24062019 - EDO Oyegun Oshiomhole ateach others troats

Stock market
investors lose
N78bn in
bearish run
ARTS 36
Crossing the
River Nun to
bury Gabriel
Okara
SPORTS 43
We were
not
ready
—Dennerby
ACF backs
FG’s plan to
overhaul
Al-majiri
system
9
VOL. 26: NO. 63838
MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
EDO: Oyegun, Oshiomhole
at each other's throats
•Oshiomhole is Obaseki’s biggest distraction — OYEGUN
•I don’t need short-cut to sustain my position — OSHIOMHOLE
•Insists Edo gov must obey constitutional provision on proclamations
STORY
ON PAGE
8
Oyegun:
‘’Obaseki is
the executive
governor of
Edo State and
he should be
allowed to
exercise the
powers vested
in him by the
law. To what
purpose is this
idea of the
APC
chairman
putting the
state under
tension?”
Oshiomohle:
“ Edo people
know me and I
know them. I
don’t need
short-cut to
sustain my
position in the
system. But you
know that there
is nobody in
Nigeria who is
not open to
accusations.
The important
thing is that he
who accuses
should give you
proof.”
Banditry, violent attacks ‘ll soon
Mr & Mrs
come to an end — BUHARI
5
Apapa gridlock
crashes earnings
in consumer
goods sector
COLUMNISTS
Kano Emirate FG takes SERAP sues
Council vows verification,
CCB over claims
to sue
payment of
ex-Nigeria
anti-graft agency
of privacy on
Airways
for contempt
Buhari’s
workers to
19 9
of court
London
9 assets 11
SOBOWALE 29 HENRY BOYO 30 OWEI LAKEMFA 31

2—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019—3

4—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019—5
POCKET CARTOON
OSINBAJO IN NEW YORK CHURCH—From left: Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Mr
Benayaogha Okoyen; Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Justice Sylvanus Nsofor; Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo and Resident Pastor, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Morris Avenue, Bronx, New York,
Pastor Daniel Ajayi-Adeniran, during service in New York, yesterday. Photo: NAN.
Banditry, violent attacks ‘ll soon
come to an end — BUHARI
•Commiserates with Zamfara govt, people on Tsafe killings
•Massive investments, job opportunities, panacea to kidnapping,
banditry—AfDB President
•Prelate seeks life imprisonment for kidnapping culprits
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru & Rotimi
Ojomoyela
ABUJA — President
Muhammadu
Buhari has, for the
umpteenth time, assured
that cases of banditry and
violent attacks on
innocent Nigerians will
soon be a thing of the
past.
The President also
commiserated with the
government and people
of Zamfara State on the
recent infiltration of
bandits, who killed
several innocent
citizens in Tsafe Local
Government Area of the
state.
Buhari’s assurance
came as President of
African Development
Bank, AfDB, Dr
Akinwunmi Adesina,
said the menace of
kidnapping and
banditry in Nigeria
could only be arrested
with more investments
and job opportunities for
the youths.
This is even as Prelate
of Methodist Church
Nigeria, His Eminence,
Samuel Kanu, called for
life imprisonment for
persons found culpable
for kidnapping in the
country.
Condemning the
banditry attack on Tsafe,
President Buhari in a
statement by his Senior
Special Assistant on
Media and Publicity,
Mallam Garba Shehu in
Abuja yesterday,
described the bandit
attacks as callous and
despicable, assuring the
people of Zamfara and
other Nigerians who
have lost loved ones to
violent attacks that the
government, under his
watch, would soon bring
such dastardly acts to an
end.
Commending the new
administration in the
state for putting in place
new security measures to
curtail the activities of
criminals and bandits,
the President urged them
not to despair but to see
the latest attack as a
challenge to step up
collective actions to rout
the enemy, in
partnership with the
federal government.
He urged law
enforcement agencies to
take prompt and timely
actions against the
wicked attackers, and
also appealed to citizens
to have faith in the
security agencies by
giving them useful
information on the plans
and movements of
bandits.
Adesina on
investments
Reacting to the spate of
banditry and kidnapping
in the country, president
of African Development
Bank, AfDB, Dr
Akinwunmi Adesina,
said the menace could
only be arrested with
more investments and
job opportunities for the
youths.
Adesina said
government must find an
ingenious way of
creating jobs for the
teeming population of
unemployed youths, in
order to secure the future
of the country.
The AfDB President
said this during a high
level meeting between
the Ekiti State
government team, led by
Governor Kayode
Fayemi and the AfDB
management at the
organisation’s
headquarters in Abidjan,
Cote d’Ivoire, at the
weekend.
Fayemi had gone there
to solicit the support of
the bank on the
upgrading of the state’s
infrastructure.
Adesina expressed the
readiness of the bank to
provide technical and
financial support for
Ekiti State Government
Continues on page 41
IGP's statement: Is crime rate in Nigeria reducing? (2)
By Bose Adelaja, Olayinka Latona,
Dickson Omobola, Tolulope Oke,
Chiamaka Uba, Janet Somoye
& Anifowose Opeyemi
I
don’t agree with the
Inspector-General of
Police that crime rate is
going down in Nigeria
because it is so glaring
that it is on the rise.
There are killings,
destruction of lives and
property, kidnappings in
virtually all the states of
the federation.
-Bukola Adeyemi.
Teacher.
I
was surprised that
such statement is coming
from the Inspector-General
of Police. Even a blind man
can perceive that crime rate
in most parts of Nigeria is
at an alarming rate.
Personally, I'm afraid to
travel to my home town in
Osun State, all because of
disturbing news of killer
herdsmen that have
invaded some of the towns
in the state.
-Miss Eniola Ademola,
Entrepreneur
It all depends on the
yardstick or parameters
which the IGP used to
measure the crime rate in
the country.
However, in my own
opinion, I totally
disagree with the IG.
Few days ago, Borno State
governor was in a
meeting with President
Buhari on security
challenges in his state.
-Mr. Abolore Alli
Engineer
I
disagree with the
Police boss. It however
depends on which
yardstick he used in
arriving at such conclusion.
But with the increased
cases of rape, kidnapping,
communal attacks and
robbery, the IGP must be
living in a different world.
He should not be deceived
by President Buhari’s
satirical comment on his
losing weight.
-Olu Aluko
Writer
I
do not agree. It’s
visible even to the
blind how fearful
Nigerians are over cases
of kidnapping or robbery.
Several parts of the
country are still under
the siege of criminals.
Few days ago, the UK
listed 24 out of our 36
states where their
citizens should not visit.
We have a long way to
go. Unil we get it right,
we cannot tackle crime.
-Babawale Ifetobby
Entrepreneur
Crime in Nigeria has
taken another level. It
has never been this bad.
Corruption is a form of
crime. Reduction in crime
rate in most developing
nations means increase in
opportunities for youths in
all areas which presents
alternatives to social vices.
Maybe the IGP should
check the unemployment
rate before deceiving the
gullible.
We have a safety index of
14.88 which places us as the
124th most safe nation out
of 128 nations. Is that to be
applauded?
-Ohanwe Emmanuel
Founder, Rising African
Ambassadors

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
2-storey building under renovation collapses
in Lagos, injures eight
By Monsur Olowoopejo
& Nicholas Esekhile
ANOTHER
two-storey
building collapsed,
yesterday, in Mafoluku area of
Lagos State, leaving some
persons injured.
2 ATM
customers'
robbers
nabbed in
Ogun
By Daud Olatunji
ABEOKUTA—MEN of
Ogun State Police
Command have arrested two
suspected members of a
syndicate that specialised in
robbing people of money
withdrawn from Automated
Teller Machines, ATM.
The Police Public Relations
Officer in the state, Abimbola
Oyeyemi, stated yesterday
that “their mode of operations
is to lurk around banks,
observe those who will
withdraw substantial
amounts of money, then trace
such persons with their
standby motorcycle to a
convenient area and rob them.
“Luck, however, ran against
them when the area
commander of Ota, Monday
Agbonika, who was on routine
patrol with the men of
Operation PUFF ADDER
sighted the three men on a
motorcycle around First Bank
area in Ota.
“The Area Commander, who
suspected their movement and
outlook, asked his men to
intercept and search them.
“Having realised that the
policemen were after them,
they all jumped off the
motorcycle and took to their
heels, but they were hotly
chased and two of them were
apprehended, while the third
escaped.
“The arrested ones are
Ebenezer Olubukola, 30, and
Olajide Oladejo, 29.
Recovered from them are one
locally-made pistol with five
live cartridges and a
motorcycle with number
plates AKM 490 WT.
“Meanwhile, the
Commissioner of Police,
Bashir Makama, has ordered
the transfer of the suspects to
Special Anti-Robbery Squad,
SARS, for discreet
investigation.
“He equally ordered a
serious manhunt for the
fleeing member of the gang
with the view of getting him
arrested within the shortest
possible time.”
There was, however, a
contradictory figure on the exact
number of persons that were
affected, as eyewitnesses said
eight persons were affected,
while the Lagos State
Government said only two
persons sustained injury.
The building, located on 36
Adesanya Street, as gathered,
had been marked for demolition,
owing to visible cracks on it.
Occupants were said to have
vacated the building, not just
because it had cracks which
suggested an imminent
collapse, but because of the
contention between owners of
the building on whether it
should be sold or not.
An eyewitness disclosed that
A
popular Ebonyi Statebased
pastor, Rev. Simeon
Ononogbu, has blamed
“deceitful” spirit for the failed
prediction that the Super Falcons
will reach the semi-finals of the
FIFA Women World Cup in
France.
Ononogbu, a self-acclaimed
forecaster, predicted in an
interview that the Falcons would
reach the semi-finals of the
tournament, while the hosts,
France would place fifth (best
placed quarter-finalists).
The former Secretary of the
Christian Association of Nigeria,
CAN, Ebonyi branch, sought the
understanding of Nigerians on
the failed prophesy, noting that
he will be more careful in future
prophesies.
His words: “It is a pity that the
prediction on the Falcons failed,
which means that it was not a
revelation from God.
“We have so many spirits that
can deceive people and if we are
not careful, we will make mistakes
such as this.”
the building caved in while
renovation was ongoing. Some
artisans hired by its owner,
reportedly began work on it last
Friday.
Those injured were said to be
the artisans.
‘I escaped by the whiskers’
A resident, who simply gave
her name as Ope, said she
narrowly escaped being buried
under the rubbles, when the
building caved in.
She said: “As you can see, our
building is behind the collapsed
one. I was at the back of our
compound, preparing to wash
my clothes when I heard a
deafening sound. By the time I
turned to know where it was
He said several spirits abound
which behave like God’s spirit to
talk and deceive men of God.
According to him, “the Bible
says some spirits at times,
transform into angels of light to
talk to us.
“We have ‘fallen’ spirits that
deceive the children of God
because we are humans and
weaker than the other spirits.”
Ononogbu, however, revealed
that the prophecy on the Super
coming from, I saw the rubbles
descending.
“I immediately jumped to
leave the direction it was
coming from. I only sustained
injury on my feet as a brick
landed on it. If I had not turned
on time, I would have been
buried under the rubbles.”
Another resident, Mr.
Olowojoba Peter, said:
“Immediately the building
caved in, some residents rushed
there to rescue two persons.
Later, we saw about six others
coming from the other end.
They were also injured. They
confirmed to us that none of
their colleagues was missing.
“The building had been
marked for demolition by the
Lagos State Building Control
Agency, LASBCA. But because
its owners were unable to reach
a decision on whether or not to
Falcons could also have failed
because he failed to interpret the
revelation properly.
He said: “At times when we
don’t interpret properly, we will
have problems out of it and this
can also be seen as a wrong
interpretation.”
He, however, insisted that in
spite of the failed prophesy, the
revelation of France placing fifth
in the tournament still stands
because it is from God.
“This particular interpretation
was clearer than that of the
sell it, it remained there, until
renovation work started.
“The plan was to renovate it
so that it won’t be demolished
by the state government. We
are thankful because it caved in
now. It would have been fatal
had there been tenants there.”
Lagos govt
Public Affairs Officer, Lagos
State Building Control Agency,
LASBCA, Mrs. Titi Ajirotutu,
who confirmed the collapse,
told Vanguard that “the building
caved in this morning
(yesterday), while the labourers
were doing some breaking at
the site.”
She disclosed that the state
government, through Lagos
State Emergency Management
Agency, LASEMA, had pulled
down the entire building to
avoid another casualty.
PZ 100-YEAR CLEANING: Workers of PZ Cussons, Aba, Abia State, cleaning the streets of Margaret Avenue,
Aba, to mark 120 years anniversary of PZ Cussons in Nigeria.
My failed prophesy on Super Falcons from deceitful
spirit, says Ebonyi pastor
55-yr-old man rapes 11-yr-old niece
By Charles Agwam
BAUCHI— A 55-year-old
man, Isah Sule, and Bashar
Haruna, 25, have been arrested
by the Police in Bauchi for
allegedly raping a primary four
pupil, at different times.
The Police Public Relations
Officer, Bauchi Command, DSP
Kamal Datti, confirmed the
arrest yesterday, in Bauchi.
He said the suspects, Bashar
Haruna, 25, and a 55-year-old
man, Isah Sule allegedly raped
the victim(name withheld) a
primary four pupil, at different
times.
He said: “I can confirm to you
that the incident is true. On
June 16 at about 13:55p.m., we
received the information from a
complainant, one Abubakar
Haruna of Sabuwar Kasuwa
area of Bauchi metropolis, that
on said date at about 10a.m., he
left his shop.
“On reaching his house, he
Falcons and we should wait till
the end of the competition for
its fulfillment,” he said.
Ononogbu, urged Nigerians
not to judge him with the
failed prophesy as he had
correctly made eightsignificant
prophesies which
were fulfilled.
“I earlier predicted the visit
of Rev Uma Ukpai to Ebonyi
and those who refused to heed
the directive on the venue saw
the number of people that
died,” he said.
found out that his younger
brother, Bashar Haruna, 25, and
his niece were looking
suspicious. Upon interrogation,
he discovered that Bashar had
sexually harassed and molested
his niece. Upon receipt of the
report, the Police swung into
action and arrested Bashar.
“Further investigations led to
the arrest of 55 years old Isah
Sule, of Sabuwar Kasuwa, who
the girl alleged had sexually
harassed her several times.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019—7
3 die as Akwa Ibom communities clash
over woman’s extra-marital affair
By Chioma Onuegbu
UYO—NO fewer than three
persons have been
reportedly killed following a clash
that erupted between Ikot Osute
and Ikot Ukpong villages in Oruk
Anam Local Government Area of
Akwa Ibom State, yesterday.
It was gathered that the two
communities are located along the
East-West Road axis of the
council.
According to a reliable source
from the area, five persons who
sustained various degrees of
injury are currently receiving
treatment at Immanuel General
Hospital.
The source said trouble started
when a woman identified as Mrs
Ime Etuo, who had divorced her
husband, returned to her father’s
compound in Ikot Osute village.
However, the ex-husband later
reconciled with her and decided
to move in with her in her father’s
compound. But Ime Etuo’s
husband found out that she has
a lover from Ikot Ukpong village,
he kicked against the extramarital
affair.
Consequently, Ikot Osute
youths, led by a youth (name
withheld) descended on her
lover, popularly known in the
community as Chop-I-Chop, and
beat him to death.
An eyewitness, Jacob,
explained that the community
leaders mobilised youths and
caught the ring leader.
He said: “But as we were
waiting for the Police to arrived
from Oruk Anam Police Station,
the young man escaped into the
bush. Efforts by the youths to local
him proved abortive.”
He explained that when youths
of Ikot Ukpong village, where the
victim came from, heard that he
had been killed, they went to Ikot
Osute village on a reprisal attack.
Jacob said it was during the
reprisal that two other persons
were shot dead and others
wounded.
Contacted, the Police Public
Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom
State, Odiko MacDon confirmed
the incident, saying “the Police
have mounted surveillance in the
area to forestall further hostilities,
but will arrest suspects for
investigations and bring them to
book.”
Woman stabs husband in 7-month-old marriage
By Abdulmumin
Murtala
KANO—THE Police in Kano
State have detained a 21-
year-old housewife for stabbing
her husband seven months into
the marriage.
The Police Public Relations
Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna,
said Fatima Musa also called
Hanna, a law student at the
Bayero University, Kano, BUK, is
being detained at the Criminal
Investigation Department, CID,
for attempting to kill her husband.
He said in the early hours of
Friday morning at about 1:30a.m.
at their Unguwan Mai Kalwa,
Na’ibawa Quarters residence in
Kumbotso Local Government
Area of Kano State, she was
reported to have stabbed her
husband, one Sa’eed Hussain, in
the abdomen for allegedly
communicating with another lady
on phone.
Eyewitness account in the
house said the husband's cry woke
up neighbours from sleep.
He said Sa’eed, a staff of
Federal University of Gusau, was
holding his stomach and
bleeding profusely when they
arrived the scene.
He was rushed to the Aminu
Kano Teaching Hospital, where
he is receiving treatment and was
still unconscious as at press time.
Anonymous sources have said
that the marriage, which was
insisted upon by the mother of
Fatima, has been unstable since
inception as she was forced into
the wedlock.
She was said to have attempted
killing her husband twice in the
past by poisoning him.
... with Emma'nKen (08163121378)
Broda Shaggi! Broda Shaggi! How many
times we call your name? DSS arrest na
joke for where billionaire arrest dey o.
Father Moses responds: First, my son,
let's check the quantity of blood left
in the alcohol in your veins
TIME TO SWIM: Flood on Uselu-Lagos Road, Benin City, Edo State capital, after a
downpour, weekend. PHOTO: Agbonkhese Oboh.
Kerosene seller, daughter
burnt to death in explosion
By Perez Brisibe
EKU—FIRE from kerosene
explosion, weekend,
claimed the lives of a kerosene
seller and her daughter, while
her second child and
unidentified woman are
currently battling for their lives
at a hospital.
The incident occurred in the
early hours of Saturday at Eku
in Ethiope East Local
Government Area of Delta State.
The kerosene seller, simply
identified as Caro, was burnt to
death alongside her daughter,
Favour, while the woman’s
second child and an
unidentified woman, who had
gone to buy kerosene when the
incident occurred, are currently
receiving medical attention at
the Delta State University
Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH,
Oghara, in Ethiope West Local
Government Area of the state.
An eyewitness, Nyerhovwo
Akusu, said: “The fire started
when a naked fire was exposed
to the kerosene while Caro was
selling the product to the
unidentified woman.
Akusu added that the fire
engulfed other kegs of kerosene
and they exploded, burning
other surrounding stores and a
caravan in the vicinity.
Speaking, yesterday, during
a visit to the scene of the
incident, the Minority Leader
and lawmaker representing the
area in the Delta State House
of Assembly, Chief Innocent
Anidi, attributed the cause of
the inferno to locally-refined
kerosene.
He said: “Two persons died
during the incident and
property worth millions of naira
destroyed.
“It was locally-refined
kerosene and I believe security
agencies have a role to play in
curbing the trend because this
is not the first time such incident
is happening in the area.”
Oga, stay away ooooooo. If you dare
go to SMS inbox, Yaba Left straight!

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru &
Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA— IMMEDIATE
past National Chairman
of All Progressives Congress,
APC, Chief John Odigie-
Oyegun, has added in on the
crisis rocking the party in his
home state, Edo, accusing his
successor, Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole, of anti-party
activities.
Oyegun spoke as
incumbent National
Chairman of the party,
Oshiomhole, weekend, in
view of the crisis in the state
House of Assembly, said he
does not need short-cuts to
sustain his position in the
system, when asked if he was
not bringing pressure to bear
on Governor Godwin
Obaseki.
However, Oyegun said the
state governor, Mr Godwin
Obaseki, must be allowed to
operate freely as a chief
executive officer of the state.
Speaking through his
Special Assistant on Public/
Political Affairs, Chief Ray
Murphy, Chief Oyegun
said he could not fathom why
the most virulent opposition
to Obaseki was from his own
party and not the opposition
Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP.
He said: “This party must
be stronger because we
cannot go into the 2023
general elections with these
discordant tunes, especially
as President Buhari will not
be contesting.
‘’We need to get our acts
together. Oyegun has no
personal grievances with
Oshiomhole but Nigerians
must know that he cannot go
to equity with unclean
hands.
“Today, there are all kinds
of rancour coming from Edo
State. They all boil down to
attempts by a godfather and
godfatherism that is heating
up the polity in the state.
"Obaseki is the executive
governor of Edo State and he
should be allowed to exercise
the powers vested in him by
the law. To what purpose is
this idea of APC chairman
putting the state under
tension?
“As a governor on APC
platform, he should be
allowed to run out his tenure
before they decide whether
to bring him back or not.
There are so much antics
going on and you don’t need
to be a prophet or babalawo
to trace where they are
coming from. They are
coming from APC.
“I want to think that they
are all targeted at weakening
the governor of Edo State.
Ordinarily, the man in Edo
should be given every
support so that he can
succeed to fend off the
opposition PDP already
around the corner.”
Oshiomhole is
Obaseki’s biggest
distraction
“Ask anybody from Edo
State, what is Obaseki’s
biggest distraction and they
will tell you that his distraction
is not whether he has
governed well or not, but from
SUMMIT: From left, immediate past president of Afreximbank, Mr. Jean-Louis Ekra;
President, Afreximbank, Prof Benedict Oramah and Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, SGF, and Chair of 2019 Annual Meeting of Afreximbank, Mr. Boss Mustapha,
during the bank’s summit in Moscow, Russia, yesterday.
Edo: Oyegun, Oshiomhole
at each other's throats
•Oshiomhole is Obaseki’s biggest distraction —Oyegun
•I don’t need short-cut to sustain my position —Oshiomhole
•Insists Edo gov must obey constitutional provision on
proclamations
If his action
against Obaseki
are not antiparty,
someone
should then
explain to me
what is antiparty.
The
problem of APC
is from a single
man, the
national
chairman, who
runs the party
like an executive
chairman
— OYEGUN
his immediate predecessor,
Adams Oshiomhole.
“It is very unfortunate,
especially considering the
fact that he is the national
chairman of the same party
with the governor. I have not
heard that PDP or Edo
leaders want to remove
Obaseki. What has been
trending is how his
predecessor, who happens to
be the party chairman, does
not want him back in office.
Anti-party
“If his action against
Obaseki are not anti-party,
someone should then
explain to me what is antiparty.
The problem of APC is
from a single man, the
national chairman, who runs
the party like an executive
chairman.
‘’The idea of working
single-handedly and
inducing the party members
to endorse is the problem of
the party.
“Look at what is happening
in the party today. When was
the last time the NEC meeting
was held? But when these
crises came to the fore, he has
called several emergency
NWC meetings.”
I don’t need short-cut
to sustain my position
— Oshiomhole
Meanwhile, Oshiomhole,
weekend, said he would not
need a short-cut to sustain his
position in the system.
Oshiomhole stated this
while reacting to the
allegation that he was behind
the crisis in Edo State House
of Assembly, having
allegedly constituted himself
as a godfather who wants to
dictate what happens in the
state.
The APC national
chairman, who was
reminded that he fought
godfatherism in the state but
was now being accused of
playing the same role he
once fought to a stand still,
told State House
correspondents that sought
his opinion on the brouhaha
arising from the inauguration
of Edo State Assembly that
the issue of playing the role
of a godfather was only an
accusation.
He asked: “What is the
evidence? It’s all about
accusation. The media have
a duty. They have to give you
the particulars of that
godfatherism. What’s the
evidence? I am a democrat.
“I accept the credit, not only
that I fought godfatherism, I
launched the one-man onevote
campaign to fight
against election rigging
anywhere in Nigeria and by
the special grace of God
under PDP (Peoples
Democratic Party) with (Chief
Tony) Anenih alive, and at his
best, I won all the 18 local
government areas and 95
percent of the total votes cast
in my second term election.
“So, Edo people know me
and I know them. I don’t need
short-cut to sustain my
position in the system. But
you know that there is nobody
in Nigeria who is not open to
accusations. The important
thing is that he who accuses
Edo people
know me and I
know them. I
don’t need a
short-cut to
sustain my
position in the
system. But you
know that there
is nobody in
Nigeria who is
not open to
accusations
— OSHIOMHOLE
should give you proof.”
Edo gov must obey
constitutional provision
on proclamations
On his position on the
ongoing argument and
brewing crisis over the
inauguration of Edo State
House of Assembly,
Oshiomhole said: “It’s about
rule of law. As journalists,
there are questions you don’t
need to ask me because you
know the answer. You know
the law provides for how the
House should be proclaimed
transparently.
“The day it’s announced,
members-elect are informed
of date and time for
inauguration. These are
clearly spelt out in the
Nigerian constitution. And
just last week (about two
weeks ago), you were all
witnesses to how President
Muhammadu Buhari issued
proclamation letter to the
Clerk many days before,
stating date and time of the
inauguration of the two
chambers of the National
Assembly.
“Even while we are still
negotiating to ensure that our
party was not divided on the
floor of the House, without
prejudice to the outcome of
those negotiations, the
President issued a
proclamation because he is
obliged by the constitution to
do so whether he likes it or
not and he did.
“He did it transparently. He
has led us by example. For
me, it’s very embarrassing if
any state governor,
particularly of APC
extraction, will do anything
that is less than what the
constitution says and the
example that our president
has set.”
He said in the case of the
Edo State House of Assembly
inauguration, the
proclamation was not
publicized and that members
were not informed, adding
that the inauguration took
place at 9:30 pm.
He said the time was what
a Supreme Court judgement
described as “nocturnal
hours.”
Speaking further,
Oshiomhole said: “Business
of parliament is done
transparently; they are not a
secret cult. Now you have 24
member House, 19 members
protested, you have six and
you carry people in their
shorts. Even in the House,
they have rules, the dress
code. So, it happened in Edo,
it has happened in Bauchi.
“Like Edo, Bauchi used the
minority of 10 to proclaim the
House and locked out 20 APC
members and got those 10
people to elect the speaker,
exactly the way Edo did with
six and then co-opted other
three people to become nine
and even at that it is
nonsense.
If it is wrong, it is
wrong
“For us, these are
completely illegal. And that
is why we said so. If it is
wrong, it is wrong whether it
is done by APC or by PDP;
whether it’s the chairman’s
state or not. The law is blind
to those sentiments. I believe
by the end of the day, the
solution is, return to the rule
of law.
“Let’s properly follow the
law; let the parliament do
what they have to do but
people have the right to lobby
for people they want and
whom they prefer. This is also
legitimate. Like you saw in
the National Assembly, after
all the lobbies, people have
the right to vote and you saw
them in the National
Assembly conducting secret
ballot."
Jonathan
condemns
attempted
coup in
Ethiopia
F
O R M E R
President, Dr.
Goodluck Jonathan, has
condemned the
attempted coup in
Ethiopia, which
claimed the lives of the
President of Amhara
region and the
country’s army chief.
Reports said a “hit
squad,” led by
Amhara’s security
chief, Asaminew Tsige,
stormed a meeting in
the state offices of
Amhara’s capital, Bahir
Dar, on Saturday and
shot the President of the
region, Ambachew
Mekonnen, and his
adviser, Ezez Wassie.
In what appeared
like a coordinated
attack, the Chief of Staff
of the National Security
Forces, Seare
Mekonnen, and a
retired general were
killed by his bodyguard
in Addis Ababa.
Reacting to the
incident, ex-President
Jonathan emphasized
that “nobody’s political
ambition is worth the
blood of the citizens in
Ethiopia or any other
nation.”
In a statement issued,
yesterday, the former
President said: “I have
long said, believed and
practised the principle
that nobody’s political
ambition is worth the
blood of any citizen. As
such, it bleeds my heart
when there is
unnecessary and
avoidable bloodshed,
as has just happened in
Ethiopia.”
While condemning
the attempted coup
against the
democratically elected
Ethiopian government,
Jonathan further said:
“I go further to call on
men and women of
goodwill around the
world to also condemn
such anti-democratic
actions and show
solidarity to the
democratically elected
constitutional order in
Ethiopia.
“Democracy has come
to rest in Africa.
Constitutionality and
the rule of law are what
we in Africa need,
especially in the cradle
of civilisation and the
melting pot of the
African Union.
“May God bless
Africa and may He be
with the government
and people of Ethiopia
at such a trying time.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019—9
MEETING: From left, Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, GMD/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc; Mr. Olabode
Agusto, Founder, Agusto & Co, and Mr. Henry Oroh, Managing Director, Zenith Bank
Ghana, at the Financial Market Dealers Association quarterly meeting hosted by Zenith
Bank, where Agusto was the keynote speaker.
ACF backs FG’s plan to overhaul
Almajiri system
THE apex northern
socio-political
organisation, Arewa
Consultative Forum, ACF,
has declared support for the
moves by the Federal
Government to overhaul
the Almajiri system.
The group spoke against
the backdrop of a statement
credited to the National
Security Adviser, Babagana
Monguno, that the Federal
Government was
considering proscribing the
Almajiri system of
education to tackle
insecurity and ensure that
no child was deprived of
basic education.
Monguno had
saidAlmajiris were
becoming a huge problem
to the society, adding that
many of them end up
becoming “criminals, drug
addicts and willing tools in
the hands of those who
have very dangerous
intentions.”
In a statement, weekend,
ACF’s spokesperson,
Mohammed Ibrahim, said
the forum was in support
of the Federal
Government’s standpoint
on Almajiri.
He said people have
misplaced the real “Islamic
doctrine of learning” for
out-of-school children
roaming the streets and
begging for alms in the
name of Almajiri.
He said: “There is a
misrepresentation of the
HEALTH TIPS
By Sola Ogundipe
Control high blood pressure
without medication
LIFESTYLE plays an
important role in controlling
high blood pressure.
Blood pressure often
increases as body weight
increases.
Losing even a small
amount of weight if you’re
overweight or obese can
help reduce your blood
pressure. Carrying too
much weight around your
waist can put you at greater
risk of high blood pressure.
As a man you are at risk if
your waist measurement is
greater than 40 inches (102
cm). As a woman, you are
at risk if your waist measurement
is greater than 35
inches (89 cm).
A healthy diet can lower
your blood pressure by up
to 11 mm Hg if you have
high blood pressure. Keep
a food diary. Monitor what
you eat, how much, when
and why.
Even a small reduction in
the salt in your diet can
improve your heart health
and reduce blood pressure
by about 5 to 6 mm Hg if
you have high blood pressure.
Read food labels. If possible,
choose low-sodium
alternatives of the foods
and beverages you normally
buy.
Eat fewer processed
foods. Don’t add salt. Use
herbs or spices to add flavour
to your food.
Limit the amount of alcohol
you drink and quit
smoking. Also cut back on
caffeine.
Chronic stress may contribute
to high blood pressure.
If you can’t eliminate
all of your stressors, you can
at least cope with them in a
health.
Monitor your blood pressure
at home and see your
doctor regularly.
•Says it doesn’t represent Islamic
doctrine of learning
concept in the Islamic
doctrine of learning.
Almajiri means going to
Islamic schools to learn the
reading of the Holy Quran
and its teachings for moral,
economic and social benefit
of the child.
“We associate ourselves
with Buhari’s concern on
the need for the nation to
overhaul the Almajiri
system of school that will
provide free and
compulsory education
across the country.
“The children we see
begging in the streets are
in the real sense not
Almajiris, but children
abandoned by their
parents.
‘’That is why ACF agrees
with President Buhari that
it is, indeed, a crime for
parents to keep their
children out of school in
this 21st century under any
guise.
“ACF, therefore, urges
state governments to heed
to President Buhari’s
appeal and appropriate
funds needed for improved
volume and quality of
education across the
country leading to
reduction in inequality
among the citizens.”
RMAFC recovers N58bn
unremmitted tax revenue
from banks
By Emma Ujah,
Abuja Bureau Chief
R
E V E N U E
Mobilisation
Allocation and Fiscal
Commission, RMAFC, has
recovered N57.7 billion
unremmitted tax revenue
from banks.
The Head, Public
Relations of the
commission, Mr. Ibrahim
Mohammed, disclosed in a
statement, in Abuja
,yesterday, that the Federal
Government’s share of
N48.7 billion had been
paid into the Federation
Account.
He added that the
balance of N9. 7 billion,
which relates to
withholding tax of
dividends, has also been
paid to the beneficiary state
governments.
In an earlier exercise
covering January 2008 to
June 2012, RMAFC had
recovered N4.2bn from the
banks, promising that more
recoveries would be made.
The commission insisted
that its on-going
monitoring and verification
exercise on tax collections
by Deposit Money Banks
appointed by the FIRS and
Nigeria Customs Service
was in order as it falls within
its mandate as contained in
Section 6(1) of the RMAFC
Act, 2004, which provides
that the commission shall
have powers to, among
others monitor the accruals
to and disbursement of
revenue from the
Federation Account.
RMAFC said it was not a
tax authority but a revenue
watchdog that monitors
revenue collections by
revenue generating entities
like the FIRS, Customs,
DPR, NNPC and others
that remit directly into the
Federation Account.
The revenue streams that
accrue into the Federation
Account under the watch of
RMAFC include tax
(Withholding Tax and
VAT), royalties, signature
sonuses, custom duties,
tariff, etc.
According to the
commission, the
clarification became
necessary following
media reports that
challenged the legality
of the exercise by vested
interests.
Kano Emirate Council vows
to sue anti-graft agency for
contempt of court
KANO State Emirate
Council has vowed to
sue the state anti-corruption
agency for contempt of
court.
In a letter dated June 20,
addressed to the chairman
of Kano State Public Complaints
and Anti-Corruption
Commission, counsel
to the emirate counsel, N.A.
Dagiri, said the commission
had defied subsisting
court orders to invite elderly
members of the council
for investigations.
Some of the invited members
of the council, according
to him, were Mukhtar
Adnan, 93; Isa Hashim 92,
and Yusuf Bayero, 84.
The anti-graft agency also
sent invitations to the wife
of Muhammadu Sanusi,
Emir of Kano, and two widows
of Ado Bayero, the
former Emir of Kano.
The agency had alleged
that over 30 people benefited
from the N3.4 billion
said to have been misappropriated
under the watch
of Sanusi.
Dangiri, however, said
the state and federal high
court sitting in Kano, where
the matter was already being
heard, had directed the
agency to suspend all activities
related to its investigations
into the finances
of the emirate and maintain
status quo.
He said: “Both orders
have been duly and properly
served on you. Notwithstanding
this position,
you have chosen to defy
these orders and continue
your belligerent actions,
including choosing to embarrass
very senior citizens
of the state, many of whom
are in advanced age and
some in conditions of illhealth.
“The invitations to the
wives of the late and
present Emirs is not only
absurd but also completely
repugnant to societal
norms and values and
could only be intended to
humiliate the families of the
late and present Emirs.
“We consider your actions
obnoxious and in defiance
of valid and subsisting court
orders. This is a clear contempt
of court in respect of
which appropriate steps
will be taken against you
and all officers of your commission
acting in contempt
of the court.
“We have as counsel and
officers of court accordingly
advised the Emirate
council not to accede to
your request.”
On Thursday, the agency
announced that it had
withdrawn its invitation to
Sanusi’s wife and widows
of the former emir of Kano.
It also revived its probe
of Sanusi after the monarch
fell out with Abdullahi
Ganduje, governor of the
state.
The commission had earlier
recommended the suspension
of Sanusi, prompting
the state government to
query the monarch.
FG takes verification,
payment of ex-Nigeria
Airways workers to London
By Emma Ujah,
Abuja Bureau Chief
THE
Federal
Government has taken
the verification and payment
of ex-workers of the defunct
Nigeria Airways Limited,
NAL, in Diaspora to
London, United Kingdom
(UK).
Federal Ministry of
Finance officials disclosed
that the exercise would last
two weeks, beginning today.
The exercise to be
conducted by an interministerial
team would take
place at Nigerian High
Commission Complex in
London.
The Inter-Ministerial
Team is being coordinated
by the Presidential Initiative
on Continuous Audit, PICA,
under the Federal Ministry
of Finance.
Its members included
Independent Corrupt
Practices and other Related
Offenses Commission,
ICPC; Economic and
Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC;
Auditor-General Office;
Accountant General Office,
and Federal Ministry of
Finance.
Acting Director of PICA,
Mr John Waitono, would be
leading the team on behalf
of the Permanent Secretary,
Special Duties, Federal
Ministry of Finance, Dr
Mohammad Kyari Dikwa.
It was learnt that Federal
Government approved the
conduct of the exercise for
those in Diaspora in
London, due to the role the
city of London played as the
European Operational
Office of the defunct NAL.
“The essence of the
exercise is to alleviate the
hardship being experienced
for more than a decade while
waiting for the benefits and
to save them from the stress
and financial burden of
traveling to the country for
the exercise, including other
logistics to come to Nigeria
for their entitlements,” an
official said.
The exercise had taken
place in Kano, Lagos and
Enugu centres to attend to
the over 6, 000 ex-workers
of NAL, following the
approval of N22.6 billion by
President Muhammadu
Buhari to pay their
entitlements.

