13072019 - Buhari on new cabinet: I’ll never appoint ‘strangers’ again

2—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—3

4—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JULY 13, 2019 — 5
Educational qualification: A’Court explains why it can’t
determine <strong>Buhari</strong>’s eligibility
By Ikechukwu
Nnochiri
A
three-man panel
of Justices of the
Court of Appeal in Abuja,
on Friday, adduced
reasons why it could not
determine a suit that
challenged President
Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>’s
eligibility to contest the
2019 presidential election.
The appellate court
panel, in a unanimous
decision, said it lacked
the jurisdiction to inquire
into the academic
qualification President
<strong>Buhari</strong> claimed in the
Form CF001 he submitted
to the Independent
National Electoral Commission,
INEC, for the
purpose of the February
23 presidential poll.
The court said it was
satisfied to allow the
Judgement of the Federal
High Court in Abuja,
which had on May 2,
dismissed the legal action
that three citizens,
Kalu Agu, Labaran Ismail
and Hassy El-
Kuris, filed to query
President <strong>Buhari</strong>’s educational
qualifications.
The appellants who
identified themselves as
electorates and tax payers,
had prayed the
court to invoke its original
jurisdiction to determine
whether or not
President <strong>Buhari</strong> supplied
false information
about his educational
qualification and certificates,
in the affidavit
and bio data he tendered
to INEC.
In the appeal marked
CA/A/436/2019, the litigants,
urged the court
to determine whether
the office of the Attorney
General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice,
was competent to
file processes to defend
their allegation that
President <strong>Buhari</strong> lied on
oath about his qualifications.
They prayed the appellate
court to not only
set-aside the verdict of
trial Justice Ahmed Mohammed
of the high
court that dismissed
their case, but go ahead
and hear all the substantive
legal issues they
raised against <strong>Buhari</strong> in
their suit No. FHC/ABJ/
CS/1310/2018.
Cited as respondents
in the matter were President
<strong>Buhari</strong>, the All
Progressives Congress,
APC, and INEC.
Delivering the lead
judgement on Friday,
Justice Mohammed Idris
held that the matter
had become statute
barred.
He held that the Originating
Summon was
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo flanked by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa,
HRM Captain Timiyan, the Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha kingdom and others
as he commissions the 20.29km Ogulagha -Obotobo I, II, -Sokebolou- Yokri
road during his visit to Delta State yesterday. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire
defective since the registry
of the high court failed
to transmit the record of
proceedings with the period
allowed by the
rules.
“Once the Originating
Summon is dead all the
other processes are also
dead as something cannot
be placed on nothing”,
Justice Idris held.
Aside upholding preliminary
objection the respondents
entered
against the suit, the
appellate court noted
that the appellants failed
to challenge information
President <strong>Buhari</strong> supplied
to INEC within 14
days as stipulated by section
285(9) of the 4th alteration
to the 1999 constitution.
The appellate court
held that going by affidavit
evidence before it,
the cause of action arose
on October 18, 2018,
when the said Form CF
001 was submitted to
INEC, and not on
September 28, 2018,
when the APC held its
primary election to
nominate President <strong>Buhari</strong>
as its candidate.
The court noted that
the litigants filed their
suit on November 5,
2018.
It held that delving
into the merit of the
case would amount to
an academic exercise
since the 180 days prescribed
for trial of such
case had elapsed.
The appellate court
held that the 180 days
within which it could
have been able to invoke
section 15 of its Act to
hear the matter on merit,
expired on May 4.
Justice Idris held that
both the appellate court
and the trial court had
lost jurisdiction to entertain
the matter.
“We are of the view
that the appeal lacks
merit. Judgement of
the trial court is hereby
affirmed”, he held.
Other appellate court
justices that concurred
with the lead judgement
were Justices Atinuke
Akomolafe-Wilson and
Emmanuel Agim.
The appellants had
among other things,
prayed the high court to
determine; “Whether
having regard to the information
in the Affidavit
contained in the 1st
Defendant’s INEC
FORM CF001 regarding
his educational
qualifications/certificates,
the Defendant has
submitted false information
to the 3rd Defendant.
“Whether from the facts
and exhibits contained
in the affidavit in support
of this Originating
Summons, and having
regard to section 31(5)
and (6) of the Electoral
Act, 2010 ( as amended
), the 1st Defendant is
disqualified from running
for the office of
President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria in
the 2019 General Elections.
“Whether the 1st Defendant
having submitted
false information to
the 3rd Defendant, the
2nd Defendant can validly
present the 1st Defendant
as its Candidate
for the office of President
of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria for the 2019
General Elections.
“Whether the 3rd Defendant
can validly receive,
accept or act upon
the false information in
the Affidavit and documents
submitted by the
1st as Candidate of the
2nd Defendant for the
office of President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria
for the 2019 General
Elections.
As well as, “Whether
the 3rd Defendant ought
to have rejected the said
false information and
documents submitted by
the 2nd Defendant for
the 1st Defendant”.
Upon determination of
the questions, they
prayed the court to hold
that President <strong>Buhari</strong>
was ineligible to contest
the presidential election.
Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill Fasoranti’s daughter
By Dayo Johnson,
Akure
THE daughter of 93-
years-old Pa Reuben
Fasoranti, the national
leader of Pan Yoruba Socio-
Political group,
Afenifere, Mrs Funke
Olakunrin was yesterday
shot dead by suspected
Fulani herdsmen along
Benin/Ore expressway.
The 58-year-old woman
was said to be traveling
along Benin/Ore expressway
when she, along with
others, ran into a barricade
mounted by the suspected
Fulani herdsmen.
The herdsmen have
been terrorising motorists
along the Benin/ Ore
highway in recent times.
Saturday vanguard
gathered that the assailants
wanted to kidnap her
alongside other occupants
of the vehicle.
The suspected herdsmen
reportedly abducted
one of the occupants of the
vehicle.
The deceased was however
unlucky as she was
shot dead by the suspects.
Her corpse was said to
have been deposited at
the state Specialist Hospital
in Akure.
Olufunke is the second
child of Pa Fasoranti. The
elder statesman had also
*Late Mrs Funke Olakunrin
lost a daughter, Bunmi,
some years ago.
Saturday Vanguard
learnt that the deceased
was on her way to Ondo
town from Lagos to commensurate
with her mother’s
family members ( the
Awosikas) when she met
her untimely death.
Spokesperson of Ondo
Police Command, Femi
Joseph comfirmed the incident
but said the command
could not assertian
whether it was Fulani
herdsmen or armed robbers
that attacked the deceased
and other road
users.
He said: “Three vehicles
were attacked at Kajola
along Benin/Ore in
Odigbo Local Government
Area of Ondo State.
“There was a shootout
between the suspected
gunmen and the police
who tried to rescue the
victims along the road
notorious for accident
and kidnapping.
“The three vehicles
attacked by the assailants
included a Land
Cruiser jeep with Registration
number AAA
147 KM, one Toyota
Camry and one Young
Shall Grow bus.
“ The person in the
Land Cruiser jeep was
killed while eight persons
were abducted
from other vehicles.
Joseph however noted
that seven of the kidnapped
victims were
rescued by the police.
“ One Gerald Ibuoyikha
was kidnapped by
the suspected herdsmen.
The seven people who
were injured and rescued
are with the Police.
Speaking with Vanguard,
spokesman of
Afenifere, Mr Yinka
Odumakin said the action
of the suspected Fulani
herdsmen showed
they have declared war
on Yoruba land.
Odumakin said the
Yorubas will not take
this anymore and that
people should expect reactions
over the killing
of the daughter of their
Afenifere leader.
“The Fulani herdsmen
have shoot their AK 47
into the tiny rope that
tied Yoruba and Nigeria
together. We will not accept
this.
“This is one death too
many and a clear wecan-
take- it -no-more
death”, he said.
ONDO state government
last night condemned
the murder of
Mrs Olakunrin saying
that her killer must be
brought to book.
A statement by the lnformation
and Orientation
Commissioner,
Donald Ojogo said the
murder was unacceptable.
The statement reads
“The Ondo State Governor,
Rotimi Odunayo
Akeredolu, condemned
in strong terms, the murder
of Mrs Funke
Olakunrin, daughter of
Afenifere Leader, Pa Reuben
Fasoranti.
“This is one death too
many. It is unacceptable
and condemnable.
“ This sad development
once again, heightens
the level of fear that has
pervaded our Nation
even as it represents a
despicable commentary
in all ramifications
“ To say the least, it represents
an unenviable
turning point, the depth
of everything that is evil.
“On behalf of the State
Executive Council, the
Governor symphatizes
with our foremost leader
and indeed the people of
the State over this dastardly
act.”
The statement said “Already,
the Commissioner
of Police has been directed
to comb all forests
of Ondo State to bring to
book, these bloodthirsty
murderers.”
Meanwhile, a visit to
the residence of Pa Fasoranti
last night
showed that he was yet
to be informed of the incident.
Some leaders of the
Afenifere were seen milling
around at the ljapo
residence of their leader
at 8pm last night.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
<strong>Buhari</strong> on new cabinet: I’ll never
appoint ‘strangers’ again
*Party, individuals submitted names I didn’t know in last cabinet
*Says only tested, trusted ones will make his ministerial list this
time
AS Nigerians anxiously
await the constitution
of the new Federal
Executive Council,
President Muhammadu
<strong>Buhari</strong> yesterday reflected
on the last four years
of his administration and
declared that he would no
longer appoint those he
personally didn’t know.
Throughout his first tenure,
the president was
heavily criticised for appointing
incompetent persons
into his cabinet who
did not add value to his
government. Pressure
was even mounted on him
to drop some of the nonperforming
ministers but
the president didn’t yield.
There were also some
ministers who didn’t
present a good face to the
President’s anti-corruption
fight. They were corrupt.
There were allegations
against some. There
were petitions to EFCC
against some. Nobody
budged. They were allowed
on...and this fuelled
more criticisms against the
President’s anti-corruption
campaigns which
were alleged to be onesided.
In a maiden meeting
with the leadership of the
National Assembly at the
new Banquet Hall of the
Presidential Villa, Abuja,
on Thursday night, President
<strong>Buhari</strong> explained the
circumstances under
which some persons he
didn’t know found their
way into his last cabinet
and spoke of his resolve
not to toe that path this
time around.
He also said that only
those tested and capable
hands he is sure would
deliver on assigned mandates
will make the ministerial
list.
At the meeting, <strong>Buhari</strong>
said he was under intense
pressure to constitute the
Federal Executive Council
(FEC), but expressed
his determination that despite
the pressure, only
those with track records,
honesty and credibility
would be appointed.
His words:“Many at this
dinner meeting are saying
they want to see the list of
the proposed cabinet so
that they can go on leave
peacefully. I’m very much
aware about it; I’m under
tremendous pressure on
it. But the last cabinet
which I headed, most of
them, majority of them, I
didn’t know them. I had
to accept the names and
recommendations from
the party and other individuals.
“I worked with them for
three and half years at
least—meeting twice or
two weeks in a month. So
I didn’t know them. But
this time around I’m going
to be quite me – me in
the sense that I will pick
people I personally know,”
he said.
A source at the dinner
told journalists anonymously
that “Mr. President
said we should give him
more time for him to compile
the list of ministerial
nominees.”
The President of the Senate,
Ahmad Lawan, who
spoke to State House correspondents
after the
meeting, refuted media
report quoting him as saying
that President <strong>Buhari</strong>
would submit the ministerial
list to the Senate this
week.
He said: “Let me take the
opportunity to correct that.
A senator raised a point of
order under personal explanation.
He said we
should be sent the list of
the ministers by the executive
arm of government
and in my response, I said
the executive is working so
hard to ensure that the list
of Nigerians that will help
this administration work is
going to be transmitted and
we could even receive it
this week. ‘We could’ is
conditional and I will urge
everybody here to report it
as it is,” he said.
President <strong>Buhari</strong>’s
spokesperson, Mr Femi
Adesina, in a statement
issued after the meeting,
said the president called for
an effective working relationship
between the executive
and legislative arms
of government, saying
such will easily translate
into more gains for Nigerians.
The president according
to the statement
noted that “it pays to maintain
neighbourliness” between
both arms.
He said, “cultivating
neighbourliness on individual
and national level
will deepen the values of
democracy and speed up
development process by
saving the cost of delays
and repairs.”
The President’s comment
can be considered a
move to avoid the rocky
relationship he had with
the eighth National Assembly.
Few days before
his inauguration in May,
the president had reviewed
the relationship
between the Executive
arm of the government and
the then outgoing eighth
National Assembly and
concluded that it was not
the best. He said he hoped
for a better working relationship
between the two
arms of government in the
Ninth Assembly.
According to the statement,
President <strong>Buhari</strong>
said he was pleased with
the voting pattern of principal
leaders of the National
Assembly, “which
showed a lot of maturity
and patriotism, and also
signalled to all Nigerians
that love for the nation supersedes
party affiliations.
“I was very pleased that
people expressed their desires
at the National Assembly
across party lines.
Neighbourliness is very
important. It makes sense
to cultivate neighbourliness
on individual and national
level. If you cultivate
good relationship with
your neighbour, you will
save a lot emotionally and
materially,” he said
The president noted that
Nigeria had benefitted a
lot by maintaining a good
relationship with neighbours
like Cameroon and
Benin Republic, noting
that the fight against Boko
Haram had been jointly
carried out with neighbouring
countries.
He then urged the legislature
to stop comparing
Nigeria’s democracy with
more developed countries
“as every country had its
peculiarities and the historical
growth patterns had
been different, with the
developed countries
practising liberal democracy
for longer years.
Along the line of development,
we are a developing
country. We have
different experiences.”
In his response, Senate
President Ahmad Lawan
assured the president
that the legislature was
ready to work with the executive
to provide solutions
to the challenges
facing the nation.
He noted that the ninth
National Assembly was
different in “attitude, composition,
and patriotism”
and will ensure good “collaboration,
partnership
and synergy” on national
issues.
The Speaker of the
House of Representatives,
Femi Gbajabiamila,
said elections of principal
officers in the National
Assembly were transparent,
assuring that the National
Assembly will work
with the president, to improve
the lives of constituents.
News Agency of Nigeria
reports that others at
the meeting included the
Deputy Senate President
Ovie Omo-Agege;
Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Mr
Femi Gbajabiamila and
the Deputy Speaker,
Ahmed Idris Wase. The
National Chairman of the
All Progressives Congress
(APC), Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole and other
presidential aides also attended
the meeting.

Armed bandits attack, injure
Atiku’s witnesses
•Some witnesses still missing in the bush, Presidential
Tribunal adjourns
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
Proceedings at the
Presidential Election
Petition Tribunal sitting in
Abuja, came to abrupt end
yesterday, as the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP,
and its candidate, Atiku
Abubakar, notified the
panel that witnesses
scheduled to appear and
testify against President
Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>,
were attacked by armed
bandits.
The petitioners who are
challenging the outcome of
the February 23,
presidential election that
was declared in favour of
President <strong>Buhari</strong> of the All
Progressives Congress,
APC, told the tribunal that
some of the witnesses who
were heading to Abuja
from Zamfara State, were
still hiding in the bush.
The development came
on a day collation agents
from Borno and Yobe
States, gave evidence
before the Justice
Mohammed Garba-led
five-member panel
tribunal.
Among the eight
witnesses that testified
before the proceeding was
adjourned owing to the
attack by bandits, included
an ad-hoc staff of the
Independent National
Electoral Commission,
Oluwafemi Ogunride.
Ogunride who said he
served as an Assistant
Presiding Officer 1,
insisted that he personally
uploaded results to
INEC’s central server,
using a code he said was
handed to him about two
hours before the
presidential election
commenced.
He said he was
specifically directed to
ensure that he uploaded
results and information
that was captured by the
Card-Reader Machines,
into the server, using a
code that was provided by
INEC.
Asked under crossexamination
if he could
remember the total number
of votes both APC and PDP
got at his center, the
witness said: “On that day
I did not have personal
interest, I just wanted to do
the job as I was trained, so
I did not check to know
what any political party
scored.”
Asked if he ever saw
INEC’s server, the witness
said: “No my lord, I
couldn’t have seen it
because I am not INEC
official, I only worked as
an ad-hoc staff for the
election.
“The INEC official said
the server existed and that
was where we transmitted
results to.”
Immediately the witness
who ended his testimony,
one of the lawyers in the
camp of the petitioners,
Chief Chris Uche, SAN,
informed the tribunal that
the matter could not
continue in view of attack
on the other witnesses.
“My lords information
we just got is that some of
the witnesses we
scheduled for this
afternoon were waylaid by
armed men while on their
way. They were coming
from Zamfara.
“This is a matter in which
our witnesses are coming
from far places,” Chief
Uche, SAN, told the court.
Corroborating the report,
Atiku’s lead counsel, Dr.
Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, said:
“To confirm, I was the one
that was called on the
phone and I had to
repeatedly go outside to
receive the calls.
“I was told that some of
them jumped inside the
bush and up till now most
of them have not been
seen while some were
greatly injured.
“In the circumstance, we
will continue on Monday.”
Sequel to the
development, Chairman
of the tribunal, Justice
Garba adjourned further
hearing on the petition.
“For the information you
have given to this court,
proceedings in this matter
are hereby adjourned till
July 15, Monday.”
The petitioners who
have three more days to
present their case, have
so far called 36 witnesses
that testified before the
tribunal.
Earlier before the
adjournment, a local
government collation
agent for the PDP, Peter
Sabo, alleged that
President <strong>Buhari</strong>’s
supporters snatched
ballot boxes in Borno
State.
He further alleged that
neither accreditation nor
voting took place in four
Wards that he monitored,
adding that PDP agents
were chased away by
security agents he said
stopped them from
trailing the electoral
materials that were
diverted.
Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu (middle);
Chairman, House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Edo Assembly
Issues, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas (3rd right); with other members of the
committee, during a visit to Government House, Benin City, yesterday.
NAFDAC bans importation, manufacturing,
hawking of Sniper 100ml packs
•Begins mop up of small retail packs in circulation
•Prohibits sale in open markets, supermarkets from Sept 1, 2019
By Sola Ogundipe
Concerned about the
recent trend in the
abuse and misuse of
100ml of Sniper
insecticide and other
brands of Agricultural
formulations of
Dichlorvos to carry out
suicide, the National
Agency for Food and
Drug Administration and
Control (NAFDAC) has
banned with immediate
effect, the importation
and manufacture of 100
ml pack size of Sniper
and other agricultural
formulations of
Dichlorvos.
The Agency has also
banned hawking of all
agrochemical
formulations in open
markets
and
supermarkets
nationwide, even as it
confirmed that sales of
Sniper insecticide and
other Dichlorvos brands
in open markets and
supermarkets nationwide
are prohibited with effect
from September 1,2019.
Disclosing these and
other regulatory
measures and control put
in place to arrest/mitigate
the abuse and misuse of
Sniper and other brands
of
Dichlorvos
formulations meant for
agricultural use, the
NAFDAC Director
General, Prof. Mojisola
Adeyeye said the Agency
is giving a two-month
(up to 31st August 2019)
notice to brand owners/
distributors to recall and
withdraw their products
from open markets and
supermarkets that do not
have garden corner/
shelves to the agro dealer
outlets.
In a statement made
available to Saturday
Vanguard, Adeyeye said:
“NAFDAC is giving a
six-month moratorium up
to January 1,2020 for
brand owners to exhaust
the products that are in
various accredited agroinput
dealers
(distributors/marketers/
retailers) outlets.
“All NAFDAC
formations are to
commence enforcement
on restriction of sales of
crop protection products
to NAFDAC listed and
accredited agro-inputs
dealers/distributors/
marketers nationwide by
April 1,2020.”
SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019 — 7
House of Reps Committee
assures of speedy resolution of
Edo Assembly issues
•Seeks blessings of Oba Ewuare II
The 13-man House of Representatives ad-hoc
Committee set up to investigate the alleged issues
at the Edo State House of Assembly,yesterday arrived
Benin City to meet with disagreeing parties, assuring
that the issues at the Assembly would be resolved quickly.
Speaking to journalists at the Benin Airport, Chairman
of the Committee, Alhaji Abudulrasaq Namdas, said the
committee was in the state on a fact-finding mission, to
resolve the issues at the State House of Assembly.
After an interactive session with the 12 members of
the Edo State House of Assembly to find out their own
side of the story, Namdas said: “I can assure you that
we have done much in the matter in the last one week.
All the parties involved have given us their support and
have shown willingness to resolve the matter.”
He continued, “I want to assure you that in a short
period, we will turn in our report and we are sure that
the issues will be resolved quickly.”
Responding to questions from the committee members,
the speaker of the EDHA, Hon. Frank Okiye, said there
was no acrimony before the 17th of June 2019, as all
members were awaiting the proclamation letter in
readiness for the inauguration.
“This was our focus as legislators but unknown to us,
there was a gang up. On the day of the inauguration,
some of us that were in the Assembly made calls to other
members, unknown to us that they were at a press
conference. About nine of us on ground mounted
pressure on the clerk since we formed a quorum. At
about 3:30pm, the clerk commenced the inauguration of
the nine members present.”
On his part, the clerk of EDHA, Alhaji Audu Yahaya
Omogbai, said he received letter of proclamation from
the Governor of Edo State on Friday, June 14,2019, and
duly informed members-elect appropriately, notifying
them that inauguration was set for June 17,2019.
“Thirteen submitted documentations while 12 have
been inaugurated, but 11 have not submitted at all. One
of those that submitted his is with the other 11 in Abuja.
The two vital documents that need to be submitted include
the certificate of return and the code of conduct and
asset declaration certificate.”
At a meeting at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Omo
N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, the
Oba of Benin, Namdas assured that the committee will
be neutral in handling the issues as members of the
committee are men of proven integrity.
He said they were in the palace to inform the Oba of
their presence in the state and seek his blessing, to
enable the committee succeed on their job.
“You are the father of the state. The National Chairman
of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole is your son, same as the governor of the
state. The members of the assembly are your children.
Your intervention will go a long way to solve this issue.
“This is a very serious assignment for us, as people
are watching the outcome of the committee’s work in
Edo State, but we sincerely need your intervention,
support and prayers to enable us to succeed in this big
task of resolving the issues at the Edo State House of
Assembly.”
He continued, “When politicians fall into trouble, they
run to elders for advice on how to resolve the issues. We
want you to help us speak with your children to make
our job easier in the state.”
The Oba welcomed the committee and thanked them
for the visit, assuring them of the palace’s support to
ensure the committee succeeds in its task.
He said the assignment is not an easy one, as some of
his chiefs who are politicians have been doing their best
to resolve the issues.
“On my own, I have been talking with both parties
involved on different occasions, but things just keep
escalating so fast. I am at the point of inviting them to
talk to them but I heard of this committee and I pray for
a successful job.”
According to the committee chairman, “We have just
one week for the job. We have already met with the
governor of the state and Edo State House of Assembly
members-elect, who are in Abuja. I want to assure you
that we are men of integrity and will not be teleguided
or influenced in doing our job.”

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
JAC declares nationwide protest ahead of
strike *Demands N30bn earned allowance from FG
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
JOINT Action Com
mittee, JAC, of the
non teaching staff in the
Universities, has directed
its branches to mobilise
its members for a nationwide
protest starting
on Monday July 15,
2019, over Federal Government’s
refusal to recall
some sacked workers
and alleged discrimination
against them.
JAC, comprising the
Senior Staff Association
of Nigerian Universities,
SSANU, and the Non
Academic Staff Union of
Educational and Associated
Institutions, NASU,
at its meeting in Abuja
on Friday, also decried
exclusion of its members
from the workings of the
National University Pension
Company (NU-
PENCO) solely operated
by the Academic Staff
Union of Universities,
ASUU.
It further frowned at the
alleged preferential
treatment extended to
ASUU by the Federal
Government as seen in
the allocation of 80 percent
of monies released
leaving the non academic
staff with 20 percent.
In a resolution reached
after its meeting, read by
the Chairman of JAC and
National President of
SSANU, Comrade Samson
Ugwoke, the non
teaching university workers
rejected the 20 percent
earned allowance allocated
to the three non
teaching unions.
JAC called on the Federal
Government to as a
matter of urgency release
N30 billion earned allowance
of non teaching staff
within the period of 2009
to 2016.
Ugwoke who stressed
that the protest was aimed
at sending a notice of
strike to the Federal Government,
called on its
members to ensure full
compliance with the directive
in order to show
its relevance to the university
system.
He said, “The recent
sharing of money where
the money collected from
the ministry of education
signed by the director of
tertiary education, allocating
80 percent of the
money to ASUU and only
20 percent to the three
non teaching staff unions
is not acceptable to us.
“We reject the 20 percent
allocated to our
members, rather we demand
from the federal
government the sum of
N30 billion as part of the
earned allowance of non
teaching staff from 2009
to 2016 and we call on
government to hasten the
audit of university earned
allowances so that we will
know how much is paid
to who and how much
remains.
“The way and manner
the money is being
shared contrary to any
known accounting procedure
or international best
practice should be condemned
by all. It is a
fraud. This house calls it
a fraud and calls for investigation.
How 10 notorious motorbike
bank robbers were arrested
By Ifeanyi Okolie
TEN members of a no
torious armed robbery
gang which specialized in
robbing bank customers of
have been arrested by the
operatives of Inspector
General of Police Special
Intelligence Response
Team, IRT, in Lagos State.
Vanguard gathered that
the suspects who were identified
as Musibau Ogunbiyi,
Rilwan Olarinwajo, Wahab
Wasiu, Akeem Hassan, Idowu
Taofiq, Sadiq Alada,
Razaq Isah, Tunji Kundus,
Tijani Koyim and Ibrahim
“We call and demand
that government should
release as a matter of
urgency, N30 billion for
non teaching staff
“JAC has approved
protests from the
branches, protests at the
zonal levels of our
unions and mother of all
protests in Abuja for
three days, before a
deadline is given to the
government for the
mother of all strikes that
will follow. The protest
will commence on Monday
July 15, 2019,” he
said
Olagoke, were all rounded
up after they robbed a businessman,
who dealt in motor
cycles of the sum of
N2million in his shop at
Abule-Egbe Area of the
State.
Sources disclosed to Vanguard
that the businessman
(name withheld) wrote a
petition to the Inspector
General of Police, Adamu
Mohammed, informing
him of how he was robbed
of his money and mobile
phones as well as those of
his staff. It was gathered
that the IGP, subsequently
directed his operatives at
the IRT to bring the suspects
to book.
A source explained that
the IRT operatives discovered
when they commenced
investigations that the suspects
who were behind the
robbery operation, were
members of a large robbery
gang operating on motorcycles
which specialized in
dispossessing bank customers
after withdrawing money
from the bank
The operatives also discovered
that members of
the robbery gang would
visit a bank and monitor
customers who were withdrawing
huge amount of
money and were about leaving
the bank.
According to the source,
“the suspect has a waiting
motorcycle and he would
trail the bank customer
with the money and alert his
gang members who would
also be waiting for his signal
nearby and they would
dispossess the unsuspecting
victim of the money in his
possession at gun point. We
discovered that the suspects
have been in this business
for a long time and they
have robbed several bank
customers in various areas
of the state. Based on the
IGP’s directives, we
swooped on the suspects
and arrested 10 of them
from different parts of Lagos
and Ogun States”. .
When the suspects were
interviewed, they all confessed
to the crime narrating
the various roles they
played during their operations.
One of the gang members,
28-year- old Wahab
Wasiu, whose job was to
monitor bank customers as
they were leaving the bank
with huge amount of money
said he went into armed
robbery in 2017.
Ijegun Explosion: Sanwo-Olu talks
tough, vows to prosecute pipeline
vandals
*Lauds Senate C’ttee over quick response
By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo
LAGOS State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu,
has said the State Government was working with
the security agencies to bring perpetrators of the Ijegun
pipeline fire to justice.
No fewer than 10 people died in the fire incident
last week Thursday, which resulted from activities of
criminals vandalising oil pipelines in the community.
Sanwo-Olu spoke while receiving members of the
ad-hoc committee set up by the Senate to investigate
the root cause of the inferno.
The seven-member Committee, led by Senator Ibrahim
Gobir, met with the Governor in Alausa on Friday.
Sanwo-Olu hailed President of the Senate for constituting
the ad-hoc Committee, following a motion
by the Senator representing Lagos West, Solomon
Adeola.
The Governor said the gesture showed that the entire
members of the Senate felt the pain of loss with
Lagosians.
He said: “I convey my best wishes to the leadership
of the Senate led by the Senate President, Ahmed
Lawan, for responding quickly to this very urgent
national assignment. I watched the debate on Ijegun
fire on the floor of the Senate and I saw how several
Senators felt the pain we are feeling in Lagos.
“I thank all the Senators for showing compassion
and the human side of them to assuage the pain we
are feeling following the loss of lives. I appreciate
members of the ad-hoc committee for coming out swiftly
to investigate the root cause of this unfortunate
incident.
“We are concerned about the damage to lives and
property that trailed the incident. We are working with
security agencies to put all these criminalities to a
stop. We are hopeful that we will identify the perpetrators;
whatever level they are, they will be brought
to justice. Bringing them to justice will serve as deterrent
to other criminals who are bent on perpetrating
economic sabotage at the expense of innocent
people’s lives.”
The Governor expressed concern that the issue of
pipeline vandalism kept re-occurring in the state,
urging members of the committee not to leave any
stone unturned in unraveling the root cause of the
crime.
Underutilization of South-South
ports by FG, a conspiracy
— Onuesoke
PEOPLE’s Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain,
Chief Sunny Onuesoke has said that the
under utilization of the ports in Koko, Sapele,
Oghara, Burutu, Calabar, Ogulagha, Port Harcourt,
Onne and others located in the South-South
region of the country by succeeding governments
at the Federal level was a conspiracy to frustrate
the economic development of the region.
Onuesoke who made the observation while addressing
Maritime journalists during his visit to
Tin-Can Island Ports, Apapa-Lagos, yesterday,
stated that despite the heavy congestion in both
Apapa Wharf and Tin-Can Island ports which had
resulted in lost of revenue running into millions
of Naira annually, the Federal Government has
refused to develop other ports in the South-South
region of the country.
Legendary film maker, Eddie
Ugbomah laid to rest in Lagos
By Benjamin Njoku
THE remains of legendary film maker, Chief Edd
i e
Ugbomah, who died on May 11, 2019,were yesterday
committed to mother earth amidst eulogies.
Ugbomah was buried at his residence, in Ilogbo, Oko
Afo area of Lagos.
Earlier, the remains were taken to the VIP Lounge of
the National Theatre (Entrance A), Iganmu, at about
10am for funeral service before burial at his Lagos
home.
Hundreds of people consisting of family members,
artistes and friends converged on the National Theatre
complex, the previous night to pay their last respects to
the producer of “The Death of the Black President.”
In his sermon, Pastor S.O Olusanya, of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God, RCCG, said Chief Ugbomah
lived a fulfilled and impactful life worthy of emulation.
While praying God to grant the family the fortitude
to bear the loss, he charged the children to imbibe and
sustain the legacies of the deceased.
According to him, the late veteran film maker contributed
immensely to the development of the Nigeri-

NAFEST deepens unity among
Nigerians — Obaseki
*We need officials like Runsewe, says Oba of Benin
His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo,
Ewuare II(l), and Director-General of the National Council for Arts and
Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe when the latter led 30 state directors of
culture on a courtesy visit to the monarch on Thursday.
EDO State Governor,
Godwin Obaseki,
has said that the annual
National Festival for Arts
and Culture (NAFEST) has
lived up to the noble objectives
for which it was
created, including deepening
unity among Nigerians.
Obaseki said this on
Thursday during a reception
organised for the Director-General
of the National
Council for Arts and
Culture, Otunba Segun
Runsewe and the directors
of culture of over 30 states
of the country.
The governor who was
represented by his deputy,
Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip
Shaibu, noted that:
“NAFEST has continued to
foster greater unity among
Nigerians through its numerous
artistic and cultural
offerings.”
He explained that with
unity, Nigeria as a country
can attain any heights, and
assured that Edo state was
upbeat about hosting a colourful
NAFEST come October
this year.
Earlier at the Oba Palace,
the Benin Monarch, His
Royal Majesty, Omo
N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo,
Oba Ewuare II,
pledged the support of the
palace for the festival and
extolled the NCAC DG.
Oba Ewuare said Nigeria
needed great minds like
Runsewe who is passionate
about the promotion of
the country’s rich and diverse
cultures and expressed
his delight at the
choice of Benin as host of
the next edition of NAFEST
slated for October.
In his address, Runsewe
hailed the Oba whose impressive
antecedents as
Nigeria’s ambassador, he
said, ensured the restoration
of peace to Angola
amongst other noble
achievements.The NCAC
boss intimated that at least
three million people from
around the world will be in
Benin City for NAFEST, including
exhibitors, art collectors,
culture enthusiasts
and other stakeholders.
Otunba Runsewe hailed
the Oba whose exploits
and impressive antecedents
as Nigeria’s ambassador
ensured the restoration
of peace to Angola amongst
Court sacks Sowore as National
Chairman of AAC
By Ikechukwu
Nnochiri
THE Federal High
Court sitting in
Abuja,yesterday, sacked
Omoyele Sowore as the
National Chairman of the
African Action Congress,
AAC.
The court, in the judgement
delivered by Justice
Iyang Ekwo, said it was satisfied
that Sowore who was
the presidential flag-bearer
of the AAC, was validly
suspended by the National
Executive Committee,
NEC, of the party.
It said there was nothing
to contradict an affidavit evidence
that showed that
NEC of the party had in a
resolution it passed on
March 27, handed six
months suspension to both
Sowore and his deputy,
Malcolm Fabiyi.
The court held that neither
Sowore nor Fabiyi, defended
the suit that applied
for an order to stop them
from further parading
themselves as the National
Chairman and Deputy National
Chairman of the party.
The court had earlier issued
an interim injunction
that restrained Sowore and
Fabiyi from further exercising
any power or function
relating to their offices,
pending the determination
of the suit filed by the Acting
National Chairman of
the party, Dr Leonard
Nzenwa.
The court equally issued
an order of interim injunction
that restrained the Independent
National Electoral
Commission, INEC,
which was sued as the 3rd
defendant, “whether by itself,
staff, agents, privies or
howsoever described,” from
further recognizing them as
national leaders of the party
İn an affidavit that was
filed in support of the suit
marked FHC/ABJ/CS/512/
2019, the party alleged that
Sowore failed to fulfil the
mandatory statutory requirement
of holding the
National Executive Committee
meeting of the party
quarterly.
other noble achievements.
He noted that at least 3 million
people from around
the world will flood Benin
during NAFEST just as the
city is designated to host
the first ever royal golf tournament
in October with
plans underway to establish
the first royal museum
and many more expected
goodies courtesy NAFEST
2019.
He was also accused of
receiving money from a foreign
donor and used it for
his personal use.
The party said despite
appeals made to him to call
for NEC meeting of the party
to respond to allegations
against him, he failed to do
so.
It told the court that owing
to the development, both
Sowore and Fabiyi were
suspended from the party.
Specifically, the plaintiff,
asked the court to determine
whether the 1st and 2nd defendants
could continue to
parade themselves as
Chairman and Deputy
Chairman, despite their
suspension.
The plaintiff also urged the
court to determine whether
the two defendants have the
powers to interfere with his
function as the Acting National
Chairman of the party.
However, rather than respond
to the suit, Sowore
and Fabiyi, told the court
that they were out of the
country.
In a counter-affidavit that
was deposed on their behalf
by Dr. Jonathan Doye,
he told the court that Sowore
left the country for the
United States of America on
May 12, while the suit was
filed on May 14.
In his judgement, Justice
Ekwo held that Dr. Doye
could not give evidence on
behalf of the defendants
who were sued in their personal
capacity.
He held that the defendants
treated the case with
levity, saying the excuse
that they could not personally
respond to the suit because
they travelled out of
the country, was not tenable.
SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019 — 9
Armed robbers invade UI female hostel, cart away
valuables
By Adeola Badru
SUSPECTED armed
robbers yesterday reportedly
invaded a female
hostel at the University of
Ibadan and carted away
valuables after assaulting
some female occupants of
the hostel. It was gathered
from authorities of the institution
that the armed men
came around 1:00am yesterday
morning and invaded
Awo Hall.
It was gathered that the
State of the nation: I stand
with CAN, PFN — Adeboye
By Sam Eyoboka
GENERAL Overseer of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye
has reiterated his position on key national issues and
the overall well-being of Nigeria. In a statement released
by head of RCCG Public Relations, Pastor
Olaitan Olubiyi yesterday at the National Headquarters
of the church, he reaffirmed his commitment to the
umbrella Christian organizations that are mandated to
speak on issues affecting the church and the nation as
a whole.
He stated that the views of the Pentecostal Fellowship
of Nigeria (PFN) and Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN) represented his position and that of the
RCCG.
Pastor Adeboye, himself a one-time President of PFN,
noted that the aforementioned Christian bodies had
spoken on the issues of kidnapping, killing of Christians,
herdsmen attacks and general insecurity in Nigeria
and that his position and that of the RCCG was
not different from their expressed views.
Besides, as a pastor and spiritual father to millions of
people in Nigeria and across the world, he regularly
leads the congregation to pray over the problems confronting
the nation at all major programmes of the
church.
Adeboye who said that, to be quiet does not mean
that you are silent, disclosed that he had made his views
on the issues known to all the relevant authorities. He
declared that very soon, Nigerians shall see that God
answers prayers. He enjoined all to remain calm and
maintain peace.
Ugwuanyi pledges to rebuild
Enugu market razed by fire
gunmen numbering about
ten robbed students of their
belongings such as phones,
laptops, cash and other valuables.
The Director of Public
Communication of the institution,
Mr. Olatunji Oladejo
who confirmed the development
said: “The unfortunate
incident happened around
1:30am as about 10 gunmen
invaded the female hostel.
They injured two students
who were later rushed to our
Jaja clinic for treatment.”
“Our Campus security service
with combined efforts of
By Chinedu Adonu
G
OVERNOR of Enugu State, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ug
wuanyi has pledged to rebuild the Ama-Igbo
Market, near Obiagu suburb, in Enugu North Local
Government Area, which was gutted by fire in the early
hours of yesterday. Governor Ugwuanyi, who also
donated the sum of N100,000 to each of the 68 affected
traders totalling it to N6.8 million, while addressing
the gathering at the market noted that he was at the
scene to sympathize with them over the devastating
fire, adding that as their leader, he should share in
their joy and pain. He expressed gratitude to God that
there was no loss of life in the unfortunate incident
and assured of government’s determination to make
life easier for all residents of the state.
“I thank God because nobody died here. I know how
painful it is. I am here to sympathise with you as the
governor you voted to power during the last election.
“I am here because whatever affects you also affects
us. I will donate N100,000 each to all the 68 affected
persons, and I will direct the Chairman of this (Enugu
North) local government area to rebuild the razed shops
and the state government would foot the bill,” Ugwuanyi
promised.
Earlier, the Chairman of the market, Mr Emeka
Ogbodo, who lamented the damage caused by the fire
outbreak, said that the inferno started around 12:58am
yesterday and burnt down 68 shops including all the
stocked goods. Ogbodo disclosed that but for lack of
access roads in the area, men of Enugu State Fire Service
who later extinguished the inferno, would have
stopped it from razing the 68 shops.
“The fire outbreak started around 12:50am this mourning.
It burnt down 68 shops before it was stopped. We
thank the Enugu State Fire Service who came to our
rescue not minding the odd time that the incident occurred.
“The fire service tried their best but assuming
the road was motorable, the fire would not have burnt
down up to five shops,” Ogbodo said.
the policemen from Bodija,
Sango and Ojoo and Operation
Burst rushed there
but the robbers had escaped,”
Oladejo added.
A female student who preferred
anonymity said:
“They were so familiar with
the hostel, and they took
people’s phones and laptops.
A lady was assaulted
with a sharp weapon and
sustained a deep cut. She
has been rushed to the University’s
Health Centre for
treatment.”

