18082019 -Anxiety over " Next Level" Ministers

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left) receiving blessings from
the Bishop of Umuahia and Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Doicese,
His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Lucius Ugorji, during the Thanksgiving Mass
to mark this year's "Iri Ji Mbaise Festival", held at the Maria Mater Ecclesiae
Cathedral, Ahiara, Mbaise, Imo State, weekend.
Buhari, PDP congratulate Babangida at 78
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
& Dirisu Yakubu
P RESIDENT
hammadu Buhari Mu
has
congratulated former military
President Ibrahim Badamasi
Babangida on his 78th
birthday.
Buhari, in a message to the
former Head of State, according
to a statement by his
505 heroic stories from
states and locations
across the six geo-political
zones of Nigeria have
been received for the 2019
edition of the Indomie Independence
Day Award (IIDA)
of Dufil Prima Foods.
IIDA is a national award
event, which identifies, celebrates
and rewards the exemplary
accomplishments of
children, who have shown
courage and determination
in situations that ordinarily
would bring fear. The award
also encourages excellence
and diligence in children.
A breakdown of the stories
entered reveal that the South-
Senior Special Assistant on
Media and Publicity, Mallam
Garba Shehu, said Nigerians
will be looking up
to Babangida for guidance.
“On behalf of the Federal
Executive Council, my family
and all Nigerians, please
accept my warm felicitations
on your 78th birthday”, Buhari
said.
“On this special day of your
AMCON Chairman Banire loses mum
Late Alhaja Sarat Banire
West geo-political zone had
99 entries, followed by the
North-West (85 stories), South-
East (77 stories), South-South
(74 stories), North central (68
stories) while the online and
social media platforms
matched with 102 entries, totalling
505 inspiring stories.
life, the reminiscences of your
courage and invaluable service
to the army in protecting
the sovereignty of the country
come to the fore. Thank
you for the role of statesman
you are playing in the affairs
the nation.
“As you age gracefully, the
country will continue to look
up to you for guidance and
wisdom. May Allah continue
to increase your health and
SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 18, 2019, PAGE 3
L-R: Mrs. Esther Dada and daughter, Ms Temitope
Oturu during the 70th birthday celebration
of Mrs. Dada at Ota, Ogun State recently.
How I was attac
acked by y suspected ed IPoB members s in Germany
– Ekweremadu
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the
Igbo apex socio-cultural
organisation, has condemned
the alleged attack on former
Deputy President of the
Senate, Senator Ike
Ekweremadu, by suspected
members of the proscribed
Indigenous People of Biafra,
IPOB, in Germany.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo urged
German law enforcement
agencies to bring the
perpetrators to justice,
describing the attack as a
disgrace.
In a statement, Chief Nnia
Nwodo, President General of
Ohanaeze said: “The assault
on Ekweremadu by Igbo in
Germany, described as IPOB,
is disappointing, grotesque
and dangerous for Igbo
solidarity.
“This violent, rude,
impertinent, divisive and
discourteous style of IPOB or
2019 Indomie Independence Day y Awar
ard records 505 entries
IPOB-instigated miscreants
is damaging to our cause. It
strengthens the case of those
who describe them as
terrorists and weaken our
case against the infringement
of our fundamental human
rights.
“Ekweremadu negotiated the
sureties and securities for
Nnamdi Kanu’s release on
bail. He does not deserve this
harassment and disgrace. A
disgrace to him is a dishonour
to theIgbo race.
“Whilst I condemn the attack
on our revered son and leader,
I call on the law enforcement
agencies in Germany to bring
to book the perpetrators of
this despicable act. It is un-
Igbo. It is disgraceful.”
Meanwhile, Ekweremadu,
last night, confirmed a
physical assault on him by
some members of IPoB in
Germany.
ALHAJA Sarat Ban
ire, mother of the
Chairman of Assets
Management Corporation of
Nigeria, AMCON, Dr Muiz
Banire, SAN, on Friday night
passed on at the ripe age of
92. A short statement released
by the Banire family said the
remains of Alhaja Banire will
be interred at the Ebony Vault,
Alagbon close, Ikoyi, Lagos,
yesterday, according to Islamic
rites.
The late matriarch of the
Banire family is survived by
relations and children including
Muiz, who is also a
former National Legal Adviser
of the ruling All Progressives
Congress, APC; Alhaja
Raimot Ajoke Banire, Mr Ajibola
Banire, Dr Rasheed Oki
and Mr. Ayoola Oke
Enweremadu confirmed the
attack in a statement released
by his Media Assistant, Uche
Anichukwu, in Abuja.
The News Agency o Nigeria
(NAN) reported that a 64-
second video about the attack
had gone viral on the social
media earlier on Saturday.
In the video, Ekweremadu
was seen being violently
questioned over his alleged
conspiracy with the Federal
Government to proscribe the
IPOB in the South East and
killing several of its followers.
NAN further reports that
there were initial speculations
on the veracity of the video
where the senator was
attacked with eggs by the irate
IPOB members.
The senator who also gave
account of the event on his
social media handle,
@iamekweremdu, however,
assured that he was safe.
He condemned the attack
and said he had immediately
reported it to the Nigerian
grant you the strength to give
your best to your family and
the nation.”Also congratulating
the former military President,
the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) described Babangida
as patriotic, fearless
and detribalised “who has
dedicated his life for the unity,
stability and development
of our dear nation”.
“General Babangida is
celebrated for his many lega-
Release Sowore now, detention undemocratic,
Onitiri tells FG
Ambassador to Germany, Mr
Yusuf Tuggar.
He said: “I attended the
Second Annual Cultural
Festival and Convention
organised by Ndi-Igbo
Germany in Nurnberg today
where I was billed to give a
keynote address along with
the President-General of
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief
Nnia Nwodo, who, however
could not make it eventually.
