19082019 - Nigeria to spend N2.53bn on 43 ministers

C 

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Banks’ 

borrowings 

from CBN 

<strong>to</strong> hit N23trn 

by year end 

Taraba police killing: 

Army captain 

engaged welder <strong>to</strong> 

remove cuffs on 

Wadume 

9 

IPOB's attack on 

Ekweremadu, 

5 

warning <strong>to</strong> Igbo 

leaders —KANU 

Catholic 

Bishops 

decry 17 

insecurity 

in <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

VOL. 26: NO. 63877 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>spend</strong> 

MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 

STORY 

ON PAGE 

8 

<strong>N2.53bn</strong> on 

43 ministers 

•Each minister <strong>to</strong> get N58.766m 

•Earns N11.652m a year 

•Severance pay, furniture allowance N12.158m 

ODIGIE-OYEGUN @ 80 

Breakdown of ministers' 

current salary, emoluments 

•Annual basic salary (Minister) —N2,026, 400 

•Annual basic Salary (Minister of State) —N1, 800,000 

•Estacode Allowance —$900 per night 

•Duty Tour Allowance— N35,000 per night 

•Utilities (Telephone, electricity, water) —N607, 920 

•Vehicle fueling, Maintenance Allowance —N1,519,800 

•Domestic Staff Allowance— N1,519,800 

•Personal Assistant Allowance —N506,600 

•Newspaper Allowance— N303,960 

•Accommodation Allowance— N4,052,800 

•Furniture Allowance —N 6,079,200 

•Leave Allowance —N202,640 

•Severance pay —N6,079,200 

•Entertainment Allowance— N607,920 

•Moni<strong>to</strong>ring Allowance— N303,960 

•Mo<strong>to</strong>r Vehicle Loan— N8,105,600 

Again, 8 

killed, 

LG boss, 

monarch’s, 

others' 

houses 

razed in 

Ogoni 7 

Mr & Mrs 

From left: Governor’s Forum Chairman and Ekiti 

State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; APC National 

Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; the 

Celebrant, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Mrs Oyegun, 

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Former Governor 

of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba; SGF, Boss 

Mustapha and Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi 

Akeredolu, chatting during the 80th Birthday 

celebration of Chief Oyegun, former National 

Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in 

Abuja, yesterday. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

COLUMNISTS 

SOBOWALE 

NASU, SSANU 

begin strike <strong>to</strong>day, 

say it’ll be <strong>to</strong>tal 

29 

8 

NNPC selects 15 

consortia for oil 

sale, products 

10 purchase deal 8 

HENRY BOYO 30 OWEI 31 

$16bn Power Project: 

SERAP backs EFCC’s probe 

of Obasanjo’s govt, others

C 

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2 – Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019

C 

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Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 — 3

C 

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4 – Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

the Federal Government 

condemned the attack, 

describing it as an 

embarrassment <strong>to</strong> the 

country. 

ELUMELU IN RWANDA— Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and 

Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu and President of 

Rwanda, Mr. Paul Kagame (Right), during a courtesy visit by Elumelu <strong>to</strong> 

President Kagame at the Presidential Palace in Kigali on Friday. President 

Kagame was in Abuja during the just held Tony Elumelu Foundation Forum. 

IPOB's attack on Ekweremadu, 

warning <strong>to</strong> Igbo leaders —KANU 

By Henry Umoru, 

Vincent Ujumadu, 

Levinus 

Nwabughiogu & 

Dirisu Yakubu 

A BUJA—Nnamdi 

Kanu, Leader of 

the Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, insisted, 

yesterday, that the attack 

on the former Deputy 

Senate President, 

Sena<strong>to</strong>r 

Ike 

Ekweremadu, in 

Nuremberg, Germany, 

was a ‘courageous act’ 

and ‘polite warning.’ 

Reacting in his official 

Twitter handle, Kanu 

said: “The courageous 

act by IPOB at Nürnberg, 

Germany, is a polite 

warning <strong>to</strong> those 

engaged in selling our 

collective interest <strong>to</strong> 

Fulani caliphate. Nwodo 

(Ohanaeze Ndigbo 

president, Nnia Nwodo), 

Igbo governors are 

warned.” 

Meanwhile, strong 

reactions, yesterday, trailed 

the attack on the former 

Deputy Senate President, 

with the Federal 

Government and House of 

Representatives describing 

the development as an 

embarrassment <strong>to</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong>. 

The House went further 

<strong>to</strong> say it was contemplating 

a legislation <strong>to</strong> protect 

politically exposed 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns abroad. 

Similarly, the Senate 

President, Ahmad Lawan; 

his deputy, Ovie Omo- 

Agege; Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, South East 

Professionals Forum of All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC; Senate Chief Whip, 

Orji Uzor Kalu, and Senate 

Minority Leader, 

Enyinnaya Abaribe, also 

described the attack on 

Ekweremadu as not only 

shameful but also 

unedifying of the Igbo race. 

Reacting through the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns In Diaspora 

Commission, NIDCOM, 

It’s shameful — FG 

In a statement in Abuja, 

the Chairman of 

NIDCOM, Mrs AbiKe 

Dabiri-Erewa, said: “It is 

also shamefully pathetic 

that an event, which was 

nobly put <strong>to</strong>gether by the 

Ndi-Igbo community whose 

members make up the 

majority of <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns living 

in Germany, ended up in 

such a disgraceful 

manner.” 

She noted that the event 

was <strong>to</strong> provide a forum for 

the ‘Diasporans’ and 

various stakeholders <strong>to</strong> 

network and facilitate a 

better cooperation between 

German and <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

businesses, disclosing that 

some of the culprits who 

perpetrated the act had 

been apprehended. 

Dabiri-Erewa called on 

the German government 

and law enforcement 

agencies <strong>to</strong> ensure that 

there were consequences 

for the actions of the 

culprits. 

She also appealed <strong>to</strong> 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns <strong>to</strong> be of good 

behavior wherever they 

found themselves, saying 

such unruly incidents 

tarnish the image of the 

country. 

House of Reps 

Committee reacts 

In its reaction, the House 

of Representatives said it 

was contemplating a 

legislation <strong>to</strong> protect 

politically exposed people 

abroad. 

Chairman of the House 

Committee on Foreign 

Affairs, Yusuf Buba Yakub, 

who made the disclosure in 

a statement he personally 

signed yesterday, hinted 

that the House upon 

resumption in September, 

would thoroughly 

investigate the matter. 

He urged the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

Ambassador <strong>to</strong> Germany, 

Yusuf Maitama Tugger, <strong>to</strong> 

immediately probe the 

issue, with a view <strong>to</strong> 

bringing the perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> 

book. 

The statement read: “I, as 

most concerned <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

and others across the globe, 

have followed with utmost 

concern and worry the 

treatment meted out on 

Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ike Ekweremadu 

in far away Nuremberg, 

Germany, where he had, 

on the invitation of his 

people, gone <strong>to</strong> attend the 

Second Igbo Cultural 

Festival of Iri Ji (New Yam 

festival) in that part of 

Europe as a distinguished 

guest of honour. 

“Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ekweremadu, 

an accomplished scholar in 

the legal profession and 

political leader of high 

standing in society, is one 

of our longest serving 

sena<strong>to</strong>rs, who had also in 

the last 12 years until June 

this year, held sway as the 

Deputy President of the 

Senate. 

‘’Before joining the 

Senate, he was also 

Secretary <strong>to</strong> Enugu State 

Government and had 

before then served in 

various capacities in that 

state. 

“Given the high 

personality profile and the 

public service record which 

Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ekweremadu 

parades, it is unthinkable 

that any individual or 

group anywhere in the 

world, let alone his very 

own people in the 

Diaspora, who ought <strong>to</strong> 

know better, should 

contemplate and carry out 

the despicable public act 

of shame that was brought 

upon a well-respected 

national leader of 

Sen.Ekweremadu’s stature 

before the glare of the entire 

global community in 

Germany. 

“I, therefore, in very 

strong terms, condemn in 

its entirety the action of the 

group of Igbo people, 

alleged <strong>to</strong> be members of 

the outlawed IPOB, that 

had attacked Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ike 

Ekweremadu in 

Nuremberg, Germany on 

Saturday, August 17. 

‘’I also wish <strong>to</strong> join other 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns and leaders <strong>to</strong> 

call on the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

Ambassador <strong>to</strong> Germany, 

Amb.Yusuf Maitama 

Tugger, <strong>to</strong> make good his 

Continues on page 41 

By Bose Adelaja, Olayinka La<strong>to</strong>na, 

Chiamaka Uba 

Restriction of forex for food importation (3) 

It’s really important <strong>to</strong> 

promote locally made 

commodities and as well 

provide sustainable markets 

for <strong>Nigeria</strong>n goods via 

genuine govt intervention. 

It would encourage local 

production and boost 

economy but there should be 

home grown solution tailored 

<strong>to</strong>wards promoting locally 

made goods. 

Hopefully, the action would 

be accompanied by genuine 

development and not mere 

cosmetic and populist policy. 

- Ayuba Quadri 

Public Affairs analyst 

I 

thinks it’s a good 

m o v e 

by Mr. President, but 

there is the need for 

more investments in the 

agricultural sec<strong>to</strong>r <strong>to</strong> 

boost local food 

production. There 

should be structure in 

place <strong>to</strong> support 'made in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>', they should 

also set up a policy that 

would be favorable for 

manufacturing industries 

in the country <strong>to</strong> thrive. 

-Jimmy Shola 

Mediaprenuer. 

The ban on forex for 

importing food stuff is 

shortsighted. It is 

obvious that this will 

encourage black market. 

Imported foodstuff is a 

necessity, therefore 

policies that make supply 

of these goods difficult 

will only increase the 

cost of goods for the 

common man. 

-Showole Tolulope 

Content Developer 

While this is a good 

initiative as 

regards the effect it 

would have on local food 

production and sales, I 

also believe things like 

this should be gradual 

as local producers might 

not be able <strong>to</strong> meet up 

with demand as opposed 

<strong>to</strong> if it had been gradual 

where they would have 

time <strong>to</strong> prepare and be 

able <strong>to</strong> meet demands. 

-Olusanya Orewa 

Corps member 

I 

strongly support Mr. 

President on this bold 

step. This will improve 

local food production. 

Why import food that can 

be produced locally? 

Government should 

support farmers <strong>to</strong> 

produce more food. 

If the Agric sec<strong>to</strong>r is 

considered, the economy 

will be a little bit stable. 

-Jayeoba Blessing Funmilayo 

Entrepreneur 

The idea will help <strong>to</strong> 

grow locally made food 

by reducing importation, 

hence growing the 

economy which is one of 

the things <strong>Nigeria</strong> needs 

now. On the other hand, it 

is disturbing because it 

leaves us with the question 

of how independent the 

Central Bank of <strong>Nigeria</strong> is? 

That bank is supposed <strong>to</strong> be 

run without interference. 

-Philomena Ogburie 

Analyst

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6—Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 

Many injured as Hausa, Yoruba clash in Lagos 

By Evelyn Usman, 

Olasukanmi Akoni & 

Monsuru Olowoopejo 

L AGOS—PANDEMONIUM 

broke out yesterday, at Ilepo 

Market, Oke-Odo, along Lagos- 

Abeokuta Expressway, following 

a clash between Hausa and 

Yoruba traders. 

Although no life was lost, 

several persons were severely 

injured, while goods worth 

millions of Naira were destroyed 

and some makeshift shops burnt 

in the incident, with different 

accounts as <strong>to</strong> how trouble started. 

A version of the account said 

fight broke out Saturday night 

between some suspected cultists 

and Hausa scavengers around 

the dump site, when one of the 

parties tried <strong>to</strong> molest the other. 

It reportedly continued yesterday, 

as one of the parties was said <strong>to</strong> 

have overpowered the other. 

Another account had it that 

some Hausa youths attempted <strong>to</strong> 

ex<strong>to</strong>rt some Yoruba scavengers 

around the dump site, claiming 

that the area belongs <strong>to</strong> them 

(Hausa), a claim that led <strong>to</strong> verbal 

confrontation, which degenerated 

in<strong>to</strong> violence. 

One of the Hausa <strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong> sellers, 

Tanko Mohammed, <strong>to</strong>ld 

Vanguard : “I came out here this 

morning (yesterday) <strong>to</strong> sell, when 

some Awawa boys came from 

nowhere and started destroying 

our wares. 

“Over 20 baskets of <strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong>es 

were destroyed. While everyone 

was running, I remained in my 

shop <strong>to</strong> know what was 

happening. They came with 

cutlasses and sticks, attacking 

anyone at sight. They said some 

of our people beat one of theirs. 

But how is that my business, when 

the person in question is neither 

my brother nor sales boy?” 

Another Yoruba trader, who 

simply gave her name as Iya 

Modinat, said: “These people 

(Hausa) have taken over the 

whole place, claiming it is theirs. 

They have dominated the dump 

site, depriving other people space 

there. 

“They had confrontation with 

one Yoruba boy yesterday 

(Saturday) and before you knew 

it, all of them came out <strong>to</strong> fight 

with the person. His people 

(Yoruba boys) came <strong>to</strong> his rescue. 

Also yesterday, there was fight 

at the food stuff section. But I 

cannot say if that was what 

caused 

<strong>to</strong>day’s 

(yesterday)fight.” 

Police s<strong>to</strong>ry 

However, the Police said the 

trouble started between Hausa 

scavengers and some social 

miscreants otherwise known as 

Area boys, adding that five 

persons had been arrested in 

connection with the fracas. 

Spokesman for the Lagos 

State Police Command, DSP 

Elkana Bala, said: “Yesterday, 

at about 10a.m., one Alhaji 

Adekunle Habib of Ilepo Market 

reported at Oke Odo Police 

Station that there was a 

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

•Awawa Boys attacked us—Tanko, <strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong>es seller 

•Hausa ’re claiming it's their land—Iya Modinat 

•Hausa scavenger, Area Boy fight started crisis—Police 

Scene of the clash in pictures. 

PHOTOS: Joe Akin<strong>to</strong>la, Pho<strong>to</strong> Edi<strong>to</strong>r. 

misunderstanding between one 

Hausa scavenger and an area 

boy from Yoruba ethnic group. 

“The area boy, according <strong>to</strong> 

him, was carrying some goods 

on his head when he was 

pushed by the Hausa boy in 

error. The goods fell down. 

“Arguments ensued between 

the two parties, which led <strong>to</strong> 

exchange of blows. Friends of 

the two parties joined in the 

fight and other miscreants <strong>to</strong>ok 

advantage of the moment <strong>to</strong> 

steal and loot. They blocked 

Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. 

“What started as a fight 

between two miscreants almost 

snowballed in<strong>to</strong> ethnic crisis, if 

not for the timely intervention 

of the Police. Police teams from 

Oke-Odo Division were the 

initial responders. The 

Command sent reinforcements 

from the Operations 

Department, Rapid Response 

Squads, Task Force, Tactical 

Units and Police Mobile Force. 

“Divisions within the Area 

Command equally sent 

reinforcements. The situation 

was brought under control and 

traffic cleared. No death was 

recorded, but four persons 

sustained various degrees of 

injuries and are receiving 

medical attention. 

“Five suspects, namely 

Kabiru Mohammed, Kabiru 

Adamu, Bashiru Mohammed, 

Saliu Madu and Yusuf Amuda, 

were arrested in connection 

with the breach of peace. 

Normalcy has been res<strong>to</strong>red 

and patrols are ongoing in the 

affected areas. Suspects will be 

charged <strong>to</strong> court.” 

Govt orders probe 

Meanwhile, Governor 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos 

State has expressed the 

commitment of his 

administration <strong>to</strong> peaceful coexistence 

of all ethnic groups in 

the state without any fear. 

Reacting <strong>to</strong> the crisis, Sanwo- 

Olu, in a statement through his 

Deputy Chief Press Secretary, 

Gboyega Akosile, stated that 

“we received the news with 

sadness. I must say that we 

found it very strange because 

Lagos is a peaceful state, where 

every ethnic nationality cohabits 

without rancour. The 

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clash is quite strange.” 

According <strong>to</strong> him, the security 

arm was immediately activated 

and within a few hours, the 

clash was quelled. 

He said: “As I speak, normalcy 

has returned <strong>to</strong> the affected 

areas and residents are going 

about their lawful business. 

“I need <strong>to</strong> reiterate that 

security of lives and properties 

of Lagosians remain one of the 

cardinal points of my 

administration. I, therefore, 

assure every citizen of their 

safety while enjoining them <strong>to</strong> 

go about their business lawfully. 

“Finally, government will 

investigate the remote and 

immediate cause of the civil 

disturbance with the view <strong>to</strong> 

forestalling future occurrence.”

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vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

Man docked for stealing DPO’s phone 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—A 22-year-old man, 

Taofeek Salau, who allegedly 

s<strong>to</strong>le the phone of Mushin 

Divisional Police Officer, Ayodele 

Arogbo, valued at N140,000, has 

been arraigned before a Lagos 

Magistrate’s Court sitting in 

Mushin. 

The defendant is facing a threecount 

charge of conspiracy, 

breach of peace and theft. 

Salau and others still at large, 

committed the alleged offence on 

January 31 at 1pm at Ojuwoye 

Market Junction, Isolo Road, 

Mushin, area of Lagos, while the 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

PORT HARCOURT—NO 

fewer than eight persons 

were again feared killed and 

houses, including home of 

Khana Local Government 

Chairman, Lahteh Loolo and a 

wing of the palace of HRH T. W. 

Baridam, Gben-Neme Bangha, 

razed as bandits struck at Opouku 

and Bangha communities in 

Ogoniland, Rivers State, 

yesterday. 

The bandits, it was learned, 

struck in the wee hours of 

yesterday, in same fashion they 

did barely a week ago when 

homes of factional President of 

Movement for Survival of Ogoni 

People, MOSOP, Legborsi 

Pyaghbara, that of the monarch 

of Kaaba, Chief M. S. K. Nule, 

among others, were burnt. 

Commissioner of Police, Rivers 

Command, Mustapha Dandaura, 

who confirmed the incident, said 

only three persons were confirmed 

killed, while also confirming that 

two suspects had been arrested 

by his men. 

According <strong>to</strong> him, “some 

persons are spreading rumours 

of 16 persons killed. It is not 16, 

only three were killed. And we 

have arrested two of them (the 

killers) through the DPO Bori. 

One was on camouflage. It’s 

cultists’ activities, not community 

disagreement.” 

Community sources claimed six 

persons were killed in Opouku, 

where home of the Khana council 

boss was burnt, while two persons 

were reportedly felled by the 

intermittent shooting bandits at 

Bangha. 

Several fear-stricken residents 

were said <strong>to</strong> have deserted both 

communities. 

Recall that MOSOP had, last 

Thursday, raised the alarm over 

the spate of cult-related violence 

and killings in some communities 

in Ogoniland. 

Mr. Sunny Zorvah, Publicity 

Secretary of the organisation 

raised the concern in a statement 

in Port Harcourt. 

Zorvah said the crises, which 

started in Okwale community on 

Tuesday, degenerated and spread 

<strong>to</strong> two other communities, Taabaa 

DPO was on crowd control duty 

during a presidential election 

campaign by All Progressive 

Congress, APC, led by Vice 

President Yemi Osinbajo, and 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, now 

governor of Lagos State. 

Sources said after Salau and his 

gang members succeeded in 

stealing the phone, he sold the 

phone <strong>to</strong> a receiver of s<strong>to</strong>len 

goods for N35,000. 

Police prosecu<strong>to</strong>r, Inspec<strong>to</strong>r A. 

Edet, <strong>to</strong>ld the court that the 

defendant also conducted himself 

in a manner likely <strong>to</strong> cause breach 

of peace. 

According <strong>to</strong> him, the offence 

and Nyokuru, all in Nyokhana 

district in Khana Local 

Government Area of the state. 

Zorvah called on the Police and 

the special joint military task 

forces <strong>to</strong> quickly wade in<strong>to</strong> the 

situation, fish out the perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs 

is punishable under Sections 411, 

168 (d) and 287 of the criminal 

law of Lagos State 2015. 

However, the defendant 

pleaded not guilty <strong>to</strong> counts one 

and two and guilty <strong>to</strong> count three 

of the charge. 

Consequently, Magistrate W. A. 

Salami granted the defendant bail 

in the sum of N100,000, with two 

sureties in like sum. 

He said the sureties must show 

evidence of tax payment <strong>to</strong> Lagos 

State government and have their 

addresses verified. 

The case was adjourned till 

Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 29 for mention. 

8 killed, LG boss, monarch’s 

houses burnt in Ogoni 

By Daud Olatunji 

ABEOKUTA—OGUN State 

Police Command has 

arrested a Bible study teacher, 

Blessing Ozor, for being in 

cus<strong>to</strong>dy of a boy, Joshua Joseph, 

who went missing two years ago. 

The seven-year-old boy went 

missing in Ijebu-Ode area of the 

state and was allegedly sold <strong>to</strong> 

Ozor for N1 million in Anambra 

State in 2018. 

The boy, however, regained his 

freedom in 2019 after he had been 

renamed Chisom in Ozor’s 

house. 

It was gathered that Joseph’s 

abduc<strong>to</strong>rs met their waterloo after 

two of the three-member 

syndicate, Rita and Angela, were 

arrested and remanded in the 

correctional home in Edo and 

Ondo states for kidnappingrelated 

offence. 

They confessed, during the 

investigation, of Joseph’s 

whereabouts. 

Ozor claimed innocence of the 

crime, saying she adopted the 

child for N1 million from one 

Ifeoma Joy, a level 13 civil servant 

in Anambra State. 

During the handing over of the 

boy <strong>to</strong> his parent, Police Public 

Relations Officer in the state, 

Abimbola Oyeyemi, said Joy sold 

the child <strong>to</strong> Ozor based on forged 

documents. 

He said: “Joy works in the 

Ministry of Women Affairs in 

Anambra State, a leverage she 

used in selling off children 

kidnapped by her other members 

of the syndicate, Rita and Angela. 

“In the cause of looking for 

her, she got transfered <strong>to</strong> four 

local government areas within 

one month <strong>to</strong> evade arrest. 

”Our findings have shown that 

eight children have been s<strong>to</strong>len 

by this syndicate in Ogun State 

and bring them <strong>to</strong> justice. 

He also appealed <strong>to</strong> traditional 

rulers, opinion leaders and other 

stakeholders in the area <strong>to</strong> put 

their differences aside and work 

<strong>to</strong>wards enhancing peace and 

security in the area. 

Boy s<strong>to</strong>len 2 years ago found with 

Bible study teacher, renamed 

and four have been recovered. 

One of the s<strong>to</strong>len children was 

found when the people who 

adopted him saw the boy’s 

picture on the pages of 

newspapers and returned him.” 

However, Joy <strong>to</strong>ld journalists: 

“I never did such a thing. I know 

the woman that brought this boy 

<strong>to</strong> be a worker at Peace 

Sisters Home. 

“So when my sister in 

fellowship came up with an idea 

of adopting a baby, I called her 

<strong>to</strong> help us get a baby boy and I 

gave Rita my sister’s particulars. 

When she finished with the 

particulars she came with this 

boy. I never knew the boy 

was s<strong>to</strong>len.” 

Explaining her part, Ozor said: 

“I am just a victim of 

circumstances by my foolishness. 

I went <strong>to</strong> a sister in our 

fellowship that adopted a child 

before, because I have two 

daughters already. But I had a 

feeling for a son; my last daughter 

is 24 years old. 

“I went through her because 

they had adopted before. They led 

me <strong>to</strong> this woman, Joy. I believed 

that everything was okay because 

she made me believe that she 

runs a peace sisters home. I was 

asked <strong>to</strong> bring a passport and 

other documents for the adoption, 

and I gave them <strong>to</strong> her . 

“I gave her N150,000 for 

processing of the papers. The day 

she gave me the boy, there was a 

denouncement paper. That was 

the first paper she gave me and 

then collected her remaining 

money, N900, 000. 

“Joy processed other papers, 

which I believed until were 

genuine, and gave them <strong>to</strong> me. 

That was why I <strong>to</strong>ok the boy home 

and started taking care of him 

from March 3, 2018, and I 

enrolled him in<strong>to</strong> a nice school.” 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

Just for the records, Nedu was 

STANDING, while Yaw was SEATING 

as they discussed the em... em.. 

that put Teckno in Police wahala 

That's education 

standard passing away 

Aunty Rita, oga will get a cook 

from THAT South-South <strong>to</strong>wn


FACTS BEHIND THE STATE ECONOMY: From left, Mr. Kayode Falowo, Group Managing 

Direc<strong>to</strong>r/CEO, Greenwich Trust Limited; Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, The <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

S<strong>to</strong>ck Exchange, NSE; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo, 

National Council President, NSE; Erelu Angela Adebayo, National Council Member, NSE; 

and Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, during the Closing Gong Ceremony in commemoration of the 

Facts Behind the State Economy presentation at the exchange, in Lagos. 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>spend</strong> <strong>N2.53bn</strong> on 43 

ministers 

By Clifford 

Ndujihe &Vic<strong>to</strong>r 

Young 

EXCEPT there is a salary 

cut or their number is 

reduced, the welfare of the 

43 ministerial nominees, 

who will be sworn-in on 

Wednesday, will cost 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s tax payers at least 

N2.53 billion in the next four 

years. 

This means each minister 

will get at least N58.766 

million in four years. 

The figure will be much 

higher, if estacode and 

allowances for foreign and 

local duty trips were added. 

Ministers currently are 

entitled <strong>to</strong> estacode 

allowance of $900 per night 

and duty <strong>to</strong>ur allowance of 

N35,000 per night. And this 

excludes a refundable 

vehicle loan of N8.106 

million. 

Each of the ministers is 

entitled <strong>to</strong> a furniture 

allowance of N6.079 million 

and severance package of 

N6.079 million, <strong>to</strong>talling 

N12.158 million. The 

furniture allowance will be 

paid shortly after their 

swearing in. 

The figure is in tandem with 

what immediate past 

ministers earned going by 

their conditions of service as 

unveiled by former Secretary 

<strong>to</strong> the Government of the 

Federation, Babachir Lawal, 

before they were sworn-in in 

November 2015. 

According <strong>to</strong> the 

conditions of service, a 

minister will earn 

N2,026,400 as annual basic 

salary while a Minister of 

State will get N1.8 million. 

Other highlights of the 

emoluments include: 

Estacode Allowance ($900 

per night); Utilities 

Allowance (Telephone/ 

Electricity/ Water) –30 per 

cent of Annual Basic Salary 

(N607,920); Domestic Staff 

Allowance, 75 per cent of 

Annual Basic Salary, 

N1,519,800; Newspaper 


Annual Basic Salary, 

N303,960; Duty Tour 

•Each minister <strong>to</strong> get N58.766m 

•Earns N11.652m a year 

•Severance pay, furniture allowance N12.158m 

Allowance, N35,000 per 

night; Furniture Allowance, 

300 per cent of basic salary, 

N6,079,200; Severance 


annual basic salary, 

N6,079,200; 

Others 

are 

Accommodation Allowance, 

200 per cent of annual basic 

salary, N4,052,800; Mo<strong>to</strong>r 

Vehicle Fuelling 

Maintenance Allowance, 75 

per cent of Annual Basic 

Salary, N1,519,800; Leave 


basic salary, N202,640; 

Personal Assistant 


Basic Salary, N506,600; 

Entertainment Allowance, 

N607,920; Moni<strong>to</strong>ring 

Allowance, N303,960; and 

Mo<strong>to</strong>r Vehicle Loan, 

N8,105,600. 