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
•Iwuanyanwu
<strong>Buhari</strong>’s biggest
mistake – Iwuanyanwu
Says Fulani Vigilante in Igboland will lead to
bloodshed FG may not be able to control
•Igbos believe strongly in one Nigeria
•How <strong>Buhari</strong> can save the country
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, an elder statesman, astute politician and business mogul is angry. He says Fulani
herdsmen want to dare the Igbos in their move to set up a vigilante group in each of the five states of the South
East region. In an exclusive interview with Saturday Vanguard in Owerri, Imo state, Chief Iwuanyanwu warns
that the friendliness and hospitality of the Igbos should not be taken for granted. He also attributes the economic
challenges currently facing Nigeria to the devaluation of the naira and the health of the President and declares that the
only solution to the crisis in Nigeria is immediate restructuring of the country.
Excerpts:
What is your candid opinion about
herdsmen menace in the country?
What is happening today is completely
unimaginable, unacceptable and cannot
be tolerated by any civilized society. It
worries me and others who believe so
much in the unity of this country. In 1960
we saw the union flag being lowered and
replaced with the green-white-green. We
all rejoiced and that started a new nation.
In spite of our differences we believed in
brotherhood and it was unimaginable to
see a Nigerian raising his hand against
another Nigerian to the point of shedding
blood. What is happening in the past few
years is a tragedy. It started with Boko
Haram, killing people and saying they
didn’t want western education which is
an impossible demand. It is like telling
a man to stop breathing. These people
have gone ahead to kidnap people and
have killed thousands of Nigerians. Boko
Haram has caused us a lot of economic
problems. Nigeria went into a recession
•<strong>Buhari</strong>
and to a large extent, it was caused by
Boko Haram. We are spending billions
of dollars, which we earned from oil
derived from Niger Delta and South East
to fight a group that gave us an
impossible condition.
Are you not bothered by the kind of
sophisticated weapons which the
herdsmen are said to be using?
That is what we are asking. Who are the
sponsors of these herdsmen providing
them with weapons. It is clear to me that
they are bringing arms from outside
Nigeria and the Nigerian Customs as
well as the Immigration have explanation
to make to Nigerians. Sometime ago a
group of armed people went to some
communities in Benue State and killed
many people, both old and young
including pregnant women. They
destroyed their houses, burnt their farms
and many people were sacked from their
villages. Those who carried out the
attacks said somebody from that area
rustled their cows and they believed that
the only remedy was to kill even innocent
people from that area. These people
continued their adventure destroying so
many places as it happened in Taraba,
Zamfara, Plateau, even in Enugu and
Anambra states and we are watching
them. They have now gone into
kidnapping and the information we have
now is that this kidnapping is their long
term strategy to raise funds for their
insurrection because when they kidnap
people they send the ransom money they
collect to their sponsors to acquire more
arms. Most of the people they kidnapped
paid ransom and it appears to me that the
police are helpless in this matter.
Nigerians can no longer pass through the
major highways like the Kadunna -Abuja
road because this same set of people
have been instructed to raise money
through kidnapping in order to sponsor
their terrorism.
As an elder statesman, how do people
in the South East view this development
The problem is more serious than
anybody can imagine. We, the people of
the South East are worried about this.
Since I was a child I had always seen
cattle rearers with their stick, bow and
arrow. I never saw them before carrying
a weapon like AK47. This is a new
development. It means some people are
sponsoring them. The security agencies
should be able to tell us, Nigerians
deserve to know. The cattle rearers used
to command their cattle whenever they
strayed into the farms and the cattle
would understand the language and move
away from the farms. But those who are
sponsoring them have a purpose which
we don’t know and which the security
agencies have not been able to tell us.
They should tell us because cattle rearers
are not just new in this country. This is a
business that have been going on for
many years.
What is you opinion on the plan by
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders
Association, to establish Vigilante group
in Igboland?
In Enugu, these same people have the
boldness to tell us they are bringing in
the vigilante group (laughs). I don’t think
they understand the Igbos very well. The
Igbos are very friendly and very
hospitable but they are not cowards and
when there is a challenge they rise to it.
Igbos believe strongly in one Nigeria and
the Igbos have demonstrated it by their
business. If you go through our history
in politics, our leader, Nnamdi Azikiwe,
championed the cause for independence
for this country, he in fact championed it
for Africa. Most leaders were more or less
his disciples. Unfortunately, he never
became the head of state but he still
believed in one Nigeria. When there was
a crisis in Congo, the person who was sent
to go and quell it was General Aguyi
Ironsi. When there was problem in
Tanzania and Zanziba, the person sent to
go and quell it was Odimegwu Ojukwu.
We have done many things to show that
Igbos believe in one Nigeria. Let us
sincerely believe that in brotherhood we
stand. And that means you will not abuse
anybody because of his tribe or religion.
The Igbos are living in other places but
they have not said they were going to put
a garrison of armed Igbo youths in those
places.
Why do you think Miyetti Allah wanted
to form a vigilante group in Igboland?
It is clear that the motive is sinister. The
motive cannot be in the interest of the
Igbos. It cannot be in the interest of the
Nigeria unity. It will be very strongly
resisted by the Igbos. There will be
another bloodshed and there will be
another crisis for the Federal
Government. If care is not taken, the
bloodshed and insecurity will spread and
once it spreads, the Federal Government
may not be able to handle it.
Do you think that Igbos have done
enough to discourage this move by the
Continues on page 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—11
Fulani Vigilante in Igboland will lead to bloodshed FG may not be able to control
Continues from pg 10
Miyetti Allah Association?
The president General of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, has
spoken, he is very efficient, very capable,
we elected him and he is speaking our
minds. I am telling Nigerians that
anything Nwodo has said is the position
of Igbo leaders because he consults us,
we accept his leadership and he is doing
well. Igbos have a peculiar way of doing
things, at first you may think that they
are not united. The Igbos are the most
united people, when they reach a point
of affirmative action and they say “Igbo
kwenu, Igbo Kwenu”, that is the end of
it. For instance in politics, in the last four
years government did not favour us. We
did not get much but we stood by our
position, if you like take it, if don’t like
leave it,we don’t care.
Have the Igbos benefited from such
positions that they have taken
Igbos are proud people and when we
take a decision we stand by it. These
people are daring us. The last time there
was war, Nigerians said the war would
last only a few months but we held
Nigerians for nearly three years. We were
blockaded by air, by sea, by land and Igbo
scientists came together and we produced
all the weapons of war here in Biafra.
Biafra produced rockets that could deliver
up to eight miles. Before I joined the
army, I was part of research and
production team that produced rocket,
the point was that the rocket was not
guided. Later in the Army, I had an injury
and after the injury I went for a training
on an advance military intelligence.
When I finished the training I was posted
to combat engineering. I became the
head of combat engineering intelligence.
I advised our boss then, the head of state,
Ojukwu, that we should withdraw but
because we were able to produce rockets
which we used during the war he had
little hope. Russia, America, Britain were
all against one small country, Biafra, and
yet we resisted.
People came to blame Ojukwu, but
Ojukwu did not declare Biafra. He was
our leader, he led us well. Igbos don’t
abandon their leaders, we stood by him
till the last. So the Igbos declared Biafra.
Zik was our leader. The war ended thanks
to Zik. If anybody says we were defeated,
it is not true, Biafrans were trained to
sustain this war as far as Nigeria did not
give us what we wanted.
We only stopped when our leader,
Nnamdi Azikiwe met with the then
president of Liberia and Gowon, and after
that meeting they had an agreement
including ‘no victor no vanquished’
position. We don’t want to hear that we
were defeated. So, when we heard ‘no
victor no vanquished’ and that all the
people would go back and take their
positions, the conditions
were very satisfactory.
Yes, we cleared with our
leader General
Odimegwu Ojukwu who
confirmed that we should
surrender.
Otherwise, the youths,
the younger ones did not
want to surrender until
Ojukwu confirmed Zik’s
position. To many of us,
Zik, was like a god,
whatever he said we
would do because he was
very highly respected.
Zik and Ojukwu
persuaded the younger
ones to withdraw,
otherwise we would have
continued with the war.
So, we don’t want that
situation again. We want
them to leave Igboland
alone. We have gone
through war and we do
not want them to push us
into any crises again.
Miyetti Allah should
leave things as they are,
they are still grazing in
We only stopped
when our leader,
Nnamdi Azikiwe met
with the then
president of Liberia
and Gowon, and
after that meeting
they had an
agreement
including ‘no victor
no vanquished’
position
Igboland and we are not disturbing
them. We don’t rustle their cows, Igbos
are not cattle rustlers. Igbos host them,
befriend them and buy their cattle, they
should therefore tell those who are
sponsoring them to leave us alone.
We have warned them that there is no
need for any colony here and we don’t
want an Igbo colony in any part of
Nigeria. Igbo will not stop
any cattle rearer from
grazing but he should not
graze on a farm land and
should not carry AK 47 but
their normal bow and arrow
and stick. So, they should
drop this idea of having a
colony in Igboland or for
some Fulani youths to come
here and form a vigilante, it
is going to create some kind
of violence and bloodshed
which is not going to be easy
to control.
As a politician and a
renowned business man,
what is the problem with
Nigerian economy?
The problem is very, very
serious. I am a politician but
I am basically a business
man. I read science and
engineering so I have vast
knowledge of many things
in Nigeria. I am very
passionate about this
country. I love Nigeria so
much, Nigeria has
honoured me three times
and I am not sure how many people in
Nigeria have been honoured three times
with MFR, through the Nigeria Society
of Engineers, OFR and CFR, I am so
•Iwuanyanwu
passionate about this country. In 2015, the
PDP lost to the APC, and <strong>Buhari</strong> came to
power and expectations were very high.
<strong>Buhari</strong> came to power and economy was
part of his programmes. People thought
that the economy at that time was bad and
needed to be improved. He also talked
about corruption which is a serious issue
in this country. So, he came in and
everybody had a high expectation and
you could see that the people’s high
expectations were not met. I am a
Christian, I was brought up in a strong
Christian family. I am a politician, I am
in PDP, I am not in APC. I am not the type
of politician who will not face the reality.
So, I have to say the truth about the whole
thing. On the question of <strong>Buhari</strong>’s
capabilty, he is capable. People have
questioned his education but I don’t like
this story. <strong>Buhari</strong> is a General in the
Nigeria Army, and to be a General in the
Army, you must have attended so many
staff courses. All the staff courses <strong>Buhari</strong>
has attended were actually good enough.
When the army took over government in
1983, his colleagues picked him to be the
head of state. Before then, he had been a
governor of a state, he had been a
minister. <strong>Buhari</strong> has got a lot of
experience. When <strong>Buhari</strong> took over power
after that coup, he started War Against
Indiscipline. Nigerians at that time were
very undisciplined. They were rushing to
everything. They would rush to catch a
plane, rush to catch a bus, they were
rushing everywhere. But <strong>Buhari</strong> with
WAI, stopped it. At that time if anybody
was jumping the queue, they would say
WAI, and the person would stop. It was
an achievement he made. When he came
this time around, he talked about
security, but <strong>Buhari</strong> was sick most of the
time and I believe if he were well enough,
he could have done better.
The economic problem under <strong>Buhari</strong> is
said to be getting worse, do you agree?
Up till today, all the economic
languages they tell us I don’t understand
them. Why was the naira which was about
N160 to a dollar, allowed to drop to more
than N400 at a point until it was
controlled at about N360?
Let me tell you, every country protects
its currency. I can’t understand why the
Central Bank allowed the currency to go
from N160 to N400 and even N500 before
it intervened and it started appreciating
until it came to N360. Once the currency
of a country is changed, it automatically
affects everything. For instance, a worker
who is earning N18,000 or N20, 000 per
month cannot feed himself again and that
is why they are demanding for a wage
increase. Even the wage increase of
N30,000 cannot feed a Nigerian. N30,000
is not a fair wage for any worker in
Nigeria today, I don’t know any worker
who can feed with N30,000 in a month
because the workers have children also.
Can’t Nigeria Government pay N30,000
minimum wage?
If that money is paid, Nigeria will be
completely bankrupt. I have done a
simple rule of the thumb and I even think
that if they pay it this year, the budget of
Nigeria will only be used for recurrent
expenditure and there will be no money
for capital. I think our problem is the
devaluation of our naira and the health
of the President.
Any hope for improvement?
The bright side is that I want to
congratulate the President for his fight
against corruption. Yes, people say he is
partial. You know the problem in Nigeria
is that the president is only one man and
there are people around who have a lot
of influence. But one thing that is clear is
that for the first time in Nigeria,
somebody has taken a bold step to fight
corruption. That is a major thing I think
he has achieved. I am aware people say
he is partial, yes it is possible. In the last
election, <strong>Buhari</strong> did not influence election
in the South East like my state, Imo.
Corruption goes with flamboyant
lifestyle. <strong>Buhari</strong>, all through his time as
governor, minister, head of state, did not
exhibit that type of flamboyant lifestyle.
But I think he made one mistake. If I were
to advise him, I could have advised him
to finish one term and go away. If <strong>Buhari</strong>
had not contested election for second
term and had spent only one term, he
could have been a hero. He could have
done like Nelson Mandela by spending
just four years.
<strong>Buhari</strong>, has made the mistake of
running for second term. He is my friend
but he has made that mistake. The
economy is getting worse and
complicated because of insurgency and
herdsmen as foreign investors are
running away. Even Nigeria investors are
pulling their businesses to neighbouring
countries like Ghana, Togo, even
Gambia. If you look at it today, in most of
the northern parts of this country, you
can’t move freely. Farmers are running
away from farms. If care is not taken
before the end of this year the Nigerian
economy will come to a halt completely.
Now, where do we go from here
The challenge is at the door step of
<strong>Buhari</strong>, to either make himself a hero or
not. There is no solution to the immediate
Nigerian economic problem apart from
immediate restructuring. The insurgency
cannot be solved without restructuring.
This idea of some people thinking that
they are going to expand to go and occupy
other people’s territory is not going to
help. If <strong>Buhari</strong> helps to restructure the
country he would the economy will
bounce back. He would have ensured the
unity of this country because Nigeria will
become a more formidable united country.
States and local governments will get
more money because the federal
government will relinquish what it is
doing presently. So the solution is the
immediate restructuring of the country.

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
EDO APC CRISIS:
Battle shifts to Abuja
•Oshimohole, Obaseki, who laughs last?
•Underground battle to thwart Tuesday’s House of Reps motion
•Osadebe House: Before and after
Stories by Emma Amaize, Regional Editor,
Niger Delta, Gabriel Enogholase and
Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City)
WHEN Governor Godwin Obaseki of
Edo State posited, last weekend, at
the 2019 annual retreat and
convention of the Usagbe Club of Nigeria in
Abuja that “there is no rift between the
National Chairman of All Progressives
Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole
and I, as is being projected by people”,
political watchers knew it couldn’t be the
whole truth.
However, the technocrat-governor, who is
fast learning the ropes, verbalized the manner
a politician would and should face no
antagonism for it is the same position that
Oshiomhole had also adopted on the raging
affair. Only that an Oshiomhole aide, who
spoke to Saturday Vanguard put it a little poles
apart: “The battle is not between Oshiomhole
and Obaseki, but Obaseki and APC leaders
in Edo state.” He did not say that Oshiomhole
is the masquerade the said APC leaders
kowtow.
On the other hand, Obaseki could be correct
that there was really no issue as people have
painted him and Oshiomhole, and the
Oshiomhole aide also dead right that the
brawl had nothing to do with the APC national
chair.
However, those who read between the lines
inquire: If there was no crack between them,
why did President Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>
consider it expedient to direct Obaseki to meet
Oshiomhole and entreat him when the
governor met him, last month? What informed
the visit of business magnet, Aliko Dangote
and APC governors, who accompanied
Obaseki to Oshiomhole in Abuja thereafter?
If the meeting ended well, what is the reason
for the two men continuing to play hide and
seek? Why is Obaseki no longer having his
usual meetings with Oshiomhole between
2.00 am to 4.00am when he comes to Abuja?
A knowledgeable source told Saturday
Vanguard: “During his first two years in
office, Obaseki goes to Oshiomhole anytime
he was in Abuja and they, the two of them
only, usually discussed joint matters between
2.00 am to 4.00 am.”
Despite the red herring by both sides,
Saturday Vanguard learned that it is no longer
contestable that there is a fissure between
Oshiomhole and Obaseki, the question now
is who giggles last?
Unquestionably, the problem did not start
as a straight battle between the two; it was
between Obaseki and the forces that believe
in Oshiomhole. A former Political Adviser to
Oshiomhole, now Obaseki’s top man, Mr.
Charles Idahosa, had unambiguously stated
that Oshiomhole was the invisible force
behind the forces arrayed against Obaseki.
Last week
result
Obaseki pulled a clever one at the closing
stages, last week, when he got the Federal
High Court sitting in Benin City to issue an
order restraining the party’s National
Working Committee, NWC, Inspector General
of Police, Commissioner of Police, Mallam
Lanre Issa-Onilu and others from interfering,
disrupting or obstructing the constitutional
duties of the Edo House of Assembly.
Though an interim injunction until October
9 fixed for hearing of the motion on notice,
the order was a political masterstroke that
countered the plan of anti-Obaseki forces the
previous week.
The state House of Assembly turned the new
battleground because Obaseki on June 17
•Obaseki
moved to foil an alleged plan to use the
lawmakers to checkmate him by ensuring
inauguration of the House with a small
number of members, where his anointed one,
Hon Frank Okiye emerged as Speaker.
In fact, out of the 24-member House, only
five were on the governor’s side as at noon,
June 17, but to form a quorum, four members
were said to have been coerced into the
House for inauguration of the House to make
them nine members.
From available information, the Deputy
Governor superintended over the process.
That week ended with the Speaker, Hon
Okiye announcing that the lawmakers were
12-12 with one of the dissenting members,
Hon Emmanuel Agbaje representing Akoko
Edo II constituency taking oath, last Thursday.
A good week it was for Obaseki.
Conclusion
this week
The current week started with Hon Eric
Okaka, one of the four members-elect they
took to the House of Assembly for the June
17 inauguration, stating he was not with the
pro-Obaseki camp and the true position is
that the anti-Obaseki lawmakers were 14 and
pro-Obaseki lawmakers are 12.
If there was still doubt about who is saying
the truth, the anti-Obaseki lawmakers
evidenced their case when 14 of them,
Tuesday, stormed the National Assembly to
demand proper inauguration of Edo
Assembly.
The 14 lawmakers had fled the state after
thugs allegedly loyal to the state government
attacked them at a hotel in Benin City, beating
up four of the elected members, including the
younger brother of the national chair of the
APC, Mr Seid Oshiomhole.
On June 9, the 14 lawmakers protested
their exclusion from the affairs of the
Assembly and abduction of four members to
the House of Representatives. “On 17 June,
2019, they caused the Clerk of the House to
swear-in nine members out of 24 outside the
time recognized by the House rules for
legislative business. We are worried that
given such illegality and growing insecurity
in Edo State, no normal legislative business
can take place unless the House is properly
inaugurated,” the protesting lawmakers said.
They were in charge, this week, with their
visit to the House of Representatives, which
has changed the narrative.
House of Reps sends
warning signals
Following the protest, the House of
Representatives resolved to set up a sevenman
probe panel to investigate all the issues
that led to the inauguration of the House on
June 17. Abdulrazak Namdas (APC,
Adamawa) chairs the committee. Members
rejected the move to take over the assembly
•Oshiomhole
without first investigating the issues.
Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas called for full
investigation of the circumstances and
bringing erring individuals to justice. He
termed as unfortunate the violent turn the
issue has taken and giving Nigerian
democracy a bad name.
It is to unravel the remote and immediate
causes of the crisis tearing the state Assembly
apart, and then seek ways for amicable
resolution.
Feelers already were that the National
Assembly might in the long run, take over
the affairs of the state Assembly.
Edo Speaker reacts
Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly,
Hon, Okiye, in a statement, said, “Apart from
the fact that the Edo Assembly complied with
the Nigerian constitution in the inauguration
of the House, there also exists a court order
with suit number FHC/B/CS/70/2019, FHC/B/
M/285/2019.”
He asserted that the court gave an order
directing the” National Working Committee
of the All Progressives Congress (APC),
Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of
Police in Edo State, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu,
all defendants, their servants and agents not
to interfere, disrupt or obstruct the
constitutional duties of members of the Edo
House of Assembly.”
Continues on Page 13

EDO APC CRISIS: Battle shifts to Abuja
Continues from pg 12
“We welcome the decision of the House
of Representatives to investigate all the issues
surrounding the inauguration of the Edo State
House of Assembly. We are confident that they
would not find anything contrary to the
provisions of the Constitution.
“We humbly advise them to be guided and
not get involved in petty politics to fan the
ego of anybody,” he added.
Previous intervention
The House of Representatives o n March 9,
2016, passed a resolution to take over the
legislative functions of the Kogi State House
of Assembly, following the crisis that broke
out from the tussle for the speakership position
between two factions of the state assembly.
It directed the Inspector-General of Police
to seal up the House of Assembly until the
crisis was resolved, but the Kogi State
Government represented by the state’s
Attorney-General and the House of Assembly,
filed a suit on April 29, 2016 before the
Supreme Court, challenging the House of
Representatives’ resolution
Nevertheless, the Kogi state government
sued the National Assembly and the Attorney-
General of the Federation before the Supreme
Court, asking for an order nullifying the
House of Representatives’ resolution to take
over the legislative functions of the state’s
House of Assembly.
It is roughly positive that the Edo state
government may sue the National Assembly
if it takes over the functions of the state
assembly, but leaders are exploring other
peace options. It is mostly likely that with the
window of dialogue recently opened with the
Senate President, Governor Obaseki may see
eye to eye with his competitors on tactful
options out of the crisis.
Underground battle
A former Commissioner and Attorney
General of the state, Mr. Henry Idahagbon,
told Saturday Vanguard on phone: “It is true
that the House of Representatives has
constitutional power to take over the duties
of any state House of Assembly if there is
chaos, confusion and the House is unable to
discharge its functions.”
Idahagbon, a co-convener of Edo People’s
Movement, EPM, the arrowhead of the forces
massed against Obaseki in the state, said:
“The court cannot stop the House of
Representatives from taking over the
functions of a state House of Assembly
except the conditions precedent were not
met.”
The governor’s political camp already
knows that with Oshiomhole as national chair
of the party, it will be difficult for him to get a
second term ticket just like APC national
leader denied former governor of Lagos
state; Akinwunmi Ambode a second term
ticket.
Obaseki hopes to get APC
ticket. His political camp is
also working on a plan B in
the case of any eventuality.
We gathered that behind
the klieg light in the National
Assembly, both at the Senate
and House of
Representatives, there were
efforts to make Tuesday
motion not see the light of
day. Obaseki and his deputy,
Philip Shuaibu, were in
Abuja to press buttons
For the first time, Governor
Obaseki also agreed behind
closed doors with the Senate
President, Senator Ahmed
Lawan. He also met with the
Deputy Senate President,
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
He had avoided meeting
with the Senate leadership,
last week, but it was practical
this week that he had to.
A source said, “The Senate
President and Speaker of the
House of Representatives do
not have any special interest
in the matter, except getting
the right thing done, but the National
Assembly wants to offer Obaseki the
opportunity to either negotiate for peace or
indicate otherwise.”
“Governor Obaseki was critical of the
National Assembly intervention and
reportedly told Senator Omo-Agege that
Senators might not be welcomed if they come
to take over the functions of Edo assembly.
However, his host reminded him that National
Assembly members would not come to look
for him in Edo if they take over the assembly,
but he would be the person coming to meet
them in Abuja,” the source said.
Saturday Vanguard learned that the Senate
•Oshiomhole
Many governors have
ruled the state from
the time of Midwest to
Bendel and now Edo
state. Before the
advent of the current
governor, Mr. Godwin
Obaseki, Osadebey
from Asaba in presentday
Delta state was the
first Premier
actually stepped down hearing the motion on
Edo state, which the House of Representatives
took on Monday in order for the Senate
President to hear Obaseki and give him
opportunity to make improvements. The battle
to stop the motion in the House of
Representatives was unsuccessful.
Clearly, five House of Representatives
members from Edo state, Hon Ihonvbere,
Hon Akpatason, Hon Oghuma are with the
14 lawmakers, while Hon Dennis Idahosa and
another appear to have pitched tent with
Obaseki.
Prior to moving the motion in plenary, the
five House of Representatives members
disagreed on move to call for takeover of Edo
assembly and probe into the circumstances
that led to the June 17 inauguration.
Osadebey Avenue under
Oshiomhole, Obaseki
OSADEBEY Avenue named after the first
Premier of the defunct Midwest region, the
late Chief Dennis Osadebey is the seat of
power in Edo State. Some people call it
Government House, Benin City.
Many governors have ruled the state from
the time of Midwest to Bendel and now Edo
state. Before the advent of the current
governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Osadebey
from Asaba in present-day Delta state was
the first Premier. It became known as
Bendel state until it was split into Edo and
Delta states with the late Dr Samuel
Ogbemuia, late Prof Ambrose Alli, former
national chairman of All Progressives
Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun,
Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Prof O. Osunbor and
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as military and
civilian governors.
Oshiomhole, a former
President of Nigeria Labour
Congress, NLC, held sway
between 2008 and 2016. He
re-introduced the populist
ideology, which immediately
endeared him to the masses.
He demystified
government and Osadebey
Avenue to the extent that even
when there were protests by
interest groups in the state, he
readily welcomed them.
He once told workers that
being a labour leader; he
would not mind joining them
to protest against his own
government.
In the eight years of
Oshiomhole as governor,
going to Osadebey Avenue
was not a big deal to anybody;
the rich, the poor, the low and
mighty had unhindered
access even some without any
mission, but just for the
pride of that “I am coming
from Osadebey Avenue.”
Oshiomhole, during his
tenure, had course severally
to reprimand his security
aides for denying people entry to
Osadebey Avenue or coming close to him. In
2011 when President Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>,
then of the Congress for Progressives Change,
CPC, visited Osadebey Avenue for his
campaign, not less than 100 commercial motor
cyclists, called Okada rode alongside his
convoy into Government House, an incident
that created a huge security breach
Entrance into Osadebey Avenue was
unrestricted, while politicians and political
appointees created an informal gathering
point under a tree in front of the Governor’s
Office, which they called ‘Parliament’. Some
people just go to ‘Parliament’ to hang around
•Obaseki
for politicians from who they could get
something.
Under the current dispensation, that is
Obaseki administration, it is a completely
different game. Going to Osadebey Avenue
without justifiable reason is a waste of time
for the visitor will not get attention.
Osadebey Avenue now runs like a strictly
government entity, mainly for business and
nothing more. A very prominent Benin Chief
once shared his experience with Saturday
Vanguard, which he said made him stop
visiting Osadebey Avenue without invitation.
“I had visited the governor after his victory
in the Court of Appeal over his governorship
election. I expected to see many party faithful
and leaders celebrating, but I was surprised
that when I got there, the place was without
any sign of celebration, they told me that the
governor was attending to files in his office. I
left and decided never to visit unless invited”.
However, Governor Obaseki said it several
times during his campaign that there was no
reason people should go to Osadebey Avenue
without any cause. He once said that every
political activity would be at the party
secretariat while Osadebey Avenue would be
for governance.
Dress code
For the eight years, Oshiomhole was in
government, the dress code in Osadebey
Avenue was his traditional labour khaki attire
and virtually all political appointees,
including contractors adopted that dress code
as a way of identifying with the governor and
possibly currying favour. In fact, Pidgin
English was as good as the Queen’s English.
With a technocrat like Obaseki in
government, the dress code has changed
drastically from a carefree style to completely
formal style of dressing. Virtually everybody
is smartly dressed like bankers and
pleasantries always straight and brief, no
ceremonies on greetings and visits.
Political patronage
What has also radically changed is political
patronage from Osadebey Avenue, which is
now almost nonexistent. Paying courtesy call
or visit to Oshiomhole was a delight and the
visitors were sure of lunch, either in cash or
in kind. This encouraged virtually every group
and associations scrambling to visit
Oshiomhole, including those without any
clear mission because Oshiomhole, being the
‘peoples’ governor’ “would not allow you
leave Osadebey Avenue without lunch.
A civil society activist, who shared his
experience on how they visited Obaseki and
were not even given water, on the other hand,
said: “There is nothing wrong in that, it is
just about his own style of interacting with
people and the style has actually paid off
because Government House is no longer
crowded.
One source asserted: “Obaseki’s first action
shortly after inauguration was to ban
politicians, especially those from his political
party, the APC, who had no business at the
Denis Osadebey Avenue, as it was during the
days of Oshiomhole. The Government House
has thus been turned into a no - go area for
politicians who have no business there.”
Project Inspection
Inspection of project is another area of very
sharp difference between Governor Obaseki
and Oshiomhole. While Oshiomhole was
continuously embarking on project
inspections, where he also had the
opportunity of mingling with masses and
sharing their feelings and used the
opportunity to tell them what more projects
his government would execute, Obaseki
SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—13
hardly goes on project inspection. He prefers
to rely on other government officials
believing that they would always work to
specification.
Attitude to work
However, one of Obaseki’s appointees said
that change was needed going by where the
state was coming from and where it needed
to go. He said, “There are so many things
out there that people do not know and if we
do not manage things differently, we will run
into crisis and in any case, this is the reason
our predecessor picked Governor Obaseki
because he believed that he has the
managerial capacity to handle the issues and
make a difference. “
“For instance, we were having resources
before, oil prices plummeted, there was no
direct good fund coming into the state again,
so things have to change radically because
things have changed. So entire style required
change, they, the politicians are still
benefiting but not in the same mold it used to
be when Comrade was there. However, they
will still go to Comrade and say he is starving
us.
“The services some of these other persons
needed to survive (referring to political thugs,
who were collecting revenue of behalf of
government), we do not need them now so
the governor had to change the style,” he
added.
An APC leader said, “He made it known to
the foot soldiers of Oshiomhole that he
remains a technocrat, who believes that the
revenue from the Federation Account and the
Internally Generated Revenue were meant for
the development of the state and not for
sharing among politicians.”
“Unlike his predecessor in office, he is on
the quiet side and as a bureaucrat, he believes
in speaking to the files and that his works
will speak for him. Although he chose to
concentrate on his works, when pushed to
the wall, he has proved that he can bite, a trait
being demonstrated in the ongoing crisis
between him and his political godfather,
Oshiomhole over the control of the soul of the
party in the state,” he added.
Oshiomhole’s plus
and minus points
For some political leaders in the state, the
power struggle between Oshiomhole and
Obaseki did not take them unawares for both
are two antithetical individuals. Whereas
Oshiomhole has an experienced labour
background, Obaseki is from the corporate
world before his foray into the foggy waters
of politics.
Even if they were Siamese twins, they have
their individual characteristics and
worldviews on events surrounding them.
Therefore, those who expect them to view
things from the same perspective are to some
extent wrong.
As a man from the labour background,
Oshiomhole believes in populist policies and
sometimes do not believe in protocols when
he wants to achieve results in what is topmost
in his heart.
He demonstrated while in office that he is
a party man, who believes that government
should reward stalwarts that worked and
laboured for the party, but sometimes, he is
very impatient and brash with those who
drooped in the implementation of policies.
A party leader, who spoke to one of our
reporters, said, “The problem started when
governor banned APC leaders from entering
Government House, saying the days of
sharing money at Government House was
over. It is not between him and Oshiomhole,
we were the ones that met Oshiomhole and
asked him to intervene, but he kept saying
we should be patient.”
“If not for Oshiomhole, who insisted, he
was not ready to conduct local government
elections and until now, he has refused to
make board appointments because he does
not want to empower politicians. Some APC
leaders, including the powerful Mrs. Lucy
Omagbon and her husband, Bob Izua and
others have all dumped APC because of
him,” he added.
Obaseki
Multiple sources confirmed to Saturday
Vanguard that Obaseki made it known from
the onset when he assumed power that he
would concentrate on the governance of the
state and would leave the running of the
political party to the politicians with
Oshiomhole as the political leader.
Speaking for himself at last weekend’s
Abuja event, Obaseki said: “If you understand
what happened in Edo state up to 2006, the
lone state actors (referring to thugs) became
empowered by the political class. They were
collecting revenues, determining things. They
were like an alternative government. They
constituted themselves into a vermin that
were used for political activities.”
“Part of the crises we had to deal with was
how to remove these thugs from the streets,
from collecting revenue and intimidating
private businesses,” he said.
A source close to Obaseki said: “Some of
these persons fighting the governor had some
expectations when he entered power, so when
they were not met, they got angry. You could
walk to Oshiomhole when he was
governor as a party complaining about
your problem and leave with something, but
under Obaseki, you cannot get anything.”