10 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
W'Bank, NIRSAL seal
$200m deal
By Emma Ujah
THE Nigeria Incentive-
Based Risk Sharing
System for Agricultural
Lending, NIRSAL, has
sealed a $200 million deal
with the World Bank for the
development of
agribusiness in Nigeria.
The Memorandum of
Agreement and Action,
MoA, was signed on the
Agro-Processing,
Productivity Enhancement
and Livelihood
Improvement Support,
APPEALS, project.
Spokesman of NIRSAL,
Ms. Anne Ihugba, disclosed
in Abuja, yesterday, that
under the project
development objective of
APPEALS, NIRSAL would
bring its Tools, Techniques,
Methodologies and
strategic Partnerships,
TTMPs, to bear on its
Mapping to Markets,
M2M, strategy on the new
deal.
It would be implemented
under “the shared aim of
enhancing agricultural
productivity of small and
medium scale farmers and
improvement of value
addition along the cassava,
cashew, rice, poultry,
aquaculture, cocoa, wheat,
tomato, maize, ginger and
dairy value chains in a
sustainable manner.
“The project, which is to
be deployed in Cross River,
Enugu, Lagos, Kogi,
Kaduna, and Kano states,
targets 60,000 beneficiaries,
and 360,000 farm household
members as indirect
beneficiaries.
“It is anticipated that 35%
of direct beneficiaries (or
21,000 individuals) will be
women. Also, the project
has a dedicated subcomponent
to benefit
women and youth that will
allow them develop agribusinesses
that are expected
to create jobs and improve
their livelihoods.”
Ihugba quoted the
Managing Director of
NIRSAL, Mr. Aliyu
Abdulhameed, as assuring
APPEALS that, in NIRSAL,
they had found a
trustworthy, reliable, and
capable partner that shared
the project’s development
objective of enhancing the
agricultural productivity of
small and medium scale
farmers and improving
value addition along priority
value chains in
participating states.
Prosecute electoral offenders,
Falana tells FG
HUMAN
rights
activist, Mr. Femi
Falana, SAN, has called on
the Federal Government to
prosecute those who
committed grave electoral
offences during the last
general elections despite
its refusal to set up the
electoral offences tribunal
recommended by the Uwais
Panel.
Speaking on the report of
EU Election Observers,
Falana chided the Federal
Government for ignoring
reports of both local and
foreign observers, who
monitored the polls.
In a statement, the rights
activist said: “The last
general election in Nigeria,
the largest democracy in
Africa took place between
February and March 2019.
The election was
monitored by local monitors
and supervised by foreign
observers. The reports of
the local monitors have been
ignored by the Federal
Government and other
stakeholders.
However, the report of
the former colonial master
and her allies in the
European Union is being
celebrated by all the
stakeholders including the
mass media. After
launching the report at
Abuja, the foreign election
observers are currently
presenting copies to the
Presidency, National
Assembly, INEC, APC,
PDP and others.
Lagos PDP tasks Sanwo-Olu
to form cabinet
By Dapo Akinrefon
L Peoples AGOS—THE
Democratic
Party, PDP, in Lagos State,
has asked Governor
Babajide Sanwoolu to
explain to Lagosians why
it has taken him so long to
inaugurate a cabinet for the
administration of the state.
In a statement by the
Publicity Secretary, Taofik
Gani, the party said the
governor is not coordinated
“hence the apparent total
stagnancy in the
governance of the state.”
“This is unpardonable and
results of the aberration
adopted by the Governor to
govern the state without a
cabinet, thus acting as sole
administrator. The
unwarranted delay has
further vindicated our
stance that Governor
Sanwo-Olu was hurriedly
brought on stage to be
...They require tutorial
in governance
— Lagos gov
governor and not a prepared
governor for the job.
But in a swift reaction to the
party, the Deputy Chief
Press Secretary to the
governor, Gboyega Akosile
said the Lagos PDP needs
tutorial in governance.
Akosile, in a statement,
said: “Barring any
unforeseen circumstances,
highly qualified and
competent men and women
will be appointed as
commissioners by Mr.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“However, we need to
remind PDP that the
Constitution is clear about
the issue of cabinet. There
is nowhere in the
Constitution where a time
frame is stipulated for State
Chief Executives on the
composition of cabinet.''
HELL ON THE HIGHWAY: Everyday traffic gridlock that refuses to go, despite task force's intervention.
APAPA GRIDLOCK: Police still
demand bribe from us
— TRUCK DRIVERS
By Olasunkanmi
Akoni & Monsuru
Olowoopejo
LAGOS—DESPITE the
visit by Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo to the Apapa
axis at the weekend, truck
drivers have accused
policemen and naval
personnel attached to control
traffic in the area of
allegedly collecting bribes
from them.
The drivers have
continued to park
indiscriminately on Oshodi-
Apapa Expressway.
Osinbajo and Governor
Babajide Sanwo-Olu of
Lagos State, had led other
officials on an inspection
tour of Apapa ports and
environs, expressing the
determination of the Federal
Government to restore sanity
and clear the chaotic traffic
situation in the area.
Vice Chairman of the Task
team, Mr. Kayode Opeifa
had, last week, promised
that there would be
restoration of law and order
to Apapa environs by
Wednesday this week.
Truck drivers accuse
police, Navy of bribery
Meanwhile, truck
operators along the Oshodi
Apapa Expressway,
particularly, from Rainbow to
Berger Yard area, have
accused policemen,
deployed to maintain law
and order, of demanding
and collecting bribe from
them before allowing them
access to Tin-Can Island
port.
One of the drivers, who
spoke to Vanguard on the
condition of anonymity,
lamented, “The police are
still collecting money from
us before we access the
ports. They demand
between N30, 000 and N40,
000 before they clear the
road for you to pass. For
those who cannot pay, they
are left to park on the road
for days and any attempt
by recalcitrant drivers
are met with stiff
punishment as they will
be beaten by the police.
“That is why you see that
they have converted the
main carriage-way from
Fatgbems filling station
towards Trinity into parks for
trucks, thereby, leaving only
a lane on the service lane
for other motorists.”
More work needs to be
done — Osinbajo
Meanwhile, Osinbajo,
accompanied on the
inspection by Managing
Director, Nigeria Ports
Authority, NPA, Ms Hadiza
Bala Usman, and other team
members, security
operatives, heads of traffic
management agencies,
media, among others, took
a tour of Apapa port and
Tincan Island port roads and
interacted with stakeholders
on the latest efforts and the
way forward.
He said: “With what I have
seen so far, I am quite
pleased with the pace of
work done. But there are
some aspects that still
require speed to achieve the
best within the axis.
“I think the most
important thing is what we
are trying to do right now.
We will improve the
infrastructures on the port
areas and the call up system
so that there is no pressure
within the ports.
Mile 2, a difficult spot
Responding to the
challenges being
experienced by motorists at
the Mile 2 end of the Apapa-
Oshodi Expressway, the
Vice President assured that
the gridlock would ease off
in the next few days.
“The Mile 2 end is the axis
where we think there are still
difficulties. But we think that
in the next couple of days, it
will be resolved especially
with the opening of the Tin
Can Island trailer parks and
the palliative work that is
ongoing, all the way to mile
2 which Hi-tech construction
is handling. And we should
be able to resolve that
congestion in the Mile 2
end.”
Navy probes alleged
corruption
Three months after N100
million was allegedly found
in the account of a junior
Naval officer stationed along
Lagos port access roads to
control traffic, the Nigerian
Navy has begun
investigations into the
allegation against him.
The Chief of Naval Staff,
CNS, Vice-Admiral Ibok
Ekwe Ibas has set up a
special investigative panel
to probe the alleged
extortion and molestation of
truck drivers by Naval
officers, widely reported
since 2017.
It was gathered that
following Ibok’s orders,
the special Navy panel
summoned a critical
meeting at the Western
Naval headquarters, last
week, asking truckers
secretly to dish out names
of corrupt Navy officers
involved in extortion.
The Presidency,
recently, withdrew Navy
and Army personnel from
the port access roads
following series of
complaints by truck
drivers, as well as freight
forwarding associations
which indicted the
officers for gross extortion
and abuse of its privilege
as head of the old
taskforce team at the port
access roads.
My tenure’ll be four years of hard work
— GBAJABIAMILA
By Olasunkanmi
Akoni & Monsuru
Olowoopejo
LAGOS—SPEAKER of
the House of
Representatives, Mr. Femi
Gbajabiamila, has said that
his tenure would be four
years of hard work and
commitment to the country,
saying that he is not afraid
to deal with anyone found
wanting.
Gbajabiamila also
promised to ensure that
properties collected from
Lagos State during military
administration, through fiat,
would be returned.
He said this weekend,
while responding to
demands from Oba of
Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu,
during a reception organised
by the monarch, which was
attended by Governor,
Babajide Sanwo-Olu and
other members of the
National Assembly at the
monarch’s palace in Lagos
Island.
While thanking the
monarch for his support,
Gbajabiamila said under
him, the House would be
committed towards addressing
challenges confronting
the country.
On the request of the
monarch, Gbajabiamila
said: “I will do everything
legally possible to ensure
that the entire request from
the state are met. Though,
there will be request from
other states also, we will
look at it from the legal
framework.”
“My tenure will be four
years of hard work and
commitment to the country.
There are a lot of problem
in Nigeria today and it will
take committed leadership
to solve them.''

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019 — 11
ANNIVERSARY:
Founder, Mirabel
Centre, Mrs Itoro
Eze-Anaba (right)
here receives a
plaque of
participation and
appreciation from
the Regional
Director, Mr Moses
Anibaba during the
morning session of
the British Council's
75th Anniversary
celebration in
Lagos, Saturday
22nd June, 2019.
S’West govs discuss security
challenges in Ibadan tomorrow
....We’re collaborating to flush out marauding herdsmen — Arewa Youth President
By Dapo Akinrefon
& Adeola Badru
I B GOVERNORS
A D A N —
from the South West geopolitical
zone will converge
in Ibadan, Oyo State to
address the security
challenges confronting the
region.
This came as the Arewa
Youth Consultative Forum,
AYCF, said it is collaborating
with stakeholders from the
South West to flush out
criminals suspected to be
herdsmen terrorizing the
zone.
Governors Rotimi
Akeredolu (Ondo), Seyi
Makinde (Oyo), Babajide
Sanwo-Olu (Lagos),
Gboyega Oyetola (Osun),
Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and
Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) are
expected to hold an
enlarged stakeholders’
security summit in
collaboration with the
Development Agenda for
Western Nigeria, DAWN.
Vanguard reliably
gathered that the convener
of the summit, Governor
Akeredolu, who is
chairman of the South West
Governors’ Forum, has
assured that the proposed
security summit would put
an end to the activities of
marauding herdsmen and
address the insecurity
challenges in the region.
It was also gathered that
the DAWN Commission will
coordinate the summit
which objective is to further
promote the developmental
agenda of the South West.
Speaking on what to
expect after the summit, the
Chief Press Secretary to
Akeredolu, Segun Ajiboye
said: “You know we have
held a security summit here
in Ondo State and our
governor is tnow aking the
initiative to other states in
the region.
“Governors of the six
states at the meeting will
find solutions to the
menace. “I want to assure
the people of the region that
an end is in sight to the
spate of insecurity in the
South West.”
“There will be a solution
to these problems after the
summit.”
Give urgent attention to
insecurity, S’West APC
tasks govs
Meanwhile, the All
Progressives Congress,
APC South West Caucus,
weekend, tasked the
governors in the region to
find lasting solution to the
problem of insecurity in
their states.
Rising from a meeting
INSECURITY: Ooni, Alaafin to
convene meeting of Yoruba leaders
By Dayo Johnson
AKURE—THE Ooni of
Ife, Oba Adeyeye
Enitan Ogunwusi, and the
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi
Olayiwola Adeyemi III will
convene a meeting of
Yoruba Leaders of Thought
to deliberate on the spate
of insecurity in the region.
The meeting, slated for
Thursday, June 27, 2019,
will hold at the
International Conference
Centre in Ibadan, Oyo
State.
The event is being
coordinated by Dr. Tokunbo
Awolowo-Dosumu,
daughter of the late sage,
Chief Obafemi Awolowo,
and Nigeria’s former
Ambassador to the
Netherlands.
Awolowo-Dosumu said
the meeting will “deliberate
on the appropriate
response to the current
menace of killer herders,
kidnappers and sundry
criminals currently
ravaging Yorubaland.”
A statement by publisher
of a leading Yoruba tabloid,
Alaroye newspaper, Chief
Alao Adedayo, said: “The
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye
Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin
of Oyo, Oba Lamidi
Adeyemi will co-chair the
event.
“The meeting is a twoprong
event that would
bring together Southwest
governors, eminent
traditional rulers, eminent
scholars and other leaders
of thought, to discuss the
security situation in the
region and plan a strategy
that would assist the
governments and the
people of the area.
“Secondly, there will be
the presentation of Yoruba
language version of the
book, AWO (the
autobiography of Chief
Obafemi Awolowo.)
“We need to meet again;
we just need to talk. The
situation in Yoruba land
now calls for the unity
among our leaders because
we cannot win this war
against insurgents except
we form a common front.
“That is why we are
invoking the name of the
past leader of the Yoruba
people, Chief Obafemi
Awolowo, to bring all of us
together, irrespective of our
political affiliations.
“Our major problem here
is that our leaders are not
united. They disagree and
fight virtually on
everything. And it is all
about politics.
“Unfortunately, this is
causing us a lot of damage.
And when we remember
that most of these politicians
claim to be Awo’s political
sons and daughters, there
couldn’t have been a better
name to invoke to bring all
of us to the round table.”
held in Lagos and presided
over by its National Vice
Chairman, South West
Zone, Pastor Bankole
Oluwajana, the party said
the matter should be given
urgent attention by the
governors in the region.
In a communiqué issued
and signed by its Zonal
Publicity Secretary, Asiwaju
Karounnwi Oladapo, the
party said: “The South West
caucus is solidly behind the
governors in the strategies
they have outlined to tackle
the security challenges and
restoration of peace in the
south west region.”
We’re collaborating to
flush out marauding
herdsmen — Arewa Youth
President
In a similar development,
National President of Arewa
Youths, Alhaji Yerima
Shettima said efforts are in
top gear to ensure the
activities of marauding
herdsmen are nipped in the
bud in the South West and
the country at large.
Shettima said: “We are
collaborating and have
been reaching out to
leaders, groups and elders
from the South West to
ensure that the issue of
criminal herdsmen both in
the South West and the
country is resolved.
“I want to state that the
activities of marauding
herdsmen is not limited to
the South West, those of us
in the north have also
been at the receiving end.
The northerners suffer
more at the hands of these
herdsmen who have
turned to banditry and
kidnapping.
''Let us not forget that
these marauding herdsmen
started their activities from
the North and have
gradually moved to the
South. In some areas in
the north, they kill
hundreds of innocent
people without it being
mentioned in the news. I
want us to know that this
is a national issue and all
hands must be on deck to
address this issue.”
SERAP sues CCB over claims
of privacy on Buhari’s assets
LAGOS—THE Socio-
Economic Rights and
Accountability Project,
SERAP, has filed a suit
against the Code of
Conduct Bureau, CCB,
over its claims that details
of President Muhammadu
Buhari’s assets cannot be
disclosed on the grounds of
privacy.
A statement, SERAP’s
Deputy Director, Kolawole
Oluwadare, said the suit
was filed at the Federal
High Court in Lagos on
Friday.
A Freedom of Information,
FoI, request by SERAP had
asked the CCB to urgently
provide information on
asset declaration submitted
to the bureau by successive
presidents and governors
from 1999 to 2019.
The bureau in its response
stated that the information
requested cannot be
provided on the grounds of
“invasion of privacy.’
In the filed suit, the civil
society organisation argued
that the assets declaration
form is a public document
and not private information
as claimed by CCB.
The suit number FHC/L/
CS/1019/2019 filed by
Adelanke Aremo, SERAP
counsel, is seeking a court
We’re fit, ready to combat
criminals — NAVY
By Evelyn Usman
L Nigerian
AGOS—THE
Navy,
weekend, said it was fit and
ready to combat criminals
in its area of responsibility,
as well as protect the
territorial integrity of the
nation.
Flag
Officer
Commanding, FOC
Western Naval Command,
Rear Admiral Oladele Daji,
stated this during the
second quarter route march
for the command in Lagos.
Addressing journalists at
the end of the march, the
command’s boss said: “In
the face of the current
Firm promotes cultural heritage
through music, arts
By Jimoh
Babatunde
L AGOS—Chief
Executive of Royal
Heritage Entertainment
Agency, RHEA, Adewale
Babalola, has reiterated the
agency’s resolve to promote
cultural heritage and values
through music and arts.
He spoke at the
presentation of an award of
Excellence to him by the
Ikeja City Lions Club,
District 404B2.
Adewale said the
activities of his agency
were focused on
sustaining the glory and
pride of Nigerians and
Africans and the
restoration of the cultural
heritage and values,
l e a d e r s h i p
entrepreneurship,
empowerment, community
order directing CCB to
make public details of
assets declarations
submitted to it by successive
public officials.
“Assets declarations of
presidents and state
governors submitted to the
CCB are public documents.
Public interest in disclosure
of the details of asset
declarations sought by
SERAP clearly outweighs
any claim of protection of
the privacy of presidents
and state governors, as they
are public officers entrusted
with the duty to manage
public funds, among other
public functions,” the suit
read.
“A necessary implication
of the rule of law is that a
public institution like the
CCB can only act in
accordance with the law, as
to do otherwise may
enthrone arbitrariness. The
CCB does not have
reasonable grounds on
which to deny SERAP’s FOI
request, as it is in the
interest of justice, the
Nigerian public,
transparency and
accountability to publish
details of asset declarations
by presidents and state
governors since the return
of democracy in 1999.''
security situation in the
country, the need to keep
personnel fit for operation
cannot be overemphasised.
That is why fitness and
mental alertness are among
the Chief of the Naval Staff
policy trust.
“With this in mind, the
Nigerian Navy organises a
one-day route march every
quarter aimed at raising the
level of physical fitness of
personnel in the command.
“Therefore, this route
march is targeted at
keeping us fit for optimal
performance in the
discharge of our
constitutional roles as naval
personnel.''
service and promotion of
peace and security.
Royal Heritage
Entertainment, he said,
believes that alleviating
social problems in Nigeria
and the African continent
will bring about positive
change in our environment,
country, continent and the
world.
“We are not interested in
any political party nor do we
discuss religious issues as
we believe individuals
have the right to their own
opinion but rather
sustaining our glory and
pride as Nigerians and
Africans,” Adewale added.
Royal Heritage
Entertainment recently
signed on three indigenous
artists in an effort to develop
and promote Africa
cultural heritage and
values through music
and arts promotion.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
PFN lauds court’s judgment on
Kaduna religious bill
By Gabriel
Enogholase
B ENIN—THE
leadership of
Pentecostal Fellowship of
Nigeria, PFN, has
described the recent
judgment of a Kaduna State
High Court over the
Religious Bill by Governor
Nasir el-Rufai as victory for
the rule of law and
democracy.
It will be recalled that the
trial judge, Justice
Hajaratu, Gwadah, in its
judgment declared that the
Kaduna State government
has no right to screen and
issue licences to religious
preachers in the state.
A statement in Benin City,
Edo State, weekend, by its
National President, Rev
Felix Omobude, PFN said:
“Our contention at the time
Governor el-Rufai sent the
executive bill for a law to
substitute the Kaduna State
Religious Preaching Law
1984 to the House of
Assembly of Kaduna State
was that the provisions of
the bill were discriminatory.
“The court is in alignment
with our position, affirming
that Sections 6 and 9 of the
bill, which seeks to screen
and licence preachers,
violates the constitutional
rights of members of the
fellowship.
“We congratulate
members of PFN in
Kaduna State. We urge all
Pentecostals in the state
and beyond to continue to
live peacefully with
everyone, remain lawabiding
in all their activities
while continuing to
accommodate the views of
others.
“PFN will continue to
work with the government
and non-governmental
actors at all levels to ensure
the peace, progress and
prosperity of Nigeria.”
Bayelsa youths, elders stage procession, urge
Buhari to confirm Brambaifa as NDDC MD
By Onozure
Dania
NO fewer than 2,000
youths and elders
have staged a public
procession in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State to call on
President Muhammadu
Buhari to confirm the acting
Managing Director of
Niger Delta Development
Commission, NDDC,
Professor Nelson
Brambaifa, as substantive
Managing Director of the
commission.
The Bayelsa youths,
women and elders, who
took part in the procession
to the Yenagoa office of the
NDDC, said despite the
campaign of calumny
against NDDC
management, the
commission under
Branbaifa has remained
focussed on his mission to
actualise the vision of
President Buhari in Niger
Delta.
They were armed with
placards with inscriptions,
such as ‘President Buhari
please confirm Professor
Nelson Brambaifa as the
MD of NDDC board’, ‘Let
Professor Brambaifa
continue as MD of NDDC,”
“Bayelsans are solidly
behind you as MD of
NDDC”, “The only person
we want is Brambaifa as
MD NDDC”, “NDDC
board is secured with
Professor Brambaifa,”
among others.
Addressing the Bayelsa
Coordinator of NDDC,
Francis Kolokolo,
representative of the
Bayelsa Elders and former
Security Adviser to Bayelsa
State Government, Chief
Perekeme Kpodoh, said
NDDC has come of age, as
it was established to
develop Niger Delta, “but
we have seen that since its
inception, we have not had
development and today we
have a son from Bayelsa
who is Professor Brambaifa
and in four months only, he
has changed the tide.
“There are roads
everywhere. We have over
one hundred and
something roads in
Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers
states. The fact is that
Brambaifa from Bayelsa
has come to ensure that
these roads are put in good
and in motorable
conditions.
"There is nobody from
anywhere that can stop the
planned development of
the region. All those
gimmicks they are doing
outside Bayelsa are being
done for selfish interest not
for the interest of Bayelsans
or the Niger Delta."
Delta community protests
govt, oil coy’s neglect
By Festus Ahon
& Ochuko
Akuopha
THE people of Obodo-
Ugwa community,
Ndokwa West Local
Government Area, Delta
State, have decried alleged
neglect and deprivation by
Delta State government,
Energia Nigeria Limited
and Oando, the oil
companies operating in the
area.
Addressing newsmen at
the community’s town hall
where the indigenes
converged to protest against
their
alleged
marginalisation, Mr Oju
Linus said the community
had been shut out of elective
and appointive political
positions by successive
governments.
He noted that despite
being the host to Energia/
Oando joint venture, the
people still live in abject
poverty, lamenting that the
people lack basic social
amenities such as potable
pipe borne water,
educational facilities,
electricity, good roads,
among others.
Reiterating that the people
were facing untold hardship
due to three decades of oil
exploration in the area, he
said the multinational oil
Rivers govt'll continue to
partner the church —Wike
GOVERNOR Nyesom
Wike of Rivers State
has stated that his
administration will
continue to partner the
church for the development
of the state.
Speaking, yesterday,
during the Lord’s Chosen
Crusade with the theme:
“God has the power to do
this or that” at the Yakubu
Gowon Stadium in Port
Harcourt, Wike attributed
his political survival to the
support and prayers of the
Christian community.
He said the forces of
darkness invaded the state
and attempted to rob the
mandate of the people, but
God stood firm.
A-Ibom bans roadside
trading in Uyo
By Harris-Okon
Emmanuel
UYO—IN a bid to keep
Uyo metropolis and its
environs clean, Akwa Ibom
State government has
clamped down on roadside
trading.
But the move has drawn
criticisms from petty traders
who accused the
government of being
insensitive to their plights as
bread winners in their
families.
A task force comprising
personnel of a local vigilante
group some days back went
round the streets, upturning
the petty traders’ wares and
companies had completely
abandoned their corporate
social responsibilities to the
community.
On her part, Women
Leader of the community,
Ojugbeli Caroline,
lamented gross neglect of
the community despite the
huge oil resource generated
from the area.
He said: “We saw forces,
but the greater force, God
Almighty, came. With this
crusade, Rivers State will be
abundantly blessed. I
repeat once again without
apologies, Rivers State is a
Christian state. That is why
nobody can touch us. When
it mattered most, the
Christian community
prayed and God heard
your prayers.
“I will continue to support
the activities of all churches.
This government will
always partner the
churches in whatever
programme they are
engaged in. I urge the
church to continue to pray.
Each time you pray, put us
in your prayers.”
chasing them away from the
sidewalks of the major
streets in the metropolis.
Chairman, State
Environmental Protection
and Waste Management
Board, Prince Akpan Ikim,
had in a radio programme,
"Sanitation Watch,” gave
credence to the ban, stating
that government obtained a
court order to evacuate all
roadside traders and those
trading on unauthorised
locations in the state capital.
“Overtime, we had
pleaded with roadside
traders in Uyo to relocate to
government approved
markets and desist from
displaying their wares on
walkways and major streets
within the state capital and
beyond but all our efforts to
evacuate them peacefully
had been unsuccessful. Now
that we have received court
order, we have no option
than to do what the law has
directed,” he said.
But the traders have come
down hard on the
government, saying that they
need money to feed their
families, urging Governor
Udom Emmanuel to make
good his pledge during his
first term to build roadside
stores in the city.
Ogba vs Okiemute: Tribunal
admits petitioner’s evidence,
adjourns to July 11
By Babatunde
Jimoh
NATIONAL and State
Assembly Election
Tribunal sitting in Asaba,
Delta State, has adjourned
till July 11, 2019 hearing in
the case by Mr Benjamin
Okiemute of All Progressives
Congress, APC, in which he
is challenging the electoral
victory of Mr Kenneth Ogba
of Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, in the 2019 general
election.
In the petition, Okiemute
and APC are challenging the
declaration of Ogba as the
duly elected member
representing Isoko South in
the Delta State House of
Assembly by the
Independent National
Electoral Commission,
INEC.
Other defendants in the
petition are PDP and INEC.
Chairman of the tribunal,
Justice C. Onyeador, said on
the adjourned date, parties
are for the adoption or
presentation of their
respective written address.
Before the matter was
adjourned till July 11, a
senior INEC official in
charge of the March 9, 2019
election, Shuaibu Razak
testified for the commission.
In a short ruling, the
tribunal chairman, Justice
Onyeado, ordered that the
documents, namely INEC
Form EC81, including
Voters Register for 10 polling
units in Irri and units 7 and
8 in Oleh Ward 2, be
admitted ‘’from the Bar’’ and
collectively as Exhibit A.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019— 13
How fear of rape forced nursing
students out of school in Imo
•As Ihedioha, Okorocha accuse each other
By Chinonso
Alozie
OWERRI—AN investigation
by Vanguard has
unravelled the drama faced by
students of Imo State College
of Nursing and Midwifery in
Ogboko, Ideato South Local
Government Area of Imo
State, before they were ordered
to relocate to their original site
in Okporo, Orlu local
government area in the state.
Vanguard gathered
yesterday in Owerri, that
Governor Emeka Ihedioha, through
the Secretary to State Government,
SSG, Uche Onyeagucha, has ordered
the nursing students to return to their
original site.
But in an exclusive interview with
some of the students, Vanguard
discovered that one of their problems
was the issue of being threatened with
rape, as well as frequent robbery of
their valuables along the road leading
to the college.
The students also complained that
teachers do not attend lectures
regularly as they used to for fear of
being attacked.
They also claimed they were
sleeping and attending lectures in
uncompleted buildings.
It should be recalled that the
students had earlier been relocated
from Okporo Orlu to Ogboko in Ideato
South, in May, 2019 by Okorocha’s
government.
However, in what seems like a
solution, the current government of
Emeka Ihedioha, has ordered that the
students be moved back to their
original site in Okporo Orlu.
The governor’s order came
through the Secretary to the State
Government, Uche Onyeagucha, in
a statement yesterday in Owerri.
However, one of the affected
students who pleaded anonymity
spoke to Vanguard saying: “Yes,
the management is aware of our
moving back to our normal site at
Okporo in Orlu LGA.
“Since May 2019 that Okorocha’s
government asked us to move to
Ogboko site, it has been very difficult
for us. The buildings are not
completed. We always have this issue
of threat to our lives. Bad boys will
await us on the road and ask us to
give them whatever we have with us.
The road is too lonely that anything
can happen at anytime. Some of our
lecturers do not come to classes due
to fear of being attacked by the bad
boys.
“But in Orlu, we feel more
comfortable because there is a
completed hostel and the level of
hardship cannot be compared to the
one in Ogboko.
“We want to leave this area because
we are no longer safe that in a
situation you are attacked, you will
not get any help.”
However, since the relocation of the
Imo State College of Nursing and
Midwifery to its former site in Orlu,
the immediate past government of
Rochas Okorocha and the current
governor, Emeka Ihedioha, have
engaged in accusations and counter
accusations.
The directive to the provost of the
institution, from the office of the SSG,
said: “You are by this letter, directed to
return all the staff, students and other
activities of Imo State College of Nursing
and Midwifery, hitherto moved to
Ogboko, in Ideato South local
government area, to its original place at
Okporo, Orlu with immediate effect.”
This however, did not go down well
with Okorocha, who through his Special
Adviser, SA, on Media, Sam
Onwuemeodo, alleged that “Armed
Youths who came in twelve buses
stormed the College of Nursing and
Midwifery at Ogboko, the home-town of
the former governor of the State, Owelle
Rochas Okorocha and brutalized the
students, threw their belongings out,
stole their phones, vandalized the
College properties including the College
bus and locked the gate of the Institution
after they had chased the whole students
away.
AWARDS: From left— Chief Oladeinde Brown,Trustee, Fs Club; Tope Ashiwaju,Vice
President, Fs Club/Chairman Gala/Award Night Planning Committee;Dr Taiwo Folasade
Ipaye,Former Registrar Unilag;Architect David Lola Majekodunmi,President Fs Club
and Senator Olugbenga Ashafa,past President Fs Club during the Fs Club Gala/Award
Night and induction of new members held at Lagos City Hall,Lagos. PHOTO: AKEEM
SALAU
More groups reject Miyetti Allah’s
request for vigilante in S-East
•INC tells Igbo to start preparing for attack
•Threatens to declare Miyetti Allah persona non grata in 48 hours
•As NAF debunks report of dropping weapons for herdsmen in Enugu
By Anayo Okoli,
Chinonso Alozie,
Chinedu Adonu &
Nwabueze Okonkwo
ENUGU—MORE
groups
have joined the league
rejecting the idea mooted by the
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders
Association of Nigeria,
MACBAN, to set up a vigilante
group in the South East, with
some groups describing the
request as very provocative.
Igbo Ekunie Initiative, IEI, a
coalition of professionals in
Nigeria and the Diaspora, in their
position described the demand of
MACBAN as “reckless and
provocative”.
A leading civil rights group in
the South East, International
Society for Civil Liberties and the
Rule of Law, Intersociety, said it
would not join issues with the
Miyetti Allah but “we are holding
the South East Governors, mostly
that of Enugu, Anambra and
Ebonyi States responsible for
hobnobbing with the terrorists
group”.
The Igbo National Council,
INC, in their own reaction out
rightly rejected the request and
asked the Igbo people to start
Insecurity: Anambra vigilante group trains 40 personnel on
various skills
By Nwabueze
Okonkwo
ONITSHA—IN
its
determination to retain
Anambra’s current status as the
safest state in the country, in terms
of security of lives and properties,
the state Vigilante Supervisory
Committee has embarked on
rigorous training and retraining
exercise for its vigilante personnel
to enable them withstand more
security challenges in the state.
For a start, no fewer than 40
male and female personnel were
grilled for three weeks in the
areas of unarmed combat,
physical exercises, foot drills,
professional and legal studies,
use of English language,
communication skill, guard duties
and e-security.
In his keynote address at the
colourful passing out parade for
the trainees at the weekend at
Nimo community in Njikoka
Local Government Area of the
state, chairman of the State
Vigilante Supervisory
Committee, Chief Ikechukwu Ayo
Aduba, a retired Commissioner
of Police, disclosed that the
training exercise which was coordinated
by a Senior Zonal
Supervisor for Anambra North
Senatorial District of the
committee, ACP Charles
Osegbue, a retired Assistant
Commissioner of Police, "was to
prepare them to face the current
security challenges facing us
today in Nigeria."
Aduba who is also a Senior
Special Assistant to Governor
Willie Obiano on Vigilante
Matters, commended the
traditional ruler (Owelle) of
Nimo, Igwe Maximus Ike Oliobi
for shouldering the expenses of
the three-week training
programme, thus, demonstrating
the need for the 179 communities
in the state to partner with the
state government in sponsoring
certain security projects as
according to him, government
cannot do it alone.
preparing to defend themselves
from any attack by armed
herdsmen and warned that
“enough is enough”. They also
threatened to declare Miyetti
Allah, persona non grata, should
the group fail to apologize to
Ndigbo over their statement in
the next 48 hours.
The Coalition of South East
Youth Leaders (COSEYL), said
the demand by MACBAN was
“an insult of the highest order”,
pointing out that allowing that
would amount to committing “ an
abomination in Igbo land”.
Also, Anambra State chapter of
the Civil Liberties Organization,
CLO, described the call as quite
unacceptable and an insult on
Ndigbo.
Igbo Ekunie Initiative
specifically warned against the
consequences of any attempt to
export what they described as
“infamously vicious and violent
Fulani militia into any part of Igbo
land”.
In a press statement jointly
signed by its president and
secretary, Mazi Tochukwu
Ezeoke and Lawrence Nwobu,
respectively, Igbo Ekunie
Initiative said the request was
“absolutely uncalled for and
worrisome especially when taken
into perspective that States like
Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia
and Imo are among the most
peaceful areas of the country.
“There is absolutely no threat in any
form to the Fulani people living in the
South-East nor to their business
interests that should warrant the
establishment of a Fulani defence corp.
"We maintain that we already have
effective local vigilante services all over
the South-East to augment the services
of the secular security services and there
is absolutely no need to pollute the
already harmonious security relationship
by adding the Fulani militia into the
equation.
“One would have expected that the
Miyetti Allah should devote its energy
and resources to assisting in addressing
the reckless and cruel bloodletting all
over Northern Nigeria by the Fulani
herdsmen whose genocide crimes of
huge proportions have so far baffled and
overwhelmed the entire security
apparatchiks in Nigeria”.
The Human Rights Liberty Access
and Peace Defenders Foundation,
HURIJE, said it is quite unfortunate that
the federal government disarmed local
vigilante outfits in the South East and
allowed the Fulani herdsmen to carry
AK 47 about freely.
“Government should disarm Fulani
herdsmen now because arming them in
the South East in the name of
establishment of vigilante will give them
license to penetrate South East and kill
more people, since the hands of our
security personnel are tied”.
NAF debunks report of
dropping weapons for
herdsmen in Enugu
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air
Force, NAF, has debunked the
recent social media report
alleging that NAF training
helicopters dropped weapons at
Akwuke Forest in Enugu State,
saying it was “total falsehood and
lies by mischief-makers”.
Flight Lieutenant and acting Public
Relations and Information Officer of NAF
Ground Training Command, GTC,
Enugu, Lt, Faith Aigbeoghain made this
condemnation in a statement issued to
pressmen yesterday in Enugu.
According to Aigbeoghain: “The
attention of Headquarters GTC of
Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Enugu has been
drawn to a social media and online story
being circulated by some mischievous
and misguided elements.
“The mischievous elements purported
that NAF helicopters were being used
to drop weapons for Fulani herdsmen in
the forest area of Akwuke community in
Enugu South Local Government Area
in Enugu State.
“The report alleged that helicopters
had been seen on several occasions
flying at low level and landing in the
forest area to discharge their packages”,
she said.
She however dismissed the report as
deliberately misleading and obviously
concocted by the writer to cause
disaffection and incite negative divisive
emotions among Nigerians.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
Claimant’s lawyer in Kwara gov certificate saga alleges threats to life
By Demola Akinyemi
ILORIN—COUNSEL to the
new claimant in the alleged
secondary school certificate
scandal against Governor
Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of
Kwara State, Andrew Olawale,
has alleged threat to his life by
the Police, who have been pressurising
him to opt out of the case.
Speaking at a briefing in Ilorin
Olawale, flanked by his client,
said last Monday after the last
court proceeding, he was
whisked to the Police
headquarters from the court
premises on trumped up charges
and was not allowed to go home
By Charles Agwam
BAUCHI State government
has alleged that immediate
past governor of the state,
Mohammad Abubakar, spent
N2.3 billion on funeral materials
and burials between January and
May.
Spokesperson to Governor Bala
Mohammed, Ladan Salihu, told
newsmen, yesterday, that the
figure was contained in the
handover note passed down to
the transition committee in
May.
According to him, “how could
you imagine that a state
governor, between January and
the time of elections, spent N2.3
billion on funeral materials
(clothes, robes, and woods).
“The immediate past
•They should leave my lawyer alone; come for me—Olasehinde
until the following day.
He said: “When I asked the
Police officers why they were
detaining me, they said they were
detaining me on orders from
above and asked me to go and
find out at the government house.
“Pressures are being mounted
on me to opt out of the case; some
even say I am not from Kwara, so
I should be careful. But since my
client insists I go ahead with the
case, I don’t have option.
“I have to let the whole world
know my predicaments in the
hands of people mostly unknown,
through several calls and the
government said they spent this
amount, but the same
government could not spend a
quarter of that amount on our
hospitals and clinics.
“We will recover every kobo
spent illegally by the immediate
past administration. These
monies are public funds. We
can’t allow individuals to hold
us to ransom. These monies are
Police, that my life is in danger
and nothing must happen to me.”
The client
Olawale's client, a member of
All Progressives Congress, APC,
from Okeero Local Government
Area of the state, Mr. Abiodun
Olasehinde, in his address, urged
the Police to come for him and
leave his lawyer alone.
He said he was interested in the
case because as a stakeholder, his
governor must meet the required
constitutional standard, so he
went to the Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC, to
not their inheritance; they
belong to the people.”
He assured that government
would petition the Economic
and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, and other
relevant agencies to probe
every individual who was
suspected to be in position of
cross check his documents where
he spotted the discrepancies and
consequently joined the suit.
He said: “Even if my lawyer
says he is no more interested, I
will hire another lawyer and go
ahead with the case. Even if the
first claimant opts out, I will
stand alone; that is me.”
Contacted, the spokesman of
Kwara State Police Command,
Ajayi Okasanmi, said he was
not yet aware of the
development, but encouraged
the lawyer to feel free to come
and lodge complaints in the office
of the commissioner.
KNIGHTHOOD: From left— Chief Adeniyi Akapo; Permannent Secretary, General Services Office, GSO, Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Olusegun Adekunle; Mrs Similade Adekunle; Director, GSO, SGF, Mr. Yinka Aguda, and
Mr. Sakiru Akinola, at the investiture of Adekunle as Knight of John Wesley by the Methodist Church of Nigeria, in Abuja .
Ex-gov Abubakar spent N2.3bn on
burial—Bauchi govt
By Umar Yusuf
YOLA—NO fewer than
441,126 school-aged girls in
Adamawa State have been forced
out of schools due to insurgency,
poverty, high rate of under-aged
•That's laughable, says
Abubakar's aide
pregnancy and apathy for girlchild
education by their parents,
a report has revealed.
According to a research into girlchild
education released in Yola
weekend, insurgency , communal
clashes and other social unrests
contributed to the large
percentage.
It indicated that parents of such
girls resorted to using them for
hawking or domestic chores.
The research report of a
baseline study on a Communityled
Collective Action for Girls
Education, C-CAGE, also
indicated preference for Quranic
education by families who view
western education as being for
Christians and negative peer
public funds and assets.
However, the spokesperson of
the former governor, Ali Ali,
while dismissing the allegation
as “laughable,” said he was not
aware of such spending, but
assured that he would make
findings and respond to the
allegation.
Insurgency, pregnancy others keep
441,126 girls out of school in Adamawa
influence, as other factors
lowering rate of girl-child
education in the state.
The research, commissioned by
the African Centre for Leadership
Strategy and Development,
Centre, LSD, and supported by
the Malala Fund, also indicated
that endemic poverty could
rubbish free education for a girl
at the point of an external
examination requiring a fee.
Many girls, the report stated,
were out of school near the exit
point, at Junior Secondary School,
JSS 3, or Senior Secondary
School, SSS 3, when it comes to
registering for the final year
external examination due to lack
of money for the registration.
KWASU hasn’t
been funded for
5 years— VC
By Demola Akinyemi
ILORIN—VICE Chancellor
of Kwara State University,
KWASU, Professor
AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, has
said the major challenge
confronting the institution has
been inadequate funding.
Na’Allah, in his address at
the seventh convocation
anniversary of the university,
weekend, explained, that “for
five years, the university has
not received subvention from
government for salary,
overhead or for anything.”
The VC, who said the
university had been surviving
on internally-generated
revenue, IGR, added that
“KWASU has established a
foundation with contributions
from philanthropists.”
The convocation lecturer and
Chairman, Agreement
Renegotiation Committee of
Nigerian Universities, Dr.
Wale Babalaki(SAN) said
Nigeria must restructure its
university and secondary
school education system to turn
out employable graduates and
regain respect of world
community.
This, he said, has become
imperative as Nigeria’s best
university ranks 800th in the
world.
No rift in
Nasarawa
FMC—CMD
By David Odama
LAFIA—CONTRARY to
speculations making the
round that the Federal
Medical Centre, Keffi,
Nasarawa State, was engulfed
in management crisis, the
management has
disassociated itself from the
rumour, saying there was no
feud in the centre.
Chief Medical Director of the
hospital, Dr. Yahaya Adamu,
stated this at the weekend,
while reacting to a publication
on national dailies on a
petition purportedly written
against him on issues ranging
from masterminding financial
increase of services to patients,
high-handedness, lack of
performances among others.
He described the petition as
‘baseless and unfounded” and
a calculated attempt to
discredit the management of
the centre, claiming that he
was not given a fair hearing
in the publication.
Adamu said: “The media are
friends in progress and we are
supposed to work together. We
should be able to inform our
people on what is correct and
appropriate.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019— 15