The severance package is 

payable after full tenure of 

office with government. The 

allowance will be pro-rated 

after a minimum of two years 

in office. 

Each of the ministers is also 

entitled <strong>to</strong> N6,079,200 as 

furniture allowance, which is 

paid once in four years. If 

any of the ministers desires, 

he or she is also entitled <strong>to</strong> 

N8105,600 as mo<strong>to</strong>r vehicle 

allowance. However, the 

mo<strong>to</strong>r vehicle allowance is a 

loan repayable by the end of 

the tenure of the minister. 

Labour reacts 

Reacting, General 

Secretary of National Union 

of Textile, Garment and 

Tailoring Workers of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, 

NUTGTWN, Issa Aremu, 

fualted the huge among the 

nation would be <strong>spend</strong>ing on 

its ministers. 

He said: “What is good for 

the ministers and even the 

leader of Islamic Movement 

of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, IMN, Ibraheem 

El-Zakzaky, is even more 

desirable for working people. 

Worker need living wages <strong>to</strong>o 

not just minimum wage.” 

NNPC selects 15 consortia for oil 

sale, products purchase deal 

By Michael Eboh 

THE <strong>Nigeria</strong>n National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, yesterday, said 15 

consortia, made up of 35 

foreign and indigenous 

companies, have emerged 

winners of its 2019/2020 

Direct Sale Direct Purchase, 

DSDP, arrangement. 

In a statement in Abuja, 

Group General Manager, 

Group Public Affairs 

Division of the NNPC, Mr. 

Ndu Ughamadu, said the 

contract with the consortia/ 

companies was expected <strong>to</strong> 

last for one year, effective 

Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1, 2019 <strong>to</strong> 

September 30, 2020. 

Ughamadu declared that 

this was in line with the 

avowed commitment of the 

NNPC <strong>to</strong> transparency and 

accountability in all its 

activities as committed by 

the new Group Managing 

Direc<strong>to</strong>r of the corporation, 

Mallam Mele Kyari. 

Under the DSDP 

arrangement, Ughamadu 

noted that the 15 consortia 

shall over the contract 

period, offtake crude oil 

and in return, deliver 

corresponding petroleum 

products of equivalent 

value <strong>to</strong> NNPC, subject <strong>to</strong> 

the terms of the agreement. 

He stated that the tender 

process comprised 

technical and commercial 

bid submission respectively, 

evaluation and shortlisting, 

then commercial 

negotiations with 

prequalified companies 

and engagement of the 

successful consortia/ 

companies by the NNPC. 

He listed the successful 

companies <strong>to</strong> include BP 

Oil International Limited/ 

AYM Shafa Limited; Vi<strong>to</strong>l 

SA/Calson-Hyson; TOTSA 

Total Oil Trading SA/Total 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> Plc; Gunvor 

International B.V./AY 

Maikifi Oil & Gas 

Company Limited; 

Trafigura PTE Limited/A. A. 

Rano <strong>Nigeria</strong> Limited; 

CEPSA S.A.U./Oando Plc; 

and Mocoh SA/Mocoh 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> Limited. 

Others are Litasco SA/ 

Brittania-U <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

Limited/Freepoint 

Commodities; MRS Oil & 

Gas Company Limited; 

Sahara Energy Resource 

Limited; Bono Energy 

Limited/Eterna Plc/Arkleen 

Oil & Gas Limited/Amazon 

Energy; and Matrix 

Energy Limited/Petratlantic 

Energy Limited/UTM 

Offshore Limited/Levene 

Energy Development 

Limited. 

Also shortlisted are 

Mercuria Energy Trading 

SA/ Barbedos Oil & Gas 

Services Limited/Rainoil 

Limited/Petrogas Energy; 

Asian Oil & Gas PTE 

Limited/ Eyrie Energy 

Limited/ Masters Energy 

Oil & Gas Limited/Casiva 

Limited; and Duke Oil 

Company Incorporated. 

Ughamadu said: “In his 

take-over note July 8, 2019, 

the newly appointed 

NNPC GMD, Kyari, had 

promised <strong>to</strong> open NNPC 

books <strong>to</strong> public scrutiny, 

saying as a publicly owned 

company, <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

deserve <strong>to</strong> know about the 

operations of the 

Corporation. 

“He reiterated his 

management team’s 

commitment <strong>to</strong> 

transparency and 

accountability when he had 

a maiden <strong>to</strong>wn hall 

engagement with the staff 

of the corporation where he 

launched the team’s policy 

direction, tagged 

Transparency, 

Accountability, Performance 

and Excellence, TAPE. 

NASU, SSANU begin 

strike <strong>to</strong>day, say it’ll be 

<strong>to</strong>tal 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA— 

NONteaching 

staff unions in 

universities have directed all 

branches and members <strong>to</strong> 

comply with the proposed 

strike that commences <strong>to</strong>day, 

declaring that it would be 

<strong>to</strong>tal and comprehensive. 

The two unions, Non 

Academic Staff Union of 

Universities and Associated 

Institutions, NASU and 

Senior Staff Association of 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Universities, 

SSANU, said within the 

period, there would be no 

form of concession or internal 

arrangement with 

management. 

A circular, entitled, 

“Directive on a five-day 

national strike,”signed by the 

President of SSANU and 

Chairman of Joint Action 

Committee, JAC, of the 

unions, Comrade Samson 

Ugwoke, and General- 

Secretary of NASU, 

Comrade Peters Adeyemi, 

said any member or branch 

that defaulted would be 

sanctioned 

The statement read: 

“Following the expiration of 

the 14-day ultimatum given 

<strong>to</strong> the Federal Government 

and its failure <strong>to</strong> show firm 

commitment <strong>to</strong>wards 

resolving the following 

issues, payment of Earned 

Allowances, University Staff 

Schools matter (and) 

Renegotiation of 2009 

Agreements, you are, 

hereby, directed <strong>to</strong> embark 

on a five-day strike effective 

from Monday, August 19 <strong>to</strong> 

Friday, August 23, 2019. 

“Be informed that the strike 

is <strong>to</strong>tal and comprehensive 

for the five days. No form of 

concession or internal 

arrangement should be 

made with managements, 

while all members must be 

directed <strong>to</strong> stay away from 

their duty posts. 

“Kindly recall the decision 

of the National Executive 

Council of the two unions <strong>to</strong> 

the effect that branches that 

default in compliance should 

be sanctioned." 

Osinbajo restates FG’s 

commitment <strong>to</strong> lift 100m 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns out of poverty 

By Naomi Uzor 

VICE President Yemi 

Osinbajo, weekend, 

restated that the primary 

objective of the Federal 

Government was <strong>to</strong> lift 100 

million <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns out of 

poverty. 

Disclosing this at an event 

organised by African 

Venture Philanthropic 

Alliance, AVPA, and IBAN, 

tagged “African Policy Road 

Show: Building Robust 

Policies for Increased Social 

Investment & Inclusive 

Business,” Osinbajo said lifting 

100 million <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

out of poverty was possible 

but noted that it required 

human capital, res<strong>to</strong>red 

growth, inves<strong>to</strong>rs, and micro 

economic policies, among 

others. 

Osinbajo, who was 

represented by his Special 

Adviser, Ambassador 

Adeyemi Dipeolu, said since 

the inception of the Buhari’s 

administration, there had 

been a reduction in the 

inequality gap with the 

eradication of malnutrition in 

the country, with the National 

School Feeding 

Programmes. 

He noted that the school 

feeding programme of the 

government had provided 

jobs for over 106,000 cooks 

in 53,000 schools nationwide. 

According <strong>to</strong> him, the 

Micro, Small and Medium 

Enterprises, MSMEs, is 

geared <strong>to</strong>wards improving 

the lives of the people. 

Daily Trust invites nomination for 

African of the Year 2019 Award 

AN 

independent 

newspaper in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>, DAILY TRUST, 

has called for nomination 

of 

exemplary 

personalities for the 

coveted African of the 

Year 2019. Nominations 

are open from August 19, 

2019, <strong>to</strong> Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 18, 2019. 

In a statement, 

weekend, CEO/Edi<strong>to</strong>r-in- 

Chief of Media Trust 

Limited, publishers 

ofDAILY TRUST, Mr. 

Mannir Dan-Ali, said ideal 

nominees should be ordinary 

Africans who have 

made extra-ordinary contributions 

<strong>to</strong> humanity in 

any field from any part of 

the continent. 

Dan-Ali disclosed that 

the award consists of three 

components, namely, a 

permanent plaque, a 

certificate of merit and a 

cash reward in aid of the 

awardee or his/her chosen 

charity project. 

Valid entries for the 2019 

award will be for works, 

events or activities undertaken 

by the nominee between 

Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1, 2018and 

September 30, 2019 and 

nominations are <strong>to</strong> be 

made online at 

award.dailytrust.com. 

The eventual winner 

will be selected by a 

seven-member prize committee 

chaired by Mr. 

Festus Mogae, former 

President of Botswana.

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 — 9 

MOU: From left, Head, Business Development, International Technology and Innovative 

Solutions Ltd, INTECH, Kemepade Sammy; acting Executive Secretary, Lagos State 

Employment Trust Fund, LSETF, Teju Abisoye; Chief Strategist, Global Performance Index 

International, GPI, George Ashiru, and Head, Start-ups, Lagos Innovates, Tosin Faniro- 

Dada, during the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signing ceremony between LSETF 

and INTECH <strong>to</strong> provide innovative solutions for tech-driven start-ups, in Lagos. 

TARABA POLICE KILLINGS: 

Army captain engaged welder 

<strong>to</strong> remove police cuffs —Findings 

By Emma 

Nnadozie, Crime 

Edi<strong>to</strong>r & Ifeanyi 

Okolie 

FRESH 

facts 

revealed, yesterday, 

that the Army captain 

fingered in the killing of 

three police officers 

attached <strong>to</strong> Inspec<strong>to</strong>r- 

General of Police 

Intelligence Response 

HEALTH TIPS 

By Sola Ogundipe 

Relief for <strong>to</strong>othache 

You’ve got a <strong>to</strong>othache? 

See your dentist. In the 

meantime, you can get 

short-term relief. 

Until you can get <strong>to</strong> the 

dentist, one of the best 

things you can do is swish 

warm, salty water around 

in your mouth. A good mix 

is 1/2 teaspoon table salt <strong>to</strong> 

a cup of water. Spit it out, 

don’t swallow it. You can 

also gently floss around the 

sore <strong>to</strong>oth <strong>to</strong> remove any bits 

of food that may be stuck. 

Use a pain reliever. If your 

face is swollen, put an ice 

pack on your cheek. It may 

help ease the pain, 

especially if you’ve chipped 

your chopper or knocked it 

loose. Swelling could also 

mean you have an abscess, 

a sac of pus deep in the 

roots of your <strong>to</strong>oth. This can 

cause serious infection in 

your jaw and other teeth. 

Signs include fever and red 

gums. 

Team, IRT, and the 

subsequent release of 

suspected kidnap 

kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu 

Wadume, in Ibi, Taraba 

State, threatened <strong>to</strong> deal 

with police officers 

attached <strong>to</strong> Ibi police 

station for not 

cooperating with him. 

It was also gathered 

that only two police 

officers, including one 

Put some ice in your 

hand, on the same side of 

the body as your sore <strong>to</strong>oth. 

Rub the ice in the space 

between your thumb and 

forefinger for few minutes, 

or until the area turns 

numb. Ice s<strong>to</strong>ps pain 

signals <strong>to</strong> your brain. 

Clove oil is natural 

remedy that numbs the 

pain. Rub it directly on the 

sore area, or soak a cot<strong>to</strong>n 

ball and dab it against the 

<strong>to</strong>oth and gums. It may be 

as effective as benzocaine, 

the numbing ingredient in 

over-the-counter <strong>to</strong>othache 

gels. 

When you crush one of 

these cloves, you release 

allicin, an oily liquid and 

natural disease fighter. It 

willl likelyl ease the ache 

but you can try chewing a 

piece of garlic, or placing 

chopped bits on your <strong>to</strong>oth. 

It’s safe, except, of course, 

for your breath. 

Assistant Superinterdent 

of Police, ASP, Aondonna 

Iorbee, the DCO, Ibi 

Police Station, who is 

also a Tiv from Benue 

State and the Crime 

Officer, Ibi Police Station, 

Inspec<strong>to</strong>r Aliyu, are in 

police cus<strong>to</strong>dy at the 

Force Headquarters, 

Abuja. 

They are said <strong>to</strong> have 

made useful statements 

<strong>to</strong> investiga<strong>to</strong>rs. Sources 

further <strong>to</strong>ld Vanguard 

that the officers are 

being investigated over 

what happened after the 

killing of the police 

officers and not before. 

Army captain 

engaged welder 

<strong>to</strong> remove police 

cuffs 

Reliable sources <strong>to</strong>ld 

Vanguard that 

immediately the 

suspected kidnap 

kingpin was rescued 

from the policemen, who 

arrested him, the Army 

captain <strong>to</strong>ok him <strong>to</strong> his 

base from where he 

called his friend who is 

the Divisional Police 

Officer, DPO, in-charge 

of Ibi Police station. 

According <strong>to</strong> sources, 

immediately the police 

officer, who was on leave 

arrived, the Army 

captain <strong>to</strong>ld him <strong>to</strong> 

contact the police station 

so that keys <strong>to</strong> the hand 

and leg cuffs used in 

arresting the kidnap 

kingpin could be 

produced <strong>to</strong> unchain 

him. 

Unfortunately, sources 

said, efforts by the DCO 

<strong>to</strong> contact his men failed 

and the captain directed 

him <strong>to</strong> engage a welder 

<strong>to</strong> remove the cuffs, 

which they succeeded 

after which he <strong>to</strong>ok the 

suspect <strong>to</strong> his house. 

It was gathered that 

after that, the Army 

captain called the station 

officer at Ibi police 

station, demanding that 

all evidence relating <strong>to</strong> 

the policemen from IRT 

be erased in the station. 

Vanguard learned that 

the Inspec<strong>to</strong>r initially 

hesitated in carrying out 

the captain’s directives 

until he threatened <strong>to</strong> 

deal with him. 

Consequently, he 

reluctantly tampered 

with the records by 

tearing the page where 

the IRT team officially 

recorded their presence 

on official duty in Ibi. 

However, sources said 

they were oblivious of 

the fact that records were 

still intact in other police 

diaries. 

Vanguard also learned 

that the Army captain, in his 

resolve <strong>to</strong> obliterate every 

evidence that would expose 

the raw deal, nearly killed 

the badly wounded police 

officers after they were 

rescued and taken <strong>to</strong> Ibi 

police station but for the 

intervention of other senior 

police officers and soldiers, 

who reminded him that 

their survival was recorded 

on video by villagers that 

thronged the scene of the 

shooting. 

OYEGUN @ 80: Don’t die 

without joining APC, 

Osinbajo tells PDP 

•It's wishful invitation, PDP replies 

•As Oyegun calls for merit-based 

appointments 

By Omeiza Ajayi, 

Dirisu Kadiri & 

Ezra Ukanwa 

ABUJA— VICE President 

Yemi Osinbajo has called 

on leaders of the opposition 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

<strong>to</strong> make a decision <strong>to</strong> join the 

ruling All Progressives 

Congress, APC, at least before 

they die. 

Speaking at an elaborate 

dinner <strong>to</strong> round off activities 

commemorating the 80th 

birthday celebration of the 

pioneer National Chairman of 

APC, Chief John Oyegun, the 

vice president also paid 

glowing tributes <strong>to</strong> the former 

party leader. 

He said: “Let me tell the s<strong>to</strong>ry 

of a politician who was a long 

time, life Republican politician 

in the US. He was lying down 

on his sick bed and was about 

<strong>to</strong> die and he said ‘I want <strong>to</strong> 

change my party, I want <strong>to</strong> 

become a Democrat so that 

<strong>to</strong>morrow it will be announced 

that a Democrat died not a 

Republican’. 

"You can see that we 

politicians are very faithful and 

very loyal, indeed. I can only 

ask our friends in the PDP <strong>to</strong> 

also ensure that they cross 

over before they die. It is time 

for them <strong>to</strong> cross over." 

Turning <strong>to</strong> Chief Oyegun, 

the vice president said: “You 

always find him on the right 

side of his<strong>to</strong>ry, as a founding 

member of Alliance for 

Democracy AD, member of 

NADECO and secretary of 

those abroad, founding 

member of APC and the first 

chairman, the one who led our 

party <strong>to</strong> that his<strong>to</strong>ric vic<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>to</strong> 

unseat the ruling party. 

“The second reason for my 

admiration is that somehow, 

he manages <strong>to</strong> be so deep in 

the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n politics and yet 

he doesn’t even look like a 

politician or sound like one. 

He always sounds like a fine, 

well-read, well-spoken 

gentleman dragged in<strong>to</strong> 

politics by some rascals but he 

is an unassuming politician 

and an astute strategist. 

“There is this particular 

attribute of being in politics 

without being a politician. I 

would like <strong>to</strong> be like Professor 

(Ibrahim) Gambari when I 

grow up. I would like <strong>to</strong> be 

like that. You know aside from 

lawyers, I think there is no 

group of people who are 

maligned like politicians. 

‘’Every time that you come 

across the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n politician, 

there is always one way or the 

other that we are maligned but 

people like Chief Oyegun 

have shown that politicians 

can be loyal, faithful, dusting 

men and women." 

It's wishful 

invitation, PDP 

replies 

But reacting <strong>to</strong> Osinbajo’s 

tirade, yesterday, PDP in a 

statement by National 

Publicity Secretary, Kola 

Ologbondiyan, said: 

“Professor Osinbajo cannot 

comprehend the drumbeats 

playing across the nation. 

Only that can account for his 

wishful invitation <strong>to</strong> our party 

members <strong>to</strong> decamp <strong>to</strong> the 

failed APC. 

"<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns are looking 

<strong>to</strong>ward the judiciary <strong>to</strong> return 

our party’s s<strong>to</strong>len presidential 

mandate for the nation <strong>to</strong> 

come out of the woods, which 

the APC and Buhari’s 

Presidency have plunged her." 

God has been kind 

<strong>to</strong> me—Oyegun 

Addressing the gathering, 

Oyegun said: “At 80, I feel 

<strong>to</strong>tally satisfied, <strong>to</strong>tally happy 

that God has been kind <strong>to</strong> me. 

In fact, God has been partial 

<strong>to</strong>wards me, I don’t know what 

I did right. Because in my <strong>to</strong>tal 

80 years, there is nothing I 

truly set my eyes upon that I 

did not accomplish. 

‘’I have enjoyed length of 

days. I have enjoyed 

absolutely good health. I have 

worked and interacted with 

some of the nicest people in 

this country. 

“I was privileged <strong>to</strong> be part 

of forming APC. The fight for 

the coming <strong>to</strong>gether of 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s opposition parties 

has been long jettisoned before 

the advent of the APC. I have 

every reason <strong>to</strong> be thankful <strong>to</strong> 

God. I have every reason <strong>to</strong> 

be thankful <strong>to</strong> all of you who 

played one role or the other 

in making my life such a 

pleasant one." 

...calls for merit-based 

appointments 

Chief Oyegun on his part, 

expressed hope in the new 

crop of ministers assembled 

by President Muhammadu 

Buhari, describing them as the 

foundation for <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s greatness. 

He, however, called on the 

Federal Government <strong>to</strong> make 

merit a priority in appointing 

people <strong>to</strong> positions of 

authority. 

He said: “I want <strong>to</strong> 

emphasize merit. Up till now, 

we have practised the 

doctrine of balancing and all 

of that, which is very good at 

the time it was put in place. 

Fortunately <strong>to</strong>day, I doubt that 

there is any corner of this 

country that does not have 

highly qualified <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

and the time has come for 

merit <strong>to</strong> become the sole 

determinant of positioning 

and placing people. 

“Second, we embarked on 

the war against corruption. 

That is good and it has <strong>to</strong> be 

permanently featured. It is 

something that has <strong>to</strong> perforate 

thorough the state level <strong>to</strong> local 

government level. It should 

not be left for President Buhari 

alone as if it is one unusual 

man there who wants <strong>to</strong> fight 

everybody."

10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 

$16BN POWER PROJECT: 

SERAP backs EFCC’s probe 

of Obasanjo’s govt, others 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

LAGOS—THE Socio- 

Economic Rights and 

Accountability Project, 

SERAP, yesterday, backed 

the Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, <strong>to</strong> 

probe the administration of 

former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo’s $16 billion 

power project and 

administrations of past 

heads of state as well as 

other high-ranking public 

officials. 

The group said it was an 

opportunity for the EFCC, 

<strong>to</strong> show that former Heads 

of State and other highranking 

public officials are 

not immune from 

investigation and 

prosecution for allegations 

of grand corruption in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>. 

A statement by SERAP’s 

Deputy Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Mr. 

Kolawole Oluwadare, who 

described the move as 

timely, said: “This probe is 

something, which SERAP 

has consistently called for. 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns have for far <strong>to</strong>o 

long been denied justice 

and the opportunity <strong>to</strong> get 

<strong>to</strong> the bot<strong>to</strong>m of why they 

continue <strong>to</strong> pay the price for 

corruption in the electricity 

sec<strong>to</strong>r—staying in 

darkness, but still made <strong>to</strong> 

pay crazy electricity bills.” 

According <strong>to</strong> reports, the 

EFCC had begun the probe 

of the $16 billion power 

project of the 

administration of former 

President Obasanjo. While 

Direct police, navy <strong>to</strong> publish 

names of all detainees, 

Falana tells FG 

Lrights AGOS—HUMAN 

lawyer, Mr. 

Femi Falana, SAN, 

yesterday, asked the 

Federal Government <strong>to</strong> 

direct all security 

agencies in <strong>Nigeria</strong> <strong>to</strong> 

publish the names of all 

detainees and their places 

of detention. 

He also asked that the 

police and other security 

forces be prohibited from 

subjecting <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns <strong>to</strong> 

any form of 

incommunicado 

detention. 

Falana 

had 

threatened <strong>to</strong> sue the 

National Human Rights 

Commission, NHRC, for 

failing <strong>to</strong> sanction the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n navy for the 

“illegal detention of 67 

persons.” 

In a statement, he said 

family members of most of 

the detainees feel they had 

been abducted and killed 

by hardened kidnappers 

since they were arrested 

by armed and masked 

naval officials. 

He cited the case of one 

Miss Grace Inyang as a 

“pathetic” one whom he 

alleged has been in 

detention for about 295 

days without being <strong>to</strong>ld 

some put the exact cost of 

the project at $16 billion 

others say it is $13.8 billion. 

Key contrac<strong>to</strong>rs and about 

18 <strong>to</strong>p public officers 

allegedly involved in the 

power project scam during 

the 

Obasanjo 

administration, and those of 

former Presidents Umaru 

Yar’Adua and Goodluck 

Jonathan may also be 

arrested. 

SERAP said: “The probe 

is timely, especially coming 

at a time of citizens’ 

frustrations at persistent 

allegations of corruption 

and the impacts on their 

human 

rights. 

Investigating allegations of 

grand corruption and 

prosecuting former heads 

of state and other highranking 

officials where 

such allegations show 

relevant and sufficient 

admissible evidence would 

address the grave travesty 

that has for many years 

occurred in the power 

sec<strong>to</strong>r. 

“The EFCC should 

urgently invite anyone 

suspected <strong>to</strong> be involved for 

questioning. The agency 

should also expand the 

probe <strong>to</strong> cover the alleged 

squandering of a <strong>to</strong>tal of 

N11 trillion in the power 

sec<strong>to</strong>r between 1999 and 

2015, and the unresolved 

case of the reported 

missing $12.4 billion oil 

windfall, allegedly spent 

between 1988 and 1993 

by the government of 

former Military President, 

Gen. 

Babangida.” 

Ibrahim 

the criminal offence she 

committed or allowed <strong>to</strong> 

contact her relatives. 

Falana said: “Last week, 

we submitted a petition <strong>to</strong> 

the National Human 

Rights Commission 

wherein we complained 

about the illegal and 

prolonged detention of 67 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns by the 

authorities of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

Navy. 

“Following the 

publication of the contents 

of the said petition by the 

media, a number of the 

family members and 

friends of the majority of 

the detainees have 

reached out <strong>to</strong> us. 

“Since the detainees 

were arrested by armed 

and masked naval 

personnel in mufti 

without any warrant of 

arrest and incarcerated 

incommunicado it was 

thought by many family 

members that the 

detainees had been 

abducted and killed by 

hardened kidnappers. 

“The most pathetic case 

is that of Ms. Grace 

Inyang who was arrested 

in Port Harcourt, Rivers 

State by masked naval 

personnel on Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 

27, 2018." 

BIRTHDAY: From left; Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; 

celebrant, Sena<strong>to</strong>r Anthony Adefuye; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and officiating Ministers during the 

75th birthday thanksgiving service of Sena<strong>to</strong>r Adefuye at the St. Denis Catholic Church, Akoka, Lagos, yesterday.. 

2019 PRESIDENTIAL POLL: Why Atiku was 

not declared winner, INEC tells tribunal 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

A Independent 

BUJA—THE 

National Elec<strong>to</strong>ral 

Commission, INEC, has 

revealed before the 

Presidential Election 

Petition Tribunal sitting in 

Abuja, why candidate of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, Alhaji Atiku 

Abubakar, was not declared 

the winner of the last 

presidential election. 

The elec<strong>to</strong>ral body said it 

was satisfied that Atiku did 

not secure a majority of 

lawful votes during the 

election, even as it denied 

the allegation that votes 

were illegally awarded <strong>to</strong> 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, <strong>to</strong> ensure that 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari was re-elected for a 

second term. 

In a final written address 

it filed before the Justice 

Mohammed Garba-led 

five-member panel 

tribunal, INEC, through its 

team of lawyers led by Mr. 

Yunus Usman, SAN, 

sought the dismissal of the 

petition Atiku and PDP 

lodged <strong>to</strong> query the 

outcome of the February 23 

Presidential election, 

insisting that the petitioners 

failed <strong>to</strong> justify why a fresh 

election should be 

conducted. 

It <strong>to</strong>ld the tribunal that 

from collated results of the 

presidential election that 

was announced on 

February 27, President 

Buhari, scored the majority 

of lawful votes cast and got 

not less than one quarter 

in each of at least two-thirds 

in the 36 states of the 

Federation and the Federal 

Capital Terri<strong>to</strong>ry, FCT. 

INEC maintained that 

Atiku’s claim that it 

unlawfully awarded votes 

<strong>to</strong> Buhari in some states, is 

a criminal allegation, ought 

<strong>to</strong> be proved beyond a 

reasonable doubt. 

It said: “We refer <strong>to</strong> the 

•Says PDP failed <strong>to</strong> challenge Buhari's eligibility in court 

relevant paragraphs of the 

petition where the 

petitioners made the 

sundry allegations of 

deliberate wrong entry/ 

falsification of election 

results by the 1st 

Respondent. 

“It can be gleaned that 

nothing concrete or specific 

has been offered by the 

Petitioners in this regard. 

“For example, the 

petitioners pleaded wrong 

and deliberate entry of 

wrong results by the 1st 

Respondent in 11 states of 

the country, namely: Borno, 

Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, 

Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, 

Katsina, Kebbi, Niger and 

the Zamfara States. 

“Thereafter, the 

petitioners proceeded <strong>to</strong> 

break down the allegation 

State by State. 