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
Ilaje /Ajah
clash :
•Over 10 persons killed , 60 houses burnt, women raped
•Father, son shot dead
• Ajah thugs chased our children, women from school, market – Ilaje community alleges
• It is false, the crisis is between rival factions from Ilaje – Ajah chiefs
By Evelyn Usman
The tranquility hitherto witnessed
by residents of Ilaje and Ajah
communities in Lagos State, is
presently being truncated by the
eruption of crises which have left not less
than 10 persons dead, with others injured.
Houses, including churches were
burnt and women, both married and
singles , allegedly raped by the invaders
who stormed the communities under the
cover of the darkness. Some of the
residents, especially those living close to
the waterside, have fled
their homes.
Visit
When Crime Guard
visited the area last
Wednesday, it was
obvious that all was not
well, owing to the
expressions of fear and
anxiety on the faces of
residents of Ilaje
community, which was
this reporter’s first port of
call.
Residents of the densely
populated community,
peeped through their
windows to have a
glimpse at this stranger,
with mothers calling on
their children who were
playing at the verandas, to
come inside, apparently
thinking this reporter was
their enemy’s spy.
The unprecedented
crowd in one of the
buildings, caught this
reporter’s attention. The
building as later learned, was used as
camp for those displaced, in the course
of the crisis.
Things fall
apart
As if the
invasion was not
enough, the
Police arrested
40 of our people,
including elders
and detained
them
All was going on well with the Ilaje
waterside and Ajah residents, especially
those living at the Ijebu Isale, who are
less than a pole apart each other.
In fact, women from both ends attended
same market- Ajah market and fished
together , as the area was situated close to
seven beaches, while children attended
same public school, at Olomu .
But as time progressed, things began to
fall apart to the extent that the centre
could no longer hold , at the moment.
Unfortunately, the impact of the seeming
cold war between both communities is
having a harsh effect on all, as the Ilajes,
who are settlers in Ajah, alleged that
thugs from Ajah have
chased their children and
women away from the only
school and market, which
they once shared.
Genesis
of trouble
Spokesman for Ilaje
community, Reverend
Oduwole Oluwasegun,
attributed the cause of the
crisis to alleged plan by
traditional rulers in Ajah
to forcefully evacuate his
people and use their
space to construct a royal
estate.
He recalled with
nostalgia, how the Ilajes
settled in Ajah in 1886, as
proven by the tribunal of
Ajah.
He said: “ When we came
here, we met Ojukpese,
Agberoje and Ojukpon. Our
forefathers bought this land
from them. This land was bought and not
leased as being claimed by the Ajahs.
Carnage
“We were living in peace until
November 2011 , when hoodlums led
by some policemen stormed our
community. They shot Mr Augustine
Oronla, an old man who was outside
when the hoodlums struck. They also
killed his son ,Oke Oronla. The hoodlums,
shot Bariga, Ahmed, Timothy and
David, dead. I was the one that
deposited their bodies at the Mainland
General hospital. Many were wounded
and injured . This crime was committed
by Ajah community
“As if the invasion was not enough, the
Police arrested 40 of our people, including
elders and detained them. But justice
prevailed at the end. Before the attack,
there was an attempt to rename Ilaje road
as Odugbese road but I personally stood
against it and the plan was rested”, he
said.
As the Ilajes were smarting from the
first attack, Oluwasegun, alleged that
another attack was launched against
them, in 2012, where about 57 houses
were burnt.
He said , “ The then Commissioner of
Police sent operatives of the Rapid
response Squad , RRS to our rescue.
When the Police came, some persons from
Ajah , including the traditional head were
arrested. Also arrested was head of the
vigilante group who was found in
possession of a Pump Action riffle and
three other hoodlums . These persons
were charged to court but when the DPP
result came, the hoodlums and traditional
head were exonerated from the murder
and released, while the person that was
arrested in possession of weapon was
charged to court over illegal possession of
firearm. But as we speak, nothing has
been heard about the case in court.
Pupils , market
women threatened
“The only public school here , is at
Olomu area of Ajah. But at the moment,
Ajah boys threatened our children not
to come to school. Each time they see
them , they would chase them away. As
we speak, our children are at home and
this is the promotion exam period. We are
appealing to government to please come
to our aid.
“Our women can no longer go to the
market to sell or buy at Ajah market and
our people can’t pass through Ilaje busstop
because of the Ajah hooldlums. If
they sight anyone alighting from the bus
at Ilaje bus-stop, they would attack him or
her, if the person is from Ilaje “, he
alleged.
Cause of Problem
Another reason attributed to the
lingering war was the dredging
activities at the riverside. In his
explanation, spokesman for the Ilaja
quarters said that the dredging
company started working at Ilaje
waterside in 2015 but alleged that they
did not benefit from the returns
collected then, despite the fact that his
people who are predominantly
fishermen and women were fishing
there before the dredgers came.
He said, “ Ilaje did not benefit from
the first dredgers until October 2018
and out of nine beaches where
dredgers operated in the Ilaje
waterside, Ajah was controlling six
beaches while three were for the Ilaje
people. Even at that, the Bale at Ajah
still claimed royalties on the three
beaches .
Ajah community have painted Ilaje
people black before Eti-Osa indigenes
and Lagosians as a whole. But my
question is, are Ilajes, not part of the
Yoruba race? Why should we be treated
like outcasts?”
Our houses were razed
One of the residents in Ilaje
community, Daniel Akinokunuwa, said
the crisis left an indelible memory in
his family, as his house was completely
razed during one of the invasions.
Continues on page 15

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—15
Over 10 persons killed, 60 houses burnt, women raped
Continues from page 14
He said,” I am grateful to be alive to
narrate the incident of that
unforgettable night. I live in Ajah-
Isale Ijebu but I was not at home when
the hoodlums stormed. If I were,
perhaps I would not have been alive to
narrate the ordeal. By the time I came
back they had already burnt my house.
They also burnt some houses close to
mine.”
Another victim, Apostle Adewale
Ebiwa , said his own house was also
razed.
Counter
accusation
However, when Crime Guard visited
the Ajah community, this reporter was
also greeted with forlorn looks on faces
of residents who alleged that they
were also under siege by hoodlums from
Ilaje.
Those residing at Ijebu Isale, close to
the water side, alleged that hoodlums
usually came on robbery spree at night
to dispossess them of valuables . They
said, women: both married and
single ladies were gang- raped in the
process by hoodlums from Ilaje.
There were also some houses that
were burnt but they were not as many
as those at the Ilaje end.
Crime Guard saw bullet holes on the
walls and windows in some houses at
Ijebu Isale, with some louvers shattered
while some residents had abandoned
their homes.
At the palace of the traditional head of
Ajah, the chiefs in council were seen
gathered to deliberate on the issue at
hand.
The traditional head was said to be
absent but the General Secretary of
Ajokun and Ogunsemo Chieftaincy
family( the two ruling families in
Ajah), Alhaji Kabiru Yekinni, described
allegation of attacks on Ilaje
community by Ajah youths as false.
Rather, he stated that the trouble was
between rival factions in Ilaje.
According to him, “ The real problem
started from two siblings at Ilaje. We
gathered that fight started between
two siblings who are members of the
Eiye and Aiye cult groups. When one
of them was having naming ceremony,
both invited their groups to the party
and that was how the fight started
and the backlog came in to Ajah . So,
Ilaje boys hid under that, came into our
side to rob and cart away property
of people and burnt
Houses
We were shocked to hear that the cause
of the problem is over move to sell their
place and turn it into a royal garden.
Where they got that information from still
baffle us”
CP Muazu
wades in
Determined to ensure peace in the
area, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos
State Police Command , CP Zubairu
Muazu, met with both parties last
month, where he settled the
misunderstanding between them. A
peace accord was reportedly signed by
leaders from both sides .
But when all was thought to be fine,
the invasion continued . Yekini, said
alleged that the invasion against his
end , continued for three days with
hoodlums from Ilaje entering through
the riverside.
He said, “ a renewed onslaught
against us started on June 18, 2019.
The Bale is not resident in Ajah but
he was contacted on phone.
Immediately he got that call, he called
the Area Commander and the DPO .One
of our boys that worked in Ayetoro area,
named Oloyo, who was not a native of
Ajah was killed. Those who attempted
to recover his body were shot and one
of them died instantly , while the
second person died at the hospital
making it three people that lost their
lives. Ajah boys were angry at the
attack but It took the Baale great
of effort to pacify them”.
Crime Guard learned that a team of
policemen who arrived the area to quell
the situation reportedly met stiff
resistance from the aggrieved youths,
until a reinforcement led by the Area
Commander, ACP Gbolahon, came.
Attack on pupils, female traders false
Yekini, described allegation that
children and market women were being
chased from school and market as lies.
He said, “ There is nothing like that,
the baba Oja of Ajah is here to attest
to my claim. On the day the fracas
started, the school children were locked
in a place to prevent them from being
hurt. Even, when the problem
started, it didn’t extend to the upper
part of Ajah, where you have the
market, it was only in Isale Ijebu,
here, and Olokunla that the problems
were. But people started moving out
and locked their houses and shops out
of fear”.
Police
Effort
To ensure that peace reigned in the
community, CP Muazu, stationed two
Armoured Personnel Carriers: one
each, at the entrance of both
communities. Aside this, patrol
policemen were also stationed inside
the communities, particularly at the
riverside , where hoodlums come
through, to forestall any likely invasion
or reprisal attacks.
Police avert bloodbath in Lagos
Arrest 11 suspected cultists on revenge mission
•Suspected cultists
By Evelyn Usman
Bloodbath was averted in Ejigbo area of
Lagos, following the arrest of 11
suspected cultists who had planned to
avenge the death of one of their own by
unleashing mayhem on rival cult members
and residents.
The suspected armed cultists, as
gathered, had assembled inside the
changing room of the Ejigbo mini stadium,
waiting for the right time to strike, last
Sunday, being July 7 (7/7).
By the way, cultists have special dates such
as June 6, (6/6) and July 7 (7/7) where they
avenge death of their members in different
parts of Lagos.
Ejigbo, was picked as one of the battlefields
, with alleged plans to burn down houses
where rival members lived.
But a team of policemen led by the Divisional
Police Officer in-charge of Ejigbo, CSP
Okuwobi Olabisi, some officials of the Lagos
Neigbourhood Safety Corp and Vigilante
Group of Nigeria swooped on the suspects
before the carried out their mission.
Some of them managed to scale the fence
but five of them were arrested. Six others,
were reportedly arrested during patrol round
the community.
A locally made pistol, three
unexpended
cartridges , four
scissors , hammers , a
yellow beret with the
insignia of Aiye cult
and some quantities
of weeds suspected to
be Indian Hemp ,
were recovered from
those arrested on the
field.
Identities of the
suspects are :
Nurudeen Usman,
Onyedikachi
Tennyson Obinna,
Augustine Chima,
Azeez Busliu,
Kingsley Edet,
Kingsley Onuoha, C h a r l e s
Onyekachi , Loveday Joshua and
Lawrence Umorelym. Another identified
as Aro Gaddafi, 53, was alleged to be selling
weeds suspected to be Indian hemp to his
colleagues.
Some of the suspects said that Ejigbo was
their target for 7/7 because one of their
members was killed in a recent fight there.
Police sources hinted that the arrest
followed directives from the Commissioner
of Police, CP Muazu Zubair’s , that
Divisional Police Officers in Lagos must
prevent and thwart cult related activities in
the State.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
Kogi: Coast clears for
Bello as Ametuo group
withdraws Court case
By Omeiza Ajayi
If the political atmosphere of Kogi
state, especially with regards to the
reelection prospects of Gov. Yahaya
Bello of the ruling All Progressives
Congress APC had appeared hazy or
fuzzy, last week’s decision of the National
Working Committee NWC of the party to
adopt indirect method for its forthcoming
primaries appeared to have opened a new
vista of hope for Nigeria’s youngest
governor.
Often regarded as the “Confluence of
Opportunities”, recent political
developments in the state had made it
appear more as a Confluence of
Confusion owing to the crisis in the
ruling APC and the inability of the main
opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP
to get its groove back and provide a
formidable platform ahead of the
November elections.
As for the APC, the party had been
broken into factions with the erstwhile
state chairman, Hadi Ametuo and the
current party chair, Abdullahi Bello
leading different factions. While Gov.
Bello aligned with the Abdullahi Bello
group, the Hadi Ametuo group had the
backing of some party stakeholders like
Sen. Alex Kadiri and others some of who
had defected to the PDP before the last
general elections. In fact, at a point, Kogi
West senator, Dino Melaye belonged to
this latter group.
APC NEC position
on Primaries
The APC Constitution provides for three
modes of primaries viz; direct, indirect or
consensus.
On assumption of office, the Comrade
Adams Oshiomhole-led NWC had listed
conditions for the choice of primary to be
adopted in states for
elections. This was
announced after a
meeting of the
National Executive
Council NEC of the
party on August 30,
2018.
The NEC had
adopted the following
position:
“Primary elections
into all elective offices
shall be by Direct
Primaries; NEC
resolved to adopt
Direct Primaries for
the nomination of the
Presidential
candidate and all
other Primaries; The
Party’s constitution
though provides for
Indirect Election and
Consensus, however,
the use of Indirect
The governor advised
those who are
aggrieved with him to
close ranks and join
him to deliver the
state to the APC
during the
governorship
elections
Primaries is
conditional and
dependent on logistic
impediments;
peculiarities and need of a given State
that makes it unable to use Direct
Primaries.
“The State Executive Committee SEC
shall in consultation with aspirants and
other critical stakeholders of the Party in
a given State forward for the
consideration and approval by the
National Working Committee NWC, if
Indirect Primaries is to be adopted. The
adopted mode shall now be applied to all
categories of the Party’s Primary Elections
i.e. State Assembly, Senate, House of
Representatives and for the Governorship
Elections.
“The request for Indirect Primaries must
be signed by majority of the State
Executive Committee and critical
stakeholders in attendance at the meeting
where such resolution is reached”.
Chaotic Primaries,
electoral losses
Comrade Oshiomhole had recently
come under increasing attacks for
losing some APC states to the
opposition, especially with the
party’s resort to direct primaries
despite the obvious shortcomings
inherent in the process. The cases
of Zamfara, Rivers and others have
been listed as reasons why direct
primary is not feasible for the APC
as presently constituted.
For the APC, there is a clear lack of an
authentic party membership register.
After the merger in the lead up to the 2015
general elections, the party had
claimed to have 12 million members
having reportedly registered no
fewer than 100 persons in each
of the 120, 000 Polling Units of the
Independent National Electoral
Commission INEC. Then mid last year, it
decided to embark on fresh registration
of new members as well as revalidation
of old members, an exercise that saw its
membership reportedly boosted to almost
16 million.
The challenge has however been the
inability of the states to come up with a
clean copy of the membership register,
without which direct primaries as
canvassed by some aspirants cannot hold.
INEC weighs in
The Independent
National Electoral
Commission INEC has
on its part outlined
measures to be
undertaken by political
primaries to have a
recognized primary
election, among which
is the usage of a valid
voter register for such
exercise.
Chairman of the
Commission, Prof.
Mahmood Yakubu
disclosed this recently
in Abuja during a
postelection review
meeting with leaders of
registered political
parties in the country.
According to him, the
conduct of party
primaries and
nomination of
candidates for the 2019
General Elections was
indeed
very
acrimonious resulting
in a number of court
cases on the participation or otherwise of
political parties and candidates in
elections in many constituencies.
Yakubu recalled his earlier disclosure
that at the moment, there are 809 cases
challenging the conduct of primaries by
political parties in regular courts across
the country, explaining that the figure is
more than the number of petitions
challenging the conduct of the main
election currently before the Election
Petition Tribunals nationwide.
“Where political parties opt for direct
primaries, there should be proper register
of members otherwise it will amount to
conducting an election without the voters’
register”, he declared.
Court case
withdrawn
At present, there are about 58
governorship aspirants in the APC in
Kogi state out of which 20 of them had
petitioned the party’s NWC, kicking
against indirect primary.
While they argued that going with
indirect primaries was like handing over
the ticket to Gov. Bello on a platter, they
cited a court case instituted by the Hadi
Ametuo group as reason why the indirect
method cannot be used. They argued that
there are two factions of the party and that
the court is yet to determine which of the
factions is valid, a development that
makes it uncertain as to the choice of
delegate list to be used for indirect
primaries.
Since the primaries would hold on
August 29, the aggrieved aspirants
argued that the process could be nullified
with the court judgement slated for
October 2.
Interestingly, 37 governorship aspirants
of the party have also petitioned the
NWC, cautioning against a “change of
formula in the middle of the game”.
The aspirants who were at the national
secretariat on Thursday to submit their
petition in support of indirect primaries,
urged the party hierarchy not to impose any
aspirant on the people.
Spokesman of the aspirants, Comrade
Amade Gowon Edime said “it will take a lot
of logistic arrangements to organize a direct
primary for the over half a million members
of the APC in the state”.
On his part, the man who instituted the
case ab initio has now announced its
withdrawal.
Alhaji Hadi Ametuo faulted other aspirants
who had kicked against the use of indirect
method of primaries, accusing them of
impersonation.
Ametuo said as the erstwhile party chairman,
he had personally deposed to an affidavit and
instituted a case against the governor’s
•Gov.
Yahaya
Bello
recognized Alhaji Abdullahi Bello-led Kogi
state APC, adding that he has withdrawn the
case from court to allow for a landslide victory
for the party in the coming elections.
He said; “I am the immediate past state
chairman of APC. I am a bonafide member
of APC. I built the party in the state. I distanced
myself when I felt that I and my people were
not carried along. The former national
chairman initiated a lot of reconciliation moves
but there was no headway. Gov. Bello took it
upon himself to initiate peace moves. We met
him when he called us on June 26. I and my
team met him and he said he is ready to
reconcile with us. The next day we met with
the stakeholders of the party and explained
our position to them.
“I was the one that took the party to court
and I said what next after reconciliation? So, I
withdrew because I cannot destroy my own
party. I single handedly went to the court to
file the suit and depose to an affidavit. How
can those who who did not initiate the case
say the case is still in court?”, he queried.
Gov. Bello on his part said it was criminal
for anyone to have gone to court to depose to
an affidavit to continue a case that had been
withdrawn by the former party chairman.
“Had Ametuo was the leader of his own
group, I don’t want to call it a faction because
there were never factions in Kogi APC. But
his own group felt aggrieved that they were
never carried along in the scheme of things.
For us as a party to go into the elections and
win overwhelmingly, we has to bring
everybody on board.
“The issue of Kogi state APC being in court
has been withdrawn. Any body that is
parading himself to say that there is a case
in court, I will rather advise such person
not to tow the path of criminality because
you cannot depose to an affidavit in the
absence of the right person who is supposed
to do so. Kogi state is not known for
criminality. APC is not known for criminality”,
he added.
The governor advised those who are
aggrieved with him to close ranks and join
him to deliver the state to the APC during
the governorship elections.
Despite assurances by the NWC to look
into the petition as submitted by the 20
aggrieved aspirants, there is no full-proof
guarantee that the body would reverse
itself and go for direct primaries.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019 — 17

18 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
Ini Edo:
Life after her
crashed marriage
Continues from page 17
In her spare time, Ini Edo
engages in many charitable
causes. She has many causes
close to her heart that she gives
both her time and resources to
and is known for her big heart.
The glamorous star is also
known for her knockout style.
Never one to do things by
halves, Ini is all about highoctane
style and she always
looks perfectly turned out. Not
resting on her oars, the actress
is indeed living her dream more
as a single than as a once
married woman. Her
achievements in the shortest
time would shock you. Reports
had it that the happening
actress had fleets of posh cars
in her garage and some houses.
Her most notable house is
located in Lekki, Lagos, which
she bought after her divorce.
The list of cars in her garage
ranges from a Range Rover
SUV, a BMW and a rather
masculinity-looking car, a G65
Mercedez which she bought for
more than a half the price of her
other cars, N40 million. It was
also rumoured that the actress
recently added a bullet proof
Lexus to her fleet of cares.
For anything, Ini Edo has no
reason to brood over her
crashed marriage. In fact, one
wonders if she ever remembers
that she was once married. A
visit to her Instagram
page or any of her social
media platforms, could
indicate what this
beautiful actress is up
to: A captivating display
of fashion, style and
luxury, all rolled into
one. At 37, Ini Edo has
surpassed the
expectations of her
critics.
When it comes to
beauty and style, the
actress has dished
the ultimate pepper
stew and her over
five million fans
are licking as
much as they
can. She's
becoming a
fashion icon.
From colourful
outfits, to black and red
numbers, Ini carefully chooses
her colours and has taught
everyone a lesson in looking fly
and owning it.
Known for playing daring and
captivating roles in movies, the
actress is said to have eyes for
handsome and powerful men.
She was once romantically
linked to the likes of Jim Iyke,
Koko Master, D’banj, but the
rumours were either denied by
Ini,or unfounded.
Recently, the Brown Sugar, as
•Ini Edo
she fondly calls herself,
celebrated her 37 birthday, and
it was a day to remember by
some of her friends and family
members who turned up for the
birthday bash. After the birthday
bash, the actress did not fail to
wet her fans' appetite with
super stunning birthday shoot
photos, which she posted on
her Instagram page. It goes to
say that Ini Edo rarely missed
anything in marriage, even as
it's rumoured that she's got
another brand new butterfly in
her stomach.
US-based Nigerian storyteller, Ben Amushie, Hollywood producer set
to shoot USD20m film on world’s deadliest disease
By BENJAMIN NJOKU
Popular
Hollywood
producer, Ernest
Harris is currently shopping
for a huge sum of USD20
million to produce an action
packed film, ‘Universal
Donor’ that is bound to take
the world by storm.
The film, which will be shot
in three continents,including
America, Africa, the Middle
East and Europe is scripted
by a United States-based
Nigerian story teller, poet
and playwright, Ben Eze
Amushie. It will be produced
in partnership with RockCity
Entertainment.
‘ When I was approached
for this film, I was
immediately hooked,’ says
Harris. ‘ The script is
absolutely one of the best I
have ever read. And that
saying a lot because I get a
lot of scripts offered to me.
And when I saw the list
of
the
International
film stars the
producers are
targeting, I
was definitely on
board. I am very
excited about this
project,’ he added.
‘Universal Donour’ is
Amushie’s yet to published
novel, which is being adapted
into a film. It’s an action
thriller that explodes with
fury in the deserts of Iraq,
sun kissed city of New York
and remote jungles of
Nigeria.
•Amuchie
Medical
researchers,
doctors
2Baba, Mercy
Johnson, others for
MIDEA Awards
From time immemorial, the
recognition of
outstanding performance in
the entertainment industry
made and is still making news
headlines throughout the
world.
On this premise,
Alphatainment Nigeria
Limited is introducing
and bringing to the
table, Middle Belt
Entertainment
Awards also known
as MIDEA Awards
to recognizes
outstanding
celebrities
from
the
•Mercy Johnson
and politicians work
feverishly to find a cure for a
virus that is wreaking havoc
in New York City.
The white-knuckle action is
propelled by an American
military hero who was
betrayed by his own in Iraq.
The story unfolds as a
terrible and unknown virus
threatens world order with a
disease with no known
treatment protocol. To
contain the virus, the
American President and his
allies, order a military
blockade of Nigeria, where
the virus was isolated for the
first time.
No fly zone is quickly
imposed ; all ports of entry
are shut down, cutting off a
major oil supply to key
western countries in the
Middle Belt Areas annually.
Just as the Performing
Musicians Association of
Nigeria (PMAN), The
Nigerian Entertainment
Award (NEA), MTV Africa
Music Awards, and
numerous others have hosted
with excitement and ardour,
recognising talent at its best,
the MIDEA awards is set to
distinguish itself in the field
of celebrating great men and
women in the industry.
According to the
organisers, the targeted
states are Benue , Plateau,
Taraba, Niger, Kogi,
Nasarawa, Kwara,
Adamawa and the
Federal Capital
Teritory (FCT).
While the concept
aims to recognise
artistes and
entertainers
from the
Middle
belt, it will
in general
inspire other
u p c o m i n g
entertainers to
excel in their line
of work. Several
entertainers have
emerged from
the Middle
b e l t ,
including
Tu Baba
(Tuface)
Idibia,
M e r c y
Johnson-
Okogie and
others.
The event would
also see top notch
performances
from the middle
belt A-Listers.
process.
In an exclusive chat with
NollyNow, Amushie who
was in the country recently,
said the essence of the film
is to change, if not just for a
brief moment, the negative
narrative usually associated
with Nigeria. “This is
because many a time, the
stone that the builders
refused goes on to become
the head cornerstone,” he
added.
According to Amushie,
he’s bargaining with his
American partners to
feature some A-list
Nollywood stars in the film,
which shooting will
commence as soon as they
are able to raise the needed
fund for the project.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13 , 2019 — 19
Avala
•Timi
Dakolo
Moves es to get t evict
victed
ed
housemate e Avala ala back in
BBNaija house thicken
en
ACAMPAIGN by some fans
of evicted BBNaija
housemate by name of Avala has
hit top gear and they are
stopping at nothing to see the
beautiful singer back in the
house. Many of them feel the
housemate was hard done by as
she appeared to be one of the
most promising in the house.
“ Let’s go. We need Avala back
in the house to give then
pepper”, says a banner on the
girl’s Instagram wall with hashtag
#bringbackavala.
Avala was so alive and vibrant
in the house no one thought the
I can’t be raped twice by same man
unless I enjoyed it — Charity Nnaji
THE circumstances surrounding the rape saga of Busola
Dakola and Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of COZA have
generated all sorts of debates and conversations. In view of
the claim by Busola Dakolo that the pastor
raped her three times at different
occasions, Saturday Quickie took the
question of whether it’s possible or not
for a woman not under captivity to be
raped three times, at different times
by the same man to town to sample
opinions.
To Abuja-based actress and
producer, Charity Nnaji, she believes
it is an impossibility and posited that
for a woman not under captivity to be
raped three times at different times by
same man, she must have enjoyed it.
“ The answer is capital no. There’s
no way a woman can be raped by the
same man three times if she’s not held
captive by that man. If I was raped
by a man , so to say, and I
allowed him to do it again, it
means I enjoy the sex. No
man can rape me even
twice. If it happens then it
means I’m enjoying the
sex,” she said.
•Charity Nnaji
•Omawumi
Past
astor or Fat
atoyinbo
in
trouble as Timi Dakolo
olo
takes to boxing
SINCE the rape saga between COZA pastor,
Biodun Fatoyinbo and Busola Dakolo, wife of
soulful singer, Timi Dakolo hit the headlines there
have been several interpretations. While some have
been rather sombre and frank others have been
comical with traces of cynicism. And perhaps, the
most mischievous and hilarious interpretations of
the saga came in the wake of Timi Dakolo posting a
video of himself and a trainer boxing.
As soon as the video came up there was a deluge
of comments suggesting that the singer could only
have been training in boxing in preparation for a
showdown with the COZA pastor, whom he had
dared to do his worst in the wake of the rape
allegation made against the pastor by his wife.
“We gonna beat up that pastor sincerely ,” one
follower by name of Omaobilo commented.
Another said, “Run Pastor Krest .”
“Coza coza coza!!!! The sound of the punches ,”
added another follower
However, a handful of them cautioned that the
singer was only having his routine exercise and
people should not attach it to his current situation.
“Majority of people here don’t have sense.
Someone is doing his daily routine of exercise and
you are saying XYZ . Must you guys make use of
someone’’s situation to hit at them. Naija tuwale na
wa na real wa,” says a comment.
eviction gong could
come her way. All eyes
were on Ike and
Omashola who the Big
Brother had told to pack
their bags following their
fight over Bet9ja coins.
No doubt since the girl
went into the Big Brother
house, her popularity has
soared. On her first day
in the house the
number of her followers
was 12.5 thousand
against the 47.5
thousand she
currently enjoys.
•Omawumi
I’m prettier than
75% of Nigerian
women — Bobrisky
NIGERIAN cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye
known as Bobrisky has once boasted that
he’s prettier than 75% of Nigerian
women and seems to be upgrading
his\her beauty day in day out.
In a most recent post the cross
dresser who is becoming more
and more of a transgender every
day given his claim that he has cut
off his manhood and that his blooming boobs
are real and not prosthetic, is more worried that
he’s gaining weight as his birthday approaches,
August 31st.
“ Pretty but getting fat. I want to stay sexy for
my birthday August 81st. I want all my
dress to look hot” he says.
Many of his followers on
Instagram have come to accept him
as a woman, a pretty one at that.
“ Babe you way prettier than
other girls,” a comment greeted a
picture he posted recently.
But some dissents still rock her
page and wouldn’t give him a time
of day.
“ Show us your real face , every time
make up, are you not tired of fake life,”
another comment railed in reaction to his
picture.
How Waje
celebrated
World Bikini day
NIGERIAN pop singer, Waje joined
thousands of women around the
world to celebrate the world bikini day on
Sunday with bikini picture of herself which
speaks volumes of words.
“Celebrating #nationalbikiniday and
this summer will take whichever location
and bawdy I give it,” she wrote.
I’m exploring my
many sides, says
Omawumi with
sensual picture
MUSIC
powerhouse,
Omawumi has been
posting some sensual pictures
lately which is totally out of place
to the character she has built over
the years. Since the first knockout
picture she posted on social media
to announce the coming of her LP
“In Her Feeling” there has been
no stopping her, giving rise to
questions being asked.
Now she has answered, “I
remember when I started out in
the industry. My dresses were
so short, my mum would say I
use handkerchiefs to sew my
dresses! Over time,
especially when I became
a mom and a wife, I
became conservative and
‘covered’ with my sense
of style and music. Now
you might ask...’what is
she doing?’ My answer is
my current look is
intentional in connection to my
current sound. ‘will it be
permanent?’ - I don’t think so?
who knows? I’m just exploring
my many sides and loving
myself in the process....I’m just
Omawonder,” she said.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
By Tolulope Abereoje
08134730794 (sms only)
tolulopeomotayo3179@gmail.com
My friends are not
allowed to call my
husband
– Funke Akindele
It is no news that every married
woman always device ways to guard
their husbands from prying eyes of
other ladies and award winning
Nollywood actress and producer, Funke
Akindele-Bello is no exception
In a recent interview with TVC’s
popular program, Your View, Jenifa as
she is fondly called drew a clear cut
boundary between her friends and her
husband as she said that it is
unacceptable for any of her friends to get
over familiar with her husband to the
extent of making casual phone calls or
text messages to him.
The talented thespian explained that she
believes her friends need to respect her
personal space and so there is no need to
get cozy with her husband unnecessarily
The difference
between a feminist
and a bitter woman
—Stella Damasus
Talented Nollywood actress, Stella
Damasus seems to have had
enough of people writing off feminists
as bitter women and so has decided to
clear the air on it.
In a recent post she shared on her
page, Damasus who is a proud
feminist begged people to stop
blurring the lines and stand for the
truth. She stated that a bitter woman
is not same as a woman fighting for
gender equality as the show of
bitterness somewhat rubbishes the
fight of women who desire to see their
gender progress.
“There is a huge difference between
being a feminist and being a bitter
woman. Don’t blur the lines please. We
can’t allow some who are angry start
to create a general impression of what
we are trying to achieve,” she said.
with phone calls except they’ve been
trying to reach her and she’s
unreachable or it’s his birthday.
“For me, personal space is personal
space. My best friend has to stay in
her lane. Yes, your friend can come to
your house and your husband can
know your best friend, he can say
hello but why would she be calling
my husband on the phone? Except
it’s his birthday or maybe you’ve been
trying to call me and I’m unreachable.
Single or married, my friend is my
friend because I trust my husband not
to misbehave” she said.
Funke is married to singer and
producer, Abdulrasheed Bello a.k.a
JJC Skillz and they are blessed with
twin babies.
It was a prank! – Reekado
Banks reacts to live TV
embarrassment
•Reekado
Banks
Stella Damasus
MAVIN records superstar,
Reekado Banks has reacted to
a viral video on the internet in
which a supposed fan called in and
claimed that the singer slept with her
and dumped her afterwards, and
called it a prank.
Reekado was a guest on a live TV show
during the week when an unidentified
lady called and said the Easy crooner
had sex with her and refused to call
her back. When confronted by the
presenters, the lady insisted that she
knew what she was talking about while
accusing them of trying to cover up
her claims.
The singer has however debunked the
lady’s claims and revealed that it was
just a prank call which didn’t go as
planned, adding that he does not like
where it is headed.
“It is truly a problem when a media
platform begins to pursue shock value
at the expense of an artiste’s image.
That was a prank call on a TV show. It
was funny then, but I do not like where
this is headed,” he said.
Peruzzi, Swanky
Jerry acquire
new rides
It seems to be raining cars
this season and not just
cars, white-colored multi
million naira exotic jeeps, as
DMW singer, Peruzzi and
celebrity stylist, Jeremiah
Ogbodo aka Swanky Jerry
recently acquired a Mercedes
Benz and a customized Range
Rover Autobiography
respectively.
Peruzzi officially joined the
league of Mercedes Benz
F
•Bitto
•Funke
Akindele
Ex-BB Naija
housemate, Bitto
begins celibacy
journey
ormer Big Brother Naija
housemate, Bitto Bryan
Arumun recently made his
intention to be celibate
henceforth public on his
Instagram page.
The 26-year old OAP revealed
that he decided to walk the path
I will kill a rapist
on the spot if I
see one – 9ice
Veteran musician, Abolore Adegbola
Akande popularly known as 9ice in a
recent interview lent his voice on the
rape saga currently making the rounds in the
country.
The Party Rider crooner bluntly expressed his
displeasure over the trend and wondered why a
man would rape a woman when he could woo her
and get her consent or at most patronize
commercial sex workers. He came to the
conclusion that as a way to curb this menace,
anyone caught in the act of rape should be killed
immediately.
“No to rapists. There are lots of ladies out
there. Don’t you have mouth to woo a lady? If I
see a rapist I will kill him. Both rapists and
pedophiles should be killed immediately they
are caught. Why will you force a lady to have
sex with you in this time that there are lots of
ladies all over the place? Even if you cannot woo
them, if you have 5k, 10k, 20k it is enough to get
prostitutes, they are plenty at Ikeja. What is
wrong is wrong, no matter who is caught in the
act; such a person should be beaten to death. A
rapist is worse than a robber because those
ladies might not remain sane for the rest of their
lives,” he said.
owners and he shared the
news on his Instagram page
with a photo of him sitting
on the car and simply said
“new whip thank God.”
Swanky Jerry on the other
hand, turned a year older on
July 4 and decided to get
himself the customized
Range Rover to mark his
birthday. He also took to his
Instagram page to express
his joy.
“Gift from the sky. Custom
takes time but patience is a
virtue my birthday gift
arrived,” he said.
of abstinence after a lot of
personal struggles and
hesitations. He however
pointed out that his
decision to be celibate was
influenced by his religious
stand and personal
principles.
“Today marks the
beginning of my celibacy
journey. After a long
period of uncertainties
beclouded thoughts, wavy
emotions, religious
biases and personal
principles, my long
journey on this uneasy
road begins,” he wrote.
Bitto is not the first
celebrity to publicly declare
their stance on the issue of
abstinence from sex, and
while many stick to their
decision, others end up
disappointing popular
expectations. Many have
questioned why he decided
to embark on such a tough
journey, as they worry he
may find it hard to keep up
with its accompanying
challenges. Others however
urged him on.
Peruzzi

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—21
By AYO ONIKOYI 08052201215
onikoyi68@gmail.com
Why Osinbajo's wife insists on
watching the “Area Boy” play
Thunderous shouts and
yells could be heard from
miles outside the
Congress Hall of the Transcorp
Hilton, Abuja, on Wednesday, 26
June 2019. It was the venue of
the long-awaited National
Conference for the MTN-led Anti
Substance-Abuse Programme
and the yells and screams were
the powerful voices of the actors
of the Riveting-Companydirected
Area Boy stage play.
After a compelling
performance, the play received
thunderous applause from the
hundreds of guests, which
included the wife of the Vice
President of Nigeria, H.E. Mrs.
Oludolapo Osinbajo; politician
and businessman, Mr. Tonye
Cole; Wife of Kebbi State
Governor, Hajia Zainab Bagudu,
etc.
Osinbajo later explained that
she had insisted on watching the
play, which is based on the perils
of substance abuse, because she
wanted to recollect past
experience. “I wanted to watch
the drama to relive again the
times that I spent working in the
slums of Lagos amongst the area
boys, amongst prostitutes,
amongst the rejects, among the
lost.”
The drama was so life-like that
she could pinpoint aspects of her
experience in the dramatic piece.
“As the drama went on, I could
identify some people that I knew
so many years ago,” she explained
as she went on to describe the
characters from the show that
resonated with her.
The second and last performance
of the day was an energetic musical
show by actor, singer and antisubstance
abuse advocate, David
Jones David, who joined the trail
last month (June) with
outstanding performances at
tertiary institutions in Imo and
River states. The singer held on
to the crowd’s attention like a
master puppeteer as they sang
along to his hits such as 'Even
Though', 'Hello Doctor', 'Gbana
Na Bastard', etc.
Charles Granville’s new movie
‘Locked’ hits cinemas August 9
Talented Nollywood actor and recording artiste, Charles Granville appears to
be breaking new grounds with the release of his new movie, Locked. The
movie which will hit the Nigerian cinemas by August 9, 2019 features other great acts like
Hilda Dokubo, Belinda Efah, Abayomi Alvin and popular music star, Sunny Neji.
Directed by gifted Nollywood film director, Simon Peacemaker, this long anticipated thriller
is a stimulating account of affection and tragedy with a strong emphasis on mental health
awareness, capturing vividly one of the less discussed but an integral part of human existence.
A young lady who takes her fiancée to visit her parents discover that her mother killed her
father in a psychotic fit after she finds out he's about to leave her for a younger woman. Upon
this discovery, her mother holds her and her fiancée captive.
According to Charles Granville who doubles as the producer and the executive producer of
the movie, mental issues is real but it has not been taken seriously in this part of the world.
He emphasized that Africans must be educated about the realities of mental health issues
and that depression is real. “People are going into depression and it is causing them to
behave in an unstable way, going as far as committing suicide. These are real issues around
us which we all need to pay proper attention to. ‘Locked movie’ touches on the effects of child
abuse, spousal abuse and its traumatic effect on the children, depression, suicide and
dissociative identity disorder also known as multiple personality disorder”.
Speaking on why he chose to produce a film in line with ‘Mental Illness’, he said it is part of
the efforts to build awareness around the plight in the society. “A lot of names have been given
to people suffering from various mental issues and that is their understanding of what that
condition is. People need to be more aware and identify with with the people going through
these issues rather than attacking them because they don’t understand what they are going
through and the danger it exposes them to. Rather than resort to calling them all sorts of
names, they need our support and we must learn how to help them in these critical situations”.
The new movie, Locked is touted to be one of the best movies to be released in 2019
judging by the reviews of the trailer, caliber of cast, crew and the story. It’s scheduled to
premiere in three Nigerian cities- Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt.
The movie is also already enjoying rave reviews from popular Nigerian celebrities on
social media including Julius Agwu and popular movie critic, Charles Novia who have
encouraged people to make out time to see the movie in the cinemas across Nigeria
from August 9.
BBNaija: Tacha,
Ella, KimOprah,
Sir Dee, Mercy
make
nomination list
Following the surprise
double eviction of Avala
and Isilomo last Sunday, the
housemates in Big Brother
Naija ‘Pepper Dem’ have
taken part in their first
live Monday
Nomination Show
which has resulted
in Tacha, Ella,
KimOprah, Mercy
and Sir Dee going up for possible eviction next week Sunday.
The Nomination Show on Monday night was marked by
suspense and tension as the housemates individually made their
way to the diary room to nominate two housemates each for
possible eviction. At the end of the process, Tacha topped the
nomination list with a total of eight votes with Ella coming next
with six votes. Frodd received four votes whilst the duo of
KimOprah and Sir Dee each had two votes.
After the reveal, Biggie called on the housemate with the veto
power to save and replace a nominated housemate with another.
Ironically, that housemate happened to be Frodd, a fellow nominee!
He makes use of the 20 seconds provided by Biggie to save himself
and made a surprise replacement with Mercy. Mercy automatically
becomes nominated for possible eviction alongside Tacha, Ella,
KimOprah and Sir Dee come Sunday, July 14.
As expected, the first Nomination Show has generated
significant chatter on social media with fans already canvassing
support for their favourite housemate to stay in the house.
Young Divine Auta Suchet
has always dreamt of
visiting Lagos. He was the
shy boy who was born and
raised in Zaria, and currently
a student of Vital Years
Secondary School, Zaria, who
has a passion for theatre. So
how would the shy boy fair on
the stage with tens or
hundreds of eyeballs staring
at him?
On the 15th of May, 2019,
the opportunity finally came
knocking when Divine was
selected to be amongst the cast
that would represent Vital
Years Secondary School in the
inaugural MTN Foundation
Theatre for Schools regional
competition in Zaria. It was a
case of preparation meeting
opportunity as Divine was
selected as the lead male
thespian for his school. His
exploits in the play; “Naira
Has No Gender” by Olu
Obafemi, led his school to
the regional championship
gold medal.
With the regional
championship ‘in the bag’,
Divine led his team to the
National Championship
The boy who
stole hearts
of dignitaries
at MTN
Foundation
Theatre for
Schools
which took place on the 11th
of June, 2019 at the Agip Hall,
MUSON Center, Lagos.
Competing against talents
from the regional
championships in Port
Harcourt and Ibadan, Divine
led his team from Zaria to
national victory, as well as
personal laurel as the best
male thespian at the grand
finale.
Divine’s passion and hard
work stood him out. He
poured his soul into the role
of the gluttonous, womanloving
uncle in Seffi Attah’s
play; ‘The Naming
Ceremony’. So compelling
was his interpretation of the
role that he got the audience
doubting if he had never been
an actor all his life. He
effortlessly won the heart of all
in the crowd including the
Executive Secretary, MTN
Foundation; Nonny Ugboma,
the notable judges; Bimbo
Manuel, Tina Mba, Dr
Patrick- Jude Oteh, Afeez
Oyetoro (Saka) and Lala
Akindoju. Overall, his team's
performance got the audience
applauding every scene.