16—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
LAUNCHING: From left— Government and Regulatory Affairs Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company,
NBC, Ltd, Tokunbo Ibrahim ; Sustainability and Community Affairs Manager, Ifeoma Okoye; External
Communications Manager, Olatomiwa Akande; Public Affairs and Communications Director, Ekuma
Eze; Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe and
Public Affairs and Communications Manager (Lagos/West), NBC, Ltd, Oluwakemi Michael-Jabagun, at
the media parley held to launch the maiden edition of NBC’s Sustainability Report in Lagos.
Why my govt'll work with monarchs, by
Gov Makinde
By Elizabeth
Uwandu
IBADAN—OYO State
governor, Mr Seyi
Makinde, has expressed
his intention to make
traditional rulers critical
stakeholders in his
administration’s bid to bring
about all-round
development and
tranquillity in the state.
The governor made the
remark at the celebration of
the birthday of the Olugbon
of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis
Alao, which was held on
Wednesday at Ilaji Hotels
and Sports Resort, Akanran,
Ibadan.
Governor Makinde, who
was represented by a former
federal lawmaker,
Honourable Babatunde
Oduyoye, said the task of
building and repositioning
the state could only be
achieved if traditional rulers
were given the opportunity
to discharge their duties
effectively in their
respective domains.
According to him,
traditional rulers in the state
would, henceforth, be
allowed to perform their
statutory roles of building
the society and
safeguarding culture and
tradition. His
administration, he said, was
making arrangements to
make them succeed in this
Dibi Field oil spill: Delta community
threatens NOSDRA, Chevron
W ARRI—AJA-Omaetan
community youths in
Warri North council of Delta
State have threatened to
expose staff of the National
Oil Spill Detection and
Response Agency,
NOSDRA and Chevron
officials over a 2018 spill
and alleged plot to side
track their community for
failing to involve them in
the post spill impact
PDP chieftain slams DSP over
appointments
ASABA—A chieftain of
the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, in Delta State,
Dr Fred Latimore
Oghenesivbe, has taken a
swipe at the new Deputy
Senate President, Senator
Ovie Omo-Agege over the
recently announced
appointments of personal
aides made by the senator.
Oghenesivbe noted that
Senator Omo-Agege's
preference for the Yoruba
over the Urhobo in his
appointments has
vindicated those who have
accused him of exhibiting
a dual personality, saying
this posture was antithetical
to the famed pan-Urhobo
disposition of modern
political leaders like former
governor, Chief James
Ibori.
He described the
senator's action as a betrayal
of the cause of the Urhobo
Nation and youths in
particular, as signaled by
''the misappropriation of top
political appointments by
the first Urhobo Deputy
Senate President, Ovie
Omo-Agege, who pitched
tent with the Yoruba Nation
to the disadvantage of
Delta State and the good
people of Urhobo Ethnic
Nationality in Delta Central
Senatorial District.''
In a statement yesterday,
made available to
newsmen in Asaba,
Oghenesivbe lamented
that the Deputy Senate
President's action amounted
to a misappropriation of
political opportunity from
the perspective of the
Urhobo Nation, save the
appointment of his chief of
regard.
The governor reiterated
his commitment to boosting
the economy of the state by
providing an environment
conducive to businesses
and as such, his
government was resolved to
fix the deplorable
Olorunsogo-Amuloko-
Akanran Road, which
stretches to the multi-billion
assessment, PSIA, and the
signing of the JIV
document.
Addressing newsmen in
Warri, weekend, the
community youth
chairman, Mr. Godfrey
Adidi in a letter dated June
20, and addressed to the
Director-General/CEO of
NOSDRA and signed by
his vice, Mr. Rawlings
Odudu; Secretary, Mr.
staff, Dr Otive Igbuzor, who
hails from Senator Omo-
Agege's native Orogun in
Ughelli North Local
Government Area of Delta
State.
In a release, titled ''DSP
Ovie
Agege,
Misappropriation of
Political Appointments and
the Regrets of Urhobo
Nation," Oghenesivbe
claimed that Senator Omo-
Agege was more interested
in feathering the political
and economic nest of the
Yoruba Nation of South-
West geo-political zone than
promoting the interest of
Delta Central senatorial
district, and Urhobo ethnic
nationality upon whose
shoulders he climbed to
power as a senator of the
Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
naira investment, Ilaji
Hotels and Sports Resort.
In his remarks, the
immediate past governor of
the state, Senator Abiola
Ajimobi, congratulated the
celebrant, Oba Alao, whom
he described as a noble
traditional ruler who
exercises his sovereignty
over his subjects with a kind
heart.
Emmanuel Utsoritselaju
and PRO, Mr. Rowland
Mene, disclosed that a
PSIA was ordered to involve
all affected parties but expressed
regret that some
parties have concluded
plans to complete and sign
the JIV documents without
their involvement on
Wednesday, June 26, 2019.
They warned that any attempt
to side track them in
the processes initiated by
their community would
result in dire consequences.
According to the
statement, “Itsekiri youths
are not into militancy. But
we are not lazy or afraid,
just that we put the interest
of Nigeria first. Aja-
Omaetan youths are ready
to take the bull by the horns.
Be prepared for any
violence or unrest within the
DIBI field as a result of the
planned fraudulent JIV
signing.”
In the letter copied to Vice
President Osinbajo, Senate
President, Speaker of the
House of Representatives,
Inspector General of
Police, D-G, DSS and
Governor Okowa, they
asserted that they are ready
to protect themselves from
further acts of those
destroying their environment and
only source of livelihood and
therefore called for a joint “Post
Spill Impact Assessment, PSIA,
as ordered without delay.
FedEx, in another error, misses
delivery of Huawei package to US
FEDEX Corp said on Sunday an operational error
prevented a Huawei Technologies package from
being delivered to the United States, just weeks after the
U.S. delivery company said an error led to the Chinese
firm’s packages being misdirected.
“The package in question was mistakenly returned to
the shipper, and we apologize for this operational error,”
FedEx told Reuters in an emailed statement. A company
spokeswoman confirmed that the package was U.S.
bound but declined to say what it contained.
China’s Global Times newspaper said in a tweet later
that FedEx is likely to be added to China’s ‘unreliable
entities list’ due to the incident.
Amid a bruising trade dispute between Washington
and Beijing, China threatened late in May to unveil an
unprecedented hit-list of “unreliable” foreign firms,
groups and individuals that harm the interests of Chinese
companies.
Huawei files lawsuit against US
Commerce Dept over seized equipment
HUAWEI Technologies Company Incorporated filed
a lawsuit against the US Commerce Department
on Friday challenging whether telecommunications
equipment it sent from China to the United States, and
then back to China, is covered by Export Administration
Regulations, according to a court filing.
The lawsuit is the latest salvo in a battle between the
US government and Huawei. Washington says the Chinese
company’s telecommunications gear could be used
by Beijing to spy. Huawei denies that is the case.
In the lawsuit, Huawei said that it shipped telecommunications
equipment from China, including a computer
server and Ethernet switch, to a testing laboratory
in California. After the testing was done, the equipment
was shipped back to China. No application for a license
was made because none was needed, the lawsuit claims.
But the equipment was seized in Alaska by the U.S.
government, and no decision has been made about
whether a license is required to ship it, the filing said.
“The equipment, to the best of HT USA’s knowledge,
remains in a bureaucratic limbo in an Alaskan warehouse,”
Huawei said in its lawsuit.
Wall Street: Investors eye G20 with
hopes for US, China trade detente
ALL eyes will be on US President Donald Trump and
China’s President Xi Jinping this week as investors
are desperate for any signs of a thaw in US,-China
relations even if it shifts expectations for much awaited
Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.
The S&P 500 closed at a record high on Thursday after
the US central bank said it was ready to cut rates if needed
in the face of growing risks including the US-China
trade war. The benchmark index was volatile on Friday
as hopes of trade progress offset concerns about US-Iran
tensions.
To extend the rally, one requirement will be friendly
talks between the leaders of the world’s two biggest economies.
They are expected to meet in Japan on the sidelines
of a Group of 20 (G20) summit next week.
US-China negotiations spectacularly broke down in
early May after Trump accused China of retreating from
previous commitments, causing a market sell-off.
Daimler to recall 60,000 Mercedes
diesels in Germany over emissions
DAIMLER must recall 60,000 Mercedes diesel cars
in Germany after regulators found that they were
fitted with software aimed at distorting emissions tests,
the Transportation Ministry said on Saturday.
The model affected is the Mercedes-Benz GLK 220
produced between 2012 and 2015.
Daimler confirmed that the recall was ordered on Friday
but said that it would appeal against the decision
while continuing to cooperate with regulators.
The ministry said that it was expanding its investigation
into further models.
Since rival Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to cheating
U.S. emissions tests, the scandal has spread to other
carmakers. Daimler has ordered the recall of 3 million
vehicles to fix excess emissions coming from their diesel
engines.
Some stories credited to Reuters

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019—17

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
AS the Labour sector and the nation
at large get set for the battle to
implement the recently-approved
National Minimum Wage, the
complementary Labour compensation
law - the Pension Act - needs to be
placed on the centre stage of the total
fiscal plan, especially at the state and
local government levels.
The Labour compensation law in in a PENCOM report for the first
question is the Contributory Pension quarter of 2019 shows that 20 states are
Scheme, CPS. By the CPS Act as neither remitting pension contributions
amended in 2014, the Federal Government
had kick-started the implementa-
no group life insurance for their em-
nor funding accrued rights and have
tion for federal civil servants while the ployees.
private sector has largely keyed into the The states are Imo, Sokoto, Kogi,
scheme.
Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Oyo, Katsina, Akwa
It is worrisome that after many years, Ibom, Benue, Kwara, Plateau, Cross
the National Pension Commission, River, Abia, Ebonyi, Taraba, Bauchi,
PENCOM, is reporting that only 15 Borno, Gombe and Adamawa states.
states have made progress in the Other states, except the Federal
implementation of the scheme, while Capital Territory, FCT, and Lagos have
only eight out of the remaining 21 states no group life in place for their workers.
have sent bills for its enactment. We commend Lagos and Kaduna states
A breakdown of the level of as the only states that are up to date in
implementation of the CPS as contained the remittance of pension contributions
The plight of state pensioners
and funding the accrued rights of
employees.
Delta is remitting complete and
regular pension contributions for state
employees, but remitting only
employees’ portion for local government
workers. The state funded accrued
pension rights of both LG and
state but with huge arrears of accrued
pension liabilities.
Jigawa State is remitting pension
contributions to selected Pension Fund
Administrators, PFAs, but
implementing a Contributory Defined
Benefits Scheme, CDBS. It does not
have group life insurance policy for
its workers.
Ogun stopped remitting pension
contributions with huge arrears of
unremitted pension contributions. It has
not commenced funding of the accrued
rights or established Group Life
Insurance policy.
Niger State stopped remitting pension
contributions in 2015, and is not funding
accrued rights. Rivers is remitting only
employee portion of pension
contributions. The state has a huge
backlog of unremitted employer portion
of pension contributions.
These are some of the disheartening
snapshots of the states’ pension schemes
for which we advocate stern measures
to save the future of the workers who
would not be able to fend for themselves
soon after they leave service.
While commending the efforts of
PENCOM, we advise the Federal Government
to exert the political will that
rescued the LGs from the financial
stranglehold of the State Governors to
rescue state pensioners from their
plight.
OPINION
Towards ending the killing spree by herdsmen
By Emmanuel Onwubiko
NOT long ago when a global terrorists
index was issued by international
experts on terrorism and the threats terrorists
pose to world's peace, the Nigerian version
of armed herdsmen was rated as the fourth
deadliest killer terror organisation in the
world.
Sadly, as the international community of
concerned experts are wracking their brains
on how to get the relevant global leaders to
act to stave off the grave consequences of
not doing anything to stop all forms of terror
attacks, there appears to be an awkward
marriage of convenience and conspiracy of
silence by the authorities in Nigeria.
Herdsmen have continued to terrorise Nigeria
and Nigerians but because of the alleged
support of the group by the authorities,
they are now roaming about like sacred
cows and are demanding openly to set
up armed vigilantes in the Igbo heartland
because of the refusal of the Igbo to accept
the use of public fund for the setting up of
either cattle colonies, ranches or grazing
lands.
On June 25, 2018 at the height of the attacks
on farming communities in the
Middlebelt region, this group said the killings
were a retaliation for the theft of 300
cows. Danladi Ciroma, chairman, North-
Central zone of the Miyetti Allah called
Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria,
MACBAN, who said herdsmen in Plateau
State had lost “about 300 cows in the last
few weeks,” added: “These attacks are retaliatory.
As much as I don’t support the killing
of human beings, the truth must be told
that those who carried out the attacks must
be on revenge mission.”
The leader of a delegation of MACBAN
to the Defence Headquarters, Senator
Dagiri Alkali, said the pastoralists moved
into new territories in the country because
they had been forced out of their territories
in the North. He claimed that the Boko
Haram insurgents attacked the Fulani in
the North-East and other parts of the country
and stole millions of cows from the breeders,
adding that the Fulani were also victims of
the activities of cattle rustlers in Katsina,
Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna, Nasarawa,
Plateau, Benue and parts of Kogi State.
Alkali wondered why people had not taken
a look at the factors that had driven the
Fulani to different parts of the country, and
asked where Nigerians expected the
herdsmen to keep the over 20 million cows
in the country. “When the reserves and forests
were gazetted and reserved for cattle
breeders, this incident was not there; but the
increase in population has now wiped out
the entire grazing reserves in this country;
400 and something of them all wiped out,
and you have a population of about 20
million cows.
“Where do you keep them? And every one
of us likes to eat meat. This is a venture that
over 20 million people are engaged in and
nobody cares to know what the causes of
this problem are. Presently, you know the
case of Boko Haram. They attacked and
decapitated the population of Fulani in
Adamawa, Borno and Yobe and some parts
of Taraba.”
The Defence authorities have warned that
the military would go after those behind the
killing of innocent citizens and ensure that
they were prosecuted in accordance with the
directive of the President. Shockingly, rather
than arrest and prosecute these persons for
defending mass murders, the Director,
Administration, at the Defence Headquarters,
Maj. Gen. Fatai Ali, who represented
the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel
Olonisakin, said the CDS had set up a committee
to interact with the stakeholders on
the issue. He warned those involved in violence
to stop forthwith as the Federal Government
would subject them to the full
weight of the law.
According to him, the committee, led by
Maj. Gen. Edward Nze, had just arrived in
Abuja from Benue for such meetings with
stakeholders. He stated that the military
was working hard to ensure that those who
perpetrated the gruesome killings were
apprehended. “The recent herdsmen and
local community clashes in many parts of
Nigeria are sources of serious concern.
Many lives have been lost. The President
The Defence authorities
have warned that the military
would go after those
behind the killing of innocent
citizens and ensure
that they were prosecuted
has directed security agencies and indeed,
the military, to handle the situation and
ensure that no more lives are lost. I want to
assure you that the military, in conjunction
with other security agencies, is doing everything
possible to maintain peace and
security in Nigeria in line with the directive
of the Commander-in-Chief.
“I want to also assure you that whoever
is involved in this killing will be brought to
book and tried in line with the laws of the
land. We are calling on all other parties
who are interested in peace, to sheathe their
swords and ensure that they do not cause
unnecessary casualties or deaths; otherwise,
the Federal Government of Nigeria will bring
the full weight of the force and law on them.”
The same Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders in
January 2018, defended armed herdsmen
who attacked Benue State communities and
even slaughtered two catholic priests and
worshippers at a morming mass. These persons
were never arrested. At that time, the
Miyetti Allah had reacted to the recent
killings in Benue, Taraba and other states.
Recall that dozens of people have been
killed in violence unleashed by armed
herdsmen on farmers. The most reported
killing of over 70 people in Benue has been
blamed by the state government on the
Miyetti Allah. Miyetti Allah didn't deny
involvement but pontificated their time-worn
and dubious claim of killing in self-defence.
They even told the security forces that: “We
are, however, not denying the fact that, as
any other community in the country, we are
also battling with misguided and criminally
motivated elements who indulge in social
vices and criminal activities. However, these
few miscreants do not represent the
mainstream herdsmen.
"While as a body we are not against any
law that can engender peace, create societal
harmony and stability, we cannot oblige any
self-centred regulation with primordial
sentiments based on injustice, intolerance and
infringement of people’s fundamental rights."
What is still a compelling interrogation is
what the motivating factor is for the Presidency
to insist on not declaring Miyetti Allah
Cattle Breeders, a terror group even when
empirical proofs exist to show how they actively
encourage and sponsor violence
against farmers.
• Onwubiko is of the Human Rights Writers
Association of Nigeria