“However, a cursory 

appraisal of paragraph 

155(4) of the petition 

dealing with this allegation 

of ‘posting wrong results’ <strong>to</strong> 

the non-existent 1st 

Respondent’s server and 

not the wrongful entry of 

the results in the physical/ 

manual Form EC8 series. 

PDP's failure <strong>to</strong> call 

witnesses 

“The most as<strong>to</strong>nishing 

part is that the petitioners 

failed <strong>to</strong> call witnesses who 

were at the various Units <strong>to</strong> 

observe these various 

alleged anomalies. 

“We submit that 

allegations bordering on 

alleged wrong entry/ 

falsification of election result 

are criminal and must be 

proved beyond a reasonable 

doubt. 

“Furthermore, under 

section 150(1) of the 

Evidence Act, the results 

declared by the 1st 

Respondent enjoy a 

presumption of regularity. 

Accordingly, the petitioners 

herein are duty-bound <strong>to</strong> 

rebut this presumption with 

credible evidence.” 

On Atiku’s allegation that 

cancellation of election <strong>to</strong>ok 

place in 4,171 polling units 

across the country with a 

<strong>to</strong>tal of 2, 906,384 registered 

voters affected, INEC, 

argued that he failed <strong>to</strong> by 

way of credible evidence, 

show how the number of 

votes canceled affected the 

election. 

Proving every allegation 

It said: “We submit that it 

is trite law that not only is 

the petitioner duty-bound <strong>to</strong> 

prove every allegation on 

non-compliance; he is also 

expected <strong>to</strong> prove that such 

non-compliance 

substantially affected the 

result of the election. See 

BUHARI V OBASANJO 

(supra), NYESOM WIKE V 

DAKUKU &ORS (supra). 

“We humbly submit from 

the foregoing that the 

petitioners have failed <strong>to</strong> 

prove the allegation of noncompliance 

with the 

Elec<strong>to</strong>ral Act, and indeed 

every other allegation 

contained in the petition. 

The petition, therefore, lacks 

merit and should be thrown 

out on this point and this 

honourable court is urged 

so <strong>to</strong> do. 

“In the instant petition, 

the petitioners called 62 

witnesses in proof of their 

petition. Only 5 were 

polling agents, while 5 were 

Assistant Presiding Officers, 

who incidentally had no 

problem with the conduct of 

the election but only came 

<strong>to</strong> assert that they 

transmitted the election 

result <strong>to</strong> a fictitious and nonexistent 

server. 

“The rest of the witnesses 

called are Ward, Local 

Government, State or 

National Collation Agents. 

And the petitioner aims <strong>to</strong> 

use them <strong>to</strong> prove 

allegations of noncompliance 

with the 

Elec<strong>to</strong>ral Act during the 

Presidential Elections in 36 

States of the Federation and 

the FCT Abuja. What a 

mission impossible.” 

It faulted the petitioners 

for failing <strong>to</strong> call Polling 

Agents <strong>to</strong> testify before the 

tribunal, noting that 

alleged improper 

accreditation, nonauthentication 

of results, 

over-voting, inflation and 

deflating of votes and 

wrong entries in Form 

EC8A, non-counting of 

ballot papers, nonannouncement 

of scores of 

candidates and alteration of 

results, “undoubtedly 

occurred at the Polling Units 

or voting points and may 

only be observed at the 

respecting Polling Units 

where the infractions 

supposedly <strong>to</strong>ok place. 

“The eyes of the parties 

and candidates in an 

election at the Polling Unit 

are their respective agents 

and voters who were 

present <strong>to</strong> cast their votes. 

Consequently, in calling 

witnesses in proof of these 

allegations, these classes of 

individuals are 

indispensable. 

“Taking a rational, 

reasonable and critical 

examination and 

assessment of the evidence 

placed before this honorable 

court, one cannot but 

submit most humbly that 

the elements of the 

allegations of corrupt 

practices against the 1st, 

2nd, and 3rd Respondents 

have not been proved at all 

talk less of proof beyond a 

reasonable doubt.” 

INEC argued that the 

petitioners, by claiming 

that they defeated President 

Buhari with over 1.6m 

votes based on data they 

obtained “from a strange 

w e b s i t e 

called www.factsdontlieng.com”, 

merely attempted <strong>to</strong> send 

the tribunal on “a voyage 

of speculation and 

discovery without 

supporting their case with 

relevant evidence.”


:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

COMMISSIONING: From right — Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r Fatgbems Group, Alhaji Hassan Gbemisola, Immediate 

past Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Prince Suraj Adekunbi, Chief of Staff <strong>to</strong> Ogun State Governor, 

Alhaji Shuaib Salis, Alake of Egba Land, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Mother of the Day, Alhaja Ramota Gbemisola, 

Chairman Fatgbems Group, Alhaji Kabir Gbemisola and the Aare Baroyin of Egba Land, High Chief Lai Labode 

at the official commissioning of Fatgbems Petroleum New Mega Retail Station in Abeokuta, Ogun State. 

Violence erupts in Ondo community 

over upgrade of monarch 

•Approval was done 12 years ago — Govt 

By Dayo Johnson 

A 

K U R E — 

VIOLENCE 

broke out at the weekend 

in Abo<strong>to</strong> community in Ilaje 

council area of Ondo State 

over the upgrading of a 

monarch, the Alaboyo of 

Aboti, Oba Behiah Idiogbe 

by the Ondo state 

government. 

Vanguard gathered that 

residents of the community 

have fled the area as youths 

went on rampage <strong>to</strong> protest 

the upgrade. 

It was also gathered that 

the upgrading led <strong>to</strong> 

burning of houses and 

government projects. 

The rampaging youths in 

the community have been 

protesting the monarch’s 

upgrade, who they 

alleged, is not an indigene 

of the community. 

They threatened <strong>to</strong> blow 

up the bridge linking the 

community <strong>to</strong> other parts of 

the state if the decision is 

not reversed by the state 

government. 

The State Executive 

Council had announced 

the upgrade of Chief 

Beniah Adeola Idiogbe 

from Oloja of Abo<strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong> 

Alabo<strong>to</strong> of Abo<strong>to</strong>. 

Confirming the violence, 

the lawyer <strong>to</strong> Abo<strong>to</strong> 

community, Mr. Idowu 

Mafimisebi, said the 

administration of late 

Olusegun Agagu in 2007 

erroneously announced the 

approval of Idiogbe as the 

Alabo<strong>to</strong> which led <strong>to</strong> a 

bloody crisis and the death 

of some persons, while 

houses were razed in the 

community. 

In a statement on behalf 

of the community, 

Mafimisebi alleged that 

many indigenes of the 

<strong>to</strong>wn have fled when the 

announcement was made. 

The statement reads: “It 

is an anathema that a 

government led by a Senior 

Advocate of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, SAN, 

had <strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>w the line of 

wrongful decision of a 

previous government made 

12 years ago which was 

reversed consequently after 

loss of lives and properties. 

“ A l t h o u g h 

correspondences have 

been sent <strong>to</strong> the present 

government through a 

letter dated July 8 and 

another one on August 14 

<strong>to</strong> the effect that selection 

have been done for our 

client, while the 

commissioner for local 

government and 

Chieftaincy affairs, 

At<strong>to</strong>rney-General and Ilaje 

local government chairman 

affirmed that the selection 

of Prince Oyetayo Ofoaye 

was done in accordance 

with the Chieftaincy law of 

Ondo State. 

“The Amapetu of Mahin 

who has been restrained by 

Ilaje District Council and a 

court of competent 

jurisdiction since 1957 from 

meddling with Abo<strong>to</strong> land 

not being a community 

under him cannot make a 

person an Oloja over such 

a community, and it is 

therefore impossible <strong>to</strong> 

upgrade a person made an 

Oloja through an 

incompetent authority.” 

Approval was done 12 

years ago — Govt 

But in his reaction, the 

Commissioner for 

Information, Donald Ojogo 

said the request for the 

upgrade had been 

approved by the State 

Executive Council 12 years 

ago, adding that the 

present government came 

in and decided <strong>to</strong> effect the 

upgrade. 

Ojogo said: “The process 

is what we met on ground 

and government felt justice 

must be served. It is not a 

fresh process; the State 

Executive Council gave 

approval for Alabo<strong>to</strong>’s 

elevation since 2007 but 

was not effected by 

previous administration.” 

Bill <strong>to</strong> empower AIB investigate road, rail, marine accidents before 

Senate — COMMISSIONER 

L AGOS—THE 

A c c i d e n t 

Investigation Bureau, AIB, 

yesterday, disclosed that a 

bill <strong>to</strong> empower the bureau 

<strong>to</strong> investigate rail, road and 

marine accidents and 

serious incidents is 

currently before the Senate. 

AIB’s Commissioner, Mr. 

Akin Olateru, confirmed the 

development <strong>to</strong> newsmen 

in Lagos. 

Olateru noted that the 

Federal Executive Council 

had approved its 

proposal for the new draft 

bill of AIB, adding that 

the bill was on the table 

at the upper chamber 

before the Senate went on 

recess. 

He said: “We are 

currently working on the 

possibility and the approval 

by the National Assembly 

of AIB going multimodal in 

our operations. 

“Going multimodal 

means we are not just 

going <strong>to</strong> be investigating air 

accidents alone but we will 

Obasanjo warns Ogun 

monarchs against 

bickering, rivalry 

By Daud Olatunji 

A F BEOKUTA— 

O R M E R 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo, yesterday, 

warned traditional rulers 

in Ogun State <strong>to</strong> steer 

clear of age-long bickering 

and rivalry among 

themselves for the sake of 

peace and development in 

the state. 

The former president 

stated this at the coronation 

ceremony of Agura of 

Gbaguraland, Oba Saburee 

Bakre in Abeokuta. 

He admonished the new 

monarch not join old issues 

with Alake and other Obas 

in that land. 

He asked Agura deploy 

his wealth of experience <strong>to</strong> 

further unite Obas in the 

land as peace and unity are 

mostly needed in the 

country at this trying 

period. 

He said: “Don’t listen <strong>to</strong> 

bad advisers on Agura, 

ensure that everyone comes 

<strong>to</strong>gether so that they can be 

development in Egbaland. 

All of you should work 

<strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong> achieve 

development. You all need 

<strong>to</strong> support government for 

socio-economic 

2020: Ondo Deputy gov denies plan <strong>to</strong> join PDP 

By Dayo Johnson 

A Deputy KURE—THE 

Governor of 

Ondo State, Mr. Agboola 

Ajayi, weekend, denied 

plans <strong>to</strong> dump the All 


APC, for the People’s 

Democratic Party, PDP, <strong>to</strong> 

contest the 2020 

governorship election 

against Governor Rotimi 

Akeredolu. 

Ajayi, in a statement in 

be investigating rail, marine 

and road accidents. 

“We will be joining other 

nations around the world 

who operate the multimodal 

system. 

“Hopefully, before the 

end of this year, this bill 

will be passed and that will 

make AIB <strong>Nigeria</strong> one of the 

<strong>to</strong>p nations that operate 

multimodal system.” 

Akure, said he remained “as 

the Deputy Governor and 

loyal <strong>to</strong> his boss, Akeredolu. 

This is <strong>to</strong> say emphatically 

that Hon Agboola Ajayi has 

no intention <strong>to</strong> contest 

against his boss.” 

The statement by his 

Deputy Chief Press 

Secretary, Baba<strong>to</strong>pe 

Okeowo said: “He was 

chosen as the Deputy 

Governor at the benevolent 

of Governor Akeredolu. 

“The Deputy Governor is 

By Adeola Badru 

I 

B A D A N — 

CHAIRMAN of the 

Association of Local 

Governments of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, 

ALGON, in Oyo State, Mr. 

Ayodeji Abass-Aleshiloye 

has accused Governor Seyi 

Makinde of borrowing 

over N1 billion monthly <strong>to</strong> 

pay council workers since 

June. 

Responding <strong>to</strong> the June 

1 deadline for governors by 

the <strong>Nigeria</strong> Financial 

Intelligence Unit, NFIU, <strong>to</strong> 

allow councils access funds 

from the federation account 

without interference, 

Abass-Aleshinloye said: “I 

don’t think they have been 

following it. In the State/ 

Councils Joint Account, no 

transaction should occur 

without the primary owner 

which is the democratically 

elected officials.” 

He said: “I believe no 

transaction has occurred in 

the State Joint Allocation 

unperturbed by this 

sponsored s<strong>to</strong>ry and the 

ones before it as these are 

the handiwork of attention 

and job seekers. These 

funny characters are well 

known within the political 

circle in the Ondo State. 

“This is <strong>to</strong> say that this is a 

blatant falsehood as Hon 

Agboola Ajayi remains a 

bonafide member of the APC 

and has no plan <strong>to</strong> dump 

the party for any rival 

political party.'' 

development. You must all 

join hands <strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong> 

ensure community 

development because your 

support will help 

government <strong>to</strong> develop the 

state.” 

He also urged the new 

monarch <strong>to</strong> work 

tirelessly and assiduously 

<strong>to</strong> move Gbagura and 

Egbaland forward in the 

comity of <strong>to</strong>wns and cities 

in the state. 

He said: “I congratulate 

you for the success of <strong>to</strong>day, 

you will be long on the 

throne and your reign will 

be the beginning of new 

things in Gbaguraland. 

“Kabiyesi, you have a lot 

of work <strong>to</strong> do in 

Gbaguraland and Abeokuta 

as a whole. Our traditional 

rulers are not united and 

you do not have bad 

baggage because as you 

are coming, your hands are 

pure, you must ensure that 

everything about you is 

pure. 

“Kabiyesi, don’t let 

anybody tell you that they 

don’t do it this way, if you 

want <strong>to</strong> ensure that your 

reign brings peace and 

development <strong>to</strong> 

Gbagura, you may have 

<strong>to</strong> act out of the box.'' 

Makinde borrows over N1bn 

monthly <strong>to</strong> pay LG salaries, 

Oyo ALGON boss alleges 

•There’s no iota of truth — Govt 

Committee otherwise called 

JAC since we left office 

because they refused <strong>to</strong> 

recognise chairmen <strong>to</strong> work 

with; there is no way even 

if that money goes <strong>to</strong> 

councils, they can’t have 

access <strong>to</strong> it.” 

On how salaries have 

been paid till date, 

Alesinloye said: “I learned 

they have been borrowing 

money <strong>to</strong> pay because they 

don’t want anything 

negative <strong>to</strong> happen <strong>to</strong> their 

government.” 

“So, they have been 

rallying round <strong>to</strong> source for 

money <strong>to</strong> pay local 

government workers. 

“There is no way they can 

access the money coming 

from Abuja <strong>to</strong> local 

governments for now. We 

have written letters <strong>to</strong> the 

banks and I am sure the 

banks have not been 

honouring their cheques. 

They (Oyo government) 

don’t have access <strong>to</strong> the 

money.” 

It’s not true — Oyo govt 

Responding <strong>to</strong> the 

allegations, the Chief Press 

Secretary <strong>to</strong> Governor 

Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa 

said there was no iota of 

truth in the claim by 

Alesinloye, adding that the 

NFIU had been dragged <strong>to</strong> 

court. 

Adisa said: “The <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

Governors Forum <strong>to</strong>ok that 

matter <strong>to</strong> court. As far as the 

matter is in court, the status 

quo remains. Each state 

can now design how it 

manages its local 

governments.”


REMITA CUP 

TOURNEY— 

From left: 

Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Quest 

Thorpe, Mr. 

Seun Badejo; 

COO, 

MediaVision 

Limited, Mr. 

Jimmy 

Sogbesan; ED, 

SystemSpecs, 

owners of 

Remita, Mr. 

Deremi Atanda, 

and 

Tournament 

Ambassador, 

Remita 

Corporate 

Champions 

Cup (RC3), Mr. 

Peter Rufai, at 

the opening 

ceremony of 

2019 RC3, in 

Lagos, 

yesterday. 

Curb herdsmen menace now, Okowa 

•Warns against irregular migration, child-trafficking 

tells FG 

By Festus Ahon 

& Theresa 

Ugbobu 

ASABA—WORRIED by 

the havoc being wrecked 

by the ravaging killer 

herdsmen in <strong>Nigeria</strong>, 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of 

Delta State, weekend, <strong>to</strong>ld 

the Federal Government <strong>to</strong> 

take urgent strident 

measures <strong>to</strong> curb the 

menace. 

Okowa, who spoke at the 

21st Ogwa Ika and 17th Ika 

Ka Mma Annual Lecture 

Series organised by Onu Ika 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> at Abavo, Ika South 

Local Government Area of 

the state, decried the 

protracted clashes between 

herdsmen and farmers in the 

country. 

He said his administration 

was doing its best <strong>to</strong> check 

the havoc being wrecked by 

herdsmen on famers in the 

state through interface with 

critical stakeholders. 

Lamenting that his efforts 

had been restrained by his 

limited control of security 

apparatus, Okowa frowned 

at the frequent loss of lives 

from herdsmen attack on 

defenceless farmers and 

other <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns. 

Insisting that the Federal 

Government must curb the 

menace, the governor 

urged the Federal 

Government <strong>to</strong> tell <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

the steps it had taken <strong>to</strong> stem 

the ugly trend. 

Warns against 

irregular 

migration, child 

trafficking 

Okowa also charged 

parents and caregivers <strong>to</strong> 

live up <strong>to</strong> their responsibility 

by warning their children 

and wards against irregular 

migration in a bid <strong>to</strong> seek 

greener pastures in foreign 

countries. 

Frowning at the increase 

in child-trafficking cases, he 

<strong>to</strong>ld them <strong>to</strong> restrain their 

children from embarking on 

such dangerous journeys. 

Okowa condemned the 

situation where parents 

mount undue pressure on 

their children and wards <strong>to</strong> 

embark on journeys <strong>to</strong> 

Europe through the desert, 

lamenting that the lives of 

many promising <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

had been lost in the process. 

He commended Onu Ika 

for organising the annual 

essay competition for 

secondary schools in 

Ikaland, enjoined the people 

<strong>to</strong> encourage government <strong>to</strong> 

carry out development 

projects through the 

donation of land. 

Speaking earlier, the 

Head, Collective 

Leadership, Onu Ika 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>, Mr Daniel Usifor, 

said: “For three consecutive 

years, Onu Ika has 

consistently forewarned of 

the devastating influx of 

these deadly herdsmen in 

our communities." 

Ogoni clean-up: ERA insists on establishment of 

$100bn Rehabilitation Fund for N-Delta 

A 

B 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

U J A — 

Environmental 

Rights Action/Friends of the 

Earth <strong>Nigeria</strong>, ERA/FoEN 

has, insisted that the Federal 

Government should establish 

$100 billion Rehabilitation 

Fund for Niger Delta because 

of the environmental 

pollution in the area. 

The group also decried that 

eight years after the United 

Nations Environmental 

Programme, UNEP, 

submitted its report on 

Environmental Assessment of 

Ogoniland <strong>to</strong> the Federal 

Government for the clean-up 

of Ogoniland, government 

had allegedly engaged 

inexperienced contrac<strong>to</strong>rs 

who lack the expertise <strong>to</strong> carry 

out the exercise. 

Executive Direc<strong>to</strong>r of ERA/ 

FoEN, Dr. Godwin Ojo, at an 

interaction with Vanguard in 

Abuja, said Hydrocarbon 

Pollution Res<strong>to</strong>ration Project, 

HYPREP, had deviated from 

the UNEP recommendations, 

adding that HPPREP lacked 

the capacity <strong>to</strong> undertake the 

clean-up and remediation. 

Calling on the Federal 

Government and Shell 

Petroleum Development 

Company <strong>to</strong> ensure speedy 

recovery of the environment 

and sources of livelihood of 

the Ogoni people, Ojo said 

there was fundamental 

deviation by HYPREP from 

UNEP clean-up 

recommendations in terms of 

process and content, which 

had made the process unsure, 

tentative and suspect despite 

the fact that some clean-up 

had started. 

He said: “Eight years after 

the release of the UNEP 

Assessment on Ogoniland, 

the Environmental Rights 

Action/Friends of the Earth 

has decried the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

government lip-service <strong>to</strong> the 

clean-up and lack of clarity in 

the process after four years of 


Buhari administration. 

“At the inception of this 

administration in 2015, 

President Buhari also 

promised <strong>to</strong> implement the 

report <strong>to</strong> the letter and went 

forward <strong>to</strong> even pledge $10 

million as take off grant. 

Although $177 million had 

been released for the cleanup 

since 2018, HYPREP lacks 

the capacity <strong>to</strong> <strong>spend</strong> as has 

no feasible workplan for the 

funds received." 

Uwelu market fire: Group 

lampoons Obaseki over fire 

fighting service 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN CITY—FEW 

days after mo<strong>to</strong>r spare 

part sellers at Uwelu market 

in Edo State lost millions of 

naira wotth of goods <strong>to</strong> a 

midnight fire, a group, 

Coalition for Good 

Governance and Economic 

Justice in <strong>Nigeria</strong>, CGGEJ, 

yesterday, said the inability 

of the Governor Goodwin 

Obaseki administration <strong>to</strong> 

equip the state’s fire service 

contributed <strong>to</strong> the huge loss 

suffered by the traders 

A statement by the group’s 

Country Direc<strong>to</strong>r, John 

Mayaki, said it was 

embarrassing that the state 

government would wait for 

such a monumental disaster 

before thinking of how <strong>to</strong> 

revamp the state fire service 

It will be recalled that the 

state Commissioner for Youth 

and Special Duties, Damian 

Lawani, <strong>to</strong>ok a <strong>to</strong>ur of fire 

fighting stations and 

equipment for on the spot 

assessment of fire stations and 

admitted that there were 

faulty vehicles and outdated 

fire fighting equipment. 

He had said: “The process 

of fixing the fire vehicles is 

ongoing and will be 

completed within the shortest 

possible time. The Edo State 

Fire Service Stations will be 

armed with the necessary 

working <strong>to</strong>ols especially as 

we approach the dry season.” 

But Mayaki said Lawani's 

statement was a sign of the 

insensitivity of the Obaseki 

administration <strong>to</strong> the welfare 

of the people. 

He said “The fact that this 

inspection that is at least three 

years late and is coming after 

no fewer than five major fire 

outbreaks in Benin City and 

beyond that claimed lives and 

property, is described by the 

government as 'proactive' is 

not only comically silly, but 

an insult on the sensibilities 

of all well-thinking citizens of 

Edo State." 

Bayelsa 2019: APC chieftain 

calls on EFCC <strong>to</strong> probe former 

C-River REC 

By Emmaneul 

Una 

C Progressives 

ALABAR—All 

Congress, APC, chieftain 

and former chairman of Inter 

Party Advisory Council, 

IPAC, in Cross River State, 

Mr Godie Akpama, has lent 

his voice <strong>to</strong> calls for 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, 

and Independent Corrupt 

Practices Commission, 

ICPC, <strong>to</strong> probe former 

Resident Elec<strong>to</strong>ral 

Commissioner in the state, 

Dr Frankland Briyai, on 

what he called his 

controversial resignation. 

Akpama in a statement, 

weekend, said investigating 

the activities of Briyai would 

determine if he corruptly 

enriched himself while 

functioning as Elec<strong>to</strong>ral 

Commissioner and wants <strong>to</strong> 

use such proceeds <strong>to</strong> 

manipulate the 

governorship election in 

Bayelsa State in his favour. 

He said: “Briyai is a man 

Diri Vs Daumiebi: A-Court 

orders Bayelsa election 

tribunal <strong>to</strong> re-try 

By Emem Idio 

Y Court ENAGOA—THE 

of Appeal sitting 

in Abuja has directed the 

Bayelsa State Election 

Petition Tribunal <strong>to</strong> 

immediately resume trial on 

the petition by All 


APC, and its candidate for 

Bayelsa Central sena<strong>to</strong>rial 

district in the 2019 general 

election, Mr. Festus 

Daumiebi. 

It will be recalled that the 

APC candidate petition had 

earlier been dismissed by 

the tribunal on technical 

grounds. 

Dissatisfied with the ruling 

whose activities as REC in 

Cross River State are well 

known and so I join the 

national chairman of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, 

<strong>to</strong> call for his probe <strong>to</strong> avoid 

setting a dangerous 

precedent for other elec<strong>to</strong>ral 

officials <strong>to</strong> follow. 

“This is a man who 

excluded APC from the last 

election in the state and now 

he wants <strong>to</strong> contest election 

on its platform, apparently 

he seeks <strong>to</strong> hide his activities 

against the party. 

"He is telling us that he is 

under pressure from his 

people <strong>to</strong> contest the 

election, hence his 

declaration <strong>to</strong> contest under 

APC and if I may ask, where 

were his people when he 

announced the results for the 

House of Representatives 

election in favour of PDP with 

just 9,000 votes out of 150,000 

voters and Etung did not 

vote?" 

When contacted, Briyai 

said he has rights like any 

other <strong>Nigeria</strong>n <strong>to</strong> contest for 

any elective position under 

any party of his choice. 

Youths urged <strong>to</strong> embrace hard 

work, shun get rich quick 

syndrome 

By Jimi<strong>to</strong>ta 

Onoyume 

WFederal ARRI—PROVOST, 

College of 

Education (Technical), 

Asaba, Delta State, Dr 

Josephine Okeakwa, has 

enjoined youths <strong>to</strong> shun 

cultism and the unhealthy 

drive <strong>to</strong> get rich quickly by 

all means. 

Okeakwa at an event <strong>to</strong> 

commemorate the 2019 

International Youth Day 

organised by Asaba 

Development Union 

Worldwide, said the get rich 

quick syndrome had not 

done those who indulged in 

it any good. 

Dr Amos Obi, a 

representative of United 

Nations and member of the 

Global Innova<strong>to</strong>rs for 

Sustainable Development 

Goals, SDG 4, who also spoke 

at the event said 150 youths 

from Asaba would be trained 

in various skill acquisition 

programme for free by the 

United Nations in 

collaboration with 

philanthropists of Asaba 

origin. 

He said they would be 

trained in various areas 

ranging from revolutionised 

digital transformative 

education, film production/ 

acting, computer 

appreciation/engineering, at 

the Asaba vocational centre. 

“Transforming Education"is 

the theme of this year’s 

International Youth Day and 

for education <strong>to</strong> be accessible, 

affordable and inclusive even 

<strong>to</strong> the handicapped, there 

should be a paradigm shift 

from the conventional 

classroom teaching <strong>to</strong> digital 

education where people can 

learn, work and earn a living 

simultaneously from the 

comfort of their homes." 

of the tribunal, APC and its 

candidate appealed <strong>to</strong> the 

Court of Appeal, praying it 

<strong>to</strong> set aside the ruling of the 

tribunal and mandate it <strong>to</strong> retry 

the petition on its merits. 

Delivering judgment on 

the appeal on Friday, the 

Court of Appeal held that the 

purported technical grounds 

upon which the petitioners/ 

appellants petition was 

dismissed at the tribunal 

were unknown <strong>to</strong> law and 

therefore, directed the 

tribunal <strong>to</strong> resume trial on the 

petition of Daumiebi with 

immediate effect and 

conclude it within the 

stipulated time by the 

Elec<strong>to</strong>ral Act.