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
Olori Ogunwusi's
love for C&S
Beautiful wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Naomi
Ogunwusi apparently has a deep love and
admiration for the Cherubim and Seraphim church.
Last weekend, at the Seraph Media Summit held at
Seraph Land, Maba, Ogun State, Olori Ogunwusi
admitted that she has always loved the white garment
church and is happy to be identified with the church. She
revealed that though born and raised up in a Biblebelieving
church, whenever she preached as a young girl,
people said she sounded like a member of C&S.
"When I began preaching at a tender age, it was strange to
the church where I worshipped. They said I preached like
the people from C&S. I thank you for bringing me here
today because I have always wanted to be identified with
the people they say I preach like. I love the church so
much and I will always speak for you anywhere. I rejoice
with the church today because of the foundation. When I
wanted to learn about indigenous men of God, the first
person that came to my mind was the late founder of the
church, Moses Orimolade. When people said I was
preaching like a C&S member, they were trying to bring
me down."
Delivering her keynote address, the Founder of Love of
Christ Generation in London, Rev Mother Esther Ajayi,
stated that the mission of C&S Summit was to renew the
image of the church, insisting that the founder of the
church was never a cultist " We are called all sorts of
names by people. I urge the media to be free and fair when
reporting C&S like they are with others. Nollywood
practitioners should stop using white garment to portray
bad characters. Members must also avoid dragging the
name of the church through the mud," Ajayi added.
Also present at the event was the Publisher of Ovation
Magazine, Dele Momodu who was a guest speaker.
•Jose Osawaru
2019 NISE Lecture/Dinner
holds
The Nigerian Institution
of Safety Engineers
(NISE), a division of
the Nigerian Society of
Engineers (NSE), recently
held its 2019 Safety Lecture/
Dinner and Conferment of
Fellowship. The event held at
the Banquet Hall of the
Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Guest Speaker at the event,
Engineer Oladimeji
Juliet Ebirim
08137897935
juliet.ebirim@gmail.com
Jose Osawaru’s
new venture
One of the top notch players in the hospitality sector
of the Niger Delta, Jose Osawaru has completed
plans to open Exquisite Home 2 Hotel & Lounge in Benin
City on the 19 th of July 2019. The extremely beautiful and
delicate edifice promises to redefine hospitality in Edo State.
Located in the heart of GRA, the hotel and lounge is a
surreal, fantasy-like journey into a glamorous world of pure
luxury and gratifying indulgence.
Poised to offer a blend of relaxation, business and
pleasure, delicately infused to meet the highest
international standards, the Edo-born businessman
and employer of labour has contributed to the
development of hospitality business in Edo State
when he delved into the sector with the
opening of Loyalty Hotel at Ugbor Road about
five years ago. The opening will feature
special performances from top artistes and
comedians.
Oguntominiyi, the Director,
Highways Construction and
Rehabilitation, Federal
Ministry of Power, Works and
Housing, Abuja, appealed to
the National Assembly to pass
the bill on Occupational
Safety and Health proposed
in 2008 by the organisation for
the safety of public service
into law.
During the lecture tagged
Olori Ogunwusi
‘Safety in Public Service
Institutions- A case study
of the Federal Ministry of
Power, Works and
Housing’, he said when
passed, the bill will lay a
strong foundation for
implementation of safety
programmes, including
the regulatory procedure
in the ountry.“According
to the National Chairman
of the Nigerian
Institution of Safety
Engineers, Engineer
Adeyemi Oyedepo, those
who were conferred with
the Engineering Safety
Fellowship were selected
by the institution based
on their track
records.““They were not
just handpicked by the
institution, they were
members before they
were conferred with the
fellowship. The
conferment of the Safety
Fellowship on them is a
wake-up call on them to
do more for the
engineering sector and
Nigeria at large.”
Olu Okeowo’s undying
love for wife
Wealthy property
developer, Sir Olu
Okeowo has made a fortune
and is living large. As
evidence, this Knight of John
Wesley lives in a dream home
in Ikoyi, Lagos. Built through
his company, Gibraltar
Construction, the 3-floor
white-coated Victorian style
house named Palacio De
Okeowo is a replica of
Versaile Palace in France.
Okeowo owns several luxury
homes and has even
developed mega commercial
projects in various choice
locations. He hangs out with
the rich and famous, but
Okeowo has tried to live a
scandal free live.
On his journey to riches,
Okeowo has his wife, Lady
Adejoke Okeowo,
as a dependable
ally. He never
hesitates to show
his love and
respect to his wife
of many years
and mother of his
three children.
The recent
rumour linking
him with a
certain respected
female media
mogul in Dubai,
United Arab
Emirates can be
disregarded, as he
never travels
without his wife
and a source
ruled out any
romp between
them. For the
debonair
billionaire who
has a charming
and friendly
personality, he has a priceless
partner in his wife He extended
the love to his mother-in-law,
Mama Oluwafunmilayo
Adewunmi when she turned 80
recently.
The billionaire rolled out the
drums last month and spared
nothing to celebrate the woman
who he sees as his own mother.
The celebration which started
with a thanksgiving service at
Our Saviour’s Church in TBS,
Lagos was followed by a lavish
reception at the Harbour Point,
Victoria Island, Lagos with
hundreds of dignataries in
attendance.
•Olu Okeowo
BoI, BtoB, set for Beauty
West Africa 2019
The annual Beauty West Africa Exhibition and Conference
is scheduled to take place at the Landmark Events Centre,
Victoria Island, Lagos from 20th - 22nd November 2019 in
Lagos. The event is organised by BtoB Events which is
headed by MD Jamie Hill, a former Divisional Director for
Africa of an FTSE 100 organization within the global
exhibition industry. Having overseen exhibitions across four
continents, plus a portfolio of eight exhibitions across Africa.
Mr. Hill has been committed to presenting the opportunity of
Nigeria’s Market and the huge potential that exists to partner
with local companies.
Speaking about the importance of collaborating with key
stakeholders in Nigeria’s business sphere, Jamie Hill shared
the huge success of the collaboration with the Bank of
Industry Nigeria during the 2018 edition.
Elaborating on the expansion of Beauty West Africa for 2019,
Hill said, “Beauty West Africa 2019 will be even bigger and
better than last year. We are really looking forward to the
numerous possibilities that this will bring to Nigeria and
contribute towards the growth of the African beauty market.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—23
Adeba
debayo Akande celebrates es 80 amid fanfare
D
including ignitaries
the
f o r m e r
Governor of Oyo State,
Senator Abiola Ajimobi,
Governor of Oyo State,
Mr Seyi Makinde
represented by his
deputy, Alhaji Aderemi
Olaniyan, Prof. Akin
Mabogunje, Prof. Ayo
Banjo,
Prof.
Adetokunbo Lucas,
founder of the Lead
City University, Prof.
Jide Owoeye who was
the chairman of the
occasion, and many
others graced the 80 th
birthday celebration
Chief Adebayo Akande
in Ibadan on Monday,
July 8, 2019.
A cross-section of Ibadan High Chiefs with the host, Chief Adebayo Akande,
MFR (4th right) and his wife, Chief Dr Onikepo Akande, CON.
Timelineng holds 3rd
lecture/awards
The 3rd edition of annual Timeline
Awareness Initiative Lecture & Awards held
at the Lagos Sheraton hotel Ikeja on
Wednesday July 3rd 2019 where the Guest
Speaker, Hon Tunde Braimoh of Lagos State
House of Assembly spoke on the topic:
Imperative Of Effective Collaboration With The
Media In Lawmaking, Setting Agenda For 9th
Assembly. Few notable individuals were also
honored with distinguished awards at the well
attended socio-political gathering
L-R: Mrs Tina Adetunji, first daughter, Chief
Adebayo Akande, MFR, the celebrant, Chief (Dr)
Onikepo Akande, CON, wife and Mrs Nike
Ogunlesi.
The celebrant, Chief Adebayo Akande, MFR and
his wife, Chief (Dr) Onikepo Akande, CON.
L-R; Popular comedian and event anchor, Koffi;
Yusuf Adeoye, publisher and organiser,
Timelineng & wife, Mrs Simbiat Yusuf-Adeoye.
Chief (Dr) Onikepo Akande, CON, celebrant's
wife presenting plaque of honour to the guest
lecturer, Professor Tunji Olaopa.
Olushola
Joshua
Akinlaja buried in Ondo
AMIDST tears and sobriety, the remains of
Comrade Olushola Joshua Akinlaja, who died on
Thursday, May 16, 2019, were laid to rest in Ondo
Town on Saturday, July 06, 2019, after a funeral
service conducted by officials of Christ Apostolic
Church, led by Pastor Jeje Jonathan.
Chief (Dr) Onikepo Akande, CON, wife of the celebrant
presenting the plaque of honour to the
Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Jide Owoeye
WARIF programme
WARIF, a non-governmental organization in partnership
with United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) at the third phase of its Law
Enforcement Sensitisation Programme on Gender
Based Violence Case Management.
L-R; Guest speaker , Hon Tunde Braimoh presenting
award to Mrs Olubunmi Idris of NIPOST on
behalf of Post Master-General of the Federation,
Asiwaju Bisi Adegbuyi.
A cross-section of the deceased’s children
A cross-section of participants
R-L; Hon Babatunde Desmond Richard of Osun
State House of Assembly, Hon Adedamola Richard
Kasunmu of Lagos House of Assembly and
M.D Quincy Herbals, Mrs Tobi Ayodele-Keeney,
all award winners.

24—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
As killing o
Nigerians
in South Af
•Mrs. Elizabeth
Ndubuisi Chukwu
By Evelyn Usman &
Victor Arjiromanus
Nigerians, are known to have a
resilient spirit , capable of
overcoming difficult situations.
In their bid to eke a living, some
of them, especially youths,
leave the shores of the country, for greener
pastures, overseas.
Unfortunately, not everyone who bid their
families goodbye, with promises to better
their conditions when they get to their
destinations, lived to give testimonies of
their adventures oversees, owing to the
hostilities in their host countries.
It is no longer news that some Nigerians
have been maltreated or even killed for no
just cause in their host countries. Some of them
were students, artisans , domestic workers ,
businessmen and women. While some cases
were in public glare, others were never
reported.
The latest of such killings was that of the
Deputy Director General of the Chartered
Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mrs.
Elizabeth Ndubuisi Chukwu.
The 53-year-old mother of two, who left the
country without an inkling that would be the
last time she would see her loved ones , lodged
at the Emperor’s Palace Hotel & Convention
Centre, in Johannesburg. She was not there
for frivolities but to
attend the
conference of the
African Insurance
organization , AIO.
She left Nigeria
hale and hearty and
attended the
farewell dinner on
June 12, 2019, in
good condition. But
she was deprived of
fulfilling some of her
promises to her
children in particular,
as her lifeless body
was found next day,
in her room, without
any clue of who the
perpetrators are , till
date.
Her death has not
only sent waves of
shock down the
spines of her loved
ones but it has also
gone a long way to
describe how lives of
Nigerians lare being
taken without
recourse to what
follows.
One would have
thought that by now,
the South African
Police would have
Unfortunately, not
everyone who bid their
families goodbye, with
promises to better their
conditions when they
get to their
destinations, lived to
give testimonies of
their adventures
oversees, owing to the
hostilities in their host
countries
got a lead on the investigation into the
murder. But no! It might as well end up as
some unraveled cases of various Nigerians
that were killed in cold blood in South Africa,
except the Nigerian Government rises up to
take a decisive step that would prove
otherwise.
Statistics , show that in four years in South
Africa, there has been grandiose disappearance
of sanity and humanity, as her citizens are tilting
towards the height of Xenophobic tendencies.
Without any provocation, close to 130 Nigerians
have reportedly been killed, with hundreds
maimed by South Africans, who see them as threats
to their economy. This is within few years.
Reports also have in that In May 2018, NAN
reported that 118 Nigerians had been killed in
South Africa since February 2016. Seven in 10 of
these killings were carried out by officers of the
South African Police.
Considering Nigeria’s role in the fight against
Apartheid South Africa, no one could have imagined
a time will come , when South African citizens
would raise their hands and mercilessly kill
innocent Nigerians that are domiciled among
them.
Sadly, some of these killings were allegedly
carried out by officers of the South African Police .
Among those sent to unprepared graves was
Uchenna Eloh. He was killed in August 2017,
in the Western Cape Province.
Chairman, Western Cape chapter of the union,
Kanayo Onwumelu, had told the News Agency
of Nigeria (NAN) from Cape Town, that Eloh,
who hailed from Eziagu in Eziagu Local
Government Area of Enugu State was strangled to
death by South African policemen.
He was quoted to have said, “At about 11.00
a.m. South African time on Wednesday, a Nigerian,
Uchenna Emmanuel Eloh, popularly known as
“Monkey”, was killed by a South African police
officer. He was walking out of his house toward
the bus station when a police van
stopped to search him, suspecting
that he might be in possession of
illegal substance.
“Three policemen accosted Eloh,
one of them, by the name Williams,
held him on the neck suspecting that
he swallowed a substance, while
another police officer held him by
the legs,” he said.
Two months after that incident,
another Nigerian, Mr Ibrahim
Olalekan Badmus, (25) who hailed
from Lagos state, was also killed
at Vaal Vreneging, near
Johannesburg.
His death occurred barely one
week after one Jelili Omoyele, a
35 year –old cellular phone
technician was shot dead at
Doornfontein,
near
Johannesburg. The list is endless.
Another case of murder was that
of one James Ekeh, 36, an
indigene of Imo. He was killed at
Mabopane Station near Pretoria by
unknown assailants on June 2018.
Late Ekeh, a tomato trader at
Mabopane market in Pretoria, was
reportedly shot several times by
unknown gunmen.
Ekeh’s killing brought the
number of Nigerians killed in the
former apartheid enclave since
February, 2016, to 119, according to
report.
The Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA),
through its Publicity Secretary, Habib Salihu
had called on President Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>, then,
to intervene in the incident, then.
Also same year, six Nigerians were murdered
in Rustenburg. without any arrest or prosecution.
In this case, report said there was no meaningful

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—25
f
continue
rica . . .
intervention to bring the perpetrators to book.
Again, in July last year, one Victor Onazi was
shot dead. The following month, precisely on August
25, 2018, one Mr Okechukwu Chukwumezeriri
39, who hailed from Imo State, was shot dead on a
football field at Rietondale Park in Pretoria.
Next day, being 26 th , another Nigerian, Olushola
Ayanleye , 42, from Ondo State, was also shot dead
at Essellen Street, Sunnyside in Pretoria.
In this case, the President of the Nigerian Union
in South Africa (NUSA), Mr Adetola Olubajo,
disclosed the tragedy was a gang-related
killing.
But he was however quick to add that :
“ As the umbrella organisation of
Nigerians in South Africa, our stand is that
whoever kills should face the full wrath
of the law, irrespective of his or her
nationality.”
2019
In April 2019, news of the death
of one Bonny Iwuoha, 48, from
Ihitte/Uboma in Imo state,
filtered in again. He
was reportedly
stabbed to death
at about
11.45pm on
April 6,
2019, in
Johannesburg
South.
H i s
assailants
were
said to
have
followed
him
from
1 5 2
Hay
Street
Turfontein
and
thereafter,
stabbed
a n d
killed
him in
front of his
gate at Turf
R o a d ,
Turffontein.
Next day,
another
Nigerian,
Goziem
Akpenyi,
had life
snuffed
out of him
in a
similar circumstance. He was said to have been
stabbed to death by three unidentified coloured
South African men after an argument, at Bellville
Stadium parking lot in Cape Town at about 1pm.
Same month, there was also the killing of Clement
Nwaogu , a father of two. Not done, his assailants
, reportedly burnt him.
A month earlier, four Nigerians were shot
dead. Three of the victims were murdered in
Sunnyside, Pretoria and one in Balfour Park,
Johannesburg, as gathered.
For Mr Ozumba Tochukwu-Lawrence, another
•Uchenna Eloh
Nigerian, he was shot
dead by an unknown
gunman at 10 Koppe,
M i d d l e b u r g ,
Mpumalanga, South Africa,
on July 6.
Three days later, another
Nigerian, ThankGod Okoro,
was also allegedly shot dead
in Hamburg, Florida West
Rand, Johannesburg, by the
South African Police Flying
Squad.
Again, on July 12, 2019, another
Nigerian, Mr. Martin
Ebuzoeme, was murdered by
unknown assailant in South
Africa.2
President of Nigerian
Union in South Africa, Mr.
Adetola Olubola, who
confirmed the killing, said
the victim was killed in Yeoville,
Johannesburg, around 7:30pm.
South African
President visit to Nigeria
Surprisingly, this incident , happened
barely 24 hours after the visit of South Africa’s
President Cyril Ramaphosa, to Nigeria.
During the visit, Ramaphosa had said that the
killing of Nigerians and other foreign
•Chidi Ibebuike
•Ebuka Okori
nationals in his country was an
act of criminality, not
specifically targeted at
Nigerians.
He said, “The killings
are caused by high
level
of
unemployment
among the youth as
well as other social
factors emanating
from long apartheid
m i s r u l e .
Government is
however, doing all
best possible to
bring them down,”
Ramaphosa had
said.
One would have
expected that with
Ramaphosa’s visit,
modalities to put
these uncanny
incidents in check
would have been
deliberated on by
him and his
N i g e r i a n
counterpart.
While Nigerians
were awaiting the
outcome of his visit, news of
the death of another Nigerian
filtered in, with the latest being
late Mrs. Elizabeth Ndubuisi
Chukwu’s.
At the moment, her body has been
deposited in a morgue in Asaba, from where
it would be taken to Ihiala in Anambra State
for burial., according to the Anambra State
Commissioner for Information and Public
Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba.
Nigerians
protest
Last month, the Consul General of the
Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, Mr.
Godwin Adama, announced plans by the
mission to protest killings and highhandedness
of the South African police
against Nigerians.
This planned action was as a result of the
killing of a Nigerian, Maxwell Okoye,
allegedly by the South African police.
He stated that “I have confirmed the death
of Maxwell Ikechukwu Okoye in the hands
of South African police officers at about 01:00
hours on Friday, June 14 , 2019, when a group
of policemen invaded his house in Ladysmith
in Kwazulu Natal Province.
“He reportedly alerted a leader of the
Nigerian community in the area of the
presence of policemen in his house and called
for their intervention.
“However, help was not immediately
available, probably due to the time of the night
and the fact that all attempts to get him on
line was futile.
“He eventually was reported dead by the
During the visit,
Ramaphosa had
said that the killing
of Nigerians and
other foreign
nationals in his
country was an act
of criminality, not
specifically targeted
at Nigerians
police who claimed they met him foaming
when they broke into his house in that odd
hour of the night, a claim that appeared
suspicious and compromising.”
By the time members of the Nigerian
community got to the victim’s house, report
said that his apartment was turned upside
down and that the Police had taken his body
to the mortuary .
But the planned protest according to
Adama, who informed that the mission
had reported the matter to the national
headquarters of the South African
Independent Police Investigative Directorate,
would be carried out through diplomatic
channels.
Alleged killings by
South African Police
He revealed that “ This is about the third
case involving alleged torture and murder of
Nigerians by the South African police within
one month.
“It happened in Cape Town, Durban and
now in Ladysmith. As the Nigerian Mission
in South Africa, we will not fold our hands
and allow these infractions to continue.
“We will not stand by and allow this
development to continue. We shall be visiting
the area to see things for ourselves while
engaging relevant authorities on the matter.
It is unacceptable.”
He recalled that how a Nigerian, Badmus
Olalekan, was allegedly murdered in
October 2017, by men of the South African
Police, adding however, that eight policemen
were arrested and arraigned in court, in
Vanderbijlpark Park, near Johannesburg, over
the murder.
He said that particular case was at the
High Court in Johannesburg and would be
concluded in October 2019 going by the
conclusions of the last court sitting.
He said, “We are closely following up this
along with the others to ensure that justice is
served. We shall not leave any stone unturned
concerning these matters.
“The high-handedness of the South African
police against Nigerians over flimsy excuses
has become worrisome and deserves the
intervention of the authorities.
“This is to protect the excellent relations that
exist between the two countries as well as
preserve coexistence of Nigerians and their
South African hosts.”
Back home in Nigeria, former chairman
of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission,
NHRC
Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, would not allow the
murder of Uju to be swept under the carpet ,
as he had begun a campaign with
#WhoKilledUjuNdubuisi.
Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State , also
lent his voice to the call for a discreet
investigation into the murder
Obiano said: “It has become necessary to
request the SGF to personally wade into the
killing. “The police in Johannesburg may be
capitalising on the absence of a foreign
minister in Nigeria to treat the case with
levity.” According to him, there is report on
death of 53-year old indigene of Anambra
State, which suggest that the South African
police are treating this murder as just another
death of a Nigerian. “It is disheartening that
more than three weeks after the dastardly act,
the South African police have not deemed it
necessary to investigate the heinous crime
with the seriousness it deserves.
On its part, the Senate, Wednesday, warned
the South African government to accord due
respect to Nigeria, cautioning it not to take
its good gesture towards it for granted.
With such weighty words from the senate,
one would have expected something tangible
to have come out from the investigation back
in South Africa but till date , anxious
Nigerians still await its outcome.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of
the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Mrs
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said that the
Nigerian Government would not fall for a
cover-up of the alleged murder of late and
had also assured that investigation to unravel
the killers of late Ndubuisi would be
thorough.
If this assurance is anything to go by, then,
justice may not be far fetched .

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
By Ebun Sessou ,
Florence Amagiya &
Elizabeth Uwandu
WHEN the news about 19
year old teenage actress,
Regina Daniels who married
a 59 year old Barrister,
politician and businessman,
broke, there were lots of
mixed feelings about her
decision.
Even her father, in an
interview publicly denied
having knowledge of how his
daughter ended up with an
older man.
But her mother, Rita
Daniels, WW learnt has since
thrown her weight behind her
daughter’s decision to marry
the 59-year-old lawyer. For
her, love rules the world.
According to her, “When it
comes to finding love, there
is no boundary, no age
barrier whatsoever” .
Regina is not the only one
who is caught in this web.
From East to the North,
South to West, stories abound
and no one seems to be
complaining. We have heard
of situations where older men
marry teenagers and ladies
within age bracket of 20
and 21 years old.
Even veteran actress Shan
George revealed how she was
given out at a tender age
in marriage against her will.
Since Regina’s story broke;
there have been criticisms
from different quarters. Some
people blamed her mother for
giving her to an old man
while others believed it was
an opportunity that should not
be allowed to slip out of their
hand.
A private school owner in
Lagos once shared her story
of how she was given out in
marriage at a tender age.
She revealed how she was
terribly treated by her
husband and how she was
made to do this against her
wish. None of the relatives
complained about this
development- rather, they all
advised her to endure. With
six children whom she solely
finances, things have been
very tough.
In Africa, people believe
that an older man can marry
a younger lady and nobody
will question it but when it
comes to an older lady
marrying a younger man, it
becomes a problem.
This was the scenario with
a young man of 27 years who
decided to break off a
relationship with his
supposed wife-to-be because
she was a year older than he
was.
They were about having
their introduction ceremony
when the man discovered
that his girlfriend was a year
older.
In the same vein, some
relationships have crumbled
due to this issue but those
who affected preferred to
keep mute so as not to be
•Peter Okoye and Lola Omotayo
Marriage:
When the woman is older
•Relationship experts react
•Older women tango with younger men
•Younger men break off relationships
ridiculed in the society.
Different stokes for different
folks, they say.
Research also revealed that
many homes including those
celebrities who are seen as
role models for some have
been broken because the wife
is older.
Among those were, Soul E
and Queen Ure. Before their
breakup, they were in love.
Queen Ure was 11 years older
than Soul E. Toyin Aimakhu
and Adeniyi Johnson also
separated because she was
older than him. This issue is
trending.
Love
But for Benjamin Ugbana, “A
love relationship is about love.
It’s about two people who
understand that coming
together as husband and wife
is to build something that
would last.
“Age is not in the equation
until either of the partners
begins to remind the other of
seniority when submission is
demanded”.
Ugbana who confirmed that
he dated an older lady before,
Most of the
time, the
reality is that
the couple
determines
whether or
not age
would
influence
their union
said, “Younger men tend to
be more active”.
In the Western world, the
issue of wide age gap
between a woman and man is
less important. French
President Emmanuel
Macron, 39, has a wife,
Brigitte, who is 24 years, his
senior, while supermodel
Heidi Klum, 43, had been
dating Art dealer Vito
Schnabel, 30, for more than
three years. Actress Gabrielle
Union, 44, and her husband,
Chicago Bulls player Dwyane
Wade, 35, are often lauded as
a power couple.
“Older successful men were
used to being in control of
women, and that doesn’t sit
well with modern women,”
says Susan Winter, co-author
of the book “Older Women,
Younger Men: New Options
for Love and Romance.”
“Younger men have grown up
with working women and have
worked for female bosses, so
they’re more likely to treat
women equally.”
According to Blessed
Onwuka, Advertising
Practitioner, age should not
be a barrier in marriage. “The
only place age becomes an
issue is when the lady is not
ready to be submissive to the
authority of the man. If she
makes the personality or ego
of the man to be threatened
because she is older then
there will be crisis.
For example, if the lady
makes the man feel like a
small boy whether directly or
indirectly, the relationship
cannot work.
For marriage to work, every
party has to throw away the
alphabet called age and
focus on the emotions and
growth of his or her
relationship. Age is only but
a number.
I am one of the few people
affected by this issue. I can
boldly say the experience is
great because the lady did not
misbehave neither did she
frustrate me. Most times it is
the women that feel disturbed
or threatened about age in
marriage”.
For Pastor Sydney, “Age is
not an issue if both parties
love themselves genuinely
and when God is the one
leading them. I love my wife
very much and we are
compatible although she is
five years older than I
am. God told me that she is
my wife and even when l had
misgiving at the beginning, l
obeyed God and went with the
direction. Thank God l did
because l am a happy man
today; perhaps if l have done
otherwise l would have been
miserable. My advice is that
we should be divinely
directed.
In his reaction, John Okafor
said his wife is 10 years older
than he is. “We have been
able to manage it till date with
beautiful children from the
union. The only problem with
this situation is that over the
years with the wears and tears
of living and raising the
children, older women are
better wives. They are not `cry
babies` and l can`t stand a
cry baby.
“Your wife eventually
becomes what you make of
her; if you maintain and take
care of her, she would remain
young and everything you
want her to be but if you stress
her too much you shall also
reap a stressed looking wife
that would not be presentable
for you at the long run.
Corroborating, Ngozi said,
“Age is not anything when it
comes to issues of the heart
but not at the detriment of
your life. I had a similar
situation and l decided to go
for a younger guy but l was
miserable. He made my life a
living hell.
“My take is that if you meet
an older or younger man
depending on what life sends
to you; go for it if your
happiness lies there. If a man
can marry a younger woman;
then a woman can equally be
with a younger man”, she
noted.
Also, Ibironke said her
husband is seven years
younger than she is. “We are
happy together. If l had
bothered me with what
people would say, perhaps l
Continues on page 27

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—27
*Darey Art-Alade and Deola Ayeni
Continues from page 26
would have lost out of
happiness.
“He understands my
biological clock very well and
tries his best not to stress me
out too much. I also take
very good care of him more
than a younger woman would
have done. Therefore, I will
say people should follow their
heart and the leading of the
Holy Spirit if you are a
Christian.
Celebrities with
older wives
Peter Okoye is married to
Lola Omotayo who is said to
be 6 years older than Peter.
Peter and his twin brother
Paul were born on the 18th of
November 1981.
In an earlier interview years
back, Lola addressed the
age gap between them
thus: “Like I said, Peter is an
old soul and he always tells
me that I’m like a 23-yearold.
Age is just a number.
Right now, you can see it
around the world: Demi
Moore, Usher and some
known people. Even in
Nigeria here, they are dating
people far older than their
age. So, we shouldn’t base it
on the age factor. He
doesn’t make me feel like he’s
younger than me.”
Darey Art-Alade and his
wife Deola Ayeni have been
married for about 10 years
now. Deola is said to be 8
years older than Darey yet
they’ve been married for
years with lovely kids. Darey
once responded thus in an
interview about their age
gap: Do you not feel any
pressure of any sort being
married to somebody older
than you are?” No pressures
at all! Everybody at some
time finds what works for him
or her. I am perfectly happy
with my marriage to my wife
and I absolutely have no
problems or pressures of any
sort”.
Dr. Timi Oyebode, Professional Marriage
Counselor
Kafayat Sharafat popularly
known as Kaffy is a dancer
and a mother of two, she got
married to Joseph Ameh who
happens to be popular
singers, Psquare’s drummer.
Kaffy is eight years older than
Pappy J as he is popularly
called. They got married in
2012 and they have two
children Eliana Ameh, their
daughter and Sean Ameh,
their son.
Nollywood actress, Ann
Njemanze was a movie
sensation in the 90s while she
was married to popular actor,
Segun Arinze. After their
divorce, Njemanze went
under the radar but surfaced
again a few years ago. She
got married to her new
husband, Silver Ojieson, in
2013 and she admitted to
journalist that he’s five years
younger than her. The
actress has a teenage
daughter from her previous
marriage to Arinze.
Expert’s angle
Reacting to this issue
professionally, Dr. Timi
Oyebode- Professional
Counselor, Founder& Head
Counselor, Attitude
Development International,
said, “First of all, age is not
really a factor when it comes
•Kafayat Sharafat and Joseph Ameh
•Regina Daniels
to love and relationship.
However, age is a factor when
it comes to marriage.
“Experts tell you that with
age bracket that goes beyond
a decade, 10 years, might
have generational gap
between the couple. Most of
the time, the reality is that the
couple determines whether or
not age would influence their
union. Another thing is that
African peculiarity with age
and respect is a big factor.
Age is not
anything
when it
comes to
issues of the
heart but
not at the
detriment
of your life
“You have couples who have
a wide age-gap or otherwise
and they are living very well
with themselves. So, I would
say that age is not a factor and
it is also a factor depending
on which part of the world the
couples are coming from.
“As counselors, we do not
decide for our clients or give
specific advice when it comes
to situations like this. Rather,
we explore each couple and
advise them to check their
background, lifestyle and/or
reason why they want to
marry each other and if they
can go through those
processes, why not?
“By the time they pay
attention to those processes,
they might realise that it
might not work for them and
then pull out of it. So, what is
important is to check out
what the couple wants, to be
able to give necessary
guidelines.
“It is very necessary for
anyone who is going into
marriage to go for counseling.
Even if there is wide age gap
or narrow age gap, it is better
to go for proper counseling.
“We have gone past the era
of fear of third party
intervention in marriage.
Third party intervention is
sometimes needed but
however should not include
the relatives or friends but
couples in need of this
intervention can meet with
professional marriage
counselors.
“People should explore the
opportunities before and after
marriage. They should go for
both Pre and Post-marital
counseling. Periodic marital
check-up is important after
marriage to get them going
and ensure that they keep
oiling the grease of their
marriage vehicles. People
often service their cars but
they do not remember to
service their marriages. It is
always good to encourage
couples irrespective of their
age or differences to go for
counseling.
In his response, Pastor
Olowoleye Omoniyi, a
marriage counselor, at
Foursquare Gospel Church,
Jakande
District
Headquarters, said that, “It is
not a sin if there is a wide
age gap between man and
a woman who want to marry
each other, but noted that
different factors including
attraction, sexual intercourse,
decision making, goals and
aspiration in life might
militate against such.
According to him, “The law
of the land gives the privilege
as far as you are eighteen
years old to make a decision.
But, one thing, I have
gathered from experience is
that once there is a wide age
gap, the man and the women
do not belong to the same
generation.
“Their reasoning,
attractions will be different.
The man, if he is too old would
belong to the analogue age
while the younger women will
be digital age. So, there will
be interest gap and it will
affect the bond in the
marriage.
“Secondly, they will not be
compatible, even in
interaction because their
worlds are different. Another
thing is that there will be
challenge in sexual
satisfaction. Sexually, ladies
and men are active between
ages 18 and 35, therefore,
both of them might not be
compatible sexually and those
are factors that would cause
problems in the home.
“Attraction is another factor.
If one grows older than the
other, they might not attract
themselves anymore. Their
focus might be different in life.
The man is old and he is slow
in doing things while the lady
might want things to happen
fast. All of these factors might
affect marriage negatively.
“Even the relatives will not
be relating with either of them
very well. Husband and wife
should be able to relate as
friends but when there is
wide age gap, it will be
difficult to relate with each
other as friends”, he said.

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
The high incidence of rape, defilement and
other forms of sexual violence in Nigeria
has been a source of concern in recent
times. For years, several incidents of rape and
other forms of sexual assault/abuse have not been
investigated or pursued to logical conclusion
either because the victims, who are usually girls
and young women (single or married) failed to
report the incident, or even if they reported, the
culprit/culprits were not apprehended and
prosecuted.
Statistics reveal that rape is the most underreported
crime globally; only a third of incidences
of sexual assault are reported while just 1 in 5
survivors of rape report the incident to the Police.
Experts argue that sexual violence can cause
serious sociological and emotional problems, and
may be responsible to reluctance by victims’
reluctance to disclose.
Rape, for instance, is under-reported because
of the fear of public shame, ridicule and
stigmatisation, but that may be changing, going
by recent developments in Nigeria.
On Sunday June 30, 2019, a coalition of gender
advocates besieged the Lagos and Abuja branches
of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA,
Church to protest an allegation of rape against a
senior pastor of the church by Mrs.
Busola Dakolo in a video that was
trending on social media.
At the Lagos branch of the COZA, the
coalition presented a petition signed by
200 groups and individuals urging
COZA Trustees to take action regarding
the multiple allegations of sexual
misconduct against the accused.
Spokesperson for the Coalition, Dr.
Princess Olufemi Kayode, in a chat with
Vanguard Live disclosed the motive for
protest among other expectations.
Olufemi-Kayode, who is CEO/
Founder, Media Concern Initiative, and
an expert on sexual violence, opined
that accusations of sexual violence like
rape by women and girls should not be
taken lightly. She emphasized that the
protest was essentially about all forms
of sexual violence in Nigeria including
rape and child sexual abuse. Excerpts:
What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence is basically any sexual
act or an attempt to have a sexual act or
unwanted sexual attention of touching
it covers up everything within the space
of such an activity that is not wanted or
called for or asked for.
But the World Health Organisation,
WHO, defines sexual violence as any
sexual act or an attempt to obtain a
sexual act or unwanted sexual
commitment or advances or act of
traffic or otherwise, directed against a
persons sexuality using coercion by any
person regardless of relationship to the
victim(s) in any setting, but not limited
to home and work. It is any unwanted
sexual attention, also taken by force
through coercion and that is why it is
more like a crime of power.
Child sexual abuse is the involvement
of a child in sexual activity that he or
she does not fully comprehend, is unable
to give informed consent to, or for which
the child is not developmentally
prepared and cannot give consent, or
that violate the laws or social taboos of
a society.
Forms of sexual violence
A lot falls under sexual violence. You
can talk about child sexual violence
which has incest, child rape, rape and
gang rape, trafficking for sexual
purposes. There is date rape and
conflict rape, it happens during war. We
have what we call female genital
mutilation, FGM; not allowing women
have access to contraceptives (family
planning), especially the married ones
who have no choice in determining how
many children they want to have. Sexual
violence is wide.
When you talk about sexual abuse
you are talking about children
Sexual harassment is basically
unwarranted sexual attention which
also connotes the issue of exchange—I
give you this and you give me that. Or
Rape protest...
Rage against rape!
Nigerians have declared zero
tolerance for sexual violence
•Dr Princess Olufemi Kayode, CEO /Founder MediaConcern Initiative
•Dr Princess Olufemi kayode
somebody just grabs you in a manner
you do not like. Such happens a lot in
the market place or you could be
walking down the street and someone
touches you inappropriately and there
was no cause for it.
Even in the office space, your boss
could say to you—if you don’t do this
you won’t get that. It also comes in
comments and groupings. Some can
be actually dangerous because if
somebody is after you, talks to you dirty
and touches you and you don’t want it,
it could be hazardous for you.
Some people have found themselves
in a situation where they are helpless.
There is what we call fight or flee
response. You are too shocked to say
anything. It seems as if you are there
but you are not there. Physically you
are there but you are too shocked to
By Sola Ogundipe,Chioma
Obinna&Gabriel Olawale
flee.
Seeking legal redress
Yes. Already, we have thrown up issues
of workplace having issues of sexual
misconduct. It is happening and some
companies have started putting that into
their policies. So it is something we
needs to look at nationally. As much as
we have the laws, there are policies that
need to be enacted within the workplace,
the educational sector and even in the
public place where a lot of this sexual
harassment is coming up because you
just can’t be working and somebody just
touches you.
Sexual violence against women
Sexual violence covers everybody. We
are having reports that affect the boy
child and girl child. Men are also raped.
I have handled cases of men who were
raped. Anybody can come out to say I
have been violated.
Why more women are protesting
Worldwide there are more reports
from women than from men. But we
are beginning to have more male
reports than in the past. Men are also
beginning to open up to say something
happened to them as a child or they just
faced attempted rape. Men are
supposed to be stronger, it is like men
don’t cry. They don’t want to say that as
a man somebody actually raped you. It
is a societal thing. But it is possible to
be raped as a man.
What really is rape?
Technically, rape is obtaining forceful
sexual intercourse. Based on the law
now, it could be actually with a male
organ or even an object. It could be
through the vagina or anus. Whichever
way it is something taken forcefully and
that is actually where the challenge is
when you talk about rape.
People expect that a rape victim should look
tattered, beaten up, hair scattered and
clothes torn because of the word—force. But
force is not so much about the physical aspect
of it but it is about taking that act without
consent.
I did not consent to do this with you. You
did what you wanted to do by yourself. I was
just an object not really consented to it. That
is where the issue of consent comes in.
Defilement is basically sexual intercourse
with a child. Rape involves an adult that did
not give consent. There is manipulation and
coercion. There are different forms of getting
people to do what they would not do
ordinarily. We should face those doing these
things and say they are doing something
wrong.
Proving rape cases
Rape is one of the most difficult things to
prove across the world. There is gang rape
but we are talking about the rape involving
two people. We were just two in the room, no
third party. I am the one saying you raped
me and when you were caught, you can say
you did not rape me. You may even come up
to say I agreed that we should have this
together. That would be your word against
mine.
To prove rape, it used to be through medical
report. I think it is still medical report but
we are working to make sure it goes beyond
medical report because even the people who
work in area of sexual violence who are
experts in forensic medical examinations will
tell you that there are times in most case you
can’t even find anything that shows that there
was rape.
It’s particularly difficult to prove rape for
females and even for males. Except that
particular area is completely damaged, it is
quite difficult. The healing in that area is
very fast. So proving it should go beyond
Continues on page 29

