour is as a result of<br />
yearnings from the fans <strong>and</strong> audience could not resist seeing the performance<br />
time after time.<br />
“Through music <strong>and</strong> dance, we embark on a journey through the lives <strong>and</strong> the<br />
cultures of five legendary icons in Africa from Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt <strong>and</strong><br />
Ghana: San<strong>go</strong>, son of Thunder, Shaka of Zulu, Yaa Asantewa of Asante Kingdom,<br />
Queen Amina of Zazzau <strong>and</strong> Queen Nefertiti of Egypt,” says Ayo.<br />
Speaking further, “In partnership with Transcorp Hilton hotel, LEGENDS: Kings<br />
<strong>and</strong> Kingdoms will be back on stage in t. hotel, Abuja from the 17th to 19th of May,<br />
2019. This MTN Foundation sponsored show will have her opening performance at<br />
7:00PM on the first day, while the subsequent days will be open for viewers at 4:00PM<br />
<strong>and</strong> 7:00PM daily. Art enthusiasts, fun lovers, historians <strong>and</strong> the general public are all<br />
invited to the show,” Ayo added.<br />
For Yusuf, “To celebrate Children’s Day through Democracy Day, there are Children<br />
<strong>and</strong> Adult shows in La<strong>go</strong>s from the 27th to 29th of May, 2019 in Agip hall, MUSON<br />
centre, Onikan (10:00AM, 4:00PM & 7:00PM daily). Co-produced with Mrs Karachi<br />
Atiya, 10:00AM shows are dedicated to LEGENDS Children Experience, which is<br />
loaded with fun activities like LEGENDS h<strong>and</strong> stamp wall, African body arts,<br />
LEGENDS mannequin cut-outs photo shoot, LEGENDS photo props, snack pack<br />
<strong>and</strong> many more,” he said.<br />
“Meanwhile, our open arms will be ready to receive families, groups, friends,<br />
business associate <strong>and</strong> all La<strong>go</strong>sians during our evening shows,” Yusuf<br />
concludes.<br />
LEGENDS the Musical is written by Paul Ugbede <strong>and</strong> is produced from<br />
the stable of Gbenga’s Seeing Through the Arts Production <strong>and</strong> Ayo’s<br />
Declassical Arts <strong>and</strong> Entertainment.<br />
L-R Public<br />
Relations<br />
Manager,<br />
MultiChoice Nigeria, Caroline Oghuma; Ex<br />
Big Brother Housemate, Tobi Bakare; Managing Director,<br />
MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe <strong>and</strong> Media Personality / Ex Big<br />
Brother Housemate, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu at the release of the firstever<br />
Big Brother Naija report in La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
C<br />
M<br />
Y<br />
K
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 15<br />
Psychological trauma<br />
I suffered after gaining<br />
weight for movie role<br />
— Toni Tones<br />
BY ROTIMI AGBANA<br />
or most women, putting on<br />
Funnecessary weight is something they never<br />
wish for as a result of the adverse effect it exerts on<br />
them physically, mentally <strong>and</strong> psychologically. But<br />
for sultry <strong>No</strong>llywood actress, Gbemi Anthonia<br />
Adefuye, popularly known as Toni Tones, she had to<br />
intentionally gain extra 40-pounds for a movie role<br />
in ‘King of Boys’.<br />
Sharing her experience, the actress explained the<br />
psychological trauma she suffered while living inher<br />
new size.<br />
“I’m almost back to my ‘pre-King of Boys’ weight. This is particularly huge for me,<br />
because at the time I chose to put on weight for the project, I was honestly very afraid<br />
about my ability to lose the weight again. I love food, so staying in shape already took<br />
a lot of effort. I had to learn a lot of self-discipline to be able to control my portions<br />
when I eat, make healthy food choices <strong>and</strong> make exercise a lifestyle.”<br />
“Yes it takes much longer, but the results also stay much longer! I went from 58kg<br />
to 76kg, that’s 40pounds/18kg. I lost 9kg by the premiere 8-months later <strong>and</strong> went<br />
down to 67kg. And today, 6 months after the premiere, I <strong>go</strong>t on scale <strong>and</strong> I’ve lost<br />
another 7kg. <strong>No</strong>w weighing 60kg <strong>and</strong> I don’t know how to act about it. I’m so<br />
excited. I’m just 2kg away from my <strong>go</strong>al of my original 58kg. But I will continue to<br />
take it slow <strong>and</strong> steady till I reach my <strong>go</strong>al.”<br />
“Most of my life, I’ve been told I couldn’t <strong>and</strong> shouldn’t do many things, acting<br />
was one of them. I never listened, I always let my fear <strong>and</strong> self-doubt fuel me,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I’m happy I did. Being able to put my mind to this <strong>and</strong> achieve this is so<br />
important to me, because it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It also<br />
took a toll on me psychologically, I had never been that size before, my face was<br />
much chubbier, my h<strong>and</strong>s were so big, my arms were so big, I couldn’t wear a<br />
lot of my old clothes. Everyone I ran into would comment on how much weight<br />
I’d put on. Fans would message me that I was becoming too big.”<br />
Though she wasn’t comfortable with the embarrassing attention she <strong>go</strong>t from<br />
men, she admitted that she liked the new size of her butts.<br />
“I had to constantly affirm myself <strong>and</strong> strengthen my belief that I was<br />
beautiful at any size. My butt was so massive, that was a plus. I <strong>go</strong>t to<br />
experience what all big booty ladies had been experiencing in terms of male<br />
attention <strong>and</strong> all I’ll say is, they are enjoying. You can’t move without men<br />
jumping. I honestly found it weird at first. Yes, I <strong>go</strong>t attention from guys<br />
previously, but it quadrupled. It actually became overwhelming at a point<br />
because you’ll be talking to someone <strong>and</strong> they’ll just be staring at your boobs<br />
<strong>and</strong> it became really annoying, sometimes offensive.”<br />
However, she expressed excitement over being able to lose weight again <strong>and</strong> revert<br />
to her former stature.<br />
“I’m glad my little old booty <strong>and</strong> my reasonably sized boobs are back. It was an<br />
interesting experience, but let me <strong>go</strong> back to my lane please, that’s the level my<br />
energy gets to. To finally be close to my <strong>go</strong>al, to actually be here is such an amazing<br />
feeling, considering how afraid I was. It took 15-months, but I did it. I put on weight<br />
for a role, gave the role my heart <strong>and</strong> soul <strong>and</strong> lost the weight after. I’ve never been<br />
more motivated that I can achieve anything I put my mind to”, she noted.<br />
The story of my humble beginnings —Kaffy<br />
•Kaffy<br />
BY ROTIMI AGBANA<br />
World class Nigerian dancer, choreographer, dance instructor <strong>and</strong> fitness coach, Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau-<br />
Ameh, better known as Kaffy, is well-loved <strong>and</strong> admired for her dancing abilities <strong>and</strong> the fact that she<br />
successfully transformed her passion <strong>and</strong> drive into a lucrative career.<br />
In a chat with Seyi Banigbe on her TV show, ‘Binging with the Game Changers’, the Guinness World Record holder who grew<br />
up with the dream of becoming an Aeronautical Engineer but eventually had to study Data Processing <strong>and</strong> Computer<br />
Science at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, recounted how she grappled with the hard knocks of life to build a solid<br />
successful career.<br />
“Though I was born into wealth, I lived in poverty for a while when at age 11, my parents separated. I <strong>and</strong> my<br />
siblings lived with their mum, <strong>and</strong> life became so difficult that they found it difficult to eke out a living. We<br />
literally consumed garri for seven months consecutively. I catered for myself <strong>and</strong> my family by <strong>go</strong>ing to the<br />
farm. I would harvest vegetables <strong>and</strong> sell to make money.”<br />
“Along the line, I joined an aerobics class at the National Stadium in order to lose weight <strong>and</strong> was always<br />
regular <strong>and</strong> punctual. This prompted my aerobics teacher to appoint me to lead the class whenever she was<br />
unavailable. Being a dancer, I infused dancing into aerobics <strong>and</strong> the class loved it, always wanting me to<br />
lead whenever the teacher was absent. I <strong>go</strong>t promoted <strong>and</strong> began to train athletes.”<br />
“During one of my weekends at the National Stadium for dance rehearsals <strong>and</strong> workouts, I was<br />
approached by a promoter for a modeling job. Part of the modeling activity was choreography. Even<br />
though I didn’t want to do the choreography at first, I later agreed <strong>and</strong> asked the promoter to allow me<br />
to do a solo performance. Unknown to me, many artistes were present at the event <strong>and</strong> loved my<br />
performance. The rest is history”, she said.<br />
<strong>No</strong> doubt, Kaffy has featured in numerous award-winning musical videos for many A-list artistes in<br />
Nigeria <strong>and</strong> across the globe. She won a Special Recognition Award at the 2018 edition of Headies,<br />
for her significant contribution to Nigeria’s entertainment.<br />
•Toni<br />
Tones<br />
•DJ Cuppy<br />
DJ Cuppy reels out new<br />
hot single ‘Abena’,<br />
features 3 artistes<br />
BY ROTIMI AGBANA<br />
nternational DJ <strong>and</strong> Producer,<br />
IFlorence Ifeoluwa Otedola,<br />
popularly known as Cuppy, is back<br />
with a new single release titled ‘Abena’,<br />
her first release this year. Following<br />
from her classic Afrobeats hit ‘Green<br />
Light’, Cuppy continues her musical<br />
exploration this time teaming up<br />
with 3 talented West African artistes;<br />
Kwesi Arthur, Shaydee & Ceeza<br />
Milli. This silky afro-love jam will no<br />
doubt be a hit in the clubs, DJ sets,<br />
<strong>and</strong> a favourite from Cuppy fans!<br />
Unquestionably, a leading female<br />
DJ in Africa, Cuppy is becoming a<br />
major player across the music field,<br />
having successfully gained a lot of<br />
recognition both in Nigeria <strong>and</strong><br />
internationally. This new release<br />
proves Cuppy’s further solidified<br />
position in the music industry as she<br />
continues to show us that there are<br />
many layers to her craft while<br />
stepping even further into the world<br />
of vocalist, songwriter, <strong>and</strong><br />
producer.<br />
Upon hearing ‘Abena’ its<br />
contagious sound is certainly<br />
captivating! Cuppy has certainly left<br />
us wanting more…<br />
Sojiii tops iTunes music chart with<br />
debut single, Tombo<br />
•CEO,<br />
AMG,<br />
Imole-Ayo<br />
<strong>and</strong> Sojiii<br />
Silva Fox sets to redefine adult night life scene in La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
Anew phenomenal adult<br />
night-life ambience in the<br />
fashion of Florida Night<br />
Club style in America called “Silver<br />
Fox” has made its entrant in the city<br />
of La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
The new club poised to unlock<br />
the potentials of the adult nightlife<br />
industry in West Africa <strong>and</strong> bringing<br />
luxurious adult entertainment to<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s, Nigeria, was unveiled in the<br />
Lekki axis of La<strong>go</strong>s during Easter<br />
season, with variety of spicy<br />
entertainment held from April 18 to<br />
21, 2019.<br />
Speaking on the imposing br<strong>and</strong><br />
to press in La<strong>go</strong>s, the founder, Big<br />
Slim, commented: “Silver Fox is a<br />
passionate idea we are bringing to<br />
Africa, starting from La<strong>go</strong>s, to create<br />
a luxurious <strong>and</strong> world class setting<br />
for gentlemen to let out all<br />
inhibitions, get loose, enjoy <strong>and</strong><br />
have fun. Adult night club is not just<br />
a business to me, it’s a passion <strong>and</strong><br />
with the experience I have, I decided<br />
it was time to come home, seeing<br />
how fast <strong>and</strong> big the entertainment<br />
<strong>and</strong> hospitality business in Nigeria<br />
is growing. I spent most of my life in<br />
Fast rising singer, Alvin Tolani Osungade, a.k.a Sojiii, has grown from<br />
an up <strong>and</strong> coming artiste to become a music sensation to reckon with<br />
both in Africa <strong>and</strong> in diaspora- Canada, America <strong>and</strong> Europe; as he has<br />
been topping music charts since he released his official debut single<br />
‘Tombo’, accompanied by an exotic visual, shot in Canada by Seed Visuals.<br />
Co-produced by Fresco Rhodes, the song topped music charts for 7-<br />
straight days after its debut on iTunes <strong>and</strong> apple music chart in the first<br />
week of release; a great record achieved for the first time by a contemporary<br />
afro-beats artiste based outside the continent <strong>and</strong> in Canada.<br />
The song also made it to the number 3 spot on Top Ten Nigerian Music<br />
hosted on the beat 99.9fm La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
Just few months a<strong>go</strong>, Sojiii signed a record deal with AMG (AY Media<br />
Group), a Canadian based record label <strong>and</strong> Media Company <strong>and</strong> today,<br />
he is enjoying the spotlight of mainstream media <strong>and</strong> a fast growing fan base spread across<br />
several continents.<br />
According to the CEO of AY Media Group, Imole-Ayo Ade-Tumi Adeosun, the label’s <strong>go</strong>al is to discover<br />
young talents from Africa, develop them into world class entertainers cum music exports <strong>and</strong> Sojiii is the first<br />
beneficiary of this plan <strong>and</strong> AMG’s flagship artiste.<br />
“As more talents are about to be launched with AMG platform, we will like to announce that AMG newly<br />
signed Nest Json, aka Daddy J, in March 2019, <strong>and</strong> his dropping his anticipated single ‘Pere’, sometime in<br />
April 2019. AMG is different from all other labels due to the fact that everyone under the label is treated like<br />
family <strong>and</strong> the artistes are not restricted in any way, enabling them to reach their highest potential”, he said.<br />
Miami, Florida, owning several<br />
strip clubs in Jacksonville Florida,<br />
Toronto <strong>and</strong> Caracas Venezuela <strong>and</strong><br />
having returned, I felt the ultimate<br />
gentlemen club experience should<br />
be introduced to Nigeria.”<br />
Speaking further, Big Slim<br />
stressed that Silver Fox founded<br />
since 2014 has become a force to<br />
reckon with on the Adult Nightlife<br />
scene with an outst<strong>and</strong>ing track<br />
record <strong>and</strong> international<br />
recognition. He said that the br<strong>and</strong><br />
is focused on making sure it is<br />
versatile enough in the delivery of<br />
premium <strong>and</strong> exquisite nightlife<br />
services, to keep exp<strong>and</strong>ing its<br />
reach as it gains more<br />
acceptance. “We move with the<br />
trends. Strip Clubs are part of the<br />
hip-hop culture <strong>and</strong> it’s my objective<br />
to change Africa with that same<br />
attitude. With 26 years of<br />
experience in this game, we have<br />
been consistent. At any given<br />
time, we have up to 50 dancers in<br />
rotation which maintains the<br />
excitement level. We also have<br />
various VIP rooms that ensure your<br />
utmost privacy,” Big Slim added.
PAGE 16 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
I fear that Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa,<br />
other languages may <strong>go</strong> into<br />
self-induced extinction<br />
— Oba Ajayi Michael<br />
In a lecture on culture delivered by Oba<br />
Michael Ajayi, the Elerinmo of Erinmo, during<br />
the Culture Fair Week of the College of<br />
Humanities, Redeemer’s University, Ede,<br />
Osun State, he stressed the importance of<br />
culture in a global village. Excerpts:<br />
Custodian<br />
I<br />
imagine you have<br />
appropriated this topic to me<br />
in recognition of my present<br />
office as a custodian of culture <strong>and</strong><br />
a Yoruba traditional ruler, especially<br />
one who has passed through the<br />
four walls of a university graduating<br />
at the age of 20 years about three<br />
decades a<strong>go</strong>. I will not pretend to<br />
assume the roles of our professors<br />
<strong>and</strong> academics here seated. I will<br />
try, however, to do justice to the topic<br />
from my own perspective as a<br />
Yoruba monarch.<br />
For ease of discussion, let us<br />
underst<strong>and</strong> the following about<br />
culture:<br />
In sub-Saharan Africa, people<br />
<strong>and</strong> culture are inseparable since<br />
there is no denial of the fact that<br />
what makes any human society is<br />
its culture; a Latin word which was<br />
derived from “colore” meaning to<br />
practice or cherish.<br />
Generally speaking, culture is the<br />
culmination of accepted norms of<br />
social behavior found in human<br />
societies. In common parlance,<br />
culture is often used to refer<br />
specifically to the symbolic activities<br />
used by an ethnic group (or any<br />
homogeneous group) to distinguish<br />
themselves visibly from each other.<br />
Such cultures are transmitted<br />
through social learning in human<br />
societies from one generation to the<br />
other.<br />
For instance, I am certain that the<br />
visioneers of this institution set it up<br />
based on certain basic principles<br />
they are known for <strong>and</strong> hence this<br />
institution has its own culture<br />
unique to it. Some institutions even<br />
have dress codes <strong>and</strong> so on. Simply<br />
put, culture is the set of customs,<br />
traditions <strong>and</strong> values of a society or<br />
community, such as an ethnic group<br />
or nation like the Yorubas; it is the<br />
set of knowledge acquired over time<br />
describing specific practices within<br />
a sub group of a society. Looking at<br />
the Yorubas, respect for elders is a<br />
major part of our culture hence male<br />
prostrate while females knee to<br />
greet, this as you know is not the<br />
same with other ethnic nationalities<br />
even in present day Nigeria. That<br />
is why we pride ourselves as<br />
OMOLUABIS.<br />
For a society to be societal it must<br />
be cultural; therefore, society <strong>and</strong><br />
culture are also intertwined. In the<br />
same vein, <strong>go</strong>ing by the theory of<br />
environmental determinism, the<br />
culture of any society is largely<br />
dictated by its geography. Put<br />
another way, there is conspicuous<br />
sociological interplay among the<br />
concepts of culture, nurture, <strong>and</strong><br />
nature.<br />
Culture refers to the cumulative<br />
deposit of knowledge, experience,<br />
beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings,<br />
hierarchies, religion, notions of<br />
time, roles, spatial relations,<br />
concepts of the universe, <strong>and</strong><br />
material objects <strong>and</strong> possessions<br />
acquired by a group of people in the<br />
course of generations through<br />
individual <strong>and</strong> group striving.<br />
Culture in its broadest sense is a<br />
cultivated behavior; that is, the<br />
totality of a person’s learned,<br />
accumulated experience which is<br />
socially transmitted, or more briefly,<br />
behavior through social learning. A<br />
culture is a way of life of a group of<br />
people—the behaviors, beliefs,<br />
values, <strong>and</strong> symbols that they<br />
accept, generally without thinking<br />
about them, <strong>and</strong> that are passed<br />
along by communication <strong>and</strong><br />
imitation from one generation to the<br />
next.<br />
Culture is symbolic<br />
communication. Some of its<br />
symbols include a group’s skills,<br />
knowledge, attitudes, values, <strong>and</strong><br />
motives. The meanings of the<br />
symbols are learned <strong>and</strong><br />
deliberately perpetuated in a<br />
society through its institutions.<br />
The culture of a people is their<br />
identity as it affords them due<br />
recognition. It is their underlying<br />
distinguishing factor from other<br />
peoples <strong>and</strong> cultures. In fact, all<br />
societies across the globe have<br />
various <strong>and</strong> divergent cultures<br />
which they cherish <strong>and</strong> practice.<br />
Nevertheless, no<br />
two cultures,<br />
when juxtaposed<br />
are absolutely<br />
identical as<br />
attested to by<br />
ethnographers. In<br />
order for a society<br />
to operate<br />
functionally <strong>and</strong><br />
effectively, they<br />
must ensure <strong>and</strong><br />
maintain strict<br />
<strong>and</strong> constant<br />
adherence to the<br />
v a r i o u s<br />
components of<br />
their culture.<br />
Culture is that<br />
complex whole<br />
which includes<br />
knowledge,<br />
belief, arts,<br />
morals, customs,<br />
laws <strong>and</strong> other<br />
capabilities<br />
which are<br />
learned, shared by<br />
men as members<br />
of society, <strong>and</strong><br />
transmitted from<br />
one generation to<br />
another. Culture has two essential<br />
qualities: first, it is learned <strong>and</strong><br />
second, it is shared. Sociologically,<br />
many activities of members of any<br />
society such as eating, music,<br />
dancing, occupation, education<br />
(formal, informal, <strong>and</strong> informal),<br />
visiting friends, courtship, marriage<br />
(its forms <strong>and</strong> types), beliefs<br />
(festivals <strong>and</strong> liturgies), naming <strong>and</strong><br />
burial ceremonies, entertaining<br />
friends <strong>and</strong> guests, greetings, <strong>and</strong><br />
system of <strong>go</strong>vernment, are all found<br />
within the confine of nonmaterial<br />
culture which is the exclusive<br />
preserve <strong>and</strong> concern of this study.<br />
The global<br />
village<br />
incursion has<br />
affected the<br />
usual cultural<br />
means of<br />
dressing that<br />
we are<br />
known for<br />
•Oba Ajayi Michael<br />
Material aspect of culture, which<br />
comprises the physical <strong>and</strong><br />
touchable implements or objects<br />
such as wears, computer, spoon, pot,<br />
cup, cutlass, building, phone, <strong>and</strong><br />
s<strong>and</strong>al, is also invaluable <strong>and</strong><br />
complementary.<br />
Culture <strong>and</strong> Globalization<br />
The term global village was<br />
coined by Marshall McLuhan, a<br />
Canadian philosopher, in the<br />
beginning of the 1960s. He had a<br />
vision of<br />
technology<br />
reducing the size<br />
of the globe to that<br />
of a village, with<br />
information<br />
floating freely <strong>and</strong><br />
simultaneously<br />
from one end to the<br />
other. Therefore,<br />
the term global<br />
village represents<br />
the concept of<br />
simplifying of the<br />
whole world into<br />
one village<br />
through the use of<br />
electronic media<br />
b r i n g i n g<br />
communities,<br />
people <strong>and</strong><br />
activities together<br />
outside the realm<br />
of physical<br />
contact.<br />
In our global<br />
village, we need to<br />
embrace new<br />
experiences —<br />
realize that it<br />
takes dozens of<br />
communities <strong>and</strong><br />
hundreds of years<br />
for each culture to evolve <strong>and</strong><br />
develop its own values, morals,<br />
business practices <strong>and</strong> ethics. As our<br />
multicultural environments exp<strong>and</strong>,<br />
often our nonverbal differences<br />
such as social, educational <strong>and</strong><br />
economic discrepancies, power<br />
dynamics <strong>and</strong> spiritual beliefs,<br />
become the leverage for our<br />
communication.<br />
Since culture connects every<br />
aspect of life, doing business on a<br />
global basis requires a <strong>go</strong>od<br />
underst<strong>and</strong>ing of different cultures.<br />
For instance, in the Western world,<br />
a h<strong>and</strong>shake is a sign of a successful<br />
business discussion or transaction<br />
whereas in the Middle East, the<br />
same h<strong>and</strong>shake means serious<br />
business is about to commence.<br />
Anyone who intends to enjoy a<br />
warm welcome will have to take<br />
steps to underst<strong>and</strong> the cultural<br />
expectations of his clients or<br />
business partners or hosts.<br />
Let us review the effects of<br />
globalization on a few aspects of<br />
culture below:<br />
Language – In this modern day,<br />
we can easily notice a situation<br />
where our traditional language has<br />
been modified or totally ab<strong>and</strong>oned<br />
by our children who now feel more<br />
comfortable speaking <strong>and</strong> adopting<br />
some other widely spoken<br />
languages. If this drift is not<br />
curtailed, we will get to a point<br />
where indigenous languages<br />
(Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, among<br />
<strong>others</strong>) will <strong>go</strong> into natural selfinduced<br />
extinction.<br />
Dressing – Another aspect of our<br />
culture being adversely affected is<br />
our traditional mode of dressing. The<br />
global village incursion has affected<br />
the usual cultural means of dressing<br />
that we are known for, hence while<br />
we Africans are desperately<br />
replacing our traditional African<br />
clothing, non-Africans fancy our<br />
attires <strong>and</strong> admire them when the<br />
opportunity arises.<br />
Religion – Our African traditional<br />
religion has been most affected by<br />
colonization, then subsequently by<br />
globalization. Many of us no longer<br />
remember who we were <strong>and</strong> from<br />
what religious background we have<br />
come, most have merely embraced<br />
what they find convenient <strong>and</strong><br />
“modern”.<br />
Telecommunication – We must<br />
admit that the technological<br />
development in the world has<br />
positively influenced our people.<br />
The local illiterate farmer in my<br />
village whose son has bought him<br />
a phone is now able to communicate<br />
with his son who is thous<strong>and</strong>s of<br />
kilometers away in America, I am<br />
also able to speak to <strong>and</strong> see my<br />
kids on video real time. This is a<br />
positive influence of the technology<br />
on us.<br />
Trade <strong>and</strong> Commerce – With the<br />
global village trade has been made<br />
easier through non visual<br />
communication <strong>and</strong> this has<br />
brought millions of potential buyers<br />
to producers some of whom are in<br />
remote villages around the world.<br />
Behavioral Patterns - Knowledge,<br />
as they say, is power. It is now easy<br />
for people to acquire knowledge. We<br />
have equally witnessed the<br />
unabashed promotion of habits,<br />
behavioural patterns <strong>and</strong> even<br />
sexual preferences, hitherto<br />
unthinkable anywhere in the world.<br />
Has it not become commonplace to<br />
find people expending hard-earned<br />
resources on sex change? All of a<br />
sudden, same sex intimacy <strong>and</strong><br />
marriage, even bestiality have<br />
become the norm across our world.<br />
The world itself is in crisis, so is<br />
Nigeria. Perhaps, only once since<br />
God created the world has humanity<br />
witnessed the level of moral<br />
decadence currently ravaging<br />
cultures across the globe. That<br />
record was in the bible times, when<br />
angels were reported to have<br />
descended from their ethereal<br />
abodes in heaven to have canal<br />
relationship with the daughters of<br />
men! The scriptures are also replete<br />
with other accounts of immorality<br />
such as temple prostitution, flagrant<br />
disobedience, stubbornness, theft<br />
<strong>and</strong> widespread violence.<br />
I have <strong>go</strong>ne this way back to show<br />
that the vice we are contending with<br />
is not really an innovation in human<br />
history. The society has mostly been<br />
in decadence, from time<br />
immemorial. Recall that even in the<br />
beginning, “The world was without<br />
form <strong>and</strong> void <strong>and</strong> darkness was<br />
upon the face of the deep.”<br />
There must be hope for the present<br />
<strong>and</strong> perhaps future generations. It<br />
must, however be emphasized from<br />
the beginning that although my<br />
prescription focuses on the role of<br />
traditional institutions in this<br />
process of rediscovery <strong>and</strong> rebirth,<br />
our search for moral reawakening<br />
must naturally be all inclusive <strong>and</strong><br />
extend to everybody.<br />
We all have a role to play. It will<br />
in fact be a disservice <strong>and</strong> an<br />
exercise in self deceit to think that<br />
only one stratum in our natural<br />
leadership pyramid, such as the<br />
traditional institution, holds the key<br />
to moral rejuvenation.<br />
C<br />
M<br />
Y<br />
K
From begging to b<strong>and</strong>itry:<br />
Revolt of the almajiris<br />
“<strong>No</strong> revolution is the fault of<br />
the people but the fault of the<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment.”—Johann<br />
Goethe, 1749-1832, VAN-<br />
GUARD BOOK OF QUOTA-<br />
TIONS, VBQ.<br />
revolution is underway<br />
A in the northern <strong>states</strong> of<br />
Nigeria. The downtrodden<br />
constituting 99.9 per cent of<br />
the population, hitherto docile<br />
beggars, saying rankaindedeto<br />
the privileged 0.1 per<br />
cent, are sick <strong>and</strong> tired of begging.<br />
They are now dem<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
for their own share of “the<br />
national cake” to be delivered<br />
to them – at gun or cutlass<br />
points. Nigeria will never be<br />
the same again. The <strong>No</strong>rth is<br />
now gradually sliding into the<br />
dictatorship of the beggars or<br />
almajiris.<br />
As usual, Nigerian pseudosocialists,<br />
like the original European<br />
promoters of the idea,<br />
had not expected the least developed<br />
region in this country<br />
to trigger the revolution,<br />
just as the uprising which occurred<br />
first in Russia <strong>and</strong> died<br />
there as well was wrongly predicted.<br />
Our local copy cats had<br />
been writing <strong>and</strong> talking<br />
about revolution in Nigeria<br />
on the assumption that highly<br />
educated Nigerians would<br />
lead it. History might eventually<br />
record that the Nigerian<br />
revolution (<strong>and</strong> make no mistake<br />
about it there is one on)<br />
was spear-headed by those<br />
with nothing to lose – no job,<br />
no house, no family to speak<br />
of, <strong>and</strong> no hope. For too long<br />
there has been ample evidence<br />
to prove that the most<br />
difficult enemy to fight is one<br />
who has nothing to lose. The<br />
privileged class in Nigeria<br />
had been busy since 1914, <strong>and</strong><br />
particularly since 1960, nurturing<br />
millions of fellow citizens<br />
who can only be described<br />
as people without hope<br />
living in another Nigeria from<br />
the one inhabited by their<br />
overfed leaders.<br />
“There are only two families<br />
in the world, my old gr<strong>and</strong>mother<br />
used to say, the Haves<br />
Resignation is what kills people.<br />
Once they've rejected resignation,<br />
humans gain the<br />
privilege of making humanity<br />
their footpath—Kouta Hirano<br />
am of an age when <strong>go</strong>ing<br />
I to hospital was a common<br />
place, it was relatively stress<br />
free; you knew what to expect.<br />
Depending on your presentation,<br />
you either <strong>go</strong> to a clinic<br />
or one of the teaching hospitals.<br />
You were guaranteed<br />
timely <strong>and</strong> high quality intervention,<br />
access to efficient<br />
health professionals <strong>and</strong> <strong>pay</strong>ment<br />
for treatment was affordable.<br />
Sadly, this is no longer<br />
the case. The Nigerian health<br />
care service both public <strong>and</strong><br />
private are cut throats <strong>and</strong><br />
under resourced <strong>and</strong> at times,<br />
inhumane.<br />
We now have a multi tiered<br />
health care system according<br />
to one’s means or no treatment<br />
at all, because seeking treatment<br />
or not is now more of an<br />
option.<br />
Health care is now a luxury<br />
than many cannot afford.<br />
Almost twenty years a<strong>go</strong>, my<br />
dad had an accident <strong>and</strong> sustained<br />
multiple fractures that<br />
needed a leg cast <strong>and</strong> regular<br />
appointments at the orthopaedic<br />
units. My father has always<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Have-nots.” Miguel<br />
Cervantes, 1547-1616.<br />
It has always been a puzzle<br />
to me why leaders – Presidents,<br />
Governors, Ministers, Commissioners,<br />
party leaders –<br />
who we presumed were/are<br />
intelligent <strong>and</strong> wise could<br />
have individually <strong>and</strong> collectively<br />
failed to underst<strong>and</strong> that<br />
we cannot continue to increase<br />
the number of jobless<br />
adults <strong>and</strong> children out of<br />
school without eventually<br />
reaching the breaking point.<br />
Nigeria has one of the widest<br />
income disparities in the<br />
world – less than one per cent<br />
own over seventy per cent of<br />
the wealth. The <strong>No</strong>rth as a<br />
whole is the worst – with the<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth East <strong>and</strong> <strong>No</strong>rth West<br />
being the absolute worst. For<br />
as long as anybody can remember<br />
religion has been<br />
misused to get the vast majority<br />
of “have-nots” to accept<br />
their penury as an “act of Allah”.<br />
The extremely wealthy,<br />
even if the wealth was accumulated<br />
by looting the public<br />
purse <strong>go</strong>t away with robbing<br />
the masses because of the pervasive<br />
docility. Every delinquent<br />
individual readily was<br />
submissive to the privileged<br />
whose only obligation was to<br />
give pittance to the people they<br />
have robbed by way of alms<br />
giving. A <strong>go</strong>vernor caught on<br />
video receiving bribe shows no<br />
remorse <strong>and</strong> even receives<br />
presidential endorsement because<br />
president <strong>and</strong> <strong>go</strong>vernor<br />
belong to the oppressive class.<br />
Class solidarity was always<br />
more important than justice.<br />
For over four decades since<br />
first setting foot in the <strong>No</strong>rth, I<br />
had wondered when the injustice<br />
would result in absolute<br />
rebellion. I was certain that the<br />
system of institutionalised<br />
serfdom could not continue for<br />
ever. The chickens have come<br />
home to roost in the <strong>No</strong>rth <strong>and</strong><br />
the revolt might spread all<br />
over the country. The former<br />
beggars have dropped their<br />
bowls <strong>and</strong> have acquired bullets<br />
<strong>and</strong> guns. They are now<br />
forcing the Haves, who have<br />
Nigerian health care<br />
critical<br />
been an inpatient patient, he<br />
does not like to be dependent<br />
on anyone but he knew he had<br />
to <strong>pay</strong> for treatment so that he<br />
can recover the use of foot. He<br />
regularly attended the fracture<br />
clinic <strong>and</strong> had his cast removed<br />
<strong>and</strong> recasted, for this<br />
he paid every step of the way,<br />
the nurse, the doctor, the cast<br />
materials, the administrator<br />
<strong>and</strong> so on. That was the way.<br />
During that time, we heard<br />
of horror stories, of people<br />
faced with similar broken<br />
bones, for them, it is Hobson’s<br />
choice; to spend money they<br />
cannot afford monthly or have<br />
the limb amputated once <strong>and</strong><br />
for all. Many chose the latter.<br />
This shouldn’t be, but this was<br />
they were faced with. It is unimaginable<br />
how many died of<br />
gangrene or secondary infection<br />
or life changing disabilities.<br />
Some went the traditional<br />
healers route. They had their<br />
features broken <strong>and</strong> then recasted<br />
(without anaesthetics)<br />
in the attempt to metaphysically<br />
recast the bones with potions.<br />
One can only imagine<br />
the outcome.<br />
That was twenty years a<strong>go</strong>.<br />
So you would have thought<br />
things would have progressed<br />
for the better. <strong>No</strong>, it has <strong>go</strong>t<br />
suppressed them to <strong>pay</strong>.<br />
Henceforth, it will be “Your<br />
money or your life.” The report<br />
by DAILY TRUST a few<br />
weeks a<strong>go</strong> is revealing. The<br />
four most dangerous places to<br />
be in Nigeria today from the<br />
st<strong>and</strong>point of kidnapping <strong>and</strong><br />
murder are: Zamfara, Katsina,<br />
Kaduna <strong>and</strong> Federal Capital<br />
Territory. President Buhari<br />
resides in two of them.<br />
“If there is <strong>go</strong>vernment in<br />
place, then it should listen to<br />
people <strong>and</strong> address the security<br />
challenges. We have mass<br />
burials from time to time <strong>and</strong><br />
there is no sign that <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
cares about what is happening.”—Catholic<br />
Bishop of<br />
Yola, Rev. Stephen Mamza.<br />
To that query President Buhari<br />
gave an answer which is<br />
most pathetic <strong>and</strong> which <strong>tells</strong><br />
us all we need to know about<br />
why we are in this mess <strong>and</strong><br />
may never get out of it. Read<br />
what our leader said. Speaking<br />
through one of his echoes,<br />
we were told that “but for Buhari’s<br />
efforts, Yola <strong>and</strong> other<br />
towns in Adamawa <strong>and</strong> the<br />
rest of the <strong>No</strong>rtheast would still<br />
be under the control of Boko<br />
Haram”. Two reasons among<br />
several render that rejoinder<br />
most unpatriotic. One, there<br />
was never a time all of the<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth East or Yola were under<br />
the control of Boko Haram.<br />
Parts of them yes, but not the<br />
entire region. A president does<br />
need to stretch a small truth to<br />
the breaking point in order to<br />
exonerate himself. Two, on the<br />
same day that the President’s<br />
spokesman was uttering that<br />
falsehood, Nigerians were informed<br />
thus: “Gun men kill 14<br />
in Katsina <strong>and</strong> Benue.” Nine<br />
of the fourteen were slaughtered<br />
in Katsina State. Under<br />
Jonathan nobody was killed<br />
in Katsina State <strong>and</strong> Kaduna<br />
had not become the murder<br />
capital of Nigeria. While the<br />
Bishop was making a general<br />
observation about insecurity,<br />
Buhari <strong>and</strong> his small-minded<br />
spokesmen turned the entire<br />
problem to a political debate<br />
– APC versus PDP. With such<br />
little intellect at the top levels<br />
of <strong>go</strong>vernment, it is easy to<br />
underst<strong>and</strong> why Buhari might<br />
be the last to grasp the significance<br />
of what appears like<br />
r<strong>and</strong>om violence ravaging<br />
Nigeria now. Allow me to<br />
present a true account of what<br />
happened four days to Easter<br />
last week.<br />
“The Devil finds work for idle<br />
h<strong>and</strong>s.”<br />
I was in Suleija after venturing<br />
into a part of Nigeria<br />
which was once very safe but<br />
worse. By the way, my father’s<br />
broken leg was badly treated<br />
until we realised that despite<br />
changing the cast regularly,<br />
they failed to treat the skin <strong>and</strong><br />
the bones. We had to treat him<br />
for rotting wounds <strong>and</strong> it took<br />
months to heal. He mobilises<br />
well but with the aid of a walking<br />
stick.<br />
The story of access or lack<br />
thereof, <strong>and</strong> the quality of<br />
treatment in healthcare is<br />
sadly, out of reach for many<br />
<strong>and</strong> it is definitely inadequate<br />
<strong>and</strong> it is causing needs deaths.<br />
It is absolutely shocking <strong>and</strong><br />
insensitive that, the minister for<br />
Labour <strong>and</strong> Employment, Dr.<br />
Chris Ngige, had the guts to<br />
say our scarce<br />
resoureces;doctors who may<br />
want to relocate overseas,<br />
should <strong>go</strong> right <strong>ahead</strong>, according<br />
to him, Nigeria has<br />
enough medical personnel.<br />
Yes, he said it.<br />
This man has either been ill<br />
informed or he is deluded or<br />
in denial or all three.<br />
I don’t know what part of Nigeria,<br />
this man lives in, but he<br />
is clueless <strong>and</strong> not worthy of<br />
his portfolio. 1<br />
Having said that,very rich<br />
people do no not access local<br />
health care services. If they did,<br />
they would realise that: there<br />
are not enough medical manpower<br />
or resources.<br />
Ngige , was responding to a<br />
question on brain drain <strong>and</strong><br />
the deliberate recruitment of<br />
Nigerian doctors by foreign<br />
embassies in Nigeria to the<br />
detriment of the nation’s<br />
health sector. He should know,<br />
as a medical doctor himself,<br />
or so you would have thought.<br />
Guess the truth eluded him<br />
According to the World<br />
Health Organization (WHO),<br />
which has now become like the<br />
“lion’s den” for travellers – especially<br />
for those driving <strong>go</strong>od<br />
cars <strong>and</strong> well-dressed. <strong>No</strong>t to<br />
test my luck, I had chartered<br />
an old jalopy from the Motor<br />
Park instead of the usual Camry.<br />
We stopped at a filling station<br />
to refuel <strong>and</strong> my eyes could<br />
not believe what they saw. A<br />
leading member of the National<br />
Assembly, NASS, was sitting<br />
in the back seat of a car which<br />
no panel-beater would touch.<br />
I recognised him <strong>and</strong> moved<br />
to introduce myself <strong>and</strong> to ask<br />
what was the matter with his<br />
cars? Almost in tears, he told<br />
me he was heading for Kaduna<br />
state but he had to disguise<br />
out of fear of being kidnapped<br />
or murdered. He would enter<br />
his community at night <strong>and</strong><br />
depart before light of dawn for<br />
safety. His family once paid<br />
ransom to kidnappers <strong>and</strong> he<br />
was not ready to <strong>go</strong> through<br />
the trauma again. He finished<br />
with words that will live long<br />
in my memory. “The kidnappers<br />
we dealt with were all<br />
graduates. They spoke <strong>go</strong>od<br />
English. They said they were<br />
all unemployed <strong>and</strong> they too<br />
must live somehow. Dr Dele,<br />
The Governors of<br />
Zamfara <strong>and</strong> Katsina<br />
recently cried out loud<br />
that their <strong>states</strong> were<br />
under the control of<br />
b<strong>and</strong>its <strong>and</strong> kidnappers.<br />
The Presidency does not<br />
dispute those claims<br />
God save the <strong>No</strong>rth. We are in<br />
deep trouble.”<br />
He was not alone. I know<br />
people who would spend every<br />
possible week end in their<br />
country homes in Kaduna<br />
State until a year a<strong>go</strong>. That<br />
was three years after Jonathan<br />
left office <strong>and</strong> Buhari took<br />
over. They don’t <strong>go</strong> anymore –<br />
unless it is absolutely necessary.<br />
The Governors of Zamfara<br />
<strong>and</strong> Katsina recently cried<br />
out loud that their <strong>states</strong> were<br />
under the control of b<strong>and</strong>its<br />
<strong>and</strong> kidnappers. The Presidency<br />
does not dispute those<br />
claims. The Governors of<br />
Zamfara <strong>and</strong> Katsina under<br />
Jonathan never cried all the<br />
way to Abuja that their <strong>states</strong><br />
had been taken over by crimi-<br />
The Nigerian health<br />
care service both<br />
public <strong>and</strong> private are<br />
cut throats <strong>and</strong> under<br />
resourced <strong>and</strong> at<br />
times, inhumane<br />
Nigeria has one of the highest<br />
doctor to population ratio in<br />
Africa. It is hard to believe isn’t<br />
but this is a misnomer .<br />
We know the bench mark in<br />
Sub-Saharan Africa is pegged<br />
so low ,so the figure is nothing<br />
to crow about.<br />
What is the global recommendation<br />
for optimal health<br />
delivery? Well, it is one doctor<br />
to 600 population.<br />
According to the Medical<br />
<strong>and</strong> Dental Council of Nigeria<br />
(MDCN), there are about<br />
72,000 nationally-registered<br />
Nigerian doctors, with only<br />
35,000 practising in-country!<br />
So make of it what you will<br />
that is over 35,000 for 200 million<br />
Nigerians.<br />
Assuming all the doctors stay<br />
<strong>and</strong> practice in Nigeria, which<br />
is definitely not the case. So<br />
how on earth did the minister<br />
come up with the surplus doctors<br />
<strong>and</strong> having no qualms of<br />
haemorrhaging doctors to<br />
overseas health services.<br />
He said that there was nothing<br />
wrong with doctors leaving<br />
the country because,the<br />
remittance they, in turn, grow<br />
the economy, “<strong>No</strong>, I am not<br />
worried (about doctors leaving<br />
the country). We have surplus.<br />
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 17<br />
nals. The fact that the President’s<br />
own state is under found anywhere. Hitherto,<br />
nition of revolution can be<br />
siege by gun men should they were afraid of the rich<br />
have been embarrassing to <strong>and</strong> powerful. Henceforth, the<br />
the people (if that is the right privileged will be afraid of<br />
word?) at Aso Rock if commonsense<br />
is still present Kaduna-Abuja expressway<br />
them. It is no coincidence that<br />
there.<br />
has become the frontline of<br />
If the President’s men <strong>and</strong> battle. A <strong>go</strong>od percentage of<br />
women have taken any trouble<br />
to collate the crime re-<br />
elite travels through that route<br />
the over-pampered <strong>No</strong>rthern<br />
ports daily presented by all on their way to their well-appointed<br />
palaces. Next to that<br />
our newspapers, they would<br />
have discovered an alarming<br />
correlation between un-<br />
the newly-rich. More public<br />
is Katsina. It is the home of<br />
employment <strong>and</strong> serious officials from that state had<br />
crimes in rural <strong>and</strong> urban been alleged to embezzle public<br />
funds since Buhari be-<br />
communities. Even the murders<br />
seemingly committed came President than ever before.<br />
The b<strong>and</strong>its can observe<br />
for rituals have as their <strong>go</strong>al<br />
acquisition of wealth by people<br />
whose means of legiti-<br />
<strong>and</strong> they want their share of<br />
new mansions springing up<br />
mate livelihood is not secure. the loot. Kidnapping will not<br />
The <strong>No</strong>rth has more of them end any time soon. Like vultures,<br />
b<strong>and</strong>its <strong>and</strong> kidnappers<br />
<strong>and</strong> it is breeding them faster<br />
than any other part of the can literally “smell money”.<br />
country.<br />
They are not even afraid of<br />
“The child is the father of the security forces. They fight<br />
the man.” William Wordsworth,<br />
1770-1850.<br />
select their targets. They know<br />
back; <strong>and</strong> they can afford to<br />
When in 2006, Dr Oby the army is over-stretched <strong>and</strong><br />
Ezekwesili was the Federal cannot be everywhere. Most<br />
Minister of Education <strong>and</strong> important of all, they have<br />
the number of millions of nothing to lose. The soldier<br />
children out of school was who dies in conflict with them<br />
reported, any demographer probably has a wife <strong>and</strong> children.<br />
He really does not want<br />
could have told President<br />
Obasanjo that the b<strong>and</strong>its to die. The b<strong>and</strong>its have nobody<br />
waiting for them at<br />
<strong>and</strong> kidnappers of 2019 were<br />
already with us waiting to home. That is the nature of<br />
grow up <strong>and</strong> terrorise us. The the army which Nigerian<br />
five years old boys of 2006 leaders have assembled <strong>and</strong><br />
are now lanky eighteen which is now launching a full<br />
years old lads; the ten years scale assault on the country –<br />
old have turned to men 23 especially the <strong>No</strong>rth. They<br />
years old. While the very have thrown away the begging<br />
bowl; they now confront<br />
young might be afraid to kidnap,<br />
rob <strong>and</strong> murder, the the rest of us with bullets <strong>and</strong><br />
eighteen-plus, without parental<br />
guidance all the time, in this war for fifty years or<br />
guns. We might be engaged<br />
are not so squeamish. There more.<br />
are millions of them now. THEY JUST CAN’T STOP<br />
That is bad enough. <strong>No</strong>w we LYING.<br />
have a new set of future delinquents<br />
– ten to thirteen house of prayer/ The Devil al-<br />
“Wherever God erects a<br />
millions – out of school. Most ways builds a Chapel there/<br />
of them will live to reach And, it will be found upon examination/<br />
The latter has a<br />
eighteen <strong>and</strong> above. Millions<br />
of their older br<strong>others</strong> larger congregation. Daniel<br />
identified in 2006 will still Defoe, 1661-1731.<br />
be alive when the fresh crop Buhari meant well when he<br />
of idle h<strong>and</strong>s gets set to be tried to achieve religious balance<br />
in the appointments of<br />
engaged by Satan. The numbers<br />
will swell <strong>and</strong> the security<br />
forces will never be able speak about Muslims. But, the<br />
his closest officials. I cannot<br />
to cope with the deluge of President must have inadvertently<br />
strayed into the Devil’s<br />
criminals unless we do<br />
something urgently. chapel to select his Christian<br />
The problem is national. advisers. The Pastors in Aso<br />
But, the <strong>No</strong>rth is now experiencing<br />
a revolt of the beg-<br />
worshippers of Satan ever to<br />
Rock are probably the worst<br />
gars. They no longer wait patiently<br />
at the gates of the few that the <strong>FG</strong> bought millions<br />
enter the Rock. One claimed<br />
wealthy people in their communities.<br />
They now have set ers wonder where he <strong>go</strong>t the<br />
of cows to feed the kids. Farm-<br />
about redistributing wealth cattle from since none of theirs<br />
by violence. <strong>No</strong> better defi- was bought.<br />
If you have surplus, you export.<br />
It happened some years<br />
a<strong>go</strong> here. I was taught chemistry<br />
<strong>and</strong> biology by Indian<br />
teachers in my secondary<br />
school days.<br />
“There are surplus in their<br />
country <strong>and</strong> we also have<br />
surplus in the medical profession<br />
in our country. I can<br />
tell you this. In my area, we<br />
have excess.<br />
Serioursly,did he underst<strong>and</strong><br />
the question? He<br />
asked ,“Who said we don’t<br />
have enough doctors? We<br />
have more than enough. You<br />
can quote me. There is nothing<br />
wrong in them travelling<br />
out. When they <strong>go</strong> abroad,<br />
they earn money <strong>and</strong> send<br />
them back home here. Yes,<br />
we have foreign exchange<br />
earnings from them <strong>and</strong> not<br />
just oil.”<br />
Can he tell why we have a<br />
high infant <strong>and</strong> maternal<br />
mortality rate? Why are people<br />
suffering more ill health<br />
or lowered mortality rate if<br />
Nigerians have enough<br />
health personnel that it can<br />
afford to haemorrhage essential<br />
health workers to other<br />
countries to the detriment<br />
of the health of 8ts population.<br />
The reality is medics<br />
are leaving because of lack<br />
of opportunities <strong>and</strong> grinding<br />
poverty.<br />
He simply, telling the improvised<br />
that there is no problem<br />
<strong>and</strong> that everything us<br />
fine <strong>and</strong> d<strong>and</strong>y because the<br />
ineptitude of subsequent administrations<br />
lack of investment<br />
in prioritising health<br />
care <strong>and</strong> resources is not a<br />
problem! He seems to play<br />
down Nigerians resilience as<br />
a success <strong>and</strong> a resource for<br />
the <strong>go</strong>vernment coffers.<br />
What an insult! We know that<br />
remittance of billions of dollars<br />
is what keeps Nigeria<br />
afloat. This arrogance of this<br />
minister knows no end, “Will<br />
you call that brain drain? I<br />
know a couple of them who<br />
practise abroad but set up<br />
medical centres back home.<br />
They have CAT scan, MRI<br />
scan which even the <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
cannot maintain. So, I<br />
don’t see any loss,” he said.<br />
Yeah,so all these centres are<br />
privately own <strong>and</strong> are better<br />
sourced than the public<br />
health centre. It has cost implications,<br />
so if you are poor<br />
or unemployed or have no<br />
means ,it is out of reach of<br />
many.<br />
This quite concerning, very<br />
concerning indeed. He has no<br />
clue on ensuring that the country<br />
grows its economy <strong>and</strong><br />
provide employment for millions<br />
of Nigerians, talk less of<br />
safeguarding the health of the<br />
people.<br />
The fact here is over decades,<br />
thous<strong>and</strong>s of Nigerians<br />
have migrated due to inadequate,<br />
under resources <strong>and</strong> inequitable<br />
distribution of<br />
health care services <strong>and</strong> manpower.<br />
Access to health is<br />
more in urban areas than in<br />
villages <strong>and</strong> our reach places<br />
meaning health outcome is<br />
sadly unequal <strong>and</strong> health care<br />
workers tend to seek work in<br />
cities <strong>and</strong> towns(HRH Country<br />
Profile: Nigeria, WHO<br />
GHWA, 2008).<br />
All habits are bad habits. (...)<br />
Madness does not come by<br />
breaking out, but by giving in;<br />
by settling down in some dirty,<br />
little, self-repeating circle of<br />
ideas; by being tamed.<br />
G.K. Chesterton.