TIV/JUKUN CRISIS: A 

disgrace, shame <strong>to</strong> 

two-sister ethnic groups 

—Mdzough U Tiv 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI— 

UMBRELLA 

body of the Tiv tribe in 

the country, the 

Mdzough U Tiv, MUT, 

has expressed sadness 

over the lingering 

conflict between the Tivs 

and Jukuns in Taraba 

State, describing it as a 

disgrace and shame <strong>to</strong> 

the long standing 

relationship between the 

two neighbouring ethnic 

groups. 

President General of 

MUT Chief Edward 

Ujege and Secretary 

General, Boniface 

Ukende, in a statement 

in Makurdi regretted 

that “the conflict which 

started months back in 

Abinse, Guma Local 

Government, LGA, <strong>to</strong> 

Ukum LGA all of Benue 

State has extended in<strong>to</strong> 

Taraba State. This conflict 

is unnecessary, uncalled 

for and a disgrace <strong>to</strong> the 

longstanding cordial 

relationship between the 

two ethnic groups who 

have lived peacefully 

<strong>to</strong>gether in the past as 

brothers and sisters. 

These conflicts are 

enemies of the progress 

which our people clearly 

need in this hour of 

numerous external 

challenges in <strong>Nigeria</strong>. 

“MUT hereby calls on 

all parties <strong>to</strong> immediately 

cease hostility and 

embrace peace. 

Furthermore we call on 

the traditional rulers on 

both divide <strong>to</strong> wade in<strong>to</strong> 

the crisis and direct their 

subjects <strong>to</strong> maintain 

peace so that our people 

can resume their normal 

farming now that we 

have rains. To the 

government of Taraba 


By Demola 

Akinyemi 

WINNERS—From left: Winner of Mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle, Kamilu Audu; Deputy Regional Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Lagos/ 

Ogun, Dangote Cement Plc., Desmond Aregbesola; Head, Route <strong>to</strong> Market, Dangote Cement 

Plc., Olukayode Akin-Bamidele; star prize winner, Godwin Godday; Regional Direc<strong>to</strong>r, 

Lagos/Ogun, Dangote Cement Plc., Tunde Mabogunje, and winner of Tricycle, Akin<strong>to</strong>ye 

Oluwagbemiga, during prizes’ presentation in Ikorodu, Lagos State, weekend. 

Kwara govt begs flood prone 

communities <strong>to</strong> relocate 

ILORIN—THE Kwara 

State Government has 

appealed <strong>to</strong> residents of the 

state <strong>to</strong> heed the recent 

flood alerts which predicted 

heavy flooding in parts of 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>, following the 

steady rise in water levels 

in River Niger. 

Permanent Secretary in 

the Ministry of 

Environment, Amosa 

Isiaka Al-Amin, said at a 

briefing, yesterday, in 

Ilorin, that Governor 

AbdulRahman 

AbdulRazaq, had directed 

that proper enlightenment 

be done and other 

preventive steps taken <strong>to</strong> 

ensure Kwarans did not fall 

victims of flooding. 

He said, “Kwara State 

falls within this axis and 

this administration felt 

compelled <strong>to</strong> officially alert 

the people <strong>to</strong> this 

development and <strong>to</strong> appeal 

<strong>to</strong> Kwarans <strong>to</strong> cooperate 

with the state government 

on the various measures <strong>to</strong> 

mitigate the effects of what 

is often a combination of 

natural phenomenon, 

human activities and failure 

<strong>to</strong> heed warnings. The 

Kwara State Government 

led by Governor 

AbdulRahman 

AbdulRazaq, hereby 

appeals <strong>to</strong> communities 

located in and near flood 

plains and other vulnerable 

areas <strong>to</strong> relocate <strong>to</strong> safer 

locations. 

“Identified communities 

in Edu local government 

areas such as Iyeluwa, 

Belle Gbako, Liptata, 

Edogi, Chewuru are 

specifically advised <strong>to</strong> 

relocate <strong>to</strong> safer places for 

Reps probe alleged employment 

racketeering in Fed govt agencies 

By Demola 

Akinyemi 

ILORIN—HOUSE of 

Representatives has set 

up an Ad-hoc committee <strong>to</strong> 

investigate alleged 

employment racketeering 

by government officials in 

federal parastatals, 

ministries ,departments 

and other agencies where 

less privileged and 

unemployed <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns are 

allegedly denied 

opportunities <strong>to</strong> secure 

employments. 

Among the affected 

MDAs include Cus<strong>to</strong>ms, 

Civil defence corps, Federal 

Roads Safety Corps, FRSC, 

Immigration and Prisons 

service . 

A member of the ad-hoc 

committee , representing 

Ilorin East/Ilorin South 

Federal constituency 

Abdulganiyu Olododo, 

gave the hint in Ilorin, 

and Benue State, we 

want <strong>to</strong> appeal that the 

governors mobilize 

sufficient security <strong>to</strong> 

control the crisis and 

find a lasting solution <strong>to</strong> 

it. 

“In addition, for long 

lasting peace <strong>to</strong> prevail, 

it is our candid advice 

that the Tiv community 

whose ances<strong>to</strong>rs had 

lived in Taraba State time 

immemorial be 

recognised and 

integrated in<strong>to</strong> the 

traditional ruling 

authority of the state and 

they should also be 

accorded all rights as 

enshrined in the <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

constitution.” 

Kwara State, after donating 

N200,000 <strong>to</strong>wards the 

completion of the 

installation of transformer 

<strong>to</strong> the people of Were/ 

Idigba/Idi-Ogede 

Akerebiata community in 

Ilorin East local 

government area of the 

state. 

The people of the 

community have been in 

darkness for the past few 

months due <strong>to</strong> a faulty 

transformer in the area 

donated <strong>to</strong> them by last 

administration. 

Olododo said: “The 

members of House of 

Representatives are 

disturbed by the trends of 

alleged malpractices and, 

therefore, set up an ad-hoc 

committee <strong>to</strong> investigate 

the allegation <strong>to</strong> correct the 

trend in the overall benefits 

of unemployed <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns. 

We have already started 

working and the 

revelations are mind 

boggling. Anyone found 

guilty would be made <strong>to</strong> 

face the full wrath of the law. 

The essence of governance 

is <strong>to</strong> make life bearable <strong>to</strong> 

the youths and not <strong>to</strong> 

compound their problems. 

The administration of 


Buhari believes in good 

governance and would not 

be part of any move <strong>to</strong> add 

problems <strong>to</strong> the people of 

the country, especially the 

teeming unemployed 

youths.” 

On the financial support 

<strong>to</strong> the installation of 

transformer <strong>to</strong> the Were/ 

Idigba/Idi-Ogede 

community, the lawmaker 

said the support was his 

promise made during his 

electioneering campaign <strong>to</strong> 

the community during the 

last general elections in the 

state. 

a while. Communities in 

Jebba and Bacita are also 

urged <strong>to</strong> take this very 

seriously for safety reasons. 

Farming along riverine 

areas should be 

discouraged for now. 

Resettlement centres 

located at Godiwaji in 

Patigi constructed by the 

Federal Government could 

be a safer place during this 

period. 

“Residents of 

communities in Kwara 

Central like Isale Koko, 

Dumon, and Abata 

Sunkere, among others, are 

advised <strong>to</strong> heed this 

warning. Government 

urges residents of the state 

<strong>to</strong> avoid dumping of wastes 

in<strong>to</strong> river channels or 

drains <strong>to</strong> allow for easy flow 

of water, while illegal 

structures along water 

ways should be 

demolished.” 

The government 

explained that flood 

incidents were often due <strong>to</strong> 

intensity of rainfall and 

rains<strong>to</strong>rm, blockage of 

drainage system, poor 

urban planning resulting in 

erection of structures within 

the flood plains and water 

ways, river flooding, as well 

as coastal flooding. 

He said while nobody 

could be blamed for the 

natural phenomena that 

might cause flooding, 

people had a responsibility 

<strong>to</strong> avoid actions such as 

blockage of water ways and 

indiscriminate dumping of 

wastes which often worsens 

flooding and leads <strong>to</strong> loss 

of lives and property and 

humanitarian crisis. 

Al-Amin, informed that 

the ministry would <strong>to</strong>day 

flag -off some corrective 

measures <strong>to</strong> clear Ilorin of 

indiscriminate dumping of 

waste and blockage of 

drains as part of the efforts 

<strong>to</strong> ward off flooding. 

He added that the health 

officials of old had been 

returned <strong>to</strong> the state and 

would be going from house 

<strong>to</strong> house <strong>to</strong> ascertain 

residents' level of 

compliance. 

DANGOTE PROMO: 64-year-old 

bricklayer, 20-year-old artisan 

win cars in Ijebu-ode, Ikorodu 

TWO lucky <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns, 

including a 64-year-old 

bricklayer, Mr. Iyowun 

Ezekiel and 20-year-old 

artisan, Godwin Godday, 

have emerged the latest 

winners of star prize GAC 

Saloon cars in the ongoing 

Dangote Cement 'Bag of 

Goodies’ national 

consumer promo. 

Elated Ezekiel, who is based 

in Ijebu-ode, Ogun State, and 

has been a bricklayer for over 

40 years, found his prizewinning 

scratch card in one 

of the Dangote Cement 

promo bags he bought from 

a distribu<strong>to</strong>r in Ijebu-Mushin. 

On the other hand, Godday, 

who is the youngest winner of 

the star prize so far, found his 

winning scratch card in 

Ikorodu, Lagos. 

Both star prize winners were 

given the keys <strong>to</strong> their brand 

new cars by <strong>to</strong>p Dangote 

Cement officials at different 

handing-over ceremonies in 

Ijebu-ode and Ikorodu, 

alongside 10 other lucky 

promo winners, who carted 

home various prizes, 

including a tricycle, a 

mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle, eight 

refrigera<strong>to</strong>rs and two 

television sets, <strong>to</strong> the 

admiration of other Dangote 

Cement consumers and 

distribu<strong>to</strong>rs. 

While Mr. Akintaye 

Oluwagbemiga won a 

tricycle, Mr. Kamilu Audu 

won a mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle. 

Interestingly, Mr. Solomon 

Dayo won three out of the 

seven refrigera<strong>to</strong>rs presented 

at the Ikorodu event, while 

Messrs. Ohemu Friday, 

Innocent Agbo-James, 

Ransome Watels and Kehinde 

Adeagbo went home with one 

refrigera<strong>to</strong>r each. 

There was also the 

presentation of television sets 

<strong>to</strong> Mr. Dare Olajide and Mr. 

Oluwadare Gbenga. 

Likewise, Mr. Imam Adebisi 

Abdulhakeem, who won a 

refrigera<strong>to</strong>r, collected his 

prize at the Ijebu-Ode venue. 

Handing over the car 

keys <strong>to</strong> Ezekiel in Ijebu- 

Ode, National Sales 

Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Dangote Cement 

Plc., Mr. Adeyemi Fajobi, 

<strong>to</strong>ld those gathered at the 

Local Government office 

that the cement promo is 

real and that there are many 

more choice prizes <strong>to</strong> be 

won. 

Flood destroys 12,000 hectares of 

farmlands in Jigawa 

FLOOD has ravaged 

over 12,000 hectares of 

rice, cassava, sesame and 

guinea-corn farmlands in 

nine villages of 

Malammadori Local 

Government Area of Jigawa 

State. 

The Councillor 

representing Tashena 

Ward, Alhaji Yunusa 

Bulama, stated this in 

Malammadori on Sunday, 

when the lawmaker 

representing Kaugama/ 

Malammadori Federal 

Constituency, Alhaji Maki 

Yalleman, visited the area. 

Bulama said the flood, 

which hit the area on Friday, 

had affected Tashena, 

Kadumunbari, Hadyan, 

Azumu, Kadumantudu, 

Dowawa, Dososo, Allahyayi 

and Unguwar-Jamaare 

villages.


FG wanted <strong>to</strong> kill El-Zakzaky 

in India — IMN 

THE 

Islamic 

Movement in <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

(IMN) has alleged that the 

federal government 

intended <strong>to</strong> kill Ibraheem 

El-Zakzaky in India ‘in the 

name of ‘medical 

treatment’. 

El-Zakzaky was returned 

<strong>to</strong> the country after he 

refused <strong>to</strong> be treated by 

doc<strong>to</strong>rs provided by the 

government. 

In a statement issued 

yesterday, Ibrahim Musa, 

spokesman of the 

movement, said the Islamic 

cleric did not plan <strong>to</strong> seek 

asylum in India, contrary 

an allegation by the 

government. 

He said the allegation 

was a campaign of calumny 

against El-Zakzaky by the 

government <strong>to</strong> hide its 

‘’gross misconduct in a 

foreign land”. 

‘’The Islamic movement 

further accused the federal 

government of 

mischievously going 

beyond its role of 

supervision <strong>to</strong> the level of 

maliciously interfering in 

the medical process, 


No going back on RUGA — GOV SULE 

•Says it's best option <strong>to</strong> end farmers, herders' conflicts 

By David Odama 

LAbdullahi AFIA—GOVERNOR 

Sule of 

Death in attacks on Benue communities 

<strong>to</strong>ll rises <strong>to</strong> 9 

MPolice AKURDI—THE 

Command 

in Benue, yesterday said 

the death <strong>to</strong>ll from 

Saturday’s gunmen 

attack on mourners in 

Katsina-Ala Local 

Government Area of the 

state had risen <strong>to</strong> nine. 

The Police Public 

Relations Officer, DSP 

Catherine Anene, said in 

Makurdi that the police 

were still investigating 

the circumstances 

instructing on which 

doc<strong>to</strong>rs the Sheikh and his 

wife must see, while 

refusing <strong>to</strong> allow them 

access <strong>to</strong> their own doc<strong>to</strong>rs, 

which confirms the 

allegation that the 

government had wanted <strong>to</strong> 

kill the Sheikh in the name 

of medical treatment, ‘’ he 

said. 

“Before efforts at 

resolving this impasse 

could be concluded, the 

Sheikh was brought back <strong>to</strong> 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>, since their evil 

schemes could not be 

executed. The government 

is now churning out 

contradic<strong>to</strong>ry explanations 

<strong>to</strong> blame the Sheikh for not 

allowing himself <strong>to</strong> be 

killed in the name of 

medical treatment. The 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n government is 

also blackmailing the 

Sheikh that he sought for 

asylum in India just <strong>to</strong> cover 

their own gross misconduct 

in a foreign land.” 

Musa said El-Zakzaky 

was forced <strong>to</strong> either accept 

the choice of being 

treated by unknown 

doc<strong>to</strong>rs or <strong>to</strong> be returned 

home within two hours. 

surrounding the attack 

and its aftermath. 

Anene explained that 

four persons were killed 

at the burial of Tor Gbev 

Amaafu in Tongov while 

additional five were killed 

during reprisal attacks by 

Amaafu, Sati Agirigi and 

Ikurav Tiev communities. 

She said the killings were 

suspected <strong>to</strong> be the 

frequent clashes between 

Ikurav and Shitile people 

in the area in recent times. 

“The clash cut across 

three villages. There is no 

reason for these attacks. 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n, who swallowed 67 

wraps of cocaine jailed in UK 

THE 

Isleworth 

Crown court in the 

United Kingdom weekend 

sentenced Samuel 

Nwankwo, a 27-year-old 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n man, <strong>to</strong> four years 

in prison over drug 

trafficking. 

According <strong>to</strong> the Crown 

Prosecution Service, the 

principal public agency for 

conducting criminal 

prosecutions in England 

and Wales, Nwankwo, who 

is a resident of Eastfield in 

Peterborough, ingested 67 

wraps of cocaine worth 

£82,210 in Brazil before 

boarding a flight <strong>to</strong> London 

on February 11. 

He also alleged that he 

had been visiting his wife 

and was short on annual 

leave. 

Nwankwo is said <strong>to</strong> have 

boarded Latam Airlines 

flight from Sao Paulo <strong>to</strong> 

Heathrow airport where he 

was nabbed by security 

operatives at the terminal 

3. 

The convict, who had 

been in the South 

American country for five 

days, had no checked 

baggage but a body scan 

showed suspicious images 

in his s<strong>to</strong>mach. 

“A body scan at the airport 

revealed suspicious shapes 

inside Nwankwo. He was 

then taken <strong>to</strong> a hospital for 

a CT scan where dozens of 

concealed packages were 

identified inside him,” the 

CPC reported. 

“He had previously 

pleaded guilty <strong>to</strong> one count 

of fraudulent evasion on the 

importation of a prohibited 

Class A drug.” 

The drug found in 

Nwankwo was said <strong>to</strong> have 

an average purity of 77.1 

per cent. 

The judge, however, 

sentenced him <strong>to</strong> four years 

in prison and also ordered 

that the cocaine be 

destroyed. 

“Importing drugs by 

ingestion is illegal and 

could lead <strong>to</strong> lethal 

consequences. Nwankwo 

was lucky <strong>to</strong> be alive after 

taking such a high 

quantity of cocaine,” 

Cindy Fayefunmi, a 

crown prosecution service 

official, said. 

INDUCTION: From left: Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, 1st Vice President, CIBN; Mr. Magnus Nnoka, Risk 

Manager CRM - President, RIMAN; Mr. Usman Muhammad, CRM - Inductee; Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, 

CRM - Direc<strong>to</strong>r, OFISD, CBN; Mr. Akinsowon Dawodu, FCIB - Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r Citibank <strong>Nigeria</strong>; 

Mr. Aghogho Etakibuebu,CRM - Inductee; Dr. Greg. Jobome,CRM - E.D. Risk Mgt., Access Bank at 

Certified Risk Manager (CRM) Professional Certification 2019 Induction organised by Risk Management 

Association of <strong>Nigeria</strong> (RIMAN) and The Chartered Institute of Bankers of <strong>Nigeria</strong> (CIBN) in Lagos. 

Several peace meetings 

with the communities 

have yielded no positive 

results,” Anene said. 

An eyewitness said the 

gunmen who numbered 

more than 10 opened fire 

on the mourners killing 

and injuring several 

persons in the process. 

The gunmen attacked 

the mourners in the early 

hours of Saturday as a 

result of which four 

persons lost their lives on 

the spot while several 

others sustained severe 

injuries. 

The area has witnessed 

serious criminal activities 

in the past four years. 

Nasarawa State has said 

there is no going back on 

RUGA programme of the 

federal government in 

Nasarawa state, insisting 

that it remains the surest 

way <strong>to</strong> end farmers and 

herders clashes. 

Governor Sule, who 

spoke on a radio 

programme moni<strong>to</strong>red in 

Lafia, did not only 

advocate for regular 

meetings among 

governments of various 

states, he also note that 

supporting security 

agencies with required 

<strong>to</strong>ols was the best option, 

saying “you know what, 

the only way <strong>to</strong> eliminate 

the problems of farmer/ 

headers is <strong>to</strong> separate 

them. You can’t say that 

farmers will live in the 

same place with the 

herders and have peace 

because they have no 

control over the cattle and 

the cattle need <strong>to</strong> go in<strong>to</strong> 

people’s farms. 

“The best thing is <strong>to</strong> 

have a separate place for 

them, so we embraced the 

idea of the Ruga project. 

We are aware it has been 

su<strong>spend</strong>ed at the moment 

and we respect the fact 

that government has 

su<strong>spend</strong>ed it until it is 

fully studied. But since we 

have already received the 

idea, there is a way we 

can talk <strong>to</strong> the people. 

Though it has been 

su<strong>spend</strong>ed at the federal 

level, let’s us at the state 

level find a way, even if 

we have <strong>to</strong> call it our own 

RUGA kind of 

arrangement, that is what 

we are trying <strong>to</strong> do. 

“My position in the case 

of RUGA project is that let 

us go in<strong>to</strong> the root causes 

of the problems, same 

thing with the Almajiri 

system. We are trying <strong>to</strong> 

encourage them in such a 

way that instead of Almajiris 

becoming beggars and 

lacking what <strong>to</strong> eat; we 

want <strong>to</strong> take them away 

from the streets. We are 

looking at the Almajiri 

system different from the 

way they look at it. We want 

<strong>to</strong> find something for them 

<strong>to</strong> do, educate them so they 

can be useful <strong>to</strong> themselves. 

When they are educated in 

the western education, they 

can go and acquire Islamic 

education which is meant 

for the Almajiri in the first 

place.” 

Regular meetings of 

various state governments, 

he said “The number one 

formula is <strong>to</strong> be on the same 

page with everybody, let us 

understand that lack of 

peace in Benue is the same 

lack of peace in Nasarawa, 

Taraba. Whatever affects 

Nasarawa State the same 

thing will affect all other 

places in Plateau, Kaduna, 

Bauchi, Kwara, Niger and 

the federal capital.

C 

M 

Y 



VISIT: From left— 

Marketing Manager, 

Hero Lager Beer, Obum 

Okoli, Commissioner 

for Youth, Anambra 

State, Mr. Afam 

Mbanefo and Senior 

Manager, Marketing, 

Viacom International 

Media Networks Africa, 

Mr. Donatus Okpako, 

during the People’s 

Hero courtesy visit <strong>to</strong> 

the Anambra State 

Ministry of Youth 

Empowerment and 

Creative Economy in 

Awka. 

No ban, restrictions on importation of 

food items —Presidency 

•Says importers can source for forex from non-govt financial institutions 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—THE Presi 

dency yesterday said 

that the Federal Government 

has neither banned 

nor restricted importation 

of food items in<strong>to</strong> the 

country. 

It also explained that 

the recent directive by 


Buhari <strong>to</strong> the Central Bank 

of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, CBN, <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p 

providing foreign 

exchange for importation 

of food items did not mean 

a restriction on importation 

of food items. 

A statement by the 

Senior Special Assistant <strong>to</strong> 

the President on Media 

and Publicity, Mallam 

Garba Shehu, in Abuja 

further stated that any 

importers of food items 

that wished <strong>to</strong> source their 

forex from nongovernment 

financial 

institutions (and pay 

Cus<strong>to</strong>ms duty on those 

imports – increasing taxtake) 

were free <strong>to</strong> do so. 

The Presidential 

spokesman was replying 

<strong>to</strong> a report in Financial 

Times, which was a letter 

<strong>to</strong> the Edi<strong>to</strong>r with the 

titled, “Muhammadu 

Buhari sparks dismay 

over policy shift on food 

imports”, published on 

August 15, 2019. 

Shehu wrote: “Your 

article, ‘Muhammadu 

Buhari sparks dismay 

over policy shift on food 

imports’ (August 15) 

suggests the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

government is restricting 

the import of agricultural 

products in<strong>to</strong> the country. 

“This is simply 

incorrect. To be absolutely 

clear, there is no ban or 

restriction -on the 

importation of food items 

whatsoever. 

“President Buhari has 

consistently worked 

<strong>to</strong>wards strengthening 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s own industrial 

and agricultural base. A 

recent decision sees the 

Central Bank maintain 

its reserves <strong>to</strong> put <strong>to</strong> use 

helping growth of 

domestic industry in 41 

product sec<strong>to</strong>rs rather 

than provide forex for the 

import of those products 

from overseas. 

“Should importers of 

these items wish <strong>to</strong> 

source their forex from 

non-government 

financial institutions 

(and pay Cus<strong>to</strong>ms duty 

organizers, the event will 

bring <strong>to</strong>gether various 

stakeholders, intending 

off-takers and other 

interest groups in the Real 

Estate Industry <strong>to</strong> 

brains<strong>to</strong>rm and proffer 

solutions <strong>to</strong> various 

problems militating 

against the progressive 

and sustainable 

development of the 

industry. 

“It is also designed <strong>to</strong> 

highlight the available 

incentives of the Real 

Estate Developers 

Association of <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

which could be tapped <strong>to</strong> 

benefit all classes of the 

society.” 

They noted that South 

East region was 

strategically chosen <strong>to</strong> host 

the summit, <strong>to</strong> showcase 

the potentials of the 

on those imports – 

increasing tax-take, 

something the Financial 

Times has berated <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

for not achieving on many 

occasions) they are freely 

able <strong>to</strong> do so. 

Diversification of 

forex provision 

“Diversification of forex 

provision <strong>to</strong>wards the 

private sec<strong>to</strong>r and away 

from <strong>to</strong>p-heavy 

government control, a 

diversification of <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s 

industrial base, and an 

increase in tax receipts – 

are all policies one might 

expect the Financial Times 

<strong>to</strong> support. 

“Yet for reasons not quite 

clear, the author and this 

newspaper seem <strong>to</strong> believe 

the President’s 

administration seeks <strong>to</strong> 

control everything – and 

yet do so via policies that 

relinquish government 

control. We look forward 

<strong>to</strong> the next instalment of 

Mr. (Neil) Munshi’s 

bizarre and puzzling 

article series.” 

The Financial Times 

report was titled, 

“Muhammadu Buhari 

sparks dismay over policy 

Enugu gears up S-East Housing Summit 

By Elizabeth 

Uwandu 

ENUGU—REAL Estate 

Developers Association 

of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, REDAN, South- 

East zone has concluded 

arrangements <strong>to</strong> host a 

major Housing Summit and 

Exhibitions next month. 

The Summit tagged 

Akulueuno 2019 - South 

East Housing Summit and 

Exhibitions will hold on 

Wednesday, September 4, 

2019, at the Kobb Civic 

Center (Shoprite), Polo Park 

Mall, Enugu. The Summit 

packaged in collaboration 

with Goldspectra 

Communications Network 

promises <strong>to</strong> be very 

educative, enlightening 

and promotional in all 

ramifications. 

According <strong>to</strong> the 

housing industry in the zone 

and explore the abundant 

investment opportunities 

available in the industry as 

well as <strong>to</strong> properly guide 

genuine off-takers on 

affordable housing schemes 

choices available <strong>to</strong> them. 

The keynote speakers for 

the event are, Managing 

Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Federal Mortgage 

Bank of <strong>Nigeria</strong> - Architect 

Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, 

Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r Family 

Homes Fund -Mr Femi 

Adewale , Group Managing 

Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Copen Group and 

National President of 

REDAN - Surveyor 

Ugochukwu Chime , the 

BOT Chairman of REDAN 

and former Managing 

Direc<strong>to</strong>r of Shelter Afrique, 

Nairobi - Prince Seyi 

Lufadeju. 

shift on food imports. 

Critics say <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

President’s move 

threatens <strong>to</strong> send prices 

skyrocketing.” 

It read: “<strong>Nigeria</strong>n 


Buhari is coming under 

fire after calling for the 

Central Bank <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p providing 

the foreign currency 

needed <strong>to</strong> pay the 

country’s vast food import 

bill. 

“Mr Buhari this week 

“directed” the Central 

Bank <strong>to</strong> cease providing 

dollars and other 

currencies <strong>to</strong> importers as 

part of his efforts <strong>to</strong> spur 

domestic agricultural 

production and attain “full 

food security” for Africa’s 

most populous nation. 

“But he drew criticism 

from economists and 

analysts who said the 

move threatened <strong>to</strong> send 

food prices skyrocketing 

and brought the central 

bank’s independence in<strong>to</strong> 

question. 

“ Since 2015 the central 

bank has enforced a 

controversial policy that 

denies foreign currency 

for dozens of imported 

products from cement <strong>to</strong> 

<strong>to</strong>othpicks <strong>to</strong> rice, but Mr 

Buhari’s call would 

represent a vast 

expansion of the 

prohibition. 

“Don’t give a cent <strong>to</strong> 

anybody <strong>to</strong> import food in<strong>to</strong> 

the country,” the President 

said, according <strong>to</strong> a 

statement from his 

spokesman, who added 

that “the foreign reserve 

will be conserved and 

utilised strictly for 

diversification of the 

economy, and not for 

UK faces food, fuel and drug 

shortages, says leaked document 

Britain will face shortages of fuel, food and 

medicine if it leaves the European Union without 

a transition deal, according <strong>to</strong> leaked official documents 

reported by the Sunday Times, but whose interpretation 

was contested by ministers. 