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—29
Continues from 28
medical report, it should not be the only
thing we should depend on. It is about
Investigation. Investigation of sexual
crimes is different and that is why we are
saying that we need a specially trained
police force for violent crimes because it
will help them understand.
Handling Gender Based Violence
Yes, the police handle crime generally
but if you look at gender based violence,
it is not the same thing with murder or
other forms of assault. If you look at the
dynamics of issues around rape, how do
you deal with responses of victims?
A victim can come and say something
now and the next moment says something
else. Sometimes they are incoherent. If
you don’t understand where they are
coming from you will have difficulty in
dealing with them or proving it.
As individuals we react differently to
issues but because there are researchers
who have studied the variety of survivors
who can say these are some of the things
they do. So when they start talking, such
person can understand where they are
coming from, and how it has affected
them. An attempted rape victim can have
psychiatric problems while somebody
that is gang raped may not have
psychiatric issue or anything. So it is
dynamic and as individuals we respond
to issues differently.
It’s also because of our histories. Our
histories are different so also our
exposures and world view are different
from one another. So understanding the
basis, we need expertise in the area of
sexual violence.
Forensic examinations
We are talking about forensic
examination of sexual violence scenes.
Don’t forget that only sexual violence that
is reported immediately can be proved
from the views of those involved. There
are specific ways you talk to people there.
Mostly investigation here ends up in: I
call your name, you come to the police
station and write your statement, go for
medical examination and then papers are
filed. But it goes beyond all that.
To talk about the charges, there are
sexual crimes that you will not get to
charge the person on that assault. Look
at the video that is ongoing for instance;
there are a lot of things that can be picked
from that video. She’s dragged out. Where
are you taking me to? There was no
warrant of arrest. You took a child to a
place and you held the child down there.
You forcibly held the child there. There
are different things the law has. You see a
30-count charge abroad, if you escape
one, you will meet the second, you escape
the second one, you will meet the third
one. The charges are interlinked.
A typical case
I remember a case we have, two little
girls aged 2 and one year old. They can’t
talk very well but the Landlord was
physically penetrating them. The oneyear-old
would be on the floor playing,
after a while, the Landlord used his left
hand fingers to push the diapers to one
side and then insert. Physically, she goes
blank.
Meanwhile, the case has been reported
to the police, the accused person has gone
to the police for monitoring. The
monitoring call invited all of us and we
got the Office of the Public Defender, OPD,
involved. When we got there, they could
not find any evidence.
The policeman now turned to the small
girl and asked her: “Do you know this
man?” She said: “Yes. Oga Landlord” (Mr
Landlord). “What happened to you?” The
child pulled her dress up separated her
legs and said he put his hands here.
This is a two-year-old. But that case
couldn’t be handled because medical
examination was not showing anything
any more in the two girls. But in the oneyear-old,
it confirmed behaviour that
somebody had introduced her to that
activity.
Nigerians have
declared zero
tolerance for
sexual violence
But the two-year-old was able to stand up to speak. There are so
many cases that have not been able to get to the court even though
there is evidence. So the essence is that proving sexual violence proving
in court is very difficult.
Busola Dakolo’s video
Like every other Nigerian, I woke up to that video shared by Busola
Dakolo about her rape experience and it was a shock. But one thing I
want people to realise is the fact that the protest was not intended to
attack the Church.
It is the person that something happened to that can really describe
it. She is not a child, I am trained to work with children, she has been
able to express graphically what happened to her. All over the world
where there are systems in place to respond to this issue, sexual
violence is one of the most under-reported crimes. We cannot fault
Rape, for instance,
is under-reported
because of the fear
of public shame,
ridicule and
stigmatisation, but
that may be
changing, going by
recent
developments in
Nigeria
*Rape protest
what she has said. I can seat as a
victim advocate and tell you that
I believe her. We can give support
to people who come to complain.
We try to do something that can
help you move on with your life
and if there is avenue to seek
redress we also help you take
advantage of it.
I have handled over 20,000
cases, but not all have gone to
court, not because it did not
happen but because there is no
legal stand. Based on the laws,
there is a time line, we have to
follow the law. She said it
happened in Ilorin, so Kwara law
will have to determine if there is
a case to be called. But on my
seat as an advocate I stand with
her. I’m also a survivor, so where
we are coming from is different.
You are a hearer. I’m a victim
advocate, so I’m going to address
that matter as a victim advocate.
I’m also an activist, and what
activists do is to act.
COZA protest
Majority of people that joined
the protest were more of Christians. There was
certainly no intention to destroy the church with that
protest or stop people from worshipping, it was
essentially to make a statement. The goal was for the
leadership of the Church to be awakened that they
are not exempted from accountability and authority.
We demanded four things with that protest. We called
on COZA Trustees and Executive Council and leaders
to act. First demand was that Biodun Fatoyinbo
should step down, so that we can separate the issue
from the church and face him as an individual.
Second, there should be instituted an in-house
investigation with no partiality or favours. The Church
should set up a panel to listen to the grievances within
and not just wave it off. Third demand, listen to people
who have something to say and make sure that the
platform does not stigmatise them and that survivors
may continue their worship without retraumatisation.
Fourth is to uphold the virtues of Christ
in all truth.
Our acting has gone beyond Busola. It is for every
other woman or child out there that has been violated.
So when you see blood boiling there is a reason for that.
We will do the best we can. We have several NGOs in the
coalition. There has to be zero tolerance for violence
against women and children.
Role of dressing in rape incidence
What dress could a 9-year-old wear that would cause her
to be sexually violated? What of the women wearing Hijab
that are raped, do they also entice men? It is still a myth
about the connection of rape and the dress you are wearing.
To date, the moment a rape is reported and a woman is
involved, people tend to attribute it to indecent dressing.
We need to get it right that sexual violence has nothing to
do with what you are wearing. All the cases I have handled,
I have not seen one that the woman was violated as a result
of the way the woman was dressed.
Mess up
It is better for rape or any sexual violation not to happen.
We have seen the mess up already. There is serious mess up.
I still carry the scars of sexual abuse, and it is not easy on a
survivor. Some survivors don’t even know that certain
things happening to them in life have to do with the sexual
abuse they suffered earlier as children. There is emotional
trauma brought on by the experience. Some abused children
become abusers themselves.
Coming out about rape
I am also a survivor. The first time I talked about my
experience was 2003. When I came out publicly, I was not
prepared to say it, people asked whether it had happened
to me and I said yes. My own happened when I was a child
and I kept facing multiple abuses.
The day you decide to tell your story is your choice. You
can see all over the world people that open up, it didn’t
happen to them today, it happened long ago, they just
needed to have courage to talk about it.
A child would say “I cannot tell my mother.” The ones
that summon courage are not believed by family members.
Some people are afraid of future stigmatization. I use to
tell them that rape doesn’t mean your future is ruined.
Nigerian laws on sexual violence
There are many cases that don’t get to court. Sexual
violence is difficult to prove. Most times the application
and process of our laws come with different challenges. I
think our Magistrates need more enlightenment to
understand those issues because some think it cannot
happen.
Investigation is an issue, today, if you go and report that
somebody raped you, it is you that will bring money to the
police officer for the vehicle that will go and pick the
suspect.
Police has no vehicles to use, you are still the one that will
bear the cost, it is not supposed to be so.
The process needs to be re-evaluated and it has to come
from the National Assembly. The police don’t have
equipment. You get to the police station and you have to
buy statement paper and everything, so most people don’t
want to come and report. Those that report need to bear
the cost.
If you go to the police station you are spending the whole
day. There are cases of mothers who when reporting the
abuse of their children, lost their job. The process is not
okay. Our police is federal so it is federal issue. Allocation
needs to be made to protect citizens. Police is not equipped,
and most of the officers are not trained in these issues.
For survivors of sexual violence
Sexual violence victims need to seek support and
encourage each other to be strong. We need each other
because there is a lot happening to you today as a result of
the experiences from long ago. Look for trauma
management counselors. Find a true counselor who is
trained in trauma management. If you have been sexually
molested or traumatized, you need therapy. You need help
and tell the story whether you want to seek justice. For your
life’s sake and mental health and to move on in life, you
need to find therapy and support group.
Many groups are currently offering free counseling in
this area. There are also online support systems, and victims
only need to just tap into these resources. We share our
stories and troubles and help each other.

30—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, , 2019
bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk
Should you think of Love... when
your spouse is terminally ill?
How easy it is for you to
declare yourself ready
to find a new partner
when you’re still married to the
woman you’ve cherished for
more than 30 years? But then
life is far from easy when
Alzheimer’s strikes as young as
50—as it did Ernest’s wife,
Solape. Two years after she was
diagnosed with the disease, her
condition has deteriorated so
quickly that she often forgets
who her husband is. Today, she
lives with one of their four
children while Ernest faces life
in their comfortable home
alone.
“As controversial as my
situation is, my life has to go
on,” said Ernest, fresh from one
of his frequent visits to his wife.
“I’m in my early 50s and that
means finding another woman
to share it with. We could easily
have another 30 years
together—and where would be
the sense of waiting until
Solape dies before I start to
look for a new partner? Yet,
meeting someone new in your
50s is hard enough without
admitting why.”
But what of until death do us
part? There will be many who
believe it is wrong to move on
before his wife has died. But
Ernest insisted: “Believe me,
barely a day passes without me
thinking of our marriage vows.
I know I promised we’d be
together in sickness and in
health. I’ve battled with my
conscience and the guilt has
been unbearable at times, but
after hours of soul-searching,
I’ve reached the conclusion
that there’s simply no point in
two lives being wasted. I would
like another relationship while
she is alive, but I’d never
divorce her to marry someone
else. That goes against
everything I believe. I would
remarry after she died, but not
while she is alive. I could sit at
home alone every night,
sinking deeper into depression,
but my wife wouldn’t want that
for me, and I don’t want it for
myself either... .”
Ernest, a structural engineer
with his own successful
building maintenance
company, has faced no
opposition. According to him:
“Every person I’ve told—
friends, family members, even
casual acquaintances—has
accepted it and agreed I should
move on with my life. Some
were initially shocked, but they
quickly told me I was doing the
right thing. Even the
children have given their
blessings. My first son,
who is 30, told me he knew
I had to move on simply
because I can’t carry on
living the way I am. He
knows I’m so lonely on my
own and there is no
relationship between their
mother and I any more. It
wouldn’t be fair to expect
me to live like this for ever.
But it doesn’t make it any
easier to deal with—
imagining me with
someone else, thinking
about another woman in
their mum’s place— that
would be really hard to
accept. But all the children
want is for me to be happy.”
The couple got married in
their early 20s, and as the
children arrived and
Ernest’s business boomed,
Solape became a full time
wife. “She lived for the
children and loved nothing
more than having the
family around,” said Ernest.
“Some marriages crack
Your diet can help improve your hair!
You can spend
hundreds on
conditioners and
treatments,but
healthy,beautiful hair is
more about what you put
into your body than what
you slather on your head.
Ricardo Vila Nova,
resident trichologist at
Urban Retreat in Harrods
says: ‘Poor diet can cause
hair thinning and hair loss
as well as lacklustre hair,
dryness and excess sebum.
A high-stress lifestyle and
bad nutrition can be
catalysts for damage which
may need four years to
recover.’
If your hair keeps
breaking, eat red meat:
‘Iron is a top strength
booster,’ says Vila Nova. It
carries the blood’s supply
of oxygen around the body
keeping hair strong and
nourished. Thin and limp
hair is the first sign that you
aren’t getting enough iron.
As red meat is a great
source of iron, eat a
portion of beef or lamb at
least twice a week.
Vegetarian? Lentils and
spinach are also good
sources of iron.
Going grey? Try
chocolate. Melanin, the
pigment that forms the
colour in your hair and
skin, is responsible for
keeping your tresses
vibrant. Foods that boost
the presence of melanin in
your body include
chocolate (especially the
dark variety).
If you want softer hair,
eating salmon might help as
the Omega-3 and 6 it
contains boost scalp health.
Essential fatty acids keep
the scalp moisturised, help
hair maintain hydration
and elasticity. Oily fish such
as tuna, salmon and
mackerel are excellent
sources of fatty acids: eat
them once or twice a week.
Finally, avocados and
walnuts could boost hair
shine. The better lubricated
the cuticle layer on your
hair, the smoother the
surface of the hair and the
shinier it looks. Bon appetit!
under the strain of family
life, but not ours. I loved
her as much as the day we
got married and as
grandchildren came
along—all nine of them—
our home brimmed with
little ones once more.
“The first warning
something was wrong was
when she began to find the
noise too much. Soon after,
she started having trouble
putting on her clothes. At
first, I’d found it funny until
she started having trouble
with her eyesight, unable to
see a drinking glass in front
of her. She’d go to pick it
up but grasp at thin air just
beside it. It always made
her so angry—imagine not
being able to do something
so simple—but afterwards,
she’d go very quiet. It’s as
if the reality of what was
happening to her was
slowly sinking in, though
she’d never voice her fears.
At first, I thought it might
be motor neurone disease
or multiple sclerosis.
Alzheimer’s never even
crossed my mind. Why
would it? She was only 51
when she started showing
symptoms.
“It was our family doctor
My first son, who is
30, told me he knew
I had to move on
simply because I
can’t carry on living
the way I am
abroad that finally
diagnosed the disease and it
was a relief that we could
finally start the right
treatment. But on the other
hand, I felt a crushing dread.
Alzheimer’s felt far worse
than anything I’d been
worrying about. I would
lose her once, when the last
of her personality finally
deserted her. Then I’d be left
with an empty shell until I lost
her all over again when she
died.
“The children took it
particularly badly. They were
understandably angry to be
losing their mother to
Alzheimer’s at such a young
age. They later agreed she
would be better cared for at
our eldest’s. Even after she
settled to her new home, she
kept crying. One day, she flew
at me, punching, scratching,
screaming— I snapped. I’m
deeply ashamed of it, but I
even thought about harming
her.”
When asked if, on some level
he’d put his wife into their
children’s care to allow himself
space to move on he was
definitive: “I looked after my
wife for as long as I could and
it was during the subsequent
nights alone that I started to
ponder the future. The first
time I visited and saw that
blank look in her eyes, I knew
I had to move on. She wasn’t
the woman I married any
more.” As for telling his
children of his intentions, he
said: “We’ve always been very
close and I want to see them
all individually and came right
out with it: ‘I’m looking for
someone else’ and braced
myself forbears but they didn’t
come. They all just accepted
it, as if it was inevitable.
So, any luck yet? “There is
someone I’ve been seeing
more of—a friend of mine and
Solape’s who lost her husband
last year. She’d been a great
support,” he admitted. “At the
moment, we’re just good
friend, but who knows where
it might lead? She’s familyoriented
and has a heart of
gold, but more importantly,
she understands the situation
and accepts it, which matters
to me most.
“Solape will always be my
responsibility and I’ll
continue to pay for her care
and anything else she needs.
Anyone I meet has to accept
that Solape might not go so
soon. If they have a problem
with it, then it just wasn’t to be.
People will think it heartless,
but it’s not fair on anyone,
even my wife. She still gets
upset when I see her. Imagine
how unsettling it will be when
I’m a total stranger to her. It’s
over for Solape and me, but I
need to have a future.”

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JULY 13, 2019—31
Yetunde Arebi
Twitter: @yetundearebi
yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk
08054700825
Ifound the piece you are about to
read in my pile of mails. It is a
contribution from an elderly
gentleman and loyal reader of the
Vanguard Newspapers for many years.
He admits that certain decisions made
in his younger days turned out to be
great mistakes and for which he now
suffers tremendously. For the sake of
this publication, I will call him Elder
Bode. Kindly drop a message or
advise for him through my contact
addresses or on a website. Cheers!
Dear Yetunde,
I have been a regular reader of your
column for many years as well as our
dear friend Treena Qwenta's column
and also Bunmi Sofola. And each time
I read your columns, I praise God for
you. You all are wonderful. You are
exceptionally good and I score you
Excellent. But let me quickly warn you,
it is more difficult to remain on top than
to reach the top. Experiences abound
and I will not build upon this too much
so as not to lose track of my main
objective. (I am most grateful for your
kind words, sir.)
My first point is to say that even
though your column treats issues
across all strata of the society, I want to
say that my age-group is marginalised.
Since it is your paper, The Vanguard,
one of the best papers we have around
that said we should cry out to the world
to hear, that we should speak out, if we
are marginalised. I am protecting the
interest of my age group to say that you
should know our problems, so as to be
able to advise us. Mind you, we often
say, the rich also cry, so also the old and
the aged, widows and widowers have
their problems and they cry. They need
to be heard so as to be advised too. Or
you don't believe that you can give
advice to us?
Now to my life experience. I can say
that I am blessed by God. Anytime I call
on the Almighty God, with a little
seriousness, believe me, He would
answer me. But I am a prodigal son. I
am a sinner, an adulterer. I don't drink,
smoke, gossip, go out like some other
men who you can call crawlers. I don't
steal, I can't steal. It is not in my
character. I was blessed with a good,
well mannered, gracefully cultured
woman and beautiful children. They
are all exceptionally supportive, too
wonderful to express on pages of
newspaper like this. Only God can bear
me witness on these things. It is the
grace of God, not my doing.
But as a prodigal son, I never
appreciated these blessings, all these
beautiful qualities, until I lost them and
lost focus. It was my ambition to have a
large family for I loved children. I want
to just look right, left, front and back
and see that I am surrounded by them.
I want to call on Tunde, Femi, Olu, even
when I have only one message to send.
In fact, I become happier when about
two or three of them struggle to pick
up the message. That is me and that is
where I derive my joy. My wife, before
I lost her to the world and because of
my wayward life, was exceptionally
good, very humble, so loving to the
extent that she completely renounced
the faith of her birth for my sake to join
my own Christian faith. She became
more Anglican than me who was born in
the faith.
Then, I met this satanic lady whom I
thought would be a good addition to my
happy family. Somebody said recently
that you don't marry two good wives in a
lifetime. In order words, you can't come
by two good women in a life time. I think
it is a wise saying. If you are lucky to
marry one good wife once in your life
time, you have to continue to praise God
for such may not, with emphasis, cannot
come your way again within a life time. It
is impossible. This is a word of warning
for the polygamous people. Let me quickly
also say that as it applies to women, so
also does it apply to men. Good husbands
Navigating the
road ahead!
As a prodigal son, I
never appreciated
these blessings, all
these beautiful
qualities, until I lost
them and lost focus. It
was my ambition to
have a large family for
I loved children
are equally difficult to come by. We only
tolerate ourselves. No ideal situation but
when you see what is good, you can
identify it as good. There are families and
there are families.
So, this satanic woman that I met was
too flamboyant for my liking. I am a person
that cannot hide his feelings, I expressed
my views immediately and since then she
started to work on me without my
knowing it. However, the few years I spent
with her was too eventful in my life that I
cannot express the catalogue of my woes
on the pages of Vanguard for one month,
even if our story is published every day
without advertisements or other stories.
It was just too much. She would kneel;
she would beg, in all insincerity, she
would deny facts stated by people
against her as lies. She would do
something glaringly like this and
would deny. The defence she would
put up could be so smooth that if it is
stated before the
International Court, they
would uphold her case.
Sometimes, she would turn
it into a laughing matter
after the damage had been
done, or she had been
outsmarted at her
smartness. She was really
satanic. If I had never met
her I will never believe that
life could be like this. It was
from her that I learnt that a
good woman should not
tell the truth to her
husband, should steal her
husband's money, should
spend her husband's
money anyhow so as to
impoverish him and make
him unattractive to other
women, and she should
always be with her
husband alone to the
exclusion of all others,
(including his family,
friends and colleagues) not
even minding the fact that
she met someone with him
when she arrived. She was
so venomous about my first
wife that she did not see face
to face with her till she died.
She could accuse my first
wife of sending medicine
(juju) to her and that she
could not sleep well, whereas
that one would pray for her
from time to time. In fact, my
first wife would always tell
me she dreamt and saw a big
snake entering our house but
I would always disabuse her
mind from such dreams. We
used to pray as a family and
as Christians, I believed that
God could do all things and
that was one of the reasons
that made me marry this
woman. She was looking for
a child and I believed that
God could give her one if she
prayed hard enough and I
wanted to help her. But I
made a mistake because I
never thought that after
getting the child, she would turn on me
and try to turn me into her slave. Her child
was her excuse for doing most of the
terrible things she did. And when it was
not the child, it was the fact that she was
a second wife or the other woman and that
people were resentful of her. There was
always a reason for one evil act or another.
It was this that I resisted that led to my
downfall. But she did not take it upon me
but upon my wife, whom she concluded
was the wall between having me
exclusively to herself. She had told me
several times that she would punish me
if I dared to leave her. But when I could
not find any peace, I had to leave her.
Through prayer, God separated us. I thank
God and still pray that she may never,
never, look for me again. It was because
of her threats and warnings to all those
who cared to listen to her when I left, that
she would deal with me, that forced me to
conclude that she did the evil work of
killing my wife. She has done her worst.
But as a Christian, I can't query God, more
so, that I am a prodigal son.
One thing I know is that there is
repentance through the grace of God
which will give me forgiveness. I have
been confessing my sins before God, and
his people. During my crying period, I
have stained my bed with my tears. Every
day, I wondered why she chose my wife
to punish since I am the offender. But as I
said, a Christian who goes to Satan may
not know how Satan works. Now, I have
lost a gem, I have lost a confidant, a
companion, one of the best Christian
women in the world through my
waywardness. Where do I go from here?
How do I pick my life again? I am already
60 years of age and this is where I need
your advice.
If you can publish this experience of
mine, I hope that your readers will find it
in their hearts to respond kindly to this
call and perhaps back it with experiences
of themselves or other people's. My line
of thought is that should a man at my stage
attempt any union with a woman again?
If so, what type of union? Should it be with
a relatively young woman or an aged
(advanced age) woman? Or, it is advisable
that I accept this (life as a widower) as
the end of life and remain aloof, facing
Christ's work?
It is my view that having been a loving
and caring father to my children, I should
be forgiven my inadequacies and wished
well as they should not expect me to suffer
in old age. But I have little idea what they
think of me. It is said that a man who has
enjoyed the blissful life of marriage for
over 30 years can be said to be naked
without a wife. Is this not applicable in
my case? A man needs a good companion,
a friend, a confidant, not only at our
advanced age but almost throughout our
lives. A few friends have suggested that I
manage on my own and if by the grace of
God I am able to live to such an age where
I'll need a helper, then I could engage the
services of a house help. But happenings
all around the world shows that this is
becoming more and more dangerous. I am
in a fix. I want advise and I need
enlightenment.
Finally, for those who may suggest that
I should go and reconcile with the satanic
woman, I want to say that she has since
our separation been married to two
men. When Jesus stated the parable of
the woman with seven husbands,
unbelievers would say it cannot happen in
our own part of the world and at this age.
But here in my presence, more than that is
happening and only God can save us.
Hmmm! I have a few take-away from this
narratives: We should never take our
spouses for granted. That in our greed and
self centeredness, we forget that we
already have the best and may never get
anything better. That no woman, no matter
her position wants to share her man with
another woman. And there are still a few
more. However, as requested by Elder
Bode, Please let's have your views/
contributions bearing in mind that we are
to help him chart a new path for himself. I
am counting on you. Do have a
wonderful weekend!!

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
08116759759
'I was
FINALLY
free!'
Awoman decided to host a
'burn the dress' photo shoot
to honor the end of her violent
marriage and drawn-out divorce.
Alexandria Taschwer, 27, a Retail Assistant
Manager from Louisville,
Ohio, teamed up with photographer
Tarah R. Hamilton to stage a burning
the wedding dress shoot to signify the
end of her marriage and celebrate the
start of a new life.
Alex got engaged to her ex-husband
in October 2011 after finding out
they were pregnant with their first
child Abri, who was born in July 2012.
The pair were married on September
29, 2012.
‘We then had the four other kids in
five years,’ Alex said about the marriage.
She described how a few years
later, the cracks in their relationship
started to show. ‘In 2014 while pregnant
with Trenton is when our marriage
became rocky,' Alex continued.
'We started arguing all the time and
things started becoming violent.’
Alex decided to leave her home
when one of her children was four
months old to escape the violence. ‘In
2017, when Christian was four
months old, I finally moved and tried
to get him to sign divorce papers, but
he wouldn’t,' she said. 'But during this,
we were able to remain amicable
with him to the point we even
vacationed together last summer.’
‘In August 2018, he became violent
once again and with the help of good
friends he was arrested for domestic
violence, and [I] finally broke completely
free,’ she continued. ‘The divorce
was long and drawn out due to
his pending criminal charges.’
Alex's husband eventually filed for
divorce in October 2018, and it was
finalized in April 2019. Alex said she
did her best to make it a quick divorce
so she could leave her violent past
behind and start fresh.
‘I tried not to fight on to many issues because I mostly just
wanted out of the marriage and to be done with the situation,'
she said. Hosting a photo shoot where she burned her dress
became a symbolic act for the mother. ‘Burning the dress
was something I had wanted to do since we originally
separated, but it was even more important to me after
the divorce,’ Alex said. ‘I was finally free after so long of
being unhappy and miserable. It was like a new starting
point in my life.’
Hobbyist photographer Tarah said it was Alex who first
approached her about taking pictures while she burned
the dress. ‘I had seen many “trash the dress” shoots, but to
burn it? I had to think this over,’
Tarah said. Despite the success of
the first shoot, Tarah did have advice
for other former wives and
photographers committed to conducting
their own burning the
dress photo shoot.
‘Do not do this in the woods
without safety precautions in
place,' Tarah said. 'We were very
prepared with fire safety equipment
and personnel on hand.’
Stomach-churning footage shows surgeons removing a SIX FOOT long
tapeworm from Indian man's intes
estine 'after he complained of stomac
omach pain'
gruesome video shows surgeons removing a
A six foot-long tapeworm from an Indian man's
stomach.
The man, named only as Viren, went to hospital
after suffering stomach pain for 15 days, according
to local reports. When medics in the northern state of
Haryana examined Viren, they discovered something
crawling in his insides. A doctor reportedly
told local media Viren was likely to have
ingested the worm after eating contaminated or
uncooked pork. Viren, from Jind in Haryana, was
admitted to Jaipur Hospital with a stomach ache and
fever, according to local media.
The video shows Viren, who is visibly in pain, talking
to doctors in a consultation room. He struggles
to walk due to the pain he is in, and is supported by
several people who appear to be friends and family.
Reports say after surgery, the worm was
measured to be around six feet-long, pulled out
by surgeons along with intestinal gunk. Dr DS
Pawar, a surgeon at Jaipur Hospital who is
thought to have treated Viren, said: 'The insect
belongs to the family of worms called Taeniidae.'
The scientific name of the worm is Taenia solium,
which has a flat, ribbon-like body. Dr Pawar said the
worm may have got into the patient's body via the
consumption of pork meat - the main source. The
pork would have contained tapeworm larvae, which
developed inside the body to become an adult worm.
Dr Pawar said: 'The insect was
found inside the patient and
was removed after an operation.'
Intestinal infections
caused by adult tapeworms
is most common in developing
areas of countries, including
Asia and Latin
America.
The man was lucky considering
adult tapeworms of this
kind can reach 23-feet in
length, reside in the body for
years and cause severe
symptoms including epilepsy,
according to the World
Health Organization.
A
FINISHED HER OFF
PREGNANT woman has
been arrested for allegedly
killing her mother-in-law
with a PITCHFORK in a row
over what to serve for lunch.
When confronted about the
alleged horror garden attack by
her husband the woman reportedly
smiled at him and said "I
killed your mum".
The incident is said to have
taken place in the village of
Poljanice in northern Serbia
while the family was preparing
something to eat
According to local media, 31-
year-old suspect Kristina
Kulcar, who was six months
pregnant, attacked her
mother-in-law Iboja Varga, 59,
in the garden.
Reports said that Kulcar
stabbed the victim in the back
with a knife and when the injured
woman tried to flee, the
suspect reached for a pitchfork
and killed her.
The alleged killer's husband
Zoltan Varga, 41, who was at
work when the incident happened
was called home after
hearing the tragic news.
He said: "At a playground
near our house, I saw Kristina
with our sons, who are two and
four years old, and I asked her
what she had done. She
smiled and said 'I killed your
mum'.
"I took the children and told
her that it is not worth trying
to run. Then the police came
and cuffed her.
"It was a horrible scene. The
paramedics turned my mother's
body over and the knife
was sticking in her back."
Varga added: "Before I left for
work, they were both talking nicely.
While drinking coffee, they agreed
not to cook because there was
enough food leftover from the previous
day.
"Then I heard that they both
started to argue over the lunch."
He added that his wife has been
admitted to a psychiatric clinic on
three occasions and was also
treated in hospital for mental illness.
The suspect is reportedly been
kept in a prison hospital because
of her pregnancy.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—33
African National carriers are
approaching Air Peace for aircraft
•Allen Onyema speaks on first international operation to UAE
•Explains why he has been acquiring planes
By Lawani Mikairu
After a successful Air Peace airline
Dubai/ Sharjah route launch, the
chairman of the airline, Barrister Allen
Onyema in this interview reveals some of
the future plans of the airline and the current
challenges. Excerpts:
The challenge to Nigerian airlines operating
international service is how to take
passengers beyond point to point. Does Air
Peace have code-share partner for your Dubai
operation?
First and foremost I thank God almighty for
what happened yesterday and what we are
seeing today. I thank Nigerians for their
support and the media for their support and I
thank the Federal Government for its support
too. We have started our international
operations into Sharjah and into UAE (United
Arab Emirates) and we are not just doing
Lagos-Sharjah alone, we are also doing every
destination in Nigeria to Sharjah and Dubai.
We have an agreement with SATA. They are
the ones in charge of Air Arabia and some other
airlines. So we have an agreement with
SATA, with the consent of Air Arabia and
others to act on their behalf as a middleman.
So when we bring our
passengers through SATA
on to Air Arabia they will
take them to the next
destinations outside
Sharjah, so that’s what it is.
And it is a very seamless
arrangement. So when we
check you in, in Nigeria
and, for example, if you are
going to Jeddah, Mumbai,
Medina, New Delhi and
some other cities in India
and of course even up to
Moscow, we put you
through SATA or Air Arabia
to take you to the next
destination.
So when you check in
your luggage in Nigeria,
you will get it at the next
destination. Assuming we
have connecting passengers
like this one, it is a straight
connection, we don’t
unburden the person’s
luggage, we take it to the
next flight. It is seamless
arrangement. So, Air Peace
is a one-stop shop for people
travelling to some cities in
Asia.
South Africa has
given us the
permit now for us
to come in. They
have audited Air
Peace and they
have found us okay
to come into their
country, so they
have given us the
permit to come
Now that you have started international
flights and you have acquired long-haul
aircraft, Boeing 777, what other destinations
are you looking at?
Apart from Sharjah, you know the federal
government of Nigeria has given us some six
destinations, Mumbai, Guangzhou, China,
Atlanta, Houston (US), Heathrow (London)
and Johannesburg (South Africa). We have
started Sharjah (Dubai); the next to come in is
Johannesburg. The Nigerian government was
magnanimous to give us our destinations
some three years ago. We have written to these
countries since then but it took them a long
time to respond to us.
This is why I keep on talking about open
sky in Africa, the Single Africa Air Travel
Market (SAATM). Sometimes I say SAATM
is a fraud against Nigeria because while our
country keeps to the principles of SAATM,
other countries that endorsed it have refused
to abide by those principles for Nigerian
airlines.
We made requests to these countries but it
took them three years to answer us. It was the
Director-General of the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA) that intervened on
our behalf as we pilled pressure on those
countries before they answered us. I
remain grateful to NCAA and the federal
government.
So South Africa has given us the permit
now for us to come in. They have audited Air
Peace and they have found us okay to come
into their country, so they have given us the
permit to come. We have already started
setting up our structures in
South Africa, Johannesburg.
And at the same time we are
looking for a partnering airline
in Johannesburg so that when
we drop you in Johannesburg
our partnering airline will take
you to Cape Town, Durban Port
Elizabeth and others cities and
even beyond South Africa, to
Lesotho and to some other
neighbouring countries
around.
We are looking for partner
airlines to do that. Air Peace does
not just want to do Lagos to
Johannesburg only, we want to
be able to have these alliances
with other airlines to be able to
move Nigerians and the flying
public seamlessly to
destinations they will want to
go. I believe that will help us to
succeed in the long run. This is
what our airlines were not doing
before, so we are learning from
that. We are not going to start
South Africa without having an
agreement with partnering
airline, which we are already very close to
signing.
So any moment now we think we are going
to start Johannesburg before August 30 ,
2019. And by then we must have signed a
kind of arrangement with another partnering
airline. After Johannesburg, the next in line
is India, depending on what happens, we
might be starting India and South Africa
almost the same time or at most
September by God’s Grace.
The Indian community in
Nigeria is yearning for Air
Peace to come in. You must
have heard from their
Ambassador in
Nigeria. They
want a direct
flight from
Nigeria to
India; so
they are
in the
forefront,
they
are the ones pushing and the federal
government has designated Air Peace to that
destination. The federal government even
wrote them to support us. So I thank
President Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong> for that
support. They have written the Indian
government urging them to support us. We
have even employed Chief Security for Air
Peace because that is part of the Indian
requirement.
You must employ somebody who has been
in their military or any of their forces as your
chief security officer and he must be a citizen
of India, we have already done that in India.
They recommended somebody to us and he is
highly placed. So we have done that, it is just
some little more process remaining, so I am
sure by God’s Grace at most second week of
September Air Peace will be flying to
Mumbai. And we are looking forward to
discussing with Air India, their national
carrier, which has a better spread to be able to
connect us within India. And their government
also is urging us to partner with Air India.
In the near future and after we have
succeeded in these first three international
destinations, we would look at flying to
Guangzhou. We planned to do international
routes. When we started this airline we
outlined our growth pattern and we have
religiously followed it. So when Air Peace was
importing one Boeing 777 after another and
bringing them and keeping them at Lagos
international airport, we were criticized.
We had to do so because if you wish to fly to
China, for example, if you don’t have up to
three long-haul aircraft they won’t give you
the permit. So when we knew this, we went
to China to present our papers and the
Nigerian Ambassador in China cooperated
with us, he really helped us. And that gave
me hope because we came from a country
called Nigeria. The man took us like his
brothers and took us everywhere we
needed to go and helped us and made it
very easy for us. That is why I believe that
the government of Present
Mohammadu <strong>Buhari</strong> is very,
very eager to change the
economic narrative of
Nigeria. He is a pan
Nigeria nationalist.
There is no doubt about
•Barrister Allen
that. He is very eager
Onyema
to support
indigenous
investment.
We pray that
other people, all
the civil servants
and appointees
should also
imbibe the vision
of the President
and everything will be
okay. When we went to Beijing, we were given
utmost cooperation. The Nigerian
Ambassador did everything possible to make
it easy for Air Peace. But as at that time our
third plane had not arrived. You see, before
they give you permit, you must show them the
registration of your three aircraft, either by way
of dry lease or outright purchase. And most
importantly in the outright purchase they
prefer that you own it before they can give you
permit. So we went about trying to equip
Air Peace in such a way that we won’t go out
there in the international arena and not be able
to face competition.
Now, let me tell you, if Air Peace did not buy
the number of aircraft we bought, yesterday
(Friday, July 5), we would have disappointed
Nigerians. We dropped the first aircraft we
wanted to use because at 2:00 pm the previous
day, a snag showed up, these are man-made
machines, but assuming we had only one
aircraft, that flight would have been
cancelled. You know what that would have
done. We were sweating, but because we had
backup, we rolled out our Boeing 777-300,
which even had more capacity and opened it
up and within hours people were boarding it.
So if we didn’t have that capacity we
wouldn’t have been able to operate. So, that
is why we went out there acquiring more and
more and we are still acquiring. There are two
more that are about to come because we really
want to make Nigeria proud. God willing,
before the end of this year, Air Peace will own
six Boeing 777.
Many national carriers in Africa are
approaching Air Peace to give them aircraft.
We want to give some of them planes, we have
signed the agreement already sooner or later
you will see it. I am sure the authorities know
because they have visited Nigeria already.
•TO BE CONTINUED