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019 —19
Decline in stop rates on FGN bond to persist as DMO offer N100bn
•External reserves record first weekly decline in 3 months
By Babajide Komolafe
T
HE declining trend of stop rates
in the monthly FGN bond offer
is expected to persist this week
when the Debt Management Office,
DMO, conduct the June offer of
N100 billion.
The DMO since last year has been
reducing stop rates on FGN bonds,
taking advantage of huge demand
for the bonds, driven by investors'
quest for higher returns especially
foreign portfolio investors. As a
result, stop rate on the five-year
FGN bond declined by 109 basis
points (bpts) to 14.11 percent at the
last auction in May from 15.20
percent at the January auction.
Similarly stop rate on the 10-year
FGN bond fell by 111 bpts to 14.24
percent in May from 15.35 percent
in January. This trend, according to
analysts, will persist this week
during the N100 billion FGN bond
offer for June. The offer comprise
three tenors, five-years, 10-years and
30-years namely, N30 billion worth
of 12.75% FGN APR 2023 (5-Yr Reopening),
N40 billion worth of FGN
APR 2029 (10-Yr Re-opening), and
N30 billion worth of FGN APR 2049
(30-Yr Re-opening).
"We expect the bonds to be issued
at lower stop rates amid sustained
demand pressure on fixed income
assets," said analysts at Lagos based
Cowry Asset Management Company
Limited.
Cost of funds to rise further
Meanwhile, the FGN bond offer is
expected to trigger further rise in
cost of funds in the interbank money
Continues on page 21
MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
By Nkiruka Nnorom
THE unrelenting Apapa traffic
gridlock as well as the unchecked
dumping of consumer goods in the
country have continued to take their toll
on the financial state of companies in
the Fast Moving Consumer Goods,
FMCGs, segment.
The financial report of the companies
for the first quarter (Q1) to March 31,
2019 indicated that they are struggling
with declining earnings and thinning
profit margins.
The companies, which include Nestle
Nigeria Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc,
Unilever Nigeria Plc, Dangote Sugar
Refinery Plc, Dangote Flour Mills Plc,
NASCON Allied Industries Plc and
GlaxoSmithKline, GSK Plc, recorded
combined revenue of N172.4 billion, a
10.6 percent decline compared to
N192.83 billion posted in the
corresponding period in 2018.
Their Profit Before Tax, PBT, also saw
a marginal decline of 1.63 percent to
N30.2 billion from N30.7 billion in Q1,
2018.
Managing Director of NASCON, Paul
Farrer, described the Apapa gridlock as
one of the key risks in the company’s
business, saying that the company has
shifted some of its operations away from
Apapa to Oregun and Port Harcourt, in
response to the gridlock in Apapa.
He said the Apapa gridlock affected
the movement of raw materials to
Oregun, timely delivery of finished
goods to customers and increased turnaround
time of the company’s trucks.
“We relocated 60 per cent of our Apapa
Plant production capacity to our Oregun
and Port Harcourt plants to reduce the
effects of the gridlock. We also engaged
third-party transporters to ensure timely
delivery of our finished goods,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, Founder
and Chairman Honeywell Group, Mr.
Oba Otudeko, said that the deplorable
Apapa gridlock crashes earnings
in consumer goods sector
•Revenue down 10.6 %, as they struggle to contain cost
state of roads around the Tin Can and
Apapa ports is already seriously
weighing on businesses operating in
the vicinity.
He explained that most companies
operating in the area are counting their
losses as a result of the traffic gridlock
around the ports, adding that it is
affecting manpower, production and
profit.
Recall that owing to the enormity of
the problem and the outcry over the
impact on businesses, the federal
government recently constituted
a Presidential Task Force on the Apapa
traffic gridlock with a mandate to clear
up the gridlock as well as restore law
and order to Apapa and its environs
within two weeks starting from May 24,
2019.
After failing to meet its initial deadline
of June 7, the Task Force is now
expected to present a formal report at
the end of its extended mandate today,
June 24, 2019. The Task Force is yet to
make any significant headway as major
roads leading to the ports are still locked
up as at press time.
Despite the attendant effect of the
traffic on the companies, the
management of the various companies
have managed to device a way to control
cost in order to remain in business.
Financial Vanguard checks revealed
that some of the companies that import
their manufacturing inputs now ferry
them in barges through the Lagoon to
Ikorodu and then truck to where their
factories are located to avoid the delay
brought about by the traffic situation.
Continues on page 20
MPC members advocate
strong consumer credit
system
22
We're trying to establish trade
Stock market investors lose relationship with Africa
N78bn in bearish run
24
— Omolola Ajani
27
C
M
Y
K

20 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2019
FINANCIAL VANGUARD
Continues from page 19
Others have also resorted to
funding through capital
market, instead of money
market to keep cost down.
Consequently, cost of
sales for the companies
dropped by 5.8 percent
to N118.84 billion from
N126.16 billion a year
ago.
However, Nestle
appeared to have a better
outing during the period
having recorded 5.3
percent reduction in cost
of sales, while recording
five percent and 40
percent increases in
revenue and pre-tax
profit respectively, a
performance financial
experts attributed to the
inelastic nature of the
company's core food
segments.
Though Unilever also
brought down its cost
significantly by 12.5
percent to N15.37
billion, its revenue and
pre-tax profit went
negative at -20.8 percent
and -39 percent
respectively. Dangote
Sugar also recorded 17.1
percent decline in cost,
but its revenue for the
three month period
declined by 7.3 percent
to N38.12 billion. Its pretax
profit, however, rose
by 27.4 percent to N10.7
billion.
GSK seems to be worst
hit, as its cost
skyrocketed by 16.7
percent, while the
revenue and PBT
recorded steep decline of
72.8 percent and 87.5
percent respectively.
Like GSK, Dangote
Flour Mills posted 4.6
percent increase in cost
of sales and 13.4 percent
decline in revenue while
recorded outright loss
before tax of N3.6 billion
as against a profit of
N2.3 billion made in the
corresponding period of
2018.
Cadbury Nigeria, on the other
hand, posted 7.3 percent
increase in its cost. However, its
revenue and pre-tax profit went
up by 12.6 percent and 2,201
percent respectively.
NASCON's cost rose by 8.5
percent. Its revenue
appreciated by 0.7 percent,
while the PBT declined by 34.6
percent.
Analysts explain
Financial experts that spoke
to Financial Vanguard blamed
the poor performance on the
Apapa traffic gridlock and
increased importation of illegal
consumables, which they said,
is hurting their profit margin.
Wahab Mustapha, analysts at
Cordros Capital, a Lagos based
investment house, said: “Most
of them reported slower
portfolio growth, basically
because they are operating in
intense competitive
Apapa gridlock crashes earnings in
consumer goods sector
environment.
Pricing environment was
actually very bad for them. That
was why you see that their
revenue was down year-onyear.
“When you think of the
declining portfolio, what comes
to mind is that most of them are
still struggling from the Apapa
traffic gridlock, making it
difficult for them to evacuate
products from the Port and
distribute their products from
the area.
“For some of them, such as
Dangote Sugar and the flour
millers, they operate in intense
competitive environment; they
are still suffering from huge
importation of some
commodities like sugar and
flour with the impact of this
resulting in general price
decline.”
Additionally, he said that
strained consumer wallets
remained a challenge.
“Consumers are yet to recover
from the over 60 percent
depreciation in the value of the
Naira over a period of two
years. Secondly, inflation level
has also doubled. So, the impact
of the decreased wealth is
impacting consumers'
purchasing power,” Mustapha
said.
For them to survive, he said
they have to bring down prices
to, at least, fend off competition
or to, at least, maintain the same
level of market share.
Analysts at United Capital Plc,
another Lagos-based
investment banking firm, said:
“Our view on the FMCGs
remains modestly positive on
the back of a gradual recovery
in the economy.
“However, challenges to
volume growth may persist due
to bottlenecks to distribution.
“Pressure on volume growth
and transport cost is likely to
persist as the difficulty
associated with the gridlock at
the Lagos Port is unlikely to go
away in the interim. In our view,
this is negative for food
manufacturers in the Apapa axis
as well as others that depend
on importation of their ware.”
Charles Fakrogha, broker
dealer at Cicycol, attributed the
impaired revenue to weak
purchasing power of an
average Nigerian consumer. He
advised the FMCG companies
to work at keeping down cost.
“They should be more cost
conscious,” he stated.
He said that though they have
been able to pass cost to
consumers through reduction
in quantity of unit packs, but
that has not positively impacted
earnings due to myriad of other
challenges.
Fakrogha added that
congestion at Apapa Port and
COVER
gridlock at that axis also
impacted the efficiency
and operating cost for
some of the companies in
FMCG sector that are
involved in importation of
their wares.
David Adonri,
Managing Director/CEO,
Highcap Securities
Limited, blamed the
increased dumping of
imported products for the
incidence. He said that the
imported substitute has
reduced the market share
of the companies.
Going forward
United Capital stated
that while most players in
the FMCGs would be
looking forward to the
positive impact of the new
N30,000 minimum wage,
fixing the current
infrastructural deficits
would be a bigger win for
them.
“In all, our best picks in
the sector are diversified
food and beverage
producers, buttressed by
their product and brand
durability. We are not very
positive on flour millers
and sugar manufacturing
companies, as our shortterm
expectation is
dampened by the
feedback effect of Apapa
gridlock and smuggling
activities on volume
growth,” they said.
Going into the future,
Mustapha of Cordros
Capital said: “We see
slight improvement in
Apapa gridlock by year
end or at least by early
2020.
The improvement is
expected to give some of
the companies that are
involved in importation of
their raw materials some
respite.”
He noted that pledge by
federal government to
clampdown on illegal
importation of different products
will also give them some respite
in terms of pricing.
“I believe that they should be
able to increase prices going
into Q3 and Q4 2019. In terms
of purchasing power, the
introduction of new minimum
wage should be positive for fast
moving consumer goods
companies,” he stated.
Fakrogha of Cicycol is of the
opinion that efforts by the
federal government to
decongest Apapa Port and its
environ as well as the assurance
by the Central Bank of Nigeria,
CBN, that no changes would be
made in the foreign exchange
policy would have positive
impact on the companies going
forward.

20 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
FINANCIAL VANGUARD
Continues from page 19
Others have also resorted to
funding through capital
market, instead of money
market to keep cost down.
Consequently, cost of
sales for the companies
dropped by 5.8 percent
to N118.84 billion from
N126.16 billion a year
ago.
However, Nestle
appeared to have a better
outing during the period
having recorded 5.3
percent reduction in cost
of sales, while recording
five percent and 40
percent increases in
revenue and pre-tax
profit respectively, a
performance financial
experts attributed to the
inelastic nature of the
company's core food
segments.
Though Unilever also
brought down its cost
significantly by 12.5
percent to N15.37
billion, its revenue and
pre-tax profit went
negative at -20.8 percent
and -39 percent
respectively. Dangote
Sugar also recorded 17.1
percent decline in cost,
but its revenue for the
three month period
declined by 7.3 percent
to N38.12 billion. Its pretax
profit, however, rose
by 27.4 percent to N10.7
billion.
GSK seems to be worst
hit, as its cost
skyrocketed by 16.7
percent, while the
revenue and PBT
recorded steep decline of
72.8 percent and 87.5
percent respectively.
Like GSK, Dangote
Flour Mills posted 4.6
percent increase in cost
of sales and 13.4 percent
decline in revenue while
recorded outright loss
before tax of N3.6 billion
as against a profit of
N2.3 billion made in the
corresponding period of
2018.
Cadbury Nigeria, on the other
hand, posted 7.3 percent
increase in its cost. However, its
revenue and pre-tax profit went
up by 12.6 percent and 2,201
percent respectively.
NASCON's cost rose by 8.5
percent. Its revenue
appreciated by 0.7 percent,
while the PBT declined by 34.6
percent.
Analysts explain
Financial experts that spoke
to Financial Vanguard blamed
the poor performance on the
Apapa traffic gridlock and
increased importation of illegal
consumables, which they said,
is hurting their profit margin.
Wahab Mustapha, analysts at
Cordros Capital, a Lagos based
investment house, said: “Most
of them reported slower
portfolio growth, basically
because they are operating in
intense competitive
Apapa gridlock crashes earnings in
consumer goods sector
environment.
Pricing environment was
actually very bad for them. That
was why you see that their
revenue was down year-onyear.
“When you think of the
declining portfolio, what comes
to mind is that most of them are
still struggling from the Apapa
traffic gridlock, making it
difficult for them to evacuate
products from the Port and
distribute their products from
the area.
“For some of them, such as
Dangote Sugar and the flour
millers, they operate in intense
competitive environment; they
are still suffering from huge
importation of some
commodities like sugar and
flour with the impact of this
resulting in general price
decline.”
Additionally, he said that
strained consumer wallets
remained a challenge.
“Consumers are yet to recover
from the over 60 percent
depreciation in the value of the
Naira over a period of two
years. Secondly, inflation level
has also doubled. So, the impact
of the decreased wealth is
impacting consumers'
purchasing power,” Mustapha
said.
For them to survive, he said
they have to bring down prices
to, at least, fend off competition
or to, at least, maintain the same
level of market share.
Analysts at United Capital Plc,
another Lagos-based
investment banking firm, said:
“Our view on the FMCGs
remains modestly positive on
the back of a gradual recovery
in the economy.
“However, challenges to
volume growth may persist due
to bottlenecks to distribution.
“Pressure on volume growth
and transport cost is likely to
persist as the difficulty
associated with the gridlock at
the Lagos Port is unlikely to go
away in the interim. In our view,
this is negative for food
manufacturers in the Apapa axis
as well as others that depend
on importation of their ware.”
Charles Fakrogha, broker
dealer at Cicycol, attributed the
impaired revenue to weak
purchasing power of an
average Nigerian consumer. He
advised the FMCG companies
to work at keeping down cost.
“They should be more cost
conscious,” he stated.
He said that though they have
been able to pass cost to
consumers through reduction
in quantity of unit packs, but
that has not positively impacted
earnings due to myriad of other
challenges.
Fakrogha added that
congestion at Apapa Port and
COVER
gridlock at that axis also
impacted the efficiency
and operating cost for
some of the companies in
FMCG sector that are
involved in importation of
their wares.
David Adonri,
Managing Director/CEO,
Highcap Securities
Limited, blamed the
increased dumping of
imported products for the
incidence. He said that the
imported substitute has
reduced the market share
of the companies.
Going forward
United Capital stated
that while most players in
the FMCGs would be
looking forward to the
positive impact of the new
N30,000 minimum wage,
fixing the current
infrastructural deficits
would be a bigger win for
them.
“In all, our best picks in
the sector are diversified
food and beverage
producers, buttressed by
their product and brand
durability. We are not very
positive on flour millers
and sugar manufacturing
companies, as our shortterm
expectation is
dampened by the
feedback effect of Apapa
gridlock and smuggling
activities on volume
growth,” they said.
Going into the future,
Mustapha of Cordros
Capital said: “We see
slight improvement in
Apapa gridlock by year
end or at least by early
2020.
The improvement is
expected to give some of
the companies that are
involved in importation of
their raw materials some
respite.”
He noted that pledge by
federal government to
clampdown on illegal
importation of different products
will also give them some respite
in terms of pricing.
“I believe that they should be
able to increase prices going
into Q3 and Q4 2019. In terms
of purchasing power, the
introduction of new minimum
wage should be positive for fast
moving consumer goods
companies,” he stated.
Fakrogha of Cicycol is of the
opinion that efforts by the
federal government to
decongest Apapa Port and its
environ as well as the assurance
by the Central Bank of Nigeria,
CBN, that no changes would be
made in the foreign exchange
policy would have positive
impact on the companies going
forward.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2019 —21
FINANCIAL VANGUARD
Decline in stop rates on FGN bond to
persist as DMO offer N100bn
Continues from page 19
market this week.
Last week, cost of
funds rose in response
to outflow for funding
of foreign exchange
wholesale auctions and
foreign exchange
swaps by the Central
Bank of Nigeria as well
as rollover of N17.61
billion worth of treasury
bills (TBs) that
matured during the
week. The outflows
suppressed the impact
of inflow of N89 billion
from matured
secondary market
(Open Market
Operation, OMO) TBs,
prompting average
short term interest rate
to rise by 346 bpts.
Data from FMDQ
showed that interest
rate on Collateralised
(Open Buy Back, OBB)
rose by 342 bpts to 8.71
percent last week from
5.29 percent the
previous week.
Similarly, interest rate
on Overnight lending
rose by 350 bpts to 9.21
percent last week from
5.71 percent the
previous week.
Analysts at Lagos
based Vetiva Capital
Management Company
projected that the apex
bank might sell OMO
bills today leading to
further rise in cost of
funds. "With the current
level of system
liquidity, we foresee an
OMO auction in
Monday's session,
leading to a negative
close in the secondary
market at the start of
the week", they said.
External reserves
record first weekly
decline in three
months
The nation's external
reserves last week
record the first weekly
decline in three
months.
Buoyed by increased
foreign exchange
earnings courtesy high
crude oil price and
influx of dollars from
foreign portfolio
investors, the nation's
reserves have been on
the upward trend since
February 28th, 2019,
when it stood at $41.296
billion. This trend was
however halted on
June 10 when the
reserves peaked at
$45.175 billion.
Last week, the
reserves recorded its
first weekly decline of
$76 million as it fell to
$45.087 billion on
Thursday June 20th,
2019 from $45.163
billion on Thursday
June 13th, previous
week.
Meanwhile the naira
appreciated marginally
by 2 kobo at the
Investors and Exporters
(I&E) window last
week. Data from FMDQ
showed that the
indicative exchange
rate for the window
dropped marginally to
N360.49 per dollar last
week from N360.51 per
dollar the previous
week. On its part, the
CBN sustained its
weekly injection of $210
million to support
activities in the
interbank foreign
exchange market.
Treasury report chart 2: Forex & TB rates
Treasury report chart 4: Yields on FGN Bonds
Treasury report chart 1: Monthly foreign flows and Domestic Transactions
on NSE
Treasury report chart 3: Interbank interest rates

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019 —21
FINANCIAL VANGUARD
Decline in stop rates on FGN bond to
persist as DMO offer N100bn
Continues from page 19
market this week.
Last week, cost of
funds rose in response
to outflow for funding
of foreign exchange
wholesale auctions and
foreign exchange
swaps by the Central
Bank of Nigeria as well
as rollover of N17.61
billion worth of treasury
bills (TBs) that
matured during the
week. The outflows
suppressed the impact
of inflow of N89 billion
from matured
secondary market
(Open Market
Operation, OMO) TBs,
prompting average
short term interest rate
to rise by 346 bpts.
Data from FMDQ
showed that interest
rate on Collateralised
(Open Buy Back, OBB)
rose by 342 bpts to 8.71
percent last week from
5.29 percent the
previous week.
Similarly, interest rate
on Overnight lending
rose by 350 bpts to 9.21
percent last week from
5.71 percent the
previous week.
Analysts at Lagos
based Vetiva Capital
Management Company
projected that the apex
bank might sell OMO
bills today leading to
further rise in cost of
funds. "With the current
level of system
liquidity, we foresee an
OMO auction in
Monday's session,
leading to a negative
close in the secondary
market at the start of
the week", they said.
External reserves
record first weekly
decline in three
months
The nation's external
reserves last week
record the first weekly
decline in three
months.
Buoyed by increased
foreign exchange
earnings courtesy high
crude oil price and
influx of dollars from
foreign portfolio
investors, the nation's
reserves have been on
the upward trend since
February 28th, 2019,
when it stood at $41.296
billion. This trend was
however halted on
June 10 when the
reserves peaked at
$45.175 billion.
Last week, the
reserves recorded its
first weekly decline of
$76 million as it fell to
$45.087 billion on
Thursday June 20th,
2019 from $45.163
billion on Thursday
June 13th, previous
week.
Meanwhile the naira
appreciated marginally
by 2 kobo at the
Investors and Exporters
(I&E) window last
week. Data from FMDQ
showed that the
indicative exchange
rate for the window
dropped marginally to
N360.49 per dollar last
week from N360.51 per
dollar the previous
week. On its part, the
CBN sustained its
weekly injection of $210
million to support
activities in the
interbank foreign
exchange market.
Treasury report chart 2: Forex & TB rates
Treasury report chart 4: Yields on FGN Bonds
Treasury report chart 1: Monthly foreign flows and Domestic Transactions
on NSE
Treasury report chart 3: Interbank interest rates

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
FINANCIAL VANGUARD
From left, Bruno Wenn, Board Chair AFOS Foundation, Germany; Joshua Etopidiok, Director, Special Insured Institutions Department,
Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC; Tokunbo Martins, Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, OFIDs,
Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN; Tutu Ogunnaike, Board Chair AFOS Foundation INGO, Nigeria; and Guillaume Valence, Africa Director,
AFOS Foundation at the 5th symposium of the Nigeria Microfinance Platform in Ibadan, Oyo state.
MPC members advocate strong consumer credit system
By Babajide Komolafe
MEMBERS of the Mon
etary Policy Committee,
MPC, of the Central Bank of Nigeria
have called for development
of a strong consumer credit
system in the country, stressing
that this is a requirement for boosting
economic growth.
In their personal statements at the
last meeting of the Committee held
in May, released by the apex bank
last week, the MPC members cited
the lack of a vibrant consumer
credit system in the country as one
of the major impediments to the
nation’s economic growth.
While noting the decline in
banks’ lending to the private sector
of the economy between February
and April, 2019 they lamented
banks’ preference for lending to the
federal government through investment
in treasury bills, stressing
that such attitude is not helping
economic growth.
Professor Adeola Adenikinju, a
member of the Committee stated:
“The preference shown by the Deposit
Money Banks, DMBs, for
fixed income government assets
over credit to the real sector of the
economy is worrisome.
“Credit to real sector is not only
low but decreasing in relative terms
in asset portfolio of DMBs, and is
concentrated on low employment
generating sectors. Banks seems
to have abandoned their primary
role of intermediation. This unhealthy
trend should be strongly
discouraged. Banks continue to
focus on easy ways of making money,
including through its various
charges on customers and government
securities, at a time when the
economy is in dire needs of banks’
credit.
“The Nigerian economy needs a
vibrant consumer credit system in
order to drive private consumption
and expand domestic supply. Consumer
credit is a major driver of
growth in a capitalist economy.
However, the ecosystem and institutions
needed for a successful consumer
credit system must be established.”
Also speaking in this regard,
Deputy Governor, Financial Sec-
tor Surveillance, Aisha Ahmad,
said: “Information from bank staff
reveals contraction in credit to the
private sector between February
and March 2019, even as income
from trading activities increased vis
a vis a reduction in non-interest
income from credit activities.
“Whilst factors such as residual
low risk appetite in the light of recent
high levels of NPLs and significant
asset portfolio write-offs are
duly noted, the industry must dramatically
increase lending to the
real sector to strengthen the economic
recovery, bolster domestic
productivity and create jobs.
In addition, banks are encouraged
to ramp up investments in
technology to facilitate efficient retail
loan distribution and explore
using behavioural analysis and
artificial intelligence to enhance
credit decisions, particularly for
loans to the informal sector.”
Another member of the committee,
Prof. Balami Dahiru Hassan,
called on banks to embrace consumer
credit, saying, “It has been
identified that there is demand gap
Omobola Johnson commends Sterling Bank’s
high-level gender inclusion
A
FORMER Minister of
Communications and
Information Technology, Dr.
Omobola Johnson, has
commended Sterling Bank Plc for
its high level of gender inclusion.
Johnson who spoke on the
theme, ‘Winning through
Inclusion’ at the third edition of the
Sterling Leadership Series, SLS, in
Lagos, also listed some factors that
can help women to reach the top of
their careers in any field of
endeavour.
She said women can get to the
top through mentorship, role
modelling, assertiveness,
confidence building and
networking, among others.
While urging women to quickly
adopt the tactics she outlined for
better representation, Johnson said
men are not likely to concede
leadership positions to women in
a friendly manner because lots of
discriminatory practices exist in the
in the economy and, therefore,
banks should embrace consumer
credit. This would impact on consumption,
production and growth
in the economy. Private credit bureau
or system be created, engage
stakeholders to contribute their
quota and how to honour their obligations,
and alternative dispute
resolution system be established.
The credit channel for monetary
policy will aid growth and will have
high impact in housing, mining,
and transportation value chain.”
corporate world so women would
have to fight, kick and, if necessary,
bite to get to the top.
Johnson who is a Co-founder of
Women in Business, WIMBIZ,
commended Sterling Bank for its
high level of gender inclusion. She
said available statistics show that
when women are involved in
leadership positions there is
improved performance because
there is better representation in
decision-making.
RMB Nigeria
conference to
discuss inclusive
real sector growth
RAND Merchant Bank,
RMB, Nigeria will this
week hold its economic and
business conference with the
focus on catalysts for an
inclusive real sector growth in
Nigeria.
The bank in a statement said
the theme is “Unlocking real
sector growth to drive
sustainable economic
development”.
The bank said: “With an
abundance of resources,
Nigeria is Africa’s biggest oil
exporter, has the largest natural
gas reserves on the continent,
vast natural resources, arable
land, and a young
entrepreneurial population.
“After a decade of steady
growth, market reforms, and
increased political stability - as
demonstrated by the recently
held national elections in 2019,
for the sixth consecutive time
since its return to democracy in
1999, the country seems to be
performing below its potential
economically.
“The opportunity to change
course and usher the country
into inclusive and sustainable
growth does indeed exist if the
right operating environment
and policies are instituted. The
conference will engage industry
participants in a dialogue on the
catalysts needed to stimulate
inclusive real sector growth and
accelerate economic
development.”
Speakers include Dr
Okechukwu Enelamah, former
Minister of Industry, Trade &
Investment; Oscar Onyema,
CEO of the Nigerian Stock
Exchange; Eme Essien, CEO of
International Finance
Corporation Nigeria;
Olukayode Pitan, MD of Bank
of Industry; Biola Alabi, CEO
of Biola Alabi Media; Raj
Gupta, MD of African
Industries Group; Christian
Wessels, MD of Daystar Power
and others.
Union Bank’s edu360 holds capacity building session for educators
UNION Bank has held a se
ries of training sessions for
educators in Lagos, Abuja and
Rivers as part of its edu-360 initiative
to support the development
of the education sector.
Over 175 teachers attended the
free workshops which were organised
to upskill and equip them
for more effective teaching. The
classes covered modules on ‘Inspiring
and Motivating Learners’
and ‘Developing Critical Thinking
Skills’ among others, and
were delivered by NFCR Educational
Consultants.
The bank also organised conferences
for heads of schools in
Lagos and Abuja where renowned
educators spoke on the
theme, ‘Leading Change in a Dynamic
Environment’. Among the
speakers were Mrs. Lai Koiki,
Proprietor, Greensprings School;
Dr. Femi Ogunsanya, Managing
Director, Oxbridge College;
Hajia Aisha Babangida, Board
Member, El-Amin Schools; Mrs.
Folasade Adefisayo, Principal
Consultant, Leading Learning
Limited and Mrs. Angela Ajala,
Executive Director, Ladela
Schools.
The training sessions and conferences
were organised on the
STANDARD Chartered Bank Nigeria
Limited has launched the SC Women in
Tech Incubator to support and promote the
economic and social development of women
in Nigeria through innovation or technology
led entrepreneurship.
The bank in a statement said it will use
the initiative to focus on capacity building
for women-owned small enterprises and see
this as a great opportunity to support greater
diversity in gender representation within technology
entrepreneurship for women in the
country. The Standard Chartered Women in Tech
programme will target female-led entrepreneurial
teams and provide them with training, mentorship
and seed funding. There will be an open
platform of Union Bank’s education
initiative-edu360, launched in
October 2018 to promote collaboration
and partnerships that will
boost the development of education
in Nigeria. The inaugural twoday
edu360 event featured exhibitions,
panel discussions and seminars
that brought together investors,
parents, school proprietors,
teachers and students. During the
event, over 200 teachers from private
and government owned
schools benefitted from free training
workshops organised by the
bank.
Standard Chartered launches women in tech programme
call for participation leading to a final selection of the
top 10 contestants with the most compelling ideas. At
the end of the training period, up to five winners will
be chosen and each winner will be awarded up to
$10,000 to invest in their business.
The event included an all-women panel discussion
led by Olga Arara-Kimani, Regional Head,
Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Standard
Chartered Bank along with Adenike Adeyemi, Executive
Director, FATE Foundation; Bode Abifarin,
Chief Operating Officer of Flutterwave Incorporated;
Odun Eweniyi, CoFounder, PiggyVest;
Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin, Founder, Pearls Africa
Youth Foundation; and OreoluwaLesi, Women’s
Technology Empowerment Centre who moderated
the session.

FINANCIAL VANGUARD
CAP to
leverage
reforms in real
estate sector
to boost
returns
By Nkiruka Nnorom
CHEMICAL and Allied
Products, CAP Plc, has
said it is poised to take
advantage of the structural
reforms that will be undertaken
by the federal government in
the housing and real estate
sector this year to boost revenue
and returns to its shareholders.
The company also declared
N2.03 billion dividend,
representing 29 kobo per share
for the year ended December
31, 2018, which was approved
by the shareholders.
Speaking at the 54th Annual
General Meeting, AGM, in
Lagos, Solomon Aigbavboa,
Acting Chairman, CAP Plc,
said: “We expect that the
economic environment in 2019
will continue to be fluid and
uncertain and businesses must
be proactive and make clear cut
choices about how to compete
in the market place. Businesses
also need to make clear
definition of strategy, business
model and core operations in
order to increase revenue and
profitability.
“Your company is closely
following developments at all
levels and is prepaid to key into
opportunities that will be
created. We will respond
appropriately to the emerging
paint market trends and
different economic scenarios by
introducing new products and
value added services,
increasing volumes,
entrenching presence in the
standard market, completing
Dulux Colour Centers, DCC,
upgrade and implementing
impactful marketing initiatives
to ensure effective customer
engagement among others.”
He alluded to the effect of
difficult business environment
in 2018, saying that CAP
navigated the business terrain
by recovering its costs through
various cost reduction
initiatives and improved
efficiency, which resulted in
nine percent increase in
revenue to N7.76 billion and 15
percent growth in the operating
profit to N2.28 billion.
He said that the company
expanded its distribution
channels and improved on field
presence by opening two Dulux
Colour Centres in Lagos and
Abuja during the year.
“We also increased marketing
initiatives and value-adding
services. We extended in-plant
paint production to silk line and
commenced DCC upgrades. We
will work harmoniously with
DCC distributors to achieve
topline growth in 2019,” he
added.
By Peter Egwuatu
FOLLOWING the four
days bear run on the
Nigerian Stock Exchange,
NSE, last week, investors lost
N78 billion as market
capitalisation declined to
N13.154 trillion from N13.232
trillion penultimate week.
Similarly, another
benchmark indicator, the NSE
All Share Index, was down 0.7
per cent Week-on-Week, W-o-
W, to settle at 29,851.29 points
from 30,046.70 points it closed
penultimate week, while
the Year-to-Date, YtD return
worsened to -5.0 percent.
Analysts explained that the
sustained bearish trend was
as a result of sustained profit
taking activities.
Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019 — 23
Stock market investors lose N78bn
in bearish run
• Analysts predict market rebound this week
•Recommend buy for CAP, Dangote Cement, Ecobank
By Peter Egwuatu
STANBIC IBTC Holdings
Plc reduced its Non
Performing Loan, NPL, to 3.9
per cent in the financial year
ended December 31, 2018 from
8.6 per cent in the
corresponding period of 2017.
The bank’s Chairman, Mr.
Basil Omiyi, who revealed this
while speaking at the group’s
seventh Annual General
Meeting, AGM, in Lagos also
said the group will continue to
focus in creating more
investment for shareholders
during the year.
The shareholders at the AGM,
approved the dividend
payment of N15.36billion
proposed by the board of
directors for the 2018 financial
year.
A shareholder, Chief
Shotunde Sopeju, urged the
board to pay close attention to
the growing level of loans and
ensure that the loans were
performing to avoid writing off
Rebound of
the market
But analysts foresee a
rebound of the market as
investors may soon take
advantage of the lower prices
especially for the highly
capitalised equities.
Analysts at Cowry Asset
Management Limited,
recommended a ‘buy’ for CAP
Plc, Dangote Cement and
Ecobank, while forecasting an
Earnings Per Share, EPS, of
N2.85 per share, N57.22 per
share and N4.70 per share
respectively.
However, activity level on
the Exchange last week
strengthened as average
volume and value traded
gained 499.3 per cent and
35.9 percent to settle at
189.9million units and
N4.2billion respectively.
The most traded stocks by
volume were Wema Bank
(5.1billion units), Zenith Bank
(450.6million units) and
Guaranty Trust Bank,
GTBank (74.0million
units) while Zenith Bank
(N9.0 billion), Wema Bank
(N3.2billion) and GTBank
(N2.3billion) were the major
gainers by value.
Sector performance was
mixed as three of the six
indices on the Exchange
trended northward. The
Insurance index led gainers,
up 8.7 per cent as investors
bought into Link Assurance
rising by +7.5 per cent, NEM
Insurance up (+33.3 per cent)
and Law Union increased by
Stanbic IBTC reduces NPL to 3.9%, declares
N15.36bn dividend
debts if they went bad.
While thanking the
shareholders for their
commendation, Chief
Executive, Stanbic IBTC
Holdings Plc, Mr Yinka Sanni,
assured that the Company will
not relent in its efforts to
continue to deliver value to
shareholders and other
stakeholders.
“We will continue to leverage
on our universal financial
services capability, unrelenting
focus on cost control,
digitization and client centricity
while operating as an ethical
organisation to ensure that we
continue to grow our capacity
to provide incomparable high
quality end-to-end financial
solutions to our customers in a
sustainable manner and
remain profitable as a group,”
Sanni said.
Responding to shareholders’
questions, the Group Chief
Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC
Holdings, Mr Yinka Sanni,
said the shareholders need not
nurse any fear as the bank’s
loans were performing.
He said though the level was
increasing, it was still within
the risk appetite of the
company.
(+8.7 per cent) while the
Banking and Oil & Gas
indices also gained 2.6 per
cent and 0.7 percent
respectively on the back of
gains in Access Bank which
went up (+7.8 per cent ),
Forte Oil (+6.1 per cent ) and
Mobil Oil (+4.0 per cent ).
Sector
performance
Conversely, the Afrinvest-
ICT index led the laggards,
declining by 4.1 percent due
to losses in MTN declining
by (-4.1 per cent) and
CHAMS (-13.9 per cent). The
Consumer and Industrial
Goods indices also shed 1.6
per cent and 1.5 percent
respectively due to weakness
in International Breweries
which went down by (-10.0
per cent ), OKOMU Oil (-
10.0 per cent ) and CAP (-11.6
per cent).
Reacting to the market
outlook, analysts at Cowry
Asset said: “In the new week,
(this week) we expect the
local equities market to
rebound marginally as
investors take advantage of
the low prices even as
investors continue to await
the President’s cabinet
announcements.”
Commenting as well,
analysts at Afrinvest Research
said: “In the coming
week,(this week) we expect
that investors will continue to
take position in
fundamentally sound stocks
as we approach the half year,
H1, 2019 earnings season.”
Law Union and Rock to declare dividend at 50th AGM
tomorrow
By Abolade Oyeneye
LAW Union and Rock
Insurance Plc will,
tomorrow, June 25, 2019 at its
50th Annual General Meeting
declare a final dividend of 0.02
Kobo per 50 Kobo ordinary share,
subject to shareholders’ approval.
The dividend, according to
Mobolaji Akerele, Head,
Corporate Communications, Law
Union and Rock Insurance, will
be paid to shareholders whose
names appear in the register of
members as at the close of
business on May 31, 2019.
Shareholders will also approve
the appointment of Mr
Ademayowa Adeduro as the
Managing Director/CEO of the
company as aprt of the special
resolutions at the AGM.
The managing director, Mr.
Ademayowa Adeduro assured
that necessary arrangement has
been made to ensure a successful
outing, while advising
shareholders with dividend
warrants and share certificates that
have remained unclaimed or are
yet to be presented for validation
to complete the e-dividend
registration to claim their
outstanding dividend and reduce
the rising number of unclaimed
dividend.
“We know that expectations are
high on the side of the
shareholders, as regards payment
of dividend, but we are very
optimistic that they would not be
disappointed,” he said.