Setting out a vision of jammed ports, public protests 

and widespread disruption, the Times said the forecasts 

compiled by the Cabinet Office set out the most likely 

aftershocks of a no-deal Brexit rather than the worst 

case scenarios. 

But Michael Gove, the minister in charge of coordinating 

no-deal preparations, challenged that, saying that 

the documents did set out a worst case scenario and 

that planning had been accelerated in the last three 

weeks. 

The Times said up <strong>to</strong> 85 percent of lorries using the 

main channel crossings “may not be ready” for French 

cus<strong>to</strong>ms, meaning disruption at ports would potentially 

last up <strong>to</strong> three months before the flow of traffic improves. 

US whiskey exporters struggle 

after year of EU tariffs 

When Europe’s tariffs on United States (US) whis 

key hit in June 2018, craft Distillery Mountain 

Laurel Spirits LLC lost 10 percent of its sales overnight 

as its European distribu<strong>to</strong>r simply s<strong>to</strong>pped buying its 

award-winning Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey. 

Foreign governments subject <strong>to</strong> U.S. President 

Donald Trump’s trade tariffs have targeted American 

distilleries and their bourbon and rye whiskeys for retaliation. 

The industry fears new tariffs under consideration 

by the U.S. government could result in even 

higher tariffs on their products in Europe. 

“We went from a marginally profitable business <strong>to</strong> 

breaking even,” Mountain Laurel’s owner and chemical 

engineer-turned-distiller, Herman Mihalich, said 

while testing his latest batch of rye whiskey in the 

sleepy hamlet of Bris<strong>to</strong>l in southeast Pennsylvania. 

Airbnb records 30% growth rate in 

first-quarter on booking strength 

Airbnb Inc recorded $9.4 billion in <strong>to</strong>tal book 

ing value in the first quarter, up 31 percent 

from the year-ago quarter, a source familiar with 

the matter said penultimate week, a key number 

that could help pull in inves<strong>to</strong>rs as the home-sharing 

company plans its foray in<strong>to</strong> the public market. 

The San Francisco-based home rentals company 

booked 91 million nights on its platform in the quarter, 

leading <strong>to</strong> the surge in <strong>to</strong>tal booking value, which 

measures the transaction dollars on its platform, 

the source said. 

Airbnb had about $3.5 billion in cash on its balance 

sheet as of March 31, the source said. The 

company reported a 40 percent revenue growth rate 

in 2018 compared with the previous year, according 

<strong>to</strong> the source. 

Airbnb is readying for a listing in the first half of 

2020, according <strong>to</strong> the Wall Street Journal, which 

first reported Airbnb’s first-quarter financials earlier 

in the day. 

PES up against the clock <strong>to</strong> sell 

Philadelphia refinery in cash crunch 

Finding a buyer for Philadelphia Energy So 

lutions’ oil refinery has grown urgent as the 

bankrupt company’s funds dwindle and no signs 

emerge that it is winning a fight for insurance 

payouts after a June blaze at the plant, according 

<strong>to</strong> court documents and bankruptcy experts. 

Without access <strong>to</strong> the more than $1 billion in 

insurance coverage, selling the refinery has become 

one of the company’s only options <strong>to</strong> raise 

cash before being forced <strong>to</strong> liquidate. 

At least three parties have potential proposals 

<strong>to</strong> buy the shut Philadelphia refinery, each with 

plans <strong>to</strong> reopen the 1,300-acre (5.3-square km) 

site with a mix of oil refining and alternative energy 

production, sources familiar with the plans 

said. 

Initial meetings are scheduled between the prospective 

buyers and a collection of vetters over 

the next several weeks, but it is unclear how long 

it would take for any official bid <strong>to</strong> come <strong>to</strong>gether, 

the sources said. 

PES was not available for comment on whether 

it had reviewed any of the proposals or how viable 

it considered them <strong>to</strong> be. 

encouraging more 

dependence on foreign 

food import bills. 

“The Central Bank has 

not said whether it will follow 

the directive and did 

not respond <strong>to</strong> a request for 

comment. 

‘’Analysts said that 

instead of inspiring a 

renaissance of <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

agriculture, the foreign 

currency import ban would 

create food shortages, drive 

further smuggling, and 

send prices higher.” Some s<strong>to</strong>ries credited <strong>to</strong> Reuters


MEDIATION: Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State (right); Commandant, 211 Regiment, Group Captain Phillip Bindul 

(middle); the state At<strong>to</strong>rney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ndukwe Nnawuchi (left), and others during the mediation visit 

of the Governor <strong>to</strong> Umuowa over the land dispute with the Nigera Air Force, weekend. 

Attack on Ekweremadu: 

MASSOB apologises, advocates 

coalition of pro-Biafra groups 

By Dennis Agbo 

MOVEMENT for the 

Actualisation of the 

Sovereign State of Biafra, 

MASSOB, has condemned and 

appologised for Saturday’s 

“physical attack and disrespectful 

actions of some Igbo against 

Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ike Ekweremadu in 

Germany.” 

MASSOB said it confirmed 

through the spokesman of the 

Indigenous People of Biafra, 

We won’t zone gov ticket 

for Anambra 2021— PDP 

By Dennis Agbo 

THE Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, has said it would not 

zone the governorship ticket for 

the 2021 election in Anambra 

State. 

The party declared that its 

priority is <strong>to</strong> identify a credible and 

sellable candidate that would 

secure vic<strong>to</strong>ry for it. 

This came on the heels of a 

recent request <strong>to</strong> Governor Willie 

Obiano by some traditional rulers 

from the southern sena<strong>to</strong>rial 

district of the state <strong>to</strong> ensure that 

their zone produced the next 

governor. 

All Progressive Grand Alliance, 

APGA, National Chairman, Chief 

Vic<strong>to</strong>r Oye, had earlier in the year 

said the party zoned governorship 

ticket <strong>to</strong> Anambra South. 

Meanwhile, PDPNational Vice 

Chairman, South-East, Chief 

Austin Umahi, who made the 

party’s position known, said 

zoning the governorship might be 

the internal affair of APGA, which 

had nothing <strong>to</strong> do with PDP. 

IPOB, Emma Powerful, that 

Ekweremadu’s attackers were 

members of IPOB in Germany. 

MASSOB is the premeir pro- 

Biafra group that, in 1999, 

resumed agitation for res<strong>to</strong>ration 

of Republic of Biafra. The defunct 

country was re-integrated in<strong>to</strong> 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> at the end of Civil War in 

1970. 

MASSOB spokesman, Samuel 

Edeson, in a statement, 

yesterday, said it was 

disheartening that some groups 

According <strong>to</strong> him, there is no 

way another party’s zoning 

arrangement would apply <strong>to</strong> PDP. 

Addressing newsmen in 

Enugu, after PDP’s monthly 

zonal meeting, at the weekend, 

he wondered what ”the zoning 

people” were talking about. He 

stated that PDP has not been in 

power in the state for a very long 

time, so it would go the wholehog 

of identifying the best 

candidate <strong>to</strong> win the election. 

“Anambra election is very 

cardinal <strong>to</strong> us; we wouldn’t allow 

what happened before <strong>to</strong> happen 

again <strong>to</strong> us because we are 

determined and dogged <strong>to</strong> 

recapture Anambra as a party, 

because the state belongs <strong>to</strong> PDP, 

if not for sabotage and PHD (Pull 

Him Down) syndrome in 

Anambra State, which we have 

taken precaution <strong>to</strong> nip in the bud 

this time around. 

“On the issue of zoning, this 

is PDP not APGA. We are going 

for the best candidate, 

irrespective of where he comes 

from. If he likes, let him come 

have turned the non-violent 

struggle for the actualisation of 

Biafra in<strong>to</strong> an abusive and 

systematic gestapo against the 

citizens of Biafra. 

It described the attack on 

Ekweremadu by IPOB as 

codemnable, noting that Igbo 

culture abhors disrespect for 

elders and persons in authority. 

The group said if actually 

Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ekweremadu was 

sabotaging or had sabotaged 

Biafra struggle as alleged by 

from anywhere and let his 

brother act as the deputy. The 

most important thing is that PDP 

wants <strong>to</strong> reclaim Anambra State 

because the state is very 

cardinal <strong>to</strong> the South-East. 

“There’s no way South-East 

Governors Forum would meet 

as PDP and Anambra State 

would be lacking. So the onus lies 

on us <strong>to</strong> get Anambra back on the 

stream for PDP.” 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

A WKA—GOVERNORSHIP 

candidate of Progressives 

People’s Alliance, PPA, in the 2017 

election in Anambra State, Mr. 

Godwin Ezeemo, has left the party 

with all the officials for Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP. 

Apart from Ezeemo, the state 

Chairman of PPA, as well as other 

state and local government 

officials of the party also defected 

<strong>to</strong> PDP. 

At a reception for the former PPA 

IPOB, the Nnamdi Kanu-led 

IPOB did not take meaningful 

and acceptable steps <strong>to</strong> draw the 

attention of Ekweremadu <strong>to</strong> the 

alleged degradation. 

Edeson said: “MASSOB, as a 

leading figure of current Biafra 

agitation, advise other pro-Biafra 

groups, including IPOB that 

Igbo political leaders, are not the 

major obstacle of our chances of 

achieving independence from 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> state. 

“The major hurdles militating 

against the freedom of Biafra 

people from <strong>Nigeria</strong> is noncohesion 

and brotherhood among 

the leaders of pro-Biafra groups. 

“Ike Ekweremadu and other 

perceived and alleged enemies 

of Biafra are not our major 

obstacle against Biafra. IPOB can 

never actualise Biafra alone. 

“MASSOB, LNC, BNC, BIM 

and others operating individually 

can’t achieve Biafra alone. Biafra 

will be more achievable when a 

strong coalition of MASSOB, 

IPOB, Lower Niger Congress, 

BNC, BIM and others from Niger 

Delta regions are established 

under a collegiate leadership.” 

members in Awka by the 

Anambra State PDP leadership, 

Ezeemo also announced his 

intention <strong>to</strong> contest the 2021 

governorship election on the 

platform of PDP, thus becoming 

the first aspirant <strong>to</strong> make his 

ambition known <strong>to</strong> the leadership 

of the party. 

He said: “From the situation on 

ground PDP has all it takes <strong>to</strong> 

govern the state after a long wait. 

With my departure from PPA, 

there is nothing left in that party, 

as all those who made the party 

Catholic 

bishops decry 

insecurity in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> 

By Chidi Nkwopara 

CATHOLIC Bishops of the 

Owerri Ecclesiastical 

Province have decried the 

growing degree of insecurity 

in the country and urged 

Christians <strong>to</strong> watch and pray. 

The position of the bishops 

was made public in a ninepoint 

pas<strong>to</strong>ral statement they 

issued after their Second 

Plenary meeting of 2019 held 

at Sacred Heart Pas<strong>to</strong>ral 

Retreat Centre, Orlu. 

The statement by the 

Chairman and Secretary, Most 

Rev. Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, 

Archbishop of Owerri, and 

Most Rev. Dr. Augustine T. 

Ukwuoma, respectively, was 

entitled Be strong, fear not. 

They said: “Our people are 

currently undergoing 

unbearable threats from some 

of our political leaders and 

even from our security agents. 

The situation has been 

compounded by the 

marauding so-called 

herdsmen and other bandits.” 

According <strong>to</strong> the Catholic 

Bishops, the situation has 

equally been compounded by 

government’s apparent silence 

over infringements at various 

levels and by shady land deals 

by certain community leaders. 

They added: “Every day, and 

across our states, we hear 

heartbreaking tales of 

kidnapping, raping, maiming, 

ex<strong>to</strong>rting, land-grabbing, 

killing and destroying of 

people’s sources of livelihood. 

We continue often <strong>to</strong> hope in 

vain for our elected public 

officers and security agents <strong>to</strong> 

protect our citizens as expected 

and as enshrined in our 

Constitution.” 

They also opined that the 

unemployment situation had 

continued <strong>to</strong> cause great 

concern <strong>to</strong> the society, as 

governments fail <strong>to</strong> provide 

jobs and fac<strong>to</strong>ries that they 

promised, noting “many 

youths now look more for quick 

money-making ventures, even 

at the cost of their lives, rather 

than pursue creative, 

innovative and gainful jobs.” 

Anambra PPA gov candidate, officials defect <strong>to</strong> PDP 

what it was in Anambra State also 

left with me. 

“Now that we have joined PDP, 

we want the leadership of the 

party <strong>to</strong> support whoever the 

people would select as their 

candidate for the forthcoming 

election. 

“I like transparency and I hope 

there will be transparency during 

PDP primaries. My decision <strong>to</strong> 

join PDP was borne out of the fact 

that I need a bigger platform <strong>to</strong> 

enable me actualise my 

ambition.”


IN February 2019 just before the 

general elections, President 

Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the 

All Progressives Congress, APC, 

responded <strong>to</strong> caustic criticisms of his 

first term by former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo by vowing <strong>to</strong> probe 

how Obasanjo’s government allegedly 

spent $16bn on the power sec<strong>to</strong>r. 

Addressing an APC rally in Yenagoa 

on his campaign <strong>to</strong>ur of Bayelsa State, 

Buhari had declared: “The previous 

government had mentioned on their 

own that they spent $16bn on power 

but you are better witnesses than myself. 

Where is the power? 

“Where is the money? We will follow 

them, eventually God willing, we will 

catch them and get back our money”. 

Former Vice President Atiku 

Abubakar and presidential candidate of 

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had 

in January this year also claimed that 

contrac<strong>to</strong>rs were paid monies <strong>to</strong> 

provide power in the country which 

they never executed. 

Power sec<strong>to</strong>r probe devoid of politics 

To achieve the same objective expressed 

by the President, the Socio- 

Economic Rights and Accountability 

Programme, SERAP, having failed <strong>to</strong> 

get the Federal Ministry of Power <strong>to</strong> 

accede <strong>to</strong> its Freedom of Information, 

FOI, request <strong>to</strong> disclose details of how 

monies invested in the power sec<strong>to</strong>r was 

spent, approached the Federal High 

Court in Lagos <strong>to</strong> force the Ministry <strong>to</strong> 

comply. 

SERAP obtained a judgement windfall 

when Justice Chuka Obiozor of the 

Federal High Court, Lagos, ordered 

the Federal Government <strong>to</strong> publish the 

names and other details of the 

contrac<strong>to</strong>rs who allegedly disappeared 

with monies paid without duly 

executing the jobs. 

According <strong>to</strong> a SERAP statement, 

Justice Obiozor also ordered the Federal 

Government <strong>to</strong> publish on a dedicated 

website and widely circulate the 

“specific names and details about the 

contrac<strong>to</strong>rs and companies paid by 

each government, the <strong>to</strong>tal amounts 

paid by each government and the objects 

for the payments; the level of 

implementation of electricity projects; 

as well as specific locations of projects 

executed across the country by each 

government”. 

The Federal Government was also 

ordered <strong>to</strong> disclose if there is any 

ongoing investigation and 

prosecution of erring contrac<strong>to</strong>rs paid 

by government since 1999. 

While we commend SERAP for its patriotic 

advocacy for full disclosure on 

these much-bandied allegations, we also 

give thumbs up <strong>to</strong> Justice Obiozor for 

granting SERAP’s request and issuing 

consequential orders. 

This is in tune with the anti-graft 

agenda of the President Buhari 

administration which is highly 

applauded by <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns. 

We, therefore, see current indications 

that the Buhari government is set <strong>to</strong> 

probe the power sec<strong>to</strong>r expenditures as 

a step in the right direction. 

However, this probe, which is the 

second of its type (following the Ndudi 

Elumelu-led investigations instituted by 

the House of Representatives in 2009) 

must be carried out professionally, devoid 

of media trials and political witchhunt. 

Those responsible for keeping 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns in darkness and retarding our 

economy should be exposed and 

punished. 

OPINION 

FG and dormancy of HIV/AIDS anti-discrimination law 

By Hameed Oyegbade 

THE HIV/AIDS (anti-discrimination) 

Act was enacted in <strong>Nigeria</strong> in 2014, 

but has since remained dormant due <strong>to</strong> nonimplementation. 

Unfortunately, besides the 

psychological trauma and pains persons 

living with HIV go through in the country, 

they also face various forms of 

discrimination and inhumane treatment by 

fellow citizens. The HIV/AIDS (antidiscrimination) 

Act, 2014, was enacted <strong>to</strong> 

discourage discrimination against persons 

living with HIV/AIDS, particularly at 

workplaces. 

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, 

AIDS, is a chronic, potentially lifethreatening 

condition caused by the Human 

Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV. By 

damaging immune system, HIV interferes 

with the body’s ability <strong>to</strong> fight organisms 

that cause diseases. On this basis, many people 

consider it a death sentence. Many people 

have lost their jobs because of their HIV 

status, while many marriages have crashed 

on grounds of same. The worst part is that 

most persons who are HIV positive conceal 

their status while majority of persons are 

avoiding HIV test mainly because of social 

stigma and discrimination. 

Some pregnant women who are HIV 

positive avoid going for antenatal care so 

as not <strong>to</strong> be tested, thereby subjecting their 

lives and the lives of their unborn babies <strong>to</strong> 

serious danger. In fact, this discrimination 

poses a threat <strong>to</strong> peaceful coexistence among 

members of the society, making compliance 

with the HIV/AIDS (anti-discrimination) Act, 

2014, very difficult. 

It is absurd that the law that was enacted 

<strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p this discrimination has been dormant 

as if it doesn’t even exist. For instance, 

section 21 (1) of the HIV/AIDS (antidiscrimination) 

Act, 2014, stipulates that an 

employer employing five or more persons 

shall in consultation with the employees or 

their representatives adopt a written 

workplace policy that is consistent with the 

National HIV/AIDS workplace policy for 

the working environment. 

Subsection 2 of the same section further 

states that the workplace policies shall be 

lodged with the Minister of Labour and 

Productivity, currently known as Minister 

of Labour and Employment, while section 

24 (1) of the same Act imposes the duty of 

ensuring compliance and enforcement of 

the entire provisions of the Act on the 

At<strong>to</strong>rney-General of the Federation. The 

HIV/AIDS anti-discrimination Act 2014, 

therefore, specifically reposes the duty <strong>to</strong> 

ensure compliance with the entire HIV/ 

AIDS (Anti-Discrimination) Act, 2014, 

including section 21 (1) of the same Act on 

the At<strong>to</strong>rney-General of the Federation. 

Now, one is wondering whether the office 

of At<strong>to</strong>rney-General of the Federation is 

aware of this Act and why it has not 

performed its duty in ensuring the 

implementation of the law and compliance 

by employers of labour in <strong>Nigeria</strong>. Why is it 

always compulsory that our government 

officials and even the ministries and 

agencies must be pushed <strong>to</strong> perform their 

statu<strong>to</strong>ry roles? This is just worrisome! 

It is indeed worrisome that an Act which 

was enacted five years ago is yet <strong>to</strong> be 

implemented and complied with. I am 

aware that Lawyers Alert <strong>Nigeria</strong>, a nonprofit 

human rights organisation has approached 

a court <strong>to</strong> compel the At<strong>to</strong>rney- 

General of the Federation <strong>to</strong> carry out its 

functions as provided in the HIV/AIDS 

(Anti-Discrimination) Act, 2014. 

Lawyers Alert under its free legal 

assistance project for vulnerable groups is 

prosecuting several cases where persons 

living with HIV were discriminated 

against and either denied employment 

even when qualified and able, or sacked 

It is indeed worrisome 

that an Act which was 

enacted five years ago is 

yet <strong>to</strong> be implemented 

and complied with 

on account of their HIV status. Of course, 

dismissal of an employee over HIV status 

is a gross violation of his or her human 

right <strong>to</strong> work. 

Recently, Lawyers Alert got judgement in 

its favour in a matter where an employee 

was dismissed by his employer on the 

account of his HIV status. The matter was 

instituted at the National Industrial Court, 

Abuja division. The court held that 

dismissing employees on the basis of HIV 

status is discrimina<strong>to</strong>ry and unlawful. 

Justice Agbakoba of the Abuja Industrial 

Court found that the HIV/AIDS (Anti- 

Discrimination) Act, 2014, is equally 

applicable in the private sec<strong>to</strong>r and 

prohibits discrimination against existing 

Send Opinions & Letters <strong>to</strong>: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

and prospective employees. 

Following an increase in cases of 

discrimination against Persons Living with 

HIV in workplaces in <strong>Nigeria</strong>, Lawyers Alert 

in its determination <strong>to</strong> provide access <strong>to</strong> 

justice for persons living with HIV and <strong>to</strong> 

ensure compliance with the HIV/AIDS (Anti- 

Discrimination) Act, 2014, served a Freedom 

of Information request on the Minister for 

Labour and Employment, on November 2, 

2018, requesting the document containing a 

list of workplaces/ministries that have 

complied with the provisions of section 21 

(1) of the HIV/AIDS anti-discrimination Act, 

2014, which requires employers of labour <strong>to</strong> 

adopt a written workplace policy and lodge 

same with the minister. 

Unfortunately, despite series of follow-ups 

on the FOI by Lawyers Alert for over three 

months, there was no document at all 

containing such information with the Minister 

of Labour and Employment. 

While awaiting the outcome of Lawyers 

Alert’s suit against the At<strong>to</strong>rney-General of 

the Federation which is in the National 

Industrial Court - suit already mentioned and 

adjourned <strong>to</strong> Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 29, 2019 for Lawyers 

Alert <strong>to</strong> address the court on the issue of locus 

standi (on whether Lawyers Alert has any 

interest above that of the society for it <strong>to</strong> 

approach the court on the issue), it is 

worthwhile <strong>to</strong> indicated that if the At<strong>to</strong>rney- 

General of the Federation had carried out 

the duties as enshrined in the law and ensures 

compliance with HIV workplace policy by 

employers of labour, stigma and 

discrimination against persons living with 

HIV in <strong>Nigeria</strong> would cease and rights <strong>to</strong> 

work and access <strong>to</strong> justice would be enhanced 

for persons living with HIV in <strong>Nigeria</strong>. 

•Oyegbade, a public affairs analyst, wrote from 

Osogbo, Osun State

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 —19 

Offshore inves<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> sustain dumping of fixed income assets 

By Babajide Komolafe 

THE increasing selloff (dumping) 

of fixed income assets (bonds and 

treasury bills) by offshore inves<strong>to</strong>rs is 

expected <strong>to</strong> persist this week, even as 

the Debt Management Office, DMO, 

offers N145 billion worth of FGN bonds. 

Driven by weakening global economic 

conditions and fears of recession in some 

developed and emerging economies, as 

well as anxiety over the direction of 

crude oil prices, and implication for the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n economy especially the 

nation’s external reserves, offshore 

inves<strong>to</strong>rs have been exiting the nation’s 

fixed income market selling their 

treasury bills and FGN bond holdings. 

•DMO offers N145bn 

•Naira stable as external reserve sheds 

$478m in 2wks 

This trend, which also triggered 

increased dollar demand in the 

Inves<strong>to</strong>rs and Exporters (I&E) window, 

persisted last week, causing bond 

prices <strong>to</strong> fall for the second consecutive 

week, with corresponding rise in 

yields, in the Over-the-counter (OTC) 

segment. 

Consequently, five-year, 14.50 per cent 

FGN JUL 2021 bond lost N1.58, while 

the yield rose <strong>to</strong> 14.16 percent 

from 13.21 percent the previous week. 

Similarly, the 10-year, 16.29 per cent 

FGN MAR 2027 debt lost N0.21 while 

the yield rose <strong>to</strong> 14.12 percent 

from14.08 percent. The 20-year, 16.25 

per cent FGN APR 2037 instrument also 

lost N0.82 while the yield rose <strong>to</strong> 

4.46 percent from 14.35 percent. 

This trend, according <strong>to</strong> analysts at 

Zedcrest Capital Limited, is expected 

<strong>to</strong> persist in the near time. They said: 

“The FGN Bond market resumed from 

the break on a firmly bearish note, as 

market players reacted <strong>to</strong> the increasing 

selloffs by offshore inves<strong>to</strong>rs in the 

Treasury Bills market. Selloffs within 

the market have been largely driven 

by weakening global economic 

fundamentals and recessionary fears, 

given the current inversion of the US 

and UK Treasury yield curves. We 

expect these risks off sentiments <strong>to</strong> 

continue <strong>to</strong> impact on inves<strong>to</strong>rs’ 

appetite for FGN Bonds in the near 

term.” 

Analysts at Vetiva Capital 

Management Limited also stated: 

“Evidenced by the continued advances 

in yields in both the T-bills and bond 

markets, inves<strong>to</strong>rs remain bearish on 

the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n economy. In addition, 


MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 

Banks’ borrowings from CBN 

<strong>to</strong> hit N23tr by year end 

•To pay N15bn interest 

By Babajide Komolafe billion from N7.5 billion in 2018. 

Indications <strong>to</strong> this emerged from the 

THERE are indications that CBN monthly economic reports 

banks borrowing from the covering January <strong>to</strong> May 2019, which 

Central Bank of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, CBN, may 

hit N23.7 trillion this year, with 

interest payment of N15 billion going 

by the current thrust and impacts of 

the CBN monetary measures. This 

represents 109 percent and 86 

percent increases against the N11.33 

trillion and N8.4 billion recorded in 

2018. 

The development would be fuelled 

by the apex bank’s contractionary 

monetary policy stance in the face of 

the increasing pressure on the Naira 

in the Inves<strong>to</strong>rs and Exporters (I&E) 

window. The pressure in the I&E is 

being triggered by sharp decline in 

foreign portfolio inflows and 

increased dollar demand by foreign 

portfolio inves<strong>to</strong>rs, FPIs, exiting the 

nation’s money market. 

Furthermore, banks’ deposit 

placements with the CBN is expected 

<strong>to</strong> drop by 31 percent <strong>to</strong> N14.3 trillion 

from N20.7 trillion in 2018 with 

interest earned by the banks rising 

moderately by 2.69 percent <strong>to</strong> N7.23 

showed that banks’ borrowing from 

the CBN through the Standing 

Lending Facility (SLF) shot up by 109 

percent <strong>to</strong> N10.99 trillion for the five 

months period, from N5.27 trillion 

during the corresponding period 

(January <strong>to</strong> May) of 2018. Interest 

Continues on Pg 20 

Banks lose N1.1trn <strong>to</strong> 

IFRS 9 rule on bad loans 

Ekiti eyes capital market 

Capital market can provide funds 

<strong>to</strong> fund infrastructure 

<strong>to</strong> bridge N3trn infrastructure gap 

22 22 — United Capital MD 28 

C 

M 

Y 

K


FINANCIAL VANGUARD 

Banks’ borrowings from CBN <strong>to</strong> hit N23tr by year end 

COVER 

Continued from page 19 

paid by the banks also shot 

up by 86 percent <strong>to</strong> N7.32 

billion during the five months 

period ending May 2019, 

from N3.94 trillion in the 

corresponding period of 

2018. 

The CBN monthly economic 

reports also showed that 

banks’ deposit placement 

with the CBN through its 

Standing Deposit Facility 

(SDF) dropped by 31 percent 

<strong>to</strong> N5.59 trillion during the 

period under review from 

N8.1 trillion in the 

corresponding period of 2018, 

while the interest earned by 

banks rose slightly by N2.85 

billion from N2.69 billion in 

the corresponding period of 

2018. 