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
A
man sets out with cattle and
roams from Timbuktu to Calabar,
on foot. And that is his life in 2019? He
has no shelter. He has no education.
He has no healthcare. He lives a
wretched and perilous vagrant life. And
we say he is entitled to live so
dangerously in the name of freedom?
They say the constitution grants him
freedom of movement with his goods.
But the constitution ought to protect
him even from ignorance. The laws
should protect him from himself and
his hazardous freedom. And from the
avarice of callous cattle owners. We
have signed up to conventions against
human and animal cruelty and against
slavery. The laws should grant the
herdsman human dignity. Cross
country grazing is a stone age culture.
This is 2019. We are behind. Our
cattle industry should be a goldmine.
But we have shackled our modern
selves with the practices of our
ancestors who lived in the dark.
Modern cattle industry is led by
scientists and big businesses,
supported by banks. It’s not a
walkabout in the bush with starving
cattle. The ranches are scientific
projects. The focus is on yield and cost.
Stronger and more prolific breeds.
Heavier yields in milk and beef.
Nobody in the world grooms cattle for
marathons. The industry has no room
to sentimental addiction to
unproductive, noncompetitive,
unhealthy toil or culture.
A bull with the finest of genes could
be worth as much as three hundred
and sixty million naira. Yes, one million
dollars. Its sperm cells are fetched and
sold at prices higher than diamond.
The bulls and the cows live in ranches.
The owners and the herders live in
homes on the farms. Their children see
their fathers everyday and go to school.
The society gives them life. And they
are not made feral by perpetual sojourn
in treacherous forests.
That is where the industry is in the
United States. That is where the
It was at the amphitheatre on the first
floor of the NNPC Towers last
Monday, July 8, 2019. The
amphitheatre charged with anticipation
overflowed with personalities for Mele
Kolo Kyari, MKK to take the insignia
of office as the 19 th Group Managing
Director, GMD of the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. It
indeed, happened in a colourful
ceremony that for the first time since
the creation of the NNPC in 1977, a
head of the national oil company would
be ceremoniously pulled out on
retirement for a new one to formally
take office. The new helmsman of the
NNPC, one would prefer to address as
a comrade. Not just because he was a
onetime Chairman of the Petroleum and
Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria, PENGASSAN at the NNPC,
but because he sees his friend as
another self if one would take the
phrase from Aristotle in his
Nicomachean Ethics.
Some associates believe MKK must
have started positioning himself for
leadership of the national oil company
from the day he joined the NNPC.
Some others may say ambition; it takes
ambition to achieve success wherever
one finds oneself. MKK however,
believes in the divineness of his
meteoric ascension to power. The new
Group Managing Director may fit into
Warren Bennis’ assertion of a leader’s
eye on the horizon. Of course, he knows
what horizon means in paleontology
geology. And he started by defining
reality in his statement which is the first
responsibility of a leader. Warren
Bennis, a United States educationist
and writer, “On Becoming a Leader”
wrote that managers have their eyes on
the bottom line; leaders have their eyes
on the horizon.
But who is Mele Kolo Kyari? Born on
8th January 1965 in Maiduguri, Borno
Cross country y grazing in 2019:Sheer
barbarism
industry is in Brazil and India. That
is where we should be. We are not
in 1850. We can’t exercise and
exasperate ourselves arguing legal
antiquities, grazing routes and right
of way for cattle. We can’t sit astride
and let our youths roam the forests
with cattle of very low quality genes,
kill themselves and hurt the animals
for pretty little.
We must outlaw cross country
grazing immediately.
We have outlawed bucket toilets,
We must outlaw cross
country grazing immediately
the shalangas. Open cross country
grazing is another affront to human
dignity. We have outlawed riding on
motorbikes without helmet. Open
cross country grazing exposes the
herders to more dangers than riding
without helmets. We have outlawed
driving without seat belts. We did it
because of public safety. We did it to
protect drivers against their own
negligence and recklessness. We
must outlaw cross country grazing.
We cannot allow herdsmen expose
As Comrade MKK leads NNPC
State, Mele attended Government
Community Secondary School Biu in
Borno State. His first love is Geology
and Earth Science which he took a
degree from the University of
Maiduguri in 1987, with an Upper
Second Class Honours. He served in
the mandatory one year National
Youth Service Corps, NYSC scheme
with the defunct Directorate of Foods,
Roads and Rural Infrastructure,
DFRRI between 1987 and 1988. His
illustrious career started with the
Nigerian Geological Survey Agency
as Field Geologist in 1988. He joined
the NNPC subsidiary of Integrated
Data Services Limited, where he
worked as a Seismic Data Processing
Geophysicist in the Production
Sharing Contract, PSC in 1991. He
is quite experienced having
traversed the NNPC with professional
and service credentials. He served at
the National Petroleum Investments
Management Services,NAPIMS as
Abuja Operations Manager. Between
2006 and 2015, he was in the Crude
Oil Marketing Division COMD,
where he rose through the ranks from
Supervisor to Group General
Manager. In May 2018, he became
the Nigerian representative at OPEC.
What are his commitments to
themselves to criminals and cattle
rustlers in the wild and expose
the communities to the rampant
violence that frictions from open
cross country has begun to bring.
Freedoms can be circumscribed.
They are legitimately
circumscribed when curtailed for
reasons of public health and
public safety. Intrusions are
legitimate if they are the minimum
necessary to achieve the stated
public aims. A country wide ban
on open cross country grazing is
legitimate and long over due.
Laws can limit choices, if the
limiting of choices takes away
harmful options and improves
humanity, personal and collective
autonomy.
A man sets out with his cattle and
roams from Sokoto to Calabar. It’s
the culture he knows. He wanders
over 1500 kilometers because he
has to feed his cattle. He withers,
his cattle shrivels. He is unaware
of the other man, his professional
colleague in Brazil or India. He
has no education. He stoically
wades through the perils and
makes a pittance for his gruesome
labour. The burden of the endless
journeys wearies his cattle drains
them of beef and milk. It’s slavery.
The other man in Brazil stays in
his ranch and his cattle leisurely
Nigerians in the NNPC project?
The new Group Managing
Director of the NNPC has vowed
to reverse the trend of petroleum
products importation in the country
by rehabilitating the existing
refineries and encouraging private
sector investment in the refineries
sub-sector. He has not minced his
words in saying he will transform
Nigeria into a net exporter of
petroleum products by 2023. We
may not doubt MKK because the
Crude Oil Marketing Division of
the NNPC under his watch has
recorded noticeable transformation
in the management and sales of
the various Nigeria’s crude oil
grades via an infusion of
transparency and automation of
the processes. He pledged to
continue the automation of the
petroleum products sale process so
that marketers can buy products
online. Experts’ fears that the
global chasm in crude oil quality
supply shows no signs of
narrowing, prompting refiners to
lighten their slate and leading to
a market glut with gasoline,
naphtha and LPG.
Notwithstanding the US shale oil
that is hitting 12 million barrel per
A country wide ban on open cross
country grazing is legitimate and long
over due
feed on juicy grasses. They have been
called to the same trade. One society is
mindful of human dignity and modern
trends and has prospered. The other is
shortsighted and is stuck to the past. The
shortsighted society allows its members
to roam free in ignorance. And reaps the
harvest of poverty, illiteracy and violence
that come with it.
Our cattle industry should be a gold
mine. But we must send the herders to
school to learn modern animal
husbandry. And we must shelter and
pamper the animals to better
productivity. We must borrow from those
who have succeeded their methods and
techniques. We stopped child labour. It’s
slavery. We established labour laws, to
stamp out exploitation and inhumanity.
Why then have we let the herders live
like wild animals?
Many state governments already have
ranches and farm settlements. They
should be rehabilitated and put to use.
But the soul of a cattle business that will
endure will be private ranches and
scientific completion. The federal
government can help with sourcing
modern breeds and agree extension
services. Let private ranches sprout
everywhere. Let the state governments
allocate lands generously to businesses
that want them for ranches. Cattle will
do well in ranches in Aba and Akure as
they will in Sokoto.
The herders should be given a life.
It’s 2019.
The new Group Managing Director of
the NNPC has vowed to reverse the
trend of petroleum products
importation in the country by
rehabilitating the existing refineries and
encouraging private sector investment
in the refineries sub-sector
day a saturated light ends market could
still attract demand for our crude and
refined products as the new restrictions on
amount of sulphur in global marine fuels
would mean refiners buying more light
sweet crude. With MKK outfield pedigree
in petroleum economics and crude oil and
gas trading that could be to our advantage.
Entrenching transparency in NNPC?
MKK is the focal person for the Open
Government Initiative that helps the
government to track the buyer and seller
of crude oil. The Open Government
Initiative is a global body that believes that
making government information available
to the public is a requirement for an
informed citizenry and accountability by
government. Kyari’s commitment is that
every Nigerian is a stakeholder in the
corporation, which implied that everyone
has a right to information on how NNPC
is managed. “NNPC will not be opaque,
we’ll be transparent to all so that at the
end of the day everyone will be in a position
to assess us and say what we have done
right or wrong.” MKK pledged to do his
job with integrity, and will never put
personal interest above that of the nation
or the corporation. He has given a time
limit to accomplish the thorny Nigerian
problems in petroleum industry. Let’s give
MKK a chance by encouraging him to
improve the NNPC.

C
M
Y
K
ince the Federal Government,
Sor an arm of it, announced the
policy of RUGA settlements to
contain the itinerant nature of our
cattle business, neither the
government nor the governed has
had peace. Even now that the
government has suspended the
policy, the noise is yet to abate.
Prominent people have shown their
emotions and biases. Leaders of
Socio/cultural organisations have
chosen to follow the emotions and
sentiments of their people rather than
inform, lead and navigate them
through this difficult pathway in the
life of the country. Religious leaders
are pitiably predictable in their
condemnations or praises for the
policy. Blogs are peddling halftruths
and knowledgeable people
including professors are reposting
those that suit their positions.
Everybody it seems, has taken sides
based on personal, ethnic or religious
interests on a policy that is yet to be
properly enunciated, properly
articulated and therefore properly
understood. Elders that should offer
a voice of reason, of temperance, are
beating drums of war. Misguided
‘youths’ are giving misguided
ultimatums.
With all that is going on, it is
difficult to keep a clear head. Yet, a
clear head is what is required at this
moment of anyone who is read or
listened to when they pass comments
on public issues. I was tempted to
skip the RUGA issue completely and
go ‘Afghanistan’ to comment on
America’s Fourth of July
celebrations, where a real belligerent
drum of war was beaten. But that
would be escapism bordering on
dereliction. Besides, my looking
away is not going to make the issue
go away.The issue as I see it, is
largely an economic issue which is
described in colourful imagery
depending on who is doing the
narrative while the methods of
addressing it is covered in greed,
ethnicity, sabotage and
incompetence.
The North, particularly the Fulani
North, rears cattle while the South
largely consumes them. It is natural
that a product will find its way to its
consumer. It used to do so in this
Given the kind of theatrics that
come with political campaigns,
it was not surprising that some
mischief-makers in the ruling All
Progressives Congress, APC, used
the name of the national chairman
of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
to mock the opposition during the
recent campaigns.
Despite the royal honorific, the
APC social media proponents took it
to town that Prince Uche was
designated to lead the PDP to a
second place. After all, his name is
Secondus!
It now seems that Prince
Secondus, hailed by admirers as
Total Chairman and who had in the
past been praised for his political
acumen may yet be living to his
name in pulling his party down at
strategic opportunities.
While he was praised in some
circles for managing a successful
campaign despite the taunts of the
APC social media soldiers, the jury
out there is that he failed to provide
leadership during the 2018 Osun
governorship election.
Osun was a state many believed
was there for the taking given the
record of the former administration
in the state. However, at about the
most critical period of wheelingdealing,
the PDP national leadership
was missing in action. And when
present, was politically inept.
Now, a development in the House
of Representatives is another
avoidable bungle that is smearing
the Secondus leadership of the PDP.
The decision of the leadership to
project Mr. Kingsley Chinda as the
Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives is one that has
RUG
UGA as the new oil field?
case, through a grazing route which
was subsequently gazetted. Then
population growth coupled with
executive greed—former leaders who
turned parts of the route into personal
farms—and neglect nearly obliterated
this route. The ensuing indiscriminate
search for pasture and water led to
clashes between farmers and herders.
The fact that there is no organised or
defined grazing route also made the
roaming cattle to become more
vulnerable to rustlers. The reality of
drought on one hand, clashes with
farmers on the other and rustlers along
the way, turned otherwise benign
herdsmen into aggressive survivalists.
Losing 30, 50 cows in one night will
harden any herder—just as losing
your farm and home would harden any
farmer. The herdsmen armed
themselves initially as defence against
attacks but soon became looters,
rapists and arsonists. The next step
was inevitable. Many became
criminals who found it more profitable
to take human beings than to take or
fend for cattle. The reluctance and
tardiness of security officers to nip a
growing crime in the bud worsened
the situation.Like cancer, this state of
insecurity has spread through the life
blood of the entire country. Hysterics
replaced calm reasoning. Desperation
led to knee jerk actions. The country
became long on rhetoric but short on
solutions.
The situation reached a state of
emergency for want of a better
phrase.Fortunately it is a phrase—and
a phase—that the President, being a
General, understands. The first step
in a state of emergency is containment,
typified usually by a restriction of
We must save Secondus
astounded many partisans of the
opposition party.
The shock is in the nepotistic
ascription that has been given to the
choice of a Rivers man to become the
number three man in the party that
has a Rivers man as chairman. That
is despite the vote of the majority of
the PDP caucus for another person.
Yes, the PDP was subtle in criticizing
President Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>’s
choice of appointments last week that
showed the first 10 aides from one
ethnic bloc and all from one religion.
Nigerians from outside the
president’s catchment area for juicy
appointments may have given up on
seeing President <strong>Buhari</strong> make the
kind of broadminded appointments as
were made by Dr. Olusegun
Obasanjo.
But there are still some appointments
being made that especially rankle.
One of such was the appointment of a
new director-general of the Nigerian
Institute of Policy and Strategic
Studies, Kuru.
After staying for more than three
years, as acting director-general of
NIPSS, Jonathan Juma is to step down
for a subordinate, Habu Haladu who
movement. That has been suggested
by some in this case. But an abrupt
restriction of cows and their herders
has it consequences. First is the
economics of it. It will affect the
livelihood of many on both sides of the
River Niger. People in the south forget
how much they depend on livestock
from the north for their many
celebrations. Many are ignorant of the
process it takes before meat gets to
their dinner tables.Then we would
need a large number of officers to
police the restriction. The attendant
result is an even more increase in
violent crimes.
Fortunately after a slow start, we all
seem to agree that ranching is a better
form of containment. But that is as far
as consensus goes. The contending
issues are land and the nature of
Government support. Some people
believe that ranching should be
treated as a private business like other
ventures. Whoever is interested
should look for land, food and market
like other farmers. The government
believes a more comprehensive
incentive is needed to change an ageold
habit of cattle rearing. I see the
sense in both arguments.Ranching is
a very expensive business unlike
poultry or piggery. It is also the main
source of meat in the country.
Secondly, we want to change,
wholesale, the whole business of
rearing and selling cattle and thereby
avert incessant clashes. These two
reasons and the urgency of the
situation make government
intervention inevitable.But
intervention should be limited to
providing infrastructures and funds at
reasonable rates for interested
has been promoted over him as
substantive director-general.
Though not totally shocking given
the present inclination of the present
leadership, the emotional trauma of
reporting to a subordinate who is
promoted apparently based on
religious and ethnic primordial
sentiments is demoralising.
As Dr. Isaiah Osifo wrote in an article
published this week, Nigeria succeeds
in the field of soccer when we present
our best eleven irrespective of where
they come from.
As Osifo noted, the man of the match
in the Nigeria–South Africa encounter
of last Wednesday, Samuel
Chukwueze, may not have surfaced in
a Nigerian team if the present
primordial sentiments used in
leadership selection were taken into
consideration.
Nigeria is not working because of the
leadership recruitment process that
puts meritocracy at the lower rung well
below tribe and religion. Why Nigeria
trashed South Africa was because the
nation chose to put her best players
forward.
It is against this background that the
distress of the PDP can be seen in its
SATURDAY Vanguard, , JULY 13, 2019—35
Now is the time to get involved in
what could be a win, win situation
if handled properly
investors.Government should also not
force any State to enlist. And those that
enlist should not have to cede their land
permanently. There is something called
leasing and it is applicable to
land.Secondly, Ranching, RUGA, Colony
or whatever name government aims to
call it, should not be limited to a particular
tribe. States that are interested in the
programme should reserve the right to
populate the settlements as they choose.
My suggestion would be to encourage
people of different tribes to populate each
settlement with indigenes being in the
majority. Let Southerners invest in the
North and vice-versa. That way, we could
have a mini Nigeria in each settlement.
Or we cancel the idea of settlement
altogether and let allied industries
gravitate towards ranches. Although that
would not make for an organised and
integrated livestock industry, it should
diffuse the tension and distrust in the
country.
My advice to States still sitting on the
fence is to get on board. Especially the
Southern States where cows are
consumed in huge numbers everyday.
Now is the time to get involved in what
could be a win, win situation if handled
properly. It does not make sense to have
to depend on others for your food security.
This Government is leaning towards a
form of settlement for cattle and allied
industries as a way to solve the farmer/
herdsman clashes. A lot of money is likely
to be pumped into this project and those
who are lucky to get ranches in these
settlements might become instant
millionaires given the support and
incentives that could be available.The
settlements could be the new oil fields of
the future which the elites irrespective
of tribe or religion, would again scramble
to corner for themselves. Any State that
opts out should not cry of marginalisation
in the future.
Nigerians from outside the president’s juicy
appointments catchment area may have given up
on seeing the kind of broadminded
appointments as were made by President
Olusegun Obasanjo
faux pas in the House of Representatives.
The act of the national chairman of a
political party writing to the presiding
officer on who should be the choice of
majority or minority leader is itself
offensive to democratic ethos. Some
presiding officers would certainly not
accept such communications!
The PDP has undoubtedly found itself
in a bind on the issue of selecting the
principal officers of the House of
Representatives. The rules do not support
the inclinations of the national leadership
of a political party telling the legislators
who should be their leader!
It was not surprising that the party set
up a ten-man committee comprising of
many past senior legislators and
presiding officers to help it escape from
the embarrassing situation it has found
itself.
Yes, those who know Prince Secondus
speak of his humility and grace. It is
understandable that he may have been
under extreme pressures in guiding the
party in selecting the new minority leader
of the House.
The lesson for the Secondus leadership
of the PDP is that it cannot afford to make
a slip on any issue. Doing otherwise
would leave it permanently in second
place in everything!

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
he Senate on Tuesday this week
Turged the Federal Government to
ban the importation, production or
circulation of sniper because it is being
used by some Nigerians to commit
suicide. Yes, it is true that some people
who committed suicide recently used
sniper. As if that is not bad enough, a
National Youth Service Corp (NYSC),
member serving in Ogun State,
Ayomikun, Ademoraye Juliana, died
last Sunday after reportedly using
sniper. She ignorantly used it to wash
her hair to eliminate lice.
Painful as these deaths are, they are
not enough reason to ban the
production, distribution and use of the
sniper insecticide. The issue at hand is
abuse of the usage of sniper. NAFDAC
has come out to say that “sniper and
other brands of dichlorvos formulations
are agricultural pesticides, registered
for use as Crop Protection Products
(CPP) only.” The implication is that it is
not only intentionally using sniper to
commit suicide that is wrong. Some of
us are using it wrongly as insecticide at
home and in offices. The other day, I
watched a video where one woman was
telling a trader at Oyingbo Market in
Lagos to stop using sniper to kill insects
on crumbs of stock fish he was selling.
But as NAFDAC has explained, sniper
should only be applied on crops in the
farm, not on already harvested
products. The Senate should liaise with
the management of NAFDAC to be
properly advised. NAFDAC already has
a plan in place to address the abuse of
sniper. The production and distribution
of sniper keeps some Nigerians
employed. Banning it means adding to
our unemployment woes.
Moreover, some Nigerians might have
used sniper to end their lives, but sniper
does not hold the monopoly as a means
used in taking one’s life. Some others
who committed suicide jumped into
water (sea, lagoons, rivers and even
swimming pools), so shall we also ban
any form of usage of water? Some
committed suicide by hanging. So, while
sniper might make suicide look easier,
it is not the cause of increase in suicide
cases. We must refrain from massaging
the branches of the tree and go to the
root to uproot the tree.
Unemployment, hopelessness,
frustration and poverty are at the root
of increasing suicide cases in Nigeria. To
peaker Femi Gbajabiamila should
Sexpect a petition from the General
Iliya Bisalla family soonest to cleanse the
stigma hanging on those he left behind in
1976 following the February 13 coup.
The Bisallas have a case because the man
was executed based on evidence
presented by Lt.Col. Bukar Suka Dimka to
the Gen. Emmanuel Abisoye led Military
Tribunal that tried the coup plotters.
Dimka was a very unstable character, a
heavy drinking philanderer who could
have beaten the head cutting record of
the wild Wa of Burma [Myanmar]. General
Emmanuel Obada described him as a
drunkard. Gen. John Mark Inienger
tagged him a head hunter.
If Musa and Nuhu Bisalla have not made
up their mind to take this case to the
National Assembly, I expect Bishop
Benjamin Kwashie to lead this crusade.
They should push for a presidential
pardon for Gen. Bisalla.
President Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong> has
recognized Chief Moshood Abiola as a
national hero even if posthumously. June
12, has replaced May 29, as Democracy
Day.
Bisalla ran into trouble from the
moment his Sandhurst Course 27 mate,
Murtala Mohammed, became Head of
State on July 29, 1975.Murtala chose
Yakubu Danjuma as Army chief.
Bisalla was appointed Minister of
Defence [ Federal Commissioner for
Defence] and was to report to Danjuma.
Mohammed Shuwa and Ibrahim Haruna,
both Murtala’s mates, were also
appointed ministers but unlike Bisalla,
were not part of the Supreme Military
Council.
Murtala, Bisalla, Haruna and Shuwa were
at various times General Officers
Commanding [GOC] during the civil war.
Bisalla replaced Shuwa as GOC One
Division, Nigeria Army on May 12, 1968.
On December 4, 1969, GOC, Third
Marine Commandos division, Col.
Olusegun Obasanjo, visited the GOC One
division office, Enugu. Col. Bisalla was
away but his General Staff Officer, Grade
One, Lt.Col. Yakubu Danjuma, received
the visitor.
By July 1975, all officers including
Danjuma were Brigadiers [Brigadier
General]. Some other NMTC course one
members like Alani Akinrinade, Martins
Adamu, David Bamigboye and Abisoye
had also risen to that rank.
Leave Sniper out of it,distinguished
stem the tide, we should find
immediate and long term solution
to the problem. In finding
solutions, everybody should be
involved: government, schools,
religious organisations, social
groups, family and friends.
Government should create the
right environment for economic
and commercial activities to
strive. These include security,
ease of doing business, a strong
and efficient judicial system and
provision of basic infrastructure,
among others. Once these are in
place, the average Nigerian will
flourish. The entrepreneurial
spirit and resilience are already
there. More foreigners will also
bring money and invest.
Two, our educational system
needs overhauling. Very few
Nigerian graduates can get
employed and hit the ground
running. Some undergo training,
sometimes for one year, before
they can fit into the organisations
that employed them. Some are
simply unemployable. In
addition, we cannot continue to
churn out employment seekers
only. The jobs are simply not
there. The school system needs to
start producing entrepreneurs.
Two weeks ago, I was at an
entrepreneurship expo of a
private university. The school
gave the students loans which they
invested and came up with various
products for the expo. Some
invested in fashion, others in food
and some others in information
technology and phone
accessories. I was happy with
what I saw. I was also impressed
with their marketing and
presentation skills. I ended up
spending twice my budget. I
advised the students not to see
what they are doing as a mere
academic exercise, but a critical
activity which can shape their
lives after graduation. We need
more of such practical
entrepreneurship training in our
universities.
The production and distribution
of sniper keeps
some Nigerians
employed;banning it
means adding to our
unemployment woes
Three, these people who commit
suicide have families. Parents
need to up their game in parenting.
Sometimes, the seeds of suicide
were sown in the first 10 years of
the children’s lives by what
parents did or failed to do.
Parenting is tough and time
consuming, but what is worth
doing is worth doing well. I spent
the whole of today (Wednesday,
July 10) at my youngest
daughter’s end-of-year school
programme. I got back
Gbajabiamila, let’s talk Bisalla
Murtala promoted Danjuma and
Obasanjo, who was Chief of Staff
Supreme Headquarters , to
Lieutenant General and made all
others major general. It was said
that Bisalla was not happy about
that.
Honestly, as a human being,
Bisalla was entitled to grievance
but he had benefitted in the past.
In 1967, after the death of Col Joe
Akahan, Bisalla replaced him as
Army Chief. That also caused
disaffection.
Officers like Col. Adeyinka
Adebayo, Lt. Col. David Ejoor, Lt.
Col. Hassan Usman Katsina,
Benjamin Addekunle and
Obasanjo were overlooked. It did
not take long for Gowon to reverse
that decision by selecting Katsina.
Katsina was junior to Ejoor and
Adebayo. Even at that, they were
senior to Akahan who was
appointed ahead of them. It did
not start with Maj. Gen. Yakubu
Gowon.
It was Maj. Gen. Johnson Aguiyi
Ironsi’s idea of placating the
North after the January 1966
coup. Lt. Col Gowon emerged as
Army chief, above his superiors,
like Adebayo, Lt.Cols Wellington
Bassey, Conrad Nwawo, Adekunle
Fajuyi, Hilary Njoku, Philip
Effiong, Ogere Imo and Ejoor.
Only Murtala knew why he
appointed a Defence minister
under a military regime. Ironsi
did not. Gowon also ignored it.
And only God can explain why the
Defence minister had to report to
the Chief of Army staff.
In the First Republic, Ironsi as
Army chief, was subordinate to
Muhammadu Ribadu and Inua
Wada respectively, as Defence
ministers. Even today, the
service chiefs take directives
from the Defence minister.
This alleged bottled up
grievance was held against
Bisalla when Murtala was killed.
And simply because there was so
much among Gowon, Bisalla and
Dimka, there was no way out.
The Gowons and the Kwashies
hail from around Pankshin but
their parents moved to Wusasa,
Zaria as missionaries. Bisalla
married Mildred Kwashie and
Gowon’s elder sister married S.K.
Dimka, who later became Kwara
State police commissioner.
Another police commissioner,
Joseph Gomwalk, first governor
of Benue Plateau State, had a
Kwashie, Helen, as sister in-law.
This was the setting before
Murata ascended the throne.
On Gowon’ wedding day, April
19, 1969, Col. Bisalla was the
Military Coordinator. Mrs Bisalla
was one of the Four Ladies–in-
Waiting. One of the five
bridesmaids was Elizabeth
Dimka. Another Dimka, Mary,
played a prominent role.
Gowon was alleged to have
supported the 1976 plot.
Everyone close to him suffered.
His brothers, Moses, a Squadron
leader and Isaiah, a captain were
thoroughly exhausted and slept off on the
sofa. When I woke up, my daughter came
by my side, knelt down and thanked me
for her dress and my time. She is 10 and I
tell you, these memories add up to shape
a child’s life. And you know what? Her
gratitude compensated for the
discomfort of sitting all day on a low
plastic chair and not going to work.
Four, religious organisations exist not
only to impart religious knowledge and
moral guidance, but also to help solve
societal problems. Religious
organisations need to get more involved
in solving the increasing cases of suicide.
It starts from the mind and the Bible,
which I am very familiar with, has enough
teachings to put Christians in the right
frame of mind. But the book of James also
tells us that faith without good works is
not good enough. The church is not the
building; the people are the church.
Religious organisations have money. A
chunk of this money should be invested
in members to build capacity. Churches
should make conscious efforts to fight
poverty within their fold. They should
organize seminars and skills acquisition
workshops. Members who show enough
seriousness should be supported to start
small scale businesses. Some churches
are doing this, but it is not enough. They
can do a lot more and they should do a
lot more.
Finally, some people do not understand
what friendship is. It means sacrifices and
inconveniences. I am not necessarily
talking about money here, but “all join.”
When you really regard someone as a
friend, you own him; you try to be abreast
of what is happening in his life. These
days, because of fear of financial
commitments, many people do not reach
out to their friends. I do not blame them
entirely because when you reach you to
some people, all they are thinking of is
how to get some money off you. The only
“help” they understand is money.
Notwithstanding such people, we still
need to reach out. A pep talk, an advice,
a phone call might just make the critical
difference. I once wrote on hope and
somebody sent a message to me that he
was contemplating suicide, but my write
up pulled him back from the precipice.
Friendship means sacrifice. Do not call
somebody your friend if you are not
ready to inconvenience yourself for his/
her sake. He/she is simply an
acquaintance to you.
If Musa and Nuhu Bisalla have not made up
their mind to take this case to the National
Assembly, I expect Bishop Benjamin Kwashie
to lead this crusade
arrested. Bisalla, Gomwalk and Helen
were also detained. Dimka, the coup
spokesman, ran away.
Then Dimka was arrested and he began
to sing like a weaver bird. Based on his
drunken confessions, Bisalla was trapped
and executed. Gomwalk was killed too.
Helen and Isaiah were imprisoned. All got
President Shehu Shagari’s pardon.
Bisalla maintained innocence till death.
His last words were: “I was to be set free
yesterday, but for this boy Dimka who
implicated me. God knows I didn’t know
anything about it. Allah Sariki.”
Bisalla never took part in any previous
coup. As GOC, he was said to have frowned
at a fellow GOC who was bombing Biafran
civilian targets. At the end of the war, there
was Bisalla Cup, for football competition
in the East Central State. Vasco da Gama
beat Neptune, Aba 2-1 to win in 1972. A
street was named after him in Enugu.
Bishop Kwashie should move to Abuja.
Mrs Salamotu Gbajabiamila is there
already. They need to clear Bisalla’s name.
Salamotu was just eight when she lost her
father. Musa was 11 and Nuhu, six.
It happened in Ghana. In 1979, Jerry
Rawlings signed the execution of three exleaders:
Okatakye Afrifa, Kutu
Acheampong and Fred Akuffo. Former
and serving Service Chiefs like Robert
Kotei, George Boakye and Joy Amedume
were not spared.
In 2001, their bodies were exhumed and
reburied following John Kuffour’s
presidential pardon. Kotei’s sister, Mrs
Gladys Dorlo Kokailey, took the matter
up.
Bisalla’s children should get in touch
with Col. Paul Ogbebor. His name was
deleted by Gen. Domkat Bali in 1976.
James Danbaba was freed, last minute.
Bisalla was almost going to be set free until
veto power worked. Bisalla could, at least,
rest in peace.

hat really do Nigerians make of
WPresident Mohammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>’s
or for that matter, any politician’s
promises? Stretch this further and you
would come to the question whether
politicians whom we vote into offices are
actually ever evaluated on how much
they kept their election campaign
promises.
Hey, before we proceed any further,
we have to remind ourselves of one
brash Mayor of a city in the United States
of America in the 1980s, who earned a
mention and photograph in TIME
magazine for keeping a campaign
promise. He has boasted that he would
finish an aquarium in a given time. A
wag asked him what would happen if
he failed to keep his promise; he rifled
back: “I will jump into the aquarium
myself and swim there” if it was not
completed and commissioned on a given
date.
The date arrived and the aquarium was
not completed. The Mayor invited the
media, pumped water into the aquarium
and swam away to the delight of his city
dwellers. Now, back to <strong>Buhari</strong>: who
really is to blame? Do we blame a
politician who in 2015 promised us
heaven, but couldn’t even give us the
Earth, no matter how blighted and
scorched? I know some will say he gave
us hell (especially if they lived in a
Benue town sacked and torched by
suspected cattle herders, or if they lived
in a Zamfara village being incessantly
pillaged by cattle rustlers. I know there
will be some persons out there who will
mock me for pointing out the dust in
some other persons’ eyes, while
ignoring the log in mine— after all, the
king of my town was kidnapped and
killed under <strong>Buhari</strong>’s watch by
suspected herdsmen— who, three years
down the line, have yet to be punished.
Yet, the question could be seriously
asked if the real problem rests with the
politicians who make promises, but fail
to keep them, or the citizenry who reelect
them despite their failed promises?
This question remains pertinent not just
because of <strong>Buhari</strong>, who won a re-election
even though he hardly kept any of the
promises he made while campaigning
to be elected into office for his first term,
but the same was the case with former
President Olusegun Obasanjo who was
re-elected in 2003 despite a disastrous
first outing.
And despite a flawed election which
many believe was rigged to favour
Obasanjo, Obasanjo not only remained
cocky all through his second term, he
even attempted a rancorous third term
tenure elongation scheme (he has
stridently denied any involvement in it).
All through that accursed attempt to alter
the constitution to allow Obasanjo
another presidential bid, Obasanjo’s
Does <strong>Buhari</strong> remember his
campaign promises?
supporters kept insulting Nigeria with
their mantra that no Nigerian would be
able to step into Obasanjo’s shoes.
Just like Obasanjo, the man of the
moment has also refused to learn how to
be humble. No, my intension here is
not to excoriate both men, but to ask the
question: did Obasanjo and <strong>Buhari</strong>
deserve to have been re-elected? In May
2004, I wrote a seven-day series of
articles which ended on the last Sunday
of that month, in which I showed that
Obasanjo not only failed but had failed
woefully. I simply did what other
journalists who were busy hailing
Obasanjo as God’s gift to Nigeria, that
Obasanjo had failed to meet the plans
spelt out for him in the Presidential Policy
Advisory Committee. In fact the head of
that PPAC, Lt. Gen. T. Y Danjuma, told
journalists in May 2003 that “we failed;
we failed to grow the economy, we failed
to grow jobs.”
So, why was Obasanjo re-elected? You
could ask the same question about <strong>Buhari</strong>
and be one hundred per cent right.I say
this because if you checked <strong>Buhari</strong>’s
promises against his records, you would
marvel why Nigerians re-elected a
politician who made great promises in
2015, and failed to keep them.
For instance, <strong>Buhari</strong> said in 2015: “If
you nominate me in December,2014 and
elect me in February 2015, my
administration will:
1.Initiate action to amend the Nigerian
Constitution with a view to devolving
powers, duties, and responsibilities to
states in order to entrench true
Federalism and the Federal spirit;
2. Strengthen INEC to reduce, if
possible, eliminate electoral malpractices
in Nigerian’s political life;
Attract the best and brightest of our
sons and daughters into our politics and
public service by aggressive recruitment
of private sector people, academics, and
professionals within Nigeria and in the
Diaspora through internships,
fellowships, executive appointments,
and special nomination to contest elective
offices;
3. Prevent the abuse and
misuse of Executive, Legislative and
Public offices, through greater
accountability, transparency, strict,
and implementable anti-corruption
laws, through strengthening and
sanitising the EFCC and ICPC as
independent entities; Security and
Conflict Resolution On National
Security and Defence: I will urgently
secure the territorial integrity of the
nation. I will never leave the
defence of the nation in the hands
of Hunters, Children, and Civilian
JTF through the following: 1.
Urgently address capacity building
mechanisms of law enforcement
agents in terms of quantity and
quality as this is critical in
safeguarding the sanctity of lives
and property; 2. Establish a welltrained,
adequately equipped and
goals-driven Serious Crime Squad
to combat insurgencies, kidnapping,
armed robbery, ethno-religious and
communal clashes, nationwide; 3.
Consult and amend the
Constitution to enable States and
Local Governments to create city,
Local government and State Policing
systems, base on the resources
available at each levels, to address
the peculiar needs of each
community. I will therefore work
with the National Assembly to set
and revised, when needed,
boundaries of operations, for
Federal,State, and Local
government policing units, through
new Criminal Justice legislation to
replace the Criminal Code, the
Penal Code and the Police Act. 4.
On Conflict Resolution, National
Unity, And Social Harmony: I will;
1.Establish a Conflict Resolution
Commission to help prevent,
mitigate, and resolve civil conflicts
within the polity; 2. Bring
permanent peace and solution to the
SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—37
This question remains pertinent not just
because of <strong>Buhari</strong>, who won a re-election
even though he hardly kept any of the
promises he made while campaigning to
be elected into office for his first term, but
the same was the case with former
President Olusegun Obasanjo who was reelected
in 2003 despite a disastrous first
outing
insurgency issues in the North-East; the
Niger Delta; and other conflict prone states
and areas such as Plateau, Benue, Bauchi,
Borno, Abia, Taraba, Yobe, and Kaduna in
order to engender national unity and social
harmony; 3. Initiate policies to ensure that
Nigerians are free to live and work in any
part of the country by removing state of
origin, tribe, ethnic and religious
affiliations from documentation
requirements in our identification of
citizens and replace these with State of
Residence and fashion out the appropriate
minimal qualification for obtaining such a
state of residency, nation-wide.”
He even vowed: “I, Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>,
believe that our politics is broken. Our
nation urgently needs fundamental political
reform and improvement in governance
more transparency and accountable.
Amend the Constitution to remove
immunity from prosecution for elected
officers in criminal cases; 6. Restructure
governance for a leaner, more efficient, and
adequately compensated public service
sector,while promoting effective
participation of the private sector for more
robust job creation programmes to employ
the teaming youth; <strong>Buhari</strong> 7.Require full
disclosure in media outlets, of all
government contracts over N100m prior to
award and during implementation at
regular intervals; 8.Reform and strengthen
the justice system for efficient
administration and dispensation of justice
with the creation of special courts for
accelerated hearing of corruption, drug
trafficking, terrorism and similar cases of
national importance; 9. Fully enforce the
Freedom of Information Act l so that
government held data sets can be
requested and used by the public and then
such data sets be publish on regular basis;
10. Amend the Constitution to require Local
governments to publish their meeting
minutes, service performance data, and
items of spending over N10M.
Yes, I did not make this up; but all the
promises above were contained in <strong>Buhari</strong>’s
manifesto.
SHOCKING: 52 years after
creation of Kwara State, civil
servants still use rented offices
•Abdulrazaq mobilises to complete secretariat
By Demola Akinyemi
Ilorin....Kwara State, in North central
part of Nigeria is no doubt a purely
civil servants state with little or no
Internally Generated Revenue to help
several administrations meet the high
expectations of the residents, at least to a
reasonable extent.
The situations had been such that after
payment of workers salaries and pensioners
little is left for developments.
Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman is
obviously abreast of these developments
hence his strong decision to cut cost at all cost
and make the big difference since he’s already
aware that the electorates won’t take excuse
for non performance from him.
So,penultimate Wednesday, under the
scorching afternoon sun at the Ilorin
international airport, he was on his way to
Abuja in one of his routine functions and he
indeed led by example.
The governor was caught with his travelling
bag strapped to his back, on the queue with
others to board the commercial flight while
receiving calls, and the development didn’t
amaze a few, particularly when the picture
went viral on the social media.
Arguably, the first Nigerian governor after
Peter Obi of Anambra to demystify the arts of
governance in this manner,it’s not news again
that the governor of kwara state does not
also wait for his protocols to go out on a good
day.
He goes out in Ilorin in a Hilux vehicle with
two back up cars without siren. Several times
his protocols and the relevant government
officials struggled to catch up with him in
his ongoing unscheduled facility tours across
the state, to personally ascertain situation
of things by himself.
Credible sources confirmed to Saturday
Vanguard that Governor Abdulrazaq is also
currently using his personal vehicles and also
fueling them by himself to do the government
business.
The source also claimed that the governor
hasn’t collected a dime from the government
treasury so far,and no one knows when he
would started collecting his pay.
Because of the simplicity that he has
brought into office and how he has
demystified governance, many don’t quickly
notice him on the streets, while on duty.
The governor had indeed sent this signal
on his first day in office when he was to be
officially inaugurated as the governor of
kwara state as he personally drove himself in
the same Hilux vehicle.
This approach to governance and his visit
to sensitive and strategic places in the state
in his designed surprise manner,surely gives
a clear indication that he had long prepared
for the prestigious office having been
contesting since about sixteen years ago.
Above all, he knows his state and its
problems.
The era of chartered flights used by past
administrations in the state is gone and
hopefully gone. So also were previous
flamboyant lifestyles known with previous
governments in the state.
Saturday Vanguard further gathered that
•Gov Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman
these were deliberate decisions to cut
down cost of governance drastically.
The high point of cutting cost this week
was when he deployed his business
acumen while discussing the completion
of the ongoing new secretariat complex
along Ahmadu Bello way Ilorin with the
contractors.
At the end of the interactive session,
the governor reportedly secured N50m
discount from contractors handling the
project even as he mobilised them with
N350m to get the job done by the end of
August according to the statement by his
media aide Rafiu Ajakaiye.
He said that the governor approved
the fund after securing the discount from
the contractors who claimed they were
being owed N515m out of the N1.38bn
total contract sums.
The contract of four blocks with 76 office
spaces was awarded by the
administration of former Governor
Abdulfatai Ahmed.
According to the statement of his
media aide,”Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq
felt a need to urgently complete the project for
the use of civil servants even as he pushed for
heavy discount from the contractors,”
“As a result, the Governor has approved the
release of N350m with which the contractors will
finish the work. They will receive N81m after the
work is satisfactorily done. That would leave them
with the (third payment) retention fee of N34m
after six months.”it added.
The statement also said that the governor is
alarmed that some of the state’s civil servants are
still in rented accommodation, 52 years after
Kwara was created. That might be his next focus.
Meantime, Architect Makanjuola Kayode, the
lead consultant for the project, assured the
governor that the four-block secretariat complex
will be ready by August 30 even as he thanked
the governor for approving payment for the
prompt completion of the project.
Other major steps Governor Abdulrazaq has
taken lately to bring the much needed lease of
life to the residents of Kwara state include the
N450m paid to normalise Kwara’s relationship
with UBEC; N20m paid to fix some roads within
the metropolis; N232m to access various funds
that would ease people’s access to basic health
care, anti-malaria treatment and nutrition.
Others include N350m paid the striking
workers of Colleges of Education he inherited
and FADAMA counterpart fund; N20.6m to
rehabilitate the Fire Service operational office;
and another N200m to access World Banksponsored
RAAMP III which would lead to
rehabilitation of some 600kilometers of rural
roads in the state, among others.
The governor had also opened the week with
good news when he had a telephone
conversation with the 34-year-old Muyiwa Tola
Atoyebi who was recently elevated to the rank of
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN),the youngest
so far in Nigeria’s history and above all a
kwaran.
“The Governor congratulated the learned silk
for making Kwara proud. He prayed that God
will continue to guide him,” according to a
statement by Ajakaye.
“The Governor believes Mr Atoyebi is a good
example of what young people should aspire
to be. He urges the youth to emulate him and
be the best at whatever they do.”