PAGE 18 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
By Esther Onyegbula<br />
All over the world, there is<br />
increasing incidence of<br />
incest with fathers having<br />
carnal knowledge of their biological<br />
daughters.<br />
More worrisome is the fact that<br />
the ugly trend is becoming a routine<br />
in this part of the world as hardly a<br />
week passes without reports of<br />
fathers raping their daughters,<br />
mostly teenagers, <strong>and</strong>, sometimes,<br />
in the process, impregnating them.<br />
Across major cities <strong>and</strong> slums,<br />
there are tales everywhere of the<br />
shameful act. While some victims<br />
speak out, <strong>others</strong> don’t until it is late<br />
because of fear, shame <strong>and</strong> stigma.<br />
Unfortunately, only a few suspects<br />
are prosecuted as <strong>others</strong> <strong>go</strong><br />
unpunished.<br />
And for those who are prosecuted,<br />
the cases are sometimes struck out<br />
for lack of diligent prosecution, or<br />
the victims or witnesses fail to<br />
testify.<br />
A few weeks a<strong>go</strong>, Ogun State<br />
Police Comm<strong>and</strong> arrested a 45-yearold<br />
man, Idowu Owolabi, for<br />
allegedly raping his 21-year-old<br />
daughter.<br />
Owolabi, who has three wives,<br />
was accused of having carnal<br />
knowledge of his daughter since<br />
last year.<br />
The suspect was arrested on<br />
January 28, 2019, following a<br />
complaint lodged by the victim at<br />
the Divisional Police Headquarters,<br />
Oja-Odan in Yewa South Local<br />
Government Area of the state.<br />
“The first time my father raped me<br />
was when I followed him to the farm<br />
at Fagboun village. My father<br />
forcefully had carnal knowledge of<br />
me right there on the farm sometime<br />
in March 2018. Since then, my<br />
father had continuously been having<br />
unlawful carnal knowledge of me<br />
with a threat that he would kill me<br />
if I dared to tell anybody about it. It<br />
was like living in the house of<br />
horror”, she narrated.<br />
On interrogation, the suspect<br />
confessed to the crime but blamed<br />
it on the devil.<br />
Confirming the incident, the<br />
spokesperson for the police in<br />
Ogun, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi,<br />
said father <strong>and</strong> daughter were<br />
resident at Papa Olosun area of Oja-<br />
Odan.<br />
After receiving the report, the Oja-<br />
Odan DPO, CSP Olayemi Jacob, led<br />
detectives to the Owolabi’s<br />
residence, where he was arrested.<br />
“However, the Commissioner of<br />
Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, ordered the<br />
immediate transfer of the case to the<br />
State Criminal Investigation <strong>and</strong><br />
Intelligence Department for proper<br />
investigation <strong>and</strong> possible<br />
prosecution of the suspect”,<br />
Oyeyemi said.<br />
The case is not entirely different<br />
from another which happened in<br />
January 2018 but, this time, in<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s, where a father, Segun<br />
Durojaiye, in collaboration with his<br />
brother, Emmanuel Durojaiye, was<br />
arrested by the police for allegedly<br />
raping his 16-year-old daughter for<br />
about four years.<br />
The suspects were charged to<br />
court for defilement <strong>and</strong> incest<br />
before a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s<br />
Court.<br />
Segun was alleged to have started<br />
sleeping with his daughter in 2014<br />
after she confided in him about her<br />
uncle’s inappropriate show of<br />
affection.<br />
According to him, after the death<br />
of the victim’s stepmother in the<br />
same year, she was asked to <strong>go</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
stay with her uncle who, it was<br />
alleged, began to molest her<br />
sexually.<br />
The victim broke her silence after<br />
she had allegedly had a series of<br />
abortions <strong>and</strong> was losing weight<br />
from the trauma.<br />
GIRLS WHO LIVED IN ‘H<br />
Our fathers pra<br />
us into their sex<br />
• Men accused of rape by o<br />
The case was reported at a police<br />
station <strong>and</strong> the suspects were<br />
immediately arrested.<br />
Segun was resident at Baba-Benja<br />
Street, Oreyo area of Ikorodu, La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
State while Emmanuel lived at 10,<br />
Durojaiye Street, also in the same<br />
area.<br />
Dad sleeps with daughter,<br />
impregnates her<br />
In another case in Benin-City, a<br />
17-year-old girl, Gift Alonge, who<br />
was allegedly impregnated by her<br />
father, Jacob Alonge, lost her life in<br />
a car accident alongside three<br />
<strong>others</strong>.<br />
Gift was allegedly impregnated in<br />
2017 by Alonge who then forced her<br />
to procure crude abortion before<br />
impregnating her again in 2018.<br />
The sexually abused victim, her<br />
uncle, Mr. Ukere Adagbogu, <strong>and</strong><br />
two members of Brave Heart<br />
Initiative, BHI, Rhoda Braimoh <strong>and</strong><br />
Promise Ezekiel, lost their lives in<br />
an accident while on their way from<br />
Igarra to attend a court sitting in<br />
Benin-City to get justice.<br />
Gift’s father, who made a<br />
confessional statement at Ososo<br />
Police Division, Benin-City <strong>ahead</strong><br />
of being arraigned in court, <strong>and</strong> had<br />
pleaded guilty to the charges of<br />
rape <strong>and</strong> procuring illegal abortion,<br />
immediately changed his plea of<br />
‘guilty’ to ‘not guilty’ when it was<br />
clear that the key witnesses in the<br />
case were no longer alive to testify<br />
on January 16, 2019, when the court<br />
was to pass its sentence.<br />
Case closed.<br />
Before then, specifically in 2014,<br />
a 14-year-old girl narrated how her<br />
father allegedly pounced on her <strong>and</strong><br />
raped her until she could no longer<br />
walk upright at the Oyingbo area<br />
of La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
The victim, simply identified as<br />
Uzor, said her father raped her on<br />
December 2, 2014 at their home<br />
located at 4, Akintunde Street,<br />
Oyingbo until she found it difficult<br />
to walk.<br />
The victim said the suspect raped<br />
her around 6:30am after she went<br />
to live with him.<br />
Uzor explained that she had been<br />
living with an aunt at Ikorodu after<br />
the demise of her mother until her<br />
father came to take her away.<br />
It was within few days of living<br />
with her father, according to her, that<br />
the man raped her.<br />
Fighting back tears, Uzor said: “I<br />
wanted to shout, but his weight was<br />
too much for me.<br />
“My father is fat <strong>and</strong> I was<br />
•Amah<br />
struggling to breath. I was<br />
struggling to push him off.”<br />
According to Uzor, after her<br />
mother died, she went to stay with<br />
her mum’s elder sister at Ogijo area<br />
of Ikorodu. The woman was<br />
expected to assist the girl in<br />
furthering her education, but she<br />
did not.<br />
The victim added: “My aunt did<br />
not enrol me in school. I used to<br />
hawk pepper <strong>and</strong> tomato for her. My<br />
father was not pleased that my aunt<br />
did not enrol me in school. “He<br />
threatened to take me away. He<br />
eventually came <strong>and</strong> took me to his<br />
house.”<br />
Recalling how she was raped, she<br />
said: “I was in the room sleeping<br />
when my father called me to warm<br />
soup in the kitchen.<br />
“Few minutes later, he called me<br />
to meet him in the bedroom. I<br />
thought he wanted to punish me<br />
when he called me because I was<br />
always scared of him <strong>and</strong> my step<br />
mother. They treated me bad.”<br />
Man tests daughters’<br />
virginity<br />
In a 2015 case, a 40-year-old<br />
driver, Okon Jimmy Amah, from<br />
Mkpat Enin Local Government<br />
Area of Akwa Ibom State, who<br />
allegedly turned his two teenage<br />
daughters into sex objects, always<br />
raping them without using<br />
condoms, said he was checking if<br />
the girls were still virgins.<br />
According to one of the girls who<br />
previously lived with her mother in<br />
Benin-City, Edo State, until April 9,<br />
2015, when she decided to visit her<br />
father in Uyo, it was after she <strong>go</strong>t<br />
there that her father turned her into<br />
his lover.<br />
She said: “My father started<br />
soliciting for sex from me. In fact,<br />
that April, my father forcefully had<br />
sexual intercourse with me in our<br />
small room. He had sex with me in<br />
the middle of the night. He has had<br />
sex with me several times. I have<br />
lost count of the number of times he<br />
•Uche<br />
had sex with me”.<br />
Apparently sick of the life she had<br />
been subjected to <strong>and</strong> hungry for a<br />
person to share her pains, the victim<br />
broke her silence <strong>and</strong> poured out<br />
her heart to a neighbour who took<br />
the matter to Akwa Ibom State<br />
Ministry of Women Affairs <strong>and</strong><br />
Social Welfare.<br />
The second daughter alleged that<br />
she was 11 years old when her<br />
father started having sex with her.<br />
She said: “My father returned<br />
home one day <strong>and</strong> called me to a<br />
quiet place. He asked me whether<br />
I had ever had sex with a man<br />
before. I said no. He said he would<br />
be the first man to have sex with<br />
me.<br />
“I was shocked. I wanted to say<br />
something, but he shouted at me to<br />
shut up. When it was midnight, my<br />
father raped me. I cried <strong>and</strong> felt<br />
ashamed. He raped me, not once,<br />
not twice. He raped me several<br />
times. One day, my mother heard<br />
me crying, she came to me. I told<br />
her the little I could. My mum was
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 19<br />
OUSES OF HORROR’:<br />
ctically turned<br />
slaves!<br />
wn daughters<br />
•Owolabi<br />
angry. “But my father didn’t stop<br />
having sex with me. My mum<br />
knows about it”.<br />
According to Amah, he continued<br />
to have sex with his daughters<br />
because his second wife, who lived<br />
with him, denied him of sex.<br />
“Yes, I slept with my daughters in<br />
the bedroom room while my wife<br />
was sleeping in the sitting room.<br />
My wife was down with malaria.<br />
She had been ill for a week <strong>and</strong> was<br />
denying me sex. That is why I<br />
solicited for sex from my<br />
daughters”, the suspect said.<br />
“Apart from the fact that my second<br />
wife starved me of sex, I suspected<br />
that my daughters weren’t virgins,<br />
but when I tried to do it with one of<br />
them, I discovered that she had<br />
never had sex. At that point, I<br />
withdrew”.<br />
Meanwhile when Amah was<br />
arraigned in court on a three - count<br />
charge of incest, carnal knowledge<br />
<strong>and</strong> assault, contrary to Section 242<br />
<strong>and</strong> 364 of the Criminal Code, Laws<br />
of Akwa Ibom State, the case was<br />
struck out for lack of diligent<br />
prosecution.<br />
When the matter, with suit number<br />
HU/65 C/2016, came up before<br />
Justice Okon Okon of the State<br />
•Sikiru<br />
My father started soliciting<br />
for sex from me. In fact, that<br />
April, my father forcefully<br />
had sexual intercourse with<br />
me in our small room<br />
High Court in Uyo, on July 14, 2016,<br />
there was no witness to testify<br />
against the accused person.<br />
Defence counsel, Harrison<br />
Ernest, subsequently argued that<br />
the matter be struck out.<br />
Devil at work<br />
Suspected incestuous fathers<br />
sometimes blame the devil for the<br />
act.<br />
For instance, 41-year-old Sikiru<br />
Odejide, who was arrested by the<br />
police in Ogun in June 2017 for<br />
allegedly sleeping with his 13-yearold<br />
daughter since December 2016,<br />
said the devil was responsible for<br />
his plight.<br />
Odejide said, “It was the devil that<br />
led me into sleeping with my<br />
daughter”.<br />
Police spokesperson Oyeyemi<br />
disclosed that the arrest of the<br />
suspected r<strong>and</strong>y father came after<br />
a complaint lodged by the victim’s<br />
mother, who had been separated<br />
from the man.<br />
The victim’s mother, according to<br />
the spokesperson, said her<br />
daughter came to her house to<br />
inform her that her father had been<br />
having carnal knowledge of her<br />
since December 2016 with a threat<br />
to kill her if she dared to tell<br />
anybody about it.<br />
“She further complained to her<br />
mother that she could no longer<br />
bear the frequent sexual assault<br />
from her father, hence she decided<br />
to inform her mother”.<br />
In another case reported in Niger<br />
State, the police arrested one Basiru<br />
Audu for allegedly sexually abusing<br />
his own daughter in his house<br />
located at London Street, Minna,<br />
the state capital.<br />
30-year-old Audu was accused of<br />
sneaking into the children’s room<br />
<strong>and</strong> sexually abusing the girl when<br />
the wife travelled to their home<br />
town, Daura, Katsina State.<br />
The suspect, in a statement he<br />
made to the police, said that he had<br />
been having sex with underage<br />
girls before he sexually abused his<br />
own daughter.<br />
“I blame my wife for not being<br />
around whenever I needed sex. She<br />
travels a lot <strong>and</strong> that is why I had to<br />
sleep with my daughter; what a<br />
shameful thing”, he said. “That<br />
night, I had the urge to have sex <strong>and</strong><br />
since my wife was not around, I had<br />
no option but to sleep with my<br />
daughter to ease off tension”.<br />
He was arrested after neighbours<br />
observed that the victim was<br />
walking awkwardly <strong>and</strong>, on<br />
inquiry, were informed by the girl<br />
that her father “put something in her<br />
private part.”<br />
Niger State Police Comm<strong>and</strong>’s<br />
Public Relations Officer,<br />
Muhammad Abubakar, said the<br />
suspect confessed to the crime <strong>and</strong><br />
regretted his action.<br />
In yet another incident in La<strong>go</strong>s,<br />
the police arrested one Uchenna<br />
Tony Ehumadu for allegedly raping<br />
his 15-yr-old daughter after his wife<br />
caught him in the act.<br />
Ehumadu’s wife told the police<br />
that whenever she was on night<br />
duty, her hubby mostly used the<br />
opportunity to have sex with their<br />
daughter.<br />
In a related case, in December<br />
2018, the police, also in La<strong>go</strong>s,<br />
paraded 58-year-old Johnson Okon<br />
who allegedly raped his daughter<br />
when his wife went out.<br />
The 14-year-old victim (names<br />
withheld), who confided in her<br />
mother after the alleged incident,<br />
narrated, “It was in our house at<br />
Charismatic Road, Berger, Ikorodu<br />
that my father raped me. My mother<br />
was not around when the incident<br />
happened, so when she returned, I<br />
confided in her so that she could take<br />
action.<br />
“But to my greatest dismay, my<br />
mother blamed me, scolded me <strong>and</strong><br />
warned me seriously not to mention<br />
anything like that to anyone. I really<br />
don’t know if she didn’t believe me<br />
or she was trying to protect my<br />
father.<br />
“So I had to run away from the<br />
house, to where I felt safe.”<br />
Girls flee<br />
Like the 14-year-old, many sexual<br />
abused victims flee from home to<br />
avoid their fathers.<br />
One of such victims, Timothy<br />
Idowu, a teenager, had to pack out<br />
of her father’s apartment in<br />
Aradagun, Badagry to put up with<br />
a family friend in Ikotun area of<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s who contacted the police.<br />
The victim said she could not bear<br />
it anymore as her father raped her<br />
several times. She said anytime the<br />
family slept at night, the father<br />
would sneak into her room <strong>and</strong> rape<br />
her.<br />
The victim, who was in Senior<br />
Secondary Class 2 at the time of the<br />
incident, stated, “My father<br />
deflowered me several months a<strong>go</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> he had been raping me since<br />
then. Whenever he did it, he would<br />
clean up the mess <strong>and</strong> warn me not<br />
to tell anybody.”<br />
On Thursday, June 23, 2016,<br />
Idowu was arrested by the police.<br />
Concern<br />
Stakeholders are worried about<br />
the rampant cases of incest in the<br />
country.<br />
Edo State Commissioner for<br />
Women Affairs <strong>and</strong> Social<br />
Development, Mrs. Magdalene<br />
Ohenhen, for instance, expressed<br />
concern over rising cases of men<br />
having sex with their daughters.<br />
Ohenhen, who spoke during a<br />
protest organised in Benin-City to<br />
denounce the scourge, said, “It’s a<br />
very sad situation. Edo State is<br />
becoming something else <strong>and</strong> the<br />
earlier we stop it, the better for us.<br />
It is becoming a normal thing in Edo<br />
State for men to impregnate their<br />
own daughters”.<br />
She cited the case of a man who<br />
slept with his own daughter for over<br />
10 years before the case was<br />
reported.<br />
Urging men to desist from the act,<br />
she added, “It is time we stopped<br />
this insanity. Edo State forbids it, it<br />
is a taboo. We are begging Edo men<br />
to stop sleeping with their<br />
daughters, it is an abomination”.<br />
Also speaking on the issue, a<br />
former Public Relations Officer,<br />
Zone 2 Comm<strong>and</strong>, CSP Dolapo<br />
Badmus, said, “Incest is against the<br />
law of the l<strong>and</strong>. A man who is caught<br />
having sex with his daughter can<br />
be charged with incest, defilement<br />
<strong>and</strong> sexual harassment. We have<br />
arrested a number of them, charged<br />
them to court while some of them<br />
are under prosecution.<br />
“I don’t agree with the school of<br />
thought that incest is on the<br />
increase. What we have is<br />
awareness; children are now<br />
exposed <strong>and</strong> they underst<strong>and</strong> how<br />
to <strong>go</strong> about their cases.<br />
“Also there are NGOs everywhere<br />
providing people with the<br />
opportunity to report these cases to<br />
the appropriate quarters. Also the<br />
accessibility of the police is another<br />
factor. Victims can easily access the<br />
police. It is awareness that has<br />
increased.”
PAGE 20 — SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
Is the bad economy enough reason<br />
to ‘Go on the Game’?<br />
As to be expected, the cur<br />
rent economic melt-down<br />
has created a lot of people<br />
who grapple with he menace<br />
of the credit crunch – not only<br />
have they lost their jobs, the prospect<br />
of finding any other, not to<br />
talk of one commensurate in remunerations<br />
is zilch! When<br />
Eunice, a personnel director of an<br />
insurance company was asked to<br />
reduce the work force by a third,<br />
she felt like a real hatchet man.<br />
“It was a most heart-wrenching<br />
experience dolling out retrenchment<br />
letters <strong>and</strong> watching the<br />
bleak expressions on the faces of<br />
staff who have lost their jobs”, she<br />
said sadly. A few weeks later, I<br />
was her turn to get the dreaded<br />
`<strong>go</strong>lden h<strong>and</strong>shake’. In her<br />
wildest dreams, she never seven<br />
believed she would get the chop.<br />
“One morning”, she alleged,<br />
“my boss called me into a meeting.<br />
`I’m sorry’, he said, not<br />
quite catching my eyes, `the<br />
company’s in a bad shape here<br />
as you know. We have to let you<br />
<strong>go</strong>’. I drove home in a terrified<br />
daze. I’d come to work that<br />
morning with an official driver.<br />
<strong>No</strong>w, I had to drive myself home<br />
as the driver too had <strong>go</strong>t the<br />
sack! How could this happen<br />
to me with no previous official<br />
warning. How were we <strong>go</strong>ing to<br />
cope, feed the kids <strong>and</strong> keep a<br />
roof over our heads! We needed<br />
my salary to meet the mortgage<br />
<strong>pay</strong>ment <strong>and</strong> the children’s<br />
school fees. The kids were in a<br />
very expensive schools <strong>and</strong> I was<br />
panicky. My redundancy<br />
money wouldn’t last forever.<br />
My husb<strong>and</strong>’s business had depended<br />
heavily on bank loans<br />
that he often quickly paid back<br />
but now that the banks are being<br />
whipping into shape, the<br />
loans have simply dried up. He<br />
was as shocked as I was by my<br />
redundancy <strong>and</strong> I tried to be<br />
sympathetic as I made efforts to<br />
get a job – any sort of job.<br />
“Then a friend approached<br />
me to start a sort of financial<br />
consultancy. We would work<br />
from her home by sourcing for<br />
bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk<br />
08056180152, SMS only<br />
S<br />
capital for budding businesses.<br />
It was hard <strong>go</strong>ing at first, <strong>and</strong> I<br />
was too proud to accept I’d<br />
failed. So, I contacted mostly<br />
business associates from my insurance<br />
years. I never used to underst<strong>and</strong><br />
why people suffered<br />
from depression, because I always<br />
thought that if you knew<br />
things were bad, you’d soon<br />
change them for the better. As I<br />
hit the brick wall with most of<br />
my contacts, a friendly one asked<br />
out of the blues if I wanted lunch<br />
in his office. I’d had so many<br />
failures that I was frustrated<br />
enough to give things a <strong>go</strong>. After<br />
all, my proposal with him was at<br />
stake. If I wasn’t happy with what<br />
he had to say, I’d leave, it was as<br />
simple as that.<br />
He was a nice man, in his fifties<br />
with sexy greying hair, a bit<br />
of a paunch <strong>and</strong> a friendly smile.<br />
He made my visit much easier<br />
than I’d expected. What surprised<br />
me the most was the speed with<br />
which things happened. If it were<br />
a real date for instance, there<br />
would be a long intimate buildup,<br />
lots of chatting, kisses <strong>and</strong><br />
foreplay. But this one wasn’t<br />
interested in all that – he told<br />
me he had less than an hour to<br />
get back to the pile of files on<br />
his table. So, within minutes<br />
of arriving, I was completely<br />
naked <strong>and</strong> we were about to<br />
have sex. At first, I just found<br />
it really weird. It was odd having<br />
sex with a virtual stranger,<br />
but he had positive sides I<br />
could focus on which made he<br />
whole encounter less sordid –<br />
on top of which was his word<br />
that I would get the contract.<br />
“From then on, it became<br />
easier to have `lunch’ with a<br />
few of my contacts. One or two<br />
have now become regulars.<br />
Others were one-offs. Some of<br />
these men are heavy weights’<br />
in the society <strong>and</strong> quite <strong>go</strong>odlooking,<br />
some are rude, but<br />
I’m lucky so far that a lot of<br />
them have kept their promises<br />
<strong>and</strong> as soon as most of our<br />
debts are cleared, I will stop<br />
...”<br />
When Jumi <strong>go</strong>t admitted into<br />
one of the universities, she was<br />
ecstatic. “When I was growing<br />
up”, she explained, “my dream<br />
was to make a name in the fashion<br />
industry, <strong>and</strong> my admission<br />
was a step towards achieving<br />
my <strong>go</strong>al. I was just 20, pretty,<br />
slim <strong>and</strong> had many friends. In<br />
my naivety; I started to feel a<br />
bit invincible. But when I arrived<br />
at the university, everything<br />
started <strong>go</strong>ing wrong. Most<br />
of the girls on my course were<br />
really lovely – <strong>and</strong> from welloff<br />
families. Some shopped<br />
abroad <strong>and</strong> carried the latest<br />
`it’ bags <strong>and</strong> knew about all the<br />
leading fashion houses. In contrast,<br />
I was from a small town<br />
<strong>and</strong> my style was more second –<br />
hard `grade, As’’ than glossy<br />
<strong>and</strong> well groomed.<br />
‘It was as if I’d come from another<br />
planet. I withdrew into<br />
myself <strong>and</strong> became disheartened.<br />
On my first holiday home,<br />
my friends didn’t behave quite<br />
the same as I noticed. They believed<br />
I was not a bit more su-<br />
perior. Determined not to sink<br />
back to the level of a ‘town girl’<br />
I agreed to <strong>go</strong> on “dates” that<br />
were so common on campus, especially<br />
the ones organised by<br />
worldly-wise girls with their<br />
‘aristo’ money bags. It was<br />
plain prostitution, <strong>and</strong> if I<br />
wanted to buy the expensive<br />
books <strong>and</strong> clothes I needed to<br />
get by, it would be a small price<br />
to <strong>pay</strong>. You may think all the<br />
reasons I’ve given are lame excuses<br />
for deciding to sell my<br />
body. But the truth is that taking<br />
my destiny in my h<strong>and</strong>s actually<br />
turned my life around. I<br />
had a focus <strong>and</strong> I told myself,<br />
I’d only do it for as long as it<br />
took to <strong>pay</strong>-off my bills at the<br />
university.<br />
“I stopped as soon as I graduated<br />
<strong>and</strong> had enough money to<br />
set up my own business. <strong>No</strong>w I<br />
love my new life <strong>and</strong> I’ve never<br />
once felt ashamed of how I <strong>go</strong>t<br />
where I am today. In fact, more<br />
students than we want to admit<br />
turn to prostitution to <strong>pay</strong> their<br />
massive debts. The way I see it<br />
is that I made a smart business<br />
decision,. And it saved my life.<br />
So, what’s there to feel guilty<br />
about …?” Are our women getting<br />
too hard-hearted” I was<br />
still mulling over the blatant<br />
declaration of these women<br />
when a friend of mine called.<br />
“Have you heard of the number<br />
of women who `share’ their<br />
<strong>go</strong>od fortunes with her friends?”<br />
She asked in between our chat.<br />
`What do you mean?’ I wanted<br />
to know, ears perked. “Three of<br />
four women could now share the<br />
prowess of a stud, that’s all”. So<br />
what was new? We already knew<br />
of gi<strong>go</strong>los who <strong>go</strong> after rich<br />
women. `Are you listening’, she<br />
asked impatiently. According to<br />
her: “These women are friends<br />
<strong>and</strong> well connected. As soon as<br />
one of them gets on to a <strong>go</strong>od<br />
stud, she calls another in a<br />
group to inform her to expect<br />
new find. “O dun b’áje’ she coos,<br />
meaning `he’s as tasty as hell’.<br />
So on trots super stud to his next<br />
customer until he does the<br />
round of all four or five <strong>and</strong> is<br />
well rewarded for services well<br />
rendered.<br />
I took this news with a shovel<br />
full of salt as I recounted its<br />
probability with an older male<br />
friend I always use as a sounding<br />
board. ‘Of course, it <strong>go</strong>es<br />
on all the time’, he agrees. ‘At<br />
say 40 upwards, most men are<br />
rearing to <strong>go</strong> <strong>and</strong> wifey is too<br />
busy running the home, looking<br />
after the kids <strong>and</strong> holding<br />
down a job. Where else would<br />
such husb<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> single adventurous<br />
men find solace but in<br />
the arms of bored women with<br />
money to burn <strong>and</strong> less than<br />
their ration of sex? They (the<br />
women) are always a delight to<br />
be with – they scream <strong>and</strong> yell<br />
<strong>and</strong> are grateful as hell! In<br />
short, the man gets h<strong>and</strong>somely<br />
compensated by making his<br />
clients purr like a well-tuned<br />
engine – both sides to the contract<br />
are happy end of the credit<br />
crunch for him <strong>and</strong> a fulfilling<br />
sex-life for the mama kes”.<br />
Y<br />
OUR column to express your loving<br />
thoughts in words to your sweetheart. Don’t<br />
be shy. Let it flow <strong>and</strong> let him or her know how<br />
dearly you feel. Write now in not more than 75 words<br />
to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007,<br />
Apapa, La<strong>go</strong>s. E.mail: sundaylovenotes@yahoo.com<br />
Please mark your envelope: “LOVE NOTES"<br />
The Oceaner<br />
Life is like a voyage in an ocean.<br />
All around blueness inundates the farther.<br />
An isl<strong>and</strong> <strong>ahead</strong> just saves the day.<br />
I stop over for an hour’s rest…<br />
Hours become days, then weeks,<br />
Then months, then years, then the waters.<br />
Love is like a tour in an ocean.<br />
You are the isl<strong>and</strong> in my vast blueness,<br />
The reason I forget I am lost.<br />
Kingsley Alumona<br />
kingsley.alumona@yahoo.com<br />
08030872649<br />
What are your plans for her?<br />
What are the plans you have for her if you want<br />
her be your wife?<br />
Don't just take things for granted. If you love her,<br />
you can just <strong>go</strong> <strong>ahead</strong> <strong>and</strong> tell her before another<br />
person <strong>tells</strong> her <strong>and</strong> give her the attention that she<br />
desires.Then you will find yourself to blame if you<br />
do not take the necessary steps to win her<br />
to your side now<br />
Michael Adedotun Oke<br />
maof2020@gmail.com<br />
08027142077
SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 21<br />
S p o n s o r s h i p /<br />
Networking<br />
•Tom resides in Obalende<br />
area of La<strong>go</strong>s, needs kind<br />
hearted Nigerians to help<br />
him with the sum of N50,<br />
000, to enable him rent a<br />
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accommodation, acct<br />
3445322015, FCMB<br />
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•Rose 24, needs financial<br />
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Lovers<br />
Searching Female<br />
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serious minded guys<br />
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07065658063<br />
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•A lady, from Delta State,<br />
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loving <strong>and</strong> financially ok,<br />
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08147033933<br />
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•Chuks, 45, dark<br />
incomplexion, <strong>and</strong> a<br />
businessman, needs an<br />
employed lady, for<br />
marriage. 09024080923<br />
•Michael 37, resides in<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s, needs a <strong>go</strong>od<br />
looking <strong>and</strong> employed<br />
lady, who is seriously ready<br />
for marriage.<br />
08126360439<br />
•Boatman from Anambra<br />
State needs a lady, aged 23-<br />
33, for a relationship, that<br />
will lead to marriage.<br />
08130594182<br />
•Tai 28, businessman in<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s, needs a God fearing<br />
lady for a relationship.<br />
DISCLAIMER!<br />
Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in<br />
or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does<br />
so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.<br />
Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of<br />
requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore<br />
request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to<br />
enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For<br />
enquiries, text or call 08026651636, or 08054700825<br />
08075114654,08022959609<br />
•Peter 30,from Edo State,<br />
but resides in River State,<br />
needs a lady,that can make<br />
him happy, for a<br />
relationship.08052407928<br />
•David 36, h<strong>and</strong>some, God<br />
fearing, an engineer,<br />
resides in Port Harcourt, but<br />
lost his job since 2017,<br />
needs a lady as a wife, aged<br />
21-36, who is employed<br />
<strong>and</strong> can st<strong>and</strong> by him.<br />
09083918384<br />
•Chike 42, a graduate,<br />
from Imo State, but resides<br />
in Port Harcourt, needs a<br />
lady, that is God fearing, self<br />
employed, financially<br />
independent, aged 25-36,<br />
for a serious relationship<br />
that can lead to marriage.<br />
09067082139, e-mail<br />
chemicalcharly@gmail.com,07038266405<br />
•Henry 32, employed,<br />
needs a hardworking <strong>and</strong><br />
industrious lady, who is fair<br />
incomplexion,<br />
educated, genotype AA<br />
<strong>and</strong> Igbo by tribe, for a<br />
serious relationship that<br />
will lead to marriage.<br />
08122102149<br />
•Jeremiah 35, employed<br />
from Bayelsa State, but<br />
resides in Rivers State Port<br />
Harcourt, needs a serious<br />
<strong>and</strong> matured lady, aged 25-<br />
33, for a relationship, strictly<br />
for a serious minded lady,<br />
preferably from Delta, Edo,<br />
Abuja, Cross Rivers, Akwa<br />
Ibom <strong>and</strong> Port Harcourt.<br />
08147838744,08088979246<br />
•Chukwu 38, slim, fair in<br />
complexion, sincere, God<br />
fearing, from Enugu State,<br />
needs a lady that is<br />
educated, employed, self<br />
employed or into business,<br />
for a relationship that will<br />
lead to marriage.<br />
08148686348<br />
•Oyeleye 45, needs a<br />
Yoruba lady, who is a<br />
Muslim, aged 25-35, for<br />
marriage.08037290859<br />
•Johnson 30, employed<br />
<strong>and</strong> resides in Uyo, needs<br />
a lady, aged 23 <strong>and</strong> above,<br />
who is a graduate,<br />
Christian,employed <strong>and</strong><br />
willing to get married.<br />
08065417004<br />
•Olushola 35, employed,<br />
from Ibadan, but resides in<br />
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State,<br />
needs an employed Christian<br />
Yoruba lady, aged 25-32, for<br />
a<br />
serious<br />
relationship.09039610706,<br />
08027179265<br />
aoluwalonshola@gmail.com<br />
Sugar Cares<br />
Searching Male<br />
•Shaggy 35, adorable, fun to<br />
be with, needs a rich sugar<br />
mummy, aged 38-55, who<br />
can shower him with love <strong>and</strong><br />
money.<br />
08062694160<br />
•Danjuma from Warri, needs<br />
a sugar mummy that can take<br />
care of him, for a<br />
relationship.08054971699<br />
•Greg in resides in<br />
Anambra State, needs a<br />
sugar mummy.<br />
07062763223,08114734662<br />
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My friends accuse me of<br />
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Many girls have aborted<br />
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PAGE 22 – SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
(emmaamaize@yahoo.co.uk)<br />
Devil in the details!<br />
•Cultists defy Wike, police; kill rivals,<br />
display heads in public square<br />
•‘How kidnappers of NEMA officials struck’<br />
Human heads are displayed by suspected cultists at community<br />
square as <strong>go</strong>ry killings continue in Rivers State, notwithst<strong>and</strong>ing the<br />
stern warning by Governor Nyesom Wike to deal ruthless with anyone<br />
caught in the act.<br />
started on Wednesday, compelled heavy<br />
police deployment to the area to contain the<br />
situation.<br />
The monarch further narrated that the police<br />
had raided a popular scrap market dominated<br />
by non-natives following information that<br />
they attacked other non-native residents.<br />
Eze Worinwu stated that the police visited<br />
the scrap market <strong>and</strong> found some dangerous<br />
weapons, adding that at the discovery of the<br />
alleged illegal arms, the suspects sparked<br />
another crisis, this time an attack on the<br />
policemen which left two of them (police)<br />
wounded.<br />
Also speaking, David Eleto, Youth President<br />
of Iriebe community, disclosed that the now<br />
volatile scrap market sprang from a state<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment ab<strong>and</strong>oned housing project,<br />
which, according to him, currently<br />
provides cover for criminality by some<br />
non-natives against fellow residents.<br />
Eleto called on <strong>go</strong>vernment to look into<br />
the ab<strong>and</strong>oned property turned into scrap<br />
market <strong>and</strong> complete it as originally<br />
intended.<br />
The Youth Leader complained about how<br />
people had been attacked at gun point at the<br />
uncompleted building.<br />
By Egufe Yafugborhi<br />
<strong>and</strong> Davies Iheamnachor<br />
VIOLENT gangs, which resumed<br />
spate of killings, terrorising<br />
residents in flash-points across<br />
Rivers State post-2019 elections, have<br />
apparently not been deterred by warnings<br />
from Governor Nyesom Wike <strong>and</strong> the state<br />
Police Comm<strong>and</strong> to deal ruthlessly with<br />
anyone caught in the growing criminality.<br />
Determined to kill, maim <strong>and</strong> kidnap for<br />
ransom, four persons in their early 20s,<br />
were, on Tuesday, said to have been<br />
beheaded in Rumuji, Emohua Local<br />
Government Area, LGA, as two rival cult<br />
groups, Deygbam <strong>and</strong> Icel<strong>and</strong>ers,<br />
allegedly clashed in unending supremacy<br />
war in the locality.<br />
The development ruptured fragile peace<br />
enjoyed by residents of the area.<br />
Many, who are terrified, are said to be<br />
moving out of Rumuji.<br />
A source, who related the development<br />
to Sunday Vanguard, noted that the killers<br />
invaded the community under heavy<br />
gunfire, visiting homes <strong>and</strong> killing their<br />
victims.<br />
The source, who couldn’t say who were<br />
the aggressors <strong>and</strong> the targets among the<br />
cult groups in the area, explained that the<br />
killers displayed the heads of their four<br />
victims for public view at the town square.<br />
Kidnappers as much busy<br />
While shocked residents shivered over<br />
the <strong>go</strong>ry killing of the Rumuji 4, armed<br />
kidnappers, same Tuesday, abducted four<br />
officials of the National Emergency<br />
Management Agency, NEMA, around<br />
Oduoha Junction, Emohua LGA.<br />
Those abducted include a woman <strong>and</strong><br />
three men, according to a source who<br />
further narrated, “One of the NEMA staff<br />
members, who was shot in the leg, escaped<br />
being kidnapped alongside his colleagues<br />
as he feigned death. He has been admitted<br />
at an undisclosed health centre for medical<br />
attention.<br />
“The abducted officials had been<br />
travelling in a van that was not in <strong>go</strong>od<br />
condition <strong>and</strong> even broke down several<br />
times on their way. A private car of one of the<br />
officials came to their rescue to continue the<br />
journey before the incident.”<br />
Zonal Coordinator, NEMA in Port Harcourt,<br />
Walson Br<strong>and</strong>en, who described the situation<br />
as disheartening, confirmed that the<br />
unfortunate NEMA officials were returning<br />
to Port Harcourt from a trip to Abua Odual<br />
LGA. Their mission was to do the enumeration<br />
of farmers affected by recent flooding or<br />
conflicts for the purpose of rehabilitating them<br />
through the National Emergency Agricultural<br />
Intervention Fund under the National Food<br />
Security Program of the Federal Government<br />
spanning 18 <strong>states</strong>.<br />
Br<strong>and</strong>en said, “We were in touch,<br />
communicating with them up to a point. We<br />
suddenly couldn’t get through to them. We<br />
had to <strong>go</strong> to the police to report but, at this<br />
point, we are stuck on what actually<br />
happened. They were five in number. The fifth<br />
victim is with us, assisting in our interaction<br />
with the police in terms of information that<br />
could aid the rescue of the four <strong>others</strong>.”<br />
Volatile axis<br />
Two days after, specifically Thursday<br />
evening, armed men blocked Emohua axis of<br />
the East/West Road in separate robbery <strong>and</strong><br />
kidnap operations.<br />
A bus belonging to a mass transit company<br />
was allegedly attacked by gunmen on a road<br />
now nicknamed ‘Sambisa Forest’ in one of the<br />
incidents.<br />
The bus was said to have been riddled with<br />
bullets while the driver, identified as Jonah<br />
Sokolo, was shot dead following his alleged<br />
refusal to open the vehicle’s doors for the<br />
b<strong>and</strong>its’ access after they had blocked the bus<br />
on the road.<br />
It was unconfirmed at press<br />
time if any of the bus<br />
occupants was kidnapped.<br />
In the other incident, some<br />
gunmen reportedly attacked<br />
travellers around Rumuodo<strong>go</strong><br />
Junction <strong>and</strong> kidnapped some<br />
passengers. The b<strong>and</strong>its, in<br />
the second incident,<br />
reportedly picked about five<br />
persons from a van they had<br />
attacked <strong>and</strong> forced into the<br />
bush at gunpoint.<br />
Killings<br />
In Iriebe community, Obio/<br />
Akpor LGA, violence, said to<br />
have been provoked by nonnatives,<br />
left three persons<br />
dead. It was gathered that the<br />
killing happened following a<br />
clash between some Hausa<br />
<strong>and</strong> Akwa Ibom residents in<br />
the area.<br />
Chief Clington Worinwu, a<br />
brother of the paramount ruler<br />
of the community, was said to<br />
be among the victims in that<br />
episode, resulting in the area<br />
being deserted with businesses <strong>and</strong> other<br />
activities grounded.<br />
The paramount ruler of Iriebe, Eze Jeremiah<br />
Worinwu, narrated that the crisis, which<br />
Police: <strong>No</strong> reaction yet<br />
Phone calls <strong>and</strong> text messages sent to DSP<br />
Nnamdi Omoni, Rivers State Police Comm<strong>and</strong><br />
Public Relations Officer, on the incidents were<br />
greeted with appeal to wait for a clear position<br />
that never came at the time of filing this<br />
report.<br />
Meanwhile, a security expert, who spoke<br />
on the condition of anonymity, said, “It is<br />
disheartening that the<br />
police, for justifications I<br />
can’t find, are hardly<br />
making efforts to be<br />
proactive. They are just<br />
being reactive.<br />
“They (police) wait for<br />
A source, who<br />
related the<br />
development to<br />
Sunday<br />
Vanguard, noted<br />
that the killers<br />
invaded the<br />
community under<br />
heavy gunfire,<br />
visiting homes<br />
<strong>and</strong> killing their<br />
victims<br />
killings that could well<br />
have been exposed <strong>and</strong><br />
averted to happen. It is<br />
only after the deed is<br />
done, people maimed<br />
<strong>and</strong> killed that Rivers<br />
police would tell you<br />
they have mobilized<br />
heavily to the flashpoint,<br />
<strong>and</strong> probably arrest mostly<br />
innocent suspects, when the<br />
killers have already struck<br />
<strong>and</strong> left the scene of crime.<br />
“It is time the police <strong>go</strong>t<br />
proactive in sensing<br />
danger <strong>and</strong> preventing<br />
same thorough intelligence<br />
before it manifests. And<br />
they need to stop<br />
ascribing every killing<br />
that occurs in Rivers to<br />
cult crisis. “Assuming<br />
without conceding to the harping on this<br />
usual suspect, are killer cultists invisible?<br />
Why aren’t they being apprehended <strong>and</strong><br />
tried to deter <strong>others</strong>?”
By Chris Onuoha<br />
ONLY 20 per cent of family businesses in<br />
Nigeria have plans for leadership suc<br />
cession while even a thinner three per<br />
cent have a laid down strategy for wealth transfer,<br />
according to a 2017 report by global consulting<br />
firm, KPMG.<br />
Pascal Gabriel Dozie, founder of Kunoch Holdings,<br />
Diamond Bank (before a merger with Access<br />
Bank) <strong>and</strong> co-founder of other institutions<br />
from Africa Capital Alliance to the Pan Atlantic<br />
university, in this interview, rues the mistakes of<br />
Nigerian family businesses of old that failed to<br />
measure up after their founders passed on the<br />
mantle.<br />
The octogenarian, who turned 80 this month,<br />
shares what his company is doing to contribute<br />
to the longevity of family businesses in the country.<br />
He also looks back on his 80 years in the l<strong>and</strong><br />
of the living.<br />
Excerpts:<br />
On family businesses<br />
A lot of SMEs are family based <strong>and</strong> we have<br />
not been able to transit our business from one<br />
generation to another. We lose so much in this<br />
country as a result. Where are the Fajemirokuns,<br />
the Ojukwus, the Abiolas U<strong>go</strong> Foam, etc?<br />
Look at Heineken <strong>and</strong> Mercedez, whose<br />
founders have died a long time a<strong>go</strong> but, because<br />
they have built structures that outlived them, the<br />
br<strong>and</strong>s are still out there.<br />
We are working closely with the LBS <strong>and</strong> a host<br />
of other partners from Massachusetts Institute of<br />
Technology (MIT) to bring the knowledge of how<br />
to manage the family business. As part of my<br />
80th birthday, LBS has partnered with other parties<br />
in Switzerl<strong>and</strong> to organize a one-day seminar<br />
on sustainable family business. We hope to<br />
endow a chair for the study. The nitty-gritty that<br />
makes a national economy is the SMEs <strong>and</strong> must<br />
be sustainable. My wife’s foundation, the Janet<br />
Dozie Foundation for Indigent Widows, is also<br />
making impact with over 500 beneficiaries.<br />
Humble beginning of Pan-Atlantic<br />
University<br />
When the La<strong>go</strong>s Business School was about to<br />
be established, the first thing myself<br />
<strong>and</strong> the founders did was to <strong>go</strong> to a<br />
Business School in Madrid, Spain.<br />
They talked to us about the ethics of<br />
doing business <strong>and</strong> how to do the right<br />
thing. On the side-lines of the meeting,<br />
we decided to <strong>go</strong> back to Nigeria<br />
to build what we called an ‘ Oasis of<br />
Sanity’ <strong>and</strong>, with time, the oasis will<br />
come together to form a mighty movement.<br />
But one problem in Nigeria is the<br />
instability of policies; you need predictability<br />
in any system. We don’t<br />
know the trajectory of <strong>go</strong>vernment policies.<br />
A businessman can deal with<br />
risks but not uncertainties. So it depends<br />
on how you accommodate the<br />
challenges <strong>and</strong> climb the steps which<br />
require patience or cut corners to get<br />
things done. Unfortunately, those<br />
who cut corners often find themselves<br />
at the front <strong>and</strong> nobody asks questions.<br />
Lessons learnt from early setback with<br />
MTN<br />
Before I met the MTN team, they had tried on<br />
their own <strong>and</strong> were already convinced about<br />
coming to Nigeria. But the people they were relating<br />
with were not cooperating. So when they<br />
met me, we agreed to work together. I did not<br />
know anything about mobile telephoning <strong>and</strong>,<br />
with my experience with NITEL, I felt it was not<br />
the right way to <strong>go</strong>. The process of bidding was<br />
very interesting. If you belonged to one box, you<br />
PASCAL DOZIE AT 80:<br />
Family businesses<br />
in Nigeria must learn<br />
from foreign peers<br />
•’ Lessons from early setback with MTN’<br />
•Speaks on his 5-yr wait for Diamond Bank<br />
• 'My septicemia travails’<br />
could not be in another box but my name came<br />
up in more than one group which should automatically<br />
disqualify me.<br />
During that period, my name came out in every<br />
newspaper, saying I belonged to several groups<br />
<strong>and</strong> boards which was illegal. So MTN wrote<br />
me a letter saying that “we don’t want to have<br />
anything to do with you again because you belong<br />
to a lot of groups” . I said “thank you very<br />
much” <strong>and</strong> they left. I still have the letter they sent<br />
to me which I didn’t reply to. I have not destroyed<br />
the letter because there are some things in a man’s<br />
life you don’t destroy.<br />
After a while, MTN came back to me saying<br />
they were sorry for accusing me wrongly after<br />
they found out that the people I asked to work<br />
with me were the ones who tried to tarnish my<br />
relationship with MTN.<br />
This is because they wanted to<br />
be Chairman.<br />
Fortunately,then-Chairman of<br />
MTN was <strong>go</strong>ing back to South<br />
Africa with the Chief Executive<br />
of one of the competing groups<br />
<strong>and</strong> she asked, “How did you<br />
find this man called Pascal Dozie?<br />
He is everywhere <strong>and</strong> part of<br />
many groups”. The man answered<br />
<strong>and</strong> said he had never<br />
seen, met or spoken to me before.<br />
So they did their investigation<br />
<strong>and</strong> found out that the accusation<br />
against me was false.<br />
The moral lesson here is ‘patience’<br />
. I didn’t need to fight anyone<br />
trying to know who did what<br />
because it wasn’t necessary.<br />
All the problems Vodacom<br />
had, we also had in MTN. It took<br />
us five years to sign shareholders’<br />
agreement but nobody heard any<br />
noise about it. I had <strong>and</strong> still have one of the best<br />
boards in the organization. I had no reason to<br />
want a different board. They did their jobs effectively<br />
<strong>and</strong> efficiently <strong>and</strong> we had a very <strong>go</strong>od<br />
relationship.<br />
Look at Heineken<br />
<strong>and</strong> Mercedez,<br />
whose founders<br />
have died a long<br />
time a<strong>go</strong> but,<br />
because they<br />
have built<br />
structures that<br />
outlived them,<br />
the br<strong>and</strong>s are<br />
still out there<br />
The five-year wait for Diamond<br />
I put in the application for a licence for Diamond<br />
Bank in 1985 <strong>and</strong> I <strong>go</strong>t it approved in<br />
1990.<br />
Could I have <strong>go</strong>tten it earlier? Yes, but I didn’t<br />
want to short circuit the system. <strong>No</strong>t because I am<br />
an angel, I didn’t even have the capacity to short<br />
circuit the system. At a particular point in time,<br />
those who agreed to <strong>go</strong> into banking with me,<br />
some of them left. In those days, you needed 2/3rd<br />
of your membership from every part of the country,<br />
so you are forced to relate with everyone. Because<br />
I didn’t have the capacity to short circuit<br />
the system <strong>and</strong> I didn’t intend to, Diamond Bank<br />
stayed five years in incubation.<br />
I was running a consulting firm, African<br />
Development Consulting Group, <strong>and</strong> we<br />
planned certain things about banking. We<br />
watched television, listened to the media.<br />
Remember in those days, you will <strong>go</strong> into a<br />
bank <strong>and</strong> they will give you a tally which I<br />
perceived was nonsense. When we set up Diamond<br />
bank, it became technologically driven<br />
right from the word <strong>go</strong> because we wanted<br />
to change the system <strong>and</strong> eradicate the<br />
delay in making transactions. Diamond<br />
Bank has been people-oriented right from<br />
the word <strong>go</strong>.<br />
So we came up with the first DIBS (Diamond<br />
Bank Integrated Banking System)<br />
which eliminated the need to carry cash<br />
when trying to perform a transaction. All<br />
you needed was to prepare your cheque <strong>and</strong><br />
when you arrive at your destination, you get<br />
your cash.A year or two later, we came out<br />
with a <strong>pay</strong>ment card which led to value card.<br />
The rest, they say,is history.<br />
New Access Bank will succeed<br />
If they work hard, they would achieve a lot.<br />
There is a Latin phrase that says ‘ Festina lente’<br />
(make haste slowly). Also, the hood does not make<br />
the monk. Everything should be evaluated on its<br />
impact on the citizens. Every policy should have<br />
the people in mind because <strong>go</strong>vernance means<br />
the welfare of the people.<br />
I have no doubt that they will uphold the highest<br />
st<strong>and</strong>ards in running the new entity.<br />
I am a stickler to <strong>go</strong>od corporate <strong>go</strong>vernance<br />
which I did by allowing every Managing Director<br />
to run the affairs of Diamond Bank without<br />
any form of interference.<br />
I have never been part of the selection of chief<br />
executives since I left Diamond Bank. Even when<br />
my son became chief executive, I wasn’t part of it.<br />
The chief executive before my son was selected<br />
when I was in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in<br />
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 23<br />
Washington. I was very sick <strong>and</strong> couldn’t care less<br />
if there was any bank or not. In fact, as of that<br />
time, Nigeria <strong>and</strong> the world meant nothing to<br />
me.<br />
Life as an octogenarian<br />
Life has been interesting. I have found this<br />
country very interesting, if I don’t find it interesting<br />
I would lose. I am finding this way<br />
because of self-preservation. It is difficult to<br />
say it, I love my country.<br />
If you travel the length <strong>and</strong> breadth of the<br />
country, you will appreciate the beauty, natural<br />
l<strong>and</strong>scape, <strong>and</strong> the people. Unfortunately,<br />
things have changed <strong>and</strong> we are now beginning<br />
to have a contactless society, where<br />
banking is done on phone away from the<br />
halls.<br />
The more we do things that separate contact,<br />
the more life becomes difficult. We need<br />
to build relationships because, unless we<br />
have a discussion, it will be difficult to know<br />
how the minds of other people work. Families<br />
don’t visit each-other again as everyone<br />
is looking for personal comfort, many people<br />
are even afraid to travel to their village<br />
because of what they heard or read.<br />
That is where the media must work assiduously<br />
to mould opinion <strong>and</strong> thoughts. We must<br />
live our lives the way our forefathers wanted us to<br />
do as evident in the national anthem. The majority<br />
are not true to that national anthem.<br />
We need to re-evaluate our value system which<br />
is fast eroding before we lose it completely. Unfortunately,<br />
because of the exigencies of life <strong>and</strong><br />
its struggle we have stopped thinking. Our value<br />
system has changed completely. Sometimes I<br />
wonder how we descended to where we are now.<br />
Re-engineering our value system is not <strong>go</strong>ing to<br />
be easy, because some people have made up their<br />
minds to <strong>go</strong> with the status quo, but we must try.<br />
But where there is a will there is a way, so we<br />
need people who would champion this.<br />
<strong>No</strong>t many would be interested in this cause,<br />
because it is a job that does not give you prominence.<br />
The society must also start asking questions on<br />
how people acquired their wealth. In India, for<br />
example, if you have a very big <strong>and</strong> lavish wedding,<br />
the next morning the tax people will be at<br />
your door.<br />
We say we are fighting corruption <strong>and</strong> charging<br />
people who took <strong>go</strong>vernment money but is<br />
corruption only about money? If I am not fair to<br />
my staff, that is corruption.<br />
In my life, I have a <strong>go</strong>od relationship with everyone<br />
from different tribes.<br />
I agree with the fact that we are only human<br />
<strong>and</strong> hence we are fallible. We need selfless people<br />
in our politics.<br />
To produce selfless leaders in this country, it<br />
would require education. The media must educate<br />
the leaders that they are there to serve the<br />
people <strong>and</strong> not to enrich themselves. The media<br />
must talk about de-personalization of our<br />
public offices.<br />
Our offices must function with or without the<br />
presence of the head. The media must do a lot in<br />
this regard through investigative journalism.<br />
Igbos should be content<br />
I hate when the Igbos complain of marginalization,<br />
because they don’t seem to realize what<br />
they have. If you look at the resources they have, I<br />
wonder what they mean by marginalization. Is it<br />
because they are not the President of Nigeria? It is<br />
only one person that can occupy that seat <strong>and</strong> it<br />
has to be a politician. I am not a politician <strong>and</strong> I<br />
don’t see why I should leave my business for a<br />
politician’s job. If the Igbos realize the enormity<br />
of the resources they have, they would stop complaining.<br />
Relationship with sons<br />
My sons tell me I ruined their lives because I<br />
denied them the opportunity of having private<br />
lives.<br />
I say it is not my fault. I had wanted to have a<br />
daughter as my first child because I have a friend,<br />
Maxell Ubani, whom I used to admire his daughter<br />
then in the U.S.<br />
When I told him mine was coming, he would<br />
respond jokingly “You no fit get a daughter, daughters<br />
are for special people.”<br />
When I was expecting my fourth child, I hoped<br />
for a daughter <strong>and</strong> said her name would be N<strong>go</strong>zi<br />
Pascal.<br />
When it turned out to be a boy, I said his<br />
name is still N<strong>go</strong>zi Pascal.<br />
Travails with septicemia<br />
Septicemia, also known as sepsis, is a lifethreatening<br />
complication that can happen<br />
when bacteria from another infection enter<br />
the blood <strong>and</strong> spread throughout the body.<br />
It needs urgent hospital treatment, as it can<br />
quickly lead to tissue damage, organ failure<br />
<strong>and</strong> death.<br />
I had septicemia.<br />
After a biopsy, the doctor said everything<br />
was fine, that I didn’t have any cancerous<br />
cells in me.<br />
However, a day or two after, we were <strong>go</strong>ing<br />
somewhere <strong>and</strong> I began shaking. I<br />
couldn’t even sign my signature where I went<br />
to. Then I was taken to the emergency room.<br />
It was so critical that I was given the last<br />
sacrament given to Catholics. After, that I<br />
didn’t know where I was. I was secluded from<br />
other people <strong>and</strong> only my wife <strong>and</strong> my niece<br />
could get through to me. I became a risk to<br />
everyone for three weeks in the ICU. They<br />
were pumping antibiotics into me <strong>and</strong> taking<br />
blood samples every three hours. Then I<br />
developed something in the heart <strong>and</strong> they<br />
had to take me for operation <strong>and</strong> put into<br />
me a pacemaker used to treat some abnormal<br />
heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that can<br />
cause your heart to either beat too slowly or<br />
miss beats.