24—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019—25

26—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019

FINANCIAL VANGUARD
We're trying to
establish trade
relationship with
Africa - Omolola
Ajani
Mrs Omolola Ajani is the Chairperson
of the Abuja Branch of NECA’s Network
of Entrepreneurial Women, NNEW, a
platform established under the aegis of
Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Assembly,
NECA. In this interview with our team in
Abuja, she outlines efforts of her
organization in building sustainable
businesses among Nigerian women.
She notes that women businesses are yet to
feel the impact of the federal government
Ease of Doing Business initiative, while
outlining the agenda for tomorrow’s
training programme with the theme,
“Instituting Corporate Governance in Our
Businesses.” Excerpts:
By Emma Ujah, Abuja
Bureau Chief & Emmanuel
Elebeke
WHAT is NNEW?
It’s a collection of
women entrepreneurs, we operate
in all the strata that cuts across
supply of goods and services. We
have manufacturing, clothing
lines, furnishing, food and
beverages. We operate in all the
lines.
It’s a collection of these women
that not just act as a pressure group
for worthy courses that highlight
the benefits of entrepreneurship
and even the growth of
entrepreneurship but provide
access to information that will
help these women I their
businesses. We try to link them up
with information such as access
to funds, access to knowledge and
all that besides the training
aspect of the organization.
We also try to harness our broad
network base in order to reach out
to other countries. Basically, we
are trying to establish trade
mission’s relationship with Africa
whereby we can exhibit some of
our produces and goods and
services.
How do your members
balance their roles as wives,
mothers and businesswomen?
We teach women how to have
work life balance because
competences and skills are very
important as well. How to
delegate. If you know you have a
challenge with cooking, you must
learn how to cook or out-source
it. There are several options to
that.
What is the nature of
tomorrow’s programme?
It is a networking programme.
Both members and non-members
are expected, so that we can all
connect to harness and project the
benefits of the network, which
primarily, is in building ourselves
to be more productive.
The networking programme is
one of our flagship
programmes. We have several
others. This is the second for the
year. We have a calendar that
gives us an evaluating
system. This is the second
quarter. We had one in the first
quarter. How has it been so far?
This second quarter is pushing us
on what steps to take forward.
That is why our emphasis is
Instituting Corporate
Governance in Our Businesses.
Some of our speakers are: Mrs.
Ndidi Nwuneli, the Managing
Partner of Sahel Consulting
Agribusiness & Nutrition Limited;
Mrs. Adetara Agbakoba,
Manager ,
PriceWaterHouseCoopers; and
Mrs. Latifat Balogun, CEO,
Hatlab Place.
There will be entrepreneurship
trainings, exhibitions/trade fair as
well as, networking meetings to
enable participants to expand
their reach and business
opportunities.
Why did you choose
“Instituting Corporate
Governance in Our Businesses”
as your theme for this
programme?
One of our objectives is to ensure
that women businesses are
sustainable and outlive us. We
want women businesses to become
like the Coca-Colas of the world.
What we see is that most
businesses in Nigeria die when the
owners dies. So we want to build
businesses that will last for
generations.
For you to do that, you need to
have a proper structure in your
business. We always complain
about everything that surrounds
us but sometimes, we need to look
inwards to see what we need to do
to survive- which is the right
structure.
We have done a lot of trainings
in the past to ensure that women
businesses have the right
structure, good business models.
We feel it is now time to take the
next step to ensure that they are
instituting the right corporate
governance.
From your assessment of
women businesses in the
country, what do you think are
the fundamental problems that
make them often fail?
What I see is that women are not
bold. If they are bold, they will
be able to take certain steps.
Which is why we are encouraging
them to institute corporate
governance. By the time they
institute corporate governance
and they see the steps to be taken
to institute it, they will see that they
have to delegate responsibilities
to other people.
Instituting
corporate
governance also
means that you
have to comply
with a lot of the
regulations of the
federal
government
It means it is not just you doing
everything. Not one cap fits all.
You are going to have other
people in charge of Finance, HR
and other areas of the business,
and you have to trust that they will
do that for you. When that is done,
you can now say, what next is
there for me to do as the business
leader, owner?
Instituting corporate
governance also means that you
have to comply with a lot of the
regulations of the federal
government. Government is
trying to generate more revenue,
internally. It is important for
businesses to be compliant, pay
their taxes, pension and many
other issues.
With corporate governance, you
will pay all these and once you do
that, you are contributing to the
Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019 — 27
overall economy of this country.
Once you are paying all these, it
will pinch you and you will take
interest in what is happening on
the political scene.
Political scene?
Yes.
How?
Once you are paying taxes, you
will become interesting in what
the government is doing with you
tax. I am paying tax and I know
what I pay every month. I know
what I pay in pensions and I know
where it is pinching. So I want to
know who is there. What laws are
they making and how are they
affecting my business. We were
not doing those things before so it
was soldier-go, soldier-come, we
didn’t care, so long as we were
eating. But now they have come
out, they are everywhere forcing
themselves on us. They are
everywhere and we are paying
taxes and we know the pain.
In your earlier assessments
before you zeroed in on
instituting corporate
governance, did look at issues
about lack of
transparency? Book keeping in
SMEs?
Certainly. We have done all
those trainings in the past and
most of our women know that they
have to separate themselves from
their businesses. Remember we
told you we are trying to build
businesses that will last for
generations. So if you don’t put
structures in place, it won’t
happen. Instituting corporate
governance will force you not to
do those things that you have just
mentioned.
You know I told that women are
not very bold. They are very
cautious. Which is what men
don’t have. They are very bold but
not very cautious. They are very
trusting. So women too have to
learn to trust others with their
businesses. We need to start
delegating certain things so that
we can focus on the main
businesses, network, make
connections that we need to grow
the businesses because you can’t
grow the business by micromanaging
the people. You need
to move out.
What are the effects of the
various regulations and taxes on
women businesses?
They are killings the
businesses. Many of them are
faced with the options of should I
close down the business, put my
money in the bank and then every
six months I go and collect my
interest or what should I do? The
situation is very difficult for
women businesses. If the
government is looking for one
trillion naira and there are only
three hundred registered
businesses and they choose to
audit and audit those few, it is not
going to help the economy. I
think what the government should
do is to widen the tax net to bring
in more tax payers, rather than
allowing the current multiple
taxation to kill the existing
businesses. There are a lot of
briefcase businesses who are not
paying taxes at all, while those
paying are over burdened by the
government. That shouldn’t be.
How has the federal
government Ease of doing
Business initiative impacted
women businesses in the
country?
The ease of Doing Business in
Nigeria, if you give the change to
rate it on a scale of 1-10, it is
between 2-3. The impact of the
Ease of doing Business has not
been felt by women businesses, at
all. And that goes down to the
implementers. It could be the
civil servants, or whoever the key
players of that initiative are. The
concept may be wonderful but
how do we implement it to the
extent where the target audience
benefit from it.
It is an attitudinal change
thing. While we are talking
about SMEs should do this,
government should do that, we
should target the individuals
involved in it. So as an
entrepreneur, I have to do this, the
government staff, you have a role
to play. As a government
regulator, you have a part to play.
The bottom-line is that the
administrative bottlenecks are
choking. Government realizes
that entrepreneurship is the way
to go. The challenge is how to
implement policies of
government to the extent that it
positively affects the woman on
the street.
The truth is that it is the women,
with their small businesses that
are actually upholding the
economy of this nation.
Some people have argued that
money is not the problem of
Nigerian SMEs. Do you agree?
Yes.
Why?
I said this because if I know that
money is my problem, I know
what to do. But we have so many
unforeseen issues that may come
up. As I am sitting down here
now, I can get a call that
somebody has just come to my
office and shut it because I don’t
have TV licence. What is TV used
for. And the law says you pay for
the licence per building. So
because I have two buildings in
my premises I am being charged
per building. There are so many
battles to fight. As you grow, you
become more visible so you
become a target. It is like you
have to create a department to
handle government issues which
makes it more expensive for small
businesses.

28 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019

FINANCIAL VANGUARD
5 reasons Nigeria will remain
poverty capital until 2023
….with leadership and a sense of purpose, we can lift 100
million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years — President
Buhari, June 12, 2019 in Abuja
POSSIBLY, several of the card
carrying members of the All
Progressives Congress, APC,
present clapped lustily when the
President made that statement.
That is to be expected. Loyal
politicians at campaign rallies are
not expected to think critically
about what their leaders say. Their
role is to applaud anything
pronounced. Other observers still
in possession of their thinking caps
could easily determine that the
statement was totally empty for
several reasons. Five reasons will
be sufficient to illustrate the point.
First, Buhari said “with
leadership”, not “with my
leadership”. It might appear like
quibbling with semantics, but,
other leaders embarking their
nations on a new and prosperous
direction have always emphasised
their contributions to the
achievements envisaged.
Second, at close to 78, and only
four years to go, all being well,
Buhari is speculating on an
objective well beyond his tenure.
Even if he regards himself as the
leader with a sense of purpose, he
will not be around for sixty percent
of the ten years to pilot the ship of
the Nigerian State.
Third, it is safe to assume that
the ten years have not commenced
now in 2019. With the Gross
Domestic Product, GDP, in the first
quarter, Q1, of 2019, growing at a
miserable under 2 per cent and less
than Q4 of 2018, Nigeria has
added more people to those living
in poverty instead of lifting them
out of it. From all appearances,
2019 is certainly not the first year
of the ten.
Fourth, Nigeria, under APC
government, is again repeating all
the mistakes which make it
unlikely that we will ever achieve
the remarkable economic
transformations which enabled
China, India and Indonesia, the
three countries mentioned in the
June 12 address to escape mass
poverty.
The Nigerian president was
declared winner in February this
year. India’s prime minister was
re-elected more than two months
after that. The Indian prime
minister announced his cabinet 72
hours after the results of the
election. Nigeria still has no
ministers. The difference is clear
between a purposeful prime
minister, leader and his Nigerian
counterpart.
By the time you read this article,
June will almost be over. The first
half of 2019 will soon be gone.
Purposeful leaders recognise time
as an economic resource almost
at par with capital, labour and
infrastructure. They never waste
time or encourage their
subordinates to do the same.
Ministers appointed after June
will spend the rest of the year
coming to grips with their scope
of responsibilities. Nothing much
can be expected of them. Ministers
who attempt to “hit the ground
running” – to use the hackneyed
expression of journalists –
invariably lead their Ministries
into blind alleys. An example was
the former Minister of
Transportation, Mr Rotimi
Amaechi, who made grand
promises about the Lagos-Ibadan
and the Lagos-Calabar rail lines
in 2016. The first should have been
in operation now according to
him. Not only is there no rail
commuter service between Lagos
and Ibadan, international experts
are now telling us that the
Nigerian rail line costs have been
grossly padded. Time lost; money
lost.
The Nigerian president made no
FINANCIAL VANGUARD
personal commitment to achieve
the objective stated. It was more of
an academic exercise. By contrast,
when President John Kennedy of
America, after the Russians sent an
astronaut into space announced
that “by the end of the decade
America will send a man to the
moon and bring him back” he had
provided a timeline for the
objective. America was challenged
to reach the moon by December
1969. Even though Kennedy was
assassinated in 1963, the USA
achieved the goal ahead of time.
Two purposeful Presidents after
Kennedy - Johnson and Nixon -
made sure that happened. But,
Kennedy got the ball rolling by
establishing the framework for
success. He got the brightest and
best Americans to work on the
project. By contrast Buhari has not
No purposeful leader
would allow the
security situation to
deteriorate under him
and allow truckers to
openly defy his orders
and close the nation’s
ports for three years
established the Economic
Management Team which will
make it possible for Nigeria to lift
100 million out of poverty in ten
years. That explains the difference
between purposeful leadership
and wishful thinkers.
Fifth, if a purposeful leader can
be defined as one who does not
ignore clear threats to the
economy and security of his
nation, then Buhari has failed on,
at least, two instances. China, India
and Indonesia would not have
allowed trucks to block the road
Performance ,not recapitalization determines survival of
a bank – MD Imowo MfB
The Managing Director, Imowo Microfinance Bank, MfB, Ijebu Ode,
Ogun State, Mr. Ajayi Abiodun, in this interview, said that the survival
of a bank is largely determined by its financial performance which
requires good management and corporate governance, rather than
capital base. He also highlighted other issues affecting the sub sector
and its operations.
Excerpts
By Providence Emmanuel
DO you think the MfBs really
need recapitalization as
required by the CBN?
I can say categorically that it is
not recapitalisation that matter,
what matters is the performance of
each bank, aside that, they should
allow banks to grow organically, not
by forcing them to recapitalize.
Some banks are in the rural area,
they don’t need more than N20
million to perform. It is those banks
that their capital has been eroded
through bad debt that want the
Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to
enforce recapitalisation. Some Unit
MfBs do not have N50 million
required by the CBN. Even the
capital they have, they are yet to
utilize it through lending to the
active poor in the rural area because
they do not give loans beyond N20,
000 or N30, 000. If they are forced
to recapitalize with N50 million and
they manage to, who will take it from
them? Some commercial banks that
recapitalized with N25 billion, they
have been distressed. Even if they
raise their money to N100 billion
instead of N25 billion, they will die
if the management and corporate
governance is not existing. It is not
recapitalization that matters; it is
the performance of each bank. They
should allow them to grow
organically. When I came to my
bank, our total share capital was
below N5 million, but today, the total
share capital is over N170 million.
When the CBN first came with
•Ajayi Abiodun
recapitalization of Unit MfBs, they
raised it to N200 million, assuming
we were unable to raise such and
they collapse our bank, it is going to
have a negative effect on the
populace. What matters is the
performance of each bank.
How is your bank impacting the
lives of people in Ogun state?
That is very good; the most
important aspect of how we have
been helping them is by giving them
micro loan. Some of the civil
servants have small businesses they
Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019 — 29
to their major ports for three weeks
because their leaders are aware of
the undesirable consequences.
Nigeria allowed its major ports to
be blockaded for over three years
without government action. Even
today we are witnessing an
impotent government which
issued a 72 hour quit notice to the
criminal road blockers and three
weeks after, they are still there. It
would never happen in China.
Similarly, when herdsmen
terrorist first started to imperil the
security of the nation, the Federal
Government of Nigeria could not
foresee the danger to our food
security. First, the problem was
ignored. Herdsmen killed about
300 citizens in Agatu, Benue State,
the nation’s main food production
belt, and the President of Nigeria
did not even visit the place nor send
relief materials. Then, excuses
followed. In a shameless
demonstration of blaming the
victims, the government
announced that herdsmen were
provoked when Benue State
passed a no grazing law. Yet, the
pogrom at Agatu occurred over
one year before the law was
passed.
Then the herdsmen went to
Plateau State which had no law
prohibiting grazing. Soon a
government spokesman
announced to fellow Nigerians
that we have two options: our land
or our lives.
In all these, the short-sighted
leaders in Abuja acted as if they
actually expected to promote one
lawless group without instigating
reprisals. Cattle rustlers soon
emerged and they too were
ignored. Then bandits and
kidnappers increasingly took over
Zamfara and Katsina States. They
too were ignored because our
leaders had an election to face. All
those threats to lives and properties
could wait while they went after
the precious second term.
Second term has now been
do after work, so we give them soft
loan to boost their business. Some
need money to buy car, fridge, among
others. We buy for them and when
their salary comes, we take our
money from deductions. It could be
from a period of six months to one
year.
Aside from that, some get
developmental loan to raise their
personal building, we give them
money when they want to start
foundation, after that we give them
again to raise the building. We can’t
give them N15 million at a go, it is
called developmental loan; we give
them as they develop their building
gradually. Some take about six years
to complete but we can’t give them
loan for more than one year. After
paying for one year, then they can
apply for another one.
The salaries of civil servants in
Ogun state comes regularly, unlike
other states where they owe six
months, but in Ogun state, we don’t
have problem giving loan to civil
servants because we deduct from
their monthly salary. But for the
market women, we devise means of
monitoring and securing their
loans, we tell them to produce two
civil servants that can guarantee
secured. But, on June 12, while the
President of Nigeria was
announcing that Nigeria could lift
100 million people out of poverty
in ten years, bandits again invaded
his state and carried off a village
head. The terrorists now control
more of Zamfara and Katsina
States than the Federal
Government and the State
governments do.
On June 18, 2019, the Chief of
Army Staff, CoAS, General Tukur
Buratai, who a few days before had
boasted that Boko Haram was
finished, had to eat his words after
the insurgents attacked several
army bases killing unknown
numbers of soldiers. According to
the CoAS, “It is unfortunate, but
the truth is that almost every
setback the Nigerian army has had
in our operations in recent times
can be traced to insufficient
commitment to a common
national and military course by
those at the frontlines.” Buratai
was being economical with the
truth. He should simply have said
“Fellow Nigerians, please say your
last prayers.” He has just
announced that the Nigerian army
is ill-prepared to fight and win this
war.
Meanwhile, we must bear in
mind that we have a retired Major
General as President and he was
elected and re-elected because
Nigerians thought that he could
provide security for rapid
economic growth to occur. At the
start of his fifth year in office,
Nigeria is now more insecure than
in 2015. Even his state – Katsina
— is now under siege unlike 2015.
Obviously, no purposeful leader
would allow the security situation
to deteriorate under him and allow
truckers to openly defy his orders
and close the nation’s ports for
three years. We cannot be like
China, India and Indonesia
because we don’t have a leader like
theirs.
MICROFINANCE
them on their salary and that I can
tell you, is working very well, when
they allow civil servants to give them
cheque as collateral, the civil
servant would also monitor the
facility being granted, since they
secured it with their cheque. They
know the implication of issuing dud
cheque. We don’t take collateral
from federal because we don’t have
power over that. We always carry
out proper assessment of the
customer to ensure they have the
capacity to pay back the money.
Those who do not have capacity to
pay back, we don’t give them much
money and that is what we call active
poor.
Are you in support of the inhuman
methods use by some MfBs to
recover loan from defaulters?
Some banks are practicing it, it is
too bad, that is what they call “Gbo
omu le lantern” (breast on
lantern). I have heard it but I have
never seen it. There is nothing wrong
with using subtle pressure to recover
loan, (empty threat) but it is unfair
to lock up customers shop or apply
some inhuman treatment on a
customer without any court
judgment. The subtle pressure does
work some times if it is applied.

30 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
(08052201997)
The wrong way to defend the naira
AREPORT on Page 33 of
the June 21, 2019 edition
of The Punch Newspaper
indicated that “between April
2018 and March 2019, the
Central Bank of Nigeria
injected over $42.3bn into the
foreign exchange market to
ensure liquidity in that
segment of the economy.”
In the same report, Isaac
Okorafor, CBN’s Director of
Corporate Communications
also attributed the relative
stability, in the forex market,
largely to CBN’s continued
intervention; furthermore,
according to Okorafor, private
international money transfers,
estimated at over $20bn
annually, plus the Naira swap
arrangement with the Chinese
Yuan, have all contributed to
relative stability in the forex
market.
Conversely, however, the
same edition of the Punch
Newspaper, also carried
another story titled “DMO
records 655% oversubscription
at Treasury bills auction;” Page
35, notably, the DMO had
rolled over a total of N17.61bn
at its Treasury bills auction on
Wednesday 19th June 2019,
when CBN borrowed at a cost
ranging between 9.6% and
12.2% respectively for the bills
offered for sale.
The implication of the above
is that, in place of the N17.61bn
Treasury bills actually sold, the
655% oversubscription is
indicative of a Naira liquidity
excess above N111.35bn in the
money market. It is inexplicable
that the related Treasury bills
rates were as high as between
9-12%, when in reality, there is
an undeniable Naira surfeit in
the system; surely tomatoes do
not cost more when the market
has an excess supply of
tomatoes!
Instructively, nonetheless,
with the subsisting 22.5% Cash
Reserve Requirement for
banks, the N111.35bn liquidity
surplus indicated above will
translate to an oppressive
Naira excess above N400bn,
which invariably will propel
higher rates of inflation and
cost of loans while also
jeopardizing consumer
demand, economic growth and
job opportunities!
Worse still, with the
suffocating subsisting burden
of excess Naira liquidity, the
embattled fate of the Naira rate
thereafter, becomes sealed, in
CBN’s auctions of between
$200-$300m weekly to set an
exchange rate for the Naira, as
the subsisting Naira liquidity
surplus expectedly
overwhelms the small dollar
rations simultaneously offered
for sale by the same CBN.
Unexpectedly, nonetheless,
the more modest value of
CBN’s total forex sales, is
inexplicably popularly
presumed to be the main driver
of Naira exchange rate, even
when the total autonomous
component of forex inflow may
be equally significant.
Indeed, a cursory
examination of CBN’s forex
reserves, clearly indicates that
Naira exchange rate bears
minimal correlation with the
size of “CBN’s External
Reserves or forex sales;” this
means, rising reserves do not
translate to stronger Naira
rates! For example, in January
2012, Government’s Reserves,
was over $34bn, while Naira
exchanged for about N155/$1,
but unexpectedly, later
slumped, to N161=$1, even
when forex reserves rose well
above $43bn!
Similarly, in 2013, External
Reserves fluctuated between
$45bn in January to $42bn by
December, yet the Naira rate
remained sticky, between
N153-N162/$1. Furthermore, in
2014, the Naira rate also
weakened to N170-N199, even
when external reserves still
trended favourably between
$44bn-$45bn! Curiously,
however, when External
Reserves dipped below $30bn
in 2016, the Naira which, was
trading around N197=$1 in
January, was officially
devalued before December to
N305-N360=$1, while the
economy was, also officially
confirmed to be in recession.
Conversely, however, the
Naira rate in retrospect, was as
strong as N84=$1 between
1995-98, even when total
It is rather macabre
that, the CBN
willfully depletes it
stock of reserves to
defend the Naira,
through its regular,
weekly auctions of
hundreds of
millions of dollars
reserve was a very modest
$4bn. Similarly, between 1972-
1984, official forex reserves was
barely $390.71m but one Naira
exchanged for almost $2!
Instructively, since 2017
External Reserves have since
climbed above $40bn, but the
Naira rate, still appears
inexplicably stuck between
N305-N360=$1 even after
about 41 items were excluded
from forex sales. The obvious
question therefore is, if dollar
rate rose well above N300=$1,
because reserves dropped
below $30bn in 2015, why then,
has Naira rate remained static
between N305-N360, even after
reserves have climbed, once
again and remained stable
between $40bn-$47bn.
Although CBN’s
Communications Director,
Isaac Okorafor, indicated
exchange rate stability as
priority, rather than size of
reserves, invariably however,
rapid depletion of reserves
would perfunctorily precipitate
market panic and induce
further reserve erosion, which
could, ultimately, compel
another huge Naira
devaluation below N500=$1.
The social and economic impact
of such a rate will, inevitably,
fast track more Nigerians into
poverty, and sustain our
Nation’s odious title as the
reigning “World Poverty
Capital!”
It is rather macabre that, the
CBN willfully depletes it stock
of reserves to defend the Naira,
through its regular, weekly
auctions of hundreds of millions
of dollars, to all and sundry at
face value, while conversely,
Government simultaneously,
seeks dollar loans and pays
upto 8% as interest on such
debts despite CBN’s heavy
cache of idle dollars!
For example, the DMO has
lately (June 2019) confirmed its
intention to borrow $2.7bn from
foreign sources in 2019.
Nigerians must question why
the loan required could not be
obtained directly from CBN’s
caché of almost $50bn, part of
which CBN unilaterally
auctions against the Naira and
freely distributes sans interest
to even Bureau-De-Change,
who are probably the major
source of foreign exchange for
those smuggled goods which
continue to threaten Nigeria’s
economy.
The above title “The Wrong
Way to Defend the Naira” was
first published in April 2011 in
Vanguard Newspaper, to reflect
the perspective of the
contradiction of higher External
reserves while Naira exchange
rate, inexplicably, conversely,
remain sticky and under siege,
even when dollar reserves
exceed budget expectations.
FINANCIAL VANGUARD
3 African presidents to speak at TEF Entrepreneurship
Forum — Elumelu
By Cynthia Alo
THE Tony Elumelu
Foundation (TEF), Africa's
leading entrepreneurship
platform, has announced the
line-up of speakers and activities
for the 5th Tony Elumelu
Foundation Entrepreneurship
Forum, the largest annual
gathering of African
entrepreneurs.
For the Forum's Presidential
Dialogue, the President of the
Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, will join
President of Rwanda, Paul
Kagame, and President of
Senegal, Macky Sall, in an
interactive plenary session that
opens Day-2 of the Forum.
The Presidential Dialogue will
be moderated by TEF Founder,
Tony O. Elumelu, and will feature
all three the Presidents engaging
directly with an audience of
5,000, comprising of
entrepreneurs, policymakers,
investors and business leaders,
with thousands of people
interacting live online,
throughTEFConnect.
The Forum presents the largest
single annual opportunity for
entrepreneurs and policy makers
to interact directly and all
sessions at the Forum have
private sector and public sector
leaders anchor panel discussions,
master classes, and a dynamic
pitching competition that will
engage an audience of start-up
entrepreneurs, development
institutions and policymakers.
The speakers expected for this
year's Forum include Prof.
Benedict Oramah, President of
African Export-Import
(AFREXIMBANK); Dr.
Akinwumi Adesina, President of
African Development Bank
(AFDB); Dr. Awele Elumelu,
Trustee, Tony Elumelu
Foundation and Founder, Avon
Medical; Kennedy Uzoka,
Group CEO, UBA Group Plc;
Mrs. Djene Kaba Conde, First
Lady, Guinea; amongst other
notable global business leaders.
Every year, the Tony Elumelu
Foundation hosts the largest
gathering of African
entrepreneurs, policymakers and
business leaders in one location.
The fear of economic
contraction, increasing
joblessness and deepening
poverty expressed in that
article have all become
oppressively apparent. A
summary of that article follows
hereafter. Please read on.
“In practice, the Naira
exchange rate is actually more
a function of Excess Naira
liquidity in a strictly regulated
market in which small rations
of dollars are auctioned
intermittently by the CBN.
Regrettably, such a market
model will only spell disaster
for growth and deepen poverty
for our people.”
Specifically, the CBN
Governor, Lamido Sanusi in his
acceptance Speech as
Silverbird’s 2010 Man of the
Year, referred to IMF’s
recommendation for a devalued
Naira as one of such ‘bad’ or
anti-Nigeria recommendations
that pauperise our people.
Consequently, he rightly
refused to play along with IMF,
as he saw no observable
benefits in a weaker Naira,
which would “trigger higher
industrial production costs, fuel
inflation, increase fuel prices
and subsidies and increase our
national debt burden.”
“Undoubtedly, Sanusi’s
argument with regard to the
critical need for a stable naira
value appears more plausible;
but the real question is, can the
CBN Governor keep Naira
below N155/$1 within the
context of the present
framework that explodes Naira
supply whenever distributable
dollar revenue is substituted
with naira, in monthly
allocations to government?
This column has consistently
maintained that naira
substitution for dollar revenue
is the poison in our economy,
as it engenders a system that
cripples our economy and
oppresses our people
whenever we earn increasing
dollar revenue; a veritable
paradox if there was one!”
ECONOMY
This year's Forum, themed
"Empowering African
Entrepreneurs", will take place at
the iconic Transcorp Hilton
Hotel, in Nigeria's capital city of
Abuja. The Forum will also
include the UBA Marketplace,
where UBA, Africa's global bank,
brings together businesses from
across the continent.
At the 2018 forum,
TEFConnect, the largest digital
platform for African
entrepreneurs was launched to
connect entrepreneurs to the
opportunities they need for
business
success.
TEFConnectwill take centre
stage at this year's Forum as
global debates move to
technology as a key driver of
economic development in Africa.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019—31
Send Opinions & Letters to:
opinions1234@yahoo.com
Western Sahara: When Nigerians
hosted an African President
STATE visits are state
visits. Usually drab affairs
with polite speeches,
handshakes and some
reassurances. It is usually a
state affair in which the people
are rarely involved. Not so
when President Brahim Ghali
of the Saharawi Arab
Democratic Republic, SADR
(Western Sahara) came calling
mid-June.
The notice of his visit was
quite short and his programme,
tight. So a race began to get his
team accommodate a meeting
between him and broad
sections of the Nigerian people.
It was agreed that he would be
hosted under an umbrella
organisation, the Nigerian
Movement for the Liberation of
Western Sahara, NMLWS.
The Movement reminds me of
similar mass Nigerian
organisations that supported the
liberation struggles in
Mozambique, Angola, Guinea
Bissau, Cape Verde,
Zimbabwe, Namibia and South
Africa.
Within hours, one of the
Movement’s affiliates, the
Nigeria Labour Congress,
NLC, offered to provide its
secretariat as venue. The NLC
which is the largest labour
centre in Africa also provides
offices, free, for the Movement
while its counterpart, the Trade
Union Congress, TUC, which
like the NLC, has millions of
dues-paying members,
provides logistical support.
90
The Movement also invited
representatives of 17 civil
society organisations from
women, youth, student and
social organisations affiliated to
it. The meeting was coordinated
by Dr. Dipo Fashina, a past
president of the Academic Staff
Union of Universities, ASUU,
the umbrella organisation of all
academics in Nigerian
universities. ASUU is also one
of the most active organisations
in the Movement.
Dr. Fashina represented the
chairperson of the Nigerian
Western Sahara Solidarity
Movement, Professor Ibrahim
Gambari, the chairperson of the
Joint African Union - United
Nations Special Representative
to Darfur and also, the Special
Adviser on the International
Compact with Iraq and Other
Issues for the UN Secretary-
General.
President Ghali came to the
meeting accompanied by
Foreign Affairs Minister, His
Excellency, Ould Salek;
Special Adviser, Abdati Braika
and ambassador in Nigeria,
Ambassador Malainine Sadik-
Bashir.
In welcoming President
Ghali, NLC President, Ayuba
Wabba, reiterated the “collective
demand that Morocco must be
isolated in the global space by
all countries, not just in Africa
but in the entire world until
Western Sahara gains
sovereignty, free from colonial
control.” Represented by the
president of the National Union
of Road Transport Workers,
NURTW, Najeem Yasin, Ayuba
reiterated: “As long as Western
Sahara is not free, Africa is not
free; and all Africans and
African countries must be
involved in the struggle.”
The Nigeria Solidarity
Movement asked me to present
its speech at the occasion. I
started by reminding President
Ghali that Professor Gambari
was Nigeria’s Foreign Minister
in 1984 when Nigeria formally
recognised Western Sahara as
a sovereign country.
In its address, the Movement
told President Ghali that “with
millions of friends in Nigeria
The wide and active
support by Nigerians
for the liberation of
Western Sahara is a
warning to Morocco
and its collaborators
that they can no
longer hold Africa
down
who solidarise with the Sahrawi
people, you can see that here,
in Nigeria, you are at home
amongst friends, comrades,
brothers and sisters; so you are
welcome to one of your homes
in Africa.” It added: “There are
some of your fellow African
heads of state who we, our
members and affiliates, will not
touch even with a ten-foot pole.
There are some of them who
will not dare come to a labour
centre like the NLC without a
state of emergency being
declared. We cannot be friends
or receive people who
perpetuate colonialism and
exploitation; who betray the
very essence of African
brotherhood and the soul of
humanity.”
The Movement asked
rhetorically: “Is it not surprising
that the European Union, EU,
which is loud in shouting about
human rights, liberty, freedom
and equality, is in league with
Morocco stealing the natural
resources of Western Sahara?”
It argued that refugee camps
are supposed to be temporary
shelter for refugees and people
in refugee-like situation, and
regretted that millions of
Sahrawi have been forced to
live in the Tindouf Refugee
Camp in Algeria for the past 44
years. It added: “We do not
know any people who have
suffered such inhumanity. Yet,
the international community
says it is interested in human
rights, and even claims to be
fighting for animal rights.”
The Movement mentioned
the case of Aminatou Haider
whom it had hosted in the same
NLC premises in 2009. It said
when on November 13, 2009
she returned to her ancestral
land, the Moroccan monarchy
blocked and deported her to the
Spanish Canary Islands. It
reminded all, that it took a huge
international campaign before
the monarchists allowed her
return on December 17, 2009.
It drew an inference from the
this case: “In that infamous act,
Morocco once again displayed
the fact that the Sahrawi are not
Moroccan citizens or does a
country refuse its citizens entry
and deports them?”
The Nigerian Movement
which described the continued
occupation of Western Sahara by
Moroccan troops and security
as the worst type of apartheid
ever perpetuated, gave a
scorecard of its activities:
“Everywhere Morocco seeks to
perpetuate its evil deeds, we are
there to challenge it. We
sometimes do not succeed, such
as stopping Morocco from
returning to the Africa Union,
but sometimes we do, such as
stopping it from being admitted
as a member of the Economic
Community of West African
States, ECOWAS.
"We felt that the Ebola-like
contagious foreign policy of
Morocco must not be allowed
to spread to the West African
region. Currently, apart from
combating Morocco’s
corruption-driven attempt to
suck in some Nigerian officials
to support its colonisation of
Western Sahara, we are also
engaging the Nigerian
Government to stop the
Fertiliser Producers and
Suppliers of Nigeria, FEPSON,
from its indecent liaison with
Morocco to sell in Nigeria,
Western Sahara phosphate and
natural resources plundered by
Morocco.”
Responding, President Ghali
said: “The support of Nigeria
has been critical for freedom in
Africa. The role of Nigeria is
still needed in driving the
liberation of Africa and we know
it will continue until the total
liberation of Western Sahara.
Reacting to the solidarity
speeches of students and
youths, including from the
Amilcar Cabral Ideological
School, ACIS, President Ghali
said: “We are very happy to see
the young Nigerian generation
joining the old to continue the
struggle for Western Sahara
liberation and to ensure that the
whole of Africa is liberated.”
President Ghali left the
meeting to hold talks with
President Buhari who in a
statement by the Presidency:
“restated Nigeria’s support for
the people of the Sahrawi Arab
Democratic Republic, SADR,
and their quest for selfdetermination
and
independence.” President
Buhari added that “Nigeria
remains committed to
supporting the efforts of the AU
and the UN towards finding a
lasting solution to the Sahrawi
problem.”
The wide and active support
by Nigerians for the liberation
of Western Sahara is a warning
to Morocco and its collaborators
that they can no longer hold
Africa down.
First term report card: Verdict of the examiner
By Funmilola Adigun
THE last session of the Federal
Executive Council meeting in Abuja
provided a very apt occasion for President
Muhammadu Buhari to declare his verdict
and he did not mince words or lose face.
He rose in robust defense of his cabinet
ministers by deflecting orchestrated
criticism of his decision to retain them till
the end of his first term.
In the process, President Buhari
impressively saluted the courage and
conviction of the ministers, noting that in
the situation of serious challenges
confronting the nation at the inception of
the administration, which many
commentators described as hopeless,
“many would have given up.”
But they stayed on, united in
determination to fulfill the campaign
promise of rescuing Nigeria from its
parlous state.
The president then captured the pure
essence of stability of government as the
anchor of nationhood when he specifically
stated that he retained his cabinet because
“each of you has a unique skill and
strength.
"We are a reflection of the Nigeria we
aspire to achieve, a diverse but tolerant
nation where no one is silenced and where
every opinion should be heard and
considered.”
He enumerated some of the major
achievements of the administration, such
as curbing the Boko Haram insurgency,
revamping food security, the diversification
agenda, the Economic Recovery and
Growth Plan, ERGP, rail infrastructure and
the social investment programmes. The
president then added: “I want you all to
leave this meeting proud to have served
your nation to the best of your
ability…..your achievements have
guaranteed your position in the history
books of this country. You have certainly
built the foundations for an improved
economy and a more purposeful
government.”
At this point, discerning readers will
realise the salient issues from which the
president draws both inspiration and
determination to soldier on regardless of
the shrill criticism of the vocal minority
escalated by media manipulation.
It is one thing to be recognised for certain
ethical and governance principles and to
be propelled into presiding over an elected
government by an expectant citizenry.
It is quite another to be able to weather
the ensuing storm of real and contrived
challenges without succumbing or getting
distracted.
But the ultimate success lies in taking
charge with focused commitment and
making the positive difference that defines
progress in halting decline or deterioration
and preparing the grounds for a renewed
The president
specifically stated that
he retained his cabinet
because each of them
had a unique skill and
strength
initiative for reformed implementation.
President Buhari’s political mission was
defined by the frustration with the excesses
of the Goodluck Jonathan administration,
a state of anomie that was rejected by the
masses.
Not even the former president could have
accurately and comprehensively accounted
for the full dimensions of the damage done
to the economy and the polity, certainly
not in re-election season, so there couldn’t
have been anything like proactive
preparation for righting the wrongs by the
incoming President Buhari.
As a reform minded non-conformist
political leader with a well-informed
insight into the evils of bad governance
perpetrated by corrupt politicians, the
opportunity of getting elected into
leadership of the country could only be the
first step in a long and laborious march
against entrenched enemies of the progress
of the country.
Indeed, the first steps in the long march,
equivalent to the first term, were certain to
encounter all manner of rough tackles and
even shifting of goal posts to frustrate and
sabotage such that, as President Buhari
observed earlier, “many would have given
up.”
Giving up was exactly what the oppositionpowered,
elitist minority intended to impose
on the incoming anti-corruption Buhari
administration as a forced alternative.
A return to the bad old days of economydeflating
squandermania must remain an
abominable option that requires all patriotic
Nigerians to thank God for the re-election of
President Buhari for a second term.
It also calls on them to rally round for the
deep entrenchment of the reformist agenda,
especially the anti-corruption and economic
infrastructure development components, in
the last four years of the tenure, appropriately
tagged Next Level.
• Adigun, a lecturer, wrote from Ibadan
C
M
Y