38—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
•<strong>Buhari</strong> •Trump •Rapinoe •LeBron James
If America's Rapinoe, LeBron
James were Nigerian players . . .
By Ernest Osogbue
Did you follow the FIFA Women World
Cup?
Did you see the American team? Well
if you didn’t, there’s no need to worry. The point
however, is that the United States Women Football
team successfully defended the FIFA
women World Cup. That is not the end of the
story though as the team represents the level
of democratic development in the USA to which
an average Nigerian can only dream about.
The team is made up of some women who are
in direct opposition to President Trump. For
example, the co-captain Megan Rapinoe does
not sing the national anthem and has vowed
never to do so, as long as Donald Trump remains
in office. The footballer has been in collision
with the president since he was swornin.
President Trump has equally expressed his
distaste for Rapinoe in several twitter storms
labeling her actions as unpatriotic. Rapinoe is
reputed to be the first white athlete to ‘take a
knee’ during the rendition of the American
national anthem before a sporting event, in
solidarity with Colin Kaepernick whose protests
over racial inequality in the US since the
advent of the Trump presidency has become
legendary. Trump has challenged Rapinoe to
‘be proud of the flag that you wear’, claiming
that her not singing the national anthem was
‘disrespectful’. Rapinoe has previously referred
to President Trump as ‘misogynistic’, ‘small
minded’, and ‘racist’.
Alex Morgan was another member of the
American women’s team at the World Cup in
France with a big off-field personality. She is
a women’s rights activist and is currently leading
a 28 woman team suing the US Soccer
Federation for paying the men’s team more,
despite their having played less matches than
the women in a calendar year. She has equally
Researchers have found the earliest
example of our species (modern
humans) outside Africa.
A
skull unearthed in Greece has been
dated to 210,000 years ago, at a time
when Europe was occupied by the
Neanderthals. The sensational discovery
adds to evidence of an earlier migration
of people from Africa that left no trace in
the DNA of people alive today. The
findings are published in the journal
Nature.
Researchers uncovered two significant
fossils in Apidima Cave in Greece in the
1970s. One was very distorted and the
other incomplete, however, and it took
computed tomography scanning and
uranium-series dating to unravel their
secrets. The more complete skull appears
fallen foul of Donald Trump in recent times,
and is one of those who openly rejected Trumps
invitation to the White House after the team’s
victory in France.
How come these two women openly feuding
with the American president, are still part of
the US soccer team, and representing America
at international competitions? Who selected
them, why did the American Soccer Federation
not blacklist them and why have a majority
of Americans supported these sports stars
in their feud with the president? Is it because
the Americans accept that opposition to the
president does not necessarily equal a lack of
patriotism?
The answer is ‘yes’. The democratic setup in
the United States means that only the best can
represent America, and as long as you make
yourself available for selection and are not
barred by any laws you can be selected. It also
means that despite the powers vested on the
American president, he lacks the ability to influence
the selection of players or people who
can represent America in sporting or other
events. The performance of Megan Rapinoe
who ended the tournament as top scorer and
Most Valuable Player also highlights her patriotic
zeal despite the refusal to sing the national
anthem.
It becomes more interesting when you contrast
these with our own situation here in Nigeria
a supposedly democratic nation. Is it
possible for a footballer who has expressed
open disdain of the president to be a part of the
Super Eagles or the Super Falcons or any other
national team for that matter?
The question becomes necessary as our
democratic development must compulsorily
follow the tenets laid down by our predecessors
in democratic practice. Our democracy is
modeled after that of the Americans. While we
may not copy everything from them wholesale,
it is imperative to borrow those aspects
Earliest modern human
found outside Africa
Apidima 1
(shown here in a
reconstruction) has
all the characteristics
of a modern
human skull
Apidima 2 appears to be a Neanderthal
and is later than the modern
which help us to build a society where all citizens
can contribute to national development
irrespective of creed, religion, ethnicity, language,
political affiliation and other forms of
societal/political bias.
One of the most prominent black
basketballers in recent history LeBron James
has equally had his fair share of public spat
with President Trump.
James openly called
Trump ‘a punk’ and the
heavens did not fall; he
still plays basketball and
earns his living as an
American citizen. He was
a prominent member of
the gold winning American
basketball team at the
Rio Olympics and is on
line to be selected for the
2020 Games if he remains
injury free.
In our country, the
minute you are perceived
as a non-supporter of the
president, you are
doomed; the same scenario
is replicated with
governors in States. Without
being prompted, government
officials believe
it is a patriotic duty to
deprive those who do not
support the president an
opportunity to contribute
Government officials
forget that both the
opposition and the
ruling party are
stakeholders in the
Nigerian project, and
therefore everyone
must be given an
opportunity to
contribute to nation
building
to national development. Once you are in opposition
to the president, you automatically become
an enemy of the state.
This trend is not only manifest in the current
administration, but also has been a recurrent
feature of our democracy since 1999. It is on
record how businesses owned by opposition
figures are targeted and all kinds of pretenses
to be a Neanderthal. But the other shows clear
characteristics, such as a rounded back to the
skull, diagnostic of modern humans.
Modern humans left Africa much
earlier What’s more, the
Neanderthal skull was younger.
“Now our scenario was that there
was an early modern group in
Greece by 210,000 years ago,
perhaps related to comparable
populations in the Levant, but it was
subsequently replaced by a
Neanderthal population
(represented by Apidima 2) by
about 170,000 years ago,” said coauthor
Prof Chris Stringer, from
London’s Natural History
Museum.
People living outside Africa today
trace their ancestry to a migration
that left the continent 60,000 years
ago. As these modern humans
expanded across Eurasia, they
largely replaced other species they
encountered, such as the
used to run them aground. Anti-graft agencies
hound mostly those in the opposition, while
supposed friends of the president are left to get
away with all manner of malfeasance. The manner
with which representatives of the president
address opposition figures creates the impression
that the leadership of Nigeria is a
personal property of the president.
Government officials forget that
both the opposition and the ruling
party are stakeholders in the Nigerian
project, and therefore everyone
must be given an opportunity to contribute
to nation building. While government
officials should not be arrogant
in addressing the opposition, the
opposition must equally address government
officials with civility. After
all the ultimate target of both sides is
the development of Nigeria and the
well-being of citizens. A vibrant opposition
can actually be of benefit to
the ruling party and the citizenry if it
does its job with patriotism.
The right of the president to design
a style of governance to help him deliver
his electoral promises is inalienable,
the right of the opposition to
challenge that style is equally guaranteed
by the constitution. Democracy
therefore is a successful balance
of these two opposing rights. Both
sides must however realize that the
president is for all citizens, irrespective
of whether they voted for or
against him, including those who did not vote
at all.
In the final analysis, it becomes very important
to realize that opposition to the president
does not make one an unpatriotic citizen. We
must learn from the Americans and accept alternative
voices in the quest to deepen our
democracy and make Nigeria a great nation.
Neanderthals and Denisovans.
But this wasn’t the first migration of
modern humans (Homo sapiens) from
Africa. Homo sapiensfossils from
Skhul and Qafzeh in Israel were dated
in the 1990s to between 90,000 and
125,000 years ago. These were viewed
as anomalies - a brief foray outside our
African homeland that came to very
little.
However, in recent years, we’ve come to
understand that our species ranged
outside Africa even earlier and further than
we’d previously believed. In the last few
years, palaeontologists have discovered
modern human fossils from Daoxian and
Zhirendong in China dating to between
80,000 and 120,000 years ago.
DNA studies have turned up signs of
early interbreeding between African
humans and Neanderthals. Evidence
from German Neanderthals shows that
mixing occurred between 219,000 and
460,000 years ago, although it’s not
clear if Homo sapiens was involved,
or another early African group.
(Culled from BBC News)

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—39
Ikoli moves to take PDP candidacy in November election
Aformer two-time Attorney General
in Bayelsa state and grandson of
the late great Ernest Sisei Ikoli; a
frontline pan Africanist and proindependence
politician and journalist of
repute, Mr. Anthony George-Ikoli (SAN)
is in strong contention to become the PDP
Governorship candidate in the
forthcoming November Governorship
elections. Mr. Ikoli who is a Senior
Advocate of Nigeria has outlined a
number of his very ambitious plans which
seem to be a marked deviation from the
normal plans the usual suspects of
politicians inundate the public with every
election season.
The learned SAN outlined extensively
his plans to radically expand and grow the
economy of the state, speaking on his “12
Islands Strategy” where he intends to
initiate 12 autonomous naturally
occurring or man-made islands into a
tourism, technology and manpower hub
through PPP funding model. “Bayelsa is
home to some extremely serene and
beautiful Atlantic Ocean facing beach
communities, with naturally occurring
fauna and aquatic life. By bringing
specialist industries to these 12 Islands,
we can initiate autonomous economic
zones that create jobs and a sustainable
local economy that forces the youths away
from vices like militancy and unlocks a
deluge of economic prosperity for the
state. Thanks to the outgoing Dickson
administration, Bayelsa has a new airport
upon which we can anchor this sustained
effort towards development of our
By Dirisu Yakubu
Nigeria’s efforts at growing the
economy through export
manufacturing by adopting the
Chinese Free Trade Zone model is yielding
tremendous result. If well harnessed, free trade
zones could become a means of attracting the
much craved Foreign Direct Investment, FDI
into the country and also a means of boosting
the revenue base of the nation.
The core objective of free trade zone
worldwide generally is to stimulate economic
growth through its unique platforms designed
to attract foreign direct investors, generate
employment opportunities and build human
capacity for the optimum benefit of the host
country.
Given the vision of the President
Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>-led government to draw
attention to diversifying the productive base
of the Nigeria economy
through the promotion of
non-oil exports, free trade
zones in Nigeria can play a
huge role in actualizing this
dream.
Statistics obtained from the
Nigeria Export Processing
Zones Authority, NEPZA,
show that there are over 32
registered free zones in the
country out of which 14 are
operational while 18 are still
under construction. Another
eight are awaiting approval.
Among those fully
operational, the Ogun-
Guangdong Free Trade Zone,
OGFTZ, located in the
Igbesa, Ota Local
Government Area of Ogun
State stands out as one of the
most successful in the land.
The OGFTZ, a joint venture
between a Chinese
consortium consisting of
Guangdong Xinguang
International Group, China-
Africa Investment Ltd and the Ogun state
government, came into being in 2008.
The success story of the zone has resulted in
the completion of phase one of its projections
and the establishment of over 30 zones which
are fully operational, manufacturing diverse
products for export and the domestic market
after meeting relevant customs requirements.
The activities of the zone has opened up
economic opportunities in Ogun state
especially settlements in its immediate area of
Anthony George-Ikoli (SAN)
tourism, technological and manpower
services focus. I once visited Israel where I
saw first-hand, a thriving tilapia fish farm
which I was told was a Billion dollars a
year business. What was more interesting
however, was the fact that the Israelis told
me that their studies showed that the best
place in world for naturally occurring
Tilapia is right here in Bayelsa state.
As you can surmise already, one of the
islands in our 12-island strategy will focus
on the production, processing and export
of seafood to earn our God ordained share
of this lucrative global market. Bayelsa is
one of the most advantageously placed
How Ogun-Guangdong Free
Trade Zone can attract FDI
Given the vision of the
President Muhammadu
<strong>Buhari</strong>-led government
to draw attention to
diversifying the
productive base of the
Nigeria economy
through the promotion
of non-oil exports, free
trade zones in Nigeria
can play a huge role in
actualizing this dream
operations, creating employment
opportunities and boosting industrialization
as a result.
The OGFTZ is reputed to have developed
significant infrastructure within its premises
such as independent power plant which makes
it self-sufficient in its own power needs. With
plans in top gear to bring in more investors to
the zone, its management recently announced
plans to double the existing 5 megawatts gas
fired plant.
The OGFTZ was established as an
implementation vehicle of China-Africa
Summit Forum of 2006 which took place in
Beijing. It was designed as part of the eight
foreign cooperation zones of China in Nigeria
aimed at promoting trade cooperation and
strengthening the bilateral relations between
Nigeria and China and to assist in the nation’s
industrialization drive by harnessing the
country’s huge human and natural resources.
Interestingly, OGFTZ has in a
short space of time fulfilled all
its projections and has become a
reference on how a FTZ should
be managed in providing a
conducive environment for
industries to thrive despite the
nation’s development challenges.
According to Daniel Che,
Deputy general manager of
China-Africa Investment, in a
recent chat with newsmen was
upbeat about the future
prospect of the zone if existing
policy frameworks are improved
upon and if government at both
the state and federal levels pay
more attention to some of the
challenges being faced by the
zones
“If only the government at both
state and federal levels can pay a
bit more attention to policy issues
and carefully listen and
implement some of our
suggestions, I can assure you that
the free trade zone model can
catapult the industrial revolution
of this country. It happened in China and it
can be replicated here,” he stated.
He equally noted that a developing country
like Nigeria needs jobs opportunities which
only manufacturing plants can provide, saying,
“OGFTZ alone provides employment to over
6,000 Nigerians. I am talking about direct
employment here. You can begin to imagine
the indirect employments we have been able
to generate, including our long list of local
suppliers of locally sourced raw materials that
locations in the world, we must take full
advantage of it. I believe with a
determined focus and a sustained effort;
we can turn Bayelsa into a
Ten Billion Dollar a year
economy from these new
initiatives alone and not
wanting to conform to
mouthing obvious clichés,
our plans are indeed a
strategic shift away from
this rabid focus on oil our
country has allowed itself to
settle for when in fact we are
destined for much more. If
all goes well, a large
proportion of our monthly
FAAC will go towards a
Bayelsa Sovereign Fund
which would act both as a
future savings and
investment fund for the
state. We can provide
project guarantees from
such a fund to investors
whilst maintaining an
above average level of liquidity as a state”.
In terms of his plans for security in what is
a state in a restive region, Ikoli draws on
the connection and correlation between
proper policing, judicial and human
rights reform and people centered laws
crafted through the state assembly.
“I think one of the major issues in our
country today is the fact that there is very
little connecting of the dots in our social
issues.
Youth restiveness or militancy or
however we want to refer to it, has its roots
•President Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>
feeds the industries in the zone.
“There are about 30 companies that have
set up in the zone and many more are in the
offing and we continue to receive interest from
our home country, China. When these
companies set up here, they will contribute to
the industrialization of the country. You can
say that industrialization is one way the zone
is helping the country to grow and make rapid
steps towards development. We are
committed to the industrialization of Nigeria.
Already, the value of investment in OGFTZ is
over $2 billion and I can assure Nigerians
that this investment will double in no distant
time. We have our plans to fully make use
of the 2000 hectares site declared as a FTZ
by the federal government.”
Che also noted that OGFTZ is contributing
to the growth of Nigeria through revenue
generation, stating that when goods
manufacture within the Zone are slated for
exports, appropriate duties are levied by the
Nigerian Customs.
He also lauded the Zone in the area of
skills acquisition, saying, “Transfer of
technical and technological know-how is
also a major benefit accruing to the country.
With the number of local workers we have in
the zone, we are already training a pool of
workers who will tomorrow train others on
technical knowledge that would make
Nigeria self-sufficient in skills required in a
modern economy and reduce the number of
foreign experts coming into the country to
take up employment.”
Restructuring their
mentality will
involve things like
providing a clear
path to prosperity
and the easy access
to the assistive
instruments that
support them along
that path
in economic dislocation of disadvantaged
young people and their lack of trust in the
system. If we can build common ground with
this segment of society by
restructuring their mindset and
mentality, we stand a better
chance of improved security
in our state.
Restructuring their
mentality will involve things
like providing a clear path to
prosperity and the easy access
to the assistive instruments
that support them along that
path.” Ikoli adds that as an
officer in the temple of justice,
he will seek to continue many
of the judicial reforms he
started in his time as
commissioner for justice and
honorable Attorney General
of the state. Some of these
reforms he believes will assist
in the delivery of universal
healthcare and basic
education to the generality of
the people by writing these as a standard
into the laws of the state.
He recalls that in his time as AG, he was
instrumental to ensuring a campus of the
Nigerian law school was cited in Yenagoa
to give validation to his fellow Bayelsans
who had hopes of pursuing a law
profession. As the primaries of the PDP
approaches in Bayelsa state, Ikoli believes he
has the grassroots credibility and support of
various blocs within the party to deliver the
ticket to him for the coming November
election.
Saturday Vanguard gathered that some
global brands are already operating within
the zone, particularly Goodwill Ceramic,
Hewang Packaging, Pannda Industry, China
Glass and a host of others.
Goodwill Ceramic for instance, established
its production facilities in the zone in 2011
and has contributed significantly in making
Nigeria self-sufficient in its need for ceramic
wares especially floor and wall tiles of all kinds.
The company, according to findings, has
invested over a USD 100 million in the Zone.
In the views of Mr. Chi “Goodwill Ceramics
is unarguably the biggest ceramic products
manufacturer in West Africa”.
Another prominent company operating in
the Zone is Hewang Packaging and Printing
company. The company opened in the zone
in 2010 with an investment of over USD 50
million. The company specialises in the
production of packaging materials especially
carton and currently has a daily production of
600,000 pieces of carton and other packaging
materials and.
Pannda Industry is another company which
was founded in 2015 and focuses on the
manufacturing and marketing of all sorts of
iron and steel products. Currently, the main
production include steel strip coil, galvanized
pipes and different sizes of custom made C-
type steel which is meeting local demands and
the export market.
There is also China Glass Nigeria which is
also a multi-million dollar glass company. The
parent company is one of the biggest in the
world. The company has so far invested over
USD 100 million in the zone and is set to meet
the country’s need for all types of flat glass for
the building industry and for other industrial
and domestic use.
According to Daniel Chi, “What Nigerians
should take cognizance of is the fact that
these industries are sourcing most of their raw
materials from Nigeria and like I said earlier
this has galvanized the local economy because
we now have a lot of local suppliers who are
meeting the raw materials needs of these
industries.”
Speaking on why Nigeria should pay more
attention to the Free Trade Zone model, Che
observed that starting from the 1980s and
with the establishment of special economic
zones (SEZ) in the south eastern coastal region
of China, more than a hundred zones of various
kinds have since been established throughout
China, which he noted are largely responsible
for the remarkable growth of China over the
years.
“As a result of this successful Chinese model,
there has been strong interest by many
countries to emulate the model by adopting
the Free Trade Zone as an economic policy.
“Free Trade Zone focuses on trade
liberalization and export-led growth,
attracting foreign investments and enhancing
the competitiveness of the manufacturing
sector to create employments, technological
transfer and human capacity development
among others, it is a win-win for both the Zone
and the host country”.

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019

Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, Enalamah,
others seek functional PPP
*AS PwC unveils companies to inspire Africa Report
Stories by Moses Nosike
Ogun State Governor,
Dr. Dapo Abiodun;
his Lagos state
counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-
Olu who was represented by
Mr Ope George, DG Lagos
State Public Private
Partnership Office; Immediate
Past Minister of Industry, Trade
and Investment,
Okechukukwu Enelamah;
Chief Executive of the Nigerian
Stock Exchange, Oscar
Onyema and West Africa
Regional Senior Partner, PwC
Nigeria, Uyi Akpata, recently
in Lagos took turn to canvass
the importance of functional
public private partnership
(PPP) in building a sustainable
economy.
The political and business
leaders spoke in Lagos at an
event organised to celebrate
‘the London Stock Exchange
Group (LSEG)’s Companies to
inspire Africa Report 2019 in
Lagos.
Others who emphasised the
importance of private businesses
especially small and medium
enterprises as growth catalysts for the
economy at the event were the
Deputy British High Commissioner to
Nigeria, Harriet Thompson, who
delivered a message from the UK
government; Executive Secretary/
Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria
Investment and Promotion
Commission, Yewande Sadiku;
Advisory partner/ Chief Executive,
PwC Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Nevin and
Director, Co-Head Emerging
Markets, International Market Unit,
LSEG, Ibukun Adebayo.
The speakers urged public and
private sector participants to find ways
to synergize their strengths to speed
up the country’s economic growth
and reduce poverty.
The report, which features 97
Nigerian companies out of the 360 on
the list, identifies and celebrates some
of Africa’s most inspiring growth
businesses. This research project was
carried out with the support of PwC,
the Africa Development Bank Group,
Asoko Insight, CDC Group and
Instinctif Partners.
According to the report, Nigeria has
Considering the role of women in families
and our society, a Nigerian entrepreneur,
lawyer and a season book writer, Orezi Saint
Emamezi has advised the government at all
levels to commence women empowerment in
the country as a matter of urgency to reduce
unemployment rate among Nigerian women.
Emamezi who has written many books with
the recent one Victoria stresses the need for
women empowerment as is practices in
advanced countries.
According to her, the easiest way to reduce
poverty in families and our society is to
properly empower women, saying that if you
empower a woman, you have empowered a
nation.
Continuing, she said that government can
help women through skill acquisition
programmes to ensure they become self relient
and that can also help them launch into large
scale businesses nationally and
internationally. “This can be done through
grants and all is geared towards creating
employment among women.”
Saint Emamezi who is presently studying her
LLM programme said that developing
entrepreneurship skills and reading culture
help any economy to grow and if Nigeria as a
nation will imbibe on this culture better for
the country.
Speaking on her passion for writing, as an
entrepreneur and lawyer, she said when she was
young, she loved reading books that were
inspiring, motivational such as Purple
Hibiscus by Chimamanda Adichie, and also
tell a good story. Emamezi confessed that the
book gave her initial inspiration to take
interest in writing, while her passion for writing
L-R: Femi Jacobs, Actor and Author; Gbubemi Fregene, Executive Chef and Owner of
Chef Fregz; Tricia Ikponmwonba, Lead Trainer, Business Lab Africa; Funke Bucknor,
CEO Zapphaire Events and Jimi Tewe, CEO, The Jimi Tewe company at the launch of
Business Lab Africa in Lagos.
the single largest representation with
97 companies featured, building on its
leading position established in the
previous report with strong
representation from the industry and
technology & telecom sectors. Nigerian
companies showed exceptional
growth rates with a CAGR of 47% in
revenue and average employee CAGR
of 23% over a three-year period.
Looking at the executive leadership
of the firms, 22% of the local
companies featured in the
documents are led by women.
Speaking on the report Akpata
said: “We are extremely honored to
partner once again with LSEG for
the Lagos launch of the second
edition of the “Companies to Inspire
Africa” report. It is particularly
worthy to note that Nigeria made a
strong showing in the report
demonstrating the strong
entrepreneurial drive and the
opportunities the Nigerian market
presents.
“Growing a private business can
be demanding and exhilarating.
Initiatives like this that celebrates
success stories does not only expose
the companies to greater
opportunities but also serves to
Empowering Nigerian women for self-reliance
encourage other entrepreneurs,
starting new businesses or scaling
existing ones in the region.
“We at PwC are committed to
supporting private businesses and
it’s been our pleasure to host and
celebrate these 97 companies here
in Lagos along with the other
partners on the project”
Commenting on the report, David
Schwimmer, CEO, LSEG, noted:
“London Stock Exchange Group’s
‘Companies to Inspire Africa’ report
showcases inspirational and
entrepreneurial businesses from
across the African continent,
representing a wide variety of
industries and countries. It is
particularly encouraging to see the
increasing influence of women in
leadership roles in these fast-growing
companies, playing a pivotal role in
shaping the future of African business.
“These high growth companies have
the potential to transform the African
economy and become tomorrow’s job
creators. At LSEG, we are committed
to helping companies realise that
potential and we are pleased to
highlight and celebrate the
company success stories behind one
of the world’s fastest growing
markets.”
is driven by the need to develop the Nigeria child
and make him or her responsible person in the
family and society.
On her book, “Victoria”, she said is her first
book which is a story of a young girl in her teens,
who faces life challenges right inside her family,
and her father is quite the lazy man, who does
nothing more than visit friends or sit at home
doing nothing while her troublesome mother
fights to make ends meet in her home. You will
have to read “Victoria” to find out what happened
to her and her family.
According to her the book is to inspire the
reader, particularly children within Victoria’s
age not to give up and to also know that they can
change their story if they believe. Stressing the
importance of reading culture in the country, she
agreed that one of the ways to improve the reading
culture in Nigeria is by introducing reading clubs
in the nursery, elementary and basic levels of
education. “Also there is the need for school
administrators to include reading classes in the
curriculum of education. The family too should
play a role in improving the reading culture of
the children; the parents can make out specific
time to read with their children daily”.
As part of her contribution to empower teens,
she initiated Elmore Christo kids club which she
said is a project she was inspired to establish for
the benefit of children in the age of three to
eighteen years of age. “It is my way of helping
kids find their purpose in life. I also established
it in the loving memory of my mother, Mrs. Ajiri
Pearl Emamezi. She always loved to take care of
children and invest in them as the women leader
in the Anglican Communion (Diocese of Western
Izon). So by establishing the Elmore Christo kids
club, I am continuing from where my mum left
off.
SATURDAY Vanguard, , JULY 13,2019—41
Triciabiz empowers entrepreneurs
with 100% online business training
With the aim of helping entrepreneurs in Africa succeed in business, an
online business school, Business Lab Africa, BLA, has been launched.
Set up Triciabiz, the school, which offers a new approach to learning, is
subscription-based and is geared towards providing quality content at a
price MSMEs can afford.
According to its management, not only is BLA easily accessible via mobile
or web, it also offers knowledge that is practical, qualitative and locally
relevant.
Courses on the BLA curriculum, management says, are taught by business
experts from around the world covering a wide range of business subject
areas including Marketing, Sales, Global Expansion, Business Structure
and Processes, Business Models and more.
Speaking on the operations of the platform, Lead Trainer, Tricia
Ikponmwonba said that BLA’s faculty consists of trainers with deep business
knowledge having consulted and trained for several fortune 100 companies
and taught a combined pool of over 1 million entrepreneurs through their
online and in-class courses/workshops. She revealed that the school has
trained over twenty thousand people in Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, United
States, United Kingdom and the UAE.
“At BLA, we are poised towards our simple goal; helping entrepreneurs
succeed in business. We have adapted a blended learning model where we
make use of several methods that simplifies the entire process.
“One of our methods is instructor learning which is achieved via recorded
videos addressing specific sub-topics under the subject area for the month,
live classes with experts to answer burning questions and “worksheets/
templates for guidance,” she said.
The school also uses peer-to-peer learning in its online community where
fellow learners can teach one another ideas that have worked for them and
build on the belief that to teach is to learn twice.
Aside deploying real business situations as case studies, Ikponmwonba
said that BLA boasts of other differentiating factors from other learning
platforms which includes using content that is curated with the African
market as the business operating factor
“We also have a support system consisting of community coaches who
are on ground to respond to any questions learners have which can be
communicated in the comment section of each lesson”.
NTS partners Interswitch, GTBank, FBN
Insurance, others to launch Moneybag.ng.
n indigenous technology
Afirm in Lagos, Nuture
Technology Service Limited has
launched Moneybag.ng, an online
savings platform that brings
convenience and transparency to
the way people save.
A management source said that
the product was described as an
innovation and is set to gain
popularity among Nigerians
based on its expected high uptake.
According to the Chief
Executive Officer, Nuture
Technology, Mr Uchenna Okezie,
saving is an activity that is crucial
to the financial independence of
any individual and with
Moneybag.ng, we have created a
customised savings solution that
is flexible, useful for everyday and
transparent for comprehension.
“Moneybag.ng is an online
financial services platform that
can be used by anyone regardless
of age or profession with features
such as savings, investments
(“Baglocker” which helps you
lock away funds for a set period
with 9-13.5% per annum interest)
and loans. It also has a lifestyle
feature known as “Cliquebag”
designed to help friends save
together.
In addition, Chief Operating
officer of the company, Mr. Lanre
Fadayomi made it clear that low
inclusivity and limited userfriendly
financial service options
were identified as the main
difficulties people found it hard
to save and this was a critical
motivating factor when Nuture
Technology decided to create an
easy way people could save
regardless of their age,
background or qualification.
He said, “Majority of what we
do is transaction-based, so it
required us to be customer centric
with the types of savings plans
Moneybag.ng offers. We also had
to focus on a user experience that
was easy to understand and
interact with the needs of our
customers while looking for ways
to help customers better
appreciate the product.
Winner of Big Brother Nigeria
2018 Housemate, Omololu
Somuyiwa is the brand
ambassador of Monybag.ng.
CSR: Beltij constructs wall fence,
donates food items to Police, Prison
As part of its contribution to humanitarian intervention
in support to providing adequate securities in Nigerian
communities, Beltij Limited, a gold mining company has
constructed a wall fence for Ilesha Police station in Osun
State.
The company also donated about 300 bags of Rice to the
Police division and Ilesha Prison in furtherance of its pledges
to Corperate Social Responsibility (CSR) to Communities
in Nigeria.
Chief Executive Officer of Beltij, Mr. Tijani Remilekun
Usman, said, “it was the company’s desire to help in
uplifting the welfare of the security agencies in the nation”.
Usman reaffirmed that the need for urgent construction of
the wall fence around the Police station came after the Offa
Police Station robbery incident last year in Kwara State where
Police men were killed and guns stolen.
He argued that the police force should stand out as one
that will enjoy a lot of goodwill and support by both
individuals and corporate organisations in the face of
inadequate resources.
He maintained that the various CSR initiatives of
organisations and community development associations will
remain a great help to boost the welfare of security agencies
in the country.
According to him, if you take a look at this to a large extent,
this kind of donations and CSR initiatives of Beltij Limited,
will make a big difference in providing the needed conducive
environment for policemen within their base of operations.”
Usman stressed that in as much as the funding of the
Nigeria Police in the country remains inadequate and
inconsistent, the CSR initiatives of companies would
continue to be important to assist the Federal Government
in funding the securities.

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
ABOUT THE BOOK
A man loses his Pen at a political rally,
and when it is returned months later,
he has no idea how his life will change.
The incidents that follow are seen
through the eyes of Mr. Benjamin and
three other men who are wading
through their share of political, societal,
and religious drama. But who really is
Mr. Benjamin? Placed in 2025, Mr.
Benjamin’s Pen takes us into a future
where dreams are near tangible and
nothing is as it seems
Mr Benjamin’s Pen
Iwas excited when I left
the house, especially as
I couldn’t believe that
what I did as a pastime would
result in recognition. By 8:30
am I had arrived at the Grand
Hotel with my wife, Angelina,
and my friend, Okujere. The
taller of the two brown
uniformed guards manning
the gate walked to my door
and asked that I unlock the
boot of the black Camry for a
security check. This I did,
and, after I had been given a
laminated clearance tag, we
began descending the curved
asphalt path to the inner
sections of the hotel.
The swimming pools, open
bar, and tennis courts stood
near the banks of the River
Niger which flowed behind
the hotel. The car park sat on
the left side of the auditorium,
separated by a road that
seemed to slope into the river.
I drove into the car park and
quickly located a space
amidst other vehicles. As we
disembarked from the car, I
couldn’t help but notice the
haze that hung over the Niger
river. It was like a white
garment had been spread
across the waters.
In time, we started for the
hall, mingling with other
dignitaries that had come for
the event. The crowd in front
of the gold-colored theatre
included people adorned in
suits, as well as the buba and
agbada traditional attire.
Their garbs fluttered in the
harmattan wind.
Angelina had asked that I
wear a simple caftan to the
event—just like the green
type on Okujere—but I’d
ended up in a brown suit,
white dress shirt, and a
flowered tie. Now, seeing the
milling crowd, I was confident
that my outfit was perfect for
the occasion. Some meters
ahead, Okujere beamed with
excitement as he joined two
other guests in surveying the
large portraits of Achebe,
Mahfouz, and Soyinka
mounted along the walkway.
Around us, vendors ambled
about the various book
stands, calling attention to the
publications arrayed on
tables. For a while, it seemed
like the cold morning had
been swallowed by warm
banter.
Inside, I saw that the theater
was aflush with the leading
lights of the pen community.
There were writers of varying
vintage: poets, novelists,
playwrights, essayists. All
sorts. Okujere, being a fulltime
poet, was much more
comfortable in their midst
than I was. And as we strolled
around the chandelier-lit
gallery, he tried to introduce
me to a few guests I didn’t
already know. Interestingly,
many of them knew me as a
politician, but very few
identified my name with any
literary creation. I glanced
around the room and saw
Odum, my colleague; Oniwa,
my younger brother; and
Afim, my friend, waving from
the far right of the hall. They
had chosen their spot amidst
some known faces in the
political arena—people who
were familiar to them, I
guessed.
The seats for the awardees,
of which I was one, were
located on the first row. The
black leather settees were
tagged with the names of all
the recipients, and behind the
thick couches were lines of
single wooden chairs for
invited guests. I located my
seat while Okujere and
Angelina sat in the row
behind me. My wife’s pink
head tie and brown blouse
almost matched the colors of
the program’s brochures that
lay on the seats, but I
refrained from saying this.
The troubles that came from
commenting on a woman’s
outfit were well known to me.
Instead, I watched in
amusement as she riffled
through the bulletin. She
looked at me with the
beginnings of a smile and
pointed to the page where in
bold print, my book’s title was
listed as winner of the prose
category. I winked at her and
turned to face the high table.
Balloons and ribbons fluttered
around the banner on the
wall, behind the high table.
The bold, black inscription
bloomed in a beautiful blue
background. It read, ‘Best
Imaginative Literature of
2025.’
As scheduled, the ceremony
began by nine, and in no time,
I was called up to the stage to
receive my award. In
introducing me, the secretary
of the selection committee
said they were particularly
amazed that I could find time
within my busy schedule as a
politician to write deserving
literary pieces. I looked
toward my seat and saw
Angelina dabbing at her eyes.
Okujere, on the other hand,
pumped his fist in jubilant
camaraderie while my
political associates yelled
delightedly. Although the
announcer took time to
highlight the theme and plot
of my book, When He Was
There, his earlier remark
about the passion that saw me
combine politics and
literature was what really
excited my spirits. My
excitement reached its
crescendo when a gold pen
was presented to me; a plaque
of honor followed. Throughout
the rest of the ceremony,
Angelina cuddled the
memorabilia as though it were
a priceless gem. As for me, I
was just happy that many
hours of solitary labor had
finally paid off.
I should also mention an
embarrassing occurrence
which, in my view, spiced up
the ceremony. It came from the
sharp difference between the
literary community and the
political crowd that had come
for my sake. While the
wordsmiths lauded the
fascinating remarks of the
I looked toward my seat and
saw Angelina dabbing at her
eyes. Okujere, on the other
hand, pumped his fist in
jubilant camaraderie while my
political associates yelled
delightedly
various speakers via polite
applause, my political
supporters hailed my name
with such thunderous accord
that most necks swivelled in
their direction. As a veteran
of political rallies, I was at
home with such unrestrained
adulation, but it clearly felt
out of place in a literary
environment, especially
when such ovations came at
moments that barely required
applause. When the
announcer, at a point,
reminded them that we were
not in a political rally, I could
not help but smile at the
murmuring that rose from the
part of the hall where most of
the political crowd sat. The
good thing is that despite this,
everyone had a field day. We
all retired to my house when
the event ended for a noholds-barred
celebration.
Soon, the disparity in
comportment that had been so
evident earlier in the hall
melted into a collective swing
of unfettered celebration.
Everyone caroused to the
music blaring across the
canopies even as the flow of
liquor, fried rice, chicken, isiewu,
and suya kept the arena
agog till late in the night.
*****
I made up my mind not to
attend the meeting slated for
noon, especially as it came
after an unusually busy week
in office and a party that had
run for most of the night. It
felt like I should spend the
Saturday at home relishing
little pleasures. After all, my
presence at the occasion
would only make up the
numbers; it was not like my
attendance or absence would
be of such significance that it
would alter the fortunes of our
political family. With this in
mind, I snuggled under the
duvet while listening to
reggae songs on my handset.
At a few minutes to eight, I
sat up and peeped through
the window; the day had
begun to sparkle with the
morning sun. I was just about
pulling the curtains to let in
more light in the room when
I received a call from my
friend, Odum. At the award
ceremony, he had mentioned
that he was likely to travel to
his village, Umute, as part of
preparations for his fiftieth
birthday. But beyond that, I
guessed that he too wanted to
take advantage of the
weekend and get a break from
the various political
engagements in the state
capital.
Odum was not easily given
to nervousness, but this
morning I could feel the
unease in his voice as he
spoke. “Benjy, where are you?
Have you heard that oga is
going to be at the meeting
today?”
“What!” I screamed and
jumped out of bed. “Is he
back? Who told you he’ll be
there?”
“O boy, I was informed from
Government House that he’s
coming in straight from Abuja.
Better begin prepare. I’m
about leaving the village. We
will meet there,” he said
hurriedly.
I stood at the center of the
room, agitated, as I tried to
comprehend the information
Odum had just given me.
Continues next week
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tony Felix Nwaka
is a Nigerian writer.
He is also the
author of Mountain
of Yesterday and
Lords of the Creek.
Dr Nwaka lives in
Asaba, Delta State,
Nigeria.