The above trend is expected 

<strong>to</strong> persist till the end of the 

year driven by two fac<strong>to</strong>rs, 

namely, the recent reduction 

in the remunerable limit on 

banks’ deposit placement 

through the SDF, and scarcity 

of funds in the interbank 

money market, due <strong>to</strong> 

increased liquidity mop up by 

the CBN. 

The mop up, Financial 

Vanguard learnt, became 

compelling <strong>to</strong> address 

increasing pressure on the 

Naira due <strong>to</strong> sharp decline in 

foreign portfolio investment 

(FPI) inflows and increased 

dollar demand on the CBN. 

Pressure on 

the Naira 

F i n a n c i a l 

Vanguard analysis showed 

that the Naira lost 0.7 percent 

or N2.87 against the 

dollar between July 1 and 

August 9 in the I&E window, 

where the indicative 

exchange rate rose <strong>to</strong> N363.57 

per dollar on August 9 from 

N360.57 per dollar on July 1. 

This is in sharp contrast <strong>to</strong> 

the relative stability of the 

currency in the first half of the 

year (H1’19) when the 

indicative exchange rate for 

the I&E hovered between 

N360 per dollar and N361 per 

dollar. 

F i n a n c i a l 

Vanguard analysis shows 

that FPI inflow in the I&E 

dropped by 28 percent <strong>to</strong> 

$780 million in July, the 

lowest since December 2018. 

The figure was $1.09 billion 

in June 2019. 

The $780 million FPI inflow 

for July represented 60 

percent decline when 

compared with average 

monthly inflow of $1.94 

billion in H1’19. 

This development forced 

the CBN <strong>to</strong> intervene in the 

I&E window for the first time 

since April this year, 

injecting $540 million. 

Furthermore, the apex bank 

•Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor 

increased liquidity mop up 

in the interbank money 

market by 36 percent, as it 

sold N739 billion worth of 

secondary market Treasury 

Bills, TBs, (Open Market 

Operations, OMO) in July, 

up from N476 billion sold in 

June. 

This action resulted <strong>to</strong> net 

outflow of N438 billion 

through OMO bills from the 

interbank money market in 

July, up from net outflow of 

N4 billion in June. 

Analysts’ comments 

Financial analysts have 

been busy tracking these 

developments recently. 

According <strong>to</strong> Nnamdi 

Olisaeloka, a Fixed Income 

Analysts with Lagos based 

The trend of higher 

SDF may not 

continue because of 

the huge liquidity 

in excess of 

N9.6trillion that is 

coming <strong>to</strong> the interbank 

market from 

August <strong>to</strong> 

December 2019 in 

form of maturities 

of government 

securities 

investment firm, Zedcrest 

Capital Limited, the 

development will be 

repeated in the remaining 

period of 2019, especially in 

the face of N9.6 trillion 

worth of TBs which will 

mature between August and 

December this year, hence 

increased borrowing by 

banks from the apex bank. 

He said: “We expect the 

trend of higher SLF figures 

<strong>to</strong> persist in the remaining 

months of 2019, as the CBN 

is expected <strong>to</strong> increase its 

spate of Open Market 

Operations (OMO) issuance 

and foreign exchange 

interventions in the interbank 

market, <strong>to</strong> combat the higher 

OMO maturity profile in 

September <strong>to</strong> December 2019 

and <strong>to</strong> sustain the stability of 

the naira, given the recent 

pressures from capital flow 

reversals by offshore 

inves<strong>to</strong>rs. 

Banking system 

liquidity 

Also the CBN policy on 

sterilizing excess funds of 

banks operating below its 60 

percent Loan <strong>to</strong> Deposit 

(LDR) benchmark ratio, 

would also impact on 

banking system liquidity and 

could pressure the SLF 

volumes higher.” 

However, Ayo Akinwunmi, 

Head of Research, FSDH 

Merchant Bank, though 

attributed the sharp increase 

in SLF <strong>to</strong> increase in banks’ 

lending <strong>to</strong> the economy, 

argued that the trend might 

not persist in the remaining 

part of the year. 

He said: “I am aware that 

banks are expanding 

lending <strong>to</strong> the real sec<strong>to</strong>r of 

the economy and they are 

mobilising fund from various 

sources, including borrowing 

money from the Central Bank 

of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, <strong>to</strong> meet the 

increasing lending 

requirements. 

“The trend of higher SDF 

may not continue because of 

the huge liquidity in excess 

of N9.6 trillion that is coming 

<strong>to</strong> the inter-bank market from 

August <strong>to</strong> December 2019 in 

form of maturities of 

government securities.” 

Both analysts, however, 

agree that the sharp decline 

in SDF will persist for the 

remaining part of the year 

due <strong>to</strong> the decision of the 

CBN <strong>to</strong> reduced the 

remunerable limit on banks’ 

deposit placement through 

the SDF <strong>to</strong> N2 billion per day 

from N7 billion per day. 

According <strong>to</strong> Olisaeloka, 

“The SDF figure is expected 

<strong>to</strong> sustain a decline as banks 

would prefer <strong>to</strong> invest their 

surplus funds in short term 

treasury bills, given the 

decline in the remunerable 

SDF amount <strong>to</strong> N2 billion per 

institution.” 

Akinwunmi on his part 

said: “Since the amount that 

will qualify for interest rate 

at the Standing Deposit 

Facility has dropped from N7. 

5 billion <strong>to</strong> N2 billion in the 

face of an increase in 

minimum loan <strong>to</strong> deposit 

ratio, less fund will be 

available for SDF. 

This is because banks are 

now required <strong>to</strong> channel more 

fund <strong>to</strong> lending than before, 

<strong>to</strong> stimulate economic growth 

in <strong>Nigeria</strong>.”



Offshore inves<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> sustain dumping of fixed income assets 


volatile energy prices will 

increasingly weigh on 

inves<strong>to</strong>rs’ sentiment with 

regards <strong>to</strong> the federal 

government’s ability <strong>to</strong> 

generate sufficient fiscal 

revenues. As such, we 

foresee a mixed session 

with a bearish tilt at the 

start of next week.” 

DMO <strong>to</strong> offer N145bn 

bond 

Meanwhile the DMO 

will this week conduct its 

monthly bond auction by 

offering N145 billion 

worth of FGN Bond. The 

auction comprise N40 

billion worth of 5-year 

bonds, N50 billion worth 

of 10-year bonds and N55 

billion worth of 30-year 

bonds. 

Analysts at Lagos based 

Cowry Asset 

Management Limited 

projected that the 

outcome of the auction 

will be influenced by 

inves<strong>to</strong>rs’ quest for yields 

higher than the inflation 

rate of 11.08 percent. “We 

expect the bonds <strong>to</strong> be 

issued at higher s<strong>to</strong>p 

rates as inves<strong>to</strong>rs’ 

demand for positive real 

returns on fixed income 

assets intensify amid 

declining crude oil 

prices,” they said. 

This expectation 

follows results of the 

treasury bills auctions 

conducted by the CBN 

last week where the apex 

bank bowed <strong>to</strong> inves<strong>to</strong>rs 

demand for higher rates, 

by raising the s<strong>to</strong>p rates 

on the 182-Days and the 

364-Days bills offered in 

the primary market <strong>to</strong> 

11.35 percent and 12 

percent from 10.60 

percent and 11.18 

percent respectively from 

the previous auction. 

Also due <strong>to</strong> strong 

appetite for higher yields, 

inves<strong>to</strong>rs shunned the 

short dated TBs offered by 

the CBN in the secondary 

market auction conducted 

on Thursday. 

As a result, the 20 

billion worth of 84-Days 

OMO bills offered by the 

CBN recorded N5.9 

billion subscription, 

while the N30 billion 

worth of 175-Days OMO 

bills on offer recorded 

subscription of N3.7 

billion indicating undersubscription 

of 70 

percent and 87 percent 

respectively for the two 

instruments. However, 

the N100 billion worth of 

364-Days bills recorded 

over subscription of 6.3 

percent as <strong>to</strong>tal 

subscription s<strong>to</strong>od at 

N106.3 billion. 

External reserve drops 

On the foreign 

exchange scene, the 

nation’s external reserve 

fell by $478 million in the 

first two weeks of August, 

thus maintaining 

the downward trend, 

which commenced in 

July. 

Data from the CBN 

showed that the external 

reserve fell <strong>to</strong> $44.425 

billion on August 15th, 

from $44.903 billion on 

July 31st. 

Driven by sharp decline 

in dollar supply from 

offshore inves<strong>to</strong>rs as well 

as increased dollar sales 

by the CBN <strong>to</strong> meet 

increased demand by 

offshore inves<strong>to</strong>rs exiting 

the nation’s fixed income, 

the reserves have been on 

a downward trend since 

July 5thwhen it peaked at 

$45.149 billion, following 

six months steady rise 

which commenced on 

February 28th, 2019. 

Naira stable 

However, Naira was 

relatively stable in the I&E 

window and in the 

parallel market last week. 

In the I&E window, the 

naira appreciated 

marginally by two kobo 

last week, the first time 

since July, as the 

indicative exchange rate 

for the window fell slightly 

<strong>to</strong> N363.42 per dollar last 

week from N363.44 per 

dollar the previous week. 

But the naira 

depreciated by 10 kobo in 

the parallel market as the 

exchange rate for the 

market rose <strong>to</strong> N358.3 per 

dollar last week from 

N358.2 per dollar the 

previous week.

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY,AUGUST 19, 2019 


Banks lose N1.1trn <strong>to</strong> IFRS 9 rule on bad loans 

By Babajide Komolafe 

THE banking industry lost 

N1.1 trillion in <strong>to</strong>tal 

assets as a result of compliance 

with the requirements of the 

International Financial 

Reporting Standard (IFRS) 9 

on recognition of bad loans. 

Among others IFRS 9 

mandates that banks estimate 

and book an upfront, forwardlooking 

expected loss over the 

life of the any loan granted 

and moni<strong>to</strong>r for possible 

default. This resulted <strong>to</strong> 

increase in provision for bad 

loans (impairment for credit 

losses) by banks. 

The above requirement, 

according <strong>to</strong> Agus<strong>to</strong> & Co, 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s leading bank rating 

firm, led <strong>to</strong> loss of N1.1 trillion 

in <strong>to</strong>tal assets by the <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

banking industry in 2018. 

Agus<strong>to</strong> & Co analyst, Ada 

Ufomadu, disclosed this while 

presenting the company’s 

report on the <strong>Nigeria</strong> Banking 

Industry. 

She said: “In 2018 the assets 

of the banking industry was 

about N33.3 trillion and we 

think in 2019 growth will be 

driven largely by the fact a lot 

of banks are raising capital. 

In 2018 there was the IFRS 

9 accounting principle that 

was introduced <strong>to</strong> the banking 

industry and it had significant 

impact on capital. The 

industry lost about N1.1 trillion 

from banks’ capital. So what 

we are seeing now is that 

banks are trying <strong>to</strong> recoup 

these losses, banks are raising 

Tier 2 capital. Some banks 

have come <strong>to</strong> the market <strong>to</strong> 

raise capital in form of Tier 2 

bonds. So we think that will 

be a major driver of assets in 

2019.” 

Speaking on the company’s 

outlook for loan growth in 2019 

against the backdrop of the 

minimum Loan <strong>to</strong> Deposit 

Ratio (LDR) of 60 percent 

recently ordered by the Central 

Bank of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, 

CBN, Ufomadu said, “We 

don’t think that banks will 

lend more <strong>to</strong> meet the 60 

percent LDR because of the 

credit risk involved. As a bank, 

I don’t think they will just start 

giving out loans because they 

are trying <strong>to</strong> meet with 

regula<strong>to</strong>ry requirement. 

“At Agus<strong>to</strong> & Co, we believe 

that there might likely be an 

extension of the deadline for 

meeting the LDR. We see 

banks responding by reducing 

their deposit base because that 

is an easy way <strong>to</strong> meet up with 

the LDR, and what this means 

is that since it is likely that 

banks will be rejecting some 

deposits, interest rate on 

deposit will likely reduce, so 

interest expense for banks may 

reduce 

“Some people also believe 

that this might lead <strong>to</strong> a pricing 

war, with competition for 

premium borrowers. That is 

according <strong>to</strong> a school of 

thought, but generally we 

don’t believe there will be a 

significant increase in the loan 

book of the banking industry.” 

On the company’s outlook 

for the exchange rate and 

government borrowing 

activities and its impact on 

interest rate, she said: “We 

don’t think there will be naira 

devaluation because crude oil 

price is still relatively high and 

the CBN is well equipped <strong>to</strong> 

defend the naira. 

“We see increase in 

government borrowing. We 

still believe that the crowding 

out effect which the CBN is 

trying <strong>to</strong> avoid will occur. We 

believe that the private sec<strong>to</strong>r 

will be crowded out because 

the government will still need 

<strong>to</strong> borrow and that will have 

an impact on interest rate. So 

we think interest rate will 

remain high.” 

From left, Adesola Adeduntan, Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of <strong>Nigeria</strong> Limited; 

Kofo Akinkugbe,ManagingDirec<strong>to</strong>r,SecureID Limited and Seyi Oyefeso, Group Executive, 

Commercial Banking Group, First Bank of <strong>Nigeria</strong> Limited during the bank’s delegation 

recent visit <strong>to</strong> SecureID Limited’s Smart Card Manufacturing plant in Lagos. 

CBN <strong>to</strong> disburse lower Naira denominations through 

microfinance banks 

THE Central Bank of 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> (CBN) has 

released guidelines for the 

disbursement of lower 

denominations of the naira 

through microfinance banks 

(MFBs) across the country. 

A circular issued by the 

Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Currency Operations 

Department of the apex bank, 

Mrs. Patricia Eleje, indicated 

that all microfinance banks 

must have a composite risk 

rating (CRR) of above average 

in the most recent Risk Based 

Supervision (RBS) target 

examination before they are 

considered for the scheme. 

This, according <strong>to</strong> the CBN, 

was <strong>to</strong> ensure that only MfBs 

with good corporate 

governance practices take 

part. 

Meanwhile, the 

participating MfBs must be 

willing <strong>to</strong> accept a mixture of 

EDFIN Microfinance Bank, 

MfB, has signed a 

partnership agreement with the 

Sustainable Education and 

Enterprise Development, SEED, <strong>to</strong> 

enhance quality of education in 

Lagos State. 

Speaking on the partnership, 

Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r of SEED, Mrs 

Olarenwaju Olayitan, stated: “I am 

so glad <strong>to</strong> be signing this first of a 

kind agreement. We are concerned 

about improving quality of 

education. The quality educational 

services is what we are bringing 

on board <strong>to</strong> work with Edfin. So it 

new and other banknotes, and 

that the MfBs shall give 20 

percent of any withdrawal in 

lower denomination notes 

MfBs shall 

give 20 

percent of any 

withdrawal in 

lower 

denomination 

notes subject 

<strong>to</strong> a maximum 

of N50,000 

subject <strong>to</strong> a maximum of 

N50,000. 

Where beneficiaries 

withdraw more than once in a 

Edfin MfB partners SEED 

is not just about finance, it is now 

finance plus support, its finance 

beyond just money, it is how the 

money is working for the schools 

<strong>to</strong> improve the quality and 

eventually learning.” 

Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r of Edfin 

MfB, Mrs Bunmi Lawson stated: 

“Our concentration is on affordable 

private schools that serve low 

income group and majority of them 

Lagosians. A study has shown that 

most families in Lagos State actually 

send their children <strong>to</strong> private 

schools as <strong>to</strong> oppose <strong>to</strong> public 

schools. You would see that the 

day, the circular said that 

disbursement will only apply 

<strong>to</strong> one transaction per day. 

Similarly, the MFBs are 

allowed <strong>to</strong> exchange notes 

subject <strong>to</strong> a maximum 

of N50,000 for cus<strong>to</strong>mers with 

bank accounts and N10,000 

for cus<strong>to</strong>mers without bank 

accounts. In that situation, the 

banks must not exchange for 

same beneficiaries more than 

once a week. 

Also, MFBs are <strong>to</strong> maintain 

a register of amounts received 

from the CBN through their 

correspondent commercial 

banks. The MFB must also 

maintain another register of 

the beneficiaries of the lower 

denomination notes as well as 

ensure that withdrawal teller 

slips contain breakdown of the 

denomination of the currency 

<strong>to</strong> cus<strong>to</strong>mers with accounts. 

public schools are adequately 

handled by government across 

board. We need <strong>to</strong> see a general 

improvement in quality of 

education, we would, however, 

extend some of our services <strong>to</strong> 

public schools as well. We also have 

advocacies where we talk with 

government <strong>to</strong> ensure that they are 

putting in place proper policies <strong>to</strong> 

help improve the quality of 

education generally.” 

Also speaking on the uniqueness 

of Edfin’s focus, Lawson stated: “I 

have not yet come across any bank, 

microfinance or otherwise, that 

Ecobank 

engages new 

set of graduates 

in training 

E 

COBANK <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

through its training 

academy has commenced entry 

level development programme 

for new set of Graduate Trainees. 

A statement from the bank said 

the training programme is an 

intensive eight-week medley of 

learning interventions for fresh 

graduates. 

The first set of 67 trainees will 

graduate at the end of the month 

and will be absorbed in<strong>to</strong> 

different roles in the bank. 

According <strong>to</strong> the Head, 

Human Resources, Ecobank 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>, Gloria Byamugisha, the 

first set of trainees at the 

academy demonstrated a high 

level of commitment and 

orientation <strong>to</strong>wards the banking 

profession, noting that the 

training is essentially <strong>to</strong> improve 

the financial literacy of 

participants who may be coming 

from other disciplines, or who 

may have non-financial and 

banking related academic 

backgrounds. 

She further explained that the 

training combines classroom, onthe-job, 

book reading and action 

learning models, which provides 

the participants with global 

exposure and ability <strong>to</strong> compete 

internationally. 

Commenting, Managing 

Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Ecobank <strong>Nigeria</strong>, 

Patrick Akinwuntan said the 

training programme was in line 

with the transformation agenda 

<strong>to</strong> make the bank the most 

preferred financial institution in 

the country, noting the Ecobank 

will continue <strong>to</strong> head hunt for 

brilliant fresh graduates, train 

them on professionalism and 

Ecobank culture and inject them 

in<strong>to</strong> its workforce. 

He further explained that the 

various bank’s development 

programmes are part of its talent 

development strategy <strong>to</strong> continue 

<strong>to</strong> churn out excellently trained 

banking professionals at various 

levels of the industry <strong>to</strong> feed in<strong>to</strong> 

her talent pipeline and the 

banking industry, stating that 

they are founded on global best 

practice that prepare the 

participants for banking careers 

in positions aligned with their 

potential, competencies and 

experience at the entry point of 

functional pre-managerial roles. 

does what Edfin do. We are the first 

specialized education finance 

bank in <strong>Nigeria</strong>. We finance the 

education eco system, not only 

schools, from pre primary <strong>to</strong> 

university, <strong>to</strong> school owners 

themselves, so they can expand 

education. 

“We also provide loans <strong>to</strong> teachers 

and administrative staff, then 

vendors, organizations like SEED 

who supply services <strong>to</strong> schools, and 

then <strong>to</strong> parents and pupils who 

want <strong>to</strong> pay for their children tuition 

fees and all of that.”



BANKING INTERVIEW 

BUSINESS LOAN & MORE: 

Access Bank offers 

collateral-free 

loans, business 

support <strong>to</strong> SMEs 

The Emerging Business Team of Access Bank 

led by Mrs. Ayo Olojede discusses how small and 

medium enterprises can get financial and other supports 

from Access Bank, especially business loan without 

collateral. 

Excerpt: 

CAN you briefly let us in<strong>to</strong> 

the offerings of the Access 

Bank Emerging Business 

proposition? 

At Access Bank we are very 

passionate about supporting 

SMEs and our solution is a 

convergence of the ecosystem of 

offerings that is aligned with the 

challenges that SMEs face. What 

are those challenges? Challenges 

that bothering on business 

management practices, capacity 

building, marketing and selling 

of their products or services, and 

the icing for us is their access <strong>to</strong> 

finance. We have designed our 

entire proposition in such a way 

that when you are banking with 

us, everything that keeps you up 

at night, all of the pain points in 

running your business smoothly, 

we are able <strong>to</strong> handle them for 

you. That is what our Emerging 

Business offering is all about. 

The latest SMEDAN (Small 

and Medium Enterprises 

Development Agency of 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>) and NBS (National 

Bureau of Statistics) reports 

noted that we now have over 41 

million businesses nationwide, in 

the category of micro, small and 

medium enterprises, MSMEs; 

How does the bank cater for the 

banking needs of the different 

segments? 

At Access Bank, we first of all 

understand the diverseness of 

SMEs; with that we have 

dimensioned them based on their 

needs, their demography, their 

business turnover and sizes. We 

have specific products tailored <strong>to</strong> 

cater <strong>to</strong> each of the segment. We 

have what we call the growing 

business, the basic business and 

the established SME. For the 

growing business we know that 

some of them are not structured, 

they are unregistered; So we have 

partnered with law firms <strong>to</strong> 

register their businesses for them 

and also give them the 

opportunity <strong>to</strong> run a business 

bank account. Another thing we 

do is that we help them with cost 

savings and we’ve categorise 

them as people who have 

turnover of between N50 and 

N180 million. Most times if they 

are going <strong>to</strong> run their business 

based on that turnover, some of 

them will <strong>spend</strong> as high as 

N12,000 on CoT. But at Access 

Bank, we just have a fixed 

subscription fee of four thousand 

naira. So if you do the 

calculations, you will see that we 

are giving them up <strong>to</strong> 70% of cost 

savings so that they can channel 

their funds <strong>to</strong> other aspects of the 

business. We have the people we 

consider the established 

business. We also provide the 

opportunity of cost savings of up 

<strong>to</strong> 85%. This is part of our strategy 

in the Emerging Business. We 

provide cus<strong>to</strong>mers the 

opportunity <strong>to</strong> run their business, 

grow their business and support 

them through other innovative 

products. Like those in the import, 

they form queue and the batch 

FX where a cus<strong>to</strong>mer can build 

up funds and make a bulk 

transfer if up <strong>to</strong> $50,000. This is 

what we do at Access Bank <strong>to</strong> 

support our SMEs. 

You have positioned your 

product as providing more than 

banking solutions, what can you 

offer SMEs beyond the regular 

banking services? 

It is about adding value <strong>to</strong> our 

cus<strong>to</strong>mers’ businesses because 

we want <strong>to</strong> help the businesses 

grow. We have realized that it is 

not just finance that these 

businesses need; They need <strong>to</strong> 

build capacity. So we have a lot 

of initiatives tailored <strong>to</strong>wards 

building their capacity. We have 

a lot of trainings, we have 

seminars, workshops and we 

have partnered with a lot of 

industry specialist, both 

international and local and we’ve 

seen that this has been very 

helpful in helping their 

businesses grow. Apart from 

these we also have technological 

offerings for SMEs, because we 

realised that there is need for their 

businesses <strong>to</strong> be efficient and 

effective. We thought; what other 

way can they achieve that than 

being in tune with technology? 

So we have different supports like 

website design that we offer <strong>to</strong> our 

Emerging Business cus<strong>to</strong>mers. 

We also have a business 

Ayo Olojede, Group Head, 

Emerging Business 

Chioma Ogwo, Head, Non- 

Financial Services 

management solution which we 

offer them. These packages are 

severely discounted. 

Access <strong>to</strong> finance is widely 

regarded as the major challenge 

for most MSMEs in <strong>Nigeria</strong>, 

Generally, people talk 

about how access <strong>to</strong> 

finance is the biggest 

challenge SMEs face 

with the growth of 

their businesses; but 

most of them have 

challenge of poor 

finance records 

what is Access Bank doing for 

small businesses in this regard? 

At the heart of what we do are 

our loan offerings for our 

cus<strong>to</strong>mers. We realised that it is 

simply not possible for business 

owners <strong>to</strong> scale up their business 

drawing funds from their pocket. 

As your business grows, you will 

need money <strong>to</strong> hire new 

employees, <strong>to</strong> purchase new 

equipment and open new 

branches in other locations. So it 

is important that as a business 

owner you begin <strong>to</strong> consider the 

various financing options that is 

available <strong>to</strong> you and how you can 

position yourself <strong>to</strong> make sure you 

are able <strong>to</strong> access that finance. Let 

me quickly talk about why banks 

say no <strong>to</strong> SMEs. Generally, 

Thelma Luke-Nwoye, Head, 

Liabilities Emerging Businesses 

people talk about how access <strong>to</strong> 

finance is the biggest challenge 

SMEs face with the growth of 

their businesses. But most of 

them have challenge of poor 

finance records, misalignment 

with the cash flow, not knowing 

which portion of sales proceed is 

their profit. Most of them also 

have challenges with collateral. 

What we have done at Access 

Bank is that we have invested in 

a specific lending assessment 

method that takes care of all of 

these challenges. As a result we 

are able <strong>to</strong> lend <strong>to</strong> cus<strong>to</strong>mers who 

are new <strong>to</strong> borrowing and who 

have never taken our facilities 

before. With this we have been 

able <strong>to</strong> assist SMEs who 

ordinarily would not have been 

able <strong>to</strong> access finance. Our 

requirements are very relaxed. 

We have loans like MediLoan 

that is collateral-free. We also can 

ask for flexible collateral option 

based on what you want and we 

leverage the National Collateral 

Registry <strong>to</strong> be able <strong>to</strong> register such 

as asset. We have lending officers 

who will also engage you, and 

in the course of engaging with 

you, they help you through 

building up a balance sheet, 

financial statement and cash flow 

that adjust all of your household 

expenses - the reason being that 

most SMEs have one pocket, 

everything that they make goes 

in<strong>to</strong> one pocket. In the course of 

putting everything <strong>to</strong>gether, we 

will be able <strong>to</strong> differentiate what 

you are <strong>to</strong> <strong>spend</strong> on your 

household and what goes in<strong>to</strong> 

your business and what amount 

of money is free that you can 

reinvest in<strong>to</strong> your business. On 

that basis, we determine your 

loan requirements. Whether you 

are a school owner, a health 

practitioner or you are in<strong>to</strong> IT, or 

any other business you can access 

up <strong>to</strong> N10 million without 

collateral. All of the value chain 

in the health sec<strong>to</strong>r we are able 

<strong>to</strong> support and additionally 

provide advisory support 

through our partnership with 

Medical Credit Fund (MCF). 

They will help you as a doc<strong>to</strong>r or 

pharmacists see your practice as 

a business. 

What do SMEs require in 

order <strong>to</strong> access a loan from your 

bank? Do I need <strong>to</strong> be a cus<strong>to</strong>mer 

of the Bank? 

You don’t need <strong>to</strong> have an 

account with us. We will first of 

all do a credit check on you <strong>to</strong> 

know your credit score. If it is 

clean, we will then proceed <strong>to</strong> 

demand for your business 

records. If these two things are 

fine, you are close <strong>to</strong> qualifying 

for a loan. We are not looking for 

the things that banks generally 

require. But the good thing about 

us is that, if you don’t have these 

things, we work with you <strong>to</strong> help 

you achieve them all. But note 

that when you eventually qualify 

<strong>to</strong> get the loan. 

Tell us about your specific loan 

offerings for SMEs in Health, 

Technology and Education. 