32—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019—33

34 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
SUICIDE: Nigerian doctors acquire skills to tackle Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder
By Chioma Obinna
IRKED by the rising cases
of suicide in Nigeria,
MeaningfulWorld, an
Association for Trauma
Outreach and Prevention,
ATOP, last week trained
Nigerian doctors
comprising of
psychiatrists, clinical
psychologists, psychiatric
nurses & resident doctors,
and social workers among
other professionals at the
Lagos University Teaching
Hospital, LUTH, on how
trauma could lead to
suicide as well as different
healing therapies for
individual's level of
trauma.
This is coming at a time
most Nigerians have been
victimised and traumatised
by various religious,
community violence as well
as the current banditry
attacks. Unfortunately, little
or nothing has been done on
the mental health of the
people.
In a chat with Good
Health Weekly, during the
one- day workshop
organised by Department of
Psychiatric, LUTH, the
Founder/ President of ATOP,
who is also a professor of
Psychology College,
Columbia University, Dr Ani
Kalayjian said ATOP was
concerned about the level of
trauma Nigerians in
conflicts areas must be going
through.
According to Kalayjian,
Nigeria is currently top in
Africa with suicide rate and
ranks 15th in the world. She
blamed the upsurge to age -
long trauma that most people
have passed through without
knowing.
She said most of the
trauma which now blossom
to Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder, PTSD, may have
been handed over to people
by their great grandparents
that never healed usually
known as 'horizontal
violence' in their practice.
"A lot of religious
motivated fights and burning
of mosques and churches, all
these comes from horizontal
violence, when the trauma is
not healed. These people keep
a lot of pasts for a long time
they cannot negotiate or
communicate, they are
depressed so this trauma,
frustration and
disappointment continue to
grow until it blows and there
is no way to go out and then
blows horizontally. That is
why brothers and sisters kill
each other in different
countries because they don't
know what to do with their
frustrations."
Stating that PTSD has
been implicated in suicide,
she explained that high
trauma causes despair and
hopelessness, depression
which all leads to Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder.
*L-R: Clinical Psychologist, Lagos University Teachjing Hospital, LUTH, Dr Juliet
Ottoh, Professor of Psychology College, Columbia University, Dr Ani Kalayjian, and
Medical Social Worker, Mrs Perpetua Oni during a workshop on Post Traumatic
Stress in Lagos recently.
Lagos doctors seek reforms in state health system
By Chioma Obinna
MEDICAL doctors
under the employ of
Lagos State Government have
tasked Governor Babajide
Olusola Sanwo-Olu on the need
to prioritise reforms in the state's
health sector. The doctors under
the auspices of Medical Guild
in its congratulatory message
signed by the Chairman, Dr
Babajide Saheed noted that the
health sector was an important
sector in socio-economic
development, as the provision of
affordable, accessible and
qualitative healthcare to the
populace is of primary
importance in the drive towards
attainment of a developed society.
Setting an agenda for the new
governor, they argued that
development in the health sector
can be achieved through
recruitment of more health
workers to replace staff that left
the system.
They further stressed that for
the state to provide qualitative
health care that would meet
international standards; the
governor must embark on
infrastructure development in
the Health sector with the
provision of standard and wellequipped
primary, secondary
and tertiary health institutions in
the state. Also, they demanded
the extension of retirement age
of medical doctors from 60 years
to 65 years, with the cessation of
contract appointments, to allow
experienced hands to continue
to provide useful service, thus
enhancing the quality of
healthcare.
"There is need to appoint
medical doctors as permanent
secretaries in the state’s health
agencies in accordance with the
Lagos State Health Reform Law
of 2006 for effective and
comprehensive administration
in the health sector."

Ethiopia’s army chief, three others
killed in failed coup
ETHIOPIA’s army
chief of staff, General
Seare Mekonnen
and the head of the
northern state of Amhara
were killed in two separate
but related attacks
when a general tried to
seize control of Amhara in
an attempted coup, the
prime minister’s office
said on Sunday.
Amhara state president
Ambachew Mekonnen
and his adviser were shot
dead and the state’s attorney
general was
wounded in the regional
capital of Bahir Dar on
Saturday evening, Prime
Minister Abiy Ahmed’s
office said in a statement.
In a separate attack the
same night, Ethiopia’s
army Chief of Staff Seare
Mekonnen and a retired
general were both shot
dead in Seare’s home in
Addis Ababa by his bodyguard.
The two attacks
were linked, the statement
said, without giving
details.
Abiy’s office named
Amhara state security
head General Asamnew
Tsige as responsible for
the foiled coup, without
giving details of his
Iran executes ex-defence official on
charges of spying for US
IRAN has executed a
former Ministry of Defence
official on charges of
spying for the United
States government.
Jalal Hajizavar, an excontract
employee for the
aerospace arm of the country’s
defence department,
was put to death for secretly
working for the CIA,
the IRIB news agency reported
on Sunday
A military court convicted
him after an investigation
discovered documents
and spying equipment
at his home.
He was executed at the
Rajai Shahr prison in
Karaj, west of Tehran, but
it is not yet clear when he
was arrested.
whereabouts. Asamnew
was released from prison
last year after receiving
an amnesty for a similar
coup attempt, according
to media reports.
Abiy took office just over
a year ago and embarked
on unprecedented reforms
in Ethiopia, Africa’s
second-most populous
country and one of its
fastest-growing economies.
But the premier’s
His contract with the defence
ministry had been
terminated during the Iranian
year 1389 (March
2010-2011).
Reports state that
Hajizavar’s ex-wife was
also convicted of ‘involvement
in espionage’ and is
serving a 15-year jail sentence.
His death comes amid
escalating tensions between
Washington and Tehran
which flared up this
week when a US drone
was allegedly shot down
by the Iranian military.
On Sunday, in what has
been interpreted as a
veiled threat towards the
increasingly aggressive
regime, Donald Trump
shake-up of the military
and intelligence services
has earned him powerful
enemies, while his government
is struggling to
rein in powerful figures
in Ethiopia’s myriad ethnic
groups fighting the
federal government and
each other for greater influence
and resources.
U.S. Assistant Secretary
of State for African Affairs,
Tibor Nagy, said the
Boris Johnson under pressure to explain police
incident
*General-Seare-Mekonnen
BORIS Johnson, the
front-runner in the
race to become Britain’s next
prime minister, was facing
mounting calls Sunday to
fully explain an incident in
which police attended an
alleged altercation at the
London home he shares
with his girlfriend.
Johnson ducked repeated
questions during a leadership
hustings in Birmingham
the day before. Questioned
by journalist and
CNN Talk host Iain Dale, he
said: “I don’t think they want
hear about that kind of
thing,” prompting applause
from party members. “I think
what they want to hear is
what my plans are for the
country and the party.”
But International Trade
Secretary Liam Fox told the
BBC that while Johnson’s
private life “does not concern
me,” he added: “I think
it is always easier to just
give a former Conservative
Foreign Secretary Malcolm
Rifkind also told the BBC:
“If you are a candidate to be
prime minister and the police
have been called to your
house — fairly or unfairly —
the fact is there was a police
visit. You don’t just say ‘no
comment.’
“That implies you may
have something you don’t
want to disclose.”
Rifkind, who hinted he
might back Johnson’s rival
Jeremy Hunt in the race to
be the next Conservative
said: ‘Hopefully Iran is
smart and cares about its
people.’
The news comes as he
announced a trip to the
Camp David presidential
retreat to consider his next
moves against the state.
Tensions in the region
began to worsen significantly
when Trump pulled
out of a 2015 nuclear deal
between Iran and six powers
and reimposed sanctions
on the country.
Over the past weeks the
US and Iran’s main regional
rival Saudi Arabia
have also blamed Iran for
attacks on two oil tankers
last week in the Gulf of
Oman and on four tankers
off the United Arab
Emirates on May 12.
attacks were probably
prompted by disaffection
over Abiy’s rise to power
and his sweeping reforms.
“There are vestiges of
the old regime in power.
Some of the elites are
very unhappy with some
of the reforms that... Abiy
is taking for a variety of
reasons including, I’m
sure, some ill-gotten
gains,” Nagy told reporters
in Pretoria, South Africa.
“It’s certainly not
clear sailing for him
(Abiy) from now on. He
has an incredible number
of issues he has to deal
with,” said Nagy, a
former U.S. ambassador
to Ethiopia.
The shooting in Bahir
Dar occurred when the
state president - an ally
of Abiy - was holding a
meeting to decide how to
put a stop to the open recruitment
of ethnic Amhara
militias by Asamnew,
one Addis-based official
told Reuters.
Asamnew had advised
the Amhara people to arm
themselves in preparation
for fighting against other
groups, in a video spread
on Facebook a week earlier
and seen by a Reuters
reporter.
leader and by extension the
next PM, added: “It was a
lack of judgement to refuse
to even make a short comment.
All he could have said,
quite reasonably, would
have been that in all relationships
there are occasionally
outbursts of anger and
disagreement.”
Labour opposition politician
Andrew Gwynne said
Sunday Johnson was “completely
unsuitable” to be
PM. He told Sky News: “In
one sense, of course, it is a
private matter, but when
you’re running for public
office, when you are wanting
to be the prime minister
of the UK, then these matters
are in the public interest.”
But Gwynne added that
Johnson’s actions as a politician
were more important.
“I just think his record
throughout his time both as
mayor of London — wasting
money on the garden
bridge, wasting money on
Routemaster buses, wasting
money on water cannon that
couldn’t be used — through
to his disastrous tenure as
foreign secretary just renders
him completely, I think,
unsuitable to be the prime
minister of our great country.”
Labour Brexit spokesman
Keir Starmer tweeted
the Guardian’s initial story
about the alleged dispute
with the comment, “Was
there ever a man less suited
to be Prime Minister?”
VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019 — 35
British born Nigerian jazz
star, Bunmi Thomas faces
deportation
A
jazz singer born in Britain to Nigerian par
ents is facing deportation from UK after falling
foul of controversial Home Office red tape.
In a chilling echo of the Windrush scandal last
year, rising music star Bumi Thomas was shocked
to be told she is in Britain illegally, despite having
lived here for most of her life.
She now faces being sent to Africa, even though
her work, family and social life are all in Britain.
Ms Thomas was born in Glasgow in June 1983
to parents who had come from Africa in the early
1970s.
Changes to the British Nationality Act in January
1983 removed the automatic right to citizenship of
children born in the UK to parents from former colonies.
The singer’s parents should have registered her
under the Act but were unaware they needed to do
so. Her plight is harder to bear because her elder
sister Kemi, with whom she lives in East London,
has always been a British citizen as she was born
before the changes to the Act.
Ms Thomas believes she is a victim of the Home
Office becoming over-zealous after then Home Secretary
Theresa May introduced a ‘hostile environment’
towards illegal migrants in 2012.
The policy resulted in the Windrush scandal,
which saw dozens of long-standing British citizens
deported because they lacked papers proving their
right to be in the country.
Ms Thomas, 36, who has performed on the BBC,
said: ‘My parents came here at the end of the Windrush
era.
‘I had a National Insurance number, I had my birth
certificate, I’d got a driving licence, a bank account,
I went to college. At no point during that process
was there any indication I was doing anything incorrectly.
I believe that I am British.’
Although she was born in Scotland, Ms Thomas
lived with her father in Nigeria between the ages of
three and 18. She thought she had dual British-
Nigerian nationality when she returned to Britain.
She applied for a UK passport when she was 25 but
she was refused. She was granted temporary discretionary
leave to remain and told she could apply
for permanent residency.
Erdogan suffers defeat in
Istanbul’s mayoral vote
IN a major blow to Turkish President Recep Tayy
ip Erdogan, the opposition Republican People’s
Party (CHP) candidate Ekrem Imamoglu has declared
victory in the rerun of Istanbul’s mayoral election,
after initial results showed he was set for a
clear win.
Imamoglu had won 54 percent of votes with almost
all of the ballot boxes opened on Sunday, with
the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK
Party) candidate trailing on 45 percent and conceding
defeat.
Imamoglu promised a “new beginning” for Turkey’s
largest city and commercial hub.
“You have protected the reputation of democracy
in Turkey,” he told supporters.
His opponent, former Turkish Prime Minister Binali
Yildirim, conceded defeat after initial results
showed he was set to lose by a decisive margin.
“According to the result as of now, my competitor
Ekrem Imamoglu is leading the race. I congratulate
him and wish him good luck,” Yildirim said.
CHP’s projected win in the Istanbul election ends
the 17-year rule by the AK Party in the metropolis.
The Istanbul mayoral election was first held on
March 31, when Imamoglu secured 48.8 percent of
the vote, while the AK Party’s Yildirim held 48.55
percent, granting Imamoglu the title of mayor with
a razor-thin margin.
The AK Party proceeded to file an “extraordinary
objection” to the results, leading the Supreme Electoral
Council (YSK) to annul the results and schedule
Sunday’s rerun.
The Istanbul election has become far bigger than
any local vote, as the rerun put into question the
country’s democracy and threatened the AK Party’s
grip on power over the last two decades.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - who
served as Istanbul’s mayor in the 1990s and leads
the AK Party - has famously said: “Whoever loses
Istanbul loses Turkey” .
Erdogan cast his vote on Sunday amid high security
in Uskudar, a predominately conservative district
on the city’s Asian side.
Berk Esen, Bilkent University assistant professor
of international relations, described it as being
a “major personal blow for Erdogan.

36 —Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
By Osa Amadi
FOR three solid days, the
world converged
in Yenagoa, Bayelsa to pay final
respect to a great fisherman,
a man of letters, Pa
Gabriel Imomotimi
Gbaingbain Okara before the
mortal body he left behind
was committed to mother earth
in his village, Bumoundi.
It was a fascinating experience
for all who went to
Bumoundi to have had to cross
in rustic fishermen’s boats the
great and historic River Nun
which had inspired Okara the
poet to hewn out of rocks, the
words that make up his poem,
“The call of the River Nun”.
Eminent personalities, including
former President
Goodluck Jonathan and Governor
Seriake Dickson made
moving speeches:
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Gov. Serieke Dickson and wife at the event
Crossing the
River Nun to
bury Gabriel
Okara
Former President,
Goodluck Jonathan
“His excellency the governor
of Bayelsa State. Let me
appreciate the presence of
very senior government officials
here with us.
“Let me thank the government
of Bayelsa State, the
Okara family, and the friends
who put this wonderful programme
together to recognise
our icon who has left us. Let
me also commend the
Bayelsa State Government for
appreciating and recognising
our leaders who have contributed
in one way or the other
to the development of the nation
by immortalizing them
through naming some infrastructure
after them. And of
course, this theatre is named
after Pa Okara. The State Library
is also named after him
when he was still alive. I also
agree that that is the best way
to honour people – when they
are still alive.
“Yes, we have been told by
his son that Pa lived over 100
years. It is not easy to get
there because even the scripture
talks about three scores
plus ten – that is seventy
years. So to go significantly
above seventy, we have to
thank God, because all of us
know that no matter the age
of the person and circumstances
of death, death is
painful to those who love that
person. And Pa Okara, we all
know, is a treasure. And nobody
would want to lose such
a person.
“So his death, even though
he has stayed on earth within
a reasonable time, his death
is painful to all of us. Of
course we have read his biography
and we have seen
the role in his life. People
know him and describe him
in different ways – he is a
good administrator who had
worked in several places. As
a journalist, as a poet, a novelist,
and all. You hardly go
to a gathering where people
speak ill of Pa Okara.
“I can remember in my literature
class when I was in
secondary school that we read
some of his poems in West
African Verse. And of course
in my university days I also
witnessed when the university
honoured Pa Okara with honorary
doctor of letters degree
in the first convocation of
University of Port-Harcourt.
I was a witness to that award.
“So Pa Okara was a voice –
a voice of reason, voice of
truth, voice of justice and
equality. And we all should
emulate him and carry on
with his philosophy. We know
how he served the old River
State as a pioneer secretary
to the military governor of
the old Rivers State before he
moved on as the CEO of
print and television broadcast
in the state.
“Even in Bayelsa State, he
played some key roles. I remember
that in the formative
days of the state, Gabriel
Okara headed the committee
that did the reclassification
and recognition of traditional
rulers. So most of our first
class kings today were the
people which the committee
recommended.
“When I was the Deputy
Governor to DSP
Alamieyeseigha later became
the governor, Okara was
quite good to us; of course
you know how humble he is.
So he had kept on like that,
contributing to the growth of
the state and growth of the
Ijaw race and the nation.
“Today we are all here as
part of his last journey. We
thank God for that. If you
look at the caliber of people
that dotted this theatre, see
his Old Boys, we have to join
the governor to thank you for
making out time to come and
participate in this program.
Thank you.”
Governor Seriake Dickson
“We are gathered here today
to pay our last respect, and
also to celebrate a life welllived
– very simple life, and
also very profound life. We are
here to honour this great fisherman
who gave to us and the
world, “The Fisherman Invocation”.
We are here to celebrate
this great Ijaw man –
Nigerian Union of Musicians holds workshop
on sale of music on the internet
In its determined efforts to
generate revenue for its
members, the foremost
body representing musicians
in Nigeria, NUM is
organising a workshop on
the sale of music on the
internet. Apart from the
normal selling of music in the
market, selling it in the
internet means worldwide
sales,translating into huge
revenue gains. But regrettably,
millions of dollars are lost
yearly by musicians that do
not sell their music on the
internet and to change this
narrative, NUM,a professional
arm of NLC is poised
to take the bull by the horn
and lead Nigerian musicians
to more profitable careers.
The event which is billed to
hold on the 4th of July 2019
at Constantial Hotel,opposite
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Gov. Serieke Dickson
and a guest during the relaunching of Okara’s The Voice
Continues on page 37
Benin city airport, by 12noon
will be attended by many
music lovers.The special
guest of Honor is the Edo
state commissioner for arts ,
culture,tourism and diaspora,
Mr Osaze Ero. Also invited
is the commissioner of Justice,
Prof Yinka Omorogbe. Musicians
from far and wide are
expected to grace the workshop.
The event will also feature
a post-humous awards for
great musicians like
Christiana Essien, Sony
Okosun, Rex Lawson, Celestine
Ukwu and many others
of blessed memory.
A goodwill message is expected
by the American ambassador.
In 1960 during the independence
dance party, it was
NUM that insisted that a Nigerian
musicians plays instead
of the Jamaican musicians
that the incoming government
had slated. The union
had their way.
The NLC and RATTAWU,
the mother bodies of NUM are
expected to play very important
roles in this august occasion
of their baby union
NUM.
Late Sunny Okosun

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019 — 37
Crossing the River Nun for Gabriel Okara
Continued from page 36
Guests crossing the River Nun to Okara’s village
quintessential Ijaw man from
Bumoundi the River Nun. He
gave to us and the world, “
The call of the River Nun”. We
can go on-and-on: “Piano and
Drums”, “The Voice”, etc.
But all in all, we are here to
celebrate the life of a good and
a great man.
So let me, in the course of
this brief remark, firstly on
behalf of the good people of
this state, receive and welcome
you all to this greatest
state, no doubt, in the entire
Federal Republic of Nigeria –
the state that is incomparable
to any other; the state of great
and good people. Welcome to
you all to Bayelsa, the glory
of all lands and the “Jerusalem
of Ijaw nation”
I want to specially thank, our
former President, President
Goodluck Jonathan who is
here with us. I would like to
thank and appreciate leaders
of our state. I also thank J.P
Clark who is also here. I appreciate
all the writers here
and scholars from outside the
country. I appreciate the
Alumni of Government College
Umuahia. I can see why
Government College
Umuahia continues to be
great. You have a lot of great
Bayelsans who are your
alumni.
Our state, country and the
world has lost a great man.
People of my age started reading
the works of Okara some
40 years ago. And I was very
surprised when eventually as
a member of house of reps, I
invited him to be part of a literary
event that I sponsored.
I am here sited with him, simple-looking,
world-celebrated
poet. He spent 2 days.
“If Okara had not harkened
to the final call of the River
Nun he would have surely
been here today with us celebrating
another great
Bayelsan. The time Pa Okara
stopped attending functions
was when he attained the age
of 100 years. So you can imagine
the commitment and
that speaks to our profound
sense of loss as a state and as
a people. Our government
believes in recognising and
appreciating our leaders who
have excelled, whose lives
and works and contributions
have brought credit, acclaim
and glory to this state and
Niger Delta, to this country
and Africa as a whole. And
since 2012 we have always
honoured and appreciated the
contributions of our leaders,
bring back the remains of
those who were buried in
shallow graves in Lagos to
have state funeral services
each time we lost a great
leader.
“And you don’t have to be a
political leader to have that
kind of attention and that’s
the lesson we are teaching
today. Most time people tend
to celebrate political leaders
forgetting that there are also
leaders in all spheres of human
endeavor.
For us in Bayelsa, once you
live a life of service, once your
life has brought glory and acclaim
to our people, we showcase
you and honour you as a
beacon of hope for what is
possible in the creeks of Niger
Delta. And that was why in
2012, 2013 we remodeled this
entire edifice and deservedly
named it after Pa Gabriel
Okara. And he told me he was
surprised when he got the
invitation; when he stood side
by side with all the leaders of
this state, when he, by his
own hands, cut the tape and
unveiled the plaque that has
permanently made his name
to be on this building.
“And looking back now, I
think we are happy that we
had that opportunity to honour
him while he was alive.
And at several state activities,
he himself attended some activities
right here in this Cultural
Centre named after him.
And today, as our own contribution,
this aspect of honouring
our deserved leaders,
those who are alive as well as
those who are dead, the government
of Bayelsa State is
now saying that Pa Gabriel
Okara will have a mausoleum
built in his honour at Ijaw
National Heroes Memorial
Park.
“The state suggested to the
family, just as we’ve gathered
here and just as the state has
deemed it fit to organize this
state funeral, that his remains
and his works are no longer
the property of the Okara family.
And I am sure they know
that. And we told them that
we wanted his remains buried
and in the place reserved
for our leaders. But they appreciated
it and reached out
and explained the other dimensions
which we all understand.
“So tomorrow, after this
event, his corpse will be escorted
to his ancestral home
of Bumoundi. But there will
be a final place of honour for
Gabriel Okara at the Ijaw
Nation Heroes Memorial
Park. The family and all wellwishers
and friends will be
invited on the day we will set
aside to honour him and several
others. That Memorial
Park is a place set up for great
leaders. The great Isaac
Adaka Boro’s remains are interred
there. Late General
Owoye Azazi, the first 4-star
General, first National Security
Adviser…and that’s where
the late Okara belongs.
“I have listened to the request
made by the Old Boys
of Government College
Umuahia. In acknowledgement
of the contributions of
that great institution, as in
producing great leaders in
Bayelsa who have continued
to be sources of inspiration to
us, the Government of Bayelsa
will work with Government
College Umuahia to undertake
a project that will be
named after Pa Gabriel
THE International Institute
for Creative Development,
IICD, organizes a solo exhibition
by eminent artist, Bolaji
Ogunwo, titled ‘More Than
Meets The Eye.”
The theme of the exhibition
centers around global challenges
of migration facing Nigeria.
And the venue is the
IICD Center, Abuja, while the
date is from 20th June, 2019
to July 10.
Bolaji Ogunwo was born on
20th November 1978. His
fondness for creativity began
at a tender age. The love for
art led him to study Fine and
Applied Art (majoring in
Painting) at the University of
Benin. He graduated in the
year 2000. He later obtained
a Master’s degree from the
University of Lagos in 2006 as
one of the pioneering candidates.
With a resilient studio practice
spanning two decades,
Bolaji has participated in over
50 local and international art
shows and 3 solo exhibitions
including an international
solo show in Manchester, UK.
His works can be found in
notable places around the
globe. A painter per excellence,
Bolaji is currently a
Ph.D. research scholar at
Delta State University Abraka,
and a lecturer in the Department
of Creative Arts, University
of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria.
He is also a Senior Pastor at
Redeem Christian Church of
God. He lives in Lagos with
his wife and sons.
The incentive behind
Ogunwo’s solo exhibition is
the global challenge of migration;
the unimaginable plight
of immigrants from Nigeria
wishing to find ‘greener’ pastures
overseas.
According to Ogunwo, “the
upsurge of emigration in recent
times has become worrisome
for me as a creative
luminary. Like never before,
certain embassies are bombarded
daily by Nigerians in
a bid to obtain visas, not for
vacation but obviously for
permanent relocation due to
the lingering challenges
ranging from corruption and
banditry to incessant killings
that permeate the nation.
“Nothing seems to be working!
Nevertheless, there is
more than meets the eye.
There are hidden treasures
underneath that are yet to
manifest. All we need to succeed
as a nation are not without,
but within.”
He says the nation’s treasure
may not seem visible but
if we dig deeper and stay
positive, sooner than expected,
our desires shall
come to fruition. “It is only a
matter of time. Places don’t
make people, people make
places. Only a few people
dare to go places, even if the
odds are not in their favor.
The worst is here but the best
is yet to come, hence, I go
nowhere but here,” he con-
Okara…I want to thank him
for telling me the Ijaw story,
for exposing the Ijaw culture
and language and history to
the world with his works.
When you read “The Fisherman
Invocation”, “Piano and
Drum” as it compares with the
rustic mystical drums in
Bumoundi to the concerto,
ending on crescendo; when
you read “The call of the River
Nun” and all his works, including
this one we’ve just
re-launched, “The Voice”, it’s
an entire life of service, of
simplicity; a life of honour - a
quintessential Ijaw man.
“He lived and showed the
right values of our people. He
was a great Ijaw man, great
Niger Delta man, a great Nigerian,
a great African and a
great citizen of the world.
“Today on behalf of the government
and good people of
the state, we bid him farewell.
He has answered the inevitable
call of the great River Nun.
And I am sure he must be listening
by now, the rustic and
mystical sound of the drums
on the other side”.
Bolaji Ogunnwo’s exhibition opens in Abuja
By Chinasa Afigbo
One of the works on display
cludes.
Definitely, the IICD Center
is honored to share this immerse
depth, expressive and
high impressionist works of
Bolaji Ogunwo. “It is not very
often that we present recent
works of an artist in this manner,”
IICD highlights, “but
this curated collection of
Ogunwo’s recent works titled,
‘More Than Meets The Eye’,
is outstanding. In this exhibition.
He shares his position
on emigration and the economic
challenges facing our
dear country, Nigeria. Just
like every great artist that ever
lived, Ogunwo is first a messenger
and then, he is a patriot
and strong believer in
Nigeria’s future.”
The Chief Curator, IICD
Center, Abuja, Nduwhite
Ndubuisi, says “Bolaji is corroborating
one of the ideologies
of the IICD Center, captured
by Kandinsky Wassily,
who expressed that, ‘The artist
must have something to say,
for mastery over form is not
his goal but rather the adapting
of form to its inner meaning’.”