PAGE 24 – SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
In fact, we now<br />
have leaders who<br />
are thieves <strong>and</strong><br />
have infected<br />
Nigerians to the<br />
level that virtually<br />
every Nigerian is a<br />
thief except two<br />
sets of people<br />
What is your opinion on the<br />
differences between<br />
northern <strong>go</strong>vernors <strong>and</strong><br />
northern elders over who<br />
becomes the next Senate President?<br />
There is nothing unusual about it, it<br />
happened in 2015; secondly, the politics in<br />
the country has been debased to the level<br />
where the deciding factor is not the welfare<br />
of the people or the development of the<br />
country but selfish interest. So why should<br />
this be surprising when everybody is<br />
concerned about himself first? What do you<br />
expect from animals in the bush? That is what<br />
we are experiencing now! The disabling level<br />
of corruption, stealing <strong>and</strong> wasting of the<br />
nation’s resources has destroyed every value<br />
in the country! When money <strong>and</strong> power are<br />
the deciding factors in our politics, how do<br />
you expect anything to be orderly? We <strong>go</strong>t<br />
what we asked for. We asked for it because<br />
many voted not based on principle but on the<br />
basis of money. In the 2019 general elections,<br />
we saw the worst we had ever seen in the<br />
form of scientific rigging. We saw it now more<br />
than we ever saw before. After the 2019<br />
elections, we even saw something more<br />
scientific in voting which led to mere writing<br />
of results. This is the worst we ever saw since<br />
1950.<br />
So what are elder <strong>states</strong>men doing to save<br />
the situation?<br />
It is not a question of elder <strong>states</strong>men, it is a<br />
question of the social, economic <strong>and</strong> political<br />
system of the country <strong>and</strong> the political<br />
leadership the system has produced. The<br />
system <strong>and</strong> political leadership are based on<br />
selfish interest first, public interest second;<br />
that is what is happening today!<br />
But is this the Nigeria our heroes past<br />
foresaw during the pre-independence<br />
struggle?<br />
Absolutely not! Even in 1950 when party<br />
politics started, money was not the deciding<br />
factor of elections <strong>and</strong> politics but now things<br />
have changed. Money is presently the<br />
deciding factor of everything. In fact, we now<br />
have leaders who are thieves <strong>and</strong> have<br />
infected Nigerians to the level that virtually<br />
every Nigerian is a thief except two sets of<br />
people. The first set include those who never<br />
had the chance to steal at all, while the second<br />
set include those few people who, by nature,<br />
would rather die than steal. These two sets of<br />
people still exist in Nigeria, they are, however,<br />
the exception <strong>and</strong> their population is 000.1<br />
percent. So we expect the worst to happen in<br />
Nigeria but it is a question of when? When<br />
the nation was being prepared for<br />
independence in 1956, people of <strong>go</strong>od minds<br />
asked how it will happen, but nobody<br />
believed them; nobody believed that those<br />
leaders of 1966 would not live forever <strong>and</strong> it<br />
was a sin to even say something would<br />
happen <strong>and</strong> they would leave office but it<br />
happened! And what was not expected<br />
happened in 1966. <strong>No</strong>w we are destroying<br />
ourselves <strong>and</strong>, still, we want peace. It is not<br />
impossible because you have to work for<br />
peace before it exists!<br />
How do you juxtapose this with the<br />
staggering insecurity that is ravaging our<br />
You are talking<br />
• ‘People are wasting their time talking about in<br />
• Says God cannot be deceived by those who pra<br />
By Olayinka Ajayi<br />
Alhaji Balarabe Musa, an activist <strong>and</strong> a former <strong>go</strong>vernor of old Kaduna State, speaks<br />
on issues in the polity. Excerpts:<br />
country after the general elections?<br />
The consequences (of general elections) are<br />
enormous <strong>and</strong> they include insecurity.<br />
Recently, a Minister of the Federal Republic<br />
•Alhaji Balarabe Musa<br />
Balarabe attacks Yoruba<br />
N-Delta on restructuring<br />
of Nigeria accused some traditional rulers of<br />
conniving with Boko Haram, herdsmen <strong>and</strong><br />
other criminals, but what did the Federal<br />
Government do about it? Has the <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
taken any step towards addressing this<br />
allegation in an open way? This <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
will not do anything until it faces a balance of<br />
terror against it by which time it might be too
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 25<br />
, Igbo,<br />
:<br />
rubbish!<br />
security in the <strong>No</strong>rth’<br />
y after stealing Nigeria’s money<br />
late. Balance of terror is either a military coup<br />
or civil rebellion like it happened in Sudan<br />
<strong>and</strong> Venezuela. So this <strong>go</strong>vernment is waiting<br />
for the balance of terror. In other words, they<br />
are waiting for forces that are more terrifying<br />
than they are before they do something.<br />
Do you think Venezuela’s ordeal is <strong>go</strong>od<br />
for us as a nation?<br />
How can such be <strong>go</strong>od for this country? But<br />
what will happen in a situation where the end<br />
of the road has been reached? There is no law<br />
<strong>and</strong> order <strong>and</strong> this disabling level of corruption<br />
<strong>and</strong> everything negative is happening. We are<br />
just waiting to see what will happen next.<br />
Those who are religious are saying “may God<br />
bring better days” but before you can pray to<br />
God, you have to make sure that you are clean<br />
yourself. How can a thief pray to God? But<br />
that is what most leaders in our country are<br />
(thieves) except those who are the exception<br />
rather than the rule?<br />
But with this disabling state of our nation,<br />
do you foresee better days?<br />
Yes, absolutely after a constitutional<br />
evolution or do you think things would<br />
change in Nigeria just because you are asking<br />
for it? For things to change for the better in<br />
Nigeria, there has to be a constitutional<br />
revolution, which means a peaceful change<br />
of the system without divide, but if this fails,<br />
as it happened in other countries, other forces<br />
are likely to take over. For instance, Iraqi is<br />
not at peace, Libya is not at peace, even those<br />
who have lesser problems like Sudan <strong>and</strong><br />
Venezuela are not at peace. So what would<br />
make any Nigerian, who has commonsense,<br />
think that what is happening in these<br />
countries will not happen in Nigeria where<br />
human dignity does not exist, national<br />
development doesn’t exist <strong>and</strong> only deceit <strong>and</strong><br />
vote-buying win elections? God cannot be<br />
deceived.<br />
What about those clamouring for<br />
restructuring, especially the Yoruba, Niger<br />
Deltans <strong>and</strong> Igbo, as the way out of our<br />
problems?<br />
Forget about the unnecessary clamour.<br />
Whatever <strong>go</strong>vernment you have, as long as<br />
there are no free, fair <strong>and</strong> legitimate elections;<br />
as long as the system controlling the<br />
development of our nation is not based on<br />
public interest but self-interest, the<br />
clamour for restructuring <strong>and</strong><br />
confederation is all rubbish. Those<br />
who talk about restructuring <strong>and</strong><br />
true federalism, if you ask them,<br />
they have nothing to justify it<br />
than talking about ethnic<br />
nationality; they are not<br />
talking about real<br />
national issues like<br />
unity, like democracy<br />
<strong>and</strong> development in the<br />
country. They are not<br />
talking about issues<br />
that compare us with<br />
developed countries in<br />
the world; they are<br />
talking about things<br />
that compare us with the<br />
worst people. Nigeria,<br />
with her resources, should<br />
be compared with one of<br />
the five<br />
m o s t<br />
blessed<br />
countries in the<br />
world. But these<br />
so-called leaders<br />
are busy talking about<br />
voting into office this<br />
useless person or voting out<br />
that useless person into the<br />
presidency, into the<br />
legislature or into the<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment house at the<br />
state level, without<br />
demonstrable credibility<br />
<strong>and</strong> experience. That is all<br />
they are talking about.<br />
What about the disabling<br />
insecurity in the <strong>No</strong>rth?<br />
People are wasting their<br />
time talking about insecurity<br />
in the <strong>No</strong>rth. Immediately<br />
after the civil war, when the<br />
Federal Government<br />
obtained the instrument of<br />
surrender from the Biafrans,<br />
armed robbery started in the<br />
East. Before that time, I used<br />
to travel from Enugu to<br />
Kaduna, from La<strong>go</strong>s to<br />
Kaduna. I would drive in the<br />
night peacefully <strong>and</strong> arrive<br />
in Kaduna. I was doing this all over the<br />
country as a civil servant <strong>and</strong> nothing<br />
happened to me. But immediately after the<br />
civil war, armed robbery started from the<br />
South-East. Most informed Nigerians were<br />
warning the Federal Government that the<br />
rebels had surrendered but there was a<br />
problem <strong>and</strong> that if <strong>go</strong>vernment did not do<br />
something about it, the problem would get<br />
out of h<strong>and</strong>. It was not the problem of the<br />
South-East due to the civil war <strong>and</strong> not a<br />
problem we should be happy about because<br />
the Igbo had <strong>go</strong>t what they asked for as a<br />
consequence of the war! It was not a national<br />
problem but we said it could spread<br />
throughout the country, <strong>and</strong> <strong>go</strong>vernment did<br />
not listen. Years after, there was an armed<br />
robbery in every village in Nigeria. The same<br />
thing applies to Boko Haram when people<br />
were deceiving themselves that it was a<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth-East affair. Also when the herdsmen<br />
problem started, people were calling it a<br />
northern problem. But the consequence of all<br />
these is the failure of the <strong>go</strong>vernment to meet<br />
its responsibility to the people in the areas of<br />
addressing poverty, unemployment <strong>and</strong> the<br />
get rich mentality to the level that people are<br />
engaged in kidnapping in virtually every<br />
local <strong>go</strong>vernment <strong>and</strong> every ward in Nigeria.<br />
In fact, someone you know is connected to<br />
someone that abducts you. As it is today,<br />
nobody is safe for anybody to travel in Nigeria,<br />
even outside your village because of the fear<br />
of being abducted for ransom. So, we are<br />
deceiving ourselves. Instead of taking<br />
national measures when issues arise, we are<br />
taking sectional measures until the whole<br />
problem overwhelms everybody. As it is,<br />
nobody is safe today! A cleaner is not safe,<br />
the President is not safe; who then is <strong>go</strong>ing to<br />
save Nigeria? Did you hear of the abduction<br />
of an Islamic cleric in the <strong>No</strong>rth whose<br />
specialty is the reading of the Quran? Why<br />
did the abductors do that? Because they<br />
believed that if they abduct such a person,<br />
even if he doesn’t have money, there are <strong>others</strong><br />
who would <strong>pay</strong> the ransom to free him <strong>and</strong><br />
this is exactly what happened. So, nobody is<br />
safe because the system <strong>and</strong> the leadership<br />
have produced only thieves.<br />
But how did we get here as a nation?<br />
It is a long history. We can talk about that to<br />
only those who have time to listen! In the 50s,<br />
despite the level of poverty <strong>and</strong> limited<br />
opportunities, these problems didn’t exist<br />
because there was the obedience to law <strong>and</strong><br />
order. For instance, when I started work in<br />
1953, nobody can steal a kobo of public fund<br />
<strong>and</strong> get away with it, whoever you might be,<br />
you are <strong>go</strong>ing to get punished according to<br />
the law. But, today, you can steal one third of<br />
the budget of the country <strong>and</strong> get away with<br />
it as long as you are the<br />
surrogate of the<br />
President, a <strong>go</strong>vernor, a<br />
minister or someone in<br />
authority. We had a<br />
case of a minister who<br />
stole N83billion <strong>and</strong> it<br />
was proved in court; he<br />
But, today, you<br />
can steal one<br />
third of the<br />
budget of the<br />
country <strong>and</strong> get<br />
away with it as<br />
long as you are<br />
the surrogate of<br />
the President, a<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernor, a<br />
minister or<br />
someone in<br />
authority<br />
was jailed for two years<br />
only. <strong>No</strong>w he is a hero<br />
in his community, a<br />
hero in his state, a hero<br />
in his political party<br />
<strong>and</strong> a hero in Nigeria.<br />
This type of thing is<br />
what makes it difficult<br />
for us to deal with the<br />
disabling level of<br />
corruption <strong>and</strong> waste of<br />
resources in the<br />
country because<br />
everybody wants to be<br />
something when he or<br />
she has such<br />
opportunity.<br />
Do you think these<br />
challenges justify the<br />
call for true federalism?<br />
True federalism <strong>and</strong><br />
restructuring are<br />
different things<br />
entirely. Those who<br />
talk about true federalism, in reality, are<br />
talking of true federal system of <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
where power is shared between the centre<br />
<strong>and</strong> the <strong>states</strong> <strong>and</strong> various units. Those who<br />
are calling for true federalism <strong>and</strong><br />
restructuring are honest but the issue is the<br />
problem of the regions.
PAGE 26—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
Ministerial Appointments:<br />
<strong>No</strong>t a party affair<br />
The argument that<br />
President Muham<br />
madu Buhari<br />
should bother more about<br />
Atiku Abubakar’s petition<br />
against his re-election<br />
rather than concentrating<br />
on forming a <strong>go</strong>vernment,<br />
loses sight of the ‘no vacuum<br />
in <strong>go</strong>vernment’ philosophy.<br />
It would therefore<br />
be irrational for Buhari<br />
to await the verdict<br />
of the election tribunal<br />
before inaugurating his<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment. Besides, being<br />
the declared winner<br />
of the contest by the election<br />
referee, gives him<br />
confidence to act with the<br />
presumption that he is<br />
more likely to also win at<br />
the tribunal. However,<br />
that does not rule out the<br />
possibility of another c<strong>and</strong>idate<br />
upstaging the earlier<br />
declared winner, more<br />
so, as election controversies<br />
in Nigeria often create<br />
room for any contestant<br />
to be the lucky one in<br />
the end. Either way, by<br />
May 29, 2019, a new <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
must take-off to<br />
run the affairs of Nigeria<br />
whether the election tribunal<br />
has or has not concluded<br />
action on petitions.<br />
Thus, the current<br />
search for ministers who<br />
are constitutionally em-<br />
powered to implement the<br />
policies <strong>and</strong> programmes<br />
of the president is in order.<br />
What is likely to be in<br />
contention is the quality<br />
of persons that would constitute<br />
the Council of<br />
Ministers. A look at the<br />
powers of that council<br />
would readily show that<br />
Nigeria has never been inspired<br />
to pick persons with<br />
the requisite strength of<br />
character for the job. Can<br />
Nigerians in all honesty<br />
identify ministers that<br />
have, as required by the<br />
constitution, been able to<br />
question the health status<br />
of a president even where<br />
the failing health was visible<br />
to the blind as was the<br />
case with late President<br />
Yar’Adua? Instead, there<br />
has always been the temptation<br />
to appoint malleable<br />
persons who would<br />
covertly be controlled not<br />
by the president but by other<br />
persons in the corridors<br />
of power better known in<br />
Nigeria as cabals. Such appointees<br />
can hardly ensure<br />
successful execution of<br />
projects. Unfortunately, the<br />
current search for ministers<br />
may follow the old order<br />
of appointees with ample<br />
deficiencies in courage,<br />
vision <strong>and</strong> integrity.<br />
The quantum of noise so<br />
far made about the ruling<br />
party compiling a list of<br />
loyal party members for<br />
appointment confirms our<br />
contention.<br />
A report in the media last<br />
week quotes the National<br />
Working Committee of the<br />
ruling party as impressing<br />
on Buhari “to ensure that<br />
only members who have<br />
been faithful to the party<br />
are appointed into executive<br />
positions.” With due respect,<br />
such criterion cannot<br />
be the prime factor for appointment.<br />
It can however<br />
be an added advantage.<br />
The main factor is capacity,<br />
made up of competence<br />
<strong>and</strong> track record. While<br />
there is no problem with<br />
appointing a member of<br />
the APC as a minister, he<br />
should ordinarily be qualified<br />
even if he was not a<br />
party member. We also<br />
need to make the point that<br />
because Buhari is not the<br />
president of APC but of all<br />
Nigerians, his leadership<br />
needn’t be so derogated<br />
from. As is seen in other<br />
parts of the world, even opposition<br />
politicians are invited<br />
to serve in <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
only because they<br />
have unrivalled expertise in<br />
specific fields. That is what<br />
should propel our president<br />
especially if he must<br />
make a mark in his last opportunity<br />
to be president<br />
<strong>and</strong> leave innumerable<br />
legacies. For that to happen,<br />
Buhari must serve as<br />
the captain of our <strong>go</strong>vernance<br />
national team, made<br />
up of the best eleven.<br />
Only experts can make<br />
remarkable points in <strong>go</strong>vernance,<br />
not party loyalists<br />
with questionable credentials.<br />
This is more obvious<br />
in a developing society like<br />
Nigeria with a gamut of<br />
physical <strong>and</strong> infrastructural<br />
challenges that are begging<br />
for redress. Today,<br />
many Nigerians remember,<br />
the excellent performance<br />
of N<strong>go</strong>zi Okonjo-<br />
Any Nigerian<br />
president can<br />
constitute with ease,<br />
a strong, viable <strong>and</strong><br />
above all, a balanced<br />
ministerial team for<br />
the <strong>go</strong>od of the<br />
nation. All that needs<br />
to be done, is to<br />
insist on the best<br />
h<strong>and</strong>s<br />
Iweala as minister of finance.<br />
She was not even a<br />
party member let alone a<br />
loyal one when she made<br />
l<strong>and</strong>mark decisions for<br />
which the leadership at the<br />
time took credit. The same<br />
can be said for Obiageli<br />
Ezekwesili, Nasir el Rufai,<br />
Charles Soludo etc. who<br />
served in the past as outst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
cabinet members<br />
<strong>and</strong> left a mark yet to be<br />
met thereafter. How to reenact<br />
the glories of the past<br />
is what should be uppermost<br />
in Buhari’s mind now<br />
<strong>and</strong> not how to reward acclaimed<br />
worthy loyalists<br />
who may end up being in<br />
office without value. This<br />
point is neither original<br />
nor new, following the recent<br />
prayer of Pastor Tunde<br />
Bakare of the Lattera Rain<br />
Assembly that President<br />
Buhari should “in his second<br />
term appoint the best,<br />
the brightest <strong>and</strong> the fittest,<br />
to maximise the potentials<br />
of the nation.”<br />
Any Nigerian president<br />
can constitute with ease, a<br />
strong, viable <strong>and</strong> above<br />
all, a balanced ministerial<br />
team for the <strong>go</strong>od of the nation.<br />
All that needs to be<br />
done, is to insist on the best<br />
h<strong>and</strong>s. In line with the constitutional<br />
provision of federal<br />
character, such outst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
h<strong>and</strong>s abound all<br />
over the country as there is<br />
no part of our nation whose<br />
products cannot be among<br />
the best. We therefore disagree<br />
with those who argue<br />
that certain sections of the<br />
country which did not vote<br />
for the president should be<br />
punished. To start with, it<br />
has become increasingly<br />
difficult these days, to determine<br />
which sections belong<br />
to which party. For instance,<br />
Sokoto voted APC<br />
in the presidential election<br />
<strong>and</strong> PDP in the <strong>go</strong>vernorship.<br />
In Edo, the APC did<br />
not win the presidential<br />
election but won all the<br />
seats in the state legislature.<br />
So, which party can<br />
we say Sokoto <strong>and</strong> Edo belong<br />
to? Again, at the end<br />
of an election, the winner<br />
becomes the president or<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernor of all. If the<br />
South East that is more of<br />
PDP is shunned today as<br />
not worthy to benefit from<br />
Buhari, we shall produce<br />
a lopsided <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
that runs counter to the<br />
federal character principle<br />
in Section 14(3) of our<br />
constitution that prohibits<br />
the “predominance of<br />
persons from a few <strong>states</strong><br />
or from a few ethnic or<br />
other sectional groups in<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment or in any of<br />
its agencies.”<br />
The constitution did not<br />
provide for favours to<br />
<strong>states</strong> which voted for the<br />
president. An over active<br />
leadership of the ruling<br />
party should thus not mislead<br />
him. Indeed, Buhari<br />
should appoint as ministers,<br />
competent persons<br />
from all over the country<br />
made up of a) the APC as<br />
the president’s channel to<br />
power; b) youths - the undisputed<br />
owners of potentials<br />
<strong>and</strong> in line with the<br />
‘not too young to run’ initiative<br />
of the president; c)<br />
women, in furtherance of<br />
the global reality of affirmative<br />
action <strong>and</strong> d)<br />
experienced technocrats<br />
as drivers of the engines<br />
of development. Governors<br />
who freely pick their<br />
own commissioners<br />
should not claim the power<br />
to nominate ministers<br />
from their <strong>states</strong>. Buhari<br />
needs to remember that if<br />
Nigerians are angry over<br />
inequity in <strong>go</strong>vernment,<br />
all eyes will look towards<br />
him <strong>and</strong> not the party<br />
leadership or <strong>go</strong>vernors.<br />
In any case, history has<br />
shown that any list compiled<br />
by a Nigerian political<br />
party is not likely to<br />
be credible as it usually<br />
contains objectionable<br />
names such as those who<br />
absconded from the compulsory<br />
national service<br />
<strong>and</strong> even names of dead<br />
persons as we saw in the<br />
past. Buhari must change<br />
the narrative <strong>and</strong> produce<br />
a viable team.<br />
PhD,Department of<br />
Philosophy,<br />
University of La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
08116759758<br />
A philosophical critique<br />
of Easter celebration (2)<br />
ut even if we restrict our<br />
Bselves to the stories in the<br />
By eliminating rival<br />
deities, the Pharaoh<br />
appropriated their<br />
powers. <strong>No</strong>w,<br />
Christianity<br />
appropriated the<br />
powers of its<br />
competitors by<br />
emulating an<br />
ascending Pharaoh’s<br />
mythical performance<br />
Gospels, there are still two formidable<br />
problems to be confronted.<br />
The first one is the<br />
largely arbitrary manner the<br />
books that constitute the Holy<br />
Bible were selected in the first<br />
place, coupled with the general<br />
problem of inaccurate<br />
translations, mistranslations<br />
<strong>and</strong> deliberate distortion of<br />
the original texts by scribes<br />
who put together the scriptures<br />
by translating manuscripts<br />
originally written in<br />
Koiné or “common” Greek<br />
into Latin. The second relates<br />
to obvious contradictions in<br />
the Gospels’ accounts of the<br />
purported arrest, crucifixion,<br />
resurrection <strong>and</strong> eventual ascension<br />
of Jesus. Beginning<br />
with the first problem, it is<br />
generally agreed by biblical<br />
scholars that the decision as<br />
to which books should be included<br />
in the Holy Bible <strong>and</strong><br />
which ones to be occluded<br />
was a very controversial <strong>and</strong><br />
difficult one, oftentimes<br />
reached by the casting of lots<br />
during the ecumenical council<br />
meetings, beginning with<br />
the Council of Nicaea in 325.<br />
This explains differences in<br />
the versions of the Christian<br />
bible accepted as authoritative<br />
by major denominations<br />
of Christianity. Concerning<br />
the issue of language, the<br />
manuscripts from which the<br />
Holy Bible evolved were originally<br />
documented in Koiné<br />
or “common” Greek. And<br />
Koiné is written in what is<br />
known as scriptio continua,<br />
which means no spaces between<br />
words <strong>and</strong> no punctuation<br />
marks. Accordingly, weshould<strong>go</strong><strong>and</strong>eatdad<br />
can be interpreted<br />
as “We should <strong>go</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> eat, Dad” or “We should<br />
<strong>go</strong> <strong>and</strong> eat Dad.” Sentences<br />
can have different meanings<br />
depending on where spaces<br />
between words are placed. So,<br />
Jesusisnowhere can be “Jesus<br />
is nowhere” or “Jesus is now<br />
here.” The implication of this<br />
for assessing the veracity of<br />
biblical narratives, including<br />
stories about Jesus’ Passion, is<br />
obvious <strong>and</strong> consequential as<br />
well. For instance, it opens up<br />
the possibility that most of<br />
what Christians believe about<br />
Easter <strong>and</strong> on which their religion<br />
is founded might be the<br />
product of mistranslations<br />
arising from the nature of<br />
Koiné script. Kurt Eichenwald<br />
has brilliantly discussed all<br />
this, including the extremely<br />
tendentious manner biblical<br />
passages were deliberately inserted<br />
in the scriptures, in an<br />
article published in the 09-01-<br />
2015 edition of Newsweek.<br />
Since his essay entitled “The<br />
Bible: So Misunderstood it’s a<br />
Sin” does not focus exclusively<br />
on Easter, there is no need<br />
analysing it in-depth here.<br />
<strong>No</strong>netheless, the key point<br />
made by Eichenwald is that<br />
one should be careful in interpreting<br />
biblical passages literally<br />
because they contain<br />
numerous translation mistakes<br />
<strong>and</strong> deliberate interpolations<br />
by compilers who had<br />
a predetermined theological<br />
agenda.<br />
On the vexed issue of historical<br />
inaccuracies <strong>and</strong> conflicting<br />
accounts of the trial, crucifixion,<br />
death <strong>and</strong> resurrection<br />
of Jesus in the Gospels,<br />
an attentive open-minded<br />
study of what several scholars<br />
have written about it tends to<br />
raise doubts about veracity of<br />
those very narratives or, at<br />
worst, suggests that perhaps<br />
the outl<strong>and</strong>ish events they describe<br />
never really happened.<br />
For instance, Matthew, Mark<br />
<strong>and</strong> Luke claim that Jesus was<br />
taken directly to Caiaphas the<br />
high priest after his arrest (Mat<br />
26:57, Mark 14:53, Luke<br />
22:54). John says that he was<br />
taken first to Annas, father-inlaw<br />
of the high priest who, after<br />
a while sent Jesus to the<br />
high priest. The same Matthew<br />
26:57 affirms that on the<br />
night Jesus was arrested the<br />
priests <strong>and</strong> scribes met before<br />
Jesus was brought to the high<br />
priest. Mark 14:53 says that<br />
they met on the night of Jesus’<br />
arrest after he was brought to<br />
the high priest, whereas Luke<br />
22:66 reports that the priests<br />
<strong>and</strong> scribes assembled the day<br />
after Jesus was arrested. The<br />
<strong>go</strong>spel of John mentions the<br />
high priest only: no other<br />
priests or scribes played a role<br />
in interrogating Jesus. According<br />
to Luke, Pilate sent<br />
Jesus to Herod who questioned<br />
him for a while <strong>and</strong> returned<br />
Jesus to Pilate once<br />
more (Luke 23:7-11). In Matthew,<br />
Mark <strong>and</strong> John, Herod<br />
was not involved at all. The<br />
biblical account of Pilate’s<br />
custom of releasing a prisoner<br />
at Passover <strong>and</strong> his offer to<br />
free Jesus while the Jews preferred<br />
Barabbas is historically<br />
inaccurate because the only<br />
authority granted by Rome to<br />
a Roman <strong>go</strong>vernor in such situation<br />
was postponement of<br />
the execution after the religious<br />
festival. Those who<br />
wrote the <strong>go</strong>spels included it<br />
in order to exonerate Pilate<br />
from Jesus’ execution <strong>and</strong> put<br />
the blame on the Jews. Moreover,<br />
the story that Pilate consented<br />
to the dem<strong>and</strong> by the<br />
mob is at odds with what is<br />
known about Pilate’s habitual<br />
savage <strong>and</strong> highh<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
methods of crowd control. According<br />
to historians, Pilate<br />
was recalled to Rome because<br />
of his brutality. How could a<br />
man with such notoriety be<br />
interested in what a Jewish<br />
mob wanted, let alone consenting<br />
to it? Matthew 27:38<br />
<strong>and</strong> Mark 15:27 say that Jesus<br />
was crucified between two<br />
robbers. But the Romans did<br />
not crucify robbers. Crucifixion<br />
was reserved specifically<br />
for rebellious slaves <strong>and</strong> insurrectionists.<br />
Did Jesus speak to<br />
his mother <strong>and</strong> to Peter from<br />
the cross during his crucifixion?<br />
The <strong>go</strong>spels affirm that<br />
he did. That is extremely unlikely<br />
given that during crucifixions<br />
Roman soldiers guarded<br />
the execution ground, <strong>and</strong><br />
nobody was allowed to come<br />
close, least of all relatives <strong>and</strong><br />
friends who would actually<br />
want to help the person to be<br />
executed. Matthew 27: 51-53<br />
confirms that at the moment<br />
Jesus died there was an earthquake<br />
that opened the tombs<br />
<strong>and</strong> an unspecified number of<br />
righteous people were raised<br />
from the dead who later went<br />
to Jerusalem <strong>and</strong> appeared to<br />
many people. However, none<br />
of the historians of the period<br />
documented that fascinating<br />
event, <strong>and</strong> it was not even recorded<br />
in the other <strong>go</strong>spels.<br />
Some New Testament scholars<br />
think that the author of this<br />
narrative must be an ardent<br />
believer in the resurrection<br />
power of Jesus <strong>and</strong> included<br />
the story to vindicate that belief.<br />
After the resurrection,<br />
who were the first to discover<br />
the empty tomb? Matthew<br />
claims that it was Mary<br />
Magdalene <strong>and</strong> the “other<br />
Mary.” Mark 16:1 gives it to<br />
Mary Magdalene, Mary, the<br />
mother of James <strong>and</strong> Salome.<br />
Luke adds Joanna to the list<br />
of women, while according to<br />
John 20:1-4 Mary<br />
Magdalene went to the tomb<br />
alone, saw the stone blocking<br />
its entrance removed, ran to<br />
Peter <strong>and</strong> returned to the tomb<br />
with another disciple.<br />
<strong>No</strong>w, who did these followers<br />
of Jesus find at the tomb?<br />
Matthew 28:2-4 intimates<br />
that an angel of the Lord who<br />
appeared like lightening sat<br />
on the stone that had been<br />
rolled away. Also present in<br />
the vicinity were guards dispatched<br />
to guard the burial<br />
chamber. Returning from the<br />
tomb the women met Jesus<br />
(Matthew 28:9). Mark <strong>tells</strong> us<br />
that a young man in a white<br />
robe was sitting inside the<br />
tomb. Luke talks about two<br />
men in dazzling apparel, but<br />
it is unclear whether they were<br />
inside or outside the tomb. In<br />
John, we read that that Mary,<br />
Peter <strong>and</strong> the other disciple initially<br />
found an empty tomb.<br />
Pater <strong>and</strong> the other disciple<br />
entered the tomb <strong>and</strong> saw the<br />
wrappings used to cover Jesus’<br />
corpse. Mary looked into<br />
the tomb <strong>and</strong> saw two angels<br />
dressed in white. After a brief<br />
conversation with them,<br />
Mary turns around <strong>and</strong> saw<br />
Jesus. Other example can be<br />
brought forward, but the ones<br />
presented already are sufficient<br />
to make the case that that<br />
the events around which the<br />
Gospels’ narratives were woven<br />
either did not take place<br />
or were so garbled that it is<br />
impossible to separate fiction<br />
from fact. The first alternative<br />
will rankle Christians apologists,<br />
but it is not as far-fetched<br />
as it seems. Consider one of<br />
the best-known stories in the<br />
New Testament, precisely in<br />
the <strong>go</strong>spel of John chapter 7,<br />
about a group of Pharisees<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>others</strong> who brought to Jesus<br />
a woman allegedly committing<br />
adultery, <strong>and</strong> how Jesus<br />
escaped the trap set by her<br />
accusers by cleverly turning<br />
the table against them. Yet the<br />
incident reported never happened.<br />
It was not even written<br />
by John to whom it is attributed.<br />
Rather, according to Prof.<br />
Bart Ehrman, a biblical scholar<br />
at the University of <strong>No</strong>rth<br />
Carolina, it was fabricated by<br />
scribes sometime in the Middle<br />
Ages. The story does not<br />
appear in any of the three other<br />
<strong>go</strong>spels nor in any of the<br />
earlier Greek versions of John.<br />
Some researchers believe<br />
that the story of Jesus in the<br />
New Testament is an accretion<br />
of legends popular in<br />
Mediterranean communities<br />
in the dying years of the Roman<br />
Empire. For example,<br />
the noted historian, Prof. Arnold<br />
Toynbee, explained in his<br />
illuminating book, Mankind<br />
<strong>and</strong> Mother Earth, that in the<br />
Levant after Alex<strong>and</strong>er the<br />
Great overthrew the Persian<br />
Empire, <strong>and</strong> throughout the<br />
whole perimeter of the Mediterranean<br />
after its political<br />
unification by the Roman<br />
Empire, there was fierce competition<br />
among rival religions<br />
for the chance of becoming the<br />
universal religion of the region<br />
as a whole. Christianity<br />
eventually triumphed by a<br />
process adumbrated already<br />
in Pharaonic Egyptian theology.<br />
According to the Egyptians,<br />
when a Pharaoh dies his<br />
detachable soul ascends into<br />
heaven <strong>and</strong> there devours other<br />
<strong>go</strong>ds whom the newcomer<br />
encounters. By eliminating rival<br />
deities, the Pharaoh appropriated<br />
their powers. <strong>No</strong>w,<br />
Christianity appropriated the<br />
powers of its competitors by<br />
emulating an ascending Pharaoh’s<br />
mythical performance.<br />
According to Toynbee, in the<br />
story of Jesus the religion absorbed<br />
Egyptian, Syrian, Anatolian<br />
<strong>and</strong> Hellenic <strong>go</strong>ds <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>go</strong>ddesses <strong>and</strong> thereby ascribed<br />
their powers to the risen<br />
messiah.<br />
To be continued.
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 27<br />
“B<br />
By Chris Onuoha<br />
ut for the rail transport coming as a<br />
viable alternative, we would have all<br />
been doomed, or at best, we would<br />
completely avoid <strong>go</strong>ing back home”, says<br />
Hajia Bilikisu Sanusi, a senior female civil<br />
servant, who works in Abuja, but comes from<br />
Kaduna State. Hajia Sanusi, who spoke to<br />
Sunday Vanguard newspaper, at the Idu train<br />
station in Abuja, was obviously elated as she<br />
heaved a sigh of relief on stepping out of the<br />
train station, at the Abuja end of the journey.<br />
Hajia Sanusi is just one of the many<br />
hundreds of passengers who have literally<br />
ab<strong>and</strong>oned the Abuja/Kaduna highway for<br />
fear of being kidnapped, robbed or, worse,<br />
killed by the army of marauders <strong>and</strong> b<strong>and</strong>its<br />
who have practically seized the soul of the<br />
road. In recent times, the Abuja-Kaduna road<br />
had been reduced to highway of horror, what<br />
with the daily reports of kidnapping, torture<br />
<strong>and</strong> robbery.<br />
The senior civil servant was also full of praise<br />
for the Buhari-led <strong>go</strong>vernment which has<br />
ensured that the rail transport between Abuja<br />
<strong>and</strong> Kaduna is fully functional <strong>and</strong> indeed,<br />
coming to the rescue of many Nigerians who<br />
commute between both cities.<br />
According to her, “ we are grateful that, at<br />
least, the railway transport between Abuja <strong>and</strong><br />
my home state, Kaduna, is working<br />
effectively; <strong>and</strong> we have Mr President to<br />
thank for this, without forgetting the Minister<br />
of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi who has<br />
been very passionate about rail development<br />
in Nigeria”.<br />
Although the Abuja/Kaduna rail was started<br />
<strong>and</strong> somewhat commissioned by the<br />
administration of President Goodluck<br />
Jonathan, it was the President Mohammadu<br />
Buhari administration that completed the rail<br />
system between the two cities.<br />
Sources in the Ministry of Transport had<br />
explained to Sunday Vanguard that the<br />
Jonathan administration stopped the rail<br />
tracks at Kubwa, in Abuja, because of the<br />
Catholic hospital which was on the right of<br />
way.<br />
It was the present<br />
Minister of Transportation, Mr<br />
Amaechi who had to ne<strong>go</strong>tiate with<br />
the Catholic authorities to relocate the<br />
church’s hospital before the rail tracks were<br />
completed, leading to the rail connection<br />
between both points - Abuja <strong>and</strong> Kaduna. The<br />
federal <strong>go</strong>vernment provided the funds for the<br />
building of another hospital, just so the rail<br />
line was not obstructed.<br />
However, the ministry source remarked that<br />
the fact remains that the Jonathan<br />
administration initiated the project <strong>and</strong> drove<br />
it to the point it was before the present<br />
administration came into office.<br />
Completing the Abuja-Kaduna rail had<br />
gulped $500 million <strong>and</strong> it is running.<br />
And the Minister of Transportation insists<br />
that the <strong>go</strong>vernment is committed to<br />
connecting all state capitals in the country<br />
with rail, adding that “it is aimed at making<br />
mass movement of people <strong>and</strong> <strong>go</strong>ods easier<br />
across the country”. It is in the pursuit of this<br />
agenda, according to Amaechi, that the<br />
Calabar-Kano, as well as the La<strong>go</strong>s-Calabar<br />
rails are conceived <strong>and</strong> being pursued.<br />
The beauty of this will be better appreciated<br />
with the plan to extend all rail lines to all the<br />
sea ports in the country so car<strong>go</strong>es <strong>and</strong> other<br />
<strong>go</strong>ods can be picked directly from the sea<br />
ports <strong>and</strong> taken to other parts of the country,<br />
thus saving the roads of the impact of heavy<br />
haulages, <strong>and</strong> at far cheaper cost.<br />
Already, the La<strong>go</strong>s/Ibadan rail is near<br />
completion, even as the La<strong>go</strong>s-Abeokuta rail<br />
has been completed <strong>and</strong> running.<br />
Amaechi explained that “by the end of the<br />
year, the La<strong>go</strong>s-Ibadan rail will be up <strong>and</strong><br />
running. By June, this year the entire tracks<br />
would have been laid up to Ibadan. Indeed,<br />
work had continued on that corridor, literally,<br />
day <strong>and</strong> night.<br />
It is the same passion that also led to the<br />
resuscitation of the Itakpe-Warri rail line which<br />
had been ab<strong>and</strong>oned for over 34 years.<br />
According to Amaechi, the Federal<br />
Government’s decision to revisit the Itakpe/<br />
Warri railway is to sustain the dream behind<br />
the project at the time it was conceived. Both<br />
towns are steel-producing communities, one<br />
in Kogi State <strong>and</strong> the other in Delta State.<br />
The rail was thus meant to connect both<br />
companies for the ease of transportation of<br />
<strong>go</strong>ods <strong>and</strong> equipment.<br />
Already, the Itakpe/Warri rail has fully<br />
commenced operation as it daily lifts 100<br />
passengers per trip between both points, even<br />
ABUJA/KADUNA COMMUTERS<br />
Rail Raises Safety<br />
Niche on Road<br />
Transport<br />
as plans are afoot to increase the number of<br />
coaches on the corridor.<br />
To ensure that the rail system runs with<br />
maximum efficiency, the Managing Director<br />
of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC),<br />
Engineer Freeborn Edetanlaen Okhiria<br />
explained that “Nigeria is gradually tackling<br />
the railway challenge as this <strong>go</strong>vernment (of<br />
President Muhammadu Buhari) has shown<br />
deep commitment to rail development in the<br />
country <strong>and</strong> with the deep devotion of the<br />
Minister of Transport, the sky will be our limit<br />
in rail development”.<br />
The zeal of the minister in driving the rail<br />
project may have received recognition even<br />
outside the country.<br />
About three weeks a<strong>go</strong>, the<br />
Ghanaian <strong>go</strong>vernment, sent a<br />
team to Nigeria to understudy<br />
the strides the Nigerian<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment is making in rail<br />
development. Led by its<br />
Minister of Rail Development,<br />
Hon Joe Ghartey, the team<br />
joined in the tour of the rail<br />
construction between La<strong>go</strong>s <strong>and</strong><br />
Ibadan. Hon Ghartey<br />
commended the devotion <strong>and</strong><br />
commitment of Mr Amaechi in<br />
the pursuit of the rail project in<br />
Nigeria.<br />
Commenting on how Amaechi<br />
has totally given his time <strong>and</strong><br />
passion for the rail development,<br />
Dr Omenazu Jackson, a<br />
consultant with the UNDP <strong>and</strong><br />
Chancellor, International<br />
Society for Social Justice <strong>and</strong><br />
Human Rights noted that<br />
whenever he (Amaechi) is<br />
convinced about a project, he<br />
gives it his all <strong>and</strong> that is what<br />
we are seeing in his strides in<br />
the rail development of the<br />
country.<br />
Convinced that the rail transportation is<br />
headed for better days <strong>ahead</strong>, Eng Okhiria<br />
also explained that the Itakpe/Warri railway<br />
transportation will be further boosted soon as<br />
the Railway village <strong>and</strong> Railway yard are<br />
completed in Agbor, Delta State.<br />
The Railway village was burnt down some<br />
years a<strong>go</strong> but it is about being rehabilitated<br />
<strong>and</strong> will have to boot, facilities like school,<br />
hospital <strong>and</strong> residential quarters for rail<br />
workers <strong>and</strong> their families.<br />
In the same vein, the railway yard will cater<br />
for the maintenance need of the rail system<br />
within that axis.<br />
The Itakpe/Warri rail revitalised at the cost<br />
of $200 million, was wholly <strong>and</strong> solely funded<br />
by the federal Government. “We did not<br />
borrow a kobo to fund the Itakpe-Warri rail<br />
project, Amaechi said.<br />
Being built by the China Civil Engineering<br />
Construction Corporation (CECC), the rail<br />
infrastructure in Nigeria is being funded by<br />
loans, largely obtained<br />
from China. The cost of<br />
the rail projects have<br />
accounted for a <strong>go</strong>od<br />
chunk of the debt<br />
Despite the funding<br />
challenges facing the<br />
infrastructural<br />
development in the<br />
country, one thing<br />
certain is that the rail<br />
development under<br />
the management of<br />
the present Minister of<br />
Transportation is<br />
bound to change the<br />
narrative of mass<br />
transit schemes in<br />
Nigeria<br />
Nigeria is owing.<br />
Speaking on the many<br />
benefits of the rail<br />
transport system,<br />
Amaechi noted that in<br />
the areas where the rail<br />
has been completed, the<br />
economies of those<br />
localities have<br />
improved significantly<br />
citing the cost of l<strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> other l<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
properties in the La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
–Ibadan rail corridor,<br />
which he said, have<br />
remarkably<br />
appreciated.<br />
Despite the funding<br />
challenges facing the<br />
infrastructural<br />
development in the<br />
country, one thing<br />
certain is that the rail<br />
development under the<br />
management of the present Minister of<br />
Transportation is bound to change the<br />
narrative of mass transit schemes in Nigeria,<br />
if the same level of devotion <strong>and</strong> commitment<br />
is sustained in the years <strong>ahead</strong>.