<strong>Buhari</strong> to Super Eagles: Two
more victories to trophy
Nigerian
President,
Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong> has
congratulated the Super Eagles for
another spectacular outing that
has confirmed Nigeria’s progress
to the ‘Next Level’ in the Africa Cup
of Nations (AFCON) Egypt 2019.
With a well-deserved victory over
the Bafana Bafana of South Africa,
President <strong>Buhari</strong> believes, like
millions of other sports-loving
Nigerians, that the mission of
having the trophy in our hands for
the fourth time is almost
accomplished for the high flying
Super Eagles,
reports Voice of
Nigeria.
The president
urged the team
and their handlers
to remain focused,
disciplined and
scale the
remaining two
hurdles to glory.
He affirmed that
the crop of players
in the national
football
represent
resilient
team
the
and
WRESTLING: Adekuoroye, Oborududu
storm Istanbul for Ranking Series
eigning Commonwealth champions
ROdunayo Adekuoroye and Blessing
Oborududu will on Tuesday night depart
Nigeria for Istanbul, Turkey ahead of the
prestigious Yasar Dogu Ranking Series
event which runs from 11th to 14th July,
2019.
The pair, who recently retained their
respective national titles at the 3rd Gov.
Dickson Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State, will be guided by
experienced women’s head coach, Purity
Akuh.
The 4-day tournament will have in
attendance over 150 female wrestlers from
20 countries around the globe, who will
be vying for crucial ranking points ahead
GOtv Boxing Night 19: 'Watch out for
me', Showmax tells fans
aheed “Showmax” Shogbamu
Whas declared that he is ready to
be the next big thing in Nigerian boxing.
The fast-growing light welterweight
fighter and product of GOtv
Boxing Next-gen Search, is billed to
face Akeem “Sugar Boy” Olaiwola in
a national challenge bout at GOtv
Boxing Night 19 on 21 July at the
Indoor Sports Hall of the National
Stadium, Lagos.
Speaking in an interview during
the week, Shogbamu, who has built
a fearsome reputation in such a short
time, said he aims to dominate the
light welterweight division in the
country, Africa and the world.
“I came into the sport at a very
young age and I have been learning.
There is also a wide scope of
improvement for me because I am
still young. I am being trained by the
best coaches available, so I am on the
right path," he said.
GOtv Boxing Night 19, a nine-bout
show, will be headlined by feature
the international welterweight challenge
between reigning West African
Boxing Union (WABU) welterweight
champion, Rilwan “Babyface”
Babatunde of Nigeria and Eden Biki
of Ghana.
Also lined up is a string of explosive
match-ups featuring big-name
ring artists. These include national
lightweight challenge bouts between
reigning African Boxing Union
(ABU) lightweight champion, Oto
“Joe Boy” Joseph and Tope “Berinja”
Agboola; as Hammed “Ese
Hammed” Ganiyu against current
West African Boxing Union (WABU)
lightweight champion, Rilwan “Real
One” Oladosu.
Former ABU featherweight champion,
Waidi “Skoro” Usman will go
head-to-head with Taiwo “Esepo”
Agbaje; while Kazeem “The Light”
indomitable Nigerian spirit, which
must be reflected in all other areas
of national life.
President <strong>Buhari</strong> assured the
players that Nigerians are praying
for them to fly higher and get to
the peak of the tournament,
knowing that the taste of victory is
sweet and what they have achieved
so far is pleasing to Nigerians
irrespective of ethnic, religious or
political inclination.
The Nigerian team defeated
South Africa 2-1 in the quarterfinal
match on Wednesday.
President <strong>Buhari</strong> welcomes Super Eagles
players to the State House
of the 2019 World Championships in
Kazakhstan in September.
Adekuoroye, a World silver-medallist
in 2017, will be competing in the 57kg
weight class, while 9-time African
champion Oborududu will battle for
ranking points in her usual 68kg category
at the tournament.
Nigeria’s Aminat Adenyi (62kg), a twotime
Commonwealth champion herself,
who is also listed for the Yasar Dogu event
will miss the trip due to visa issues.
The contingent will depart the Murtala
Mohammed International Airport Lagos
via a Turkish Airline flight by 8:50pm on
Tuesday night, and arrive Istanbul by
5:30am the next day (Wednesday).
Oliwo will face Tope “TP Rock” Musa.
The light welterweight category
also promises a cracking duel between
Adeyemi “Spirit” Adekanla
and Isaac “I Star” Chukwudi
Also on the card are two female
bouts, which will see Rodiat Ibrahim
take on Rodiat Yusuf, while Adedeji
Abiodun swaps punches with Cynthia
Ogunsemilore.
The best boxer at the event will go
home with a cash prize of N1 million
alongside the Mojisola Ogunsanya
Memorial Trophy.
GOtv Boxing Night 19 will be
beamed live on Africa’s biggest sport
channel, SuperSport, in 47 African
countries.
No regrets using football to develop young
talents - Martin Apugo
he President of the Diamond Football
TAcademy,Hon. Martin Ikechukwu Apugo is
certainly a fulfilled man not for the heights he has
attained in life but for the reasons of making
something out of nothing.
His passion for football as a boy who came from
Umuahia Abia State growing into the excitement
of playing soccer as a kid, made him establish a
football Academy just for the fun of it,and younger
lads often come with canvass, shoes and slippers,
at some point he spends his money on refreshment
buying food before you know it those of the players
without proper football kits were gradually
equipped to proper sports outfits.
The dream of yesterday became his excitement
today, excitement over his efforts and dreams in
building the Academy with the sole purpose of
discovering talents from the streets within his
locality and across Nigeria.
A project he started selflessly with no intentions
of making out gains, Apugo spoke about this
passion again during the talent hunt tournament
Billionaire oil and gas magnate,
Femi Otedola has thrown light
on why he stepped in to help
former Captain and Coach of the
Super Eagles Christian Chukwu get
quality medical treatment abroad.
Chukwu returned to the country
this week after undergoing surgery
and sundry treatments at the Wellington
Hospital, Circus Road, St
John’s Woods London.
Speaking when the former Nigerian
defender fondly called ‘Chairman’
paid him a thank you call yesterday
in Lagos, Otedola said he was moved
when he heard about Chukwu’s situation.
“I was moved when I head about
Mr Chukwu’s situation because I remember
that about 20 years ago, my
father, the late Sir Michael Otedola
also suffered a stroke from using fake
aspirin.
“This experience has over time
made me to appreciate that good
medical attention can give a good
and prolonged life and that was what
motivated me to rise up and assist
Mr Christian Chukwu,” observed
Otedola who was represented at the
event by Ag. Chief Operating Officer
of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Company
Limited, Mr Philip Akinola.
While admitting that the treatment
expenses of Chukwu has cost him
N36.6million, Otedola revealed that
he has derived joy in spending the
money God blesses him with to assist
a fellow Nigerian who has done
great things for the country.
“In my circle of friends, many
spend up to N50million to drink
champagne and generally enjoy life,
but at the end of it all what happens?
It passes out of the body as waste.
at the Academy's playground, when the African football
heritage was showcased to the amazement of
Manchester United scouts and other scouts across
Europe who described the skills they saw in the young
stars whose age ranged from 14 to 20 years as
inexplicable .
He also said that part of his passion for the Academy
is because it pays in terms of youth development, a feat
that earned 3 of the Academy players, notably Samuel
Chukwueze and. Kelechi Nwakali a call up to the
national team under 17 which eventually won the 2015
U-17 World Cup in Chile.
SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—43
Otedola welcomes Chukwu from
London
•Explains why he footed his medical bill
•Oborodudu
L - R, Mrs. Lilian Chukwu(wife), Chukwu, Philip Akinola(Rep of Femi
Otedola) and Ada, Chukwu's daughter.
For me therefore (and I also tell my
friends) it is important to use such
money to benefit others and put
smile on the faces of as many people
as we can,” he reasoned.
Otedola also hinted that this gesture
was not a on off thing. “ People
may not be aware but Mr. Peter Fregene,
another former Green Eagles
goalkeeper is currently being assisted
with his medical situation and we
are confident that he will also come
out of the hospital strong and
healthy.”
Interestingly, Otedola’s large heart
of magnanimity is not limited to
former sports men and women alone.
He is currently also footing the hospital
bills of a popular actor, Mr Victor
Olaotan in a Turkish hospital.
CP Zubairu H. Muazu (m) poses with members of Police Darters
Association
Olaotan was a lead character in the
popular tv soap opera series, Tinsel.
“For me, it is just my nature to give
back to the society and these philanthropic
gestures are just a tip of the
iceberg. I am humbled by the gratitude
being expressed by Mr Chukwu
but I believe that all thanks belong
to God and I thank God for putting
me in a position to be able to be
of assistance,” concludes Otedola.
In his response, Chukwu said only
God can repay Otedola’s generosity
towards him.
The ceremony was witnessed by
Chukwu’s wife, daughter and
younger sister who accompanied him
to London during his treatment
there.
Ojajuni leads Lagos state Archery
association
By Jacob Ajom
he newly constituted board of the Lagos State Archery
TAssociation has been inaugurated.
The eight member board has ACP Bode Ojajuni as chairman
and Mike Egbayelo as vice chairman. Other members
are Ladipo Alapini, Alhaji Rasheed Gbadamosi,
Wendy Adeniji, Dapo Sotuminu, Kunle Akintimehin and
Coach Lucky Izekor.
Chairman of the board, ACP Bode Ojajuni said outlined
the board's plan was to ensure mass participation of Lagosians
in the sport across the state.
“It is worthy of note that our board has set a new record
as Archery has become the fastest growing sport in Lagos,”
Ojajuni said.
He said there was also a plan in place to intensify efforts
at spreading the sport in schools in the state. “our catchthem-young
programme will see to the inauguration of
Archery clubs in secondary schools across the state”.
Explaining the board's strategic plan for the year, Vice
Chairman of the association, Mike Egbayelo said “the
primary objective is to make Archery the flagship of sports
in Lagos state and make Lagos the home of Archery in
Nigeria.
“We intend to achieve this by expanding the scope of
participation and work hard to entice
corporate Nigeria to get involved
in the development of the sport.”
He pleaded with the state government
to support the association even
as he called on wealthy individuals
to identify with their programmes.
Twenty five Archery clubs from
across the state were also inaugurated
at the event which also witnessed
the investiture of Patrons.
Police Darters
host Grand
Patrons
T
he Nigeria Police Darters Associa
tion, recently, organized a 3-day
Patron’s Cup Competition to hosts
its Life Grand Patron, CP Zubairu H.
Muazu at the Ikeja Police College.
SUPOL Martha Nwokolo, the Police
Darters Coach, said the hosting
is timely now that the Life Grand
Patron is presently the Lagos State
Commissioner of Police and is to honour
him as the founder and initiator
of Darts game in the Nigeria Police.
The Nigeria Police Darts Vice Chairman,
SUPOL Isah Wakili, in his address,
announce that the CP Zubairu
H. Muazu will no longer be addressed
as Grand Patron but Life
Grand Patron.
In his remark, the Life Grand Patron,
CP Zubairu H. Muazu said, he
is very happy to be present in person
and announced that the competition
will be an annual event.
The Grand Patron appreciate the
efforts of the organisers and all participants
for the maximum turnout
and reward the winners in cash for
both male and female for their outstanding
performance where the 1st,
2nd and 3rd get N30,000, N20,000
and N10,000 respectively.
The Darters also organized a brief
surprise birthday bash for their Matron
cum Technical Assistance, Evangelist
Adekunbi Akin-Taylor.

44 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
We've already achieved our
AFCON target – Rohr
Ahead of tomorrow's semi final
cracker against Algeria, Super
Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has
said the team have achieved their
AFCON target. He gave his reasons
why his side’s target at the
2019 Africa Cup of Nations’ was
to get to the semi-final.
One of Rohr’s reasons was that
the Super Eagles are currently
number three in Africa.
Rohr’s men have already
achieved their target after beating
South Africa at the quarter-final
encounter on Wednesday night.
They will now tackle Algeria in
the semi-final at the Cairo International
Stadium on Sunday.
Addressing reporters ahead of
Nigeria’s clash with Algeria, Rohr
said: “Our target was to get to the
Algeria attacker, Sofiane
Feghouli, has seemingly
ruled himself out of Sunday’s
semi-final against Nigeria at the
ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.
The Desert Foxes beat Ivory
Coast on penalties, to book their
spot in the last four.
Djamel Belmadi could be
without two of his key players
when they play the Super Eagles.
Sofiane Feghouli and Youcef
Atal had to be
substituted against
the Elephants after
they suffered
injuries.
The OGC Nice
fullback is all but
ruled out of the
tournament, while
the Galatasaray
star is racing
against the clock to Feghouli
AFCON semi-final stage because
we are number three in Africa so we
have to be in this position also to be
on that level. But it was so difficult
because the game was very close.”
He added: “We had to wait until
the last minute to score a second
goal against South Africa. We didn’t
score the second goal in the first half
but in the second half, we were punished.
We are looking forward to the
next game.”
Nigeria beat Algeria 3-1 in the
2018 World Cup qualifiers in Uyo
and were held to a 1-1 draw in the
return leg. But the result was overturned
and the North Africans
awarded a 3-0 win after FIFA punished
Nigeria for fielding an ineligible
player, Abdullahi Shehu.
Injury blow for Algeria
Super Eagles vice-captain,
Ahmed Musa, has
appealed to Egyptian fans to
come out en mass and support
Nigeria when they tackle
Algeria at the 2019 Africa Cup
of Nations, AFCON, semifinal
at the Cairo International
Stadium tomorrow night.
The former Leicester City
star also thanked the
Pharaohs’ fans for supporting
Gernot Rohr’s side during
their 2-1 victory over South
Africa at the quarter-final
encounter on Wednesday.
Nigeria defeated the Bafana
Bafana 2-1, while Algeria
be fit.
Speaking in the mixed zone
after the quarterfinal match vs
Ivory Coast, Feghouli was quoted
as saying by Le Buteur: “I do not
know exactly the seriousness of
my injury. But I will see with the
national team doctor.
“Even though I will not be fit to
play Nigeria, Algeria will have
another warrior to play in this
match.”
Nigeria beat Algeria
3-1 in the 2018 World
Cup qualifiers in Uyo
and were held to a 1-1
draw in the return leg.
But the result was
overturned and the
North Africans
awarded a 3-0 win,
after FIFA punished
Nigeria for fielding an
ineligible player,
Abdullahi Shehu.
Ahmed Musa sends message
to Egyptian fans
dumped Ivory Coast out of the
competition on Thursday.
“A very big thank you to the
Egyptian fans and I urge them
to come out again in full
support of the Super Eagles,”
Musa was quoted by Brila FM
as saying ahead of Nigeria’s
clash against Algeria.
“They should keep on
supporting us, it was very
good that the Egyptian fans
came out to support us.
“So, I’m going to say a very
big thank you to the Egyptian
fans, they should come out in
the next game against Algeria
to support us.”
Zenith Bank hails Eagles, charges
team to go for trophy
ne of the major sponsors of the
ONigeria Football Federation,
Zenith Bank, has commended the
Super Eagles for their exploits so
far in the ongoing Africa Cup of
Nations taking place in Egypt.
Super Eagles won two games 1-0
respectively against Burundi and
Guinea in the preliminary stage to
book a passage to the last 16 where
they defeated Cameroon 3-2 in a
keenly contested encounter.
In the quarterfinal, the Bafana
Bafana after edging out host Egypt,
were unable to withstand the
firepower of the Nigerian team as
Eagles pip them 2-1 to book a ticket
to the last four.
The Eagles will now take on
Algeria in the semifinal billed for
Cairo on Sunday.
Zenith Bank has however
expressed delight over the progress
of the three-time African champions
who are getting better with every
match.
The Group Managing Director of
the bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu,
commended the fighting spirit of
the Eagles adding that they have
displayed the quality of champions.
Onyeagwu noted that to have sent
the defending champions out of the
competition was good indication of
the team’s readiness to win the
AFCON.
He said:” The Super eagles have
been amazing so far and we
appreciate their efforts at the
AFCON tournament in Egypt.
“After sending out Cameroon, it
shows that the team was ready to
take over the trophy. We believe they
can go all the way and bring the
trophy home.
“As an organization, we are going
to continue to support the NFF and
also ensure we boost the senior
national team to get good results at
all times for Nigeria.”
Battle of giants
Algeria, Nigeria
test their luck
Algeria and Nigeria will
go head-to-head for a
place in the Africa Cup
of Nations final when they
meet at the Cairo International
Stadium tomorrow.
Only Egypt and Ghana
have reached more finals
than the Super Eagles, who
lifted this trophy for the
third time in 2013.
Djamel Belmadi’s men are
taking part in this stage of
the competition for just the
second time in 15 editions,
but are favourites to
progress to their first final
since they were crowned
champions for the only time
in 1990.
The sides shared a 1-1
draw when they last met in a
World Cup qualifier back in
2017, and you can bet on
them taking this game into
extra-time after another
stalemate.
Samuel Chukwueze will be
hoping to start after finding
the net in the 2-1 quarterfinal
win over South Africa,
having taken the place of
Moses Simon in the line-up.
Youcef Atal is doubtful after
being forced off in the
quarter-final against Ivory
Coast with a shoulder injury,
with Mehdi Zeffane likely to
take his place at right back.
Ivory Coast’s goal in the 1-
1 quarter-final draw was the
first Algeria had conceded at
HEAD-TO-HEAD
this summer’s competition, a
run that lasted just over
seven hours of football.
It is hard to see them
giving anything away in the
early stages against Gernot
Rohr’s team, which has
scored just two first-half
goals in five matches so far
this campaign.
10 Jan 1973 Nigeria v Algeria D 2-2 African Games
28 Jul 1978 Algeria v Nigeria L 1-0 African Games
22 Mar 1980 Nigeria v Algeria W 3-0 Africa Cup of Nations
10 Oct 1981 Nigeria v Algeria L 0-2 FIFA World Cup
30 Oct 1981 Algeria v Nigeria L 2-1 FIFA World Cup
10 Mar 1982 Nigeria v Algeria L 1-2 Africa Cup of Nations
11 Mar 1984 Nigeria v Algeria D 0-0 Africa Cup of Nations
23 Mar 1988 Nigeria v Algeria W 1-1 Africa Cup of Nations
02 Mar 1990 Algeria v Nigeria L 5-1 Africa Cup of Nations
16 Mar 1990 Algeria v Nigeria L 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations
03 Jul 1993 Nigeria v Algeria W 4-1 FIFA World Cup
08 Oct 1993 Algeria v Nigeria D 1-1 FIFA World Cup
14 Sep 1995 Nigeria v Algeria W 2-0 African Games
21 Jan 2002 Algeria v Nigeria W 0-1 Africa Cup of Nations
03 Jul 2004 Nigeria v Algeria W 1-0 FIFA World Cup
04 Sep 2005 Algeria v Nigeria W 2-5 FIFA World Cup
30 Jan 2010 Nigeria v Algeria W 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations
12 Nov 2016 Nigeria v Algeria W 3-1 FIFA World Cup
10 Nov 2017 Algeria v Nigeria L 3-0 FIFA World Cup

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—45
Ex Internationals urge Super Eagles to show
more character against Algeria
As the Super Eagles pre
pare to battle the Desert
Foxes of Algeria in the AFCON
semi final in Cairo tomorrow,
ex internationals have spoken
on the need of the team to up
their game in order to overcome
the north Africans.
Speaking on a Brila 88.9 FM
programme, Sports Machine
monitored from Cairo, the
former Super Eagles players
were of the opinion that the
Gernot Rohr tutored side must
do more than they have done
so far in the competition.
Henry Nwosu whose goal
Oboh urges Eagles to be clinical
Aformer WBA internation
al, British and
Commonwealth light
heavyweight boxing champion
Peter Oboh has congratulated
the Super Eagles for their
fantastic victory over South
Africa in the quarter final of the
2019 AFCON in Egypt.
He praised the efforts of the
team but warned the Gernot
Ruhr-tutored team not to rest on
their oars.
Said he, “with the maxim that
says a man should not count his
chicks before they are hatched,
I urge the Eagles to work even
harder until they win the
trophy. The coach should work
more on strategy and
confidence. They should also
concentrate on how to utilise
every given opportunity that
comes our way”.
He advised the Eagles to put
behind them, their hard-earned
victory over South Africa and
rather focus on tomorrow's semi
final match. “We can build a
pedigree from that marvelous
victory and strive for better
results,” Oboh said, reminding
the players that President
<strong>Buhari</strong> and indeed, the entire
nation are awaiting their return
with the trophy
He pointed out that there were
still some gray areas in the team
that needed urgent attention
before tomorrow's semi final
match.
“The only gray area I saw
during the match against South
Africa was our failure to utilise
the various scoring
opportunities we had but the
good news is that we secured
the victory and silenced the
loquacious South Africans on
the night.”
against Cameroon in the AF-
CON final in 1988 in Morocco
was disqualified said the
Eagles must tackle the Algerians
who are very fast man for
man.
"The Super Eagles must take
on the Algerians man for man
because they are very fast",
Nwosu advised.
Former Eagles and Bendel
Insurance winger, Friday Elaho
believes that "it is going to
be 50-50 situation and the Super
Eagles need to be more aggressive".
Another ex player and an inhouse
analyst on Brila FM, Ifeanyi
Udeze agreeing with
Elaho on the game being a 50-
50 chance said "the Eagles
must show some character, if
they add a little bit of the character
they put up in the last
game against South Africa, I
assure you victory will be
theirs".
The Super Eagles have had
a better head to head advantage
over the Algerians in recent
years especially during
the 2018 World Cup qualifiers
as group mates.
Oboh said a Super Eagles
triumph at AFCON would have
a multiplier effect on the
country's economy as apart from
those industries directly
connected with football, bars
and restaurants will witness an
upsurge in traffic.
“Nigerian's are very generous
when it comes to jubilation that
comes from Nigerian victory in
sports specially super Eagles.”
•Oboh
How Eagles can
beat Algeria
– Okpala
By Jacob Ajom
Former Assistant coach of the
Super Eagles, Sylvanus
Okpala has urged Coach Gernot
Rohr to do everything possible to
ensure Nigeria beat Algeria in
tomorrow's semi final match of the
2019 AFCON in Egypt.
Okpala, a former Nigeria
international who was part of the
1980 AFCON-winning Nigerian
squad, later teamed up with late
Stephen Keshi to win Nigeria's
latest title in South Africa 2013.
The former international said,
having reached this level, the rise
or fall of the team depends on the
technical prowess of Rohr.
“When you get to this stage in a
tournament, matches are won by
the coach because he would have
by now known the weak and
stronger parts in the team and
provide the necessary solution. He
selects the team and should not
bow to external influence in his
decision making process.”
The former Rangers coach
observed that though the Super
Eagles began the tournament on a
not too promising note, they have
been able to raise their game. He
went memory lane, “In 1982 World
Cup, Italy failed to win a single
game at the group stages; they drew
with Cameroon, Mexico almost
beat them and if I remember
correctly, Peru was in that group
too. They struggled initially, but
went on to win the World Cup. The
Eagles can go all the way, even as
they started poorly.”
Okpala said the Super Eagles
match against South Africa was a
massive improvement on their
previous outings in the
tournament but added, “Rohr
would have had no excuse if they
lost to South Africa, having
watched them against Egypt. After
the Egypt match, the Bafana
Bafana had nothing to hide again
as they gave in their all in that
match. Rohr had time to study
them very well and I am sure that
paid off handsomely.”
Okpala said he was surprised at
As the 2019 AFCON reaches the
crucial stages, most Egyptians
are ‘praying’ that the two Maghreb
countries left in the competition,
Algeria and Tunisia don’t get to the
final.
If per chance any of them get to
the final, they are praying that they
don’t get to win the Cup on
Egyptian soil.
No north African country has
won the Nations Cup in another
north African country except Egypt
who won the inaugural edition in
1957 when Sudan hosted and only
three countries, Sudan, Ethiopia
and Egypt participated.
The Egyptians were vociferous
in their support for Côte d’Ivoire
against Algeria who they love to
hate and never hide it.
During the shoot out after the
match ended 1-1 even after the
extra time, a bar tender named
Khalid was praying for the
Ivorians, blowing his vuvuzela
when they converted their kick and
hissing when the Algerians scored
theirs.
Rohr's decision to confine Samuel
Chukwueze to the bench after the
first match against Burundi. “I
could not reason with him why he
kept the boy on the bench. To me
he was Nigeria's best player
against Burundi. I kept asking
why! But see what he did against
South Africa. He would have been
a better player by now if the coach
had been using him all along.”
Against Algeria, the former
Nigeria international said, “the
Eagles have a big fight on their
hands as the Algerians are a very
good side. They like holding on to
the ball and they are very fast.”
However, Okpala had some tips
for Rohr.”Nigerians play athletic
football. For you to show that
athleticism, you need space. They
must create the space by adopting
bolt marking and counter attack.
“When you adopt bolt marking
you don't give your opponents
space to operate. Put fast men
upfront who will counter attack
when your opponents lose
possession. Luckily Rohr has the
likes of Ahmed Musa, Samuel
Chukwueze, Odion Ighalo and
Moses Simon. If they adopt this
method, they can punish Algeria
with fast breaks from the
midfielders.”
But he insisted that to achieve
results, the Eagles must practice it
and perfect the act. “They have to
train, apply it and perfect it.”
Okpala observed that Algeria
started very well but showed signs
of fatigue in their last match
against Ivory Coast. “In the early
stages of the tournament they were
near perfect, but against Ivory
Coast I saw a team that was
getting tired. I was not impressed
as they almost lost it against Ivory
Coast. Should they repeat that
against Nigeria, then they will be
in trouble.”
He said this year's AFCON semi
finals between north and West
African teams potentially points to
three scenarios: an all-north
Africa final, all-west Africa final
or a final between north and west
Africa.
Egyptians pray against Algeria, Tunisia
Asked why he was against his
fellow Maghreb brothers, Khalid
said in smattering English “me no
support Algeria, they must not win
in Egypt”, without expatiating.
Even during the last quarter final
game between Tunisia and giant
killers, Madagascar, the Egyptians
equally showed bias for the Indian
Ocean boys but were not as
vociferous as in the Algerian-Cote
d’Ivoire game.
Except Egypt and Morocco who
have won the Nations Cup outside
their base, Algeria and Tunisia
have only won at home. Algeria
once in 1990 and Tunisia also once
2004.
Morocco won their only Nations
Cup outside their base but in
Ethiopia in 1976 and Egypt four
times, 1957 in Sudan, 1998 in
Burkina Faso, 2008 in Ghana and
2010 in Angola.
None of the Maghreb countries
have won on another’s soil, so the
Egyptians are praying against
Algeria and Tunisia.

46— SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
Last Wednesday night, the Su
per Eagles put up their best
performance so far in AFCON
2019. As difficult as the match was,
there were almost no threats to the
Nigerian goal throughout the encounter.
Even the goal the South Africans
scored was a gift by the elements.
On hindsight, it was so that
Nigeria’s victory would be much
sweeter. A match without high tension
is like tea without sugar.
A lot of the credit for the team that
was assembled, how the team played,
and how they won, must naturally
go to the man whose responsibility it
was to put it all together – Gernot
Rohr.
A British journalist friend, Satish
Sekar, called me up from Cairo after
Nigeria won their match against
South Africa last Wednesday night
wondering if I had changed my mind
about Gernot Rohr and forgiven him
his ‘sins’.
Satish must have read media reports
during the week where I said
that were I to be in charge of the Super
Eagles, I would have sidelined
Gernot after the loss against Madagascar.
Hence his valid question now.
My simple answer is that my statement
was hypothetical. I am not in
charge of Nigerian football. Gernot
is still in charge of his team, a responsibility
handed to him by his employers
who also read my reaction
and, I believe, must have let the
German know that he made a big
mistake and goofed by toying with
the emotions of Nigerians.
Nigerians love to win every single
match even if it is against the World
XI, and it is not that they do not know
they are not the best team in the world
and must lose matches.
The issue is that, beyond football,
the country represents more than
meets the ordinary eye with which
Gernot Rohr must have been viewing
Nigeria and Nigerians. Otherwise,
why would he take the entire
country for granted by taking an
avoidable and unnecessary decision
of assembling a ‘weak’ team to represent
the largest congregation of
Black persons in the world, a country
with pride, a country with rich
historic antecedents in football, with
resources and human capacity to become
a global football power, to play
a match, any match for that matter,
where the whole world will be watching
and the joy and livelihood of over
50 million Nigerians will be at risk?
For general information purposes,
for those that do not know, unofficial
estimates put the number of people
driving an undocumented
football economy in the
country at over 50 million.
Most of them are youths.
Do the math. There are
over 5 million small
television viewing centres
in all the nooks and
crannies of the country,
with a minimum of
about 10 people in
each centre fueling
business and sustaining
a silent but very
crucial economy.
•Rohr
So, with over 50 million youths
watching their national team every
time the Super Eagles play, a youth
population of very loud people,
barely surviving with great difficulty
in a harsh political, economic and
social environment, to lose an important
match carelessly against a
small, country from ‘nowhere’ and
Gernot Rohr – all is
forgiven… but Nigeria needs
a new coach for 2022!
without any antecedents in football,
is totally unacceptable.
That ‘small’ defeat that Gernot
glossed over with a remorseless smile
when he granted an interview after
the match, has dented Nigeria’s
records in the history books of African
football, could have cost Nigeria
further progress in the current African
championship and created untold
and immeasurable temporary
pain and agony in every home in the
country.
It was a careless decision, and must
be condemned so that such is never
repeated.
The football economy impacts on
the media, the leisure industry, the
betting industry, the entertainment industry,
and so on. This humongous
field is one that feeds on the success
of the Super Eagles. To lose an important
match means hunger and
‘death’ for some businesses. I know
because I am involved.
That was my point. That was
why I would have rested
Gernot till the end of
the championship if I
were in charge. To
teach him a lesson
on how not to coach
Nigeria’s national
team, and how not
to take Nigerians
and their national
sport for granted.
He got my
message, that’s
the important
thing.
Something tells me that the meeting
he held with Amaju Pinnick before
the last match was to register
that point and others to him. Since
then everyone can see what has happened.
Going forward now, no matter
what happens till the end of the
AFCON 2019 championship, from
what I saw last Wednesday night,
Gernot Rohr has become a changed
man. He is now reborn.
He selected the best set of players
that coincided with what majority of
Nigerians watching all the matches
and making their own assessments
would largely agree with.
He got the team to play with confidence
and calmness and everyone
could see a pattern, discipline and
organization in how the team
played. No, it was not perfect, but
football is never perfect, but this time
it worked.
Playing like that, even if Nigeria
had lost, we would still have been
pained but would have gone back
home knowing that it was not because
we disrespected our opponents
and did not field the best of us.
Gernot was on his feet raising his
voice, gesticulating from time to time,
feebly giving out instructions, trying
to act as if marshaling the team and
guiding them, throughout that
match. He showed some concern for
whatever was going to happen, even
if he was obviously not in the class of
a Mourinho, or a Klopp, in the act of
being the 12tth player.
He did not play ‘sentiments’. When
he felt that the captain of the team
needed to give way, he did not even
hesitate in substituting Ahmed Musa.
That’s how a serious coach should
behave to demonstrate loyalty and
commitment to a foreign country
that hires him.
Gernot has changed. So, he deserves
to be given the opportunity to
serve out his term.
Going forward, however, looking
towards a bigger goal, going to the
2022 World Cup and going far in
accordance to Nigeria’s potentials
seen long ago by global experts, but
still hovering in the periphery of
greatness only, the country needs a
new coach, one that will imbibe and
use the inherent strengths in the Nigerian
DNA to drive the country’s
football and footballers to become
the best in the world and show the
rest of the domestic polity, that Nigeria
can be the greatest Black country
in the world with the right kind of
leadership…and followership.
Football can be the light of at new
nation.
So, in response to Satish’s question,
for Gernot Rohr, all is forgiven!
Good luck to him for the rest of
AFCON 2019.
As the curtain falls on the
2019 World University
Games in Napoli, Italy, it
would be on record that Nigeria
did not send a team to the biennial
championship, which is in its
30th edition. This is what happens
when no form of accountability is
required from our administrators,
neither are sanctions meted out to
erring officials who time and time
again, bungle Nigeria’s participation
in international competitions.
The World University Games,
which kicked off on July 3rd, is an
international multi-sport event,
organized for university athletes
by the International University
Sports Federation (FISU). Also
known as the Universiade, the
event holds every two years, which
means that countries that have
plans of attending this competition,
have a timeline of two years
to set the ball rolling and put a
plan in place. The body that oversees
Nigeria’s participation at the
Universiade is the Nigerian University
Games Association
(NUGA).
Over the years, Nigeria has won
a total of 34 medals at the Games.
Incidentally, all 34 medals were
gotten in Track and Field. Nigeria’s
first medallist at the
Universiade was Timo Ogunjimi,
who won a Bronze medal in the
men’s 400m Hurdles at the 1975
edition in Italy.
The country’s best ever performance
at the World University
Games was the 1983 edition in
Edmonton, Canada, where we secured
five Gold medals and finished
third on the Athletics medals
table.
Chidi Imoh won the men’s 100m
(10.33s), while Innocent Egbunike
Egbunike won the 200m in 20.42s.
Sunday Uti won the 400m (45.32s)
as Yusuf Alli claimed the men’s
Long Jump title with a leap of
8.21m. It was at this competition
that Ajayi Agbebaku set a Na-
Nigeria’s ‘no-show’ in Napoli, one
miss too many
tional Record (NR) of 17.26m to
win the men’s Triple Jump. 36
years later, that record still stands!
Now imagine that Nigeria had
failed to send a team to Edmonton
at the time, would the likes of
Agbebaku have gotten the opportunity
to set such outstanding
feats?
For two decades now, Nigeria
has been unable to replicate
similar feats at the Games as the
last time we got to the podium was
exactly 20 years ago, when Doris
Jacob took a Bronze medal in the
women’s 400m. How do we expect
to win medals when our officials
continue to treat Nigeria’s participation
at the Games with such levity?
At the past two editions of the
Games held in Gwanju (2015) and
Taipei (2017) respectively, the
country’s representatives arrived
the venue embarrassingly late,
with some of them eventually
missing their events as a result.
Others were entered for the wrong
events and as such, couldn’t really
pull their weight at the end of the
day.
However, unlike the above-mentioned
scenario, this time around,
the Nigerian contingent wasn’t
even registered for the Games to
begin with. NUGA failed to enter
the athletes for the competition
before the entry deadline, which
is usually well over a month before
the event.
If they had no plans of sending a
team to the World University
Games, what was the purpose of
organizing the FISU Trials at the
Obafemi Awolowo University
(OAU) back in April? To make
matters worse, as at the start of
the Games on Wednesday, 3rd of
July, NUGA was still attempting
to make late visa applications for
the Nigerian athletes and officials
to enter Italy. Suffice it to say, their
late visa applications to Italy were
not granted, dashing the hopes of
these athletes who had to make
sacrifices to leave their respective
schools to attend the Trials in Osun
State.
This is a big shame when we consider
that some of Nigeria’s Student-Athletes
are in the form of
their lives right now. After all, the
fastest University Student in the
world right now is Divine
Oduduru – he is the joint second
fastest man in the world this year
in the 100m, and third fastest man
in the 200m, and could have become
only the second men’s double
sprint Champion at the Games
in 40 years, after South Africa’s
Anaso Jobodwana in 2013.
How about the likes of University
of Florida’s Raymond Ekevwo
(10.02sec) and OAU’s Enoch
Adegoke (10.12sec), whose Personal
Bests (PB) clocked this season,
surpass the winning time for
the men’s 100m in Taipei two
years ago where Yang Chun-han
struck Gold with a time of
10.22sec?
Looking at the men’s 200m,
UNILAG’s Jerry Jakpa stormed to
a PB of 20.59sec in Abuja two
weeks ago, which betters the winning
time of 20.93sec from Taipei.
The quartet (Oduduru, Adegoke,
Ekevwo and Jakpa) would have
formed a lethal combination in
the men’s 4x100m relay.
On the women’s side, athletes
like Aniekeme Alphonsus
(11.30sec), Joy Udo-Gabriel
(11.56sec), Favour Ofili (23.24sec,
52.28sec), Praise Idamadudu and
Ruth Usoro could have contested
for medals, both individually and
in the relays.
It is a shame that we continue to
fail our athletes in this manner.
Things have got to change!

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019—47

C
M
Y
K
SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 13, 2019
ACROSS
1)Jamaican Capital City (8)
5)Super Eagles Striker, Ahmed – (4)
7)Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs
Service (NCS), Rtd. Colonel Hameed Ibrahim
– (3)
8)Muslim Cleric (4)
9)Ivory Coast “Elephants” Midfielder, Koffi
Christian – (4)
10)Former United Nations Secretary-General,
Mr. Koffi – (5)
12)L.G.A in Jigawa State (9)
16)Country in Africa (5)
18)L.G.A in Rivers State (5)
19)Japanese Capital City (5)
21)Indian State (9)
24)German City (5)
27)Former Niger State Deputy Governor, Mr.
Zagbay – (4)
28)Ethiopian International Athlete & the first
female winner of the 2018 Access Bank Lagos
City Marathon, Herpa – (4)
29)State in Nigeria known as “The Heartbeat
of the Nation”? (3)
30)Former Tunisian Prime Minister, Mr. Rachid – (4)
31)Country in Asia (8)
DOWN
1)President, Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF),
Mr. Musa Ahmadu – (4)
2)L.G.A in Abia State (4)
3)Tanzanian City & Region (9)
4)South Korean City (5)
5)Niger State Capital (5)
6)Autonomous Community in Delta State (8)
11)Cameroon “Indomitable Lions” Central Midfielder,
Daniel – (3)
13)National President, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John
Nnia – (5)
14)American Town (9)
15)Dismiss (4)
16)Philippines Municipality (3,5)
17)Swiss Capital City (4)
20)Japanese Currency (3)
22)French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys – (5)
23)State in Nigeria known as “The Central of
Excellence”?(5)
25)Precipitation (4)
26)L.G.A in Ebonyi State (4)
CROSS WORD PUZZLE
SOLUTION TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 46
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