38—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
CEREMONY: From left—Immediate Past President, Chartered Institute of
Personnel Management of Nigeria, CIPM, Udom Inoyo; Representative
of the Governor of Oyo state, Femi Babalola; Vice President CIPM, Titi
Akisanya; President/Chairman of Council, Wale Adediran; Representative
of Lagos state Governor/PS, Ministry of Establishment, Training and
Pensions, Rhoda Ayinde; Registrar/CEO, CIPM, Ajibola Ponnle and the
National Treasurer CIPM, Nkeiru Adesogan at the 19th investiture
ceremony of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria,
CIPM, held at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
PRESENTATION: From left—Chief Financial Officer, Lekki Free Trade Zone,
LFTZ, Ashish Khemka; Relationship Group Director, Lekki Port LFTZ
Enterprise, Adesuwa Ladoja; Winner 2019 Tolaram Science Challenge
and Pupil of Albesta Academy, Lekki, Oreoluwa Ala; Assistant Director,
Education District 3, Lagos State, Morebise Ajibola and General Manager,
Lagos Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, Kumar Padala during the prize presentation
of winner of the 2019 Tolaram Science Challenge held in Lagos yesterday.
Don’t engage
'deaf
ministers',
inventor
advises Buhari
By Dennis Agbo
E
N U G U — A
mathematical
inventor, Dr Dikeohaa
Okwu has asked President
Muhammadu Buhari to
refrain from appointing
politicians he described as
‘deaf ministers' while
constituting a cabinet in his
second term.
He advised that
President Buhari should
tap from the various
potentials available in the
country in the formation of
his cabinet for the nation’s
economic rejuvenation.
Okwu, the inventor of
‘Dikeohamatics’, a
dramatized system of
solving mathematics,
stated that the
‘Mathematical geometric
teaching aides’ he invented
was comparable to ‘the
Mathematical sets
imported into the country
from China and other parts
of the world.
He pleaded with the federal
government to partner with him
so he can create millions of job for
Nigerians through mass
production of mathematical
equipment and conserve foreign
exchange.
Speaking with Vanguard,
Okwu said “I am very confident
that President Buhari in his
second term will not engage deaf
Ministers, those who will not
answer calls on ideas and
innovations for our collective
efforts in nation building. The
government must have to look
inwards and utilize our own
technology, for us to compete
globally. Nigerian inventors are
capable of advancing our own
technology.”
He emphasized that the study
of Mathematics in our school
system is the bedrock of
advancing science and
technology in Nigeria, stating
that his invention
‘Dikeohamatics’ was meant to let
pupils and students play
mathematics as games and by so
doing develop love for the subject,
instead of staying away from
mathematics classes.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019—39
EZERIOHA
I, formerly known as Miss
Ezerioha Chinwe Patricia,
now wish to be known as
Mrs Juaese Chinwe Tricia.
All former documents remain
vaild. General public take
note.
AGUGUOM
I, formerly known as Ngozi
Peace Aguguom, now wish to
be known as Mrs Ngozi Peace
Onyeachu. All former
documents remain vaild.
General public take note.
UGOCHUKWU
This is to confirm that the names
Isamila Nnawuihe Ugochukwu and
Ugochukwu Festus refer to one and
the same person, now wish to be
known as Isamila Nnawuihe
Ugochukwu Festus. All former
documents remain valid. Banks and
the general public should please take
note.
INNEH
I, formerly known as
Chinyere Inneh, now wish to
be known as Udumebraye
Chinyere Inneh. All former
documents remains valid.
General public take note.
ANAEMENE
I, formerly known as
Anaemene Chioma Favour,
now wish to be known as
Egbogu Chioma Favour.
Former documents remain
valid. Banks and general
public take note.
OZAH
This is to confirm that Ozah
Florence and Ebinum Florence
refer to one and same person.
I now wish to be known
as Ozah Florence. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
AGUEBOR
I, formerly known as Faith
Aguebor, now wish to be
known as Faith Essien
Iyobor. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
EDWIN
This is confirm that Edwin
Mary and Inalegwu Edwin
Mary refer to one and the
same person, but now wish to
be known as Inalegwu Edwin
Mary. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
EKPEDURE
I, formerly known as Ekpedure
Romeo Ukuejuoneantse, now
wish to be known as Tonwo
Romeo Ekpedure. All former
documents remain valid. The
general public should please
take note.
ISRAEL
I hereby confirm that the
name, Israel Aghwonodure,
Israel Essi Idesoh and Israel
Essi refer to me. I now wish to
be known as Israel
Aghwonodure Essi. All former
documents remain vaild.
Banks and general public take
note.
ARUYA
I, formerly known as Miss
Esther Temitope Aruya, now
wish to be known as Mrs
Finbar Esther Temitope. All
former documents remain
vaild. General public take
note.
NEWTON
I, formerly known as Newton
Unity Williams, now wish to
be known as Ator Unity
Chukwudi. All documents
bearing my former name
remain valid. General public
take note.
GODSPOWER
I, formerly known as
Godspower Godstime, now
wish to be known as Edosoma
Godstime Endurance. All
former documents remain
valid. The general public
should please take note.
NWAMUOR
I, formerly known as Miss
Nwamuor Sophia Ogechi,
now wish to be known as
Mrs. Bestman-Needom,
Sophia Ogechi. All former
documents remains valid,
general public please take
note.
ANAEMENE
I, formerly known as
Anaemene Nkechi Sandra,
now wish to be known as
Egbogu Nkechi Sandra.
Former documents remain
valid. Banks and general
public take note.
KINGSLEY
My name was wrongly
written as Ikoh Kingsley
Kingsley, instead of my real
and correct name, Ikoh
Kingsley Ugochukwu. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
OSSAI
I, formerly known as Ossai
Anthony, now wish to be
known as Ossai Anthony
Ndubisi. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
IGWE
I, formerly known as Miss
Igwe Justina Nzuwa, now
wish to be known as Mrs.
Agoha Justina Nzuwa. All
former documents remain
valid. The general public
should please take note.
OKOTETE
I, formerly known as Okotete
Mirabel, now wish to be
known as Okotete Mirabel
Avwenayerin. All former
documents remain valid. The
general public should please
take note.
AFOLAYAN
I, formerly known as Miss
Afolayan Deborah Bolatito,
now wish to be known as Mrs.
Lewis Deborah Bolatito. All
former documents remain
valid. The general public should
please take note.
ONWUSONYE
I, formerly known as
Onwusonye Godsaint A.,
now wish to be known as
Onwusonye Godsaint
Arinze. All former
documents remain vaild.
General public take note.
GEORGE
I, formerly known as
Emmanuel Uchechukwu
George, now wish to be known
as Uchechukwu Emmanuel
George-Nnona. All former
documents remain valid.
Banks and the general public
should please take note.
AINA
I, formerly known as Aina
Oluwatosin Sandra and Aina
Oluwatosin Funmi, now wish
to be known as Aina
Oluwatosin Funmi. All former
documents remain valid. The
general public should please
take note.
NNAJI
I, formerly known as Nnaji
Miracle Salome, now wish to
be known as Ide Miracle
Salome Okpara. All former
documents remains valid
general public please take
note.
OKAFOR
I, formerly known as Okafor
Hyacinth Onyibor, now wish
to be known as Okafor
Favour Hyacinth Onyibor.
Former documents remain
valid. Banks and general
public take note.
NNAMANI
I, formerly known as Miss
Nnamani Goodness
Ifebuche, now wish to be
known as Mrs. Okafor
Goodness Ifebuche. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
ODUNOWO
I, formerly known as
Odunowo Oluwakemi
Temitope, now wish to be
known as Akingbehin
Oluwakemi Temitope. All
former documents remain
vaild. General public take
note.
ACHOR
I, formerly known as Miss
Achor Prisca Chisom, now
wish to be known as Mrs.
Flavian Prisca Chisom. All
former documents remain
valid. The general public
should please take note.
MEGBULUBA
I, formerly known as Miss
Megbuluba Aminoritse
Tosan, now wish to be known
as Mrs. Samuel Aminoritse
Tosan. All former documents
remain valid. The general
public should please take
note.
FREEMAN
I, formerly known as Freeman
Bonti, now wish to be known
as Oyabra Bonti. All
documents bearing my former
name remain valid. General
public and all relevant
authorities please take note.
ODEH
I, formerly known as Miss
Odeh Chineye Gift, now wish
to be known as Mrs Oriakhi
chineye Gift. Former
documents remain valid.
Banks and general public take
note.
GEORGE
I, formerly known as Miss
George Charity Loveth, now
wish to be known as
Mrs James-Ndukwe Charity
Favour. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
UTIEYIN
OSAKOR
I, formerly known as Utieyin I, formerly known as Blessing
Williams Weyimi, now wish to Osakor, now wish to
be known as Utieyin Williams add Micheal to be known
Weyimi henceforth. All as Micheal Blessing Osakor. All
former documents remain former documents remain
valid. The general public should valid. The general public should
please take note accordingly. please take note accordingly.
ENABULELE
This is to confirm that Enabulele Christian Adesuwa, Enabulele Christie
Evbindomwanifo, Omoregie Christy Evbindomwanifo, Omoregie Adesuwa
Christy, Omoregie Adesuwa, Enabulele Adesuwa Christiana, Enabulele Christy
Uwa, Omoregie Adesuwa Evbindomwanifo, Enabulele Adesuwa, Enabulele
Christiana, Omoregie Adesuwa Christy Evbindomwanifo, Omoregie Christy
Adesuwa Evbindomwanifo, Omoregie Adesuwa Evbindomwanifo refer to one
and same person. I now wish to be known and addressed as Omoregie Christiana
Adesuwa. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.
FARKA
I, formerly known as Miss
Farka Tuebi Theresa, now
wish to be known as Hon.
(Mrs.) Russia Tuebi Farka.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
AZOR
I, formerly known as Miss
Azor Doreen Oriye, now
wish to be called Mrs Nwoke
Doreen Oriye. All my
documents and credentials
still remain valid. General
public please take note.
UKOHA
I, formerly known as Ukoha
Chidiebere, now wish to be
known as Ukoha Chidiebere
Timothy. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
EGENA
I, formerly known as Egena
Kate Margreth, now wish to
be called Ajegi Kate
Margreth. All my documents
and credentials still remain
valid. General public please
take note.
ADEBAYO
I, formerly known as Adebayo
Olubunmi Taiwo, now wish
to be known as Ajiboye
Olubunmi Taiwo. All former
documents remain vaild.
General public take note.
ALUGWOEKPE
I, formerly known as
Alugwoekpe Abigail
Ifeanyi, now wish to be
known as Obizue Abigail
Ifeanyi. All former
documents remain valid. The
general public should please
take note.
JIMOH
I, formerly known as Jimoh
Vote, now wish to be known
as Omosomuofa Vote Ruth.
All former documents remain
valid. The general public
should please take note.
JONAH
I, formerly known as Miss
Jonah Comfort, now wish to
be known as Mrs Obinichi
Comfort Chikwere. All former
document remains valid,
NYSC and the general public
take note.
OGBUDO
I, formerly known
as Olayinka Nancy Ogbudo,
now wish to be known
as Olayinka Nancy Egbetakin.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
NNEKE
I, formerly known as Miss
Nneke Onyemachi Judith M.,
now wish to be known as Mrs
Ozomagbo Onyemaechi Judith
M. All former documents
remain valid. Banks and general
public please take note.
JAMES
I, formerly known as Miss
James Esther Ojonoma, now
wish to be known as Mrs
Ojima-Ejiga Esther Ojonoma.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
EJECHI
I, formerly known as Miss
Veronica Vera Noyelum
Ejechi, now wish to be known
as Mrs Vera Noyelum Olisah.
All former documents remain
valid. The general public
should please take note.
NNAJI
I, formerly known as Miss
Nnenna Adaku Nnaji, now
wish to be known as Nnenna
Adaku Erondu. All former
documents remain valid. The
general public should please
take note.
SPACE
FOR
SALE
Imo
Elections:
AA denies
withdrawing
from
Tribunal,
reaffirms
suspension
of officials
By Omeiza Ajayi
Aleadership BUJA—NATIONAL
of Action
Alliance, AA has denied
withdrawing its petition
before the governorship
election tribunal in Owerri,
Imo state, saying those who
announced its withdrawal
had since been dismissed
from the party.
The party said its national
chairman, Chief Kenneth
Udeze and the National
Secretary, Vernimbe James
remained suspended since
June 14, 2019 due to their
penchant for anti-party
activities.
At a news briefing
addressed by the
National Vice Chairman,
North West, Alhaji Jibril
Aminu and National
Publicity Secretary,
Charles Chukwuemeka,
the AA said; “we are in
support of all our cases at
the tribunal including that
of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu
in Imo state”.
Others who were present
at the briefing were the
National Youth Leader,
Michael Madu; National
Legal Adviser Anaukyaa
Mnenge Peter among
others.
On his part, Chairman of
the party in Imo state, Chief
Anthony Uchendu said the
party is in full support of
Uche Nwosu’s ambition to
“reclaim his governorship
mandate in the state”.
He said; “It is so
unfortunate what is
happening today
especially in my state, Imo.
Only God knows how He
does His things, that a very
vibrant and astute politician
of Imo state extraction came
into the party with a whole
lot of credentials. We won
comfortably 8 Houses of
Assembly and two federal
constituency seats.
However, we have other
cases in court like in
Okigwe, Imo North, we are
hopeful where INEC is yet
to declare a winner and we
are very close to victory.
“In all this, our former national
chairman in person of Kenneth
Udeze who ab initio was not
helpful to the party in the state and
didn’t do anything for us, we kept
faith believing he will have a
change of mind but he connived
with the PDP in Imo state to deny
us of our victory."
Meanwhile, the AA has written
the Independent National Electoral
Commission INEC to convey its
suspension of Messrs Udeze and
James accusing them of sundry
allegations including anti-party
activities and an indictment by the
police following investigation of
party operations.

40—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
YOUR LUCK TODAY
By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139
CANCER;. Both financial and love related success are
possible, however you will need to be as practical as you
can possibly be. Avoid unnecessary argument.
LEO; Continue to take matters-of-the-heart seriously.
Reason with your reliable associates. But this is not the
right time to believe all you were told by strangers and/
or those you don’t know much about.
VIRGO; Tension within the domestic scene will start
to ease off. Yet you will need to watch what you do within
your base of operation (home and working arena.
LIBRA; Although you will get needed support from
certain quarter, yet you will need to be as cautious as
possible. Unnecessary can not help your cause. Respect
the vie of your spouse.
L E I S U R E
TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE
“Don’t find fault, find a remedy”-Henry Ford-
Whatever irritates us about another is often a reflection
of what’s within the individual, life gives back what we
give but sometimes the correlation are not imminent,
but life always happens to us for a reason. Remember
this sayings by the poet Rumi. “It is rain that grows the
flowers not thunder.
Ella Randle
SAYINGS OF
OUR PEOPLE
Advice is a
stranger; if he’s
welcome he
stays for the
night; if not, he
leaves the same
day. ~Malagasy
Proverb
SCORPIO; Venus moves into a positive angle to your
Star and encourages peaceful settlement. Exhibition of
maturity on your part will favour you better.
SAGITTARIUS; Those of you who are more family
minded today will have much to gain. This is not to say
you have to ignore those within your working arena.
Exhibit needed maturity
CAPRICORN; Better than yesterday; however that is
not to say you should throw caution to the wind. Improvement
on your love life indicated. Try to comport
yourself.
AQUARIUS; Your been hard working will have positive
bearing both on your finances and social life. Good
exercise is needed to enhance your health. Yet you will
need to be as moderate as possible
PISCES; Venus moves into a positive angle and boost
your sparkling personality to the betterment of your
cause. Could be a nice day for the-young-at-heart
ARIES; It is important you plan both your immediate
and far future. Keeping your secrets is the needed approach
for those of you in competition within your working
arena. Be family minded.
TAURUS; Recent tension generated by controversy
over money will start to ease off. Be more vigilant if you
are working late in the evening. Avoid unnecessary argument
especially within your working arena.
GEMINI; There is nothing obstructing you along your
career/business line. Actually those of you who are more
ambitious will have better results to show for your efforts.
Think money before you take important actions.
TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”
DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE
By Kola Fayemi
ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING
ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING
Send your date and place of birth to the Astr
trological
Counselling, P.M.B 100
007, Apapa, Lagos
What should I expect?
Dear Joshua,
I want to know about my future, especially what I
should expect in the business world. When exactly can
I travel within and outside our country ?
Frank, Shagamu.
Dear Frank,
JULY 2 TO JULY 31, 2019.
Solar and Lunar Eclipses of 2nd and 16th , July,
2019 respectively across Cancer and Capricorn axis
are at positive place to your Star. Here is a period when
new and good contacts will come your way to the betterment
of your business prospects. Even if you have
been putting away travelling, it will become unavoidable
during this period, especially during last two
weeks of the period. The said last two weeks (July 16th
to July 31st 2019) will equally prove more progressive
and fortunate for you and your family. Not nice time to
pet members of your extended family trying to go astray
but the needed time to take needed actions the tough
way and put everybody the right place they belong.
Yet , you will need to let your maturity come to play, so
that you will give chances for repentance and reconciliation
in the near future.
AUGUST 1 TO AUGUST 29, 2019.
Major emphasis will be on both your personal and
extended families affairs. Whatever you do some members
will like to put you under pressure, especially
during last two weeks of the period – Aug 15th to Aug
29th particularly a strong headed lady willing to reap
where she did not sow Your being decisive without
extensive sentiment is the key and needed solution.
Yes these challenges have started not today, it is time
to bring every negative things to the conclusive end.
AUGUST 30 TO SEPTEMBER 27, 2019.
Remnants of last period can still be seen but you are
now in perfect control of the situation. Then, success
through commercial activities indicated. Money will
come in and you will never run short of admiration
from both men and members of your opposite sex. This
is a good period to encourage the enterprising Spirit
in you in order to expand the scope of your success.
VIRGINIA
HOME & ABROAD
dadadekola@yahoo.com
By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019 —41
FG warns
against attacks
on Nigerians in
diaspora
•Wades into attacks on
Nigerians in Ghana, Togo
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
ABUJA
—THE
F e d e r a l
Government, weekend,
declared that the lives of
Nigerians living abroad
were very precious to the
Nigerian government.
The Federal
Government also said
that the ongoing
harassment and
intimidation of
Nigerians outside the
shores of the country was
unacceptable and has
decided to wade into
cases of attacks by some
countries against
Nigerians living in such
countries.
Chairman/Chief
Executive Officer, CEO
of the Nigerian Diaspora
Commission, Abike
Dabiri-Erewa, made the
position of government
known while briefing
State House
correspondents after
meeting behind closed
doors with President
Muhammadu Buhari at
the Presidential Villa,
Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa, who
frowned at the dismissal
of a Nigerian Professor
teaching in a Ghanaian
university, stated that
only Nigerians who
commit crime abroad
should be made to face
the wrath of the law, not
innocent ones.
Commenting on the
recent attacks on
Nigerians in Ghana and
Togo, she said: “Now, we
are dealing with the
issue of attacking
Nigerian traders in
Ghana. We have the
assurances of the
President of Ghana
through the High
Commission here and
ours in Ghana that
Nigerian traders will be
protected.
“So, we are also going
to be emphasizing that
the life of one Nigerian
means a lot to us
anywhere in the world.”
she said
“We have the issue of
Ghana, the Professor
whose appointment was
terminated by the
university because of the
tape he released. Well, it
turned out that he didn’t
actually record, I mean
that was a private
meeting with Nigerians
in Ghana, it was like a
private discussion.
“And he also claimed
that part of the tape was
actually doctored. The
matter is being looked
into by the Nigerian
High Commission in
Ghana and I believed
those matters will be
resolved subsequently.”
On the incident in
Togo, she said: “In Togo,
we have Nigerians
attacked. One woman
alleged that she was
raped and she turned out
to be the suspects
girlfriend.
“We have also seen the
Togolese Ambassador
and made it clear that
the lives of Nigerians
must be protected
anywhere they are
because we take care of
others here and we
deserve to be taken care
of.
“If a Nigerian commits
a crime, let him pay the
penalty for it as a
punishment, but you
cannot penalise a nation
and its citizens.
“We will be working
more on that as we
appeal to Nigerians to
be good ambassadors
wherever they find
themselves.”
She also disclosed that
the government was
already intervening in
the incident in the
United Kingdom (UK)
where a Nigerian
damaged some vehicles
at the High
Commission.
She said: “The UK
incident of the Nigerian
who damaged some
vehicles at the High
Commission, we have
made it clear that the
incident is unacceptable.
“There is no reason
why he should be so
violent. At the same time,
we do admit that there
are some challenges in
some of our embassies
while there have been
large improvements in
some of them.”
She said that a
stakeholders meeting
had been scheduled to
hold in the UK over the
matter.
“We will be having a
stakeholders meeting in
particular in the UK with
the Nigerian community,
the High Commission,
the immigration, to look
at whatever the
challenges are so that
they can be resolved,
because I know that
there are some
challenges that are
resolvable.
“So, we will be
engaging more with the
LECTURE/BOOK PRESENTATION: From left: PDP Vice Presidential Candidate and former Anambra
State Governor, Peter Obi; former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan,
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike at
a Lecture/Book Presentation to mark the Second Term Inauguration of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom
Wike in Port Harcourt over the weekend. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.
diaspora.
“Subsequently, we are
going to have hotlines
for Nigerians in diaspora
so that they can contact
the commission and we
can look into whatever
challenges they are
Banditry, violent attacks ‘ll soon come to an end — BUHARI
Continues from Page 5
to upgrade its
infrastructure, including
fixing the Ado Ekiti-
Akure road, which is
currently in a terrible
state.
Life jail term for
kidnappers
Meanwhile, Prelate of
Methodist Church
Nigeria, His Eminence,
Samuel Kanu, has called
for life imprisonment for
persons found culpable
for kidnapping in the
country.
Kanu made the call
while addressing
newsmen on the
sidelines of the awards
of Knights to members of
the church yesterday in
Abuja.
“Those who kidnap
and those who
perpetuate evil should
be jailed for life because
facing.” she added.
Speaking further on the
outcome of the meeting
with the President, she
said: “Since the passage
of the diaspora
commission bill by Mr.
President, this is my first
they are enemies of the
society, I will not
subscribe to death
penalty,”he said.
He called for increased
funding for the security
agencies to effectively
carry out their
responsibilities, adding
that the funds should be
monitored to avoid
diversion by some
corrupt officials.
Kanu said that
President Buhari has
good intention for the
country but noted some
individuals within the
government have
decided to use the funds
for other purposes.
He alleged that some
disgruntled elements
were also behind all the
kidnappings across the
country.
The clergy expressed
concern over the level of
prosecution and
conviction of persons
arrested for kidnappings
time to thank him and
also brief him on the
activities of the the
commission so far, which
in the last one week
have been quite a lot.”
Asked if she was still
the Senior Special
and other crimes by
security agencies in the
country.
He said the lack of
diligent prosecution had
left those arrested for the
crime off the hook to work
freely on the streets.
Kanu enjoined all
Nigerians to join hands
in the fight against
insecurity, adding that
security agencies alone
could not do it.
He advised President
Buhari to use the next
four years to focus on
massive food production
and the economy that
would enhance the
living standard of
Nigerians.
He also advised the
Federal Government to
invest more on the
youths to help curtail the
insecurity in the country.
“If Nigeria want to save
itself from security
challenges, it must
invest in the youths,’’ the
Assistant to the
President on Diaspora
Matters having been
made Chairman /CEO of
Nigeria Diaspora
Commission, she said
“that is the president’s
prerogative.”
Court jails 5 directors over N5.2bn electricity project fraud
By Ikechukwu
Nnochiri
ABUJA —An Abuja
High Court sitting
at Gudu has convicted
five former Directors of the
Rural Electricity Agency,
REA, following alleged
role they played in a N5.2
billion
Rural
Electrification contract
scam.
Those convicted and
sentenced by the court
were the erstwhile
Managing Director of
REA, Engr. Samuel
Gekpe, an Accountant,
Simon Nanle, the
Director or Projects, Engr.
Kayode Orekoya, an
Assistant Director,
Abdusamad Hahun and
the Head of Legal
Department, Kayode
Oyedeji.
They were found guilty
based on a 65-count
criminal charge preferred
against them by the
Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission,
EFCC.
EFCC had alleged that
they sequentially
withdrew monies that
were earmarked for rural
electrification contract
and shared among
themselves.
The defendants were
specifically charged to
court for criminal breach
of trust, which the antigraft
agency maintained
was perpetrated through
a contract that was
awarded from the
amended 2008 budget
REA, for Grid Extension
and Solar Electricity.
The EFCC which closed
its case after it called a
total of seven witnesses
through its lawyer, Mr.
Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told
the court that the
defendants fraudulently
facilitated the withdrawal
of the sum of
N119.7million from the
account of the REA that is
domiciled in Central Bank
of Nigeria, CBN.
However, all the
defendants, through their
lawyer, Mr. Paul Erokoro,
SAN, entered a no-casesubmission,
insisting that
the prosecution failed to
establish a prima-facie
criminal case against
them.
Prelate said.
The award of Knight of
John Wesley was given
to 36 members of the
church and Knight of
Charles Wesley to three
members of the church.
Other awards given
were that of the Officers
of the Order of Wesley to
eight members and
Members of the Order of
Wesley to six members.
Kanu said that it was a
motivation for the
members to do more for
the church and not a
retirement incentive.
The clergy said that
disobedience to the word
of God had always
resulted to disastrous
consequences, urging
members to invest more
in the church.
Dr Ochapa Ogenyi and
Mrs Yewande Usman
who were beneficiaries,
said that the award was
a beginning of service to
God and humanity.