PAGE 28 —SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
When Living Faith<br />
Church visited the IDPs<br />
By Jack Kalio, Abuja<br />
The excitements—expressed <strong>and</strong><br />
controlled—were expected; but not<br />
at the level they unfolded. As trucks<br />
loaded with food items <strong>and</strong> clothes<br />
wheeled into each of the 11 Internally<br />
Displaced Persons’ camps in the Federal<br />
Capital Territory, shouts of joy filled the<br />
atmosphere. In one of the camps, while the<br />
children jumped, clapped <strong>and</strong> shouted in<br />
celebration, the adults—married <strong>and</strong><br />
unmarried, young <strong>and</strong> old, men <strong>and</strong> women—<br />
displayed subdued emotions in anticipation<br />
of what was coming. Some could not hold<br />
back tears—especially the women. They were<br />
tears of joy. The men, as usual, bit their lips<br />
<strong>and</strong> tried to brave it through. They could not<br />
jump <strong>and</strong> clap as the children did, neither<br />
could they cry openly as the women. They<br />
simply stood <strong>and</strong> watched. Men will always<br />
be men.<br />
The mixed bag of emotion unfolded when<br />
pastors <strong>and</strong> members of the Living Faith<br />
Church, also known as Winners’ Chapel,<br />
visited camps occupied by IDPs—Internally<br />
Displaced Persons—to deliver special<br />
messages from Bishop David Oyedepo. The<br />
messages were packaged in the form of 77<br />
bags of rice, 2,400 tubers of yam, 44 bags of<br />
white beans, 72 bags of millet, 83 bags of<br />
maize, 254 cartons of indomie, 57 bags of<br />
sugar, 21 cartons of magi cubes, 36 bags of<br />
salt <strong>and</strong> 23 cartons of five-litres oil. Added to<br />
these items were three trailers loaded with<br />
clothes contributed as love gifts by members<br />
of the church. The materials were distributed<br />
to the camps located in Dagba Area 1, New<br />
Kuchin<strong>go</strong>ro, near Games Village, Wasa in<br />
Apo, Waro, in Apo, Sabo Lugbe along the<br />
Airport Road, Gon<strong>go</strong>la in Lugbe, Kekeshi in<br />
Abaji, P<strong>and</strong>agi in Abaji <strong>and</strong> Vine Heritage in<br />
Gwagwalada.<br />
In addition to the items given to these<br />
str<strong>and</strong>ed Nigerians was the word of God<br />
delivered by the leader of the welfare team,<br />
Pastor Sunny Nkemdi. The church did not <strong>go</strong><br />
there on a crusade. But at each camp, as the<br />
team arrived with the loaded trucks, shout of<br />
“Alleluia!’ “Praise the Lord!” <strong>and</strong> “Jesus loves<br />
you,” filled the air.<br />
However, a different atmosphere unfolded<br />
at one of the camps visited. Despite the initial<br />
shout of joy by the children <strong>and</strong> a few adults,<br />
the reporter noticed something more than<br />
hunger in the faces of the some of the elders<br />
occupying the camp. It was almost<br />
indescribable. They seemed lifted on the<br />
inside. Hope came alive; <strong>and</strong> as bags <strong>and</strong><br />
cartons of <strong>go</strong>ods were brought out of the<br />
trucks, the mood of the people completely<br />
changed.<br />
Pastor Abraham Ojeme who oversees the<br />
Living Faith Church in the Federal Capital<br />
Territory said both the church that donated<br />
the <strong>go</strong>ods <strong>and</strong> the recipients were affected by<br />
the emotional atmosphere in the camps<br />
visited: “Reaction is double-edged. Sometimes<br />
it brings tears from your eyes when you see the<br />
excitement in them <strong>and</strong> you could see hope in<br />
their faces. We are happy for that but it brings<br />
tears. Can we as human beings join h<strong>and</strong>s<br />
together to help each other? They did not plan<br />
to be in IDP, many of them had homes before<br />
<strong>and</strong> all of a sudden, overnight, they found<br />
themselves there. That wasn’t their plan but<br />
God will change their story, God will give them<br />
a new beginning. For the hope we saw on their<br />
faces, God will do it for them.<br />
Staying in the IDP camps seems to have<br />
created a bond of friendship <strong>and</strong><br />
unprecedented sense of togetherness among<br />
the people. They have become morally bound<br />
even if it is a marriage of convenience. Both<br />
Christians <strong>and</strong> Muslims have come to see<br />
themselves as br<strong>others</strong> <strong>and</strong> sisters—passengers<br />
in the same boat ab<strong>and</strong>oned on an isl<strong>and</strong> by<br />
circumstances beyond their comprehension.<br />
The visit of the church was therefore not<br />
seen—even among the unbelievers—as a<br />
religious expedition, but as a demonstration<br />
of God’s love. Most of IDPs wore br<strong>and</strong> new<br />
or freshly-ironed clothes for the first time in<br />
several years because the church went there.<br />
Some had shoes given to them <strong>and</strong> could not<br />
believe that such luxuries still existed.<br />
While providing the clue as to the mission of<br />
the church in investing millions of naira in a<br />
population comprising mostly Muslims,<br />
Pastor Ojeme explained that what has<br />
happened so far—the donation by the Living<br />
Faith Church—is the beginning, not the end:<br />
“Well, we are not talking about the millions<br />
now, because you cannot even quantify their<br />
own souls. How dare you try to quantify what<br />
you invest in them? What I am looking forward<br />
to is what God will make out of their lives.<br />
The Bible says what will you compare a soul<br />
to? How much is a soul worth?<br />
This is just the beginning <strong>and</strong> this same thing<br />
happening in FCT is happening all over the<br />
<strong>states</strong> of Nigeria. We have done this many<br />
times before. We have done it for nations. We<br />
did it for Liberia. I was in Liberia in the midst<br />
of the war. We sent shiploads of materials to<br />
them <strong>and</strong> I could see how excited they were.<br />
We have done it in Sierra Leone, we have done<br />
it in Rw<strong>and</strong>a <strong>and</strong> we will keep doing it all over<br />
the world.”<br />
Few things, if any, create satisfaction <strong>and</strong><br />
raise hope in the midst of calamity than the<br />
knowledge that somebody cares. When words<br />
of hope are spoken, the weak bones receive<br />
strength. When h<strong>and</strong>s of succour are stretched<br />
in moments of distress, a<strong>go</strong>ny turns to joy;<br />
tears turn smiles. All these unfolded across<br />
the 11 IDP camps visited by the Living Faith<br />
Church two weeks a<strong>go</strong>.<br />
As the divinely-inspired visitation wrapped<br />
up at the last camp visited, Pastor Ojeme<br />
prophesied hope even in the face of<br />
hopelessness. He said: “I see a people that<br />
will soon come out of their present condition.<br />
It is only a matter a time. Watch what will<br />
soon happen. The Bible says God raises the<br />
poor from the dung-hill. He lifts the servant<br />
from the ground <strong>and</strong> puts him on the horses.<br />
Their story will soon change. Some of them<br />
<strong>and</strong> their families will never know the road to<br />
an IDP camp again in life. <strong>No</strong>w, for what they<br />
have <strong>go</strong>ne through, when God visits them <strong>and</strong><br />
the changes come, they will know the<br />
difference, they will know how to appreciate<br />
God.”<br />
ANRP praises Bauchi people for peaceful polls,<br />
asks <strong>go</strong>v-elect to be leader for all<br />
•How our presidential c<strong>and</strong>idate made 17th position’<br />
auchi State chapter of the Abundant<br />
BNigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), under the<br />
leadership of Alhaji Muhammad Yahaya<br />
Abubakar Misau, has commended the people<br />
of the state for ensuring peaceful conduct of<br />
the 2019 general elections.<br />
It also thanked Bauchi people for the support<br />
it received during the presidential election that<br />
saw its c<strong>and</strong>idate, Tope Fasua, clinching the<br />
11th position out of the 73 c<strong>and</strong>idates that<br />
participated in the election in the state.<br />
“This shows that the people have trust in us<br />
<strong>and</strong> have firm believe in our ethos”, a<br />
statement by the state chapter of the ANRP<br />
said.<br />
“On the <strong>go</strong>vernorship election, credit must<br />
be given to the c<strong>and</strong>idates of the two major<br />
political parties for adhering to the peaceful<br />
conduct of the election especially the<br />
incumbent <strong>go</strong>vernor, M.A. Abubakar, who<br />
How Tecno Spark 3 will help Nigerians<br />
These days, Smartphone<br />
users in Nigeria are always<br />
on the lookout for how<br />
features such as screen size,<br />
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In 2011, TECNO Mobile built the<br />
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Program. This program focuses<br />
on researching on people’s face,<br />
stated <strong>and</strong> proved to us that his ambition is<br />
not worth the blood of any Bauchi citizen”.<br />
“Although the ruling APC seems dissatisfied<br />
with the outcome of the election, we believe<br />
the election might have to be resolved at the<br />
tribunal in the long run. However, we call on<br />
the <strong>go</strong>vernor elect, Sen. Bala Muhammad, to<br />
ensure justice <strong>and</strong> harmony in the state. “Some<br />
might have not supported his c<strong>and</strong>idature for<br />
one reason or the other but that is simply<br />
democracy <strong>and</strong> exactly how it should be. <strong>No</strong>w<br />
that he has taken the m<strong>and</strong>ate, he should know<br />
that he should lead all Bauchi citizens <strong>and</strong><br />
not just the PDP or his supporters”.<br />
so far <strong>and</strong> the number of faces<br />
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TECNO assigned over 2000<br />
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The party appreciated the effort of the state<br />
Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, the police<br />
<strong>and</strong> INEC who, it said, worked so hard <strong>and</strong><br />
sacrificed so much just to ensure that the wish<br />
of the masses prevailed.<br />
“This shows that Bauchi people are peace<br />
loving <strong>and</strong> mature when it comes to deciding<br />
their leaders.<br />
“The peaceful outcome of the 2019 election<br />
in the state also underscore that it’s possible<br />
that Bauchi can be great if we can all work<br />
towards building a just <strong>and</strong> democratic<br />
society.<br />
“Let’s continue to recommit ourselves to the<br />
ideals of justice, peace <strong>and</strong> unity.”<br />
Meanwhile, ....., has been appointed as a<br />
member of the transition committee for<br />
Bauchi State by the <strong>go</strong>vernor-elect.<br />
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SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 29<br />
By Yemi Ogunbiyi<br />
The direct impulse to the writing of this<br />
piece came from six separate inspection<br />
trips of the new 158.5km, double-track<br />
St<strong>and</strong>ard Gauge railway line from Ibadan to<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s which is about to be flagged off for use<br />
in May. Those inspection trips, which were<br />
spread out over a one-year period, were in the<br />
company of the Minister of Transport, Rt. Hon.<br />
Rotimi Amaechi.<br />
The construction of the rail project itself, with<br />
extensions to Apapa Sea Port <strong>and</strong> associated<br />
railway stations, commenced in March 2017.<br />
Those inspection trips, taken together, had a<br />
tremendous impact on me <strong>and</strong> opened up for<br />
me vistas of new possibilities in my<br />
assessment of the future of our country. To fully<br />
underst<strong>and</strong> the impact of my experience <strong>and</strong><br />
put it in proper perspective, we would need to<br />
back-step a little into the history of the<br />
Nigerian Railway Corporation.<br />
When the British decided in 1898 to<br />
construct the first railroad in Nigeria, that is,<br />
the 32km narrow gauge line from Iddo in the<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s Colony to Ota in today’s Ogun State<br />
<strong>and</strong> subsequently to Ibadan, it was conceived<br />
purely as a commercial venture designed to<br />
ease the movement of <strong>go</strong>ods from the<br />
hinterl<strong>and</strong> to the coast for export. It took four<br />
years to complete that very first line in 1901.<br />
Thereafter, rail construction continued<br />
incrementally, with the Ibadan-Jebba line,<br />
between 1907 <strong>and</strong> 1911. Urged by the British<br />
Cotton Growing Association, a single track<br />
narrow gauge, with a speed of 12 miles per<br />
hour, was constructed in 1907 from Baro to<br />
Bida, Zungeru <strong>and</strong> Zaria to Kano, to ease the<br />
evacuation of cotton for export. Following the<br />
discovery of coal in Enugu in 1914, the 243km<br />
Port Harcourt – Enugu line was constructed<br />
to facilitate export of coal through Port<br />
Harcourt. Then, by 1924, several other lines<br />
were added, among them the Enugu –<br />
Makurdi line, the Kaduna – Kafanchan, <strong>and</strong><br />
Kafanchan – Jos lines. In the 1920s <strong>and</strong> early<br />
1930s, the Zaria – Gusau – Kaura Namoda<br />
lines were built. Then two final extensions,<br />
Kano – Nguru <strong>and</strong> Ifo – Ido<strong>go</strong> were added by<br />
1930.<br />
In all those years, the railways were run<br />
efficiently because the institution was then<br />
under the supervision of an efficiently-run civil<br />
service. Then on October 1, 1955, it became a<br />
public enterprise by an Act of Parliament (<strong>No</strong>.<br />
26). By 1964, the old Nigerian Railways<br />
Corporation reached its peak performance<br />
when it was said to have conveyed some<br />
11.2million passengers annually <strong>and</strong> about<br />
3million tonnes of <strong>go</strong>ods. In the 1963/64<br />
Financial Year Report, the Corporation had a<br />
financial performance of £16million <strong>and</strong> a<br />
h<strong>and</strong>some working surplus of £2million. As a<br />
young high school boy, who had to shuttle<br />
during school holidays between Kano <strong>and</strong><br />
Ibadan <strong>and</strong> later La<strong>go</strong>s, I testify that during<br />
those years rail rides were superbly joyous.<br />
The rot<br />
Then, gradually, the rot set in, compounded<br />
by poor infrastructure maintenance, derelict<br />
<strong>and</strong> antiquated rail tracks, outmoded<br />
locomotives <strong>and</strong> wa<strong>go</strong>ns <strong>and</strong>, of course,<br />
corruption <strong>and</strong> poor management. Ironically,<br />
the neglect of the sector started with the British,<br />
who became, it seemed, more interested by<br />
1960 in emerging markets elsewhere. For<br />
instance, for thirty-one years between 1927-<br />
1958, apart from two minor extensions to the<br />
rail network, namely, Kafanchan – Bauchi <strong>and</strong><br />
Bauchi – Maiduguri, not a single rail sleeper<br />
was laid anywhere in the country. And then,<br />
for over fifty years between 1970 to only a few<br />
years a<strong>go</strong>, the sector laid comatose <strong>and</strong><br />
became, with possibly one exception, a cheap<br />
dispensable pawn in the h<strong>and</strong>s of successive<br />
Nigerian administrations.<br />
To be sure, some efforts were made to revive<br />
the sector. In 1970, under the Obasanjo military<br />
regime, an Indian group, the Rail India<br />
Technical <strong>and</strong> Economic Services, were<br />
brought in to manage the corporation. When<br />
they left ten years after, there was little to show<br />
for their effort. Thereafter, another group of<br />
Romanians were paid $17million to supply<br />
wa<strong>go</strong>ns <strong>and</strong> workshop equipment. Again, it<br />
came to nothing. Then, in 1995, General Sani<br />
Abacha brought in the now famous China<br />
Civil Engineering Construction Company<br />
(CCECC) to rehabilitate the entire rail<br />
infrastructure. That $528million contract was<br />
also poorly executed. Then, again, in 2002, the<br />
Obasanjo civilian administration came up<br />
with an ambitious twenty-five year Strategic<br />
Vision for the corporation, one that would<br />
build a modernised 8,000km of railway<br />
network, linking all state capitals <strong>and</strong><br />
industrial centres in the country. Indeed, in<br />
the dying days of his administration, Obasanjo<br />
re-engaged CCECC in 2006 to build the La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
– Kano 1,315km St<strong>and</strong>ard Gauge line for<br />
$8.3billion. But again, not much happened,<br />
until President Yar’ adua took over <strong>and</strong><br />
cancelled the contract.<br />
Ironically, the more noticeable<br />
transformation of the sector occurred during<br />
the Jonathan administration. In a move that<br />
appeared to have learnt a few lessons from<br />
the hiccups <strong>and</strong> false starts of previous<br />
administrations, Jonathan deployed a twotracked<br />
strategy to rehabilitate the existing old<br />
narrow gauge <strong>and</strong> later commence the<br />
construction of new St<strong>and</strong>ard Gauge lines;<br />
*Amaechi during an<br />
inspection tour of<br />
railway project<br />
Speed, comfort, safety,<br />
cost-effectiveness<br />
• The challenge of a new Nigerian railway<br />
which was exactly what he did. The<br />
rehabilitation of the old lines led to the<br />
reactivation of a number of inter-city train<br />
services, such as the Makurdi – Port Harcourt<br />
line, through Aba <strong>and</strong> Enugu. Simultaneously,<br />
the administration commenced work on the<br />
new 187km St<strong>and</strong>ard Gauge line between<br />
Abuja (Idu) <strong>and</strong> Kaduna (Rigasa). But the most<br />
remarkable of the Jonathan effort was the<br />
signing of a $11.9billion contract with the<br />
CCECC to build a coastal 22-stop St<strong>and</strong>ard<br />
Gauge railway track that would stretch for<br />
1,402km from La<strong>go</strong>s, through Ijebu-Ode,<br />
Benin, Port Harcourt to Calabar, with a<br />
maximum travelling speed of 120km/hour. It<br />
was CCECC’s largest overseas contract up<br />
until that time.<br />
Building on gains<br />
Then enter the Buhari administration in<br />
2015, with Rotimi Amaechi as Transport<br />
Minister. H<strong>and</strong>icapped, both by an antiquated<br />
1955 Act which still guides the development<br />
<strong>and</strong> operation of the sector <strong>and</strong> the paucity of<br />
funds, President Buhari directed his new<br />
Minister to build on the gains of the past, while<br />
also charting a new, more radical path for the<br />
sector. Under a more radical approach that was<br />
now designed to increase the sector’s<br />
contribution to GDP from its present 20% to<br />
70% by 2040, existing ab<strong>and</strong>oned projects<br />
were to be completed, while<br />
also embarking on the design,<br />
construction <strong>and</strong> deployment<br />
of new, St<strong>and</strong>ard Gauge lines.<br />
Accordingly, the Abuja (Idu) to<br />
Kaduna (Rigasa) St<strong>and</strong>ard<br />
Guage project which had been<br />
crippled for lack of funds <strong>and</strong><br />
almost ab<strong>and</strong>oned by the<br />
previous administration was<br />
promptly completed <strong>and</strong><br />
flagged off for commercial<br />
operation by President Buhari<br />
in July, 2016. As part of this<br />
scheme, <strong>and</strong> under Amaechi’s<br />
watch, the Itakpe – Ajaokuta –<br />
Warri railway St<strong>and</strong>ard Gauge<br />
project, which was first<br />
conceived thirty-two years a<strong>go</strong>,<br />
was completed. This important<br />
line, complete with a modern<br />
Locomotive Depot at a Facility<br />
Yard in Agbor, would<br />
eventually be extended<br />
southwards to terminate at a<br />
new Warri Port <strong>and</strong> Abuja in the<br />
north. Incidentally, this line is<br />
<strong>go</strong>ing to be concessioned to a preferred bidder,<br />
CRCC, who would partner with <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
to construct <strong>and</strong> operate the line.<br />
While these were <strong>go</strong>ing on, President Buhari<br />
further directed that the rehabilitation of the<br />
existing narrow gauge line be speeded up.<br />
Some of those projects include the La<strong>go</strong>s –<br />
Jebba 480km line, the Jebba – Kano 624km<br />
line, the Port Harcourt – Aba – Enugu –<br />
Makurdi 468km line, the Kuru – Bauchi –<br />
Gombe – Maiduguri 640km line, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Makurdi – Kafanchan – Kaduna Junction –<br />
Kuru line. In between these rehabilitations,<br />
huge sums were expended, for the first time<br />
in a long time, on the upgrade <strong>and</strong><br />
modernisation of key railway components <strong>and</strong><br />
equipments, <strong>and</strong> on the procurement of<br />
Rolling Stock (wa<strong>go</strong>ns, coaches) <strong>and</strong> an<br />
assortment of parts for operational use. <strong>No</strong>t<br />
surprisingly, intra-city <strong>and</strong> inter-city mass<br />
But many would<br />
argue that the real<br />
icing on the cake of<br />
the administration’s<br />
achievements to<br />
date is the about-tobe-completed<br />
156.5km double<br />
track St<strong>and</strong>ard<br />
Gauge line between<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s –Ibadan,<br />
which, by the way, is<br />
a part of the longer<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s – Kano line<br />
passenger transit services resumed on the<br />
refurbished narrow gauge lines, as evidenced,<br />
for instance, in the deployment of 12 trains that<br />
carry some 13,000 passengers daily in La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Aba to Port Harcourt line which<br />
operates two daily services. Also, the intercity<br />
service between La<strong>go</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Kano operates<br />
once a week, moving freight <strong>and</strong> passengers.<br />
The Offa – Kano –Offa line also operates, once<br />
a week.<br />
As part of its Economic Recovery<br />
Programme, there are a number of other key<br />
projects that the current <strong>go</strong>vernment has<br />
embarked upon under a PPP model that<br />
deserve to be mentioned, if only in passing.<br />
There is, for instance, the 284km Kano –<br />
Katsina – Makurdi St<strong>and</strong>ard Gauge line.<br />
There are other such achievements as the<br />
installation of the Enterprise Resource<br />
Programme (ERP) to promote efficiency <strong>and</strong><br />
the upgrade <strong>and</strong> modernisation of the<br />
antiquated communication <strong>and</strong> signaling<br />
system of the entire rail system. <strong>No</strong>t to be<br />
for<strong>go</strong>tten here is the revolutionary Transport<br />
Sector Reform Bill, which includes the<br />
Nigerian Railways Authority (NRA) Bill,<br />
designed to open up the sector for the first time,<br />
to private sector participation.<br />
Two projects<br />
But, perhaps, the two projects in the cate<strong>go</strong>ry<br />
of planned railway projects for<br />
which the administration will<br />
be long remembered might<br />
well be the 2163km Port<br />
Harcourt – Maiduguri singletrack<br />
St<strong>and</strong>ard Gauge railline<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Coastal Railway<br />
Project, which was mentioned<br />
above. The proposed Port<br />
Harcourt to Maiduguri railline<br />
would traverse major<br />
industrial cities along the<br />
Eastern corridor, South-<br />
South, South-East <strong>and</strong> the<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth-Eastern geo-political<br />
zones of the country. Due to<br />
be completed in three years’<br />
time, the rail network would<br />
pass through Aba from Port<br />
Harcourt, to Umuahia –<br />
Agwu – Enugu – Otukpo –<br />
Makurdi – Lafia – Akwanga<br />
– Kafanchan – Jos – Bauchi –<br />
Alkateri – Gombe – Bajoga –<br />
Damaturu – Maiduguri, with<br />
branch lines from Port<br />
Harcourt – Owerri – Akwa;<br />
Port Harcourt – Bonny; Enugu – Abakaliki;<br />
Akwanga – Keffi – Abuja <strong>and</strong> Gombe - Yola<br />
– Jalin<strong>go</strong>. This line would not only link the<br />
oil-producing South-South regions with the<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth <strong>and</strong> the rest of the country, but would<br />
also do what rail transportation does<br />
effectively, <strong>and</strong> that is, facilitate the<br />
transportation of agricultural products <strong>and</strong><br />
livestock, <strong>and</strong> support industrial development,<br />
while also creating jobs <strong>and</strong> employment.<br />
The two major by-products of these two<br />
projects are the proposed Bonny Deep Sea<br />
Port, as conceived by Rotimi Amaechi, with a<br />
capacity for 100,000 Dead Weight Tonnes<br />
(DWT), <strong>and</strong> the Industrial Park project in Port<br />
Harcourt on a l<strong>and</strong> mass of some 54.4 square<br />
kilometres for the purpose of trans-shipment.<br />
For the concession purposes, Messrs. China<br />
Sh<strong>and</strong>ong International Economic <strong>and</strong><br />
Technical Corporation group has emerged as<br />
the preferred partner, while Messrs. China<br />
Railway Evyman Engineering Corporation<br />
(CREEC) is the reserved bidder.<br />
But many would argue that the real icing on<br />
the cake of the administration’s achievements<br />
to date is the about-to-be-completed 156.5km<br />
double track St<strong>and</strong>ard Gauge line between<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s –Ibadan, which, by the way, is a part of<br />
the longer La<strong>go</strong>s – Kano line. This project is<br />
historic for one key reason. It is the first time<br />
that a sitting Nigerian <strong>go</strong>vernment would start<br />
from the scratch to completion stage, a rail<br />
project while in office, since the last time it<br />
happened in 1964; <strong>and</strong> that last time was when<br />
the construction of the 302km Bauchi –<br />
Maiduguri line was begun in 1961 <strong>and</strong><br />
completed in 1964. The second key factor of<br />
the project is the scope of its beauty <strong>and</strong><br />
modernity. The sheer joy of watching, before<br />
our very eyes, Chinese <strong>and</strong> Nigerian<br />
engineers ploughing through thick <strong>and</strong><br />
swampy equatorial forests, cutting down giant<br />
vegetation, <strong>and</strong> painstakingly laying state-ofthe-art<br />
rail sleepers with skill <strong>and</strong> dexterity,<br />
<strong>and</strong> then proceeding to roll out air-conditioned<br />
passenger coaches in a record two year time<br />
was a sight to behold.<br />
The raw details of the project, quantities <strong>and</strong><br />
all, testify to an engineering feat of<br />
considerable proportion. The entire project<br />
involved some 24.26million square metres of<br />
earth work. There are thirty-one different<br />
cate<strong>go</strong>ries of bridges in all, made up of extralong<br />
bridges, frame bridges <strong>and</strong> steel<br />
structure bridges. On its 156 kilometre stretch,<br />
it has 207 culverts, 40 other Railway-Crossing<br />
bridges <strong>and</strong> 31 pedestrian overpasses, 708<br />
32m-beams, 168 groups of single drive turnout<br />
<strong>and</strong> one huge 110m tunnel underpass bridge<br />
at Abeokuta. Apart from the Apapa Habour<br />
Station, there are nine stations along the line:<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s, Agege, Agbado, Kajola, Papalanto,<br />
Abeokuta, Olodo, Omu-Ado, Ibadan <strong>and</strong><br />
Apapa Port stations. Although, its design<br />
capacity is for a 150km an hour speed, it could<br />
conveniently travel at 120km an hour. So fully<br />
equipped are the trains that some of the<br />
Executive <strong>and</strong> VIP coaches come with<br />
conference rooms <strong>and</strong> modern counter bars.<br />
The specially manufactured refrigerated<br />
freight locomotives <strong>and</strong> livestock locomotives<br />
<strong>and</strong> wa<strong>go</strong>ns are as modern as any, anywhere.<br />
Details of the contract include the supply of<br />
adequate spare parts for the Rolling Stock <strong>and</strong><br />
the supply of maintenance equipment for a<br />
substantial period of time.<br />
The contract details even <strong>go</strong> further. In order<br />
to ensure knowledge transfer <strong>and</strong> the<br />
localising of the manufacturing process,<br />
President Buhari, on the advice of Rotimi<br />
Amaechi, insisted on the immediate<br />
implementation of two other aspects of the<br />
contract from inception, namely, the take-off<br />
of the training of young Nigerian<br />
undergraduates in Railway Engineering <strong>and</strong><br />
other important Transport-related disciplines,<br />
in China, under a scholarship scheme to be<br />
paid for by the Chinese, <strong>and</strong> the establishment<br />
of a Transportation University in Nigeria. As<br />
the La<strong>go</strong>s – Ibadan line rolls off its tracks in<br />
December, the first batch of young Nigerian<br />
graduates would be preparing to return home<br />
from China to gradually begin the task of<br />
taking over the eventual running <strong>and</strong><br />
maintenance of the industry from the Chinese.<br />
And as part of its Corporate Social<br />
Responsibility, but essentially also in response<br />
to <strong>go</strong>vernment’s aforementioned dem<strong>and</strong>s for<br />
local capacity building <strong>and</strong> adequate<br />
knowledge transfer, Messrs. CCECC Nigeria<br />
Ltd has established a Transportation<br />
University in Daura, Katsina State. Again, the<br />
first intakes into the University would resume<br />
later in 2019.<br />
Economic benefits<br />
The economic benefits of these programmes,<br />
indeed, of railroad infrastructure are too<br />
numerous to be recounted here. As the<br />
example of India teaches us, economic<br />
miracles come with expansive rail-road<br />
infrastructure. Obviously, rails can carry larger<br />
volumes of <strong>go</strong>ods, over greater distances,<br />
unhindered by traffic jams or even weather<br />
conditions, making it more economical than<br />
road <strong>and</strong> even water. In our own unique case<br />
in Nigeria, the savings to be made by radically<br />
reducing the carnage on our roads cannot be<br />
quantified in naira <strong>and</strong> kobo. It is also<br />
significant to note that the benefits of<br />
railroad access far outweigh the<br />
infrastructure costs. It is even far more<br />
significant to note that World Bank studies<br />
demonstrate that the arrival of rail roads in<br />
many developing nations causes real Gross<br />
Domestic Product (GDP), especially in the<br />
agricultural sector, to increase by about 20<br />
per cent. Underst<strong>and</strong>ably, 20 per cent of all<br />
monies lent from the World Bank to<br />
developing nations is earmarked for<br />
transportation infrastructure projects, which<br />
is more than for Education, Health <strong>and</strong><br />
Social Services put together. Therefore,<br />
money expended on the development of rail<br />
transportation in Nigeria is money well spent.<br />
Read more online at<br />
www.vanguardngr.com<br />
• Ogunbiyi, a former Managing Director<br />
of Daily Times, is Chairman of TANUS<br />
Books Ltd.
PAGE 30— SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
By Bashir Adefaka<br />
A flashback into the little beginning of the<br />
Olori Omo Oba Owu of Owu Kingdom,<br />
Abeokuta, Ogun State, Prince Bola Ajibola,<br />
became necessary when he was celebrated<br />
on his 85th birthday in a prayer session held<br />
at his Olusegun Obasanjo Hilltop GRA,<br />
Abeokuta home.<br />
The occasion was attended by many<br />
dignitaries including the Registrar/Chief<br />
Executive of the Joint Admission <strong>and</strong><br />
Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq<br />
Oloyede.<br />
The celebration continued at the Crescent<br />
University Abeokuta (CUAB)’s Bola Ajibola<br />
College of Law (BACOLAW) Auditorium<br />
where the 13th Founder’s Day Lecture of the<br />
university <strong>and</strong> award of excellence were held<br />
in honour of the retired Judge of the<br />
International Court of Justice (IJC) at The<br />
Hague, Netherl<strong>and</strong>s.<br />
Founder’s Day at Crescent University<br />
Abeokuta had been dedicated by the<br />
university’s Senate <strong>and</strong> Governing Council<br />
as a yearly event to mark the birthday of the<br />
institution’s proprietor, who is the longest<br />
serving Minister of Justice <strong>and</strong> Attorney-<br />
General of the Federation.<br />
Apart from his involvement in philanthropy<br />
in the course of which he has produced many<br />
university graduates <strong>and</strong> chartered<br />
professionals, the Bola Ajibola Community<br />
Award was instituted in 2018 to recognize <strong>and</strong><br />
reward excellence.<br />
The first edition of the award was dedicated<br />
to recognizing community policing <strong>and</strong> the<br />
awards went to the immediate past Ogun State<br />
Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, <strong>and</strong><br />
some of his officers.<br />
It is, therefore, the reason a tribute,<br />
published by The DEFENDER in celebration<br />
of the man of exceptional integrity at 84, last<br />
year, said: “The name Bola Ajibola can no<br />
longer need an introduction. So, I do not have<br />
to start my tribute with an introduction of who<br />
the former Attorney-General <strong>and</strong> Minister of<br />
Justice is.<br />
“What needs continuous mention about the<br />
man who, despite the campaigns of calumny<br />
by his own people at home <strong>and</strong> in the<br />
community of lawyers where he belonged,<br />
emerged in a globally participated election<br />
at the United Nations (UN) as a Judge of the<br />
International Court of Justice (IJC) at The<br />
Hague, however, is the story of his ‘Golden<br />
Nights’ <strong>and</strong> how he had survived death four<br />
times just because he had to brush aside his<br />
royalty status to struggle to have a h<strong>and</strong>shake<br />
with a successful future that is being talked<br />
about today.”<br />
That tribute, which attracted wide<br />
commendations, was apt, particularly in the<br />
area of the ‘Golden Nights’. What one has<br />
found out is that the life story of Ajibola will<br />
not be complete without the mention of the<br />
‘Golden Nights’ of sleeplessness when,<br />
according to him, working in the day <strong>and</strong><br />
reading with c<strong>and</strong>le lights in the night was<br />
the norm.<br />
One could imagine the stress, therefore, that<br />
the prince of Oba Abdul-Salam Adewunmi<br />
Ajibola, Gbadela II, the Olowu of Owu<br />
Kingdom, Abeokuta, between 1949 <strong>and</strong> 1972,<br />
must have passed through.<br />
It is no wonder that the heir of the Bola<br />
Ajibola dynasty, Muhammad Mahruf<br />
Adesegun Bola Ajibola (SAN), said: “Baba<br />
had made sure that all the sufferings of his<br />
children he has had. However, he never<br />
allowed our upbringing to be devoid of one<br />
which makes us forget where we are coming<br />
from <strong>and</strong> where we are <strong>go</strong>ing. He is a<br />
religious, God-fearing man <strong>and</strong> he has<br />
•Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN) left, presenting an<br />
award of excellence to a recipient of Bola Ajibola<br />
Community Service Award during the 13th<br />
Founder’s Day organised to mark his 85th birthday<br />
at Bola Ajibola College of Law Auditorium,<br />
Crescent University Abeokuta.<br />
BOLA AJIBOLA AT 85:<br />
A judge must be<br />
free of iniquity<br />
• The man who escaped death four times, worked<br />
as Minister for six years without collecting salary,<br />
sold all he had to establish his dream varsity<br />
brought us up along that line.”<br />
Four experiences<br />
History has it that Ajibola’s<br />
father was a recipient of<br />
Queen Elizabeth’s British<br />
Award of Excellence, having<br />
been noticeably active as a<br />
police inspector playing the<br />
role of a crack detective for 13<br />
years before he retired for the<br />
reason of ascension to the<br />
throne in 1949. Of note also<br />
is that Oba Ajibola’s core-life<br />
story has been captured in ‘A<br />
Life of Excellent Service” coauthored<br />
by his son, Bola, <strong>and</strong><br />
Chief Oladipo Yemitan.<br />
In a tribute on his 84th<br />
birthday, a writer had said:<br />
“Do I need to mention when<br />
he had actually wanted to<br />
pass on <strong>and</strong> he let on his gas<br />
cylinder to let loose its content<br />
while sleeping in a locked up<br />
room? That was precisely<br />
one of the four experiences he<br />
had with death. But why<br />
would Abdul-Jabbar<br />
Bolasodun Adesumbo<br />
Ajibola (SAN) want to be<br />
taken away by the content of<br />
a gas cylinder? That is a story<br />
for another day. But the reality<br />
of all of those experiences, from the era of<br />
‘Golden Nights’ to those other ones, boil down<br />
to the fact that achieving greatness in life is<br />
not an easy task.”<br />
The tribute continued: “If I was not lucky to<br />
be alive to see him in his days of the ‘Golden<br />
Nights’ <strong>and</strong> <strong>others</strong> because I was not born at<br />
Ajibola, under<br />
whom Vice<br />
President Yemi<br />
Osinbajo served as<br />
Special Assistant<br />
when he (Ajibola)<br />
was Attorney-<br />
General <strong>and</strong><br />
Minister of Justice,<br />
did the only law<br />
reform Nigeria has<br />
ever had<br />
that time – only arrived on September 3, 1972<br />
– I was alive, alert to recognising happenings<br />
around me when he became the Attorney-<br />
General of the Federation <strong>and</strong> I saw Prince<br />
Bola Ajibola as pragmatic person, who went<br />
into <strong>go</strong>vernment at no cost to <strong>go</strong>vernment but<br />
at a huge sacrifice <strong>and</strong> denial of personal<br />
comfort. That was because for the six years,<br />
six months, six weeks, three days <strong>and</strong> one <strong>and</strong><br />
a half hours that he was in office as Minister<br />
of Justice, he earned no kobo from the treasury<br />
of <strong>go</strong>vernment.<br />
“Rather, he spent his own hard earned<br />
money to take care of his personal needs<br />
required of him to serve his father l<strong>and</strong>. That<br />
is exactly what he did that General<br />
Babangida saw <strong>and</strong> still sees him as truly an<br />
enigma.”<br />
How best is it then to celebrate a man who<br />
has seen it from his immediate environment<br />
to the global community other than to make<br />
his birthday worthwhile?<br />
This year’s weeklong programme of<br />
events, however, did not just happen the<br />
way of the past.<br />
It happened with reminiscences on<br />
Ajibola as a student to his great<br />
achievements as the first President of the<br />
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from<br />
where his activities <strong>go</strong>t the attention of<br />
President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida<br />
(GCFR) (1985 – 1993) who appointed him<br />
as the Attorney-General of the Federation.<br />
From a humble beginning as a student<br />
of Baptist Boys’ High School Abeokuta,<br />
Ajibola became a World Court Judge, the<br />
President, Arbitration Panel of the World<br />
Bank, the Chairman, International<br />
Boundaries between Nigeria <strong>and</strong><br />
Cameroon, Nigerian High<br />
Commissioner to the United Kingdom<br />
<strong>and</strong> emerged one of 500 most influential<br />
Muslim leaders in the world.<br />
<strong>No</strong> to ‘brilliant beasts’<br />
He sold all that he had acquired only<br />
for him to invest it in an educational<br />
project to give Nigeria <strong>and</strong> entire Africa<br />
a brilliant example of well managed<br />
university.<br />
Ajibola has for, close to a decade, been<br />
producing graduates, not as ‘brilliant beasts’<br />
but proudly nurtured in moral <strong>and</strong> academic<br />
excellence. That is what Crescent University<br />
Abeokuta, considered to be “the peak of my<br />
life achievements”, according to Bola Ajibola,<br />
has done in its 14 years of existence as a<br />
Nigeria’s leading private university.<br />
Speaking at this year’s event of the<br />
Founder’s Day, Ajibola, quoting the late Chief<br />
Obafemi Awolowo, stressed that “recognition<br />
of greatness in <strong>others</strong> is in itself greatness”,<br />
adding that the recipients of awards deserved<br />
them.<br />
Ajibola, as a <strong>states</strong>man, contributes to<br />
national discourse anytime he finds it<br />
desirable. For instance, he showed his<br />
displeasure over the rot in the Nigerian<br />
judiciary against the backdrop of the false<br />
assets declaration charges levelled against<br />
former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter<br />
Onnoghen, saying it was high time all h<strong>and</strong>s<br />
were on deck in support of President<br />
Muhammadu Buhari’s crusade against<br />
corruption. He warned that the nation may<br />
be “stepping on dangerous ground” should<br />
the Federal Government fail to h<strong>and</strong>le the<br />
Onnoghe saga as required.<br />
He said: “It is a very delicate matter. The<br />
moment a judge is to take a decision on<br />
himself, his own proprietary <strong>and</strong> being found<br />
wanting on issues of which he is supposed to<br />
be a judge, the nation would be stepping on a<br />
very dangerous ground if special care is not<br />
taken in addressing the matter, <strong>and</strong> that care<br />
should be one in which a judge is free from<br />
any iniquity.<br />
“He should not be found wanting, he should<br />
not be suspected of anything at all. “In other<br />
words, he should not be<br />
corruptible. As a result,<br />
once the CJN is tainted, it<br />
becomes a terrible situation<br />
for the judiciary <strong>and</strong> the<br />
judiciary must h<strong>and</strong>le the<br />
case with care <strong>and</strong><br />
trepidation. He should not<br />
become a judge unto<br />
himself. “But having said<br />
that, such allegations must<br />
be carefully looked into,<br />
they must be carefully<br />
checked. He should be<br />
given the opportunity of<br />
being heard.”<br />
Ajibola, under whom Vice<br />
President Yemi Osinbajo<br />
served as Special Assistant<br />
when he (Ajibola) was<br />
Attorney-General <strong>and</strong><br />
Minister of Justice, did the<br />
only law reform Nigeria has<br />
ever had. He once advised<br />
Buhari to stay firm as the<br />
anti-corruption fight he had<br />
engaged in since May 29,<br />
2015 was not <strong>go</strong>ing to be an<br />
easy one because people<br />
with complex romance with<br />
corruption, impunity <strong>and</strong> spirit of not-doing<br />
things properly will hold onto any criminality<br />
in sight to frustrate him.<br />
He cited his own experience fighting<br />
corruption as Minister of Justice, concluding,<br />
however, on an optimistic tone that all will be<br />
well with Nigeria.
PERISCOPE<br />
SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 31<br />
48,000 voided votes. How many voided votes<br />
did we have in the state assembly election?<br />
Less than 5,000.<br />
“Our agents were negligent during the<br />
presidential election because those voided<br />
votes, if you had strong agents, they could have<br />
secured them for the APC; so, in the state<br />
assembly election, we retrained our agents <strong>and</strong><br />
changed many of them.”<br />
Change of tide<br />
Edo Central Senatorial District has always<br />
been dominated by the PDP but the tide<br />
changed during the state assembly election<br />
when the APC, for the first time since 1999,<br />
won the entire five seats in the district.<br />
The area has always been the stronghold of<br />
the PDP largely due to the influence of the late<br />
Chief Tony Anenih.<br />
It was observed that many of the voters saw<br />
the state assembly election as local seeing it<br />
as a testimonial for the performances of<br />
Obaseki in terms of infrastructure across the<br />
three senatorial districts of the state.<br />
To underscore the importance of winning<br />
the seats in Edo Central, the <strong>go</strong>vernor had to<br />
deploy his deputy, Shaibu, his Chief of Staff,<br />
Taiwo Akerele, among other leaders, to Edo<br />
Central, <strong>and</strong> for several days, he was meeting<br />
with leaders in the district, trying to convince<br />
them on why they should all be in the<br />
mainstream.<br />
*Oshiomhole<br />
By Johnson Osamede<br />
THE success recorded by the All<br />
Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo<br />
State House of Assembly election has<br />
continued to resonate across party faithful<br />
even as they say the result was a referendum<br />
on the popularity <strong>and</strong> acceptability of<br />
Governor Godwin Obaseki who just returned<br />
from one-month vacation <strong>ahead</strong> of the<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernorship election slated for 2020.<br />
Analysts say media reports of a rift between<br />
Obaseki <strong>and</strong> his predecessor, Comrade Adams<br />
Oshiohole, were a figment of the imagination<br />
of some supporters of the two men who believed<br />
they could get personal benefits from<br />
continuous reports of a rift.<br />
They said the two men always speak well of<br />
each other <strong>and</strong> that even though there could<br />
be areas of disagreement, they were being<br />
blown out of proportion for purely selfish<br />
reasons.<br />
Before Obaseki started his leave during<br />
which he, in an unprecedented manner, h<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
over the reins of <strong>go</strong>vernment to his deputy,<br />
Comrade Philip Shaibu, it was reliably<br />
gathered that while some close party leaders<br />
advised him against it so as to create the<br />
impression that he does not enjoy absolute<br />
loyalty from his deputy who is the political son<br />
of Oshiomhole <strong>and</strong> should not be trusted with<br />
power, the <strong>go</strong>vernor was said to have laughed<br />
it off <strong>and</strong> told the party leaders that he is running<br />
one <strong>go</strong>vernment where all of them see<br />
themselves as one family.<br />
He had invited members of the APC from all<br />
over the state to celebrate the party’s resounding<br />
victory in the March 23 state House of<br />
Assembly election where the party won the<br />
entire 24 seats up for<br />
grabs.<br />
This is the second<br />
time since 1999 when<br />
Edo would be having<br />
all members of a<br />
party in the House,<br />
the first being<br />
between 2003 <strong>and</strong><br />
2007 when the entire<br />
members were of the<br />
Peoples Democratic<br />
Party (PDP).<br />
The victory came<br />
two weeks after the<br />
party had a not-tooimpressive<br />
outing<br />
during the<br />
presidential <strong>and</strong><br />
National Assembly<br />
elections. In Edo<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth, the APC had<br />
swept all the Senate<br />
<strong>and</strong> three House of<br />
Representatives seats<br />
in the presidential<br />
They said the two<br />
men always speak<br />
well of each other<br />
<strong>and</strong> that even<br />
though there could<br />
be areas of<br />
disagreement, they<br />
were being blown<br />
out of proportion<br />
for purely selfish<br />
reasons<br />
<strong>and</strong> National<br />
Assembly polls but<br />
lost the entire Edo<br />
Central <strong>and</strong> parts of<br />
Edo South where it<br />
could not win the Senate <strong>and</strong> two of the four<br />
House of Representative seats.<br />
A colourful thanksgiving ceremony<br />
organised by the Christian Association of<br />
Nigeria (CAN) in celebration of the l<strong>and</strong>slide<br />
*Obaseki<br />
How the tide in<br />
Edo changed after<br />
presidential poll<br />
•Reported rift between Obaseki <strong>and</strong><br />
Oshiomhole ‘is figment of imagination’<br />
victory in the state House of Assembly election<br />
was attended by party leaders from across<br />
Edo.<br />
The <strong>go</strong>vernor, in a post-election statement,<br />
said having a one-party House of Assembly<br />
was a plus for the people of the state.<br />
Obaseki also stressed that his administration<br />
would no longer accept boreholes <strong>and</strong> toilets<br />
as constituency projects from members of the<br />
national <strong>and</strong> state assemblies.<br />
“I will not accept boreholes <strong>and</strong> VIP toilets<br />
as constituency projects any more. Edo people<br />
have spoken that they want real change <strong>and</strong><br />
we must deliver the change to them”, he said.<br />
“For the elected members of the House of<br />
Assembly, every constituency you represent<br />
must have something meaningful in the budget<br />
on a yearly basis”.<br />
According to him,<br />
duplication of projects<br />
would not be allowed, to<br />
ensure efficient use of the<br />
state’s resources.<br />
Obaseki further said that<br />
he would be holding<br />
interactive sessions with<br />
APC members in the<br />
National Assembly on<br />
monthly basis to review<br />
their projects, noting that<br />
the lawmakers have no<br />
reasons not to deliver <strong>go</strong>od<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernance to Edo people<br />
who gave them the<br />
m<strong>and</strong>ate to serve.<br />
Speaking on behalf of<br />
the newly elected state<br />
House of Assembly<br />
members, Hon.<br />
Washington Osifo, said<br />
they would ensure the<br />
executive succeeds on its<br />
programmes.<br />
“I want to assure you that<br />
you will enjoy our support<br />
<strong>and</strong> you will be happy at<br />
the end of the day that you<br />
have all the 24 seats in the<br />
state assembly”, Osifo said.<br />
“We will ensure that as you are working for<br />
the <strong>go</strong>od of Edo people, we will give you all<br />
our support”.<br />
The poor outing of Edo APC in the<br />
presidential <strong>and</strong> National Assembly elections<br />
had been attributed to many factors including<br />
sabotage by party members who were alleged<br />
to have collected millions of naira for<br />
mobilisation <strong>and</strong> party agents but pocketed<br />
them under the excuse which some described<br />
as flimsy compared to the implication of<br />
losing the election.<br />
The party members were said to have<br />
complained that the <strong>go</strong>vernor had been<br />
starving them of funds for over two years <strong>and</strong><br />
saw the release of the election money as an<br />
opportunity to line their pockets since they<br />
did not know when such an opportunity would<br />
come again.<br />
It was equally reliably gathered that some<br />
of the party agents were not also forceful in<br />
defending the votes cast in favour of the APC<br />
in the elections as 48,000 votes believed to<br />
have been for the party were voided.<br />
Some party leaders allegedly chose stooges<br />
<strong>and</strong> family members to act as agents.<br />
Another factor that led to the failure of the<br />
Edo APC at the presidential <strong>and</strong> National<br />
Assembly polls, it was gathered, was the<br />
influence of some religious leaders,<br />
particularly pastors, who were said to have<br />
been preaching anti-President Muhammadu<br />
Buhari messages to their members <strong>and</strong> this is<br />
also believed to have had its toll in the urban<br />
local <strong>go</strong>vernment areas of Oredo, E<strong>go</strong>r <strong>and</strong><br />
Ikpoba-Okha local <strong>go</strong>vernment areas in Edo<br />
South where the opposition PDP won.<br />
Challenges<br />
A senior member of the APC told Sunday<br />
Vanguard that even the Presidency was aware<br />
that Buhari would find it difficult to win 40<br />
per cent of the votes in South-South <strong>states</strong>,<br />
saying that was responsible for Vice President<br />
Yemi Osinbajo’s regular visits to the area not<br />
less than four times before the elections during<br />
which he repeatedly met with the leadership<br />
of CAN <strong>and</strong> the Pentecostal Fellowship of<br />
Nigeria (PFN).<br />
He said, “But even at that, we still performed<br />
more than we did in Edo in 2015 where we<br />
scored 43 per cent votes for Buhari.<br />
“Because of the popularity of this<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment in the state, we were able to<br />
increase the performance to 49.7 per cent in<br />
the 2019 election. The difference between the<br />
two parties was less than 8,000 but we had<br />
Edo <strong>No</strong>rth<br />
Edo <strong>No</strong>rth is traditionally an APC<br />
stronghold. The National Chairman of the<br />
party, Oshiomhole, commended the peaceful<br />
conduct of the state assembly election in the<br />
district.<br />
He said those who kicked against the<br />
deployment of military for the conduct of the<br />
election were enemies of democracy <strong>and</strong><br />
Nigeria.<br />
“We had one or two incidents where thugs<br />
allegedly hired by the PDP came to disrupt the<br />
election by shooting sporadically <strong>and</strong> trying<br />
to cart away election materials but the people<br />
were determined <strong>and</strong>, with the military<br />
patrolling the area, the situation was brought<br />
to normal”, he said.<br />
“As you know, Ogbido <strong>and</strong> Ulouke are areas<br />
where APC <strong>go</strong>t 99.9 percent votes during the<br />
presidential <strong>and</strong> National Assembly elections;<br />
so disrupting the elections would have affected<br />
the results but the military was on h<strong>and</strong> to<br />
ensure peace <strong>and</strong> voting commenced.<br />
“This is why when some armchair analysts<br />
disputed the idea of deploying the military<br />
during the general elections, we said only<br />
enemies of democracy, enemies of Nigeria,<br />
enemies of peace <strong>and</strong> merchants of violence<br />
will support such campaign against military<br />
deployment.<br />
“Imagine when you deployed unarmed one<br />
or two police officers to a polling unit, what<br />
can they do to gun trotting thugs? They will<br />
watch helplessly when thugs attack.”<br />
Edo South<br />
In Edo South, Obaseki expressed satisfaction<br />
with the turnout of voters in the state assembly<br />
election.<br />
Speaking shortly after voting in Emokpae<br />
Primary School Ward 4 Unit 19 of Oredo local<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment area, the <strong>go</strong>vernor said, “It is a<br />
local election <strong>and</strong> the people that are<br />
concerned live in the neighbourhood <strong>and</strong> in<br />
the same community.<br />
“And you should know that we only have<br />
one election today, so the process is quicker,<br />
but in terms of turnout, I believe we are <strong>go</strong>ing<br />
to see a turnout that is slightly higher than<br />
what we saw in the previous elections.”<br />
Observers say politicians <strong>and</strong> their<br />
supporters who have been chorusing frosty<br />
relationship between Obaseki <strong>and</strong><br />
Oshiomhole may have to cast their minds back<br />
to when Buhari visited Edo during the<br />
campaigns <strong>ahead</strong> of the polls <strong>and</strong> when<br />
Oshiomhole publicly acknowledged the<br />
performance of Obaseki both as a <strong>go</strong>vernor<br />
<strong>and</strong> politician.<br />
Oshiomhole had said at the campaign rally<br />
held in Benin-City, “I am proud of what, under<br />
your (Obaseki) leadership <strong>and</strong> guidance, Edo<br />
State has been able to achieve over the past<br />
two years. Because we have worked closely<br />
together, there is no learning curve.<br />
“Whichever sector you have looked at, things<br />
have changed <strong>and</strong> things will continue to<br />
change. I am not saying things are perfect,<br />
they can never be perfect. I believe Governor<br />
Obaseki has added value <strong>and</strong> Edo State is<br />
better than I left it.<br />
“This afternoon I am proud of Godwin<br />
Obaseki because I was nervous when I was<br />
coming to Benin. I had followed Mr<br />
President to Akwa Ibom, <strong>and</strong> I saw what<br />
our people in Akwa Ibom under the<br />
leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio<br />
did. Then we went to Kogi, our neighbour,<br />
<strong>and</strong> we saw the turnout <strong>and</strong> then we went to<br />
Warri <strong>and</strong> we saw what Warri people did by<br />
saying they have totally <strong>and</strong> collectively<br />
rejected PDP by the way they turned out. I am<br />
happy, I am proud with the quality of the crowd<br />
that I am seeing here”.
PAGE 32 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
Nigeria’s ‘severely wasted<br />
children’: The inside story<br />
By Chioma Obinna<br />
It is no news that Nigeria ranks high among<br />
countries with unenviable statistics on child<br />
malnutrition. She has the second highest<br />
stunted children in the world with estimated 17<br />
million due to malnutrition <strong>and</strong>, according to<br />
the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF,<br />
25 million of the children under the age of five<br />
are wasting. Most of the children are from the<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth-East <strong>and</strong> suffering due to insurgency.<br />
Today, it is also not news that Nigerians are<br />
hungry but the danger is the fact that they are<br />
only interested in having a full belly without<br />
minding the quality of the food. Meanwhile,<br />
nutrition indicators show that the current<br />
situation in the country is dangerous for children<br />
who are the future leaders.<br />
According to UNICEF, malnutrition is a<br />
condition that results from eating a diet lacking<br />
in nutrients. The damage resulting from<br />
malnutrition to physical <strong>and</strong> cognitive<br />
development during the first two years of a child’s<br />
life is largely irreversible. Sunday Vanguard writes<br />
that Nigeria may be breeding a malnourished<br />
generation in future.<br />
Recovering but with a blemish<br />
As ten-month-old Halimat Ahmed rests on her<br />
mother’s shoulder, her sunken eyes are enough<br />
to attract sympathy even from the hard-hearted.<br />
Her lips were filled with drool, arms as tiny as a<br />
broomstick. She keeps sulking. A closer look at<br />
the baby shows a clear difference from old Halimat<br />
when she was six months old. Her frame doesn’t<br />
fit the frame of a10-month-old baby.<br />
Like every other mother, Halima’s mother is<br />
worried that she might lose her. Halimat is the<br />
only surviving child of her parents after<br />
insurgency hit her community. Halimat is<br />
struggling to survive Severe Acute Malnutrition,<br />
SAM, an extreme form of malnutrition that<br />
makes its victims weak, skeletal <strong>and</strong> requires<br />
urgent treatment. Thanks to a UNICEFnutrition<br />
supported program in IDP camps where<br />
she was urgently treated to stop the devastating<br />
effect of SAM, Halimat was treated with Ready<br />
to Use Therapeutic Food, RUTF, which helps<br />
malnourished children regain lost nutrients. The<br />
girl has recovered. But did she recover without<br />
blemish? Will she grow like other children? These<br />
<strong>and</strong> more are the questions surrounding victims<br />
of malnutrition. She is one of the Nigerian<br />
children born in a small community in Borno<br />
State where insurgency has escalated<br />
malnutrition <strong>and</strong> brought about high food<br />
insecurity, as well as sub-optimal infant <strong>and</strong><br />
young children feeding practices.<br />
The nation is facing SAM that has claimed<br />
thous<strong>and</strong>s of children. Findings show that one<br />
in 10 of severely wasted children worldwide lives<br />
in Nigeria.<br />
Halimat is among the 35 million children aged<br />
five <strong>and</strong> below in the <strong>No</strong>rth-East affected by SAM<br />
due to insurgency. Recent figures from the United<br />
Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, revealed that<br />
Global Acute Malnutrition, GAM, in the region<br />
has crossed the threshold for “serious”.<br />
According to the World Health Organisation,<br />
WHO, classification for “serious” is for levels of<br />
combined moderate <strong>and</strong> acute malnutrition<br />
exceeding 10 in 100 children.<br />
Worse still, the levels of malnutrition in three<br />
<strong>states</strong> in the <strong>No</strong>rth-East - Central Borno,<br />
Municipal Maiduguri, Jere; <strong>and</strong> South, Central<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>No</strong>rth of Yobe - have crossed the threshold.<br />
However, Halimat <strong>and</strong> other victims of<br />
malnutrition will suffer long term effects of<br />
malnutrition, especially in adulthood.<br />
According to UNICEF, although death is the<br />
worst outcome of malnutrition’s ugly grasp, it is<br />
not the only outcome as children who survive<br />
can face an unending list of devastating side<br />
effects that last a lifetime.<br />
Studies show that most of the victims are<br />
prevented from achieving success in school <strong>and</strong><br />
pursuing meaningful work in<br />
adulthood.<br />
Like Halimat, children<br />
affected by malnutrition battle<br />
with challenges such as<br />
increased vulnerability to<br />
diseases, developmental delays,<br />
stunted growth <strong>and</strong> even<br />
blindness. Such children,<br />
according to experts, will not be<br />
able to contribute to the<br />
development of the country or<br />
achieve their dreams.<br />
According to UNICEF<br />
Nutrition Specialist, Akure<br />
Field Office, Mrs Ada Ezeogu,<br />
during an interaction on child<br />
nutrition, an estimated 17<br />
million or 43.6 per cent of<br />
children in Nigeria under the<br />
age of five have their bodies <strong>and</strong><br />
minds limited by stunting.<br />
Ezeogu described stunting as<br />
a manifestation of the severe,<br />
irreversible physical <strong>and</strong><br />
cognitive damage caused by<br />
chronic malnutrition early in a<br />
child which is one of the most<br />
significant barriers to human<br />
development.<br />
Impact<br />
Studies show that beyond the age of 2-3, the<br />
effects of chronic malnutrition are irreversible. This<br />
means that to break the intergenerational<br />
transmission of poverty <strong>and</strong> malnutrition,<br />
children at risk must be reached during their first<br />
two years of life.<br />
Children who do not reach their optimum<br />
height or consistently experience bouts of weight<br />
loss during childhood are affected in the long term<br />
in numerous ways.<br />
They do not reach their optimum size as adults<br />
Children who do<br />
not reach their<br />
optimum height<br />
or consistently<br />
experience<br />
bouts of weight<br />
loss during<br />
childhood are<br />
affected in the<br />
long term in<br />
numerous ways<br />
<strong>and</strong> may have less physical capacity for work,<br />
their brains are affected resulting in lower IQs<br />
<strong>and</strong> they are at greater risk of infection which<br />
kills many children during their early years.<br />
Child malnutrition also impacts on educational<br />
attainment. The degree of cognitive<br />
impairments is directly related to the severity of<br />
stunting <strong>and</strong> Iron Deficiency Anaemia. Studies<br />
show that stunted children in the first two years<br />
of life have lower cognitive test scores, delayed<br />
enrolment, higher absenteeism <strong>and</strong> more class<br />
repetition compared with non-stunted children.<br />
It also impacts on economic productivity. The<br />
mental impairment caused by iodine deficiency<br />
is permanent <strong>and</strong> directly linked to productivity<br />
loss. The loss from stunting is calculated as 1.38<br />
per cent reduced productivity for every 1 per cent<br />
decrease in height while 1percent reduced<br />
productivity is estimated for every 1percent drop<br />
in iron status, according to Haddad <strong>and</strong> Bouis,<br />
1990.<br />
Lip service<br />
Adults who were<br />
undernourished as children are<br />
at risk of developing diseases<br />
such as obesity, diabetes <strong>and</strong><br />
cardiovascular issues.<br />
Regardless, Nigeria is said to<br />
be <strong>pay</strong>ing lip service to issues<br />
of child nutrition. Some<br />
<strong>states</strong> are yet to provide a<br />
budget line for nutrition.<br />
Malnutrition, according to<br />
experts, is caused by a<br />
combination of complicated<br />
factors including poverty,<br />
political instability; climate<br />
change, feeding practices,<br />
disease, contaminated water,<br />
poor sanitation among <strong>others</strong>.<br />
Nigeria is battling with these<br />
causes.<br />
Extremely poor<br />
According to the World<br />
Poverty Clock, no fewer than<br />
91.6 million Nigerians are<br />
extremely poor <strong>and</strong> living on<br />
less than one dollar per day.<br />
Prices of foodstuff are<br />
unpredictable <strong>and</strong> many<br />
parents are jobless <strong>and</strong> lack the<br />
purchasing power to buy healthy, nutritious foods.<br />
According to the latest National Nutrition <strong>and</strong><br />
Health Survey, NNHS, 2018, acute malnutrition<br />
remains at alert levels while chronic malnutrition,<br />
as characterised by stunting, remains the biggest<br />
burden at serious or high levels according to<br />
WHO/UNICEF classification.<br />
The 2018 NNHS shows that acute malnutrition<br />
levels have remained at 19.9 per cent, 3.5 per<br />
cent higher than the global estimate of 15 per<br />
cent.<br />
The country’s Exclusive Breastfeeding, EBF,<br />
rate is also low, no thanks to the inability of<br />
m<strong>others</strong> to breastfeed their children exclusively<br />
for the first six months of life.<br />
Currently, 3 in 4 babies are not exclusively<br />
breastfed, a practice, according to scientists,<br />
reduces the number of child deaths from<br />
malnutrition.<br />
The 2018 NNHS also shows that breastfeeding<br />
remains widespread among the Nigerian<br />
population.<br />
Child feeding indicators are poor <strong>and</strong> suboptimal.<br />
The survey reveals that more than 80<br />
per cent of newborns do not timely receive milk<br />
<strong>and</strong> colostrums within one hour of birth; only 27<br />
per cent of 0-5 months old infants are breastfed<br />
exclusively, <strong>and</strong> so majority are introduced to<br />
complementary foods before the age of six months<br />
earlier than the time WHO/UNICEF’s<br />
recommended that m<strong>others</strong> exclusively breastfeed<br />
their children, <strong>and</strong> in the process predisposing<br />
the children to unhygienic feeding conditions <strong>and</strong><br />
vulnerability to illnesses <strong>and</strong> malnutrition.<br />
Nearly 60 per cent of the children (6-24 months)<br />
assessed were not fed to the recommended<br />
<strong>minimum</strong> meal frequency for their age <strong>and</strong><br />
breastfeeding status; 65 per cent do not meet the<br />
<strong>minimum</strong> dietary diversity <strong>and</strong> only 17 per cent<br />
of children aged 6-23 months receive the<br />
<strong>minimum</strong> acceptable diet while less than 50 per<br />
cent are fed on iron-containing foods.<br />
The 2018 NNHS further reveals that the<br />
national GAM prevalence among children 6-59<br />
months of age based on weight-for-height was<br />
7.0 per cent with MAM of 5.5 per cent <strong>and</strong> SAM<br />
of 1.5 per cent. The rates indicate that acute<br />
malnutrition levels have remained at alert levels<br />
of 5-9.9 per cent over the years since 2014. The<br />
prevalence of underweight among children aged<br />
0-59 months was 19.9 per cent, just at the margin<br />
of the 20 per cent threshold for “serious” situation<br />
that it has been since 2014, higher than the global<br />
estimate of 15 per cent but consistent with the<br />
rates in the West <strong>and</strong> Central Africa region.<br />
The prevalence of stunting was 32.0 per cent<br />
<strong>and</strong> has remained the largest burden of<br />
malnutrition with stagnated rates of above 30<br />
per cent since 2014, <strong>and</strong> with many <strong>states</strong> in the<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth-West <strong>and</strong> <strong>No</strong>rth-East recording prevalence<br />
above 40 per cent- the WHO critical levels.<br />
Addressing malnutrition<br />
The survey recommends that improving<br />
nutrition in the first1, 000 days window <strong>and</strong> in<br />
adolescent girls was critical to improving the<br />
nutrition status of the entire population of<br />
Nigeria.<br />
According to the President of Nutrition Society<br />
of Nigeria, Dr Bartholomew Brai, nutrition is a<br />
fundamental right.<br />
Without <strong>go</strong>od nutrition, Brai says the mind <strong>and</strong><br />
body cannot function well, hence, appropriate<br />
investments on <strong>go</strong>od nutrition can help reduce<br />
the global burden of diseases <strong>and</strong> impaired quality<br />
of life.<br />
At a workshop on ‘Advancing Nutrition, Health<br />
<strong>and</strong> Wellness through the Media’, organised by<br />
Nestlé Nigeria <strong>and</strong> the La<strong>go</strong>s Business School,<br />
he said proper investment on nutrition can help<br />
to improve our health, prevent certain diseases,<br />
maintain a desirable weight, <strong>and</strong> maintain<br />
Nigerian’s energy <strong>and</strong> vitality.<br />
To him, <strong>go</strong>od nutrition leads to higher earnings<br />
<strong>and</strong> mental acuity, which, in turn, supports<br />
macroeconomic <strong>and</strong> societal growth.<br />
Critical health watchers believe that there is<br />
need to intensify efforts to reduce stunting<br />
through proper nutrition, especially now that<br />
Nigeria was at a critical stage of malnutrition<br />
<strong>and</strong> proper nutrition is germane to human growth<br />
<strong>and</strong> a well-nurtured generation will contribute<br />
meaningfully to the development of the society.