We have MediLoan for 

pharmacists, hospitals and 

diagnostic centres. This loan is 

available for different things like, 

working capital, equipment 

financing and expansion. It is a 

very flexible loan, if you ask for 

three million; we won’t ask you 

for any collateral at all. We can 

lend as much as three hundred 

and fifty million <strong>to</strong> buy equipment 

because we know how expensive 

medical equipments are. Our 

partnership with Medical Credit 

Fund (MCF) allows us <strong>to</strong> offer 

technical assistance <strong>to</strong> our 

cus<strong>to</strong>mers. Medical practitioners 

have a quality standard rating for 

operating. Our partnership with 

MCF allows them come in<strong>to</strong> our 

cus<strong>to</strong>mers’ facility and help them 

attain a high quality standard in 

healthcare. 

We also have a loan for schools. 

The loan is tailored for people who 

are in the business of running 

schools. The account for schools 

is called ‘The Diamond School 

Advantage’, DSA. This account 

gives school owners the 

advantage of collateral free loan 

<strong>to</strong> buy equipment, renovate their 

schools and also working capital. 

We have the creative sec<strong>to</strong>r 

loan. Through the CBN onlending 

initiative targeted at the 

Creative sec<strong>to</strong>r, Access Bank 

supports businesses in the 

fashion industry, IT, Movie and 

Music production. You can enjoy 

up <strong>to</strong> N500million at a 

discounted interest rate of 9% for 

repayment duration of up <strong>to</strong> 10 

years. 

Access Bank is really passionate 

about growing the engine of the 

economy which SMEs represent.



Ekiti eyes capital market <strong>to</strong> fund infrastructure 

S<strong>to</strong>ries by Peter Egwuatu 

EKITI State Government 

has commenced moves <strong>to</strong> 

approach the capital market for 

funds that would enable it 

provide critical infrastructure. 

The Governor, Dr. Kayode 

Fayemi, who was at the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n S<strong>to</strong>ck Exchange, 

NSE, at the weekend <strong>to</strong> brief 

capital market community on 

the state’s economy said: “We 

deemed it necessary <strong>to</strong> visit the 

s<strong>to</strong>ck exchange <strong>to</strong> inform the 

market about the level of 

development and the projects 

we intend <strong>to</strong> embark upon. We 

are also excited with the 

development in the s<strong>to</strong>ck 

exchange for providing and 

sustaining the channel of 

providing long term funds for 

development.” 

The governor, however, 

refused <strong>to</strong> disclose how much 

the State intend <strong>to</strong> raise saying 

at the appropriate time the 

market and regula<strong>to</strong>rs would 

be notified. 

Speaking at the event on 

“Investing in Ekiti: Facts 

behind the State economy” he 

said: “We are revitalising the 

agricultural, manufacturing, 

mining, trade and <strong>to</strong>urism 

sec<strong>to</strong>rs, which <strong>to</strong>gether account 

for 75 percent of the state’s 

gross domestic product (GDP). 

“We are establishing ones<strong>to</strong>p 

investment promotion 

centre and enterprise zone 

industrial clusters; widespread 

road constructions, 

electrification and ICT 

infrastructure; as well as 

rehabilitation of Fountain 

Hotels and commencement of 

an Ekiti State Airport project. 

We have revitalised Ikogosi 

warm spring and the water is 

now on sale. 

“During my first term as 

Governor of Ekiti State we 

raised N20 billion which was 

used in financing a number of 

projects including the Ikogosi 

warm spring redevelopment, 

the Ekiti Water Works 

INVESTORS’ 

negative 

sentiment continued in the 

equity market on the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

S<strong>to</strong>ck Exchange, NSE, despite the 

N0.30kobo interim dividend 

declared by Guaranty Trust Bank 

Plc. 

Reacting <strong>to</strong> market downturn, 

analysts at Cowry Asset 

Management Limited said: “In this 

week, we expect the domestic 

bourse <strong>to</strong> close in red terri<strong>to</strong>ry amid 

persistent negative inves<strong>to</strong>r 

sentiment; although we expect 

value inves<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> continue <strong>to</strong> take 

advantage of the low s<strong>to</strong>ck prices 

and hold relatively long positions 

in order <strong>to</strong> benefit from the high 

yielding dividend returns.” 

Analysts at Afrinvest Research 

said: “Following the bearish 

performance last week, we expect 

sell pressures <strong>to</strong> dominate in the 

near-term given the generally 

negative mood and absence of 

catalyst <strong>to</strong> spur inves<strong>to</strong>r interest.” 

Meanwhile, market analysis last 

week showed that the 

benchmark NSE All Share Index 

(ASI) shed 1.4 percent Week-on- 

Week, W-o-W, <strong>to</strong> settle at 26,925.29 

points while Year-<strong>to</strong>-Date, YtD, 

loss worsened <strong>to</strong> -14.3 percent. 

As a result, inves<strong>to</strong>rs lost 

N185.9billion in value as market 

capitalisation fell <strong>to</strong> N13.1trillion. 

The bearish performance was 

largely due <strong>to</strong> sustained losses in 

Nestle (-10.0 percent), Stanbic 

IBTC (-3.8 percent) and Ecobank 

Transnational Incorporated, ETI (- 

4.8 percent). However, activity 

level strengthened as average 

eTransact <strong>to</strong> consolidate expansion 

strategy with N7bn fresh capital 

construction, as well as the 

refinancing of high-interest 

borrowings by the state. We 

have redeemed the money we 

borrowed from the capital 

market.” 

In his own part, the Chief 

Executive Officer of the 

Exchange, Mr Oscar Onyema 

commended the governor for 

Equity market: Inves<strong>to</strong>rs’ negative sentiment 

persists 

volume and value rose 12.1 

percent and 45.1 percent <strong>to</strong> 

258.3million units and N3.5billion 

n respectively. The <strong>to</strong>p traded 

s<strong>to</strong>cks by volume were Guaranty 

Trust Bank (228.1million units), 

SHAREHOLDERS of 

Conoil Plc have expressed 

optimism over a possible 

improvement in the company’s 

returns on investment, in line 

with its tradition of delivering 

good dividend. 

In his address <strong>to</strong> shareholders 

at the 49th Annual General 

Meeting, AGM, of the company 

in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the 

Transcorp (96.1million units) and 

Zenith Bank (91.9million units) 

while Guaranty Trust Bank 

(N5.9billion), MTN (N1.9billion) 

and Dangote Cement (N1.7 billion) 

led by value. 

taking the bold step <strong>to</strong> visit the 

market. 

He said: “You have increased 

the proportion of capital 

<strong>spend</strong>ing in the 2019 budget <strong>to</strong> 

44 percent from 31 percent in 

2018; and channelled 

budgetary resources <strong>to</strong>wards 

pro-growth projects. 

At the NSE, we recognize that 

<strong>to</strong> build a sustainable economy 

for the estimated 3.5 million 

citizens of Ekiti State, supported 

by vibrant sec<strong>to</strong>rs, both stateowned 

and private sec<strong>to</strong>r 

enterprises will require access 

<strong>to</strong> right-sized capital. We have 

been longstanding partners 

with Ekiti State in accessing 

such capital.” 

Conoil assures shareholders of improved returns 

Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, 

stated that despite the challenges 

of a <strong>to</strong>ugh operating environment 

in the downstream petroleum 

sec<strong>to</strong>r, Conoil continued <strong>to</strong> record 

progress <strong>to</strong>wards delivering 

superior shareholder value. 

“Every segment of our business 

will continue <strong>to</strong> receive the desired 

attention with a view <strong>to</strong> 

maintaining world class levels of 

Fidelity Bank surpasses CBN’s 

60% LDR requirement 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

FIDELITY Bank Plc has 

surpassed the 60 per 

cent Loan <strong>to</strong> Deposit Ratio 

(LDR) requirement of the 

Central Bank of <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

(CBN). 

The Regional Bank Head, 

Abuja Bank 1, Ms. Venessa 

Mordi, disclosed this at the 

just-concluded training 

programme for Small and 

Medium Enterprises (SMEs) 

opera<strong>to</strong>rs in Abuja. 

According <strong>to</strong> her, the 

Fidelity Bank’s LDR ratio was 

already above 80 per cent and 

that it was made possible due 

<strong>to</strong> the organisation clear 

understands of the role of 

banks as financial 

intermediaries. 

She said, “We have achieved 

over 80 per cent in terms of Loan 

<strong>to</strong> Deposit ratio. We believe that 

the business of banking is 

financial intermediation. The 

job of banking is taking from the 

haves and giving it <strong>to</strong> the havenots. 

So we have tried <strong>to</strong> see 

where the needs are. 

Most of the loans we have 

given are in this sec<strong>to</strong>r, the 

SMEs. 

operating and capital discipline. 

We believe that the future holds a 

lot of promise for our shareholders, 

the company will surely reward 

them for their steadfastness and 

unwavering faith in its prospects,” 

Adenuga said. For the financial 

period ended December 31, 2018, 

Conoil profit before tax rose by 

11.4 percent <strong>to</strong> N2.6 billion from 

N2.3 billion in 2017, while profit 

after tax soared <strong>to</strong> N1.8 billion 

from N1.6 billion, representing 

13.8 percent increase. Turnover 

rose by 5.8 percent <strong>to</strong> N122 billion 

from N115 billion. 

At the meeting, shareholders 

ratified a <strong>to</strong>tal dividend cash 

payment of N1.4 billion, which 

translates <strong>to</strong> 200kobo for every 

50kobo share held. 

Adenuga attributed Conoil’s 

achievement in the financial year 

under review <strong>to</strong> the commitment 

of the Board and management of 

the company <strong>to</strong> deliver solid 

financial results, in spite of the 

enormous challenges that 

confronted opera<strong>to</strong>rs in the 

downstream oil sec<strong>to</strong>r, including 

the prohibitive cost of procuring 

petroleum products. 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

eTRANSACT Plc, an e- 

payment solution provider 

listed on the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n S<strong>to</strong>ck 

Exchange, NSE, has said that 

the proposed fresh capital 

raising of N7 billion would help 

the company <strong>to</strong> move <strong>to</strong> the next 

level of its expansion drive, 

which started in 2018. 

The company also revealed 

that it processed over 400 

million data transactions valued 

at N30 trillion in 2018. 

The Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r/CEO, 

Mr. Niyi Toluwalope, who 

disclosed these at a media 

parley in Lagos, said that the 

company is awaiting approval 

from the Securities and 

Exchange Commission, SEC, 

and the Central Bank of 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>, CBN, <strong>to</strong> proceed with 

the offer, which he hoped would 

be concluded before the end of 

2019 financial year. 

The company had earlier in 

the year secured shareholders 

nod for the capital raising 

exercise. 

He said that the company has 

reviewed and streamlined its 

strategies since June 2018 when 

the new management assumed 

position <strong>to</strong> align with its future 

focus and the roles it plans <strong>to</strong> 

play in the financial technology 

and electronic payment space. 

“The major use of the capital 

we plan <strong>to</strong> raise is <strong>to</strong> invest and 

expand our technology 

capability as well as our 

bandwidth and processing 

capabilities. It will also help us 

<strong>to</strong> deepen our network security 

systems and human capital 

strategy. We believe that we are 

here for the long run and the 

injection of additional equity 

would enable the management 

<strong>to</strong> strategically maintain the 

company’s leading position 

within the electronic payment 

industry” he stated.

C 

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C 

M 

Y 

26 — Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019

C 

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Will the last inves<strong>to</strong>r on the NSE 

please put out the lights? 

Banks market capitalisation 

drops by N657bn —August 12, 

2019. 

Inves<strong>to</strong>rs lose N157.7bn as 43 

s<strong>to</strong>cks decline —August 13, 

2019. 

WHEN in 2016 the 

forecast of a continuous 

decline in s<strong>to</strong>ck prices was 

made, a friend asked me when 

it will end and a recovery gets 

underway. The answers 

provided were simple. The bad 

news for inves<strong>to</strong>rs, whether in 

the capital market or elsewhere, 

will continue as long as <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

has a Federal Government 

whose leaders don’t understand 

how modern economies work. 

The unceasing competition 

among nations of the world for 

advantage will always work in 

favour of countries blessed with 

leaders with a great deal of 

know-how. <strong>Nigeria</strong>, 

unfortunately, is stuck with 

economic illiterates managing 

our fortunes for us. Furthermore 

every quarter that produces 

poor results will see us fall 

farther behind other nations and 

also make it more difficult <strong>to</strong> 

catch up. 

A deregulated capital market 

such as ours presents 

government and the governed 

an objective report card of what 

global inves<strong>to</strong>rs think of our 

performance. No senior special 

adviser on media or minister of 

mis-information can claim that 

we are doing very well on the 

economy when the trend 

remains downwards for almost 

27 months. The reasons are not 

<strong>to</strong>o difficult <strong>to</strong> understand for 

those not wedded <strong>to</strong> 

government propaganda. 

Capital is a coward; it takes 

flight at the first serious sign of 

trouble. The first serious sign of 

trouble came in 2016 when the 

economy went in<strong>to</strong> a recession 

for the first time in 38 years. The 

results were made available in 

the first quarter, Q1, of 2017. 

Inves<strong>to</strong>rs expected a vigorous 

response from the Federal 

Government <strong>to</strong>wards strong and 

quick recovery. What followed 

was not reassuring and induced 

pessimism about the Federal 

Government’s ability <strong>to</strong> 

understand and manage a 

complex economy. 

To begin with the president 

had prolonged health 

challenges - which led <strong>to</strong> a lot 

of ugly speculations about the 

captain of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n ship of 

state. The vice president 

stepped in and filled some of 

the political vacuum created; but 

he failed <strong>to</strong> take any significant 

measures <strong>to</strong> accelerate 

economic growth. 

Meanwhile, the 2017 budget 

was hostage <strong>to</strong> divisive politics. 

The leaders of the executive and 

legislative branches of 

government forgot (or never 

realised) that bad politics will 

drive out good money from any 

economy any time. Collectively, 

they behaved as if <strong>Nigeria</strong> was 

isolated from the globalisation 

of all markets. 

A friend in need is no friend 

of mine —American comedian. 

The budget was eventually 

passed in late May and signed 

in early June. By then, the more 

jittery foreign portfolio inves<strong>to</strong>rs 

had started <strong>to</strong> check out. They 

knew from experience about the 

verdict of his<strong>to</strong>ry on such 

matters. 

A budget passed so late in the 

year and, with no growth 

stimulus of any sort, invariably 

results in low Gross Domestic 

Product, GDP, growth. They 

were absolutely correct. The 

year 2017 ended with 0.8 per 

cent growth - barely noticeable. 

With -1.4 recorded in the 

previous year, the cumulative for 

2016 and 2017 was still negative. 

Given the depressing results 

for the first two years, many 

presidents invariably dissolve 

the cabinet and attempt <strong>to</strong> bring 

more experienced people in<strong>to</strong> 

government <strong>to</strong> accelerate 

development. Nothing like that 

happened. Individuals 

appointed on account of loyalty 

or <strong>to</strong> pay political debts were 

retained until the end. The 

ministers of the most important 


LAPO MfB raises share capital <strong>to</strong> N3.5bn 

By Providence Emmanuel 

LAPO Microfinance Bank, 

MfB, Limited has 

increased its authorised share 

capital by 75 per cent <strong>to</strong> N3.5 

billion from N2 billion. This was 

done by the creation of three 

billion additional ordinary 

shares of 50 kobo each, which 

ranks pari-passu in all respects 

with the existing ordinary 

shares. 

This was one of the highlights 

of the bank’s eighth annual 

general meeting (AGM) held in 

Lagos <strong>to</strong> approve the financial 

results of the bank for the year 

ended December 2018. 

Speaking at the AGM, 

Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r, LAPO MfB, 

Mr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, 

disclosed that the bank 

disbursed N137 billion <strong>to</strong> micro 

and small enterprises during the 

financial year, with target of 

N154 billion in 2019. 

He, however, stressed that 

there is a need for everyone <strong>to</strong> 

ensure that the loans that go <strong>to</strong> 

the MfB segment of the society 

come cheaper than what it is 

now. 

He said: "Our shareholders’ 

fund is in excess of N19 billion 

but the share capital is a 

different thing entirely and so, 

we are increasing it from N2 

billion as it were <strong>to</strong> N3.5 billion 

and that means we are 

increasing the number of our 

shares from four billion <strong>to</strong> seven 

billion. 

"The first step is for us <strong>to</strong> 

obviously be able <strong>to</strong> open up <strong>to</strong> 

private inves<strong>to</strong>rs especially 

institutional inves<strong>to</strong>rs we believe 

can add value <strong>to</strong> LAPO in 

addition <strong>to</strong> bringing fund <strong>to</strong> 

LAPO. Value in terms of their 

experience in other jurisdiction, 

being able <strong>to</strong> bring value <strong>to</strong> our 

operations and governance 

processes. 

"There is a huge gap between 

the demand for credit for people 

Foreign inves<strong>to</strong>rs 

take note of all 

these signs of a 

nation in almost 

<strong>to</strong>tal disarray and 

they have rightly 

decided <strong>to</strong> 

withdraw <strong>to</strong> safer 

economies 

ministries from the standpoint 

of the economy – power, works, 

transportation, finance, internal 

affairs – became national 

embarrassments <strong>to</strong> everybody 

who could objectively assess 

their performance. They 

embarrassed everybody except 

the team manager who either 

did not know what a 

performance appraisal is all 

about or did not seem <strong>to</strong> care. 

But, foreign inves<strong>to</strong>rs with their 

funds locked up in the largest 

country in the dark continent 

were not so forgiving. 

They noticed that the Lagos- 

Ibadan double-guage rail line 

which was promised before the 

end of 2017 was not anywhere 

near 20 per cent completion 

when the year ended. This is 

at the bot<strong>to</strong>m end, that is, the 

owners of micro and small 

businesses. So as a 

microfinance bank committed <strong>to</strong> 

supporting that end, our major 

operation is providing credit, 

we prioritize giving loan <strong>to</strong> those 

businesses. 

"We are also regulated, so we 

can mobilize deposit, but our 

commitment right from when we 

were an NGO has been <strong>to</strong> 

provide loan <strong>to</strong> owners of micro 

and small businesses. Our 

expectations are that we 

continue <strong>to</strong> do what we do, first, 

is <strong>to</strong> ensure we meet the 

demand of our clients and 

potential clients for loan, and 

secondly <strong>to</strong> be able <strong>to</strong> deliver 

some good returns in terms of 

financial performance." 

Ehigiamusoe said that 

business environment in the 

financial year under focus was 

quite challenging not just for 

the MfBs but for most 

businesses in the country, 


August 2019 and the line is still 

far from being opened for 

business. The Chinese, who 

provided the loan for the rail 

line know that there is a time 

component <strong>to</strong> any loan deal. 

With delay, interest payments 

mount. That was how we got 

in<strong>to</strong> the debt trap in the 1980s. 

We are back on familiar road <strong>to</strong> 

our detriment. 

They also noticed that we 

allowed the re-construction of 

the busiest road in <strong>Nigeria</strong> – 

Lagos-Sagamu-Ibadan – <strong>to</strong> 

drag on for ever. It has taken us 

all the years from Yar’Adua’s 

government in 2007 <strong>to</strong> repair 

and expand a road which 

Gowon’s administration 

delivered from virgin land in 

less than three years. It will still 

remain uncompleted by 

December this year. 

The paralysis of the nation’s 

biggest ports for almost five 

years could only occur in a 

country which does not want 

foreign direct investment in 

large amounts. 

The Apapa gridlock, which 

has not been duplicated 

anywhere in the world, is a 

classic case study in How Not 

To Run A Government. The 

situation not only slows down 

evacuation of imported 

materials from the ports, it 

actively discourages exports. 

The impunity of the drivers of 

trucks and trailers is simply 

as<strong>to</strong>nishing. Osinbajo, as 

acting President issued them an 

order <strong>to</strong> vacate in 72 hours. He 

was ignored; and the situation 

got worse. 

Two months ago, the President 

issued the same “Quit Notice”. 

They are still there till <strong>to</strong>day. No 

official of government has 

received a query for this slap in 

the face of the nation’s highest 

constituted authority. Yet, 

saying: "The business 

environment has been quite 

challenging especially for most 

businesses not just MfBs and 

despite that, we did our best <strong>to</strong> 

ensure we deliver our usual 

Our expectations 

are that we 

continue <strong>to</strong> do what 

we do, first, <strong>to</strong> 

ensure we meet the 

demand of our 

clients and potential 

clients for loan 

superior performance. It is for 

that reason we were able <strong>to</strong> 

provide dividend for inves<strong>to</strong>rs. 

"What is important is that the 

bigger chunk of our profit after 

tax has been ploughed back in<strong>to</strong> 

the business and what is going 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> loses billions each day 

the trucks stay there. 

Foreign inves<strong>to</strong>rs take note of 

all these signs of a nation in 

almost <strong>to</strong>tal disarray and they 

have rightly decided <strong>to</strong> withdraw 

<strong>to</strong> safer economies. Obviously, 

the government of any country 

which can <strong>to</strong>lerate the atrocities 

we mentioned above, as well as 

others left un<strong>to</strong>uched, cannot 

possibly expect its economy <strong>to</strong> 

grow at six, seven or eight per 

cent as China, India and 

Indonesia – the countries 

mentioned on June 12 – had 

done for several years. Can 

anyone imagine China allowing 

truckers <strong>to</strong> block a major road for 

two weeks - not <strong>to</strong> talk of five 

years? 

Those still involved in the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n S<strong>to</strong>ck Exchange must 

be there now for other reasons 

other than return on investment. 

The <strong>Nigeria</strong>n economy is 

heading for another low growth 

year. The firms listed on the NSE 

are struggling. Now, the Food 

and Beverage sec<strong>to</strong>r will 

experience a <strong>to</strong>ugh time starting 

with those importing milk 

products as component of their 

manufacturing process. 

The collateral damage which 

the change of government policy 

will have on non-food 

manufacturers (packaging 

materials, etc.) will be more 

profound than anybody can 

imagine at this time. 

Decline in <strong>to</strong>tal capitalisation 

since January would have been 

alarming if not for new major 

listings like MTN. But, even with 

them, the future is bleak for 

inves<strong>to</strong>rs. The <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

economy under current 

management cannot deliver the 

sort of robust growth which will 

halt the continuous slide in share 

prices. 

MICROFINANCE 

back <strong>to</strong> shareholders is minimal 

and the fact that the number of 

shares in LAPO is small. 

"I strongly believe that in spite 

of the challenges in the 

economy, <strong>Nigeria</strong> has a big 

potential for MfBs in the sense 

that we have a very large 

population of people and these 

people are exceptionally very 

enterprising, therefore there is 

need <strong>to</strong> see how we can support 

the sec<strong>to</strong>r. 

“More importantly, it is the 

desire of everyone <strong>to</strong> ensure that 

the loans <strong>to</strong> this segment of the 

society come cheaply or cheaper 

than what it is now. Some 

solution <strong>to</strong> that could be the 

need <strong>to</strong> have a refinancing 

structure or institution in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> that would be able <strong>to</strong> 

provide low cost fund <strong>to</strong> MfBs 

who would then use such fund 

for on lending. The implication 

therefore is that the ultimate 

user, the borrower would access 

cheaper loan than what they do 

now.”


(08052201997) 

THE Murtala 

M u h a m m e d 

International Airport, which 

was commissioned over 40 

years ago, remained, 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s premier gateway, 

until, the new Abuja, 

International Airport was 

commissioned this year. 

Regrettably, in retrospect, 

since, the MMIA was opened, 

there was no major attempt <strong>to</strong> 

refurbish and sustain smooth 

running operations at the 

earlier celebrated aviation 

facility. 

Presently, aviation hubs in 

Cairo, Addis Ababa, 

Johannesburg, and lately 

Accra, have since showcased 

superior facilities that put the 

MMIA’s image <strong>to</strong> shame. 

Indeed, the excitement of 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns returning home 

from foreign destinations, <strong>to</strong> 

rejoin family and friends, 

often, quickly wears off after 

arrival at the MMIA, in Lagos! 

Admittedly, the process of 

disembarkation, immigration, 

baggage discharge and 

Cus<strong>to</strong>ms, have lately, been 

largely streamlined, 

nonetheless, there is still a 

disturbing overhang of an 

untidy ambience, in service 

delivery, by the various port 

agencies. 

The challenges, actually 

begin the moment, 

passengers exit the Cus<strong>to</strong>ms 

controlled area, and suddenly 

become confronted by a host 

of porters, taxi drivers and 

other myriad transport 

contrac<strong>to</strong>rs, who besiege 

travellers, as if <strong>to</strong> wrestle and 

divorce them from their 

luggage! Obviously, the 

product of such rude 

engagement may have 

become of concern, as warning 

posters on billboards and 

structural pillars, carry the 

stern warning that 

uncontrolled rage of any 

passenger, within the arrival 

hall, will be severely dealt with 

by airport authorities. 

Furthermore, <strong>to</strong> the anguish 

of travellers, from 


YOUNG entrepreneurs 

could overcome the 

challenges of starting and 

building their small businesses 

by diligent working on simple 

and creative ideas. 

Speaking <strong>to</strong> Financial 

Vanguard, weekend, on 

entrepreneurship development 

issues amongst young 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns, managing direc<strong>to</strong>r of 

Sweetkiwi, <strong>Nigeria</strong>'s rising 

international yoghurt brand, 

Ehime Eigbe, said that even if 

the <strong>to</strong>tal vision is not fully in 

place, a gradual execution of 

MMIA: Passenger <strong>to</strong>rture from arrival hall 

<strong>to</strong> car park! 

destinations, with much colder 

climate, it is not unusual for 

the air-condition system, in 

the airport, <strong>to</strong> fail for extended 

periods. Sadly, the disjointed 

array of several, roughly 

fabricated commercial kiosks, 

in the arrival hall, is often 

reminiscent of similar 

degraded retail outlets and 

mini-supermarkets, in dingy 

shopping precincts, in several 

unserviced locations, in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s cities. 

Notably, also, the horrid 

spectacle of decay in <strong>to</strong>ilets 

and other conveniences, may 

actually be strong enough <strong>to</strong> 

encourage, only, desperately 

pressed travellers <strong>to</strong> 

compulsively ease 

themselves. However, the 

preceding unnerving, 

experiences, are just the 

beginning of an exhaustive 

and depressing exercise, of 

transporting one’s self and 

luggage from the arrival hall 

<strong>to</strong> either the open <strong>to</strong> the skies 

pick-up point or the farther, 

more frustrating, car park exit. 

Notwithstanding, 

immediately outside the 

arrival hall, the traveller is 

forced <strong>to</strong> weave his way with 

a rented, rickety luggage 

trolley, through a congregation 

of in-your-face taxi drivers, 

currency traders, porters and 

other non-specific contrac<strong>to</strong>rs! 

Sadly, the intense solicitation 

from these motley groups for 

business, persists beyond the 

arrival hall through a bumpy 

walkway, for over 60 metres 

under the open skies, before 

the exit route weaves through 

another 100 metres or so of a 

five-six foot wide concrete 

lane, with aluminum roofing 

and open side-netting, before 

reaching the first designated 

pick-up point, which is not 

also sheltered from the 

elements. 

Furthermore, beyond the 

rowdy, shoving and pushing 

at the seeming jungle of a 

pick-up point, those travelers, 

proceeding <strong>to</strong> the actual car 

park, must veer thereafter, 

in<strong>to</strong> another heavily crowded 

lane, that runs for about 100 

metres, with their heavily 

laden trolleys and, ultimately, 

dash across a very busy airport 

access road with its stream of 

cars, heading <strong>to</strong> the airport 

departure hall of the MMIA. 