42 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
MIkel
Congo DR players beg
fans after bad start
The Democratic Republic of
Congo’s squad have
apologised to their compatriots for
unexpectedly losing their opening
game of the Africa Cup of Nations
to underrated Uganda on
Saturday.
Both skipper Youssouf Mulumbu,
who did not play in the 2-0 defeat,
and Chancel Mbemba, who wore
the captain’s armband in the game,
said sorry in a recorded message
that was distributed on Twitter
(@Leopard Leader Foot).
“We come to you, simply to
AFCON 2019: Mikel wants
Super Eagles to wrap up
Group B quickly
Super Eagles captain, John Obi MIkel has
stressed the need for the team to wrap up
their qualification from group B as quickly as possible
when they play against Guinea tomorrow.
The Super Eagles labored to a 1-0 win over AF-
CON newcomers Burundi on Saturday, but the
Super Eagles top the group with three points after
debutants Madagascar posted a 2-2 draw with
Guinea.
“We need to try again to win the next game, “
said Mikel who made a come-back to the team
after one year of absence.
“We need to try also to win the second game
and hopefully qualify from this group as quickly
as possible – and then look forward to the next
stage.” Speaking on the Burundi game he said:
“Yeah, it’s not an easy group, it’s a very tough
group. “You can see from today – they [Burundi]
are a very organized team, very tough to break
down. We were lucky to get the goal.
“I think we played well. We had most of the ball,
but we couldn’t break them down – we couldn’t
get the goal. So it was very crucial for us to get
these three points today.”
apologise. It’s true that it’s difficult,
but we have to,” said Mulumbu,
flanked by coach Florent Ibenge
and with his team mate standing
behind him.
“We need unity and it’s true that
today we let you down. I hope it’s a
good lesson for us. We still have
two games to play, we need your
support and we will correct the
situation very quickly.
“We made a big mistake, I know
it’s humiliating for the 90-million
Congolese. That’s why we come
back to you with sincerity and with
hand on heart to apologise.”
AFCON 2019: NTA/HotSports Live Studios bubble
as Odegbami, Other Celebrities thrill Fans
Viewing enjoyment of the
ongoing Africa Cup of
Nations (Egypt 2019) moved up
another niche as more notable
football stars and personalities
from other spheres join the crew
of analysts at the live studios of
NTA broadcast of the matches.
The studios, located at the
Lagos office of HotSports Media
Group, the Official Marketing
Agency of NTA’s AFCON
transmission, will welcome Chief
Segun Odegbami, MON to
provide insightful perspectives of
the matches to the delight of the
viewing fans and the sponsors,
who are catching in on the
terrestrial transmission beamed
nationwide to reach their
potential and exiting markets.
One of the greatest footballers
Africa has ever produced and
runner-up in African footballer
of the year in 1980, the year he
inspired the then Green Eagles
to lift the Africa Cup of Nations
for the first time, Odegbami
continues to bestride African –
and indeed, world’s – football as
an administrator, ambassador
and future stars’ builder.
The NTA/HotSports broadcast
had earlier attracted A list
entertainers, led by comedy icon
Atunyota Akpobome (well known
Ola Aina: Win against Burundi crucial
Super Eagles wing back Ola Aina
has stated that the win against
Burundi in their opening game of the
Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday was
crucial to the campaign of the team in
Egypt.
Aina set up the only goal of the match
with a spectacular back heel, which
Ighalo seized upon and fired home into
the far corner of the net.
“Burundi were very tough and gave
us a good fight but we were happy we
emerged victorious after the final
whistle.
“Winning the first game of a
competition is good for any team and
ours is not different. We’re happy with
the win and we hope that keeps us going
in the tournament.”
He added that the Super Eagles have
the players to get the job done in the
tournament.
“No one has a permanent place in the
team because the country is blessed with
so many talents,” Aina told Goal.
Bonus row won’t affect Cameroon, Seedorf assures
Seedorf
Burundi has quality, says
captain Berahino
Africa Cup of Nations
debutants Burundi faced
Nigeria as equals and were able to
show that they had quality, their
captain Saido Berahino said after
his side went down to narrow 1-0
defeat in their opening match.
Saturday’s Group B game
appeared to be a mismatch with 89
places separating the two sides in
the FIFA rankings. Even so, the
team known as the Swallows in
Battle created the better chances
in the first half and held out until
Nigeria scored in the 77th minute.
“The best thing was the way our
players held their heads high
against a big nation, and stepping
up and playing in a big tournament,
because it was tough for a lot of us,
even myself,” Berahino told
Reuters.
“It was good from their coach,
as Alibaba), who have provided unique and attractive
dimension to sports broadcasting in a manner never
in this clime.
President of HS Media Group, Taye Ige said that
NTA and HotSports have the interest of viewers and
sponsors at heart in conceiving the AFCON 2019
live broadcast packages.
He believed that winning the first match against
Burundi on Sunday night has rekindled the hope that
the Super Eagles would go through the group stages
and travel all the way to the final on July 19, a
scenario that will enable NTA/HotSports live studios
to continue with its ground-breaking broadcast for a
longer time.
“We are here at the NTA/HotSports studios to give
millions of NTA viewers memorable and enjoyable
time throughout Egypt 2019 and any brand or product
that is keen on reaching out to its target market have
the perfect platform to do that while the tournament
lasts,” Ige, who is also Chief Executive Officer of HS
Media Group, assured.
Cameroon head coach
Clarence Seedorf says the
African champions are ‘serene’
and have not been affected by the
bonus row which delayed their
journey to Egypt for this year’s
Nations Cup.
Cameroon open against
Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday but
only flew out of Yaounde on
Friday after staging a sit-in
protest over bonus
disagreements.
The Indomitable Lions rejected
an offer of 20 million CFA,
(approximately US$34,570) for
appearance fees, and only set off
they gave us a
compliment and he said
we stood our ground
and showed our
qualities,” said the 25-
year-old who played for
Stoke City in the English
second tier last season.
Berahino
Hope rises for
Abdullahi’s return
Shehu Abdullahi played only 42
minutes of his Africa Nations Cup
debut with the Super Eagles after he
pulled a hamstring and was substituted,
but there might be cheerful news as the
player posted an injury update yesterday.
Abdullahi struggled with an injury blight
last season with Bursaspor and was
restricted to 13 league matches for the club,
and was really a questionable inclusion in
the final 23-man list for the competition.
Unfortunately for the 26 year-old he
suffered a recurrence of a condition
that’s plagued his game all season when
he pulled up crocked just before halftime
against Burundi.
Although the injury looked serious and
Aina
for Egypt after talks with the
country’s sports officials.
There were fears the row would
dampen the team’s hopes of
clinching a sixth continental
title, but Seedorf told a gathering
of Cameroonian media in
Ismailia on Sunday that his
players have not been affected.
“We are serene and we know
why we’re here. At no moment
has the team spirit changed. We
have a joyful group, with players
who know what appearing in
such an event represents,”
Seedorf told reporters.
Own goal ruins Namibia’s
resistance against Morocco
Gusty Namibia did everything to
frustrate overwhelming favourites,
Morocco but failed a last minute test as
their striker;Itamunua Keimune found
the wrong net in the last minute of a
Group D opener of the Africa Cup of
Nations in Cairo.
But for that, the Namibians would have
earned a point and wipe off the memory
of a 5-1 loss to Morocco in 2008.
The Brave Warriors looked well on
course to collect a valuable point against
one of the tournament’s favourites, but
Keimune headed the ball into his own
net with only two minutes left on the clock
as he tried to defend a Hakim Ziyech
free-kick.
The Southern Africans had lived by
their nickname, “Brave Warriors”
holding their own against the Moroccans
for most of the match before the single
moment of error gifted the Atlas Lions
three valuable points.
Coach Herve Renard’s men had
struggled to break down a resolute
Namibian defence and often tried their
luck on set pieces, one of which gave the
desired result late on.
They had the chances to score
especially in the second half with Sofiane
Boufal coming on, but luck never stood
their end until the own goal.
was initially feared it could keep him
out for the rest of the competition,
Abdullahi tweeted an update and it was
skeptically positive.
Accompanied by pictures of the team
and one of him in action with the tagline:
Thanks for the love Nigerians, I
appreciate your amazing messages. I
will be back soon! The most important
thing, keep supporting us, we shall make
you proud at the end and conquer Africa.
I Love You All.
Nigeria will return to action on
Wednesday against Guinea, hoping to
get a win and effectively book a spot in
the round of 16.

FIBA Africa celebrates
Basketball Progress in Nigeria
•We are motivated to do more- NBBF
It was a celebration of exploits
of Nigerian Basketball on the
global stage at the 17th FIBA
Africa Congress in Mali on
Saturday.
The meeting presided over by
Hamane Niang (outgoing
President of FIBA Africa) and
supported by FIBA World
President, Horacio Marotore
praised the Nigeria Basketball
Federation for its new found status
under Engr. Musa Kida led board.
According to most delegates, the
8th finish of D’Tigress in Tenerife,
Spain at the 2018 FIBA Women’s
World Cup was an achievement
that will be celebrated for a long
time to come by the whole
continent as it was the highest
finish by any country from Africa
in the history of the World Cup.
Kida and his board were also
congratulated for masterminding
a successful qualification for the
2019 FIBA World Cup in China by
D’Tigers at the Congress also
witnessed by FIBA Secretary
General, Andreas Zagklis.
It will be recalled that with 8
straight wins, Nigeria became the
first country in the world to qualify
for the biggest basketball event.
In his reaction, North East
representative on the board, Alhaji
Abba Kaka said that the
recognition was a deserved one
which will motivate the NBBF to
do more.
Kaka said, “The achievements of
this board in the last two years has
continued to confound critics
while reinforcing the belief that
Nigeria can become a world
power in basketball if wellfunded.
“What we have done in the last
two years is not magic but a direct
result of an exemplary leadership
quality of our President, Engr.
Musa Kida.”
Kaka also said the presence of
Kida and his Vice President,
Babatunde Ogunade as NBBF
Super Falcons will today
arrive Nigeria following
their exit from the 2019 Fifa
World Cup at the round of 16
stage at the Stade De Alps in
Grenoble on Saturday..
After losing 3-0 to Germany, the
Falcons returned to their hotel
in the heart of Grenoble, where
the likes of captain Desire
Oparanozie and striker Asisat
Oshoala had meetings with the
Chairman of the Women
Falcons stage sit-in at
WWC over unpaid bonuses
•3 Players miss flights back to their clubs
Super Falcons players
threatened a sit-in protest
at their hotel over unpaid
bonuses and allowances
following their Women’s World
Cup last-16 defeat by Germany.
The team held an overnight
Falcons arrive Nigeria today
from World Cup
By John Egbokhan, France
It was another feather to the
wings of the Ikoyi Club 1938
Swimming section after emerging
winner of this year’s Neptun-
Nehein Swimfest in Arnsberg
Germany.
The young swimmers from the
club, most of which emerged from
this year’s Zenith Bank/Ikoyi Club
1938 Inter-school Swimming
Gala, amassed 42 gold, 48 silver
and 27 bronze medals to beat other
swimmers from 11 countries to the
number one position.
Group Managing Director of
Zenith Bank, Ebenezer
Onyeagwu, said it was great to see
how the investment of the
organisation has worked wonders.
“We are proud of the swimmers
and we believe very soon, they will
also be representing Nigeria at
global events,’’ the Zenith Bank
boss said..
The chairman of the swimming
section of the club, Oloyede
Obatoyinbo, expressed his
satisfaction with the performance
of the swimmers while also saying
duly recognized delegates has put
paid to the recent social media
debates over who is in charge of
basketball administration in
Super Falcons
Football League, Aisha Falode
to review undisclosed issues,
Vanguard was reliably informed
that the team would fly into
Nigeria today.
Team media officer, Jane Nweze
told our correspondent covering
the World Cup in France that the
team were through with the
assignment here.
“We are through here and we
would be in Nigeria today. It was
a good experience and we are
happy with our stay and
performance here”, said Nweze.
meeting in their Grenoble hotel
with Aisha Falode, the president
of the Nigeria Women Football
League.
After hours of deliberation, the
Nigerian Football Federation has
promised to pay the outstanding
fees, some of which date back to
2016.
The team will now leave the
hotel.
One of the players said meetings
were also held between players
and the NFF board.
As a result of the meetings, three
players missed their flights back
to their clubs, which will now be
rescheduled.
The outstanding money also
includes the Fifa participation
fee for playing in the
tournament. However, according
to the NFF, that fee will only be
distributed to players after the
conclusion of the Women’s World
Cup because Fifa is not
Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019 — 43
Women’s World Cup 2019: Cameroon players
refuse to play after VAR review
Cameroon vent their frustration
in dramatic fashion as they
have a goal ruled out by VAR for
offside against England in the
World Cup last 16.
England progressed to the
quarter-finals of the Women’s
World Cup with a 3-0 victory over
an enraged Cameroon side who
protested after two VAR decisions
went against them.
Goals from Steph Houghton,
Ellen White and Alex Greenwood
sent England through to face
Norway on Thursday, but the
fractious game will be
remembered for Cameroon’s
extraordinary reactions to White’s
goal and a disallowed effort from
Ajara Nchout.
The distraught Cameroon players
twice appeared unwilling to
scheduled to release the money
until later in the year.
The Super Falcons have only
been paid half the N2m (£4,360)
they are owed from previous
international fixtures over
several years.
Five players have now received
their bonuses and allowances.
Due to their threats, the money
is being released in bits by the
NFF.
It is not the first time Nigeria
have protested over unpaid
bonuses - after winning the
Africa Cup of Nations in 2016,
the squad staged a public
demonstration in Abuja, while in
2004, they sat for three days in
their hotel after winning the
Africa title until allowances were
paid.
Germany beat Nigeria 3-0 on
Saturday to reach the World Cup
quarter-finals.
Zenith Bank hails Ikoyi Club swimmers after Swimfest win
that they need to work more as they
can do better than what they have
done.
While also applauding the
sponsor of the club’s swimming
competition, Zenith Bank, for
investing so much in developing
the young minds, he called on
others to emulate them and invest
in different sports within the club.
“I am happy we came first again
but I know we can do better,” he
We were not ready —Dennerby
By John Egbokhan, France
Super Falcons manager,
Thomas Dennerby has said
that his team were the finished
product capable of beating twotime
champions Germany in the
FIFA World Cup last 16 tie
weekend at the Stade De Alpes
in Grenoble.
Speaking at the press
conference moments after the
record African champions were
said.
“Some of the events we won silver
and bronze, it would have been
gold, but for me it was a good
outing generally and I want to
applaud all the swimmers for their
performance.
“It is a joy for them winning the
title and for us as a club and we
will continue to do our best to
expose all these young talents to
more championships especially
handed a 3-0 thrashing by
Germany, Dennerby said his
girls gave their all against a
highly rated opposition, who are
ranked second best team in the
world.
“We were not ready for them
in terms of what we have on
ground. We were not attacking
the ball. We were nor taking
risks and we needed to take
risks to get something against
Germany
against top swimmers from
around the world.
“We are looking forward to
having some of them winning
medals at the Commonwealth
Games, the Olympic Games and
also World Championships.
“I really want to praise Zenith
Bank for their support and hope
others can come out and do same
thing, not only for swimming, but
for other sports too.”
“We played against the number
two country in the world and at
this stage those things may
count”
Dennerby noted that going
forward that more work would
be done on the players.
“We will keep working hard on
the team and we need to play
more games against teams that
will toughen us up. We need to
make use of all the FIFA dates”.
restart the match, gathering in a
huddle after White’s strike was
given and remonstrating with the
officials further after half-time.
Captain Houghton struck
England’s opener after an early
backpass gave England an indirect
free-kick, before the drama
escalated.
Striker White placed in England’s
second, which was initially ruled
out before the video assistant
referee deemed White to have
been onside, but Cameroon
reacted furiously and gestured to
suggest the big screen’s replays
had indicated differently.
The African side thought they had
pulled a goal back after the break
through Nchout, but their despair
increased when it was disallowed
after a VAR review for an
extremely tight offside call.
England left-back Greenwood
then swept in the Lionesses’ third
to secure a win that saw them
reach at least the last eight of the
competition for a fifth time, and for
the fourth consecutive World Cup.
Lioness of Cameroon
‘That wasn’t
football’ -
England Neville
on fiery
Cameroon game
England boss Phil Neville
described Cameroon’s
behaviour as “unacceptable”
after a World Cup last-16 win
which he said “didn’t feel like
football”.
The Lionesses booked a
quarter-final spot against
Norway after a 3-0 win.
But the game was marred by
Cameroon’s extraordinary
reaction to two video assistant
referee decisions and several
poor challenges on England’s
players.
“I’m afraid today we saw
behaviour that was
unacceptable on the football
field,” Neville told the BBC.
“At times, we probably didn’t
know whether the game
would continue.
“It didn’t feel like football. It
was a good win but that wasn’t
a World Cup last-16 tie in
terms of behaviour that I want
to see from footballers.
“This is going out worldwide.
I didn’t enjoy it, the players
didn’t enjoy it. My players
kept their concentration
fantastically, but those images
are going out worldwide about
how to act, the young girls
playing all over the world that
are seeing that behaviour. For
me, it’s not right.
Neville

44— Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr was impressed by the performance of
Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi as Nigeria began their
•Dan
campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory against a hardworking
Burundi team on Saturday.
It was an open secret before this evening’s match that Rohr had planned to name
the oldest squad member in the starting line-up as he started the Super Eagles last
three fixtures against Egypt, Zimbabwe and Senegal.
Despite making one or two gaffes during the game, Akpeyi had a decent game
and the highlight of his performance was when he pulled off a brilliant save to deny
Amissi Cedric from opening the scoring in the 14th minute.
‘’Good win, we did what we had to
do, it wasn’t beautiful but the win is more
important,’’
Rohr told reporters at the post-match
Afcon 2019: Musa, p r e s s conference.
‘ ’ W e couldn’t make changes because a lot
Ighalo should ‘ve started of our players
were sick or injured. But we will
improve in
the next games.
against Burundi —Yobo ‘’Akpeyi
didn’t concede a goal and I have been
impressed
with what I’ve seen from him in the
ormer Nigeria captain Joseph past Yobofew weeks.’’
Fbelieves Ahmed Musa and Akpeyi Odion
was third choice in Rohr’s pecking
Ighalo should have been included order in the of goalkeepers at the 2018 World Cup
starting XI against Burundi on Saturday. and last started a competitive match for the
The introduction of the two players Sboosted
u p e r
Eagles against South Africa two
the Super Eagles’ charge to secure a years 1-0 win
Odion, Musa
ago
prior to today’s match vs Burundi.
over Olivier Niyungeko’s side.
With the score tied at 0-0, Musa was
introduced for captain John Obi Mikel in the Ndidi named man of the match
58th minute while Ighalo replaced Paul
Onuachu in the 73rd minute.
Four minutes after his introduction, the
in Nigeria’s AFCON win
Shanghai Shenhua attacker broke the ilfred Ndidi produced a man-of-the-match performance as
deadlock at the Alexandria Stadium after WNigeria beat Burundi 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations
receiving a delightful backheel pass from Ola opener on Saturday evening.
Aina.
The Leicester City midfielder produced a tidy display in
In his reaction to the result, Yobo identified Alexandria, Egypt, and was named the game’s star player as
Musa and Ighalo as important players in Nigeria clinched the three points late on, former Watford striker
Gernot Rohr’s squad who would have given Odion Ighalo coming off the bench to score with 13 minutes to
the team a strong start in the first half. play.
“The two players who came on in the The result gives the Super Eagles the early lead in Group B
second half should have started the game and with 16 of the 24 teams at the tournament qualifying for the
because they have the experience, Ighalo and knockout rounds, Ndidi and co. likely need just one point from
Musa. Ighalo with his experience at the their final two pool fixtures, against Guinea and Madagascar, to
World Cup and everything,” Yobo said. ensure they progress.
“These are new players coming in, With Kelechi
sometimes they don’t have the structure. The Iheanacho left out,
structure that is there when you take out two Ndidi is the only City
of the most important players in the team. player in the Nigeria
Musa is important and Ighalo is the main squad.
man that everything has to go around with However, he is not
his performance in the qualifiers.
the only City player at
“Sometimes when you see these players Afcon. Islam Slimani,
not started, it takes time for the team to get who spent last season
used to a new pattern of play and that’s what on loan at
we saw in the first half.
Fenerbahce, is in
•Ndidi
“The second half, when the changes were action on Sunday.
made, we got better. It doesn’t mean those Ndidi is back in
that started the game are not very good as action against Guinea
well but sometimes coming into the Afcon, on Wednesday
you’re building a new team.
(3.30pm kick-off).
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS
Bazuaye asks Nigerians to be patient with the Eagles
•Bazuaye
ormer Nigeria international,
FBaldwin Bazuaye has
admonished Nigerians not to be too
hard on the Super Eagles after they
struggled to beat minnows,
Swallows of Burundi 1-0 in their
Group B opener at the 2019 Africa
Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Odion Ighalo, who came in as a
second-half substitute, saved the
Eagles blushes with the only goal
of the game in the 77th minute after
a creative assist from Ola Aina.
Bazuaye who is now a coach with
Bendel Insurance feels the Eagles
cannot be judged on the
performance in one match and that
Nigerians must be patient with the
team to ensure that they improve in
their next fixture with Guinea.
“I will say the three points are
more important than anything else
irrespective of how the points were
got,” Bazuaye told Goal.
“The Eagles struggled against
Burundi because it was their first
game and their opponents came all
out to prove a point. I expect the
Eagles game to improve better than
this in the next game.
“I want to appeal to Nigerians to
be mindful of what they say and try
to be patient with this team. Football
is evolving on the continent every
day and the bridge between the
minnows and the favourites is
Musa: I wasn’t in shape to start against Burundi
•Musa
Akpeyi impresses Rohr against Burundi
uper Eagles number 7 Ahmed
SMusa has explained why he did
not start the Africa Cup of Nations
opener against Burundi on
Saturday evening, admitting that
he was not in tip-top condition.
The former Leicester City striker
was among the Super Eagles
players that fell ill during the
second phase of preparations in
Ismailia.
Rohr’s decision to start an injured
Abdullahi Shehu, who is Musa’s
close pal, later backfired on the
German as the Bursaspor defender
was unable to complete the first half.
‘’Every first game in a tournament
almost closing up. We got the three
points and emphasis should be on
correcting the loopholes noticed and
seeking improvement against
Guinea.”
The soft-spoken coach, however,
believed that Nigerians are yet to
see the true potential of the Eagles
and the best time to assess them
would be at the end of the group
stage matches.
“I still think that we are yet to see
the real Super Eagles and if we
remain calm, we will be able to see
that after the first round games,” he
continued.
“The main objective of the first
game was just to record a win
because a winning start will calm
the players down and it will make
them play without anxiety in the
second game. I want to see the real
Eagles as from the game with
Guinea, who remain our biggest
threat in the group.”
is very difficult, the most important
thing is that we have the three points,’’
Musa told reporters in the mixed
zone.
‘’I was eager to come in but I know
that I fell ill, so the coach talked to
me. As you can see Shehu too was ill.
At the beginning of the game he was
injured, so that’s what the coach was
a little bit worried about that.
‘’Finally I came in and the the game
changed and we had the three points,
that’s the most important thing.’’
Musa came off the bench in the 58th
minute as replacement for former
Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.
Nigeria v Burundi player ratings:
Aina shines, Mikel, Akpeyi underwhelm
#1 Daniel Akpeyi: 4.5/10
Made a crucial save to prevent Burundi going ahead early
on, but seemed less assured as the game went on, and by the
end of it had returned to his error-prone best. Gave away a
corner needlessly, and dropped an easy cross late in the game.
#2 Abdullahi Shehu: 4/10
Looked off-colour and off the pace. Indecisive in engaging
the man in possession on his flank, and limited in his use of
the ball. Subbed off injured just before half-time.
#3 William Troost-Ekong: 5/10
Solid performance by the Udinese man. Might have done
better by keeping tabs on Amissi for his chance in the first
half. Also wasn’t always spot-on with his timing, and
struggled to get to grips with Fiston Abdul Razak. His passing
is much improved.
#4 Kenneth Omeruo: 6.5/10
Not the most elegant on the ball, but he is effective. Got his
body between the ball and the goal well time and again,
might have scored at the other end, and was on point when
he needed to go to ground.
#5 Ola Aina: 9/10
Masterful performance from Aina, who has finally arrived in
a Nigeria shirt. His assist was a thing of pure genius, but his
work in possession was without flaw, and he was decisive in
the tackle.
#6 Oghenekaro Etebo: 6.5/10
Gernot Rohr persists in playing him in a deep role which doesn’t
really suit him, but his energy was crucial here, even if his
passing was not always imaginative. Often wound up the
deepest player, and played with composure and poise.
#7 Wilfred Ndidi: 6/10
Typical Ndidi performance: busy, bustling, putting his foot
in. Lost out on a few physical challenges however, which is
rather less characteristic.
#8 John Obi Mikel: 4.5/10
Much has been made of Mikel’s return, but not his finest
hour with the Super Eagles on the night. Clearly struggled to
interpret his role, and slowed the play down much too often.
A marker of his ineffectiveness that the team perked up when
he went off.
#9 Alex Iwobi: 7/10
Looked the likeliest to make something happen in the first
half, and a delightful turn set up Samuel Chukwueze for the
best chance of the opening period. Put in a number of teasing
deliveries which were not taken advantage of, unfortunately.
His quick feet helped up the pressure in the second half.
#10 Samuel Chukwueze: 7/10
Carried the fight all game long, taking players on and causing
danger despite being double-teamed. Should have scored from
Iwobi’s sublime work As the team’s attacking emphasis shifted
left in the second half, he was understandably less visible.
#11 Paul Onuachu: 5/10
Solid, if unspectacular competitive debut for Onuachu. The
team was just not set up right to profit from his strengths.
Might want the header he put over the top in the first-half
back.
#12 Ahmed Musa: 5/10
Immediately got in behind with his pace on a few occasions,
something the team lacked in the first-half. His deliveries,
however, left a bit to be desired. Also guilty of clogging the
middle at some points.
#13 Chidozie Awaziem: 4.5/10
Gave away a number of threatening free-kicks, and was limited
in possession. Very much a centre-back playing out of position,
and it showed.
#14 Odion Ighalo: 6/10
Took his goal extremely well, and his movement in the leadup
was superb. Offered a different sort of threat than Onuachu
did. His touch was a tad heavy on occasion though.
•Rohr
•Akpeyi
•Abdullahi
•Ekong
•Omeruo
•Aina
•Etebo
•Mikel
•Iwobi
•Chukwueze
•Musa
Winning first match is
key —Rohr
igeria national team manager Gernot Rohr says
Nwinning their opening match at the 2019 Africa
Cup of Nations will be key to their hopes.
The Super Eagles will open their Group B campaign
with a clash against Burundi in Alexandria this
evening, with the three-time Nations Cup champions
heavy favourites to claim all three points.
“Beating Burundi in the first game will help
stabilise the team,” Rohr said in his pre-match press
conference.
“But we are aware that at this point every team
wants to establish its supremacy in the first game
and so Burundi will not be an easy task. We are ready
to face any opponent in Egypt.
“My major target now is to get the team to work as
a unit and be psychologically prepared to win the
first game against Burundi.
“Winning the first game is very important for the
Eagles because it would instil more confidence in
the players.”
Rohr’s counterpart, Olivier Niyungeko, has spoken
of the Swallows’ confidence ahead of what will be
their first match in AFCON tournament history.
“When you get to this stage of the competition –
you are free to dream for greater things,” he told
Foot224.
“You don’t have to go there [the AFCON] saying ‘I
am with the top teams’. Qualifying to the tournament
is not an easy thing. I tell my players, ‘you can achieve
something great’.
“We have to show that what we did [in the qualifiers]
was not by luck.
“We have to face every game with confidence in
order to win matches.”

Man Utd
players
want Pogba
to leave
M
anchester
United’s firstteam
players believe Paul
Pogba should leave Old
Trafford this summer for the good
of the club.
The France international admitted
for the first time earlier this month
that he is open to quitting United, three
years after joining from Juventus in
a then-record £89m move.
Interest has been shown by Real
Madrid and ex-team Juve, but the Red
Devils are rumoured to be holding
out for a £160m offer.
Pogba remains a popular member
of the dressing room but there is an
acceptance that the 26-year-old must
be sold if there is to be a fresh start
under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United’s stars do not want the
transfer saga to rumble on much
longer so that they can all fully focus
on the season ahead.
Neymar
Pogba
Barcelona unwilling
to meet PSG price
for Neymar
•Except he takes a pay cut
Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019—45
CUT ABOVE
Mata took £45,000-a-week pay CUT to sign
new deal and stay at Man Utd
The Spaniard, 31, agreed
a 25 per cent reduction,
from £180,000-a-week to
£135,000, to seal a two-year deal
rather than one.
A source said: “Juan loves playing
at United and is happy in
Manchester.
“He feared he would need to
Barcelona are unwilling to match
Paris Saint-Germain’s asking
price for superstar forward Neymar.
PSG are open to selling any players who do
not want to be at the club - a category that
former Barca ace Neymar is believed to fit into.
The Brazil international swapped Camp Nou
for the Parc des Princes two years ago but is
rumoured to be pushing for a return.
Spanish outlet Marca suggests that a move is
unlikely to go through, however, as PSG expect
the deal to set them back •600m (£537m) over
the next five years, which includes a •250m
(£224m) upfront payment.
Barcelona president Josep Maria
Bartomeu acknowledges that the
club are not in a financial position
to pay that amount of money, it is
claimed, though there is still hope
that they can convince Neymar to
take a pay cut.
move because he didn’t want to
sign for just 12 months. But his
advisors and the club hammered
out a deal.”
Mata signed from Chelsea in
2014 for £37.1million.
United are also ready to trigger
their 12-month option on Marcus
Rashford’s contract.
And they confirmed the return
of Richard Hartis, part of Sir Alex
Ferguson’s 2008 Champions
League-winning backroom staff,
as senior goalkeeping coach.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has recruited
his trusted ally from the
England youth set-up as he continues
his shake-up at Old Trafford.
Mata
Sarri expects 40 goals
from Ronaldo next season
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez
is set to leave Newcastle
United when his contract
expires next weekend after
failing to agree a new deal,
according to latest reports.
The Toon boss is weighing up
a lucrative offer from Chinese
Super League side Dalian
Yifang reported to be worth
£30million a year - five times
his current salary.
But Benitez has been courted
before by Chinese clubs, and
while this dwarfs previous
TEARING IT UP
Torres breaks down in tears at
retirement press conference
•Names Gerrard as best ever team-mate
FERNANDO TORRES broke
down in tears as he said an
emotional goodbye to football
- then named Steven Gerrard as his
greatest team-mate.
The Spaniard held a press
conference yesterday to explain why
he is hanging up his boots.
Torres, 35, spent 18 years as a
professional, winning the World Cup,
two Euros, the Champions League,
two Europa Leagues and the FA Cup
in a stellar career.
But out of all the fine players he lined
up alongside for Atletico Madrid,
Liverpool, Chelsea and of course Spain,
he reckons Stevie G was the best of the
lot, despite not winning any silverware
with the now-Rangers boss.
Fighting back the waterworks in
Tokyo, El Nino said: “I always say the
best player I played with is Steven
Gerrard.
“I found he was the player who
completed my game. I think my level
got into a different dimension when I
was on the pitch with him.
Benitez set to leave Newcastle
after failing to agree new contract
offers of £10m-a-year and £8.6m-a-year
respectively from Shanghai SIPG and
Evergrande, it is believed it will take
something special to prise former Liverpool
and Chelsea boss Benitez away from Europe.
The 59-year-old has won a trophy at every
club he has managed in the last 18 years -
including Real Madrid , Inter Milan,
Valencia and Napoli.
And he will not be short of offers if he does
leave Newcastle as expected.
Benitez
Sarri
Maurizio Sarri has already set about making
Juventus plans for next season and made a
personal trip to visit talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, who
is holidaying with family on board a luxury yacht.
Sarri headed out to speak to Ronaldo in Navarino on
the Peloponnese coast, to introduce himself and talk
through tactics and goal-scoring expectations for next
season. And it’s a high number he is demanding from
the former Real Madrid man.
Italian publication Gazetta dello Sport claim Sarri
has told Ronaldo his new-look Juve will be built around
him, though he expects a mammoth 40-goal haul next
season after making a ‘tactical move’ to play the forward
in his most effective advanced role.
Having taken over at the Juve helm following one
season in the Premier League with Chelsea, Sarri has
already started to map out his project in Turin and wishes
for Ronaldo to be the crown jewel.
Sarri was recently unveiled at the Allianz Stadium
and wasted no time in name-dropping Ronaldo and
praising his newly inherited superstar.
At his introductory press conference on Thursday,
Sarri noted a desire to see Ronaldo break more records.
Among those in his sights, Sarri wants the former
Real Madrid man to aim for the Serie A single season
goalscoring record of 36 which was set by Gonzalo
Higuain under Sarri’s guidance at Napoli.
Sarri was also able to meet some of Ronaldo’s wider
circle of friends and his family, including his young
children and partner Georgina Rodriguez.
Juve have already added to their ranks with the capture
of Aaron Ramsey on a free transfer from Arsenal.
The Old Lady are also sensationally tipped to win the
race for defender Matthijs de Ligt, with reports in Italy
claiming the Dutchman has picked Sarri’s side over the
likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain.
Federer sends a warning to his Wimbledon rivals as he wins record 10th Halle title
Roger Federer set another
benchmark in his remarkable
career by winning his 10th Halle
Open title yesterday.
The Swiss great defeated David
Goffin 7-6 (2), 6-1 to extend his
record of wins at the grass-court
tournament and claim his 10th at an
individual event for the first time.
Only Rafael Nadal had previously
achieved the feat in the Open era.
Goffin, who was playing in his first
final since 2017, made life difficult
for Federer in the first set, forcing
him to save three break points without
having to face any of his own.
However, the world No 3 upped his level
in the tie break and maintained it from
there to win his 102nd tour-level title in
just over an hour.
It’s Federer’s 19th on grass, ideal
preparation for Wimbledon, which the 37-
year-old hopes to win for a ninth time.
Federer first played the Halle Open as
an 18-year-old in 2000, when both his
current coach, Ivan Ljubicic, and Goffin’s
coach, Thomas Johansson, played it too.
Ronaldo

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019—47

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
TODAY’S PUZZLE
Sudoku
FRIDAY’S ANSWER
TODAY’S CROSSWORD
QUICK CROSSWORD
THURSDAY’S SOLUTION
How to Play Sudoku
ACROSS
1 Greatest possible quantity (7)
5 Cringe (5)
8 Distinguishing feature (5)
9 Not artificial (7)
10 Pudding or sweet course (7)
11 Loathed (5)
12 Garbage (6)
14 Chaffed, teased (6)
18 Lariat (5)
20 Robbers (7)
22 Culinary art (7)
23 Large striped cat (5)
24 Americans (5)
25 Duke's wife (7)
DOWN
1 Bullfighter (7)
2 Skeletal pictures (5)
3 Fingerless gloves (7)
4 Extremely small (6)
5 Capture (5)
6 Fine wool fabric (7)
7 Governed (5)
13 Mode (7)
15 Foolish (7)
16 Forsakes (7)
17 Be present (6)
18 Fortunate (5)
19 Leaves out (5)
21 Hazy (5)
Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two
of the same number).
Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines
from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine
blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no
number can appear twice in any block, column or row.
No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or
multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.
Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri-Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Hotline:
08027767834; 01-4544821. Abuja office: 7, Dambata Close, Area 7, Garki, 09-2921024. Ikeja office: 73, Awolowo Way. V.I. Office: Murplus Plaza, 27, Sanusi Fafunwa Street. Asaba: 21, Anwai
Road. Benin City: 4E, Arusa Street. Port Harcourt: 50, Ikwerre Road; Warri: 102, Efurun-Sapele Road. Advert: advertproduction@yahoo.com; E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com,
news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01-4548355. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.