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 33<br />
Hello kids out<br />
there!<br />
Sure you are enjoying the<br />
holiday. Holiday is a time<br />
t<br />
o<br />
rest, relax <strong>and</strong> cool your<br />
brain for the next task. The next<br />
task before you is the Third Term<br />
where you have to work hard to<br />
be promoted to a new class.<br />
So, as children, you have the<br />
right to relax <strong>and</strong> enjoy your self.<br />
But if your performance in the last<br />
two terms was low, you have to find<br />
time out of your relaxation time to<br />
work on yourself to be able to cope<br />
when you resume at school.<br />
Parents should also underst<strong>and</strong><br />
that to get <strong>go</strong>od results from these<br />
children, they should be allowed<br />
to maximise their holiday to rest.<br />
If a child is not doing well, the child<br />
can be helped during the<br />
holidays but, it must not take<br />
away her right to leisure.<br />
It is not much about how many<br />
teachers you employed to teach a<br />
child, it is how much the child can<br />
assimilate.<br />
Kids, relax <strong>and</strong> have fun. It is<br />
your right<br />
Have a blessed <strong>and</strong> robust week<br />
A world of fun<br />
for Kids at<br />
Funderl<strong>and</strong><br />
B<br />
avent Street Live organised<br />
three days festival for Kids at<br />
Funderl<strong>and</strong> with an all-expense<br />
paid trip to Disneyl<strong>and</strong>, Paris.<br />
According to the Founder, Bavent<br />
Street Live, Hakeem Condotti, the<br />
event was designed to bring kids<br />
together to have fun <strong>and</strong> also<br />
learn. He added that lots of<br />
activities were packed to ensure<br />
kids find a convenient spot to<br />
relax <strong>and</strong> enjoy maximum fun<br />
during the festive season.<br />
At the event, Kids Funderl<strong>and</strong><br />
focused on themed activities like<br />
Easter egg hunts, electric dance floor,<br />
art <strong>and</strong> crafts, cartoon characters <strong>and</strong><br />
a special performance by Dream<br />
Catchers Dance Academy.<br />
These activities were planned not<br />
just to keep the kids entertained but<br />
also expose them to educational<br />
activities created to ignite interests<br />
in a wide range of topics such as<br />
coding, graphic design, robotics <strong>and</strong><br />
web design.<br />
Aside from the amazing activities,<br />
other highlights at the event were the<br />
giveaways won as special prizes;<br />
such as shopping vouchers, a<br />
weekend stay in a luxurious hotel<br />
in Victoria Isl<strong>and</strong>, La<strong>go</strong>s <strong>and</strong> an<br />
all-expense paid trip to<br />
Disneyl<strong>and</strong> in Paris for a family of<br />
four.<br />
CURRENT AFFAIRS<br />
PARENTING<br />
ACRONYMS MEANINGS<br />
E- mail Electronic Mail<br />
EFCC<br />
Economic <strong>and</strong> Financial Crimes Commission<br />
WWW<br />
World Wide Web<br />
MDGs<br />
Millennium Developmental Goals<br />
ICT<br />
Information <strong>and</strong> Communication Technology<br />
FIFA<br />
Federation of International Football Associations<br />
ECOWA S<br />
Economic Community of West Africa States<br />
BBC<br />
British Broadcasting Corporation<br />
AIDS<br />
Acquired immune Deficiency Syndrome<br />
AT M<br />
AUTOMATED Teller Machine<br />
Tomorrow is in your h<strong>and</strong>s<br />
to win or lose<br />
Every parent or guardian or<br />
caregiver are first of all a<br />
mirror to a child or children<br />
in their care. They mirror every single<br />
action or words spoken when they are<br />
around. You may wonder why a five<br />
year-old girl, especially in<br />
Yorubal<strong>and</strong>, will spread his or her<br />
palm on someone <strong>and</strong> curse, “iya e”<br />
This is a curse to a mother. Definitely,<br />
it is what he or she sees or hears in<br />
his or her first environment. If care<br />
is not taken, the child grows up with<br />
that thought <strong>and</strong> begins to curse at<br />
any little opportunity. Train children<br />
on positive thought pattern. As<br />
parents, think <strong>and</strong> do positive things<br />
Long a<strong>go</strong>, there was a trader<br />
named Sripad. He amassed a<br />
huge wealth by his hard work. He<br />
had everything in his house.<br />
One day, he set out on a trade<br />
journey. When he was passing<br />
through a forest, he felt tired <strong>and</strong><br />
wanted to take a rest for some<br />
time. He sat under a tree to relax.<br />
While relaxing, he felt thirsty<br />
<strong>and</strong> desired for a glass of water:<br />
‘If only I had some water with<br />
which to quench my thirst right<br />
now!’ There was a miracle. <strong>No</strong><br />
sooner did he wish for water than<br />
a pitcher appeared before him. He<br />
quenched his thirst <strong>and</strong> felt<br />
relieved.<br />
After some time, he felt hungry<br />
<strong>and</strong> wished for food. He said to<br />
himself: ‘If a plate of tasty food<br />
be available to me now, I would<br />
be really lucky.’<br />
As soon as he thought of it, there<br />
appeared a plate of tasty food<br />
before him. He ate to his<br />
satisfaction. Too much food made<br />
him drowsy <strong>and</strong> he murmured,<br />
‘How can I sleep on this rough<br />
surface? Why shouldn’t there be<br />
a soft bed for me?’ As he uttered<br />
in front of your children to align their<br />
thoughts positively, so that all they<br />
do <strong>and</strong> think about is positive<br />
thoughts.<br />
Cases of abuse have continued to<br />
be in the increase. Its like<br />
perpetrators are increasing in this<br />
evil act <strong>and</strong> one wonders how a child<br />
as low in age as two, three years are<br />
abused. I realize that it couldn’t have<br />
happened without it first happening<br />
in their mind because whatever one<br />
does in life its provoked by a<br />
thought. So, you cannot take your<br />
thoughts out of your actions.<br />
As children of yesterday have<br />
become adults today, molesting<br />
SHORT STORY<br />
ABUSED?<br />
these vulnerable children both boys<br />
<strong>and</strong> girls, I believe, many of them<br />
have grown up with negative<br />
thoughts, that they unleash on<br />
society.<br />
To avoid a more violent future<br />
against children, parents should<br />
begin to impart positive thoughts<br />
<strong>and</strong> actions into children. Let them<br />
know they are a reflection of their<br />
thoughts. If you are successful, it is<br />
a reflection of your thoughts <strong>and</strong> if<br />
otherwise, it is still the same<br />
reflection of your thoughts. Let them<br />
know that they should tell<br />
themselves positive things daily!<br />
They must love themselves internally<br />
to glow externally.<br />
According to a quote by Lyndon B.<br />
Johnson, “Yesterday is not ours to<br />
recover, but tomorrow is ours to win<br />
or lose”. Parents, its in your h<strong>and</strong>s.<br />
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE THINKING<br />
these words, a colourful <strong>and</strong><br />
comfortable bed of velvet<br />
appeared before him<br />
immediately.<br />
Sripad slept on the bed. He felt<br />
as if he was in heaven as all his<br />
desires were being fulfilled<br />
immediately. He was quite<br />
unaware that he was sleeping<br />
under a tree which could fulfill<br />
any desires. It was not an<br />
ordinary tree but a tree that had<br />
the powers to fulfill any desires.<br />
Sripad enjoyed a <strong>go</strong>od sleep on<br />
the velvet bed. When he woke, he<br />
began to think, ‘I am all alone in<br />
the forest which is full of wild<br />
W<br />
hen<br />
animals like lions, tigers <strong>and</strong><br />
wolves who may come at any<br />
moment <strong>and</strong> could kill me. I<br />
would not be able to protect<br />
myself.’<br />
As he thought, a ferocious tiger<br />
appeared <strong>and</strong> attacked him. Poor<br />
Sripad was so scared that he<br />
could not even run. Thus, he was<br />
killed because of his negative<br />
thinking.<br />
LESSON: It is said that a man<br />
is always led by his thought. If<br />
you think positive, it will lead to<br />
positive results. If it is negative<br />
thoughts, you will get negative<br />
results too.<br />
Do you know this expression?<br />
To push at an open door<br />
you push at an open door, it simply means that you achieve what<br />
you want easily because a lot of people agree with you or help you. For<br />
example, a politician can win an election if lots of people support him <strong>and</strong> his<br />
political ideas <strong>and</strong> this makes his campaign programs merely an act of pushing<br />
at an already opened door.<br />
When a door is already opened, it is very easy to <strong>go</strong> in <strong>and</strong> pushing at it is just<br />
an act guaranteed to give you easier access into the room.<br />
Numbers to Call<br />
Aunty Funmi – 08052201992<br />
WARIF- 07038864169<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s State Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation<br />
(WAPA) – 01- 7617508, 01- 7308112<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s Education And Resource Network (LEARN)<br />
– 07027950412<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s State Ministry of Youth & Social Welfare – 09077333426 /<br />
08172457792<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s State Office of Public Defender – 01- 7926928<br />
Mirabel- 07013491769
PAGE 34 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
A change of attitude<br />
is desirable<br />
The Easter holiday is over<br />
but Christ remains with<br />
us<br />
Ḣow do I know? The Holy<br />
Bible gives us assurance of this<br />
in many verses but for our purpose,<br />
we’ll consider, the word<br />
of God as stated in Isaiah 53<br />
vs. 5 “ But he was wounded<br />
for our transgressions he was<br />
bruised for our iniquities: the<br />
chastisement of our peace was<br />
upon him; <strong>and</strong> with his stripes<br />
we are healed”.<br />
Many Christians tend to <strong>pay</strong><br />
more attention to the last part<br />
of this verse “ with his stripes<br />
we are healed”. This particular<br />
part of the verse we often<br />
remember when we are in<br />
pains. Or when someone dear<br />
to us is ill. Which is quite in<br />
order but our Lord Jesus<br />
means more to us.<br />
We should always remember,<br />
“ he was bruised for our<br />
iniquities”. In other words, for<br />
the sins committed by you <strong>and</strong><br />
I, he was bruised.<br />
I share with you, a part of<br />
the sermon of Pastor Gbenga<br />
Oso, the General Overseer of<br />
Laughter Foundation Ministry.<br />
He reminded us that with<br />
the death <strong>and</strong> resurrection of<br />
Christ, we have the power to<br />
overcome sin. It simply means<br />
that if Christ did not succumb<br />
to the devil’s temptation, you<br />
too can defeat the devil.<br />
To defeat the devil, your attitude<br />
to the word of God must<br />
change. You must move from<br />
hearing the word to living by<br />
the Word. Once we live by the<br />
word, our chances of failing<br />
victims of Satan <strong>and</strong> his antics<br />
are remote.<br />
Our Lord Jesus said to us in<br />
John 14vs. 27 “ Peace I leave<br />
with you, my peace I give unto<br />
you: not as the world giveth,<br />
give I unto you. Let not your<br />
heart be troubled, neither let<br />
it be afraid”.<br />
With this, you need not be<br />
afraid of anything. Christ has<br />
overcome all challenges but<br />
you need to change your attitude<br />
towards the Lord. You<br />
cannot afford to be a Christian<br />
that refers to the Holy<br />
Bible only on Sundays. You<br />
need to make the word of God<br />
your companion.<br />
Hebrew 4 vs. 12 -14 reminds<br />
us “ For the word of God is<br />
quick, <strong>and</strong> powerful, <strong>and</strong><br />
sharper than any two edged<br />
sword, piercing even to the<br />
dividing asunder of soul <strong>and</strong><br />
spirit, <strong>and</strong> of the joints <strong>and</strong><br />
marrow <strong>and</strong> is a discerner of<br />
the thoughts <strong>and</strong> intents of the<br />
heart.<br />
Neither is there any creature<br />
that is not manifest in his<br />
sight: but all things are naked<br />
<strong>and</strong> opened unto the eyes of<br />
him with whom we have to<br />
do<br />
Ṡeeing then that we have a<br />
great high priest, that is passed<br />
into the heavens, Jesus the Son<br />
of God, let us hold fast to our<br />
profession”.<br />
Need I say more? This passage<br />
is loaded with meaning.<br />
It is clear that the Word of<br />
God has a great impact on<br />
our thoughts <strong>and</strong> activities.<br />
We are assured that with the<br />
right attitude, we are empowered<br />
to overcome all challenges<br />
because Jesus has borne our<br />
entire burden.<br />
Brethren, you must arise<br />
<strong>and</strong> claim your victory that<br />
the death <strong>and</strong> resurrection of<br />
Christ has given us.<br />
<strong>No</strong> child of God should allow<br />
any challenge to bring<br />
down your faith. Refuse to accept<br />
it as fate. Neither, health<br />
challenges, barrenness, financial<br />
limitation or any challenge<br />
should overpower your<br />
Spirit.<br />
Ist John 4 vs. 4 gives us confidence<br />
“ Ye are of God, little<br />
children, <strong>and</strong> have overcome<br />
them: because greater is he<br />
that is in you, than he that is in<br />
the world”.<br />
Challenges are of the world.<br />
Either, they are afflictions<br />
from fellow human beings or<br />
inflicted on us by the forces of<br />
darkness.<br />
But be assured that darkness<br />
can never overshadow<br />
light. <strong>No</strong> matter how long<br />
darkness has been with us, a<br />
moment of light will change<br />
all things.<br />
Where time does not<br />
permit praying<br />
together, whenever<br />
you are praying<br />
make sure you pray<br />
for your spouse<br />
Jesus said to us, in John 9 vs.<br />
5 “…. I am the light of the<br />
world of the world”.<br />
Brethren, connect with the<br />
Light of the world <strong>and</strong> all<br />
forms of darkness will vanish.<br />
Whatever it is that you do not<br />
want represents a dark spot<br />
in your life.<br />
Resist the temptation to seek<br />
a short cut to the end of any<br />
challenge in your life. Jesus<br />
is the way. You only need to<br />
trust <strong>and</strong> obey <strong>and</strong> you will<br />
soon sing songs of victory<br />
over that challenge.<br />
About two weeks a<strong>go</strong>, I<br />
heard the story of a Nigerian<br />
couple in Europe who gave<br />
birth to a set of triplets. The<br />
wife was about 55 <strong>and</strong> the<br />
husb<strong>and</strong> closer to 60.<br />
A great miracle of God.<br />
The story I was told was that<br />
the couple had been under<br />
serious pressure from relations<br />
especially the mother in<br />
law. The woman became so<br />
worried that she advised her<br />
son to come home <strong>and</strong> secretly<br />
take a wife in the village.<br />
Since the wife lives in Europe,<br />
the plan was that she would<br />
never know.<br />
Her son bluntly refused. His<br />
mother went about telling everyone<br />
who cared to listen that<br />
her daughter in law had bewitched<br />
her son. In her opinion<br />
that is the reason her son<br />
didn’t accept her suggestion.<br />
Somehow, her plans leaked<br />
to the wife who insisted that it<br />
is only God that gives children.<br />
She intensified prayers<br />
<strong>and</strong> went for IVF. To the glory<br />
of God, she gave birth to a<br />
set of triplets, two boys <strong>and</strong> a<br />
girl but the mother in law did<br />
not live to see the gr<strong>and</strong>children<br />
she wanted by all means.<br />
She had died a few months<br />
before the children were born<br />
from health issues associated<br />
with worries.<br />
This is why we need to be<br />
careful <strong>and</strong> be patient when<br />
confronted with challenges.<br />
Had her son, heeded her<br />
wrong advice, his matrimonial<br />
life would have become<br />
complicated because what<br />
he plans to be a secret will<br />
blow open someday <strong>and</strong> this<br />
could destabilize his matrimonial<br />
life.<br />
Brethren, at a time like this,<br />
we need to renew our faith in<br />
the Lord, ask for forgiveness<br />
<strong>and</strong> seek the mercy of God.<br />
Believe it or not, there is hard-<br />
ly any human being without<br />
a challenge. It only varies.<br />
Sometimes, these challenges<br />
come as a test to our faith.<br />
Let’s consider the story of<br />
Isaac <strong>and</strong> Rebekah. Genesis<br />
25 vs. 21 “ And Isaac entreated<br />
the LORD for his wife, because<br />
she was barren: <strong>and</strong><br />
the LORD was entreated of<br />
him, <strong>and</strong> Rebekah his wife<br />
conceived”.<br />
<strong>No</strong>te that Isaac did not<br />
blame his wife for barrenness<br />
as many men do today. Rather,<br />
he lifted up his voice <strong>and</strong><br />
prayed for God’s mercy for her<br />
<strong>and</strong> God answered his<br />
prayers.<br />
This should be the attitude<br />
of couples to all challenges.<br />
Couples need to pray together<br />
to overcome a challenge.<br />
Is your husb<strong>and</strong> facing a<br />
challenge at work? As a wife,<br />
you cannot afford to be indifferent.<br />
Go on our knees <strong>and</strong><br />
pray. Fast if need be <strong>and</strong> God<br />
will intervene.<br />
Where time does not permit<br />
praying together, whenever<br />
you are praying make sure<br />
you pray for your spouse.<br />
A joyful home is one in<br />
which Christ reigns.<br />
Brethren, do not allow the<br />
Blood of Jesus to be shed in<br />
vain in your life.<br />
Resolve to live by his Word<br />
<strong>and</strong> it shall be well with you<br />
in Jesus name.<br />
By the grace of God, whatever<br />
has been dormant in your<br />
life will receive the power of<br />
resurrection in Jesus name.<br />
Remain blessed.<br />
janet.adetu<br />
@jsketiquetteconsortium.com<br />
Are You Colour Savvy?<br />
Group advises NNPC not to relocate NGMC headquarters to Abuja<br />
The Amalgamated Niger<br />
Delta Force has advised<br />
Nigerian National Petroleum<br />
Corporation,NNPC, not to<br />
yield to alleged moves by certain<br />
persons in the company<br />
to relocate Nigerian Gas<br />
Marketing Company<br />
(NGMC), Ekpan in Uvwie<br />
Local Government Area of<br />
Delta State to Abuja.<br />
This was contained in an<br />
open letter to President Muhammadu<br />
Buhari titled: ' The<br />
cabal's final slot to relocate<br />
Nigerian Gas Marketing<br />
Company (NGMC) to Abuja '<br />
What is your favorite colour?Colour<br />
ence, we are affected<br />
plays a signifi<br />
cant part of our exist<br />
everyday by the colours that<br />
surround us. Colour can psychologically<br />
<strong>and</strong> emotionally<br />
make us happy, put a spring<br />
in our step or make us feel<br />
gloomy, grumpy <strong>and</strong> sad.<br />
Most times people wear colour<br />
without really underst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
its direct impact on how<br />
they are perceived through<br />
their clothing. Many professionals<br />
wear colours for the<br />
sake of it, at times mismatching<br />
colours that almost indicate<br />
they may have an element<br />
of colour blindness. The<br />
tendency for most men is to<br />
group colours according to<br />
their similarity. That is why<br />
yellow can pass for <strong>go</strong>ld <strong>and</strong><br />
teal can pass for green, orange<br />
<strong>and</strong> pink can fall into the family<br />
of red.<br />
There are many ways you<br />
can express your unique personality,<br />
through your fashion<br />
sense, style, characteristics<br />
<strong>and</strong> now through colour.<br />
When you decided to wear that<br />
suit, that blouse or shirt or that<br />
tie this morning, did you consider<br />
the matching accessories,<br />
shoes, jewellery or bag.<br />
Studies have shown that colours<br />
does affect the decisions<br />
we make <strong>and</strong> the things we<br />
tend to notice. Let’s look at it<br />
closer, everywhere we look we<br />
are surrounded by colour.<br />
Color attracts us <strong>and</strong> moves<br />
us to act psychologically.<br />
Bright colours like Yellow or<br />
orange are vibrant colours<br />
that lift your smile, put a<br />
spring in your step <strong>and</strong> make<br />
you feel happy. Dark colours<br />
give a neutral effect & emotion,<br />
more solemn <strong>and</strong> less<br />
exciting. Why do you think<br />
stop signs are red? Red is an<br />
attention grabber raising<br />
blood pressure .It turns heads<br />
<strong>and</strong> makes people stop or act;<br />
the colour green on the other<br />
h<strong>and</strong> cools ones feelings &<br />
<strong>and</strong> made available to the<br />
press.<br />
In the letter signed by Abel<br />
Peretubor ( Coordinator General),<br />
Chief Temi Ayemi ( Interface<br />
Ethnics Coordinator),<br />
Hon. Okpako Ovie (Diaspora<br />
Affairs), Comrade Ogaga<br />
Onoriode ( Planning & Logistics),<br />
Ach. Tombra Ototo (Mobilizing<br />
Coordinator), <strong>and</strong> Sir<br />
Bemigho Edah ( Infor/ Statistics<br />
Coordinator), the group<br />
recalled that Vice President<br />
Yemi Osinbajo while he acted<br />
as the President of the country,<br />
gave a directive that all<br />
oil <strong>and</strong> gas companies should<br />
relocate their headquarters to<br />
their host communities but it<br />
was jettisoned by the same cabal.<br />
"The same people are now<br />
bent on relocating <strong>and</strong> moving<br />
the headquarters of<br />
NGMC from Warri to Abuja<br />
Central Business District at<br />
the detriment of the people of<br />
Delta State <strong>and</strong> indeed Southern<br />
Nigeria from where gas is<br />
produced. "<br />
The group alleged further<br />
that the same sect said Warri<br />
was for management meet-<br />
emotions down. Therefore at<br />
the traffic light you <strong>go</strong> on<br />
green calmly. As an image<br />
consultant a personal colour<br />
analysis the act of assessing<br />
which colours suit you best, is<br />
recommended for a number<br />
of beneficial reasons.<br />
i. To improve one’s appearance<br />
ii. To enhance confidence<br />
<strong>and</strong> self esteem<br />
iii. To save time while<br />
shopping as it becomes easier<br />
to choose clothes confidently<br />
iv. To give you value for<br />
your money after purchase<br />
When you want to colour<br />
your style, your choice of colours<br />
should be such that they<br />
flatter your complexion. The<br />
colour should brighten you<br />
up, make you look vibrant,<br />
energetic even as if you were<br />
well rested. The theory of colour<br />
says that you are either<br />
cool toned or warm toned. Essentially<br />
if you are relatively<br />
dark shades in your complexion<br />
you have pigments of blue<br />
in your skin tone <strong>and</strong> therefore<br />
you are considered to be<br />
cool toned; otherwise if you<br />
are much lighter you are said<br />
to have pigments of yellow in<br />
your skin, suggesting that you<br />
are warm toned.<br />
The best thing with colour<br />
is to combine well, you may<br />
decide to wear all warm colours<br />
or all cool colours from<br />
top to bottom. When you mix<br />
<strong>and</strong> match contrasting<br />
colors, you make a bold statement.<br />
Depending on your profession<br />
it is important to be<br />
wary of the colours you choose<br />
to wear so that you do not take<br />
away your authentic, authoritative<br />
<strong>and</strong> respective look.<br />
Ideally the most authoritative<br />
ings, " yet oil <strong>and</strong> gas are not<br />
insecure to be extracted from<br />
Warri's soil".<br />
The Amalgamated Niger<br />
Delta Force in the letter noted<br />
that NGC/ NGMC <strong>and</strong><br />
NPDC remain the cash cow<br />
of NNPC operating in Edo /<br />
Delta <strong>states</strong> <strong>and</strong> that since<br />
1990, there has been no security<br />
challenges in Warri, adding<br />
that NGC/ NGMC declared<br />
billions of naira as profit<br />
to sustain the economy of<br />
the country.<br />
The group then cautioned<br />
that any attempt to relocate<br />
colours to have in your wardrobe<br />
are Black, Navy, Charcoal<br />
Grey <strong>and</strong> a lighter shade<br />
of grey. You may blend shirts<br />
<strong>and</strong> tops or blouses <strong>and</strong> camisoles<br />
that are much lighter in<br />
contrast to give it that complete<br />
look.<br />
Always choose colours of<br />
fabrics that match your skin<br />
tone. Your complete colour<br />
style should flatter your figure<br />
& personality, it should<br />
Identify your strengths <strong>and</strong><br />
flaunt your assets to bring out<br />
the best look in you. Black<br />
they say makes you look thiner,<br />
It is a colour of authority<br />
<strong>and</strong> power while White is an<br />
everyday wear but looks better<br />
when worn in the daytime<br />
as it st<strong>and</strong>s for purity. Red is<br />
authoritative <strong>and</strong> striking, it<br />
looks <strong>go</strong>od in dresses or a tie<br />
with a white shirt & black suit<br />
to give astriking power look.<br />
Blue is considered the most<br />
worn colour which <strong>go</strong>es well<br />
for both formal & business as<br />
usual. Just for your perusal let<br />
me leave you with the psychological<br />
meaning of some colours:<br />
What is your favorite<br />
colour?<br />
RED:<br />
Strength, Courage, Power, Intensity<br />
ORANGE: Energy,<br />
Enthusiasm, Compassion,<br />
Warmth<br />
YELLOW: Communication,<br />
Creativity, Conscious<br />
Mind<br />
GREEN:<br />
the said companies from the<br />
Warri area to either La<strong>go</strong>s or<br />
Abuja will further impoverish<br />
Niger Delta economy which<br />
it noted was striving to improve<br />
due to the present Federal<br />
Government's efforts of<br />
bringing peace <strong>and</strong> development<br />
to the region.<br />
The group however suggested<br />
that monies budgeted for<br />
the alleged planned relocation<br />
of NGMC to Abuja<br />
should be used to renovate<br />
parts of SPDC properties for<br />
immediate occupation by the<br />
companies.<br />
Efforts to reach managements<br />
of both NGC <strong>and</strong><br />
Health, Prosperity, Harmony,<br />
Peace, Healing<br />
BLUE:<br />
Serenity, Intelligent, Organized,<br />
Status<br />
PURPLE:<br />
Royalty, Luxury, Celebration<br />
BROWN: Experience,<br />
Confidence<br />
BLACK: Team<br />
Oriented, Respect, You have<br />
arrived, Power<br />
GREY:<br />
Quiet, Sophisticated, Calm,<br />
Secure<br />
WHITE:<br />
Clean, Pure, Cool<br />
PINK:<br />
Feminity, Safe, Accessible<br />
Colour TIPs<br />
i. Wearing black makes<br />
you look slimmer<br />
ii. Don’t wear too many<br />
colours or patterns in one official<br />
outfit<br />
iii. Wear colours that<br />
make you look approachable<br />
iv. Wear red to draw attention<br />
when giving a speech<br />
v. Know your colours for<br />
formal events<br />
vi. Black is acceptable to<br />
wear for formal dinners, business<br />
casual cocktails <strong>and</strong> informal<br />
retreats<br />
“Colour influences your<br />
mood, your attitude,<br />
your image <strong>and</strong> your conduct.<br />
Brighter colours will have a<br />
positive impact,<br />
while dull colours may assume<br />
a negative impact.”<br />
How <strong>go</strong>od are<br />
you with your colours? Are<br />
you colour blind?<br />
NGMC to comment on the<br />
allegations proved abortive at<br />
the time of filling this report,<br />
however, it would be recalled<br />
that some youths from oil <strong>and</strong><br />
gas bearing communities in<br />
Delta State, staged a peaceful<br />
protest on the said allegations<br />
to the premises of NGC/<br />
NGMC on January 7th, 2019<br />
but the management of<br />
NGMC through the Executive<br />
Director, Assets Management<br />
<strong>and</strong> Technical Services<br />
(EDAM/TS), Engineer E. A<br />
Akinsanya, denied the allegations<br />
before the Delta State<br />
Commissioner for Oil <strong>and</strong><br />
Gas, Hon Freedom Fregene.
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 35<br />
TIV/JUKUN CONFLICT<br />
The story of<br />
the poor killing<br />
the poor<br />
By Femi Bolaji, Jalin<strong>go</strong><br />
As peace gradually returns to border<br />
communities of Taraba <strong>and</strong> Benue<br />
<strong>states</strong>, the violent exchange<br />
between the Tiv <strong>and</strong> Jukun tribes,<br />
which spanned over three weeks,<br />
would remain indelible in the minds of<br />
residents of affected communities.<br />
What started as a misunderst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
between two individuals from both tribes in<br />
Wukari local <strong>go</strong>vernment area of Taraba State<br />
snowballed into a conflict that rendered<br />
hundreds homeless.<br />
As some families grapple with the reality of<br />
the loss of their loved ones, <strong>others</strong> are counting<br />
their losses <strong>and</strong> hoping that such an ugly<br />
incident never rears its head again.<br />
Sad enough is realising that a place they<br />
once called home has suddenly become<br />
somewhere they are being hunted by familiar<br />
faces.<br />
As peasants who live on farm produce, the<br />
destruction of their properties <strong>and</strong>, in<br />
particular, their farm yields, is a major setback<br />
for their economic survival.<br />
<strong>No</strong>w that many have been displaced, with<br />
<strong>others</strong> taking refuge with<br />
friends <strong>and</strong> families outside<br />
their immediate<br />
communities, a big burden<br />
has been let loose not only<br />
on fleeing victims but also<br />
on those offering them food<br />
<strong>and</strong> shelter.<br />
However, for <strong>states</strong> like<br />
Taraba <strong>and</strong> Benue that are<br />
just recovering from attacks<br />
believed to have been<br />
carried out by herdsmen, a<br />
war between two<br />
neighbouring tribes is not<br />
something they can ill<br />
afford.<br />
At the last count, no<br />
fewer than 15 persons<br />
have lost their lives on<br />
both sides, with more<br />
than100 houses razed in<br />
attacks <strong>and</strong> counter<br />
attacks on border<br />
communities of Wukari<br />
<strong>and</strong> Ukum local<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment areas of Taraba <strong>and</strong> Benue<br />
<strong>states</strong>.<br />
About seven communities inhabited by<br />
Tiv <strong>and</strong> Jukun are said to have been<br />
affected.<br />
Major stakeholders from both divides,<br />
including the <strong>go</strong>vernments of both <strong>states</strong>,<br />
are also not finding it easy to settle the<br />
dispute between the two warring tribes.<br />
Their major worry remains why the two<br />
tribes, who have lived, side by side, for<br />
decades, still find it difficult to find a<br />
common ground despite years of peace<br />
efforts.<br />
Sources, who spoke on the conflict,<br />
insisted that the bloodletting could have<br />
been avoided if the parties involved<br />
recognize what binds them together<br />
rather than what divides them.<br />
They are all<br />
peasant farmers<br />
<strong>and</strong> poor people,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I don’t know<br />
why they should<br />
turn against one<br />
another over<br />
trivial issues<br />
Like A<br />
Cigarette Light<br />
Kente, a border<br />
community between<br />
Taraba <strong>and</strong> Benue, was<br />
where it all started.<br />
A misunderst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
between two youths from<br />
both tribes that degenerated<br />
into conflict ran for weeks.<br />
According to the President<br />
of the Tiv Cultural <strong>and</strong> Social<br />
Association in Taraba,<br />
Goodman Dahida, the matter<br />
wouldn’t have escalated if<br />
h<strong>and</strong>lers of the<br />
misunderst<strong>and</strong>ing managed<br />
the situation well.<br />
“What became so big today<br />
is something that vigilantes in<br />
Kente could have h<strong>and</strong>led, but<br />
those acting as mediators at the<br />
time caused the whole<br />
problem”, Dahida said.<br />
“Right now, we are all bearing the brunt of<br />
our inability to manage a small<br />
misunderst<strong>and</strong>ing. If the<br />
Tiv <strong>and</strong> Jukun youth<br />
leaders had problems,<br />
there should have been<br />
amicable ways of resolving<br />
them.<br />
“But what we saw was<br />
that the authorities<br />
mish<strong>and</strong>led the crisis at the<br />
initial stage <strong>and</strong> that was<br />
what led to this level of<br />
killings <strong>and</strong> destruction of<br />
properties.”<br />
On his part, a former<br />
President of Wukari/Jukun<br />
Youth of Vision, Luka Agbu,<br />
attributed the conflict to age<br />
long suspicion between the<br />
two tribes, asking why two<br />
farming tribes, struggling<br />
for survival, would take up<br />
arms against each other.<br />
“There has been an age<br />
long suspicion in the heart<br />
of a Tiv man against his<br />
Jukun brother <strong>and</strong> vice versa, which must<br />
be addressed”, Agbu said.<br />
“The killings in Jukun <strong>and</strong> Tiv are<br />
uncalled for, unwarranted <strong>and</strong> a disgrace<br />
to both groups, who have been members<br />
of one family for over a century, <strong>and</strong> they<br />
are still living together.<br />
“They, are all peasant farmers <strong>and</strong> poor<br />
people <strong>and</strong> I don’t know why they should<br />
turn against one another over trivial<br />
issues.<br />
“Even before we were born, we were<br />
told the stalemate had been in existence,<br />
but the elders <strong>and</strong> community leaders<br />
were able to prevail over issues.”<br />
Between Criminality <strong>and</strong><br />
Mutual Suspicion<br />
Following the turn of events in the<br />
area, the senator representing Taraba South,<br />
Emmanuel Bwacha, <strong>and</strong> member<br />
representing Wukari /Ibi in the House of<br />
Representatives, Danjuma Shiddi, expressed<br />
disappointment at a stakeholders’ meeting<br />
convened to resolve the issues.<br />
Bwacha said, “I find it very embarrassing<br />
when I hear Tiv/Jukun crisis because<br />
whatever skirmishes we are having, I believe<br />
it is the work of criminals from both sides.<br />
“The crime situation in the Middle-Belt<br />
region has assumed a fresh dimension <strong>and</strong><br />
we have a huge crisis in our h<strong>and</strong>s to<br />
confront.<br />
“These criminals are happy to be moving<br />
around burning houses in the name of<br />
communal clashes but we as a people must<br />
learn to underst<strong>and</strong> the temper of the<br />
moment.<br />
“The times are not <strong>go</strong>od <strong>and</strong> truly our youths<br />
must underst<strong>and</strong> that they need to engage<br />
themselves in productive ventures.”<br />
Shiddi, on his part, said, “It is regrettable<br />
for us to have found ourselves in this<br />
unfortunate situation.<br />
“This is more of criminality than the ethnic<br />
colouration it is having today <strong>and</strong> my heart<br />
bleeds for what has happened in our border<br />
communities.”<br />
Dahida <strong>and</strong> Agbu aligned with the positions<br />
of both lawmakers believing that much work<br />
lies in the h<strong>and</strong>s of both tribes <strong>and</strong><br />
stakeholders to fish out the bad eggs<br />
promoting disaffection.<br />
Dahida stated, “A <strong>go</strong>od number of Tiv<br />
people have cordial relationship with Jukuns,<br />
but the criminals <strong>and</strong> those benefiting from<br />
looting other peoples properties don’t want<br />
to see an end to this incident.<br />
“Those against the escalation of the crisis<br />
are now enemies of the miscreants <strong>and</strong> we<br />
must collectively rise up against this act of<br />
criminality that is causing disaffection among<br />
us.”<br />
Agbu said: “Why should a Tiv man <strong>and</strong> a<br />
Jukun man be at each other’s throat when they<br />
both worship in the same church?<br />
“Elders <strong>and</strong> critical stakeholders of Tiv<br />
extraction should come together as they did<br />
before. I am aware that they are making efforts<br />
to see that this mess does not re-occur.<br />
“Let us be sincere in fishing out the bad eggs<br />
so that we can have peace.”<br />
A former <strong>go</strong>vernor of Benue State <strong>and</strong><br />
senator-elect for Benue <strong>No</strong>rth-East, Gabriel<br />
Suswam, who spoke at another stakeholders’<br />
meeting convened by Taraba <strong>and</strong> Benue state<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernments, said the continuous destruction<br />
of valuables by the two tribes spells doom for<br />
their future if not controlled.<br />
“We both have a common problem, but we<br />
have ab<strong>and</strong>oned our problems to engage<br />
internally in destroying ourselves forgetting<br />
that we are destroying our future”, Suswam<br />
said.<br />
“An average Jukun man <strong>and</strong> an average Tiv<br />
man are both poor <strong>and</strong> are also both farmers,<br />
<strong>and</strong> every time we have skirmishes, what<br />
comes to mind is, what could be the reason<br />
for the fight?<br />
“If you inquire deep, no <strong>go</strong>od reason can be<br />
given for the skirmishes that resulted in the<br />
destruction both <strong>states</strong> have experienced.<br />
“How can a fight between two individuals<br />
degenerate to this level? This means there is<br />
something psychologically wrong with the<br />
two tribes.<br />
“If there is nothing wrong, why would two<br />
people have a fight in Kente <strong>and</strong> houses are<br />
being burnt down elsewhere?<br />
“We don’t have Jukun or Tiv millionaires.<br />
We are all poor.<br />
What I see is we ourselves destroying what<br />
we don’t even have”.<br />
The Path<br />
to Peace<br />
Meanwhile, a committee of 10 members<br />
(five from each tribe) has been constituted by<br />
the <strong>go</strong>vernments of Taraba <strong>and</strong> Benue <strong>states</strong><br />
to look into the conflict <strong>and</strong> suggest ways of<br />
ending it permanently.<br />
The committee has three months to complete<br />
its work.
PAGE 36, SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
Inadequacies in<br />
democracy inspired<br />
me to propose<br />
tradocracy —Odion<br />
In this interview, Odion Obumese, author of “Tradocracy:<br />
An alternative <strong>and</strong> better system of <strong>go</strong>vernment to<br />
democracy” explains his motivations for the proposal:<br />
What inspired you to<br />
propound this new system<br />
of <strong>go</strong>vernment you call<br />
tradocracy?<br />
I propounded Tradocracy because of<br />
the inadequacies of democracy<br />
visible in its structures <strong>and</strong><br />
institutions. Allowing only one<br />
profession – the law profession – to<br />
serve as the only arm of <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
in exclusion of other professions –<br />
is one of such inadequacies. Another<br />
flaw of democracy is the<br />
disallowing of a larger part of the<br />
population from completing for<br />
political positions because of the<br />
huge amount of money a c<strong>and</strong>idate<br />
needs to contest election.<br />
Was that why you developed a<br />
fourth arm of <strong>go</strong>vernment you<br />
called ‘researchure’ alongside other<br />
three existing arms?<br />
Yes, researchure is a new arm of<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment that will bring equity<br />
<strong>and</strong> equality to all professions. In<br />
reality <strong>and</strong> in practice in most<br />
democracies, the Chief Justice of the<br />
Federation is regarded in<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment as the fourth or fifth<br />
most powerful man in a country just<br />
by being a legal practitioner. The<br />
Attorney-General also has the same<br />
power as the Chief Justice. This<br />
arrangement discredits all other<br />
professions that also contribute<br />
meaningfully to the service of a<br />
nation. So the researchure was<br />
developed to address that<br />
inequality. The researchure arm is<br />
a body of professionals excluding<br />
the law profession because law<br />
profession belongs to the judiciary<br />
arm.<br />
In your book you proposed that<br />
contestants in elections shall not be<br />
charged money. How is election<br />
<strong>and</strong> electoral process <strong>go</strong>ing to be<br />
run without money?<br />
The main reason for election is to<br />
By Emmanuel Elebeke<br />
he atmosphere at The New M &<br />
TM Event Centre, beside Nicon<br />
Luxury Hotel, Abuja on Easter<br />
Monday was charged <strong>and</strong> full of<br />
performance by some popular<br />
Nigerian solo artists.<br />
It was a festival of solo performance<br />
tagged Africa Solo Awards, ASA,<br />
organised by an art enthusiast,<br />
Awayitoma A<strong>go</strong>ma, a theatre Art<br />
lecturer at University of Abuja.<br />
The event featured special<br />
performances such as: Molue<br />
(Classic) by Tunji Sitimirin; The<br />
Prime Minister’s Son by Greg<br />
Mbajiorgu; Karenas Cross (first<br />
female Solo in Africa) by Benedict<br />
Binebal; the best of st<strong>and</strong>-up<br />
comedy, Spoken words,<br />
Storytelling, Music <strong>and</strong> Dance by<br />
Awaritoma A<strong>go</strong>ma.<br />
Also featured at the show were the<br />
Solo awards which had Tunji<br />
Somitirin, Greg Mbajiorgu,<br />
Alibaba, Benedict Binebai <strong>and</strong> Dike<br />
Chukwumerije as recipients for<br />
their outst<strong>and</strong>ing display in the solo<br />
world. Late Funsho Alabi (aka, King<br />
of Solo) acting <strong>and</strong> Mohammed<br />
Danjuma were also honoured<br />
posthumously at the event.<br />
Speaking on the concept, the<br />
coordinator of the festival,<br />
Awayitoma A<strong>go</strong>ma said the idea<br />
came as a response to revive the<br />
sleeping theatre which had not been<br />
acknowledged <strong>and</strong> celebrated as it<br />
should in the Nigerian art industry.<br />
With the solo performance reenacted,<br />
he expressed optimism that<br />
the theatre would take its rightful<br />
select competent <strong>and</strong><br />
capable leaders that will<br />
rule over the affairs of<br />
people of a nation. These<br />
leaders that shall be<br />
selected must underst<strong>and</strong><br />
the basic ingredients of<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernance, for example,<br />
issues of economy,<br />
development <strong>and</strong> welfare.<br />
They also need to embrace<br />
innovations for the purpose<br />
of technology. Putting a tag<br />
of money to electoral<br />
competition only selects<br />
the rich <strong>and</strong> middle class,<br />
disallowing major population that<br />
may have competent individuals<br />
from competing for political<br />
positions.<br />
Sovereign electoral commission<br />
shall generate revenue from<br />
electoral taxation or levies to run<br />
election <strong>and</strong> electoral processes. It<br />
shall also have its own facilities <strong>and</strong><br />
media houses, both print <strong>and</strong><br />
electronics. All c<strong>and</strong>idates shall<br />
For arms of<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment to<br />
have full<br />
separation of<br />
powers they<br />
must have<br />
independent<br />
police forces<br />
ASA was born to awaken the<br />
sleeping theatre — A<strong>go</strong>ma<br />
place in the art industry as itself<br />
does not need too much publicity<br />
with the kind of performances.<br />
He said: “it is a festival of solo<br />
performance, performance by one<br />
person. We noticed that the theatre<br />
that has been sleeping had this kind<br />
of spectacular performance <strong>and</strong> it<br />
has not been acknowledged,<br />
recognised or celebrated.<br />
“It was once muted that we should<br />
be able to project the solo form <strong>and</strong><br />
see how we can use it to support the<br />
rebirth of the sleeping theatre. With<br />
the solo form, we believe the theatre<br />
itself does not need too much<br />
publicity with this kind of<br />
performances we have seen today<br />
from Tunji Sotimirin, Greg<br />
Mbajiogu, <strong>and</strong> Benedict Binary.”<br />
A<strong>go</strong>ma who described the solo form<br />
as high economical <strong>and</strong> a minimal<br />
theatre, said, “theatre is for one, who<br />
can move out any time <strong>and</strong> perform<br />
anywhere, there is space enough<br />
from carpet. So, we believe that that<br />
one man actor does not need the<br />
appurtenances, that load a theatre<br />
craves for in elaborate lightening,<br />
costume, sound.<br />
“That one man up there can be able<br />
to conjure that image he wants his<br />
audience to see in his performance<br />
<strong>and</strong> I believe everybody should be<br />
able to let that happen <strong>and</strong> make<br />
sure that the solo actor is given<br />
prominence in the business theatre<br />
all over the nation.<br />
“The performance is quite<br />
economical, it is unlike convention<br />
drama with 20 to 30 casts, elaborate<br />
sound, consumes, scenery, all these<br />
we do not see in solo performance.”<br />
•Odion<br />
Obumese<br />
make use of these facilities free for<br />
purpose of campaign. Electoral<br />
registration forms shall be given out<br />
free to interested c<strong>and</strong>idates.<br />
What will be the function of this<br />
researchure, <strong>and</strong> how will the<br />
members be elected?<br />
Four members shall represent each<br />
profession – the health profession,<br />
engineering, arts, etc., for example.<br />
C<strong>and</strong>idates contesting for health<br />
positions in the house of researchure<br />
shall only be voted for by health<br />
professionals, <strong>and</strong> all other<br />
professions follow the same pattern<br />
of voting. Researchurers<br />
representatives of the house of<br />
researchure are sent to agencies of<br />
their own professions for research<br />
<strong>and</strong> creativity <strong>and</strong> also to monitor<br />
daily activities of the establishment<br />
<strong>and</strong> the work processes. The<br />
researchurer writes down his<br />
findings <strong>and</strong> methodology of work<br />
processes including research<br />
patterns <strong>and</strong> take the write-up to<br />
house of researchure for approval.<br />
Once approved by the house of<br />
researchure, it shall be binding on<br />
the establishment to which the<br />
researchures were sent. This action<br />
will create rapid economic growth<br />
<strong>and</strong> industrial development.<br />
Researchurers shall spend three<br />
weeks on the field <strong>and</strong> a week in<br />
the house of researchure for<br />
deliberation <strong>and</strong> approval of<br />
findings.<br />
In your book, you mentioned the<br />
parliamentary police force,<br />
researchure police force <strong>and</strong> judicial<br />
police force. Could you please<br />
explain what they are?<br />
For arms of <strong>go</strong>vernment to have full<br />
separation of powers they must have<br />
independent police forces. This will<br />
prevent dominance of one arm of<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment over the other. All arms<br />
of <strong>go</strong>vernment must also be<br />
financially independent. Heads of<br />
police forces for arms of <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
shall be appointed by heads of each<br />
arm of <strong>go</strong>vernment. For example, the<br />
President of Senate shall appoint<br />
commissioner of parliamentary<br />
police. National Police force has no<br />
function or jurisdiction with other<br />
arms of <strong>go</strong>vernment because<br />
national or state police is under the<br />
control of the executive.<br />
Lastly, in your book, you talked<br />
about the power of the President<br />
<strong>and</strong> National Onogie. What is that?<br />
The President shall be the head of<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment <strong>and</strong> Comm<strong>and</strong>er-in-<br />
Chief of the Armed Forces, while the<br />
National Onogie (National Leader)<br />
shall be second in comm<strong>and</strong> to the<br />
president. Both the President <strong>and</strong> the<br />
National Onogie shall sign all bills<br />
from Parliament into law. The<br />
National Onogie shall be elected<br />
from <strong>and</strong> by upper arm of the<br />
legislature, <strong>and</strong> he or she shall have<br />
executive m<strong>and</strong>ate.<br />
The National Onogie shall control<br />
traditional ministries like ministries<br />
of arts <strong>and</strong> culture, agriculture,<br />
health, <strong>and</strong> police affairs. But all<br />
other ministries shall be controlled<br />
by the president including the<br />
treasury department <strong>and</strong> Central<br />
Bank. Only the President can create<br />
new ministries.<br />
EDITED BY<br />
osaamadi@yahoo.com<br />
08070524223<br />
Teaching my<br />
first German<br />
students<br />
The German Managing Director & Chief<br />
Executive Officer of Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr.<br />
K.P Waschmut was a <strong>go</strong>od man, an extremely <strong>go</strong>od<br />
man. Shortly after he arrived in Nigeria, he sent<br />
his driver to the music school of Musical Society<br />
of Nigeria (MUSON Centre) to scout for a<br />
competent classical music piano teacher who<br />
would teach him <strong>and</strong> his family.<br />
His driver met my friend, Solomon Akwudinma,<br />
secretary to the pioneer Director of MUSON<br />
Music School, Mr. James Adekunle. The driver<br />
had explained to Solomon that his master wanted<br />
a <strong>go</strong>od piano teacher. Solomon asked him to leave<br />
his master’s residential address; that he would<br />
send him a <strong>go</strong>od piano teacher.<br />
The MUSON Centre was our rallying point in<br />
those days as piano teachers. Even though I was<br />
not permanently employed to teach at the Music<br />
School, I made it a point of duty to be there at<br />
least once a week. I used to prepare my private<br />
students for the graded music exams (both theory<br />
<strong>and</strong> practical) <strong>and</strong> then register them for the<br />
examinations which held at six-month intervals.<br />
That week, when I came to MUSON, my friend<br />
Solomon gave me a piece of paper containing an<br />
address at Senari Daranijo, Victoria Isl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
Solomon had gathered from the driver that the<br />
man who needed the piano teacher was a white<br />
man, but the driver did not reveal the true identity<br />
of his master as the MD of Nestle.<br />
I took the piece of paper containing the address<br />
<strong>and</strong> set out in search of Senari Daranijo. I located<br />
it behind the Zenith Bank head office, Ajose<br />
Adigun.<br />
The luxury in the house told me instantly that I<br />
was in the home of a very rich man. The wife (whom<br />
I later came to underst<strong>and</strong> to be one of the wisest<br />
women I had ever met) <strong>and</strong> the two children came<br />
out to watch me as Mr. Waschmut took me to his<br />
glittering upright piano. I inspected it as a medical<br />
doctor would inspect a patient who had come for<br />
a routine medical check-up. It was a splendid piece<br />
of an instrument <strong>and</strong> I told him so.<br />
“This piano is <strong>go</strong>od,” I said softly, pulling out<br />
the stool <strong>and</strong> the wooden black panel covering<br />
the keys. I sat on the stool <strong>and</strong> started playing<br />
“Fur Elise” by Beethoven. The wife drew nearer<br />
her husb<strong>and</strong>. When I looked up I saw mirth of<br />
smile on their faces. It was the magic effect “Fur<br />
Elise” always has on even the uninitiated in<br />
classical music. Just by watching <strong>and</strong> hearing me<br />
play that piece of music, the Wachsmuts became<br />
convinced they had <strong>go</strong>tten the type of teacher they<br />
needed.<br />
Mr. Wachsmut <strong>and</strong> I sat down <strong>and</strong> ne<strong>go</strong>tiated<br />
my fee. It was year 2003 <strong>and</strong> my fee then generally<br />
was N3, 000 per hour. We began the lessons<br />
immediately. I spent 2 hours that day in the family<br />
– one hour for Mr. Wachsmut <strong>and</strong> one hour for<br />
Mrs. Wachsmut. Before I left the house, Mr.<br />
Wachsmut paid me N6, 000. He also gave me his<br />
call card.<br />
When I saw his job title written on the card as<br />
MD/CEO of Nestle Nigeria Plc, I was stunned.<br />
How could such a young man be an MD of a multinational<br />
conglomerate like Nestle? I should have<br />
charged him more if I had known, I told myself.<br />
But I was very happy that I was taking something<br />
home after a long period of drought in my career<br />
as a piano teacher. My wife had a new baby <strong>and</strong><br />
we needed every kobo we could get. Soon, other<br />
opportunities started coming. God never leaves a<br />
hardworking family man empty h<strong>and</strong>ed!<br />
See you next week by God’s grace.