“I was given a resounding
welcome by Ndigbo in
Germany and everything
went smoothly until some
men, who identified
themselves as IPOB members
stormed the venue and began
to complain about the killings
in the South East, stressing
that there would be no Igbo
event at the venue.
“I tried to engage them, but
when they became unruly, I
had to leave the venue. The
organisers also invited the
police and I was
accompanied out of the
Speaking on the concluded
nationwide search exercise
and call-for-entry, the
Group Public Relations and
Events Manager, Dufil Prima
Foods, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju,
stated that the
progress report, which the
brand has received from the
search team, right from the
venue.
“Much as I am disappointed
in their conduct, especially as
I am one of the persons, who
have spoken up on justice for
Ndigbo, the Python Dance,
judicial killings in Igbo land
and elsewhere both on the
floor of the Senate and in my
written and personal
engagements with the
Presidency and the media as
well as rallied the South East
Senate Caucus to secure
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release
with Senator Enyinnaya
Abaribe taking him on bail
to douse tension in the South
East, I nevertheless do not
hold this to heart against
them, for they know not what
they do.
“I have received thousands of
solidarity calls and messages
from well meaning Ndigbo.
I want to assure them that I
am hail and hearty. I have
also spoken with the Nigerian
Ambassador to Germany,
Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.”
commencement of the
search which kicked-off
about three months ago,
has once again proven that
children across this great
nation exhibit several outstanding
acts on a daily basis
which should be rewarded.
cies while in office as well as
his steadfastness and exceptional
commitment towards
national cohesion, tolerance
and peaceful coexistence in
our country”, the party said
in statement.
“Indeed, from this great
Nigerian flows an enduring
lesson in selfless service. His
life epitomizes the true virtue
of statesmanship and the fact
that one can indeed climb to
the very top and yet remain
humble and accessible”.
A
Peoples’ Democratic
Party, PDP chieftain,
Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, has
urged the Federal Government
to release Mr.
Omoyele Sowore from detention
immediately.
In a statement issued in
Lagos at the weekend, Onitiri
said the detention was
unnecessary, undemocratic,
unpopular and unconstitutional.
“On behalf of millions of
Nigerian democrats and
peace-loving citizens, I
plead with President Muhammadu
Buhari government
to release the convener
of ‘Revolution Now’,
Omoyele Sowore, as his detention
is undemocratic, diversionary
and will continue
to heat up the polity”, he
said in the statement.
He said Nigerians’ fundamental
human rights to freedom
of speech, association
and assembly cannot be
taken away from them by
any government.
“Besides, we wish to plead
with our judiciary not to
work against the people, as
Nigerians shall hold the judiciary
responsible if our
democracy should fail”, he
said.
“We have come a long
way to achieve this fledging
democracy and it should
never fail. We implore our
judiciary to be courageous,
stand firm with the people
of Nigeria and defend our
democracy.”
Chief Onitiri emphasised
the importance of the judiciary
as the last hope of our
people and strongest pillar
of our democracy. Judgement
without fair trial
should stop”.
War against
criminals:
When Dapo
Abiodun read riot
act to kidnappers,
others
By Femi Onasanya
he people of Ogun State
Tmay have good reason
to remember the just
concluded Eid-el-Kabir
festival. Beyond the spiritual
notes and gaiety that usually
attend the festival, this year’s
Sallah festival had so many
mementos to cherish. Apart
from the fact that the festival
was celebrated in a convivial
atmosphere, reinforcing the
bond of brotherliness and
good neighbourliness that
exists among the people of
the state, the celebration was
devoid of any unsavoury
event.
Also, on that day, the
industrious Ogun people
received a very reassuring gift
from a man who had sworn
to protect their interests
always, the governor of the
state, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
And this gift is none other
than the renewal of his vow
to ensure the safety of all
residents in the state no
matter their status, when
he made a bold declaration
that outlawed criminals in the
state. In other words, the
Ogun State governor was
emphatic when he read a riot
act to criminals who might
be planning to carry out their
ignoble activities in any part
of the state.
Governor Abiodun, who did
not hide his aversion for
criminals who have been
marauding and terrorising
people all over the place,
seized the unique Sallah event
to pass his message when he
played host to leaders of the
Muslim community in
Remoland at Iperu, his home
town.
The Muslim leaders,
League of Imams, led by the
Chief Imam of Remoland,
Sheik Junaid Abdukadiri,
was at Iperu to felicitate him
on the occasion of Sallah
and also offered prayer for
him and the state, especially
on the pervading insecurity in
the country. The governor
had in the spirit of the
occasion reassured the
Muslim leaders of the strong
resolve of his administration
to ensure that lives of Ogun
indigenes and other residents
in the state matter.
Abiodun’s avowal to
protect of life and property of
the people under his charge
is viewed generally as the
perfect elixir for this troubling
times. With growing
insecurity across the nation,
made more strenuous by
incidence of banditry and
kidnapping, many a
Nigerian now lives
perennially in fear. From the
far North to the edge of the
South, and indeed the South-
West, where life and living
used to be luxuriant, the
situation has changed
drastically.
There is hardly a day that
the news media would not be
awash with reports of either
deaths from banditry,
unknown gunmen or
kidnappings on the nation’s
highways. Ogun had its own
share recently when some
hoodlums struck on the
highways in the state. Seven
persons were abducted.
Though the victims, with the
concerted efforts of security
agencies in the state, have
now regained their freedom,
the Ogun governor had
referenced those incidents in
his response to the Muslim
leaders’ apprehension and
vowed that such incidents
would never be allowed in his
domain again.
“You will recall that there
were two cases of kidnapping
along Lagos-Ibadan
expressway, involving seven
victims in all.
•Onasanya works
with the Ogun State
information ministry