sam.eyoboka@gmail.com<br />
08023145567 (sms only)<br />
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 37<br />
Fountain of Life uplifting lives<br />
....ends Word Explosion Conference<br />
By Sam Eyoboka<br />
THE Fountain of Life Church in La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
rounded up a week-long activities<br />
marking its 27th anni-versary tagged<br />
Word Explosion Confer-ence with a theme:<br />
"New Creation Reali-ties." It featured seasoned<br />
<strong>go</strong>spel ministers from across the globe<br />
including Bishop Mike Okonkwo of TREM,<br />
Bishop David Abioye of Living Faith Church,<br />
Pastor Tola Odutola of Jesus House,<br />
Baltimore, Dr. Cindy Trimm of Cindy Trimm<br />
Ministries, Dr. Chris U<strong>go</strong>h of The King's<br />
Assembly, Apostle Bobby Hogan of Christ for<br />
the World, Pastor <strong>No</strong>mthi Odukoya <strong>and</strong> her<br />
husb<strong>and</strong>, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya of Fount-ain<br />
of Life Church.<br />
Inaugural service of the church started on<br />
April 15, 1992 <strong>and</strong> since then the church hosts<br />
the Word Explosion Confer-ence to mark the<br />
occasion.<br />
"One of the word God gave to the set man<br />
when the church started is that where the<br />
carcass is, there the Eagle will surely gather.<br />
The interpretation is, where the Word of God<br />
is, the people will be there to be strengthened.<br />
So, the conference is a time to bring in<br />
ministers to give us what the Lord has given to<br />
them for us, which is in most cases support<br />
RCCG wows widows with N4 m empowerment<br />
items, foods<br />
By Sam Eyoboka<br />
LIKE the biblical parable of the Wise <strong>and</strong><br />
Foolish Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13,<br />
about 50 widows, penulti-mate Saturday,<br />
gathered at the Rose of Sharon zonal<br />
headquarters of the Red-eemed Christian<br />
Church of God, RCCG, for their normal<br />
monthly Widows' Fellowship to praise <strong>and</strong><br />
worship God, listen to Word ministration,<br />
motivation, prayer, but were surprised with<br />
an un-announced empowerment programme.<br />
The widows often gather second Saturday of<br />
every month to pray with a desire to get closer<br />
to the Husb<strong>and</strong> of Widows to receive<br />
motivation <strong>and</strong> strength to navigate shattered<br />
lives <strong>and</strong> overcome untold pressure from inlaws<br />
<strong>and</strong> other relations over properties.<br />
The 50 women, out of a 272-member<br />
Fellowship, without any premonition, went<br />
home that day with various items of<br />
empowerment to uplift their living st<strong>and</strong>ards<br />
as well as food items for the Easter celebration.<br />
At least, two sewing machines, 29 grinding<br />
machines, 200 5-litre of vegetable oil, different<br />
sizes of rice, 50 cartons of marcoronies, 30<br />
bags of semovita <strong>and</strong> a host of other food items<br />
amounting to about N4 million were<br />
distributed to those who attended the service.<br />
The distribution was surpervised by wife of<br />
the Pastor-in-charge of Province 35, Pastor<br />
(Mrs.) Yinka Morgan <strong>and</strong> Pastor Collins<br />
Ekpenyong who represented the head of<br />
Apapa Family, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade who<br />
is a Regional pastor <strong>and</strong> the Special Assistant<br />
to the General Over-seer on Christian Social<br />
Responsibility, CSR.<br />
The ecstatic recepients literally rolled on the<br />
floor in tears of joy, expressing gra-titude for<br />
the unexpected gesture. Sister Chukwuka, one<br />
of the recepients, who was particularly elated<br />
because the gest-ure came as a fitting birthday<br />
present to her. Another widow was<br />
uncontrollable in her expression of joy, saying<br />
later amid tears that the grinding machine<br />
she re-ceived previously was sold to <strong>pay</strong> for<br />
the surgical operation of one her children.<br />
Many <strong>others</strong>, irrespective of age <strong>and</strong> ethnic<br />
background, shed tears of joy giving praise to<br />
God for the unusual way the Lord intervened<br />
in their lives just <strong>ahead</strong> of Easter 2019.<br />
Addressing religious correspondents pre-sent<br />
at the occasion, Pastor-in-charge of Rose of<br />
Sharon zone in Ikeja GRA, Pastor Emeka<br />
Obiagwu <strong>and</strong> his wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Chichi<br />
Obiagwu averred that the gesture was in line<br />
with the vision of the General Overseer of the<br />
mission, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye,<br />
pointing out that over eight million persons<br />
have benefited from the mission's benevolence<br />
program-me.<br />
According to the twosome, RCCG as a<br />
mission, has committed over N2.8 billion on<br />
CSR <strong>and</strong> the Rose of Sharon has been involved<br />
in charity work on a quarterly basis for the<br />
widows but this time it chose to be silent about<br />
the programme.<br />
“Before now, we would have announced that<br />
widows in the church should come to be<br />
WORD EXPLOSION CONFERENCE: L-R: Pastor Tola Odutola; Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, host<br />
pastor; Pastor <strong>No</strong>mthi Odukoya, Apostle Bobby Hogan, Pastor Tolu Odukoya-Ijogun, at the on<strong>go</strong>ing<br />
Fountain of Life Church 2019 Word Explosion Conference themed, “New Creation Realities,”<br />
in La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
what we are being fed by the set man <strong>and</strong> the<br />
ministers in church," Pastor Alfred Ohiani. "We<br />
have ministers within <strong>and</strong> outside the country<br />
who will minister to us within the cause of the<br />
conference.<br />
This year's edition of the unique Bible<br />
teachings, prophetic declarations, <strong>and</strong><br />
*Pastor (Mrs.) Yinka Morgan (r) presenting a grinding machine, bag of rice<br />
<strong>and</strong> some other food items to one of the widows.<br />
empowered which would have attracted over Fellowship, said, dealing with that class of<br />
400 widows from all over the place. But, we believers has been a bless-ing to the church,<br />
decided to give out the empowerment as a noting that they come with multiple<br />
surprise to those who came for our regular challenges which have been a source of<br />
monthly service.<br />
concern for the church.<br />
“There are about 50 of them at the meet-ing. “We prayerfully thought of what we can do to<br />
Some will be empowered with grinding empower them so they would not be coming<br />
machines <strong>and</strong> sewing machin-es while those for help every time. This time we choose to<br />
who have enjoyed such empowerment earlier<br />
would be given bags of rice, ground-nut oil make money.”<br />
empower them with things they can use to<br />
<strong>and</strong> a host of other food items,” Pastor While noting that the church has a list of 272<br />
Obiagwu exp-lained<br />
widows, two widowers, she said, “those who<br />
On her experience dealing with wid-ows, came this morning, were here to worship God<br />
Obiagwu who co-ordinates the Wi-dows <strong>and</strong> God has surprised them," she noted.<br />
supernatural insights was flagged off by Pastor<br />
Tola Odutola who outlined five creative<br />
realities; salvation, grace, faith, freedom of<br />
our heritage <strong>and</strong> glory, ending with the<br />
narration of a stay with a prim-ary school<br />
teacher as a 10-year with un-alloyed<br />
dedication which has influenced his work with<br />
God since then.<br />
Outlining success story of the church in the<br />
last 27 years, the retired deputy director of<br />
Department of Petroleum Re-sources, DPR,<br />
<strong>and</strong> assistant pastor to the Senior Pastor of<br />
Fountain of Life Church, Pastor Ohiani said:<br />
"God has been faithful to us over the years.<br />
One of the things the ministry is very much<br />
into is affecting the environment <strong>and</strong> the<br />
community. We have a lot of communityrelated<br />
pro-grammes, supporting children in<br />
schools, medical support <strong>and</strong> much more<br />
which Pastor Taiwo Olukoya <strong>go</strong>t the vision<br />
years back <strong>and</strong> we’ve been doing that. The<br />
ministry is focused in ensuring that the homes<br />
are established so as to affect the society <strong>and</strong><br />
ensure that ministers are raised to that effect<br />
in Jesus name."<br />
According to him, "the church has<br />
established a hospital where the less privileged<br />
sick receive treatment <strong>and</strong> support at a<br />
subsidised rate. There are cases of patients<br />
who cannot <strong>and</strong> the church has to take full<br />
responsibility. The church also supports<br />
members with challenges with their children's<br />
educa-tion, some even rents just as a way to<br />
show that we are a family church <strong>and</strong> that’s<br />
the way we have been over the years."<br />
On the significance of this year's conference,<br />
he said: "We will continue to pray for the nation<br />
but one thing we need to know is that, He said<br />
that a nation that fears God will be blessed.<br />
For a nation that does not, they will always be<br />
facing challenges, the Bible says that<br />
righteous-ness exalts a nation but sin is a<br />
reproach.<br />
"That’s why one of the things that this church<br />
does is to always commit ourselves to praying<br />
for the nation because where there is fear of<br />
God, people will begin to do things right.<br />
"So the prayer therefore is to bring people to<br />
the point of conviction to know that if we will<br />
need a change, it has to start from individuals<br />
doing the right things. If I have the fear of<br />
God, anything I do will be acceptable before<br />
God. In those days, for instance if you are a<br />
teacher in a primary school <strong>and</strong> all of a<br />
sudden you come home with a jeep, your<br />
father will ask where you <strong>go</strong>t it from;<br />
because they know what you earn <strong>and</strong> know<br />
such act can bring a curse to the family.<br />
"So, we must continue to cry to God<br />
because with God all things are possible<br />
<strong>and</strong> there will always be a reversal," he said.<br />
On security, Pastor Ohiani said its unfortunate<br />
that people like to benefit when<br />
there’s confusion in other places, stressing<br />
"there’s a lot the nation is doing, but individually<br />
we also have to make ourselves<br />
accountable to God <strong>and</strong> make us to reverence<br />
God."<br />
On the kidnapped Chibok girls in Boko<br />
Haram captivity, the Fountain of Life<br />
Church has always been praying for the<br />
release of these girls including Leah<br />
Sharibu.<br />
"A member of our church, Sister Ony-eka<br />
Onwenu is very committed to this cause.<br />
The much we can do is to pray while these<br />
people continuing to talk to <strong>go</strong>vernment.<br />
We believe that our prayers shall not be in<br />
vain," he said noting that the church<br />
cooperate with the umbrella of the Christian<br />
Association of Nigeria to contribute to the<br />
families of the kidnapped girls.<br />
Easter: 12-yr-old multi-instrumentalist, Praise, thrills fans<br />
Praise<br />
By Akoma Chinweoke<br />
It was a remarkable Easter celebration at the Re<br />
deemed Christian Church of God, Lifespring Par<br />
ish ,Oregun, Ikeja, La<strong>go</strong>s as 12-year old multiinstrumentalist,<br />
Praise Emmanuel Adebayo in his concert<br />
titled: Praise Generation Concert 1.0 thrilled his<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s audience with sweet <strong>and</strong> inspiring melodious<br />
tunes which kept them on their feet for over three-hours.<br />
The upcoming boy together with his Praise Generation<br />
Group <strong>and</strong> other minstrels such as Funmi Sax, Jerry<br />
Omole, Sanmi Conga <strong>and</strong> special appearance Shola<br />
Sax, <strong>and</strong> Wale Sax-warrior entertained the audience<br />
with rich <strong>go</strong>spel songs <strong>and</strong> dance moves.<br />
With barely a spare second between songs, Praise with<br />
the aid of his saxophone dazzled his way through his<br />
biggest hits<br />
Speaking shortly after the concert, Praize, stated that<br />
he started playing drums at the age of four <strong>and</strong> saxophone<br />
at the age of nine <strong>and</strong> said it has always been his<br />
desire to gather men <strong>and</strong> women to glorify, worship <strong>and</strong><br />
praise God for his wonderful works in people’s lives.<br />
He also thanked his parents for giving him their support<br />
towards the pursuit of his academic <strong>and</strong> musical<br />
careers.<br />
“To you my fellow children, don’t hold your talent<br />
back. Unleash it, use it to glorify God <strong>and</strong> try to make<br />
the world a better place for all.”<br />
The 12-year- old multi-instrumentalist hinted that in the<br />
near future he would want to be seen preaching the <strong>go</strong>spel in<br />
ministries all over the world <strong>and</strong> more importantly, take his<br />
academics to the next level.<br />
Pastor Adetunji Peter Adebayo, father of the talented instrumentalist<br />
described his son Praise as a covenant child<br />
with lots of untold stories.<br />
“ His name Praise was given to me in a rare revelation six<br />
years before I gave birth to him. At six months when he was<br />
still a toddler, he started exhibiting his talent. He is such a<br />
unique talent from above. I am bound to <strong>pay</strong> a special attention<br />
to him as he is my treasure. Despite economic challenges,<br />
I still consider him first in my priorities. In fact, at a point,<br />
I had to resign from my job in order to give him adequate<br />
attention <strong>and</strong> guidance. Parents should start giving adequate<br />
moral training to their children because charity begins<br />
from home. My wife <strong>and</strong> I are in agreement on how to<br />
bring up our children <strong>and</strong> we are closely working together.<br />
For now what we are getting is self support <strong>and</strong> the parents<br />
of other children with great talents have also continued to<br />
rally round us to ensure we get to where we are destined to<br />
be. We do not have any corporate sponsors for now. I realised<br />
that most of them do not want to venture into <strong>go</strong>spel<br />
music . So, that is a huge challenge but we would surely get<br />
there. So far, it has been awesome <strong>and</strong> we don’t have any<br />
regret,” he said.
PAGE 38 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
Complete deliverance<br />
for all captives (2)<br />
By Pastor William F. Kumuyi<br />
TODAY, make it, it is<br />
a day of fulfilment. It<br />
will be a day of the<br />
demonstration of the power<br />
of God upon your life. You<br />
will experien-ce salvation.<br />
Jesus came into this world<br />
for the sole purpose of saving<br />
sinners <strong>and</strong> today you<br />
will be saved, because it<br />
does not matter how far<br />
•Kumuyi<br />
you must have <strong>go</strong>ne into sin <strong>and</strong> or how deep you must<br />
have sank in it. He came to forgive sinners <strong>and</strong> you are<br />
not an exception, because He will forgive you completely<br />
<strong>and</strong> entirely.<br />
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he<br />
hath anointed me to preach the <strong>go</strong>spel to the poor;” the<br />
<strong>go</strong>spel is the <strong>go</strong>od news Jesus has brought to preach to<br />
the poor who lack <strong>go</strong>odness. The content of that <strong>go</strong>od<br />
news is that God loves you <strong>and</strong> He has a divine plan for<br />
your life. Do not give up because of the challenges life<br />
throws at you <strong>and</strong> do not give in to sin. And do not let the<br />
news headlines frighten you because God is still on the<br />
throne <strong>and</strong> those of us who faithfully follow Him will<br />
have a future in heaven that is better <strong>and</strong> brighter than<br />
what the world affords.<br />
The essence of the coming of the Messiah is to liberate us<br />
from sin <strong>and</strong> to reconcile us back to our heavenly Father<br />
who lives in heaven. The scriptures describe Him in John<br />
1:29, as “...the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin<br />
of the world.” He is able to take our sins away because of<br />
His death at Calvary; <strong>and</strong> His blood sacrifice for our sin<br />
was the only perfect offering of atonement sweet enough<br />
to appeal <strong>and</strong> appease the mind of God from intended<br />
judgment for past sins committed.<br />
There is no other person like Jesus given among men<br />
that can potentially liquidate, that is, settle the <strong>pay</strong>ment<br />
of our sin debt, through His death on the cross. Acts 4:12<br />
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none<br />
other name under heaven given among men, whereby<br />
we must be saved.”<br />
He is so unique that it takes only His special blood breed<br />
once to write off the entire debt of our sin in the memory<br />
bank of heaven, which if God had let the assignment to<br />
be done by any other personality, it would have taken a<br />
colossal for ever time frame in order for such a person to<br />
attempt the mission impossible. This is because nobody<br />
else could have paid for our sin because all the people in<br />
the world are sinners themselves <strong>and</strong> debtors so they<br />
cannot afford to <strong>pay</strong> for our debts.<br />
Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because<br />
he hath anointed me to preach the <strong>go</strong>spel to the poor; he<br />
hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach<br />
deliverance to the captives, <strong>and</strong> recovering of sight to<br />
the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To<br />
preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”<br />
Jesus, in an outline above, has clearly stated the reasons<br />
that brought Him to this world. But do you know why<br />
you are here today? My question is borne from the fact<br />
that many people <strong>go</strong> to church, but they do not seem to<br />
underst<strong>and</strong> the core value why they do what they do.<br />
So, I am throwing this question to you: what is the purpose<br />
of you attending church services? Others spend quality<br />
time reading the Bible. What is your reason for reading<br />
the Bible? Many <strong>others</strong> listen to the word of God being<br />
preached by a minister of the <strong>go</strong>spel via the means of<br />
electronics. But why do you listen to the word of God?<br />
Some even have the penchant for calling the name of<br />
Jesus. But why do you call the name of Jesus?<br />
Throughout the world over, the poor in society seem not<br />
to possess the basic resources meant for their daily upkeep.<br />
Often times, they rely heavily on h<strong>and</strong>outs, which originate<br />
from liberal donors who funnel it through humanitarian<br />
agencies before it could eventually become the<br />
survival kit for the very poor.<br />
The mission of the Saviour to preach the <strong>go</strong>spel to the<br />
poor can be likened to the above illustration. Luke 4:18<br />
“The Spirit of the Lord...hath anointed me to preach the<br />
<strong>go</strong>spel to the poor...” Jesus has come to the world so that<br />
He would award C of O’s to the poor who cannot afford a<br />
mansion in heaven. John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are<br />
many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.<br />
I <strong>go</strong> to prepare a place for you.”<br />
Please <strong>pay</strong> attention. <strong>No</strong> matter how rich <strong>and</strong> highly<br />
connected you may appear on earth, you will not be able<br />
to muscle your way through to heaven with that material<br />
wealth of yours nor that highly placed position you<br />
possess. But the <strong>go</strong>od news is that Jesus can buy the best<br />
l<strong>and</strong>ed property for you in heaven. He can <strong>pay</strong> it on<br />
your behalf. In fact, He has already completed the<br />
<strong>pay</strong>ment regime for you.<br />
For you to be able to move from this earthly city, where<br />
you now leave, to the heavenly city of God, you will need<br />
a means of transportation. The cash in your bank<br />
accounts cannot be able to take you there nor can a manmade<br />
automotive resource spacecraft l<strong>and</strong> you in the<br />
heaven of heavens. The only one that can translate <strong>and</strong><br />
transport you out of earth into heaven is Jesus Christ.<br />
He has all the resources required to get you a visa <strong>and</strong> a<br />
passport for heaven.<br />
But you have to part with the inherent nature of sin<br />
resident in you, if you must be accepted as a citizen of<br />
heaven. This is because heaven is holy, <strong>and</strong> the angels of<br />
God who reside in heaven are holy, <strong>and</strong> God is a holy God<br />
who will not dem<strong>and</strong> anything less than the basic<br />
housekeeping rules in heaven. *To be concluded<br />
10 years after Biodun Kumuyi:<br />
How time flies! (2)<br />
By Banji Ojewale<br />
SENSING the erosion<br />
of moral values in<br />
the country, chiefly<br />
because of failing families<br />
<strong>and</strong> un<strong>go</strong>dly training<br />
of the youth <strong>and</strong> children,<br />
Mummy Kumuyi’s<br />
publication now features<br />
well written, Scripturallybased<br />
pieces to fill the gap <strong>and</strong><br />
save the society from<br />
collapsing. A Health Tips<br />
column is also on offer in the<br />
magazine to complete a fullorbed<br />
presentation necessary<br />
for building a sound<br />
home.<br />
SPEAKERS at a youth<br />
conference tagged<br />
“Emerge in Life” organized<br />
by the Region 19 of the<br />
Redeemed Christian Church<br />
of God, RCCG on ACME<br />
Road, Ogba, La<strong>go</strong>s have submitted<br />
that for Nigerian youth<br />
to emerge into great-ness, they<br />
must be ready to make a difference,<br />
see opportunities<br />
where <strong>others</strong> are seeing problems<br />
<strong>and</strong> be ready to develop<br />
their innate potentials <strong>and</strong> utilize<br />
them maximally,<br />
The resource persons, including<br />
Pastor-in-Charge of Region<br />
19, Pastor Brown Oyitso,<br />
Executive Director, John<br />
Maxwell Global Youth Initiative<br />
Team, Mrs. Ola-tokunbo<br />
Ige, a member of the Team,<br />
Mr. Olusoji Oya-woye, Managing<br />
Director, ARM Financial<br />
Advisors, Mrs. Henrietta<br />
Bankole-Olusina, Country<br />
Director, ANDELA, Mrs.<br />
Omowale David-Ashiru <strong>and</strong><br />
Chief Executive Officer, Wilson’s<br />
Juice Company, Mr. Seyi<br />
Mystery, Babylon the Great (Revelation 17:5)<br />
IN Revelation 17:1, this<br />
Mystery, Babylon<br />
the Great, is also known<br />
as the great whore, sitting<br />
upon many waters, <strong>and</strong> in<br />
Verses 3-4, she is referred to<br />
as a woman, having a <strong>go</strong>lden<br />
cup in her h<strong>and</strong> full of<br />
abominations <strong>and</strong> filthiness<br />
of her fornication. This<br />
great whore, or this wo-man,<br />
or Mystery, Babylon the<br />
Great symbolizes a religious<br />
organization, with a<br />
large followership, all over<br />
the world, because the many<br />
waters she sits upon, are the<br />
multitudes, peo-ples,<br />
nations <strong>and</strong> tongues under<br />
her control. (Revel-ation<br />
17:15). The religious rites of<br />
this religious organ-ization<br />
are shrouded in mysteries,<br />
that are idolat-rous. And in<br />
Revelation 17:5, it is written:<br />
“And upon her forehead was<br />
a name written, Mystery,<br />
Babylon The Great, The<br />
Mother of Harlots <strong>and</strong> Abominations<br />
of the Earth,”<br />
showing that she has given<br />
birth to other religious organizations<br />
which are also<br />
harlots. That is why this<br />
organization is known as<br />
Mother of harlots.<br />
All the religious rites <strong>and</strong><br />
ceremonies of this Modern<br />
Mystery Babylon, the Great<br />
were inherited from Ancient<br />
Babylon, which are now<br />
being practiced by all the<br />
religious institut-ions, to<br />
which she has gi-ven birth.<br />
The emblem of this modern<br />
Mystery Baby-lon, is<br />
Semiramis, bearing in her<br />
Absolute credit for this<br />
success must, of course, be<br />
given to God. But He used<br />
Biodun Kumuyi as the vessel<br />
that bore the vis-ion. It was a<br />
high calling which would have<br />
instilled in <strong>others</strong> a false sense<br />
of self-esteem <strong>and</strong><br />
achievement. Others would<br />
have flaunt-ed the success as<br />
a personal one.<br />
The manifestation of the-se<br />
elsewhere would have been<br />
the ornate display of the<br />
photograph of the wo-man<br />
beside the pastor on<br />
billboards. But Biodun, out of<br />
deference to what the Bible<br />
teaches about the place of<br />
woman in church, operated<br />
Abolaji, admonished the<br />
youth to do self appraisal by<br />
concentrating on that aspect<br />
of their lives where they have<br />
comparative advantage.<br />
Oyitso, who doubles as Special<br />
Assistant to the General<br />
Overseer on Miss-ions of the<br />
RCCG, parti-cularly noted<br />
that the theme of the conference<br />
could not have been more<br />
appropriate considering the<br />
current socio-economic situation<br />
of the country <strong>and</strong> its<br />
implication on the future of<br />
young adults <strong>and</strong> youth who<br />
appear to have been relegated<br />
to the back-ground across<br />
every facet of the society <strong>and</strong><br />
nation at large.<br />
“The programme offers immense<br />
opportunity for a new<br />
vision <strong>and</strong> a fresh start to anyone<br />
who has been hiding<br />
from the sha-me of past failures,<br />
relegat-ed to the background<br />
<strong>and</strong> limited by their<br />
immediate circumstances<br />
<strong>and</strong> envir-onment”, he said.<br />
He listed factors youth must<br />
consider to emerge into greatness<br />
to include connection<br />
h<strong>and</strong>s, Nimrod, her son.<br />
(Genesis 10:8).<br />
But in Revelation 18:4,<br />
there is a warning from<br />
heaven to all the people of<br />
God, who desire to enter<br />
Heaven, to come out of her<br />
so that they will not part-ake<br />
of her sins, <strong>and</strong> then receive<br />
the judgment of her plagues<br />
that will come upon her, as<br />
a result of the wrath of God<br />
upon the adherents of this<br />
religious organization.<br />
God also warned in Jeremiah<br />
51:6-7: “Flee out of the<br />
midst of Babylon, <strong>and</strong> deli-ver<br />
everyman his soul: be not cut<br />
off in her iniquity, for this is<br />
the time of the Lord’s<br />
vengeance <strong>and</strong> He will render<br />
unto her a re-compense.” In<br />
Revelation 17:4, it is written<br />
that this woman was decked<br />
with <strong>go</strong>ld <strong>and</strong> precious stones<br />
<strong>and</strong> pearls. This symboli-zes<br />
the great wealth of this<br />
religious organization.<br />
This religious organiza-tion<br />
is a spiritual harlot, having a<br />
<strong>go</strong>lden cup, full of<br />
abominations <strong>and</strong> filthi-ness<br />
of her spiritual fornication. In<br />
Revelation 18:3, it is written<br />
that all nations, even the holy<br />
nation, have become drunken<br />
of the wine of the wrath of her<br />
forn-ication. That is why many<br />
harlot churches are, in this<br />
dispensation, rapidly springing<br />
up, out of her.<br />
As written in Revelation<br />
18:3, the merchants of the<br />
earth are waxed rich thr-ough<br />
the abundance of her<br />
delicacies, that are being<br />
marketed during the un-<strong>go</strong>dly<br />
silently behind the<br />
scenes. This style in no way<br />
reduced her impact or<br />
influence. It rather was<br />
responsible for the giant<br />
strides of her work, both in the<br />
church, among the wo-men<br />
<strong>and</strong> in the society. It couldn’t<br />
have been other-wise.<br />
Her modus oper<strong>and</strong>i had<br />
Divine approval! The overall<br />
result is that the Christ-ian<br />
Community within <strong>and</strong><br />
outside Nigeria has been<br />
endowed with a publi-cation<br />
whose objectives are nondenominational<br />
even if it’s a<br />
denomination that publishes<br />
it! But it’s not only the church<br />
that is gaining from Sister<br />
Kumu-yi’s legacy. The whole<br />
so-ciety benefits on account of<br />
religious festivities observed<br />
by this religious organization.<br />
In Vanguard Newspaper of<br />
April 21, 2019 was a caption:<br />
Bloody Easter as gunmen kill<br />
11 worshippers. About a year<br />
a<strong>go</strong>, there was also a Bloody<br />
cross-over night in Rivers State,<br />
in which many wor-shippers<br />
were killed by gunmen, as they<br />
were com-ing out of the<br />
church.<br />
All these festivities <strong>and</strong><br />
ceremonies are not of God, but<br />
they are doctrines of vanities<br />
of Modern My-stery Babylon,<br />
the Great, which were<br />
inherited from Ancient<br />
Babylon. It is true that the<br />
resurrection of Jesus Christ is<br />
the foundation of the Christian<br />
faith, as written in I<br />
Corinthians 15:13-14; 17-18:<br />
this is why it is observed on the<br />
first week, which is the Lord's<br />
day, as written in Revelation<br />
1:10 but the word “Easter”<br />
pronounced as Ishtar is a<br />
Chaldean word for the “queen<br />
of heaven”.<br />
All these un<strong>go</strong>dly festivi-ties<br />
shall continue to be bloody,<br />
because Satan, who is the<br />
prince of this world, <strong>and</strong> his<br />
blood-thirsty demons are<br />
behind all these festivities.<br />
Until believers in Christ agree<br />
with the truth that preaches<br />
the fact that when you train<br />
or educate a woman <strong>and</strong> a<br />
child, it’s the entire nation you<br />
have empower-ed, given the<br />
superior nu-merical strength<br />
of women both in the church<br />
<strong>and</strong> in the society<br />
generally. Her work in<br />
the Women Ministry of the<br />
church was no less<br />
phenomenal. She was reputed<br />
to have des-igned, planned<br />
<strong>and</strong> execut-ed enriching<br />
programmes for women. For<br />
this class of citizens who the<br />
society <strong>and</strong> <strong>go</strong>vernment had<br />
negl-ected or marginalised,<br />
the programmes offered hope<br />
<strong>and</strong> a sense of worth <strong>and</strong><br />
belonging.<br />
*To be concluded<br />
RCCG tasks youth on capacity building<br />
By Sam Eyoboka<br />
with God, hav-ing a sense of<br />
purpose in life, being <strong>go</strong>al oriented,<br />
having positive mindset<br />
<strong>and</strong> habits, being well informed<br />
<strong>and</strong> time conscious,<br />
praying without ceasing as<br />
well as rendering thanks-giving<br />
to God always.<br />
Corroborating Oyitso’s views,<br />
Ige, a committed disciple of<br />
Dr. John Max-well, a foremost<br />
expert in the area of personal<br />
deve-lopment for<br />
transformat-ional leadership,<br />
urged the youth to discover<br />
their pu-rpose <strong>and</strong> potential<br />
throu-gh self awareness,<br />
charact-er, skills, relationships<br />
<strong>and</strong> spiritually.<br />
Also, Oyawoye, while urg-ing<br />
the youth to make a difference,<br />
noted that what one becomes<br />
in life is a matter of choice.<br />
“Choice is a gift, a gift you give<br />
your-self. We all start life with<br />
no choices but as we grow,<br />
what we get out of life is the<br />
result of the choices we made”,<br />
he said.<br />
While David-Ashiru, rep-resented<br />
by Femi Sojebi harped<br />
on emerging techn-ologies<br />
<strong>and</strong> the need to sustain relevance<br />
in the digital world,<br />
Abolaji who is a co-founder of<br />
Wilson’s Juice Company<br />
urged the youth to embrace<br />
entre-preneurship as white<br />
collar jobs are becoming elusive.<br />
Bankole-Olusina called the<br />
youth’s attention to future of<br />
work, saying they need to seize<br />
emerging opportu-nities <strong>and</strong><br />
strive to adapt to new dem<strong>and</strong>s.<br />
Explaining the essence of the<br />
program, Chairman Planning<br />
Committee, Pastor Osato<br />
<strong>No</strong>ah said it was informed by<br />
the desire to provide a platform<br />
to inspire, galvanize <strong>and</strong><br />
mo-bilize the youth against<br />
any form of hindrances <strong>and</strong><br />
limitations to their aspirations.<br />
“As the maiden edition, it is<br />
expected to be a platform that<br />
will result to a parad-igm shift<br />
for a new br<strong>and</strong> of political<br />
<strong>and</strong> opinion leaders for the<br />
nation <strong>and</strong> righteous mindset<br />
in the church”, he added.<br />
against all these un<strong>go</strong>dly,<br />
pagan festivities, they will remain<br />
under the anger of God,<br />
because stubbornness to the<br />
word of truth, is as the sin of<br />
iniquity <strong>and</strong> idolatry. (I<br />
Samuel 15:23).<br />
It is also written in Revelation<br />
18:2, that Babylon, the<br />
Great is fallen <strong>and</strong> is now<br />
become the habitation of<br />
devils. That is why all the<br />
doctrines of Mystery Baby-lon<br />
are of the devils. And a few of<br />
these doctrines shall be proved<br />
to be unscriptural, as we<br />
search the scri-pture of the<br />
word of truth, which is the<br />
Gospel of man's salvation as<br />
written in Ephesian 1:13.<br />
These doctrines, to mention<br />
a few, are the doctrine of<br />
Baptismal regeneration, the<br />
doctrine of Purgatory <strong>and</strong><br />
prayers for the dead, the<br />
doctrine of Extreme Unction,<br />
doctrine of Confessionals to<br />
priests, doctrine of<br />
Deification or Canonization<br />
of “dead saints,”<br />
doctrine of Justification by<br />
works, doctrine of Vanities,<br />
which are the un<strong>go</strong>dly festivities<br />
of Christmas, East-er,<br />
Cross-Over night, New-Year,<br />
Valentine celebration, etc.<br />
*To be continued<br />
CHRISTIAN GOSPEL CHURCH<br />
(The Truth Centre) 4, Christian Gospel Avenue,<br />
Beside Psychiatric Hospital,<br />
Uselu, Benin City, Edo State.<br />
Email: cgc.com.ng@gmail.com<br />
Telephone: +234 (0) 7052061135, +234 (0)<br />
9030731406. Website: www.cgc.com.ng
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019, PAGE 39<br />
,<br />
<strong>No</strong>body spoils a man’s<br />
life like Jesus. Jesus is<br />
a killer of all worldly<br />
joy. God’s attitude to the<br />
world is often lost on many.<br />
God hates the world system.<br />
The world hated Jesus <strong>and</strong> killed<br />
him. Therefore, anyone who is<br />
a lover of pleasure; anyone who<br />
likes this world becomes an enemy<br />
of God.<br />
Accordingly, James asks:<br />
“You adulterers! Don’t you realize<br />
that friendship with the world<br />
makes you an enemy of God? I<br />
say it again: If you want to be a<br />
friend of the world, you make<br />
yourself an enemy of God.”<br />
(James 4:4). Paul is of the same<br />
opinion: “She who lives in pleasure<br />
is dead while she lives.” (1<br />
Timothy 5:6). Thus, Jesus assured<br />
his disciples: “In the world<br />
you will have tribulation.” (John<br />
16:33).<br />
God is so implacably opposed<br />
to the world; he has<br />
doomed it to destruction. Isaiah<br />
says: “I have heard from the<br />
Lord God of hosts, a destruction<br />
determined even upon the whole<br />
earth.” (Isaiah 28:22). In the<br />
meantime, God plans “to bring<br />
into contempt all the honourable<br />
of the earth.” (Isaiah 23:9).<br />
God allows wickedness to<br />
prevail on earth, the better to<br />
commend to us the superiority<br />
of the kingdom of heaven. Job<br />
notes that: “The whole earth is<br />
in the h<strong>and</strong>s of the wicked” (Job<br />
9:24). This is because God allows<br />
it to be so. Thus, God allows<br />
the worst kinds of people to<br />
be heads of <strong>states</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>go</strong>vernments:<br />
“The High God rules human<br />
kingdoms.<br />
He arranges kingdom affairs<br />
however he wishes, <strong>and</strong> makes<br />
leaders out of losers.” (Daniel<br />
4:17).<br />
Wonder-less world<br />
Thanks to Jesus, we are<br />
brought to the realisation that<br />
GOD IS NOT GOOD ALL THE TIME<br />
what we deemed to be life is actually<br />
death. Under the tutelage<br />
of the Holy Spirit, believers<br />
are made foreigners <strong>and</strong><br />
strangers here on decrepit earth;<br />
having become citizens of a spiritual<br />
heavenly kingdom.<br />
Out of this new reality is then<br />
fashioned a completely different<br />
psychology. The atonement<br />
kills everything before it makes<br />
alive. This is what God says<br />
about his own peculiar process:<br />
“I, even I, am he, <strong>and</strong> there is no<br />
God besides me; I kill <strong>and</strong> I<br />
make alive; I wound <strong>and</strong> I heal;<br />
nor is there any who can deliver<br />
from my h<strong>and</strong>.” (Deuteronomy<br />
32:39).<br />
Christ makes every pain irrelevant<br />
<strong>and</strong> he diminishes every<br />
joy outside of himself.<br />
Therefore, be contemptuous of<br />
every advantage. Overlook every<br />
disadvantage. Jesus is a leveller.<br />
The kingdom of God cancels<br />
deficits <strong>and</strong> erases credits.<br />
Before the glory of God is revealed:<br />
“Every valley shall be<br />
exalted <strong>and</strong> every mountain <strong>and</strong><br />
hill brought low.” (Isaiah 40:4).<br />
God is at pains to make us<br />
see that what we call wonderful<br />
is “wonder-less.” He <strong>tells</strong> us<br />
the man who is blessed is not he<br />
who won the lottery, but he who<br />
receives forgiveness of sin:<br />
“Blessed is he whose transgressions<br />
are forgiven, whose sins are<br />
covered. Blessed is the man<br />
whose sin the Lord does not<br />
count against him.” (Psalm 32:1-<br />
My <strong>go</strong>al is to make Heaven<br />
at last (2)<br />
JOHN 6:67-68 “Then<br />
said Jesus unto the<br />
twelve, Will ye also<br />
<strong>go</strong> away? Then Simon Peter<br />
answered him, Lord, to<br />
whom shall we <strong>go</strong>? thou<br />
hast the words of eternal<br />
life.”<br />
When one professes Christianity,<br />
what he is saying<br />
is that he is on the race to<br />
be with Christ in heaven.<br />
In other words, he has a<br />
vision to make heaven <strong>and</strong><br />
no amount of discouragement<br />
or circumstance can<br />
change his decision; no<br />
persuasion can cause him<br />
to derail from this <strong>go</strong>al. He<br />
has chosen heaven as his<br />
last abode <strong>and</strong> is determined<br />
to be with the Lord at<br />
the end of this life. As far<br />
as he is concerned, it is<br />
heaven or nothing.<br />
This unshaken decision of<br />
making heaven was what<br />
Peter advocated on behalf<br />
of the Apostles when Christ<br />
asked them if they had any<br />
reason to <strong>go</strong> away from<br />
Him having been convinced<br />
He has the capacity to<br />
lead them to heaven. And<br />
Peter, speaking with conviction,<br />
said there is no alternate<br />
option to heaven<br />
than through Jesus Christ.<br />
He went <strong>ahead</strong> to assert<br />
that Christ is the way, the<br />
truth, <strong>and</strong> the life, <strong>and</strong> if<br />
anybody chooses any other<br />
way he will w<strong>and</strong>er <strong>and</strong><br />
die. This underst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
should guide all Christians<br />
in this voyage to heaven<br />
including what they engage<br />
themselves into. So, if<br />
you are a Christian it is expected<br />
of you not to have<br />
any other <strong>go</strong>al than to make<br />
heaven at last.<br />
<strong>No</strong>te that having a <strong>go</strong>al to<br />
make heaven <strong>and</strong> realizing<br />
the <strong>go</strong>al are two different<br />
things. To actualize the<br />
<strong>go</strong>al the Christian must be<br />
committed <strong>and</strong> focused in<br />
his quest of heavenly <strong>go</strong>al<br />
which entails a lifestyle<br />
that is in accordance with<br />
the tenet of the Scripture.<br />
Anybody who is having<br />
the <strong>go</strong>al of making heaven<br />
must be mindful of his/her<br />
relationship with <strong>others</strong><br />
having in mind that the<br />
kingdom of heaven is a holy<br />
place <strong>and</strong> without holiness<br />
no one shall enter. The<br />
person must take it as a duty<br />
to avoid sin <strong>and</strong> whatever<br />
that could lead to it.<br />
God prefers to<br />
make people cry<br />
than to make them<br />
laugh<br />
2).<br />
Jesus maintains the joy to be<br />
cherished is the joy of salvation:<br />
“Look, I have given you authority<br />
over all the power of the enemy,<br />
<strong>and</strong> you can walk among<br />
snakes <strong>and</strong> scorpions <strong>and</strong> crush<br />
them. <strong>No</strong>thing will injure you.<br />
But don’t rejoice because evil<br />
spirits obey you; rejoice because<br />
your names are registered in<br />
heaven.” (Luke 10:19-20).<br />
Man of sorrows<br />
God prefers to make people<br />
cry than to make them laugh.<br />
Jesus was a man of sorrows; acquainted<br />
with grief. (Isaiah<br />
53:3). The bible says of him:<br />
“It was the Lord’s <strong>go</strong>od plan to<br />
crush him <strong>and</strong> cause him grief.”<br />
(Isaiah 53:10).<br />
There is really very little to<br />
laugh about here on earth.<br />
What is there to laugh about in a<br />
world riddled with sin, where<br />
souls are perishing every day;<br />
<strong>and</strong> where the thief comes daily<br />
to steal, kill <strong>and</strong> destroy? (John<br />
Mark 9:43-48 says:<br />
“And if thy h<strong>and</strong><br />
offend thee, cut it<br />
off: it is better for<br />
thee to enter into<br />
life maimed, than<br />
having two h<strong>and</strong>s<br />
to <strong>go</strong> into hell, into<br />
the fire that never<br />
shall be quenched:<br />
Where their worm<br />
dieth not, <strong>and</strong> the fire is not<br />
quenched. And if thy foot<br />
offend thee, cut it off: it is<br />
better for thee to enter halt<br />
into life, than having two<br />
feet to be cast into hell, into<br />
the fire that never shall be<br />
quenched: Where their<br />
worm dieth not, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
fire is not quenched. And<br />
if thine eye offend thee,<br />
pluck it out: it is better for<br />
thee to enter into the kingdom<br />
of God with one eye,<br />
than having two eyes to be<br />
cast into hell fire: Where<br />
their worm dieth not, <strong>and</strong><br />
the fire is not quenched”<br />
The Scripture, in the above<br />
context, has implored<br />
all heavenly c<strong>and</strong>idates to<br />
strike at the root of all impure<br />
inclination, un<strong>go</strong>dly<br />
ambition, <strong>and</strong> irritable<br />
temper that could endanger<br />
their chances of losing<br />
the <strong>go</strong>al of making heaven.<br />
When counselling the Corinthians,<br />
Paul described<br />
himself as a careful runner<br />
with a definite objective to<br />
make heaven. His eye was<br />
fixed upon the heavenly<br />
<strong>go</strong>al <strong>and</strong> he was running<br />
straight toward it not<br />
allowing anything to distract<br />
his avowed decision.<br />
This is what is required<br />
from a true Christian whose<br />
<strong>go</strong>al is to make heaven.<br />
By Pastor<br />
Oloruntimilehin<br />
Joshua Daramola<br />
RIGHTEOUSNESS<br />
is the act of being<br />
just or acting in a<br />
moral way.<br />
Many people, religious,<br />
political <strong>and</strong> security leaders<br />
in this country believe<br />
their actions <strong>and</strong> deeds in<br />
the course of discharging<br />
their duties/responsibilities<br />
are just. But most of<br />
these, if not all, are for<br />
their selfish interest.<br />
Some religious leaders orientate<br />
their followers to discriminately<br />
avoid relating<br />
with followers of another<br />
religious denomination on<br />
the basis of mode of worship<br />
<strong>and</strong> church tenets. Imagine<br />
some Christians do<br />
not see anything <strong>go</strong>od in<br />
white garment churches.<br />
Meanwhile the Holy Bible<br />
does not condemn it, instead<br />
justifies the need for<br />
followers of Jesus Christ to<br />
wear white garment. Revelation<br />
7:13-17. Some Christian<br />
leaders preach against<br />
vision, prophecy <strong>and</strong> taking<br />
of drugs (medication).<br />
They believe any Christian<br />
that does any of these<br />
is an unbeliever. Christian<br />
br<strong>others</strong> or sisters cannot<br />
eat or drink with fellow<br />
Christians.<br />
Is that righteous?<br />
Jesus Christ <strong>and</strong> Prophet<br />
Mohammed, the proginators<br />
of Christianity <strong>and</strong> Islam<br />
respectively taught<br />
<strong>and</strong> preached to their followers<br />
the spirit of Love.<br />
But today most religious<br />
leaders saddled with the<br />
responsibility of propagat-<br />
10:10). What is there to laugh<br />
about in a grief-stricken world?<br />
Therefore, Jesus pronounces<br />
woe on those given to laughter.<br />
He says: “Woe to you who are full,<br />
for you shall hunger. Woe to you<br />
who laugh now, for you shall<br />
mourn <strong>and</strong> weep” (Luke 6:25).<br />
Amos also says: “Woe to those<br />
lounging in luxury at Jerusalem<br />
<strong>and</strong> Samaria.” (Amos 6:1).<br />
James <strong>go</strong>es even further to prescribe<br />
a strange tonic for the soul:<br />
“Lament <strong>and</strong> mourn <strong>and</strong> weep! Let<br />
your laughter be turned to mourning<br />
<strong>and</strong> your joy to gloom.”<br />
(James 4:9).<br />
But we thought Jesus came to<br />
give us beauty for ashes, the oil of<br />
joy for mourning, <strong>and</strong> the garment<br />
of praise for the spirit of heaviness?<br />
(Isaiah 61:3). Yes indeed! But<br />
Jesus’ ministry is only for those<br />
who are sorrowful <strong>and</strong> mournful.<br />
Moreover, the consolations of<br />
Christ come not through the reform<br />
of this world, but by invitation<br />
to another kingdom; a kingdom<br />
not of this world.<br />
Divine prescription<br />
The nature of this un<strong>go</strong>dly world<br />
is such that, according to the wisdom<br />
of God, even in laughter the<br />
heart should sorrow, since the end<br />
of mirth may be grief. (Proverbs<br />
14:13). Solomon says: “Sorrow<br />
is better than laughter, for by a sad<br />
countenance the heart is made better.”<br />
(Ecclesiastes 7:3). By laughter<br />
<strong>and</strong> merriment the heart is<br />
made worse, vainer, more carnal<br />
<strong>and</strong> more sensual. It is made<br />
more in love with the world <strong>and</strong><br />
more estranged from God <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>go</strong>dliness.<br />
If sorrow is indeed better than<br />
laughter, then the man who God<br />
makes sad is more blessed than the<br />
man who is happy. When a man<br />
decides to be <strong>go</strong>od to another man,<br />
he tries to make him happy. He<br />
ministers to his body. He makes<br />
him comfortable. <strong>No</strong>t so the<br />
<strong>go</strong>odness of God. When God is<br />
really <strong>go</strong>od to someone, he is more<br />
likely to make him sad. God’s<br />
<strong>go</strong>odness works more on the heart<br />
than on the flesh: “The <strong>go</strong>odness<br />
of God leads you to repentance.”<br />
(Romans 2:4). Its main objective<br />
is to lead us along the path of life<br />
<strong>and</strong> make us heirs of salvation.<br />
Therefore, God is not <strong>go</strong>od in the<br />
way that is normally considered<br />
to be <strong>go</strong>od. If we don’t underst<strong>and</strong><br />
the peculiarity of God’s <strong>go</strong>odness,<br />
we are likely to be sad when<br />
we should be glad, <strong>and</strong> to be glad<br />
when we should be sad.<br />
In the kingdom of God, the way<br />
up is down.<br />
In order to enter, we must be<br />
born again. (John 3:3-5). In order<br />
to see, we have to be blind.<br />
(John 9:39). In order to be full,<br />
we have to hunger. (Luke 6:21).<br />
In order to gain, we have to lose.<br />
(Matthew. 13:44-46). In order to<br />
be rich, we have to be poor. (1<br />
Samuel 2:7). In order to be<br />
strong, we have to be weak. (Judges<br />
7:2-7). In order to be masters,<br />
we have to be slaves. (Matthew<br />
20:25-28). The elder must serve<br />
the younger. (Genesis 25:23).<br />
In order to laugh, we have to<br />
weep. (Luke 6:21). In order to<br />
enter into glory, we have to endure<br />
suffering. (Luke 24:25-26). In<br />
order to be healed, we have to be<br />
sick. (Luke 5:31). In order to<br />
live, we have to die. (John 12:24).<br />
In order to save our life, we have<br />
to lose it. (Matthew 16:25-26).<br />
In order to be first, we have to be<br />
last. (Matthew 19:30).<br />
Righteousness is for the<br />
<strong>go</strong>od of all<br />
•Daramola<br />
ing these two religions have<br />
failed to practice the<br />
teachings of these two<br />
great leaders.<br />
Imagine, Muslim br<strong>others</strong><br />
killing one another <strong>and</strong><br />
non-Muslims with the belief<br />
that they are doing it<br />
for God. Can you fight for<br />
God? A Muslim friend told<br />
me that Muslims can pray<br />
anywhere they <strong>go</strong> <strong>and</strong> peace<br />
be unto them there.<br />
Then why are some Muslims<br />
maiming, killing people<br />
everywhere, is this righteousness?<br />
It is pertinent that both<br />
the Christians <strong>and</strong> Muslims<br />
preach love <strong>and</strong> peace,<br />
allow peace to reign in this<br />
country <strong>and</strong> in the world<br />
in general. There is no<br />
need to be killing one another<br />
because we came from<br />
the same God.<br />
The world has been transformed<br />
from the primitive<br />
ways of living to a better,<br />
civilized <strong>and</strong> modernized<br />
ways of living. Both Jesus<br />
Christ <strong>and</strong> Prophet Mohammed<br />
rode on donkeys,<br />
lived in caves, excreting in<br />
bushes but now religious<br />
leaders ride posh cars <strong>and</strong><br />
jeeps <strong>and</strong> live in mansions<br />
<strong>and</strong> beautiful houses. Some<br />
religious leaders tell<br />
their members not to commit<br />
adultery but they commit<br />
adultery even with<br />
their female members.<br />
In our country, <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
officials are not righteous<br />
in discharging their<br />
responsibilities. Imagine<br />
the recent Police pension<br />
scam, a high court judge<br />
discharged <strong>and</strong> acquitted<br />
an ex-<strong>go</strong>vernor of charges<br />
of fraud, embezzlement<br />
<strong>and</strong> later for the ex-<strong>go</strong>vernor<br />
to plead guilty to the<br />
same charges in UK. Is the<br />
judge a righteous person?<br />
A policeman at the checkpoint<br />
takes bribe from commercial<br />
bus driver, if<br />
caught he be reprim<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
but top senior police officers<br />
are involved in mismanagement<br />
of police<br />
fund they're walking freely.<br />
Is this righteousness?<br />
Some Custom officers seize<br />
smuggle <strong>go</strong>ods of ordinary<br />
citizens but some officers<br />
will escort a trailer load of<br />
illegal <strong>go</strong>ods into the country<br />
without being arrested.<br />
*For further enquiries<br />
contact The Omnipotence<br />
Mission of God,<br />
2 Oloruntimilehin St,<br />
Pipeline, Mosan off<br />
Ipaja road, La<strong>go</strong>s or call<br />
0 8 0 2 3 0 2 0 1 0 8 ;<br />
0 8 0 5 8 1 1 0 2 8 8 ;<br />
0 8 0 2 3 0 2 0 1 0 8 ,<br />
0 8 0 5 8 1 1 0 2 8 8 .<br />
www.facebook.com/<br />
pastoroloruntimilehin.
PAGE 40 — SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
I eat my breakfast as a king,<br />
dinner as a pauper —Adediji<br />
Mr. Bode Adediji is Group Executive Chairman of Bode<br />
Adediji Partnership, Kontinental, Developers Nigeria<br />
Limited <strong>and</strong> House of Estate International Limited,<br />
a Real Estate company with a difference. The 66 years old<br />
<strong>go</strong>od looking man speaks on his healthy lifestyle <strong>and</strong> suggested<br />
tips on how to keep fit.<br />
I walked into your office <strong>and</strong> I was<br />
told, you were taking a nap, why<br />
was that?<br />
Two things are essential in life.<br />
They are obituary <strong>and</strong> health.<br />
Anyone who does not take those<br />
things into recognition should<br />
have a rethink. There is no<br />
difference between human body<br />
<strong>and</strong> machine. If you work<br />
relentlessly without resting, there<br />
are consequences. And with my<br />
age, I cannot eat <strong>and</strong> drink<br />
carelessly. This is the era in which<br />
individual must be his or her own<br />
personal doctor. We all have<br />
smartphones therefore, it should<br />
not be a problem to research<br />
online on how to be healthy on a<br />
daily basis. Anyone above 50<br />
years old should take his or her<br />
health seriously. I have learnt to<br />
do the best I can to make sure I<br />
stay healthy. My health is superior<br />
to any other things. Money,<br />
family, fame, fun are <strong>go</strong>od but<br />
once any of these enumerated<br />
clashes with my health, I rather<br />
let it <strong>go</strong>.<br />
I have also principled myself to<br />
ensuring that myself, my wife,<br />
children <strong>and</strong> workers see doctors<br />
regularly for check-ups. In fact,<br />
you need to see doctor more when<br />
you think, you are healthy. If you<br />
retain your eating habit for so long<br />
a time, it is very wrong. It is also<br />
wrong for individual not to sweat<br />
on a daily basis.<br />
In summary, three thing must be<br />
observed. Routine medical checkup,<br />
food is key <strong>and</strong> lastly, <strong>go</strong>od<br />
exercises. I do not joke with my<br />
There are several<br />
ways to<br />
effectively clean<br />
drinking glasses<br />
with everyday<br />
household products.<br />
These are:<br />
Using<br />
a<br />
dishwasher: Using<br />
a dishwasher is a<br />
less effective way to<br />
get glasses clean<br />
<strong>and</strong> cloud-free than<br />
h<strong>and</strong> washing. If<br />
you prefer using a<br />
dishwasher anyway,<br />
there are ways to<br />
improve the results.<br />
Make a vinegar<br />
solution.If your glasses are<br />
cloudy or have white streaks,<br />
clean them with vinegar. Fill a<br />
medium-sized bowl with white<br />
vinegar <strong>and</strong> warm water. Use<br />
two tablespoons of vinegar for<br />
every cup of water.<br />
Wipe down the glasses. Dip a<br />
clean cloth into the vinegar<br />
08111813025<br />
sleep at least between five <strong>and</strong><br />
seven hours a day. I eat my<br />
breakfast as a king, dinner as<br />
pauper. If people decend on a<br />
bowl of garri or pounded yam at<br />
8pm, it is no longer food but<br />
poison. People should learn to<br />
profile their lifestyle <strong>and</strong> find out<br />
if they are getting the best in<br />
terms of health. A person’s<br />
lifestyle is important to his life.<br />
What kind of food do you eat<br />
looking at your age?<br />
I am above 66 years old <strong>and</strong><br />
people do not believe it. And I<br />
thank God for that. I was born in<br />
a village that traditionally,<br />
throughout my years, it was 100<br />
percent carbohydrate with some<br />
mixture of vegetable. Ande<br />
because I come from a poor<br />
family, things like meat or fish<br />
comes occasionally unless we <strong>go</strong><br />
to the village to get snails or<br />
squarrels. And in the University<br />
of Ife, we were into modern foods.<br />
When I started work in a early<br />
twenties, I was eating varieties.<br />
But, when I clocked 50 years, I<br />
became extra conscious of the<br />
type of food. And I also make sure<br />
that at every meal, there is<br />
vegetable. I underst<strong>and</strong> the type<br />
of food to eat, when to eat <strong>and</strong> in<br />
what frame of mind, I eat it.<br />
Food routine<br />
I cannot do without vegetables in<br />
my diet including lettuce,<br />
cucumber, tomatoes, carrot as<br />
breakfast. And I have orange or<br />
apple juice. A slice of bread <strong>and</strong><br />
egg. In the afternoon, I eat beans<br />
<strong>and</strong> yam or plantain. And in the<br />
How to Clean Crystal<br />
Glassware<br />
solution. Gently wipe down<br />
the glasses with the cloth,<br />
both inside <strong>and</strong> out.<br />
Rinse the glasses.While the<br />
smell of vinegar is strong, it<br />
will eventually dissipate after<br />
drying. To speed up the<br />
process, rinse the glasses in<br />
cold water to wash away the<br />
vinegar solution.<br />
Bode Adediji<br />
evening, I eat one third of my food<br />
at 7pm. I make sure that I have<br />
vegetable in every meal. Other<br />
things is the percentage of water<br />
in-take on a daily basis.<br />
How would you advice a-70-year<br />
old individual in terms of food?<br />
To eat based on the advise of his<br />
or her medical doctor <strong>and</strong><br />
nutritionist. I am only conscious<br />
of my personality <strong>and</strong> identity. I<br />
have known those things that are<br />
<strong>go</strong>od for me <strong>and</strong> the ones that are<br />
bad. I take a glass of red wine <strong>and</strong><br />
sleep off although, it is not a<br />
regular basis. What is important<br />
is that individual should learn to<br />
eat in moderation.<br />
How would you rate your<br />
cooking?<br />
Can we skip that? If you want me<br />
to cook, you can phone my wife<br />
first before you engage me in the<br />
competition. I was barred from<br />
entering the kitchen by my<br />
mother. I was the last born of my<br />
family. We were seven children,<br />
six girls <strong>and</strong> one boy. I can cut<br />
grass, mob the floor but I was not<br />
allowed to even wash plate in the<br />
kitchen. The only thing, I can say<br />
is that I can cook egg better than<br />
anyone else.<br />
Healthy<br />
lifestyle<br />
Why<br />
beetroots<br />
juice is <strong>go</strong>od<br />
When it comes<br />
to healthy<br />
routine,<br />
<strong>go</strong>ing natural is the<br />
surest way. There’s<br />
no short cut in<br />
achieving that natural<br />
glow that everyone<br />
is looking for.<br />
With beetroot juice,<br />
you can be assured<br />
that your health will<br />
improve. You will<br />
notice the following<br />
happening to you<br />
including lowering<br />
of blood pressure,<br />
boosts your stamina,<br />
it has anti-cancer<br />
properties, supports<br />
your liver <strong>and</strong> rich<br />
in valuable nutrients<br />
<strong>and</strong> fiber<br />
projecting diverse angles to foods <strong>and</strong> drinks<br />
Superb Beet Fruit Juice with<br />
apple, carrot, ginger<br />
Ingredients<br />
O n e<br />
medium<br />
beet (rinsed,<br />
lightly<br />
peeled <strong>and</strong><br />
quartered)<br />
O n e<br />
medium<br />
a p p l e<br />
(peeled,<br />
cored <strong>and</strong><br />
quartered)<br />
fresh ginger<br />
( s k i n<br />
removed)<br />
Three whole<br />
carrots<br />
(rinsed <strong>and</strong><br />
peeled)<br />
To make this super tasty apple,<br />
beet, carrot, ginger juice, you<br />
blend it all up in a blender <strong>and</strong><br />
then pressed it through a fine<br />
mesh strainer until you are<br />
able to get all of the juice out.<br />
It doesn’t take much more<br />
effort. This juice is slightly<br />
sweet <strong>and</strong> perfectly balanced,<br />
with some serious kick from<br />
the ginger. Discard pulp <strong>and</strong><br />
pour your juice into a serving<br />
glass. Drink immediately or<br />
chill for a bit. Will keep in the<br />
Tasty fried plantain with beans<br />
Dodo <strong>and</strong> beans is a<br />
Nigerian delicacy eaten<br />
by Nigerians. For healthy<br />
living, beans is important to<br />
us. We can eat beans with<br />
boiled yam, garri <strong>and</strong> water,<br />
boiled unripe plantain,<br />
boiled irish potatoes, fried/<br />
baked sweet potatoes, bread<br />
or plantain chips among<br />
<strong>others</strong>. For those who get<br />
heart burns after eating<br />
beans, it is advisable to<br />
parboil, drain water before<br />
cooking with fresh clean<br />
water. Beans is every home’s<br />
favourite.<br />
Ingredients<br />
Cups beans<br />
Bunch ripe plantain<br />
Small fresh red peppers<br />
Medium red bell peppers<br />
Medium sized onion<br />
Garlic cloves, minced<br />
Palm oil<br />
Teaspoon ground pepper<br />
Salt to taste<br />
Procedure<br />
Add cups water to a pot <strong>and</strong><br />
set on medium heat. Wash<br />
beans thoroughly to rid it of<br />
excess dirt <strong>and</strong> place in a pot<br />
of boiling water. Next, red<br />
bell peppers, fresh red<br />
peppers, onion bulb <strong>and</strong><br />
garlic cloves in a food<br />
processor or blender. Blitz<br />
for 30 seconds on medium<br />
speed till a not-so-smooth<br />
purée is formed. Heat up<br />
palm oil in a small pot <strong>and</strong><br />
add blended purée. Stir<br />
Drink of<br />
the week<br />
fridge for a day or so, but<br />
will taste best when fresh.<br />
This juice is incredibly<br />
healthy with Vitamins A, K<br />
<strong>and</strong> beta carotene from the<br />
carrots, vitamin C <strong>and</strong><br />
polyphenols from the<br />
apples, antioxidants <strong>and</strong><br />
folate from the beets, <strong>and</strong><br />
anti-inflammatory benefits<br />
from the ginger among<br />
<strong>others</strong>.<br />
gently <strong>and</strong> leave to fry on<br />
medium heat for 5-7<br />
minutes. Stir occasionally<br />
to prevent burning. When<br />
beans are 80 percent<br />
cooked, add fried blended<br />
purée <strong>and</strong> all other<br />
ingredients. Stir gently<br />
<strong>and</strong> leave to cook until<br />
beans is soft. Add water if<br />
more is required. Wash<br />
ripe plantain thoroughly<br />
<strong>and</strong> peel off the skin. In a<br />
mixing bowl, slice ripe<br />
plantain in whatever shape<br />
you desire, add pinch of<br />
salt, mix thoroughly to<br />
combine. Next gently drop<br />
ripe plantain piece by<br />
piece into the hot oil with<br />
a cooking tong but be<br />
careful not to over crowd<br />
the pan. Fry on both sides<br />
for 3-4 minutes or until<br />
lightly browned. Serve<br />
fried plantain <strong>and</strong> beans<br />
side by side.
Ex-CBN Gov Sanusi, Prof. Wale Omole<br />
counsel against mad rush for wealth<br />
…as former Access Bank Chairman Oni turns 85<br />
Christians have been<br />
charged to give God hearty<br />
thanksgiving.<br />
They were also urged to desist<br />
from mad rush for wealth but to<br />
adhere to Biblical teachings on<br />
morality.<br />
These remarks were made by a<br />
former Governor of Central Bank<br />
of Nigeria, Chief Joseph Sanusi, a<br />
former Lay President, Archdiocese<br />
of La<strong>go</strong>s, Methodist Church Nigeria,<br />
Elder Michael Ayodeji Oni, <strong>and</strong><br />
a former Vice Chancellor, Obafemi<br />
Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof.<br />
Wale Omole, at the 85th birthday of<br />
Elder Oni at his Dolphin Estate La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
residence.<br />
Why we organised party for senior citizens<br />
— Odiete, President, Sunshine Foundation<br />
By Princewill Ekwujuru<br />
he President of Sunshine Foun<br />
Tdation, a <strong>No</strong>n-Governmental<br />
Organisation (NGO), Rose Odiete,<br />
says the NGO’s annual Easter party<br />
for senior citizens is to put smiles on<br />
their faces.<br />
Odiete spoke at this year’s Easter<br />
party for senior citizens held at the<br />
Assembly Hall, Grail<strong>and</strong>, Iju Hills,<br />
Ajuwon, La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
According to her, the event, held<br />
in collaboration with the Committee<br />
of Concerned Women, Festac<br />
Circle, was set aside to host the elderly<br />
<strong>and</strong> generally try to cater for<br />
them.<br />
“Sunshine Foundation has been<br />
hosting this party for over 22 years<br />
but about four years a<strong>go</strong>, we started<br />
collaborating with the Committee<br />
of Concerned Women, Festac to organise<br />
the party”, she said.<br />
“Basically, we realised that the<br />
elderly ones need to be hosted. And<br />
the first few that we did, we concentrated<br />
on people from Old People’s<br />
Home because we realised that they<br />
were completely neglected <strong>and</strong> even<br />
a lot of people didn’t know that we<br />
have Old People’s Home in Nigeria.<br />
So, when we realised that, we<br />
made it a point of duty once every<br />
year during Easter to bring them out<br />
of their homes to a neutral ground<br />
where we host them to a party.<br />
“And we have since incorporated<br />
other elderly people like pensioners<br />
<strong>and</strong> retirees <strong>and</strong> we use this day to<br />
celebrate them. Generally, we feast,<br />
dance with them, give them little<br />
gifts when they are <strong>go</strong>ing back just<br />
to make them happy”.<br />
This year’s event attracted about<br />
100 senior citizens drawn from different<br />
parts of La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
Mr. Jola Ogunlusi, a former National<br />
Secretary, Nigerian Union of<br />
Journalists (NUJ), one of the senior<br />
citizens, appreciated the foundation<br />
for the gesture.<br />
Ezomo, wife, bag Okere-Urhobo<br />
chieftaincy titles<br />
The Orosuen ( traditional ruler) of Okere Urhobo Kingdom,<br />
HRM Paul Okumagba, Idama 11, has conferred Chief Cyril<br />
Ezomo <strong>and</strong> his wife, Onome, with chieftaincy titles of Okere Kingdom.<br />
Chief Ezomo <strong>and</strong> the wife were honoured with U<strong>go</strong> <strong>and</strong> Eruvwu<br />
of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, respectively for their contribution towards<br />
.<br />
Speaking to journalists after the conferment, Chief Ezomo on<br />
behalf of his wife, expressed appreciation to HRM Idama 11 for the<br />
gesture which he noted that was a great honour for his family <strong>and</strong><br />
paternal Bini people.<br />
He further pledged their continuous loyalty to the Okere-Urhobo<br />
monarch <strong>and</strong> Okere-Urhobo people <strong>and</strong> thanked <strong>others</strong> that contributed<br />
to the success of the event.<br />
The couple were accompanied to the occasion by a cultural dance<br />
group from the ancient Bini Kingdom<br />
L- R: Prince Eweta; Double Chief Cyril Ezomo; his wife, Chief (Mrs)<br />
Onome Ezomo <strong>and</strong> the Ezomo of the ancient Bini Kingdom shortly after<br />
the chieftaincy conferments ceremony on Chief <strong>and</strong> Chief ( Mrs) Ezomo<br />
by HRM Idama 11, the Orosuen of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, yesterday.<br />
SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28 , 2019, PAGE 41<br />
They assured the nation of divine<br />
turnaround provided Nigerians<br />
imbibe Biblical teachings.<br />
Specifically, Oni, who is also a<br />
former Chairman of Access Bank<br />
Plc, expressed gratitude to God, the<br />
Rotary community <strong>and</strong> <strong>others</strong> who<br />
contributed to the success of the occasion.<br />
Prof. Wale Omole (left), with Elder Michael Ayodeji Oni <strong>and</strong> Bro.<br />
Aramide Tola <strong>No</strong>ibi, during Oni’s 85th birthday held at his Dolphin<br />
Estate,La<strong>go</strong>s residence<br />
From left: Prof. Omole, Elder Oni, Pastor (Dr.) Titilayo <strong>No</strong>ibi, <strong>and</strong> her<br />
husb<strong>and</strong>, Bro. Aramide Tola <strong>No</strong>ibi.<br />
APC loss of presidential poll in Ondo: ‘Don’t blame Gov Akeredolu’<br />
By Dayo Johnson, Akure<br />
OUTHS, under the aegis of<br />
YYouth Advocacy Network within<br />
the All Progressive Congress (APC)<br />
in Ondo State, have exonerated Governor<br />
Rotimi Akeredolu over the<br />
party’s loss of the last presidential<br />
election in the state.<br />
The Chairman, Akinleye Olabanji,<br />
<strong>and</strong><br />
World Malaria Day: Mouka unveils new<br />
insect repellents<br />
By Destiny Eseaga<br />
Mouka Limited has<br />
launched a range of in<br />
sect repellents to commemorate<br />
the 2019 World Malaria<br />
Day.<br />
The World Malaria Day is commemorated<br />
on April 25 annually to<br />
sensitize the global population<br />
about malaria <strong>and</strong> its health <strong>and</strong><br />
economic burdens.<br />
Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive<br />
Officer of Mouka, Raymond<br />
Murphy, noted that the new Mouka<br />
MozziInsect Repellents, was his<br />
company’s contribution to global<br />
campaign against malaria, saying<br />
it will create a protective halo from<br />
mosquitoes.<br />
He said: ‘’ Mouka Mozzi provides<br />
protection from bedbugs, mould,<br />
bacteria spores, spiders, cockroaches<br />
<strong>and</strong> dust mites. With each application,<br />
a consumer can enjoy 24<br />
Awujale hosts <strong>go</strong>vernance<br />
lecture on birthday<br />
By Olayinka Ajayi<br />
Awujale of Ijebul<strong>and</strong>, Oba<br />
Sikiru Adetona, is to host<br />
some eminent Nigerians at<br />
the 3rd Annual Professorial Chair<br />
in Governance in collaboration with<br />
the Olabisi Onabanjo University,<br />
OOU.<br />
The occasion holds at the Adeola<br />
Odutola Hall, Ijebu-Ode on Thursday,<br />
May 10, 2019 under the theme,<br />
‘Grassroots <strong>go</strong>vernance: The soft underbelly<br />
of Nigeria’s political architecture.”<br />
The lecture, to be delivered by Professor<br />
Ayo Olukotun, will focus on<br />
hours protection for up to 3 months<br />
which is not possible with insecticides.”<br />
Also speaking at the occasion, the<br />
La<strong>go</strong>s State Malaria Elimination<br />
Programme Manager, Dr. Abimbola<br />
Osinowo, representing the state<br />
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olajide<br />
Idris, said the state <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
had renewed its commitment to<br />
tackling malaria using a multidirectional<br />
approach including environmental<br />
management <strong>and</strong> integrated<br />
vector control for prevention<br />
of malaria, adding that Mouka had<br />
taken a step in the right direction<br />
with the production of the repellents.<br />
“As you are all aware, malaria is<br />
endemic in La<strong>go</strong>s State <strong>and</strong> it poses<br />
a major challenge to the state as it<br />
impedes human development. It is<br />
both a cause <strong>and</strong> consequence of underdevelopment<br />
<strong>and</strong> remains one<br />
of the leading causes of morbidity<br />
in the state,” Osinowo said.<br />
the issues <strong>and</strong> challenges of <strong>go</strong>vernance<br />
in Nigeria while a panel of<br />
discussants, including Professor<br />
Kingsley Moghalu, the presidential<br />
c<strong>and</strong>idate of the Young Progressive<br />
Party at the last elections, <strong>and</strong> Professor<br />
Remi Sonaiya, will share their<br />
perspectives on the subject.<br />
Adetona affirmed his commitment<br />
to seeing Nigeria take giant<br />
strides in the area of <strong>go</strong>od <strong>go</strong>vernance<br />
stemming from quality education,<br />
research <strong>and</strong> mentorship.<br />
Over the last three years, this annual<br />
event, which coincides with the<br />
Awujale’s birthday, has grown to<br />
become an important discourse for<br />
championing effective <strong>go</strong>vernance.<br />
Secretary, Gbenga Bayode, in a<br />
statement in Akure, took a swipe at<br />
some party leaders, under the aegis<br />
of Ondo State All Progressives Congress<br />
(APC) Concerned Leaders<br />
Group, for blaming the <strong>go</strong>vernor<br />
<strong>and</strong> the party’s state Chairman, Ade<br />
Adetimehin.<br />
The youth group said, “We want<br />
to state unequivocally that Akeredolu<br />
<strong>and</strong> the State Executive of the<br />
party, led by Ade Adetimehin, were<br />
loyal <strong>and</strong> fully committed to the reelection<br />
project of President Muhammadu<br />
Buhari.<br />
“It is on record that many of these<br />
leaders, who jumped ship from APC<br />
to AD during the <strong>go</strong>vernorship election<br />
in 2016, contributed nothing to<br />
the re-election of Mr. President except<br />
wailing on the pages of newspapers<br />
“Many of them lost their polling<br />
units to the PDP during the presidential<br />
poll because they are paper<br />
weight politicians in their respective<br />
local <strong>go</strong>vernments.<br />
“We challenge these leaders to<br />
publish the results of their various<br />
polling units for the whole world to<br />
see”.<br />
They listed the contributions of<br />
Akeredolu toward Buhari’s re-election<br />
to include “inaugurating the<br />
Campaign Committee at the state<br />
level with members like Chief Olusola<br />
Oke, Senator Ajayi Boroffice<br />
<strong>and</strong> Engr. Ife Oyedele while providing<br />
logistics like funds, br<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
campaign buses among other<br />
items”.<br />
The youths added that the <strong>go</strong>vernor<br />
toured the three senatorial districts<br />
of Ondo to sell the c<strong>and</strong>idature<br />
of Buhari to the electorate <strong>and</strong><br />
also accompanied Vice-President<br />
Yemi Osibanjo to some communities<br />
in the state where they preached<br />
the <strong>go</strong>spel of the next level to the<br />
people.<br />
Erelu Fayemi, two<br />
<strong>go</strong>vs, former<br />
Ghanaian<br />
President win Zik<br />
Leadership Prize<br />
By Rotimi Ojomoyela<br />
ife of Ekiti State <strong>go</strong>vernor,<br />
WErelu Bisi Fayemi, has won<br />
the 2018 Zik Leadership Prize for<br />
humanitarian Leadership. This was<br />
disclosed by the organisers of the<br />
annual prize in La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
Other winners of the 2018 Zik<br />
prize in leadership, as announced<br />
by the organisers, include former<br />
Ghanaian President, John Mahama,<br />
<strong>and</strong> immediate past National<br />
Chairman of the All Progressives<br />
Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-<br />
Oyegun, who won in the political<br />
leadership cate<strong>go</strong>ry.<br />
Also the <strong>go</strong>vernor of Akwa Ibom<br />
State, Udom Emmanuel, <strong>and</strong> his<br />
Niger State counterpart, Abubakar<br />
Sanni- Bello, emerged winners in<br />
the <strong>go</strong>od <strong>go</strong>vernance award cate<strong>go</strong>ry.<br />
The Zik Prize in Leadership<br />
Awards was instituted 25 years a<strong>go</strong><br />
in honour of the late Dr Nnamdi<br />
Azikiwe, the first President of Nigeria.<br />
It was set up, among other<br />
things, to encourage <strong>and</strong> nurture<br />
leadership on the African Continent<br />
<strong>and</strong> in the Diaspora.<br />
Announcing the winners at a news<br />
conference in La<strong>go</strong>s, Executive Secretary<br />
of the Public Policy Research<br />
<strong>and</strong> Analysis Centre (PPRAC),<br />
Prince Emeka Obasi, <strong>and</strong> a member<br />
of the advisory board of the Centre,<br />
Prof Pat Utomi, disclosed that<br />
the winners were carefully selected<br />
after an exhaustive appraisal of<br />
nominees in the various award cate<strong>go</strong>ries.<br />
Utomi described Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi<br />
as a reputable feminist<br />
activist, gender specialist, social entrepreneur,<br />
policy advocate <strong>and</strong> writer,<br />
who has devoted her time, talent<br />
<strong>and</strong> resources to the promotion <strong>and</strong><br />
defence of rights of women <strong>and</strong> the<br />
girl child.<br />
Kingdom Embassy<br />
marks 6th anniversary<br />
•Pastor Ajayi & wife, Aderonke<br />
he Kingdom Embassy Church,<br />
Tholds its 6th anniversary today.<br />
The programme which commenced<br />
with three days crusade <strong>and</strong><br />
empowerment scheme at the church<br />
premises, Rafiu Odebiyi, Ig<strong>and</strong>o has<br />
the theme: 'The power of Resurrection.<br />
According to Pastors Olamide &<br />
Aderonke Ajayi, the event which witnessed<br />
the empowerment of people<br />
with motocycles, buses, dryers,<br />
grinding machines, sewing machines,<br />
clothing materials <strong>and</strong> clippers,<br />
to the less privileged started<br />
on Thursday April 25th <strong>and</strong> will end<br />
today with a thanksgiving service.<br />
Evangelist Leke Adekoya will be<br />
a guest minister at the service<br />
Kehinde Dorcas<br />
Okuneye (JP) for burial<br />
Mrs. Kehinde Dorcas Okuneye<br />
(JP) (nee Ogun) is dead. She was<br />
80.<br />
Wake Keep holds on Friday, May 3<br />
at her residence, <strong>No</strong>. 31, Obalende<br />
Road, beside Obal<strong>and</strong>e Garage,<br />
Ijebu Ode, while burial is scheduled<br />
for Saturday, May 4, at Christ<br />
Anglican Church, Porogun Ijebu-<br />
Ode, Ogun State. Entertainment<br />
follows at Adeola<br />
Odutola Hall,<br />
204 Folagbade<br />
Street, Ijebu-Ode,<br />
Ogun State. She<br />
is survived by<br />
sister, children<br />
a n d<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>children,<br />
among whom is<br />
Dami Omololu.
PAGE 42—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
Viewpoint<br />
Eden East Festival: Culture, tourism potentials beckon<br />
By Sebastine Obasi<br />
TRIBUTE IN BRIEF<br />
<strong>No</strong> investment amid<br />
squabble<br />
Uzoakwa community in<br />
Ihiala<br />
Local<br />
Government Area of<br />
Anambra State is assuming the<br />
cultural hub of the East, courtesy<br />
of the Eden East Festival, being<br />
annually promoted by an<br />
entrepreneur <strong>and</strong> philanthropist,<br />
Casmir Maduafokwa.<br />
The 2018 edition, held last<br />
Christmas, which featured more<br />
than 20 cultural groups from the<br />
South East attracted visitors<br />
from all over the country <strong>and</strong><br />
beyond, including a Russian<br />
family that visited Nigeria for the<br />
first time. There is no gainsaying<br />
the fact that the present<br />
generation of South Easterners<br />
are now embracing their cultural<br />
heritage, which for many years<br />
appeared to have been<br />
ab<strong>and</strong>oned as they trooped to the<br />
cities in search of green pasture.<br />
For the younger ones who<br />
sparingly visit home, the Eden<br />
East festival provides an<br />
opportunity to appreciate the<br />
culture h<strong>and</strong>ed down by their<br />
great gr<strong>and</strong> fathers, which<br />
needs to be bequeathed to the<br />
upcoming generation. The last<br />
edition provided opportunity<br />
for people to see the popular<br />
Theresa Onuora <strong>and</strong> her<br />
Egedege Dance Group from<br />
Nnewi, as well as the famous<br />
Nkpokiti Dance Group, from<br />
Umunze in Aguata Local<br />
Government Area. Other<br />
groups that featured included;<br />
Onyika Odoro <strong>and</strong> Zebra<br />
groups both from Uli,<br />
Akubuma Dance from<br />
Orsumoghu, Otuodum from<br />
Eziama, Uli <strong>and</strong> Igba Obi, from<br />
Ubahekwem. Some <strong>others</strong> were<br />
Umunnmehi Cultural Dance<br />
Group, Ihiala, Agaba Ntuebi<br />
also from Umunnamehi, Ihiala,<br />
Ogba Mgbada, Umunnamehi,<br />
Igberi Oba from Uzoakwa <strong>and</strong><br />
Ebube Agu from Orsumoghu.<br />
Apart from showcasing the<br />
cultural heritage of the people,<br />
the festival provides a boost for<br />
tourism in Ihiala.<br />
Giving an insight into the<br />
essence of the festival, the<br />
There is no gainsaying<br />
the fact that the present<br />
generation of South<br />
Easterners are now<br />
embracing their cultural<br />
heritage, which for many<br />
years appeared to have<br />
been ab<strong>and</strong>oned<br />
promoter, Maduafokwa stated;<br />
“Eden East festival is gathering<br />
momentum. The essence of the<br />
festival is to encourage local<br />
entertainers, dancers,<br />
masquerades, some of them that<br />
have disappeared to encourage<br />
them <strong>and</strong> recreate them, as well<br />
as new ones. “Apart from the<br />
festival, within the year we<br />
encourage or sponsor groups<br />
that want to establish b<strong>and</strong>s or<br />
dance groups in communities in<br />
Anambra State or South East<br />
that we know are about to create<br />
a sustainable community<br />
platform, sustainable in the<br />
sense that at least commercially,<br />
there is something in it for those<br />
that are involved. Also, in<br />
terms of replacement succession,<br />
there is some continuity.<br />
Maduafokwa reiterated the need<br />
for continuity <strong>and</strong> the enlistment<br />
of the younger ones into the<br />
various dance groups in every<br />
community. “There is need to<br />
have some anchor community to<br />
engender continuity. Every<br />
village has its dance group or<br />
cultural association. “Part of the<br />
Eden East is to recreate <strong>and</strong><br />
support financially dance<br />
groups in the various<br />
communities in the South East.<br />
The primary purpose is not only<br />
to entertain, but to spur<br />
traditional institutions to<br />
encourage the youths to<br />
embrace our culture.<br />
Worthy of note is the concept<br />
of establishing an integrated<br />
development project to boost<br />
tourism. According to<br />
Maduafokwa, “Tourism is<br />
enabled by such cultural festival<br />
in the communities. We want to<br />
establish infrastructure to<br />
encourage visitors to come down<br />
to the East. Over 2 million<br />
square metres of l<strong>and</strong> is being<br />
acquired to establish an<br />
integrated development from<br />
recreational to scenic tourism,<br />
sporting <strong>and</strong> a non seasonal kind<br />
of business.<br />
“It is a joint venture between<br />
the Eden East Company <strong>and</strong> the<br />
community. Our own village,<br />
Umudike, Uzoakwa is supposed<br />
to own the l<strong>and</strong> in question. It is<br />
ancestral l<strong>and</strong> that has been<br />
unused. An agreement has been<br />
signed to that effect.<br />
“Eden East is still waiting for<br />
the community to resolve the<br />
internal wrangling. We cannot<br />
make investments when there is<br />
squabble. The community has to<br />
agree 100 percent before we<br />
venture into the project. It is<br />
meant to benefit every member<br />
of the community.”Foreign<br />
investors are expected from<br />
Europe, America <strong>and</strong> Asia,”<br />
Maduafokwa added.”<br />
By Richard Fasulu<br />
TRIBUTE IN BRIEF<br />
Democracy dividends<br />
The hallmark of fidelity<br />
amongst political leaders is<br />
the seldom ability to fulfill<br />
their electoral promises. Moreso, the<br />
very best demonstration of integrity<br />
by any man of honour is the<br />
commitment to fulfillment of every<br />
conscious promise made by such<br />
individual. Arakunrin Rotimi<br />
Akeredolu, the Executive Governor<br />
of Ondo State is one politician that<br />
aptly captures the best description of<br />
‘omoluabi’, a man of honour <strong>and</strong><br />
integrity. He is a promise keeper who<br />
is just too blunt, truthful <strong>and</strong> faithful<br />
to be a politician.<br />
Akeredolu came into office with the<br />
twin promises of regular <strong>pay</strong>ment of<br />
workers salary <strong>and</strong> to leave Ondo<br />
state far better than he met it terms<br />
of physical infrastructures. Lo <strong>and</strong><br />
behold, the gentleman has stayed<br />
absolutely faithful to the fulfilment<br />
of these promises. One area where<br />
Akeredolu deserves applause is the<br />
fact that all projects inherited from<br />
his predecessor are now either<br />
completed or at various advanced<br />
completion stages. This is also in<br />
addition to new projects initiated by<br />
him that are either completed now<br />
or still on<strong>go</strong>ing.<br />
It is noteworthy that Akeredolu has<br />
delivered more than 45 kilometres<br />
of roads in Ondo state across the<br />
three senatorial districts. The<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernor has been working<br />
assiduously to build enduring<br />
infrastructures that will connect the<br />
entire 18 local <strong>go</strong>vernment areas of<br />
Ondo state. Particularly worthy of<br />
mention amongst the completed<br />
Infrastructural Revolution of Akeredolu In Ondo<br />
Aketi as he popularly<br />
known has also<br />
undertaken the<br />
reconstruction of<br />
three major culverts<br />
that collapsed in<br />
Ikare-Akoko<br />
projects is the hilly Oke-Alabojuto<br />
road that has now succumbed to the<br />
bulldozers deployed by Governor<br />
Akeredolu. The once nightmarish<br />
hilly road that was hitherto thought<br />
impossible to level has now been<br />
successfully leveled <strong>and</strong> dualized by<br />
the gentleman Governor of Ondo<br />
state within his two years of office.<br />
Aside the conquered mythical<br />
Oke- Alabojuto hilly road, other<br />
road projects that have been<br />
completed in Ondo <strong>No</strong>rth<br />
Senatorial District of the Sunshine<br />
state include the 2.5 kilometre<br />
Jubilee- Ugbe road, 1.5 kilometre<br />
Supare (Oke Afaa) road, 27.5<br />
kilometre Iwaro road <strong>and</strong> 2.5<br />
kilometre Hewlet road. Other road<br />
projects that have also been<br />
completed by the administration of<br />
Akeredolu in the <strong>No</strong>rthern<br />
Senatorial District are Ogbo Omo,<br />
Igbadara <strong>and</strong> Ayegunle road in Ifon.<br />
Others are the 2.5 kilometre internal<br />
roads in Owo G.R.A <strong>and</strong> the<br />
dualisation of adjoining roads in<br />
Owo. It is worthy of note that all<br />
these projects were flagged off <strong>and</strong><br />
completed within the first two years<br />
that Akeredolu assumed office.<br />
Aketi as he popularly known has<br />
also undertaken the reconstruction<br />
of three major culverts that<br />
collapsed in Ikare-Akoko.<br />
Meanwhile, dualisation of 4.3<br />
kilometre Ikare township road <strong>and</strong><br />
7.1 kilometre road in Owo are now<br />
at advanced stages of completion.<br />
Also worthy of commendation is the<br />
repair of Owo/Ikare road which is<br />
owned by the federal <strong>go</strong>vernment.<br />
This is an intervention that has saved<br />
the entire Akoko l<strong>and</strong> from being<br />
cut-off from other parts of the state<br />
due to roads that were hitherto<br />
impassable.<br />
The visionary Rotimi Akeredolu<br />
has also given hope of a new lease<br />
of life to the people of Idanre in Ondo<br />
Central Senatorial District of the<br />
state. He has embarked on the<br />
construction of 15 kilometer virgin<br />
road from Ijoka road in Akure to<br />
Idanre. The hilly town of Idanre has<br />
until now has just one road that<br />
serves the dual purposes of entrance<br />
<strong>and</strong> exit for several decades. But this<br />
narration has been changed by the<br />
ingenuity of Akeredolu. The<br />
on<strong>go</strong>ing project when completed<br />
will definitely open up the hilly town<br />
of Idanre <strong>and</strong> equally help farmers<br />
to transport their produce with ease;<br />
thereby ensuring improved<br />
economy of the town. Another major<br />
on<strong>go</strong>ing road project in Ondo<br />
Central Senatorial District of the<br />
state is the 7.8 kilometre Akure-<br />
Ijoka-A Divison road. Meanwhile,<br />
Akeredolu in his first two years of<br />
office completed <strong>and</strong> delivered the<br />
1.5 kilometre Abusoro road in<br />
Akure; 2 kilometre Iwalewa-<br />
Alafiatayo-Hospital-Oshinle road<br />
in Akure <strong>and</strong> the 3 kilometre<br />
Okelisa <strong>and</strong> Bajare roads in Idanre.<br />
Also, road projects that are now at<br />
advanced stages of completion<br />
include the Oke-Ogba road in<br />
Akure, Alagbaka-High Court-SIB<br />
road, Akure, Gaga road in Akure,<br />
Igbaraoke-Ibuji road, Isharun<br />
township roads <strong>and</strong> Bolodunro-<br />
Fagbo road in Ondo East Local<br />
Government.<br />
The administration of Rotimi<br />
Akeredolu has begun the<br />
reconstruction of road network of<br />
Oke-Ogba Community in Akure,<br />
the state capital. Residents of the<br />
densely populated community are<br />
now heaving sigh of relief as a result<br />
of infrastructural intervention of<br />
Akeredolu. Reconstruction work is<br />
now on<strong>go</strong>ing on the ab<strong>and</strong>oned 1.9<br />
kilometre Adaba FM road at the<br />
outskirt of Akure, the state capital.<br />
Fiwasaye-Airport street light<br />
project in Akure has since been<br />
completed, while Bridgadier<br />
Ademulegun road in Ondo town is<br />
at an advanced stage of completion.<br />
Aside these, Akeredolu has also<br />
promised to deliver a very modern<br />
<strong>and</strong> most befitting hospital in Akure.<br />
The 6 kilometer road covering<br />
Iyange, Ogunmolayan <strong>and</strong> Ijaro<br />
was also flagged off <strong>and</strong> completed<br />
by Akeredolu within a record time<br />
of one year.<br />
Midas touch of Akeredolu is<br />
undoubtedly very evident in Ondo<br />
South Senatorial District of the state<br />
with numerous on<strong>go</strong>ing <strong>and</strong><br />
completed road projects that are<br />
scattered in the axis. Most worthy<br />
of mention is the Ore flyover<br />
bridge, which is first of its kind in<br />
the state. The level of work on this<br />
project is now at an appreciable<br />
level. The Sabomi-Ajagba road is<br />
now 100% completed, while<br />
Police Station road in Ore is<br />
already nearing completion. It<br />
is heart also warming that<br />
Okitipupa-Ayeka-Irele road is<br />
almost 100% completed, while<br />
level of work on Okitipupa<br />
Bypass is at appreciable stage.<br />
Strategic importance of the<br />
Okitipupa/Igbokoda Bypass<br />
road is the expected drastic<br />
reduction in the perpetual traffic<br />
of Okitipupa when completed.<br />
Akeredolu is without doubt a<br />
model of performance <strong>and</strong><br />
fidelity that deserves more time<br />
in office to see to fruition his<br />
many visions <strong>and</strong> several<br />
on<strong>go</strong>ing novel infrastructural<br />
projects in the state. The<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernor is just human <strong>and</strong> may<br />
have possibly fallen short of high<br />
expectations in one or more<br />
areas of <strong>go</strong>vernance. However,<br />
he has undeniably shown himself<br />
as a star performer whose<br />
delivery of democratic<br />
dividends can be attested to by<br />
all in the state, including the<br />
blind.<br />
•Fasulu lives in Akure,<br />
Ondo State capital.<br />
By Kenny Odeworitse<br />
Okotie<br />
VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF<br />
Life changing seminars<br />
Have you ever wondered<br />
why there are so many<br />
atrocities in our dearly<br />
beloved country, Nigeria today<br />
than ever before? Have you ever<br />
imagined the senseless killings,<br />
kidnappings, hired killers <strong>and</strong><br />
armed b<strong>and</strong>itries taking place on<br />
a precedented level across the<br />
geopolitical zones of the country<br />
today?<br />
These <strong>and</strong> many more points to<br />
the fact that in the real sense,<br />
“Nigerians don’t love <strong>and</strong> cannot<br />
speak love languages”.<br />
This, however, is irrespective of<br />
the 1% that do.<br />
Today, the quest to get rich<br />
quick <strong>and</strong> the love of money have<br />
taken control over our senses.<br />
In order to get rich quick young<br />
men now use their girlfriends for<br />
ritual purposes, all for money<br />
without sweat. What about Yahoo<br />
boys! Infact, I sympathise with the<br />
IGP Mohammed Adamu. The<br />
security forces are overwhelmed<br />
<strong>and</strong> over stretched.<br />
Talking about love <strong>and</strong> love<br />
Do Nigerians speak love language?<br />
language, it is biblical that God<br />
ultimately is love. In 1John 4:<br />
7, the Bible says, “Beloved, let<br />
us love one another, for love is<br />
of God <strong>and</strong> everyone who loves<br />
is born of God <strong>and</strong> knows God”.<br />
It is this love language that<br />
Nigerians don’t speak <strong>and</strong> can’t<br />
speak that is the root cause of<br />
all the atrocities mentioned In<br />
this piece. Love language is an<br />
expression that makes you your<br />
partner or neighbour feel loved.<br />
Basically, there are two types of<br />
Love. We have the Erotic/sexual love<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Phileo/friendship love.<br />
The former Erotic Love is the<br />
word often used to express sexual<br />
love or the feelings of arousal that<br />
are shared between people who are<br />
physically attracted to each other<br />
while Phileo is most often exhibited<br />
in a close relationship. In the book<br />
of Proverbs 18 verse 24, the Bible<br />
says, “a man who has friends must<br />
himself be friendly. But there is a<br />
friend who sticks closer than a<br />
brother”. This Philoe, love involves<br />
feelings of warmth <strong>and</strong> affection<br />
towards another person. Generally,<br />
it is a love of relationship,<br />
comradeship, sharing<br />
communication <strong>and</strong> friendship.<br />
The Bible says in Proverbs 17:17,<br />
“A friend loves at all times. And a<br />
brother is born for adversity”.<br />
Summarily, Eros is for physical<br />
attraction while Phileo is friendship.<br />
<strong>No</strong>w, my one question is, “which<br />
of these do we have or practice? In<br />
practical terms, the bible says in the<br />
book of 1John 3: 18, “my little<br />
children, let us not love in word,<br />
neither in tongue but indeed <strong>and</strong> in<br />
truth”.<br />
Love is a fundamental<br />
characteristics of who our creator<br />
God is.<br />
In erotic love, why are divorce<br />
cases on the increase or why do<br />
husb<strong>and</strong>s or wives kill their spouses?<br />
Because marriage partners lack the<br />
knowledge of relationship<br />
dynamics.<br />
We tend to behave <strong>and</strong> do things<br />
inimical to <strong>go</strong>dliness trusting our<br />
own judgement instead of God’s. <strong>No</strong><br />
wonder the bible says in Proverbs<br />
16:2, “All the ways of man are pure<br />
in his own eyes. But the Lord weighs<br />
Basically, there are<br />
two types of Love.<br />
We have the<br />
Erotic/sexual love<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Phileo/<br />
friendship love<br />
the spirit.”<br />
Furthermore, in I Peter 1:22, it says<br />
“Since you have purified your souls<br />
in obeying the truth through the<br />
spirit in sincere love of the brethren,<br />
love one another fervently with a<br />
pure heart.”<br />
From the fore<strong>go</strong>ing, its obvious<br />
that Nigerians don’t <strong>and</strong> cannot<br />
speak love language, more so,<br />
cannot love in true sense of the word.<br />
Its not too late, let’s turn around <strong>and</strong><br />
commence the process of loving our<br />
neighbours as ourselves. In so doing,<br />
most of these atrocities will be a<br />
thing of the past because we would<br />
have put God <strong>and</strong> His love first in<br />
all we do.<br />
The Abadin<strong>go</strong> Abadan<strong>go</strong><br />
Foundation, an NGO will<br />
inadvertently proclaim ways <strong>and</strong><br />
means of acquiring wealth divinely<br />
without the short term measures of<br />
cutting corners, so that these<br />
inimical atrocities will ultimately be<br />
brought to the bearest <strong>minimum</strong>.<br />
The foundation shall introduce life<br />
changing seminars/workshops,<br />
conferences, soft loans/capital to<br />
members of the foundation <strong>and</strong> the<br />
alarming teaming army of<br />
unemployed youths whose burden<br />
are heavy laden.<br />
<strong>No</strong> matter who you are or your<br />
level of educational attainment or<br />
your religion or sex or age, you can<br />
join the foundation to give your life<br />
a meaning, thereby catapulting to<br />
the next level.<br />
God bless Abadin<strong>go</strong> Abadan<strong>go</strong><br />
Foundation! God bless Nigeria!!<br />
*Okotie is the Founder/<br />
Chairman, Abadin<strong>go</strong> Abadan<strong>go</strong><br />
Foundation<br />
Kenneyokotie@yahoo.com
Viewpoint<br />
By Sanjay Jain<br />
VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF<br />
Endless possibilities<br />
The celebration of <strong>No</strong>n-<br />
Resident Indians<br />
Day,popularly known as the<br />
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, is hosted<br />
annually in India by the Indian<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment. As the name implies,<br />
this special ceremony celebrates<br />
Indians who have taken residence<br />
in other countries outside India.<br />
Initially, the <strong>No</strong>n-Resident Indians<br />
Day celebrations held every two or<br />
three years but when statistics<br />
showed that there are 33 million nonresident<br />
Indians living in countries<br />
all over the world, the present-day<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment made the celebrations<br />
an annual event. The Indian<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment made many<br />
publications <strong>and</strong> implemented<br />
campaigns around the world to<br />
invite non-residents for the 2019<br />
event.<br />
This year, the <strong>No</strong>n-Resident<br />
Indians Day celebrations took place<br />
in January at one of the oldest cities<br />
of the world - VARANSI. In<br />
attendance were <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
officials <strong>and</strong> dignitaries including<br />
the President, the Prime Minister, the<br />
Minister of Foreign Affairs, the<br />
Minister of State for Defence <strong>and</strong><br />
Chief Minister of the State; all along<br />
with over 7,000 <strong>No</strong>n-Residents in<br />
attendance. The Indian <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
rolled out all the stops to ensure that<br />
non-resident Indians had a<br />
comfortable stay <strong>and</strong> a great time.<br />
The January 2019 <strong>No</strong>n- Resident<br />
Indians Day celebrations was fused<br />
with one of India’s most sacred event,<br />
the Kumbh Mela, which involves<br />
taking Holy Dip in the sacred river<br />
Ganges. Indians hold the belief that<br />
BY Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo<br />
OVERNOR Udom Emmanuel<br />
Gof Akwa Ibom State has<br />
expressed concern over the wave<br />
of cult clashes at the University of<br />
Uyo (UNIUYO), calling on security<br />
agencies to collaborate with the<br />
varsity management to fish out <strong>and</strong><br />
bring the perpetrators to book.<br />
SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019, Page 43<br />
Celebration of PRAVASI BHARTIYA DIVAS - <strong>No</strong>n-<br />
Resident Indians Day<br />
Chief Sanjay Jain at the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas( <strong>No</strong>n<br />
Resident Indians' Day ) at Varansi, India<br />
if people take a bath in the River<br />
Ganges at the time of 12 th feeding <strong>and</strong> transportation, though<br />
years’ they were allowed to sort their own<br />
anniversary of the fall of the Elixir, accommodation according to<br />
they will attain salvation. It is also a individual tastes. During the <strong>No</strong>npopular<br />
Indian belief that if Resident Indians Day celebration, the<br />
somebody dies <strong>and</strong> the ashes spread <strong>go</strong>vernment h<strong>and</strong>ed out 30 awards<br />
in River Ganges, the person’s soul to select non-resident Indians.<br />
will receive salvation. The 12 years’ The celebrations create several<br />
anniversary of Elixir Fall occurred opportunities for non-resident<br />
in January 2019 <strong>and</strong> led to the fusion Indians. It is an opportunity for nonresident<br />
Indians to come home,<br />
of the Holy Dip <strong>and</strong> the <strong>No</strong>n-<br />
Residents Day celebrations. reconnect with their roots, family,<br />
All non-resident Indians who friends <strong>and</strong> community; an<br />
came for the ceremony were warmly opportunity to see what development<br />
welcomed at the airport by projects have been completed or are<br />
designated team from the underway since their last visit; an<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment. Each visiting nonresident<br />
enjoyed free registration, laws, policies <strong>and</strong><br />
opportunity to familiarise with new<br />
economic<br />
Cult killings: Emmanuel urges UNIUYO, security agencies<br />
to fish out perpetrators<br />
Dapo Abiodun urged<br />
to <strong>pay</strong> 30 months’<br />
salaries owed<br />
college lecturers<br />
By Demola Akinyemi<br />
A<br />
PAGE 43<br />
Organisation, <strong>No</strong>n-Governmental<br />
Kakaaki<br />
Ijebu Voice, has appealed to the<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernor-elect of Ogun State,<br />
Prince Dapo Abiodun, to <strong>pay</strong> the 30<br />
months’ salaries owed staff<br />
members <strong>and</strong> lecturers of Tai<br />
Solarin College of Education, on<br />
assumption of office, to enable the<br />
victims live normal lives.<br />
The organisation, which<br />
encouraged Abiodun to ensure<br />
prompt <strong>pay</strong>ment of workers salaries<br />
henceforth, also called on the<br />
incoming administration to<br />
accelerate the development of the<br />
state by following the legacy of the<br />
first civilian <strong>go</strong>vernor, Chief Bisi<br />
Onabanjo, who “substantially<br />
developed every part of the state<br />
during his tenure”.<br />
Kakaaki Ijebu Voice, made up<br />
of professionals from various<br />
fields of endeavors, spoke at a<br />
press conference in Ilorin.<br />
Its National Coordinator ,Mr<br />
Rotimi Oduyoye, flanked by the<br />
Publicity Secretary, Olu<br />
Olawemimo, among other<br />
members of the organisation,<br />
said it behoved on them to set<br />
agenda for the new<br />
administration in order to ensure<br />
that it meets the needs <strong>and</strong><br />
aspirations of the people.<br />
Oduoye said,”We use this forum to<br />
congratulate Ogun State <strong>go</strong>vernorelect<br />
<strong>and</strong> deputy <strong>go</strong>vernor-elect, Mrs<br />
<strong>No</strong>imot Salako –Oyedele.<br />
“As a responsible professional, much<br />
as we underst<strong>and</strong> the Herculean task<br />
<strong>ahead</strong>, below are our expectations<br />
from this <strong>go</strong>vernment:<br />
“Tai Solarin College of Education,<br />
Omu Ijebu lecturer/ workers salary<br />
lingering for over 30 months.<br />
“Pay workers salary as when due” .<br />
Emmanuel made the call when the<br />
new Commissioner of Police, Mr<br />
Zaki Ahmed, paid him a courtesy<br />
visit in his office at the Government<br />
House, Uyo.<br />
The <strong>go</strong>vernor, who acknowledged<br />
the contributions of security<br />
agencies, particularly the police, in<br />
the maintenance of law <strong>and</strong> order<br />
in the state since the inception of<br />
his administration, urged them to<br />
redouble their efforts to ensure that<br />
the peaceful atmosphere being<br />
enjoyed by residents was sustained.<br />
He condemned the gruesome<br />
killings of students during recent<br />
cult clashes at UNIUYO, <strong>and</strong> advised<br />
that the varsity authorities should<br />
expel such bad eggs.<br />
His words, “I want to acknowledge<br />
the contributions of the police, other<br />
security agencies in the maintenance<br />
ONDO 2020: Ilaje scheme to be <strong>go</strong>v<br />
By Dayo Johnson, Akure<br />
UOYED by the uncertainty<br />
Bwithin the All Progressives<br />
Congress (APC), in Ondo State, the<br />
Ilajes, across party lines, have<br />
commenced moves to clinch the<br />
next <strong>go</strong>vernorship seat in the state.<br />
The move, which is being<br />
facilitated by the influential Ilaje<br />
League of Professionals, was the<br />
outcome of a meeting of the group<br />
shortly after news broke about the<br />
alleged suspension of Governor<br />
Rotimi Akeredolu from the APC.<br />
Prominent members of the group<br />
include a former Director of the<br />
NDDC, Engr. Benson Obayelu.<br />
A committee to come up with a<br />
recommendation that will actualise<br />
the dream of producing the<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernor or at least deputy <strong>go</strong>vernor<br />
of Ilaje extraction was also set up by<br />
the group at the meeting”.<br />
The membership of the committee<br />
has been kept under wraps but a<br />
prominent leader of the group told<br />
Sunday Vanguard that the quest for<br />
the <strong>go</strong>vernorship of the state did not<br />
suddenly arise because of the<br />
development within the party.<br />
Speaking in confidence, a notable<br />
leader from the area said: “We have<br />
taken seriously the issue of Ilaje<br />
producing the next <strong>go</strong>vernor of Ondo<br />
State, or a <strong>minimum</strong> of deputy<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernor. If you look at the entire<br />
state, Akoko, Owo, Ondo, Ikale have<br />
all produced the <strong>go</strong>vernor of the<br />
state.<br />
“Even Akure that has not produced<br />
the <strong>go</strong>vernor like Ilaje produced the<br />
deputy <strong>go</strong>vernor at some point. So,<br />
we have resolved to sink our political<br />
differences <strong>and</strong> work together to<br />
achieve this objective because we are<br />
the people sustaining the economy<br />
of the state.<br />
Apart from that, our neighbours,<br />
Ese-Odo, that is not oil producing has<br />
the deputy <strong>go</strong>vernor, ambassador<br />
dynamics that influence or <strong>go</strong>vern<br />
the lives in their community. It<br />
provides an opportunity to learn<br />
<strong>and</strong> take advantage of new<br />
investment opportunities that are<br />
available within the country.<br />
Just as the non-residents gets to<br />
benefit from visiting home for the<br />
celebration, the country also gets<br />
to benefit from the non-residents’<br />
visit. <strong>No</strong>n-residents are encouraged<br />
to remit their Forex savings directly<br />
to India. This gives the <strong>go</strong>vernment<br />
access to foreign currencies, which<br />
are used in establishing, businesses,<br />
telecommunication industry, bonds<br />
<strong>and</strong> real estate. These ultimately<br />
translates into economic boost for<br />
the country. For a non-petroleum<br />
trading state, India’s 1.2 billion<br />
population also depends on the<br />
imports.<br />
Beyond reconnecting with their<br />
roots, <strong>No</strong>n-resident Indians are<br />
charged to make worthy<br />
contributions to the countries or<br />
communities of their residence to<br />
ensure continuous acceptance <strong>and</strong><br />
smooth co-existence<br />
Indians have been residents in<br />
Nigeria for over 100 years now. In<br />
the beginning of their settlement,<br />
they established many<br />
manufacturing plants <strong>and</strong><br />
companies for textiles,<br />
pharmaceuticals, plastics, steel<br />
electronics etc. They were also<br />
responsible for importing a bulk<br />
percentage of product needs of the<br />
Nigerian market. In no time, they<br />
became market leaders in the<br />
Nigerian textile industry, which<br />
also became the second-largest<br />
employer after the Federal<br />
Government.<br />
Their thriving textile industry<br />
began to drown, however, when<br />
importation of cheap <strong>and</strong> lowquality<br />
materials from one<br />
exporting giant country went on the<br />
rise. As market preferences<br />
increasingly tilted towards lowpriced<br />
textiles, Indian textile<br />
companies began to struggle with<br />
tanking profit margins. When the<br />
losses became too much to bear, the<br />
Indian textile businesses shut down,<br />
yet resident Indians remained on<br />
the <strong>go</strong>od side of the law as always.<br />
The organised association for<br />
resident Indians in Nigeria is the<br />
Indian Cultural Association, led by<br />
its President Chief Sanjay Jain. The<br />
association has been in existence<br />
since pre-independent Nigeria <strong>and</strong><br />
has pushed charity causes for over<br />
60 years. The association has<br />
constantly helped needy Nigerians,<br />
especially in poor areas of La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
They have also reflected genuine<br />
interest in the Nigerian culture by<br />
making partnership or sponsorship<br />
contributions to major cultural<br />
events <strong>and</strong> festivities. Chief Sanjay<br />
Jain has been bestowed with the<br />
Asiwaju Chieftaincy title by Mushin<br />
kingdom.<br />
<strong>No</strong>n-resident Indians can enjoy the<br />
endless possibilities that comes with<br />
thriving in their state of residence<br />
as well as their home state. The <strong>No</strong>n-<br />
Resident Indians Day celebration<br />
presents the perfect opportunity for<br />
non-resident Indians to reconnect<br />
with their roots <strong>and</strong> enjoy their<br />
culture <strong>and</strong> country. Thus, all nonresidents<br />
Indians all over the world<br />
are encouraged to be a part of the<br />
celebrations yearly.<br />
*Jain attended Pravasi Bhartiya<br />
Divas (<strong>No</strong>n-Resident Indians<br />
Day) at VARANSI, India.<br />
<strong>FG</strong> to assist NAMA<br />
get world class radio<br />
communication<br />
equipment<br />
Chieftaincy : Okere Urhobo leaders vow to ensure justice<br />
eaders of Okere Urhobo<br />
LKingdom, made up of the heads<br />
of the three Ruling Houses, have<br />
vowed to pursue issues arising from<br />
the Oroseunship to a logical<br />
conclusion.<br />
In a statement by Papa Churchill<br />
Oki, for Sowhoruvwe Ruling House,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Apostle I A.M. Eraivor, Head of<br />
the three Ruling Houses, <strong>and</strong> Chief<br />
Gideon Okumagba for Olodi, Ruling<br />
of law <strong>and</strong> order in the state. It is<br />
quite sad for a student to take the<br />
life of a fellow student in the name<br />
of cultism.<br />
“ The police must get to the root<br />
of all this <strong>and</strong> fish out, apprehend<br />
the perpetrators <strong>and</strong> let them face<br />
the full wrath of the Law. And the<br />
university authorities should not<br />
hesitate to expel such bad eggs” .<br />
In his remarks earlier, Ahmed<br />
solicited for maximum<br />
cooperation from the state<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment aimed at achieving the<br />
core m<strong>and</strong>ate of his duties.<br />
Pastor Julius<br />
Kayode Opaleke of<br />
RCCG Goodness<br />
<strong>and</strong> Mercy Area<br />
Headquarters LP7,<br />
Region 11, Isolo,<br />
(middle), flanked by<br />
his wife, Yemisi, <strong>and</strong><br />
Zonal<br />
Mass Choir, when<br />
Opaleke marked his<br />
65th birthday with<br />
six hours, 30<br />
minutes Praise<br />
Night @ Daystar<br />
Zonal Headquarters<br />
on Friday.<br />
<strong>and</strong> even wanted to rob us of the<br />
House of Representatives which we<br />
resisted at all costs”.<br />
It was gathered that the meeting<br />
made assessment of the possible<br />
chances of all the <strong>go</strong>vernorship<br />
aspirants from the area, including<br />
Chief Olusola Oke of the APC, Chief<br />
Sola Ebiseni, Hon Banji Okunomo<br />
<strong>and</strong> Hon. Kolade Akinjo, all of the<br />
Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).<br />
But as the move heightens, a cross<br />
section of the group has canvassed<br />
that the Ilaje should support the<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernorship ambition of a former<br />
Attorney General, Eyitayo Jegede,<br />
SAN, with aim of an Ilaje running<br />
mate. Akinjo, current member of<br />
the House of Representatives, who<br />
just won a second term, is being<br />
tipped as deputy to Jegede.<br />
House, they accused an unnamed<br />
cabal in the kingdom of using<br />
officers of the Delta State<br />
Directorate of Chieftaincy Affairs to<br />
intimidate, provoke <strong>and</strong> suppress,<br />
“the genuine choice of the people as<br />
the Oroseun of the kingdom.”<br />
They noted that the state<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment had no business in the<br />
selection <strong>and</strong> nomination process<br />
of the Oroseun, saying it is the duty<br />
of three Ruling Houses.<br />
By Lawani Mikairu<br />
he Federal Government has<br />
Trestated its commitment to<br />
assisting the Nigeria Airspace<br />
Management Agency , NAMA, to<br />
get world class radio<br />
communication equipment for safe<br />
<strong>and</strong> efficient airspace navigation.<br />
The Managing Director of NAMA,<br />
Captain Fola Akinkuotu, who stated<br />
the <strong>go</strong>vernment’s position, explained<br />
that all challenges experienced in the<br />
area of communications were being<br />
tackled with relentless vi<strong>go</strong>ur.<br />
Akinkuotu was addressing an air<br />
controllers/ pilot interactive session<br />
in La<strong>go</strong>s, held under the theme,<br />
‘ Enhancing Safety of Flight<br />
Operations’ .<br />
Radio communication is a critical<br />
factor in pilots-air traffic controllers<br />
<strong>and</strong> pilot-pilot exchanges during<br />
flight operations. The NAMA boss<br />
told the session that Nigeria’s<br />
airspace deserves the very best radio<br />
communications system, <strong>and</strong> that<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment was working to deliver<br />
it.<br />
Vowing that there was no <strong>go</strong>ing back<br />
in achieving an efficient radio<br />
communication, he said: “We have<br />
made inroads in the area of radio<br />
communications but there are<br />
challenges…. I want to assure my<br />
colleagues, the pilots <strong>and</strong> the<br />
controllers that efforts are being<br />
made. And we are not <strong>go</strong>ing to stop.<br />
I am not <strong>go</strong>ing to stop, so long as I<br />
am in NAMA, from trying to deliver<br />
an optimally functional radio<br />
communications system for our<br />
airspace.”<br />
Akinkuotu, who has a rare distinction<br />
of being a pilot <strong>and</strong> an aeronautical<br />
engineer, explained that it was<br />
essential for communication<br />
between pilots <strong>and</strong> air traffic<br />
controllers to be crisp <strong>and</strong> clear,<br />
stressing, “Part of NAMA’s job is<br />
communication. We will keep<br />
trying; we will not rest until we fix it.<br />
We will fix it.”<br />
They described the present process<br />
as “an absurdity” because they did<br />
not participate.<br />
While disclosing that they made<br />
their positions known on who was<br />
selected <strong>and</strong> nominated to Delta<br />
State <strong>go</strong>vernment by way of<br />
correspondence, they said they were<br />
ignored saying that is why they are<br />
in the High Court of Warri <strong>and</strong> Court<br />
of Appeal in Benin City to seek<br />
justice.
PAGE 44— SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
Sun Kaleidoscope<br />
BENUE NATIVES VOW:<br />
Return of grazing route means<br />
more deaths, plan will not st<strong>and</strong><br />
By Peter Duru, Makurdi<br />
Tension is brewing in Benue State after<br />
news of President Muhammadu Buhari's<br />
town-hall with the Nigerian community<br />
in Dubai, on April 9, filtered in that he<br />
hinted about the Federal Government's<br />
plan to reintroduce grazing routes in the<br />
country.<br />
At the meeting, the President was quoted<br />
to have absolved herdsmen he tagged as<br />
"Nigerian cattle rearers" of guilt in the<br />
killing of farmers in Benue <strong>and</strong> elsewhere,<br />
putting the blame on those he labelled as<br />
"cattle rearers from Mali, Burkina Faso,<br />
Niger, Chad, Cameroon <strong>and</strong> other cattle<br />
herders”.<br />
He reportedly added, "Those of you, who<br />
are neighbours to cattle<br />
rearers, know that<br />
they used to carry only<br />
sticks <strong>and</strong> their machetes<br />
to cut foliage for<br />
the cattle.<br />
“But these are cattle<br />
rearers with weapons<br />
like AK47 but the<br />
problem is that you<br />
can hardly identify the<br />
difference because cattle<br />
rearers look the<br />
same."<br />
Buhari also said that<br />
his differences with<br />
Governor Samuel<br />
Ortom on the matter<br />
compelled the Benue<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernor to leave the<br />
The President's<br />
comment is, by<br />
far, the most<br />
direct admission<br />
by him that he<br />
has no idea of<br />
what the<br />
modern solution<br />
to what he described<br />
as an<br />
old problem is<br />
ruling<br />
All<br />
Progressives Congress,<br />
APC.<br />
His words, "I took the<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernor on this <strong>and</strong><br />
this is one of the reasons<br />
he left our party<br />
for another party.<br />
“Because I told him<br />
the cattle rearers <strong>and</strong><br />
settlers’ problem in<br />
Nigeria is older than me not to talk of him<br />
<strong>and</strong>, during the First Republic, there were<br />
cattle routes; they put infrastructures <strong>and</strong><br />
even veterinary.<br />
“So, if you are a cattle rearer or you know<br />
about cattle like me, the herders now pass<br />
through anybody's l<strong>and</strong> to find water for<br />
their cattle to drink. I told Audu Ogbeh,<br />
the Minister of Agriculture, to look at the<br />
Gazette of the First Republic to get the<br />
cattle routes <strong>and</strong> get the grazing routes<br />
<strong>and</strong> re-establish them so that we can reduce<br />
this incidence. Some of you here<br />
know the efforts we are making.”<br />
Backlash<br />
The President’s comments no doubt generated<br />
a backlash <strong>and</strong> obviously did not<br />
<strong>go</strong> down well with Benue people who have<br />
not hidden their resolve for the absolute<br />
implementation <strong>and</strong> enforcement of the<br />
Open Grazing Prohibition <strong>and</strong> Ranches<br />
Establishment Law enacted by the state<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment in 2017.<br />
To the people, the resolve of the Federal<br />
Government to return grazing routes in<br />
the country was not only out of tune with<br />
the realities on ground, it would also run<br />
at variance with the state's subsisting law<br />
which, to a large extent, has stemmed the<br />
spate of herdsmen <strong>and</strong> farmers’ bloody<br />
clashes that have claimed thous<strong>and</strong>s<br />
of lives in Benue.<br />
To Benue born social commentator,<br />
Terver Atsar, "the President's<br />
comment is, by far, the<br />
most direct admission by him<br />
that he has no idea of what the<br />
modern solution to what he described<br />
as an old problem is”.<br />
Atsar went on, "It is unacceptable<br />
to <strong>pay</strong> glowing tribute to the<br />
age of a problem as a reason why<br />
it can't be solved with modern<br />
thinking, a job he was elected to<br />
do. That President Buhari is still<br />
stuck with a questionable narrative<br />
on grazing routes is unacceptable.<br />
"Unfortunately for him but fortunately<br />
for us in Benue, history<br />
books have no gazetted grazing<br />
routes in Benue. He cannot fabricate<br />
those documents he needs<br />
to back up the false claims of<br />
historic grazing routes in Benue.<br />
The reason the people he requested<br />
to exhume those documents<br />
could not do so is that those<br />
documents never existed.<br />
"By refusing to admit that even<br />
if we had such grazing routes in<br />
the past, they should have become obsolete<br />
in 2019, President Buhari has admitted<br />
that he is a leader who is stuck in the<br />
past <strong>and</strong> cannot figure out modern solutions<br />
to current problems. We obviously<br />
need another hero. Apologies to Tina<br />
Turner who sang, 'We don't need another<br />
hero.'<br />
"President Buhari also referred to the<br />
problem against all visible evidence as<br />
herders/farmers clashes. Yet, curiously, he<br />
found it expedient to harp on a solution<br />
that appeals to herdsmen without any concern<br />
for the farmers' plight.<br />
"He didn't even pretend to care about the<br />
thous<strong>and</strong>s of lives taken by marauders<br />
who, he admits, come from all over West<br />
Africa, into Benue. As far as he is concerned,<br />
we can continue to die as long as<br />
we are not willing to surrender our ancestral<br />
l<strong>and</strong>s to herdsmen from all over West<br />
Africa.<br />
"For us in Benue, it is unacceptable for a<br />
leader to admit that he cannot protect the<br />
sovereignty of his country from invaders<br />
from neighbouring countries because he<br />
doesn't know the difference between the<br />
invaders <strong>and</strong> their local accomplices? Why<br />
do we have an immigration service if our<br />
borders cannot be secured?<br />
"By the interview, he has unwittingly<br />
vindicated Ortom. Indeed he has confirmed<br />
the claim that Ortom elected to<br />
position himself as a defender of his people<br />
against Buhari's intimidating coercion<br />
to surrender his l<strong>and</strong> to herdsmen. If by<br />
his admission Ortom left the APC to oppose<br />
grazing reserves/ routes, then he indeed<br />
is a hero worth celebrating.<br />
"Perhaps APC was used as a platform to<br />
intimidate Ortom <strong>and</strong> coerce him into submission.<br />
But Ortom chose to risk his political<br />
career <strong>and</strong> even his life by jumping<br />
to the other party where his fate was unknown.<br />
"Shame to some Benue sons who are refusing<br />
to admit the obvious that Ortom is<br />
the current face of the struggle for the survival<br />
of the Benue valley, now that President<br />
Buhari has confirmed him as such.<br />
"Whereas Buhari clearly has shown exasperation<br />
over the problem, Ortom took<br />
the bull by the horns by enacting a law<br />
that, if obeyed, should put paid to indiscriminate<br />
grazing; a law which the President<br />
Buhari-led Federal Government is<br />
unwilling to recognize because it is averse<br />
to modernty <strong>and</strong> bloodless solution to the<br />
problem. Who is then a true leader between<br />
these two?”<br />
Vindication<br />
On his part, President of the Benue Youth<br />
Forum, BYF, Comrade Terrence Kuanum,<br />
the comment of the President was a vindication<br />
of the <strong>go</strong>vernment <strong>and</strong> people of<br />
Benue on their decision to enact its gazing<br />
law <strong>and</strong> also quit the APC.<br />
Kuanum said, "The comment by President<br />
Buhari has confirmed that he has no<br />
idea of the solution to the crisis rather he<br />
prefers to emphasize the duration of the<br />
crisis as superseding the solution. This is<br />
astonishing to us as a people.<br />
"We agree with Mr. President that the<br />
age long crisis is older than both he <strong>and</strong><br />
the <strong>go</strong>vernor. But we are aware that several<br />
herdsmen groups have stated openly<br />
that the crisis in Benue <strong>and</strong> some other<br />
<strong>states</strong> was a continuation of the 1804 Jihad<br />
which is aimed at the conquest of the Benue<br />
Valley <strong>and</strong> other fertile l<strong>and</strong>s in Nigeria.<br />
"And on January 1, 2018, the Miyetti<br />
Allah groups carried out their threats in<br />
the most brutal manner ever experienced<br />
in our l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> they openly claimed responsibility<br />
for the genocidal attacks <strong>and</strong><br />
no arrests were made.<br />
"But Ortom always throws the challenge<br />
that anyone with a better option to the law<br />
should bring it to the table. Obviously, the<br />
opening up of grazing cattle routes carved<br />
long a<strong>go</strong> when the country had a smaller<br />
population cannot be the solution to the<br />
crisis”.<br />
Shocking<br />
Also reacting, the Benue state chapter of<br />
the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through<br />
its Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom,<br />
insisted that heaping blames on foreign<br />
herdsmen for the killings in the state <strong>and</strong><br />
the resolve of the Federal Government to<br />
resort to open cattle routes to address the<br />
herders/ farmers crisis was shocking.<br />
"On the first count, this represents a<br />
shocking acceptance by the President that<br />
he <strong>and</strong> this country's security architecture<br />
are not only incapable of policing its borders<br />
effectively to stop criminal elements<br />
from breaching those borders, but at the<br />
same time, they are powerless to curb the<br />
criminal activities of those intruder elements<br />
in the country," Iortyom stated.<br />
A former House of Representatives member<br />
<strong>and</strong> Convener of Benue Women Forum,<br />
Mrs. Rebecca Apedzan, also contributed<br />
to the issue, saying, “All over the<br />
globe, even in smaller countries, cattle<br />
routes have been done away with <strong>and</strong><br />
ranching of cattle as enshrined in the Benue<br />
grazing law is the known best practice.<br />
"My question is why should Nigeria return<br />
to an archaic practice that would further<br />
aggravate this lingering herders/farmers<br />
conflict? The fact is that Benue people<br />
have a law that is in conformity with the<br />
business of cattle rearing globally <strong>and</strong> the<br />
earlier the Federal Government adopts it<br />
to end the mindless killings of innocent<br />
Nigerians, the better for us all."
AFCON 2019: Super Eagles<br />
plan to storm Egypt early<br />
NIGERIA’s Super<br />
Eagles are planning<br />
to be the first team<br />
to arrive Egypt for the<br />
2019 Africa Cup of Nations,<br />
where they hope to<br />
win their fourth title.<br />
The idea, according to<br />
team officials, is to afford<br />
the Super Eagles an ample<br />
opportunity to acclamatise<br />
<strong>and</strong> prepare adequately<br />
for the tournament<br />
in which they are<br />
one of the favourites.<br />
The Eagles will begin<br />
their campaign in Group<br />
B that includes Madagascar,<br />
Guinea <strong>and</strong> Burundi<br />
with a game<br />
against Burundi on June<br />
22 at the Alex<strong>and</strong>ria Stadium.<br />
Team Spokes man Toyin<br />
Ibitoye told NAN that<br />
the Eagles will camp in<br />
Asaba where they would<br />
play a a friendly before<br />
jetting out to Egypt to<br />
play another friendly<br />
with Senegal.<br />
“The team will have few<br />
weeks of camping in Asaba,<br />
but we want to be in<br />
Egypt early to start preparations.<br />
“The plan is for us to<br />
get to Egypt at least seven<br />
or eight days before<br />
our first match. So, in<br />
Egypt, we will play a<br />
friendly against Senegal<br />
because we want to really<br />
focus on getting our<br />
players fresh.<br />
“There is a need to underst<strong>and</strong><br />
that AFCON is<br />
coming up at the end of<br />
European football season,<br />
so the trick is to get<br />
the players fresh <strong>and</strong><br />
keep them away from injuries.<br />
“It is <strong>go</strong>ing to be a tough<br />
challenge in Egypt, so<br />
the coach has been talking<br />
to the players on his<br />
approach <strong>and</strong> the need<br />
for them to be fit so that<br />
we can come together to<br />
play the tournament with<br />
full blast,” he said.<br />
Ibitoye said that Egypt<br />
remained the tournament<br />
favourites considering<br />
the fact that they were the<br />
host nation <strong>and</strong> also have<br />
a <strong>go</strong>od squad.<br />
“The tournament will<br />
be taking place in Egypt<br />
so they are the favourites<br />
<strong>and</strong> also have a <strong>go</strong>od<br />
squad. Morocco also<br />
comes to mind <strong>and</strong> Senegal.<br />
“The likes of the defending<br />
champions,<br />
Cameroon <strong>and</strong> Ghana<br />
are potential winners<br />
<strong>and</strong> outsiders such as<br />
South Africa, Mali <strong>and</strong><br />
Guinea; these are teams<br />
that can spring surprises,”<br />
he said.<br />
Nesiama praises Nigerian juniors’<br />
exploits in Cote d’ Ivoire<br />
FIFA U-20 WC: Aigbogun<br />
submits provisional list<br />
FLYING<br />
Eagles<br />
coach Paul Aigbogun<br />
has submitted a provisional<br />
list of 30 players<br />
<strong>ahead</strong> of the FIFA U-20<br />
World Cup in Pol<strong>and</strong>.<br />
The list include Villarreal<br />
of Spain up <strong>and</strong><br />
coming striker Samuel<br />
Chukweze, Bologna of<br />
Italy midfielder Kingsley<br />
Michael <strong>and</strong> Manchester<br />
City’s midfielder Tom<br />
Dele Bashiru, but long<br />
Afeez Aremu who<br />
helped the team to qualify<br />
for the World Cup<br />
was dropped from the<br />
list.<br />
The Flying Eagles<br />
have been drawn in the<br />
same group alongside<br />
Qatar, USA <strong>and</strong> Ukraine<br />
at the 2019 FIFA U20<br />
World Cup finals.<br />
The Squad:<br />
Home-Based: Detan<br />
Ogundare, Olawale Oremade,<br />
Matthew Yakubu,<br />
Mike Zaruma, Rabiu<br />
Mohammad, Solomon<br />
Onome, Ikouwem Udo<br />
Utin, Quadri Liameed,<br />
Adewale Oladoye, Peter<br />
Eletu, Ernest Chidiebere,<br />
Victor Arikpo, Effiom<br />
Maxwell, Abubakar<br />
Ibrahim, Adeshina Gata,<br />
Aniekeme Okon, Sor Collins,<br />
Ahmad Ghali, Aliu<br />
Salawudeen, Tijani Muhammad,<br />
Pascal Durugbor,<br />
Saeed Jibril, Valentine<br />
Ozornwafor.<br />
Overseas-Based: Samuel<br />
Chukwueze, Kingsley<br />
Michael, Ash Kigbu,<br />
Tom Dele-Bashiru, Chinedu<br />
Ekene, Henry Offia,<br />
Abubakar Jibril, Hamdi<br />
Akujobi.<br />
*Musa Ahmed,Super Eagles captain<br />
By Ben Efe<br />
FORMER Athletics<br />
Federation of Nigeria,<br />
AFN technical director,<br />
Omatseye Nesiama said<br />
the efforts of Nigerian athletes<br />
at the last African Junior<br />
Championships in Cote<br />
d’ Ivoire is commendable<br />
considering the difficult<br />
conditions they had to cope<br />
with.<br />
Retired Navy Commodore<br />
Nesiama who is also<br />
a member of Confederation<br />
of African Athletics (CAA)<br />
Technical <strong>and</strong> Competitions<br />
Commission, said Nigerians<br />
should be proud of the<br />
athletes who came third<br />
behind Kenya <strong>and</strong> South<br />
Africa on the overall medals<br />
table.<br />
He pointed out that athletes<br />
like Favour Ofili who<br />
won triple <strong>go</strong>ld in the youth<br />
cate<strong>go</strong>ry was quite a revelation<br />
<strong>and</strong> she gives hope<br />
for the future of Nigerian<br />
athletics.<br />
“The high points of the<br />
competition to me were<br />
many. One of it was to see<br />
Nigeria producing the best<br />
overall female athlete, Ofili<br />
Favour, this is no mean feat.<br />
“Another high point is<br />
being very professional in<br />
my officiating the U-18 male<br />
high jump event where a<br />
Nigerian won with a personal<br />
best,” Nesiama told<br />
NAN.<br />
“Naturally as a Nigerian,<br />
I was excited many times<br />
internally to see Nigeria<br />
win medals.<br />
“Team Nigeria’s performance<br />
can be considered<br />
<strong>go</strong>od, bearing in mind what<br />
the entire team had to <strong>go</strong><br />
through logistics wise.<br />
“They traveled by road<br />
<strong>and</strong> arrived at the eve of the<br />
competition <strong>and</strong> it took time<br />
before they could get settled<br />
into the Athlete’s Village.”<br />
Also speaking on her experience,<br />
discus thrower<br />
Prince Kara revealed that<br />
winning a <strong>go</strong>ld medal <strong>and</strong><br />
achieving her personal best<br />
more than made up for the<br />
long suffering they endured.<br />
“It wasn’t easy for us but<br />
I’m glad that I went there<br />
to put up a performance<br />
that I never expected.”<br />
The team returned last<br />
Tuesday <strong>and</strong> the AFN officials<br />
sent them away empty<br />
h<strong>and</strong>ed, not even transport<br />
money back to their<br />
respective homes. It was<br />
buses provided by the Delta<br />
State sports council that<br />
took some of them away.<br />
However, it was gathered<br />
that the athletes were asked<br />
to drop their bank accounts<br />
with the hope that they will<br />
be reimbursed at a later<br />
date.<br />
Edo <strong>go</strong>vt lauds Mabel Madojiemu<br />
Schools athletics meet<br />
EDO State <strong>go</strong>vern<br />
ment has found the<br />
efforts made by former<br />
athlete, Mabel Madojiemu<br />
to revive athletics in<br />
the State commendable.<br />
And the deputy <strong>go</strong>vernor,<br />
Dr. Philip Shaibu<br />
has promised to make a<br />
huge presence when the<br />
Princes Mabel Madojiemu<br />
Schools meet begin<br />
on May 6 in Benin City.<br />
According to former<br />
400m hurdler, Henry<br />
Amike, the Edo State<br />
deputy <strong>go</strong>vernor has given<br />
his blessings to the<br />
catch them young meet,<br />
the first of its kind in<br />
many years.<br />
“We have been to the<br />
office of the deputy <strong>go</strong>vernor<br />
<strong>and</strong> they were<br />
quite receptive <strong>and</strong> have<br />
pledged their support for<br />
the event,” said Amike<br />
who is the national 400m<br />
hurdles 48.50 secs record<br />
holder for many years.<br />
“All preparations have<br />
been made <strong>and</strong> we are<br />
looking forward to a<br />
great event,” added<br />
Amike.<br />
It was also gathered<br />
that traditional rulers<br />
from Igueben, Madojiemu’s<br />
home town have<br />
also signified their interest<br />
to attend the meet to<br />
support their daughter.<br />
Fifteen schools from the<br />
State will participate in<br />
the two-day meet.<br />
Vanguard, SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2019 — 45<br />
Shaibu leads Edo exco to<br />
grace FA Cup final in Ekpoma<br />
*Shaibu, Edo Dep Gov<br />
EDO State Acting Gov<br />
ernor Comrade Philip<br />
Shaibu, Secretary to the<br />
State <strong>go</strong>vernment, Barrister<br />
Osarodion Ogie, Commissioner<br />
for Employment <strong>and</strong><br />
Wealth Creation, Barrister<br />
Emmanuel Usoh, <strong>and</strong> other<br />
members of the State Executives<br />
are expected to be the<br />
Special guests at the final of<br />
the Edo State Football Association<br />
Cup final taking<br />
place today at the Ambrose<br />
Alli University Sports complex<br />
Ekpoma in Esan West<br />
Local Government Area of<br />
Edo State.<br />
Speaking to news men<br />
shortly after Edo Queens<br />
zoomed into the final, Comrade<br />
Shaibu said that he<br />
was happy that Edo State has<br />
continued to keep to its<br />
promises of making sports<br />
development a cardinal<br />
point of her administration.<br />
“We have continued to echo<br />
it that we will ensure that<br />
sports in Edo State regains<br />
her premier position in the<br />
country. We are totally committed<br />
to using sports as a<br />
veritable tool of creating employment<br />
for our teeming<br />
youths in the state. By the<br />
Special Grace of God, we will<br />
all be at Ekpoma to witness<br />
the final of this year’s Edo<br />
FA Cup Final. Of course you<br />
know that all the teams involved<br />
in the competition are<br />
all teams from Edo, so we are<br />
<strong>go</strong>ing there to give our supports<br />
to <strong>go</strong>od football.”<br />
Meanwhile, Edo Queens<br />
Football Club of Benin on<br />
Friday humiliated Rolly<br />
Babes FC 3-0 at the semifinal<br />
match played at the<br />
Garrison Barracks sports<br />
complex in Benin- City.<br />
In a chat with sports journalists<br />
at the end of the<br />
game, Technical Director of<br />
the team, Pa Coach Godwin<br />
Izilein, said he was happy<br />
that the girls gave <strong>go</strong>od account<br />
of themselves, adding<br />
that the match is part of the<br />
team’s preparation for the<br />
forthcoming Women’s<br />
League billed to commence<br />
very soon in Nigeria.<br />
“I’m happy that we have<br />
qualified for the final of this<br />
years’ Edo FA Cup competition.<br />
These games you have<br />
just watched now is part of<br />
our training <strong>and</strong> build up<br />
towards the forthcoming<br />
women’s League which will<br />
commence within the next<br />
few weeks. For us as managers<br />
of the team, we believe<br />
we can get better as we move<br />
<strong>ahead</strong>. We cannot say that<br />
we have arrived, we need to<br />
train our girls very well so<br />
that they would be able to<br />
st<strong>and</strong> the test of time when it<br />
matters most,” Izilein said.<br />
Adamark Foundation commences<br />
<strong>No</strong> Barriers Female Basketball<br />
League in Abuja<br />
*Adamark basketball players<br />
Afemale basketball league, the first of its kind in the<br />
Federal Capital City has commenced with nine teams.<br />
Floated by the Adamark Foundation for Girls, an NGO,<br />
the league for girls within the FCT started running from<br />
April 20 <strong>and</strong> will end on July 6. It will hold on Saturdays<br />
<strong>and</strong> on Sundays, with an All Star Game planned to culminate<br />
the championship in the first week of July.<br />
Founder of the Adamark Foundation, Mrs Ada Mark<br />
Ogbole said that the ‘<strong>No</strong> Barriers Female Basketball<br />
League’, which is being decided at the Mapache High<br />
School Uncommon Ground, Apo Resettlement Scheme<br />
in Abuja was to give girls opportunity to play <strong>and</strong> develop<br />
their skills since they get little or no time to train<br />
<strong>and</strong> play compared to boys in spite of their skills <strong>and</strong><br />
zeal.<br />
“To birth the idea, we came together <strong>and</strong> decided to<br />
float a basketball league in Abuja. We know that we have<br />
the Zenith League which does not give girls enough<br />
playing time considering that we have too many girls<br />
who have the zeal <strong>and</strong> passion to play basketball. So,<br />
we wanted to create enough playing time for the girls<br />
since boys have more playing time <strong>and</strong> playgrounds to<br />
play basketball.<br />
As a foundation, our focus are girls <strong>and</strong> since we have<br />
been running basketball clinics for girls for five years<br />
now so we thought we should create another opportunity<br />
that will add value for the girls to play.
46 — SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
Kuffour, the toughest defender I ever faced, says<br />
Okocha *Revealed how God saved him from Bundesliga coach<br />
By John Egbokhan<br />
FORMER Super Ea<br />
gle’s talismanic midfielder<br />
has said that as a<br />
player, he didn’t want to release<br />
the ball to his teammates<br />
because he felt he<br />
could do no wrong with it.<br />
Okocha also admitted<br />
that his Bundesliga career<br />
with Eintracht Frankfurt<br />
would have come to an<br />
abrupt end had he not<br />
scored against Oliver Khan<br />
after dribbling no fewer<br />
than five defenders <strong>and</strong> the<br />
former German <strong>go</strong>al Keeper<br />
Ṫhe 1994 African Cup of<br />
Nations winner also revealed<br />
that African defenders<br />
were the most difficult<br />
opponents he ever faced<br />
during his illustrious career<br />
that saw him play at<br />
the 1994 FIFA World Cup<br />
in USA.<br />
Speaking in an exhaustive<br />
interview with reporters<br />
at the Bundesliga Star-<br />
Times Legends Tour in La<strong>go</strong>s,<br />
Okocha said that he<br />
was his biggest foe when in<br />
control of the ball.<br />
“As a player I did not<br />
want to pass the ball to anyone<br />
but my coaches in the<br />
Bundesliga taught me how<br />
to play for the <strong>go</strong>od of the<br />
team. I always felt very<br />
comfortable with the ball.<br />
When with it, I believed that<br />
nobody could stop me. I<br />
knew I was gifted with the<br />
ball <strong>and</strong> could do anything<br />
with it.<br />
I was my biggest opponent.<br />
I never believed anybody<br />
could take the ball<br />
away from me, but I was<br />
made to release later that<br />
it was about the team, not<br />
the individual”.<br />
On his famous <strong>go</strong>al<br />
against Oliver Khan,<br />
Okocha said it was as a result<br />
of his desire to prove a<br />
point for being benched in<br />
that game.<br />
According to the former<br />
Bolton captain, “it was not<br />
planned but it was meant<br />
to be. I was on the bench on<br />
that day <strong>and</strong> upset not to<br />
be selected. So when I was<br />
called upon to <strong>go</strong> in, I wanted<br />
to prove a big point. I<br />
was patient enough to have<br />
held the ball for that long<br />
because when I tried to<br />
shoot at <strong>go</strong>al, one defender<br />
would come <strong>and</strong> I would<br />
just move my leg <strong>and</strong> another<br />
would come, prompting<br />
me to step away again<br />
until I eventually scored.<br />
Our manager then said<br />
that had I missed that scoring<br />
chance that I would not<br />
have played again, so God<br />
rescued me from his<br />
threat”.<br />
Dwelling on the toughest<br />
opponents he faced,<br />
Okocha said that former<br />
Ghanaian <strong>and</strong> Bayern Munich<br />
defender, Ossei Kuffour<br />
would rank high in this<br />
list.<br />
“I realised at a very<br />
young age that I had a gift<br />
to do special things with the<br />
ball. My biggest opponent<br />
was me. I knew I was in<br />
charge when with the ball.<br />
But on the toughest defenders<br />
I faced, I would say that<br />
my African br<strong>others</strong> were<br />
the ones.<br />
“ We have the same mentality<br />
<strong>and</strong> thought the same<br />
way. Ossei Kuffour was the<br />
toughest of them all.<br />
There was a game that he<br />
kept following <strong>and</strong> marking<br />
me <strong>and</strong> I asked him,<br />
“O boy, take it easy, look<br />
at the way you are breathing<br />
down on my neck”<br />
<strong>and</strong> he replied that “sorry<br />
I <strong>go</strong>t work to do”. “He<br />
brought out the best in<br />
me” added Okocha.<br />
U17 AFCON: Cameroon, Guinea battle for crown<br />
NEW kings of the<br />
Total U17 Africa<br />
Cup of Nations will be<br />
crowned today when<br />
Cameroon <strong>and</strong> Guinea<br />
meet in the decisive<br />
match at the National<br />
Stadium, Dar e Salaam.<br />
Cameroon <strong>go</strong> into the<br />
game as favorites having<br />
beaten Guinea 2-0 earlier<br />
in a Group B opening<br />
fixture at Chamazi Stadium,<br />
leaving Guinea<br />
with a lot to do to seek<br />
their revenge in the final.<br />
The Junior Sylis of<br />
Guinea reached their<br />
first final ever after beating<br />
Nigeria 10-9 on penalties,<br />
whilst 10-man<br />
Cameroon snatched a<br />
similar victory, 4-3 on<br />
penalties against An<strong>go</strong>la<br />
to <strong>go</strong> through their<br />
second final. Cameroon<br />
had won the title once in<br />
2003.<br />
The interesting thing<br />
about the final is that,<br />
Guinea have lost only<br />
once in this tournament<br />
<strong>and</strong> it was against their<br />
fellow finalists, Cameroon.<br />
Guinea trainer,<br />
Mohamed Camera insists<br />
that, it is their<br />
chance to revenge <strong>and</strong><br />
they have worked hard to<br />
make sure they take the<br />
trophy back home.<br />
“It doesn’t matter how<br />
many times we will wait<br />
for it, but our desire is to<br />
take our revenge on<br />
Cameroon. We lost to<br />
them in the opening<br />
game but this time we are<br />
not afraid, we want to<br />
show our superiority,” he<br />
said.<br />
“As a young coach I am<br />
really emotionally involved<br />
with this game. It<br />
is amazing to be in the<br />
final. My boys are happy<br />
to achieve this <strong>and</strong><br />
will fight to be champions,”<br />
he added.<br />
Guinea captain, Bah<br />
Algassime said; “We are<br />
very happy to be in the<br />
final. We are focused <strong>and</strong><br />
concentrated on the<br />
game. We appreciate the<br />
big support we are getting<br />
out there <strong>and</strong> we are<br />
<strong>go</strong>ing to look for a win to<br />
show our gratitude to the<br />
fans.”<br />
On the other h<strong>and</strong>,<br />
Cameroon coach, Thomas<br />
Libiih has said his ambition<br />
is to win the trophy<br />
<strong>and</strong> that will happen if<br />
they take the game serious<br />
<strong>and</strong> fight hard to win.<br />
Les Lionceaux will be<br />
missing the services of<br />
Fabrice Ndzie, who was<br />
sent off in the semis clash<br />
with An<strong>go</strong>la.<br />
“I won several trophies<br />
as a player so this will not<br />
be a big surprise for me.<br />
However what we need<br />
to know is that every<br />
coach has ambition to<br />
win trophies, <strong>and</strong> we<br />
have worked hard for<br />
it. We wish to have<br />
wonderful moment tomorrow<br />
<strong>and</strong> beat Guinea<br />
to lift the trophy,” he<br />
said.<br />
Cameroon midfielder,<br />
Nassourou Ben Hamed<br />
said; “This is the equal<br />
chance game but we<br />
are not <strong>go</strong>ing to take<br />
our opponents lite. Our<br />
motivation <strong>and</strong> desire<br />
is to win this trophy<br />
<strong>and</strong> we are ready for<br />
that. We know that we<br />
are <strong>go</strong>ing to achieve<br />
our motive of becoming<br />
new champions.”<br />
*As Eaglets crash again, lose bronze medal match to<br />
An<strong>go</strong>la<br />
Nigeria finished out<br />
side the medals’<br />
zone after losing 1-2 to An<strong>go</strong>la<br />
in the third place<br />
match of the 13th Africa U17<br />
Cup of Nations in Tanzania<br />
on Saturday. The Golden<br />
Eaglets however kept<br />
their ticket to the FIFA U17<br />
World Cup in Brazil.<br />
The technical crew of the<br />
five–time world champions<br />
must be quite worried how<br />
the Eaglets’ scorecard<br />
showed a steady decline in<br />
the tournament. First they<br />
narrowly edged a nine-<strong>go</strong>al<br />
thriller (against Tanzania);<br />
won by a <strong>go</strong>al from the spot<br />
(against An<strong>go</strong>la); came<br />
*Okocha<br />
from behind to draw (against<br />
Ug<strong>and</strong>a); lost on penalty<br />
shoot-out (against Guinea)<br />
<strong>and</strong>; then lost in regulation<br />
time (against An<strong>go</strong>la).<br />
It is an unflattering output<br />
at a continental championship<br />
for a country that has<br />
won the world title five times,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the team has, sincerely,<br />
not done enough to justify the<br />
support of the Nigeria Football<br />
Federation <strong>and</strong> the confidence<br />
of Nigerian ball fans.<br />
It was always <strong>go</strong>ing to end<br />
this way for a team that<br />
wastes opportunities without<br />
blinking, <strong>and</strong> despite creating<br />
another basketful of<br />
chances, <strong>and</strong> playing against<br />
a team with one man down<br />
Manu Garba, Eaglet's<br />
coach<br />
for 34 minutes (after Porfirio<br />
Abrantes <strong>go</strong>t a second<br />
yellow card), the Manu<br />
Garba-tutored team led<br />
failed to make hay.<br />
Cameroon <strong>and</strong> Guinea<br />
will contest today’s final in<br />
Dar es Salaam.<br />
Between Soldiers <strong>and</strong><br />
Footballers<br />
AFEW days a<strong>go</strong> I posted this “Chukwu must not die. Enugu<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment, NFF, <strong>and</strong> Femi Otedola rally round him.<br />
Many more support are expected,” on my Facebook wall. The<br />
crux of the post is that the Enugu State <strong>go</strong>vernment, Nigeria<br />
Football Federation, NFF <strong>and</strong> oil magnate, Femi Otedola have<br />
rallied round him, to do what? To help save his life.<br />
As a result, a friend <strong>and</strong> colleague, Yomi Idowu who read it,<br />
reminded me that Emmanuel Okala, one time first choice <strong>go</strong>alkeeper<br />
of the senior national team, the Green Eagles as they were<br />
then known, was equally ill <strong>and</strong> should be assisted. I shared his<br />
post on my Facebook wall <strong>and</strong> since then my wall has been<br />
bombarded with various comments as if I committed any offence<br />
by bringing Okala’s health situation to people’s awareness.<br />
I want to ask, if Chukwu could be assisted, why not Okala? Both<br />
men brought honour to Nigeria <strong>and</strong> played in the same team. In<br />
a team, there must be a captain <strong>and</strong> that was what Chukwu was.<br />
His role as a defender was not greater than Okala’s as a <strong>go</strong>alkeeper.<br />
It mustn’t be NFF or the <strong>go</strong>vernment of Okala’s home<br />
State that must always help but <strong>go</strong>od spirited Nigerians whom<br />
God has blessed. God blesses people to be able to help <strong>others</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
not to keep it for themselves alone. Do foreigners who donate to<br />
the course of Nigerians have any obligation to do so? <strong>No</strong>. They<br />
are humans <strong>and</strong> feel touched to help because they love their<br />
neighbours as themselves as God dem<strong>and</strong>ed of us all.<br />
When in 2016 our Olympic football team were str<strong>and</strong>ed in the<br />
US <strong>and</strong> were at risk of missing their opening match, it took the<br />
benevolence of an American airline to fly them to Brazil early<br />
enough to play the game which they still won.<br />
The dexterity of the players who put all the inconveniences <strong>and</strong><br />
jetlag behind them to still win the match against Japan overwhelmed<br />
a Japanese billionaire, Dr. Katsuya Takasu who donated<br />
the sum of $390,000 to the players <strong>and</strong> their coach to share.<br />
Rather than commend the donor, a minister who should hide<br />
his face in shame for bringing disgrace to the country bt ab<strong>and</strong>oning<br />
the team, first wanted to know why the money was routed<br />
through Samson Siasia, the team’s coach rather than through<br />
his office. He added another shameful dimension, querying the<br />
source of the money, alluding to the fact that it might be drug<br />
money.<br />
The comments, most of which were quite unsavoury, condemned<br />
the ‘special’ treatment always given to sportsmen, especially<br />
footballers, whom they said were paid during their playing<br />
days <strong>and</strong> deserve nothing from the <strong>go</strong>vernment again.<br />
Majority pointed to soldiers whom they say risk their lives protecting<br />
the country, policemen who battle men of the underworld<br />
every day to enable us sleep well at night <strong>and</strong> move about freely at<br />
day time without molestation but don’t get such assistance.<br />
These critics were right in their comments as it concerns the<br />
right of the soldiers <strong>and</strong> policemen as well as other Nigerians<br />
who work for the development of Nigeria. But the similarities end<br />
there as sports people, particularly footballers in this circumstance,<br />
are not employees of the <strong>go</strong>vernment but volunteers who<br />
answered national call to serve their fatherl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
While the soldiers, policemen <strong>and</strong> civil servants are all employees<br />
of <strong>go</strong>vernment on full salaries with other attachments like<br />
medical, transports, feeding, leave <strong>and</strong> inconvenience allowances,<br />
footballers are entitled to only match bonuses <strong>and</strong> camping<br />
allowances.<br />
The allowances of the <strong>go</strong>vernment workers mentioned above<br />
are paid monthly for 12 months for the duration of their service<br />
which maybe up to 35 years. This is in addition to the gratuity they<br />
collect when they retire <strong>and</strong> the pension they collect monthly till<br />
they answer the final call by God.<br />
What do the sports people or footballers get <strong>and</strong> for how long?<br />
Many people forget that the actual competitive life span of every<br />
sports man or woman doesn’t last beyond 10 years. And during<br />
this 10 years, they don’t compete monthly but seasonally.<br />
In the life of a gifted footballer who God keeps fit always for<br />
instance, he may only attend two World Cups <strong>and</strong> five Africa<br />
Nations Cup in his 10 years as an active footballer. Compare his<br />
bonuses <strong>and</strong> camp allowances in those competitions to what the<br />
<strong>go</strong>vernment worker earns every month for 12 months in 35 years<br />
<strong>and</strong> you will see that they footballers should be commended for<br />
their service to fatherl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
The reason Nigeians complain about the allowance footballers<br />
earn is because it is always in foreign currency. But even at that, it<br />
is nothing compared to what the <strong>go</strong>vernment worker earns <strong>and</strong><br />
continues to earn till he passes on. So Nigerians should stop<br />
comparing our sports men <strong>and</strong> women who do not only bring<br />
happiness <strong>and</strong> joy to our homes but are better image launderers<br />
for our country than all the politicians put together.<br />
So still on helping people at critical moments of their lives, it<br />
doesn’t have to be Chukwu or Okala, if a neighbour has a life<br />
threatening ailment <strong>and</strong> we are in a position to assist, let us do it,<br />
if not for the individual’s sake, then for God so that He will continue<br />
to bless us.<br />
If we keep saying because somebody worked <strong>and</strong> was paid his<br />
or her salary or even gratuity <strong>and</strong> therefore should live with his<br />
pain <strong>and</strong> die, then we are not being humane <strong>and</strong> the call for<br />
citizens to be patriotic always will be a waste of time.<br />
Thoughts like these as well as the fact that the country doesn’t<br />
care for her citizens account partially for why individuals steal<br />
the country blind, hoping to cater for themselves <strong>and</strong> their families<br />
in critical times when no one will care after serving their<br />
country.<br />
May God touch our hearts so that we could be guided by what<br />
was written in the Holy Book which <strong>tells</strong> us in Mark 12:31: ‘Love<br />
your neighbor as yourself.’ It concluded by advising us that “There<br />
is no comm<strong>and</strong>ment greater than these.”
Drop Iwobi bring in Saka, Gunners fans tell<br />
Emery<br />
*Lowe<br />
AS Arsenal face Le<br />
icester City today in<br />
their bid for a top four finish,<br />
the Gunners fans have<br />
called on coach Unai Emery<br />
to drop Alex Iwobi <strong>and</strong><br />
bring in Bukayo Saka.<br />
Up <strong>and</strong> coming Saka<br />
helped the Arsenal B team<br />
to a comfortable 3-0 win<br />
over Leicester City at the<br />
Emirates. The 17-year-old<br />
led the Gunners to a ninth<br />
match unbeaten with a<br />
breathtaking performance<br />
that left the Foxes reeling<br />
after just ten minutes.<br />
Saka has already trained<br />
with Unai Emery’s first<br />
team squad <strong>and</strong> made four<br />
appearances, including a<br />
first start in a Europa<br />
League group stage win<br />
over Qarabag. His exploits<br />
in the youth set-up certainly<br />
haven’t <strong>go</strong>t unnoticed this<br />
season either.<br />
The Arsenal U23 boss<br />
Freddie Ljungberg said:<br />
“Bukayo is very, very <strong>go</strong>od. I<br />
said it from the beginning of<br />
the season. I had him when<br />
he was 15 <strong>and</strong> I have him<br />
again, which is a pleasure.<br />
“He’s a kid that’s humble,<br />
he works really hard every<br />
day in training, sometimes<br />
with the first team <strong>and</strong> sometimes<br />
with us. He just needs<br />
to keep on working. His time<br />
will come.<br />
“The only thing we have to<br />
look at, sometimes, is that<br />
he’s only 17.”<br />
And fans responding to a<br />
tweet by Arsenal academy<br />
called on Emery to drop<br />
Iwobi <strong>and</strong> draft in Saka for<br />
their game against Leicester<br />
at the Fox Stadium, claiming<br />
that the youngster was<br />
better than Iwobi.<br />
La Liga more than football league -- Sid Lowe<br />
By Ben Efe<br />
TOP Spanish football<br />
writer, Sid Lowe<br />
said football in that country<br />
is much more than a<br />
sport.<br />
Lowe who was in La<strong>go</strong>s<br />
to give insight on his experience<br />
with the Spanish<br />
League, told listening<br />
Nigerian sports journalists<br />
<strong>and</strong> analyst yesterday<br />
that the LaLiga is one of<br />
the best leagues in the<br />
world <strong>and</strong> according to<br />
him, it was more than<br />
football <strong>and</strong> everything<br />
about Spanish history <strong>and</strong><br />
culture.<br />
“When you are reporting<br />
Solskjaer gets massive boost for clash<br />
against Chelsea<br />
M ANCHESTER<br />
United manager<br />
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer<br />
has confirmed a massive<br />
injury boost <strong>ahead</strong> of the<br />
crucial fixture against<br />
Chelsea this afternoon<br />
at Old Trafford.<br />
The Red Devils face the<br />
Blues at Old Trafford in<br />
a huge game in the battle<br />
to finish in the top<br />
four in the Premier<br />
League this season.<br />
With the hosts three<br />
points behind Chelsea,<br />
it’s very much a mustwin<br />
game for them <strong>and</strong><br />
Solskjaer has confirmed<br />
that Herrera could return<br />
after recovering from a<br />
hamstring injury, having<br />
been out of action since<br />
the win against Watford<br />
at Old Trafford March<br />
30.<br />
“I would think so<br />
yeah,” Solskjaer said<br />
when asked if he could<br />
feature.<br />
“Ander has been training,<br />
he is enthusiastic<br />
<strong>and</strong> probably be involved<br />
on Sunday, can’t<br />
guarantee but he’s<br />
trained the last two<br />
days.”<br />
The Spaniard’s return<br />
is a huge boost for Solskjaer’s<br />
side, with United<br />
having a much better<br />
win percentage with him<br />
in the side.<br />
Since Solskjaer took<br />
over in December, United<br />
have not lost in the<br />
Premier League when<br />
Herrera has started a<br />
game, winning eight <strong>and</strong><br />
drawing one, while they<br />
have lost four of the nine<br />
games when he hasn’t<br />
featured, winning just<br />
four <strong>and</strong> drawing one.<br />
United have seen their<br />
top four hopes hit in recent<br />
weeks, with defeats<br />
against Everton <strong>and</strong><br />
Manchester City this<br />
week leaving them facing<br />
an uphill battle to<br />
qualify for the Champions<br />
League next season.<br />
But victory against the<br />
Blues could change<br />
things, with United set to<br />
face bottom side Huddersfield<br />
Town <strong>and</strong> relegation-threatened<br />
Cardiff<br />
City in their final two fixtures.<br />
the league, it is not only<br />
about football. It is about<br />
everything in Spain.<br />
“The Clubs are deeply<br />
infused into the communities<br />
<strong>and</strong> they are very<br />
important social <strong>and</strong> cultural<br />
institutions,” said<br />
British born Lowe.<br />
He disclosed that he<br />
went to Spain to study but<br />
ended up becoming a<br />
Spanish Football expert,<br />
adding that it was the arrival<br />
of David Beckham in<br />
Spain in 1997 that further<br />
reinforced his interest reporting<br />
the LaLiga.<br />
“I had to be an interpreter<br />
to David Beckham.<br />
And also the local press<br />
relied on me to give more<br />
information about him<br />
<strong>and</strong> other English players.”<br />
He added that competition<br />
in the LaLiga was<br />
heating up <strong>and</strong> the smaller<br />
clubs are catching up<br />
with powerhouse like<br />
Barcelona <strong>and</strong> Real<br />
Madrid.<br />
Neymar’s dream to play with Hazard will come<br />
true — Zidane<br />
REAL Madrid boss Zine<br />
dine Zidane says that<br />
Neymar’s dream of playing<br />
alongside Eden Hazard could<br />
come true at the Santia<strong>go</strong><br />
Bernabeu amid rumours of a<br />
mass influx of big stars set to<br />
arrive in the Spanish capital<br />
this summer.<br />
Los Blancos have endured a<br />
dreadful season by their own<br />
high st<strong>and</strong>ards, with a failure<br />
to adequately replace Cristiano<br />
Ronaldo’s <strong>go</strong>al threat<br />
cited as big part of Madrid<br />
*Neymar<br />
*Iwobi <strong>and</strong> Saka<br />
*Solskjaer<br />
falling away in La Liga <strong>and</strong><br />
being dumped out of the<br />
Champions League by Ajax.<br />
Reports have suggested that<br />
Zidane will have a massive<br />
budget to spend on a summer<br />
rebuild, with the likes of Hazard,<br />
Neymar, Paul Pogba <strong>and</strong><br />
Kylian Mbappe all being<br />
linked with big-money moves<br />
to Madrid – <strong>and</strong> Zizou himself<br />
has done little to quiet<br />
those rumblings.<br />
When asked if Neymar could<br />
realise his wish of featuring in<br />
the same side as Hazard in<br />
*Hazard<br />
Spain, Zidane told a press<br />
conference: “Yes. A lot of players<br />
want to come here <strong>and</strong><br />
play for Real Madrid, but let’s<br />
see what happens in the future.<br />
“Will I have plenty of power<br />
to decide on transfers <strong>and</strong><br />
signings? <strong>No</strong>. I’m not even the<br />
boss in my own home! There<br />
are people here who are very<br />
important to the club that<br />
help make decisions <strong>and</strong> we<br />
want to make those together.<br />
“The idea is to empower the<br />
attacking line for next season.<br />
Let’s see what we can do.”<br />
Refusing to let the Hazard<br />
conversation lie, journalists<br />
pushed Zidane for an answer<br />
on whether Hazard could fit<br />
in a side with Gareth Bale as<br />
rumours continue to swirl that<br />
the Welsh winger would be on<br />
the move in the summer.<br />
“Yes!” again was the French<br />
boss’ answer. “All the <strong>go</strong>od<br />
players can play together. People<br />
told me that I wasn’t compatible<br />
with [fellow World<br />
Cup winner, Yuri] Djorkaeff.<br />
What a lot of nonsense, man!”<br />
SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019 — 47<br />
Bright Star, Oshogbo Utd<br />
clash in Emeka Anyaoku<br />
U-16 Cup final<br />
THIS afternoon at the<br />
Campus Mini Stadium<br />
Ajele, La<strong>go</strong>s, Oshogbo<br />
United <strong>and</strong> Bright Star FC<br />
of La<strong>go</strong>s will slug it out in<br />
the final of the 2019 Emeka<br />
Anyaoku Cup for Under-<br />
16.<br />
To reach the final, Bright<br />
Star dismissed Igbaja<br />
Babes from Kwara State,<br />
while Oshogbo United defeated<br />
Do<strong>go</strong> Boys from<br />
Kano State in the semi-final<br />
decided at the Legacy<br />
Pitch of the National Stadium<br />
in Surulere, La<strong>go</strong>s.<br />
The competition in honour<br />
of the 85-year-old<br />
former Commonwealth<br />
Secretary-General has<br />
been running for 12 years<br />
<strong>and</strong> it is an avenue for national<br />
coaches to discover<br />
young talents that will represent<br />
the country at international<br />
soccer tournaments.<br />
It is sponsored by<br />
Ibeto group of companies,<br />
organized <strong>and</strong> staged by<br />
the National Youth Soccer<br />
Association.<br />
Fear of relegation grips<br />
Leicester players<br />
AFEAR of plummeting<br />
down the Premier<br />
League table is a motivating<br />
factor for Leicester City<br />
as they clash with Arsenal in<br />
today’s English Premier<br />
League match at the Fox<br />
Stadium.<br />
According to Leicester left<br />
back, Ben Chilwell the<br />
match is must win for the<br />
2015 EPL champions, if they<br />
are to escape the drop with<br />
three games to <strong>go</strong>.<br />
“There’s loads still to play<br />
for,” Chilwell told Sky<br />
Sports.<br />
“Throughout the whole<br />
season, the thought has been<br />
in the back of our heads to<br />
try to finish seventh <strong>and</strong>,<br />
while the last three games<br />
we have now are all difficult,<br />
we are definitely within<br />
reach.<br />
“And we can drop down a<br />
lot of places if we don’t perform.<br />
“So there’s no feeling of<br />
the end of the season for us,<br />
or maybe thinking about<br />
holidays. We know how im<br />
Klopp backs Salah for <strong>go</strong>lden<br />
boot award<br />
*Salah <strong>and</strong> Coach Klopp<br />
JURGEN Klopp says well <strong>and</strong> that is why we are<br />
Mohamed Salah “has in the situation we are in.”<br />
made a big step this season”<br />
after his double the third Liverpool player<br />
Salah has become only<br />
against Huddersfield lifted to score more than 20 Premier<br />
League <strong>go</strong>als in con-<br />
him into pole position for<br />
the Golden Boot.<br />
secutive seasons for the<br />
Salah won the award club, after Robbie Fowler<br />
with 32 <strong>go</strong>als last season (1994-95 <strong>and</strong> 1995-96) <strong>and</strong><br />
but Klopp believes “it is a Luis Suarez (2012-13 <strong>and</strong><br />
bigger achievement” for 2013-14) also achieved the<br />
the Egyptian to be leading feat.<br />
the way again.<br />
Victory for Liverpool saw<br />
“It’s such an important them move back to the top<br />
year for him after a campaign<br />
where every shot was 91 points, with a two-point<br />
of the Premier League on<br />
a <strong>go</strong>al last season,” Klopp advantage over Manchester<br />
City, although the de-<br />
told the BBC.<br />
“He is being really assessed<br />
by people to see if it one game in h<strong>and</strong>.<br />
fending champions have<br />
was a one off.”<br />
“We have to do our job<br />
Salah’s 21st league <strong>go</strong>al <strong>and</strong> win the games,” Klopp<br />
of the campaign saw him told Sky Sports. “To have<br />
take the record for the most 91 points is incredible <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>go</strong>als scored (69) by a Liverpool<br />
player in his first because it doesn’t happen<br />
we should mark that day<br />
100 games for the club. every year.<br />
The Egyptian also moved “The boys have done everything<br />
possible to give<br />
<strong>ahead</strong> of team-mate Sadio<br />
Mane - who also scored ourselves a chance.”<br />
twice against the Terriers - The Reds face the La Liga<br />
in the race for the Golden leaders in the first leg of<br />
Boot when he slid his second<br />
<strong>go</strong>al past Jonas Lossl semi-final on Wednesday<br />
their Champions League<br />
late on.<br />
<strong>and</strong> the German was quick<br />
“He looked like he wanted<br />
to break that record tomours<br />
which suggested the<br />
to dismiss social media runight<br />
because after the second<br />
<strong>go</strong>al it was like ‘me of the season.<br />
Brazilian may miss the rest<br />
against the rest of the “Do not believe 3% of<br />
world’,” added Klopp. what is on social media,”<br />
“Thankfully all of the said Klopp.<br />
<strong>others</strong> are doing that as
SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2019<br />
SEE SOLUTION PAGE 5<br />
ACROSS<br />
1)United States minority<br />
leader,<br />
Mr. Chuck (7)<br />
4)Kaduna State Commissioner<br />
for<br />
Health & Human Services,<br />
Professor Jonathan Andrew (3)<br />
6)Traditional ruler of Benin (3)<br />
7)Cypriot Capital City (7)<br />
9)Nigerian Currency (5)<br />
10)Former Akwa-Ibom State<br />
Governor, Mr. Godswill (7)<br />
13)Deputy Clerk of the National<br />
Assembly, Mr. Olaide<br />
Owolabi (7)<br />
16)Vehicle (5)<br />
17)Venezuelan Capital City (7)<br />
19)Colour (3)<br />
20)Organ of Hearing (3)<br />
21)Managing Director, Nigerian<br />
Deposit Insurance Corporation<br />
(NDIC), Alhaji Umar (7)<br />
DOWN<br />
1)Japanese Currency (3)<br />
2)Minister of Budget & National<br />
Planning, Senator Udo (5)<br />
3)American Isl<strong>and</strong> (7)<br />
4)African Country (7)<br />
5)Pakistan’s Largest City &<br />
Metropolis (7)<br />
8)Writing fluid (3)<br />
10)Minister of Health,<br />
Professor Isaac Folorunsho (7)<br />
11)Indian Town & Municipality<br />
(7)<br />
12)An<strong>go</strong>la “Palancas Negras”<br />
Coach, Roberto (7)<br />
14)Asian Ox (5)<br />
15PublicRelations Officer,<br />
Nigerian Police Force (NPF)<br />
Headquarters, Mr. Frank (3)<br />
18)Addition Result (3)<br />
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