Expectedly, if it rains at 

anytime, the discomfort <strong>to</strong> an 

already stressed, and 

confused passenger with the 

burden of wobbling, heavy 

laden pushcarts, can best be 

imagined and not endured. 

Expectedly, the patience and 

equanimity of travelers are 

200 metres, or so from the 

arrival hall, <strong>to</strong> the car park! It 

is not clear why an 

intermediate pick-up point 

was carved out, when there is 

a fully furnished, multi-level 

modern car park! Ultimately, 

the pick-up point has already 

become an intermediate day 

and night market for a host of 

unlicensed foreign exchange 

hawkers, taxi drivers and a 

motley of <strong>to</strong>uts, some of whom 

are moon-lighting armed 

security officers, who are out 

<strong>to</strong> make a quick buck; God 

help the poor passenger, if the 

clouds also decide <strong>to</strong> empty its 

burden of rain at anytime! 

Predictably, any excitement 

that a <strong>Nigeria</strong>n traveller had 

of returning home, <strong>to</strong> family 

and friends would most 

probably soon evaporate, with 

the prolonged <strong>to</strong>rture, 

endured before they accessed 

transport for the journey back 

home. 

Similarly, foreigners who are 

also compelled <strong>to</strong> exit the 

airport, with such distressing 

and oppressive exit 

procedure, may also wonder 

whether they have not made 

a mistake, for choosing 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> as their destination. 

Indeed, unless these 

foreigners expect <strong>to</strong> make 

substantial ‘booty’ from their 

visit, they may never choose 

<strong>to</strong> visit <strong>Nigeria</strong> ever again; 

furthermore, these visi<strong>to</strong>rs 

may wonder whether <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s 

aviation authorities have also 

gone gaga, as they may find 

it, inexplicable that the ‘docile 

natives’, who have acquiesced 

<strong>to</strong> such involuntary <strong>to</strong>rture 

meted out <strong>to</strong> them, are still 

unable <strong>to</strong> make their rulers 

accountable or responsive. 

Invariably, the <strong>to</strong>rtuous 

process from the arrival hall, 

<strong>to</strong> the pick-up point, and 

thereafter <strong>to</strong> the main car 

park, becomes greatly 

Young entrepreneurs counselled on building businesses from scratch 

business ideas could yield 

massive success with time, going 

by her experience. 

She stated: ''The truth is that in 

entrepreneurship and business 

development it is one step at a 

time, you cannot envision all 

these things at once. You can 

think, Oh! I want <strong>to</strong> do this, those 

are dreams that you have for the 

business but as long as you just 

keep working on it there would 

be good results.'' 

She explained that the 

entrepreneur could even get 

more valuable ideas from the 

Any 

excitement 

that a 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

traveller had 

of returning 

home, <strong>to</strong> 

family and 

friends 

would most 

probably 

soon 

evaporate 

seriously tested during the 60 

minutes or more, that it takes 

<strong>to</strong> make the journey from the 

airport hall <strong>to</strong> the pick-up 

point, where transport <strong>to</strong> 

destinations can be accessed, 

after still more waiting! The 

travellers pain is unfortunately 

compounded, if they, also, 

have the “misfortune” of heavy 

luggage, which must be 

hauled all the way, for about 

engagement with the cus<strong>to</strong>mers 

he never thought of, saying, 

''sometimes cus<strong>to</strong>mers would 

give you your best ideas and that 

was how we continued doing the 

event catering and that was what 

helped us <strong>to</strong> afford the current 

location we are in now. You know, 

sometimes starting at the peak 

of the idea is not always the best. 

Find little ways in which you can 

start <strong>to</strong> build little by little and 

you would still get <strong>to</strong> the 

destination.'' 

Further narrating her 

experience which <strong>to</strong>ok the 

business from home <strong>to</strong> the highbrow 

large Lekki, Lagos location 

and now in Washing<strong>to</strong>n DC, 

United States of America, Eigbe 

stated: ''We were always boot 

strapping, get a little money from 

clients <strong>to</strong> do some things, we 

were renting machines all the 

time from different people before 

we could even afford our own 

machine. We were just doing 

what we could with what we had. 

''I always tell people before you 

start looking for funding or 

anyone who is going <strong>to</strong> give you 

money do what you can with 

amplified, if for whatever 

reason, the traveller arrives at 

MMIA after dark; although 

the distance remains the 

same, the weary traveller 

invariably becomes 

apprehensive as they traverse 

this route, under a narrow, 

dimly lit corridor, with 

aluminum side-nettings, 

which is flanked on either 

side, by currency hawkers, 

<strong>to</strong>uts and transport contrac<strong>to</strong>rs 

lurking in the shadows of 

darkness. Evidently, this daily 

spectacle, is an indescribable 

horrific experience, that does 

not do <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s image any 

good. 

In fact, the journey from the 

arrival hall <strong>to</strong> the car park is 

probably reminiscent of a war 

zone with besieged and 

helpless travelers, who must 

suffer and, still manage <strong>to</strong> 

smile, when family members 

and loved ones turn up, in the 

midst of the chaos, <strong>to</strong> welcome 

one of their own back home. 

Instructively, the simple 

process of moving from the 

airport arrival hall <strong>to</strong> the car 

park, which may not exceed, 

say 15 minutes, in a 

neighbouring country, like 

Ghana, may in contrast, 

regrettably, consume well over 

an hour at MMIA, with an 

inclusive heavy dose of pain 

and humiliation, <strong>to</strong> boot. 

Admittedly, <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns are 

expectant, that with the 

commissioning of the long 

anticipated, new facility at 

MMIA, the challenges and 

pains listed above, would be 

erased, since the new terminal 

is just a pole away from a 

massive, four s<strong>to</strong>rey car park, 

which is already operational. 

Notwithstanding, the 

construction and delayed 

commissioning of the new 

facility should not be an 

excuse for the continued 

abuse, stress and tears that 

both <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns and foreign 

visi<strong>to</strong>rs have <strong>to</strong> endure 

whenever they enter our 

country through the MMIA! 

ECONOMY 

what you have first. That was 

what we did, we did what we 

could do with what we had and 

then people started seeing the 

potentials a bit more. People will 

start <strong>to</strong> say okay they are trying 

they have done something even 

when they did not have anything 

and they will start <strong>to</strong> trust you a 

bit more.'' 

According <strong>to</strong> her, ''Sometimes, 

it is just about getting people <strong>to</strong> 

buy in<strong>to</strong> your vision. Not 

everyone is going <strong>to</strong> be a hard 

person. You know, we often think 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns are not nice, they do 

not like <strong>to</strong> help people. But that 

is not true some people are nice.''

FG, El-Zakzaky premier in Bollywood 

INDIAN films from 

Bollywood were the 

mainstay of the movie industry in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> far outstripping the 

American Hollywood. That was 

long before the <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

Nollywood made its entrance. 

Those were the days of famous 

Indian ac<strong>to</strong>rs like Dharmendra, 

Prem Chopra, Feroz Khan, Hema 

Malini, Helen, Shashi Kapoor 

and Rajesh Khanna who produced 

mega hits like Sholay, Love in 

Tokyo and Jugnu. 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> was perhaps 

Bollywood’s largest international 

market, but I do not recall 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns playing roles in Indian 

films until last week when the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n government and its 

most famous detainee, Sheikh 

Ibraheem EL-Zakzaky, decided <strong>to</strong> 

enact a real life drama in India. 

The Buhari administration and 

El-Zakzaky have, for four years 

now, staged tragic live 

performances in various cities, 

including Zaria, Kaduna and 

Abuja in which about 400 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns have been killed. 

The drama in India would have 

been avoided if the government 

had obeyed at least three court 

orders, excluding that of the 

ECOWAS Court which had ruled 

over the past three years that El- 

Zakzaky be freed. Far back 2016, 

90 

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the 

Federal High Court had ordered 

the Federal Government <strong>to</strong> free 

the cleric and his wife, Zeenat, and 

pay them N50 million. Rather 

than obey the courts, government 

decided <strong>to</strong> play politics leading 

<strong>to</strong> endless drama productions, 

including the latest play on the 

international stage with India as 

location. 

The prism from which I view the 

various films is that government 

is a judgement-deb<strong>to</strong>r who is 

writing scripts and acting in them 

<strong>to</strong> present El-Zakzaky and his 

Shiite followers as stubborn 

terrorists who need <strong>to</strong> be 

perpetually locked up or 

proscribed. On the other hand, El- 

Zakzaky is a judgement-credi<strong>to</strong>r 

who should have been set free 

years ago rather than the comedy 

of taking him through courts of 

same jurisdiction as if they are 

appellate courts. 

India was chosen as the setting 

of new movie for medical 

purposes. The cleric explains: 

“There is a bullet in Zeenat’s body 

and there is also the need for her 

<strong>to</strong> get her two knee caps replaced 

amongst other ailments. On my 

own part, there are also particles 

of bullets that were broken in<strong>to</strong> 

pieces in my eyes, hands and 

thighs which have been poisonous 

More of the centrifugal than the centripetal 

By Banji Ojewale 

THE theories of the physicists and 

mathematicians of the 17th century 

concerning the dynamics of the motion of 

objects best illustrate the condition of the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n state of the 21st century. The two 

striking figures of the age - the English 

scientist, Isaac New<strong>to</strong>n and the Dutch 

mathematician, Christian Huygens - led 

man in<strong>to</strong> their complex findings in their 

study of the force that drives the movement 

of inanimate bodies, terrestrial, 

stra<strong>to</strong>spheric or ionospheric. 

New<strong>to</strong>n said the centripetal engine was 

responsible for the push of an object <strong>to</strong>wards 

its centre or source or origin. All its energies 

willy-nilly would be concentrated on 

"seeking the centre," hence the term, 

centripetal, from two Latin words, centrum 

for centre, and petere, <strong>to</strong> seek. Centripetal 

potency is the centre-searching capacity. 

There is yet another law that worked in a 

distinctly opposite fashion, according <strong>to</strong> 

New<strong>to</strong>n. He called it the centrifugal force, 

again from its Latin home, centrum (centre) 

and fugere (<strong>to</strong> flee). It simply means ‘centrefleeing.’ 

The physicists who studied the 

principle said it entailed the ‘spinning or 

travelling’ at great speed of an object from 

its centre, the ‘tending away from 

centralisation, as of authority.’ 

Scientists who came after these pioneers 

have arrived with the discovery that as 

powerful as the centrifugal force is, it "has 

no independent existence. It comes <strong>to</strong> play 

with the action of the centripetal force." 

Today, social scientists borrow these 

principles from physics <strong>to</strong> gauge the mood 

of organised society. Man and his 

institutions are at the mercy of centrifugal 

and centripetal dynamics. 

It has been revealed, for instance, that "the 

division of Europe in<strong>to</strong> warring blocs 

<strong>to</strong> my body.” The government 

agreed both need specialised 

medical treatment which India 

offered. 

On a personal level, I feel pained 

that <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns would need <strong>to</strong> go 

<strong>to</strong> India for medical treatment 

when in the 1960s and 1970s, our 

medical system was far ahead. In 

fact, the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n education 

system was regarded as being so 

superior that degrees from India 

were officially classified as 

equivalent <strong>to</strong> our Advanced Level 

(A-Level) certificates. Well, that is 

the level of our degeneracy. Back 

<strong>to</strong> the disgraceful drama in India. 

First, let us examine El- 

Zakzaky’s claims. He said he and 

his wife refused treatment 

because the Indian doc<strong>to</strong>rs that 

examined them in <strong>Nigeria</strong> were 

A man with 

medical conditions 

who has been 

incarcerated for 

four years against 

court orders, can 

naturally seek some 

comfort 

produces ever-increasing centrifugal stress". 

Hong Kong at the moment is at its own 

phase of the centrifugal fever. Hundreds of 

thousands of its citizens no longer want 

anything with the ‘centre’ in China, as 

represented by their government in Hong 

Kong. Every insurrection, revolt or attempt 

at them or challenge <strong>to</strong> the authority of the 

state is an expression of, or obedience <strong>to</strong>, 

the centrifugal call. 

In <strong>Nigeria</strong>, we seem <strong>to</strong> be under the 

unyielding spell of the centrifugal curse. Our 

young men and women are fleeing the land 

for the proverbial greener pastures. The jobs 

and opportunities we promised them aren’t 

forthcoming. They believe they would be 

wasting their prime if they continue <strong>to</strong> build 

their hopes on those they consider selfish 

and avaricious leaders, who are 

accumulating the resources of the society 

for their families alone. 

According <strong>to</strong> some analysts, those 

succumbing <strong>to</strong> the music of the modern Pied 

Piper and have found home away from home 

boast of statistics threatening <strong>to</strong> outnumber 

their hosts. 

Other cynics say our people out there are 

capable of forming more states outside 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> <strong>to</strong> bring the number close <strong>to</strong> 50 

states. A significant number of the 

centrifugal exiles, however, insist they’ve cut 

all links with their motherland, given what 

they call the cruelty meted out <strong>to</strong> them by 

their leaders that moved these compatriots 

<strong>to</strong> bow <strong>to</strong> the irresistible pressure <strong>to</strong> flee. 

How about those refusing <strong>to</strong> be lured <strong>to</strong> 

go abroad? There is a reason, according <strong>to</strong> 

those who claim they are faithful watchers 

of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n scene. They say those staying 

behind are only waiting <strong>to</strong> understudy those 

in power as they ‘chop’ the national cake, so 

they can outdo them later when they get the 

ba<strong>to</strong>n. So, their decline of the overtures of 

the powerful wanderlust isn’t nationalistic 

all excluded: “We then <strong>to</strong>ld them 

we won’t allow any other doc<strong>to</strong>r 

aside our trusted doc<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> attend 

<strong>to</strong> us so that they don’t do <strong>to</strong> us 

what they couldn’t do with their 

bullets in <strong>Nigeria</strong>.” 

I think a patient having 

confidence in his doc<strong>to</strong>rs is 

fundamental, especially when he 

fears that what was done <strong>to</strong> retired 

General Musa Yar’Adua in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>, could also be done <strong>to</strong> 

him. 

Secondly, he complained: “All 

what we have seen here have 

shown us that there is no trust; 

they just brought us here for 


another detention …They didn’t 

even allow me <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> the next 

room. I started asking myself, all 

these while I’ve been in detention, 

I’ve never seen this type. Even if 

I’m in the cell, they usually lock 

us up around 9 p.m. and open the 

cell around 7 a.m. and they allow 

us <strong>to</strong> go anywhere we want in the 

area we are.” If these claims were 

true, then he had every right <strong>to</strong> 

protest, more so when previous 

courts in <strong>Nigeria</strong> had freed him. 

The psychological state of a 66- 

year-old man with pellets lodged 

in him for years, who has now lost 

an eye in detention, lost six sons 

<strong>to</strong> the bullets of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n state, 

whose home and centre of worship 

have been destroyed, and the 

organisation he spent his youth 

building has been proscribed, 

needs <strong>to</strong> be properly managed. 

The Federal Government’s 

statement issued by the 

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of 

Information and Culture, 

Deaconess Grace Isu Gekpe, did 

not do much justice <strong>to</strong> us as a 

country. The language needed <strong>to</strong> 

be civil; it was uncalled for 

describing the Sheikh as 

exhibiting “unruly behaviour”. It 

was also a shame that the Indian 

government refuted our 

government’s claim that: 

“Frustrated by his antics, the 

Indian authorities have expressed 

willingness <strong>to</strong> return him <strong>to</strong> 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> with immediate effect.” 

The Indian High Commission 

in reaction <strong>to</strong> this claim, simply 

tweeted: “There is no condition 

or ultimatum by India.” 

Government’s substantive claims 

against El-Zakzaky in the India 

drama was that first: “He 

requested that his passport be 

handed over <strong>to</strong> him…”. What is 

the issue here? If the cleric wants 

<strong>to</strong> escape or seek political asylum, 

he does not need a passport. 

Why would <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

not want a return <strong>to</strong> the 

past which powered 

phenomenal prosperity 

for the people? 

as they tend <strong>to</strong> suggest. They are biding their 

time <strong>to</strong> shine in the culture of corruption 

and treasury pillage in place. They 

understand the philosophy of the patient 

dog; it is waiting <strong>to</strong> devour the fattest bone. 

Read: <strong>to</strong> bilk the society out of its seemingly 

bot<strong>to</strong>mless petrodollars. 

But the most incommoding or troubling 

aspect of the national discourse at the 

moment is the takeover of the conversation 

by centrifugal forces and the near 

disappearance of their centripetal 

counterparts. Most are calling for an 

outright abrogation of the ties of our unity. 

This is frightening as it amounts <strong>to</strong> going 

our separate ways, the way it was with the 

Soviet Union in the 1990s. Another centreshy 

demand is the request for restructuring, 

<strong>to</strong> reduce the powers of the centre. 

Some of our fellow countrymen and 

women want us <strong>to</strong> go back <strong>to</strong> the pre and 

post-independence arrangement of 

regionalism. They have romanticised that 

era. They refer <strong>to</strong> the great strides the vast 

Western <strong>Nigeria</strong> <strong>to</strong>ok under a cohabitation 

with less federal watch and control. 

Some European nations and Asian Tigers 

which are numbered among the 20 leading 

countries of the world <strong>to</strong>day didn’t have 

some of the smart indices of development 

which the Western Region had. We’ve never 

had peace and real progress after the 

military abolished the system and turned a 

federation in<strong>to</strong> a unitary set-up. 

Send Opinions & Letters <strong>to</strong>: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

Secondly, that: “In addition, he 

demanded free movement and 

access <strong>to</strong> visi<strong>to</strong>rs of all kinds as 

well as requested <strong>to</strong> be allowed <strong>to</strong> 

check in<strong>to</strong> a five-star hotel instead 

of being admitted in the hospital.” 

How can a man be confined <strong>to</strong> a 

room or ward? Even a caged dog 

is allowed <strong>to</strong> stretch its legs or 

taken for walks. 

He should have been entitled <strong>to</strong> 

visi<strong>to</strong>rs provided they are 

screened. That he wanted <strong>to</strong> stay 

in a five-star hotel is his business 

so long as he did not ask the 

government <strong>to</strong> pay. All that is 

necessary is arrangement with the 

hospital, and if the latter can 

cope. A man with medical 

conditions who has been 

incarcerated for four years 

against court orders, can 

naturally seek some comfort. 

Government said this was 

denied because the “visa was 

issued on medical grounds and 

not for <strong>to</strong>urism”. What logic! So 

if a <strong>to</strong>urist wants medical care, 

he would be denied? Conversely, 

why can’t a person seeking 

medical care also enjoy some 

<strong>to</strong>urism? That may actually aid 

his recovery which should be the 

ultimate goal. Besides, what the 

cleric and other <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns who go 

abroad for better medical 

treatment are engaged in is 

medical <strong>to</strong>urism. El-Zakzaky and 

his wife in India were <strong>to</strong>urists! 

Well, the Bollywood film has 

ended. We are back <strong>to</strong> Nollywood. 

New films are likely unless the 

government wants <strong>to</strong> end these 

unnecessary distractions by 

engaging in dialogue. If 

government can engage in 

negotiations with the terrorist 

Boko Haram, then it also can with 

El-Zakzaky and his Islamic 

Movement of <strong>Nigeria</strong> who unlike 

the former, do not carry arms. 

I don’t think the problem is that we are 

inundated with more of a centrifugal 

cacophony than a centripetal noise. Where 

is the joy of having sepulchral peace in a 

stagnant ‘united’ nation? Why would 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns not want a return <strong>to</strong> the past which 

powered phenomenal prosperity for the 

people? 

Why would we not demand a system that 

would guarantee justice, peace, socioeconomic 

progress and prosperity for our 

people <strong>to</strong> enable us fulfil our destiny as the 

hub of the planet’s Black peoples. 

We need <strong>to</strong> accommodate these centredespising 

forces that would free us from the 

funereal vice of a system preventing 

unhindered socio-economic march. That is 

the constructive nature of the centrifugal 

forces. They enable a cathartic process that 

reduces the unwieldy weight of the centre. A 

balanced structure emerges where the states 

or regions with their independent police 

formations along with their MDAs and 

constitutions are at liberty <strong>to</strong> dig deep in<strong>to</strong> 

their natural and human resources for allround 

development. 

No limitations dictated by the centre. Nor 

is there any artificial requirement <strong>to</strong> slow 

down the speed of your race because other 

states are laggards. 

What obtains now is a killer atmosphere. 

A<strong>to</strong>p it is an indolent centre breeding equally 

indolent outposts in its own image across 

the land. This machinery has turned us all 

in<strong>to</strong> beggars in a land literally flowing with 

‘milk and honey’. It is a monster of 

government bureaucracy now challenged 

by the strong currents of centre-defying 

outcry. 

Therefore, what we are witnessing, the 

uproarious call all over the land <strong>to</strong> unbundle 

the centre, is, according <strong>to</strong> the scientists of 

the 17th century, a reaction <strong>to</strong> the inertia of 

the forces at the centre. 

•Ojewale, a public affairs analyst, wrote 

from Lagos 

C 

M 

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C 

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C 

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Beyond aesthetics: 

The hype, hollowness 

of art auctions 

By Osa Amadi, 

Arts Edi<strong>to</strong>r 

Ihave never ceased <strong>to</strong> be 

alarmed by what I call “the 

absurdity” that anyone could 

offer $450 million for just 

different colors of paint splashed 

on a piece of cloth called canvas; 

or an image of some human, 

animal or other objects carved out 

of a piece of wood or s<strong>to</strong>ne. Four 

hundred and fifty million 

dollars! That’s Leonardo da 

Vinci’s “Salva<strong>to</strong>r Mundi” 

(Saviour of the World) – bought 

for $450 million in November 

2017, shattering the record for 

the most expensive artwork ever 

sold. 

Before you dismiss me as one 

without any sense of art, let me 

inform you that I am an artist in 

every sense of that word. Right 

from childhood, I had been 

called “Omenkari” which is a 

dialectical variation of “Omenka” 

meaning “the artist”. I have 

always been carving, drawing, 

and creating beautiful things 

with my hands. At a certain 

stage in my life, I became 

enamoured with writing and has 

tried in that calling. 

Moreover, I had my first 

university degree in music art. 

While I was studying music at 

the Obafemi Awolowo University, 

I <strong>to</strong>ok electives from the 

Department of Fine Arts. So, if I 

fail <strong>to</strong> see a commensurate value 

in a piece of painting sold for 

$450 million, it is not because 

of a lack of sense of art. 

Artworks are not alone in my 

interrogation of intrinsic values 

in objects. Gold, diamonds, and 

other so-called precious s<strong>to</strong>nes 

highly valued by humans also 

come under my query. Beyond 

being used in the making of 

stainless jewelry, of what intrinsic 

values are gold and diamonds 

that they are sold at such 

exorbitant prices? Did any of the 

Pharaoh buried with heavy 

carats of gold ever return <strong>to</strong> life? 

Let me tell you a s<strong>to</strong>ry of gold I 

read from the late Norman 

Vincent Peale’s Plus, the 

Magazine of Positive Thinking. 

I cannot remember all the details 

but I will make a reconstruction. 

Before men ever knew what 

was gold, a certain miner 

discovered a small gold deposit 

in his mining field and brought 

some nuggets home <strong>to</strong> a small 

community where he lived. He 

approached some jewelry 

makers in the community and 

introduced the fine metals <strong>to</strong> 

them. The jewelry makers were 

fascinated seeing that the 

trinkets they made with the gold 

remained stainless and very 

malleable and easy <strong>to</strong> work on 

for intricate designs in jewelry. 

Within a short time, demand 

for gold soared in the community 

and the miner became the richest 

man in the land because only he 

knew where <strong>to</strong> get the gold. With 

time, abundant wealth 

bequeathed the miner power, 

and the power got in<strong>to</strong> his 

head and he became 

oppressive, ridding rough shod 

on everyone, including the 

leading elites of the 

community. 

People tried <strong>to</strong> follow the miner 

whenever he was going <strong>to</strong> work 

in efforts <strong>to</strong> know the source of 

his gold nuggets but the miner 

was <strong>to</strong>o crafty and discreet. He 

succeeded in keeping the source 

of the gold secret and his wealth 

continued <strong>to</strong> grow because all 

the women in the community 

demanded gold trinkets from 

jewelry makers now known as 

goldsmiths. 

One day, a hunter went <strong>to</strong> a 

mountain <strong>to</strong> hunt and found that 

little pieces of rocks around the 

mountain were just like the ones 

the miner always brought back 

home as gold. Upon closer 

examination, he realized he was 

right and that the rock, of which 

the entire mountain was made, 

was the same as the little pieces 

he had picked. It downed on 

him that he had discovered a 

mountain of gold! 

Excitedly he <strong>to</strong>ok as many 

pieces of the “rock” as he 

could carry and hurried home. 

He went straight <strong>to</strong> one of the 

goldsmiths and showed him the 

pieces of “rocks”. “These are 

gold. From where did you get 

these large nuggets?” the 

goldsmith whispered <strong>to</strong> the 

hunter in as<strong>to</strong>nishment. “How 

much do you want <strong>to</strong> sell 

them? I will buy all,” the 

goldsmith started, warming up 

for the bargain. 

“I don’t want <strong>to</strong> sell them. You 

can have them for free,” the 

hunter said and walked away, 

leaving the goldsmith’s mouth 

agape. The next day, the hunter 

rented a large cart pulled by two 

horses and went back <strong>to</strong> the 

mountain. With a digger and a 

crowbar, he broke off large lumps 

of the gold and filled the cart and 

made the horses <strong>to</strong> drag it <strong>to</strong> the 

village square. He heaped the 

gold on the ground and 

announced <strong>to</strong> people who had 

gathered there <strong>to</strong> help 

themselves while he returned <strong>to</strong> 

the mountain for more gold. 

After several trips, people 

followed him <strong>to</strong> the mountain and 

before dusk that day there came 

<strong>to</strong> be more gold in the community 

than anyone needed. People 

tried <strong>to</strong> sell their own gold but 

there was nobody <strong>to</strong> by it because 

everyone had gold. Suddenly, 

•Interchange (1955) by Willem de Kooning. Sold 

$300 million, only surpassed in November 2017 

by Salva<strong>to</strong>r Mundi. 

•Salva<strong>to</strong>r Mundi by Leonardo Da Vinci (c. 1500) – $450 

million, the most expensive painting ever sold as of 2019. 

gold lost its value! 

From this s<strong>to</strong>ry, we can see that 

what drove the value of gold in 

the community was its scarcity, 

rather than any intrinsic value. 

Beyond aesthetics, artworks 

have become single multi-million 

dollar notes for rich people <strong>to</strong> hold 

their money while growing it. If 

we can imagine a single $450 

million note for instance, 

Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salva<strong>to</strong>r 

Mundi” is that note. And it will 

never depreciate. Like landed 

property, that artwork, that single 

mega-denominated currency 

note, always appreciate. 

Valuable artworks that have 

entered the global art market 

(even some in the local market) 

have little or no hiding places. 

Even when they are s<strong>to</strong>len, they 

cannot be publicly auctioned 

without being identified or 

discovered. The last buyer of every 

•Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You 

Marry?) Oil painting from (1892) by Paul 

Gauguin. Sold $210 million. 

artwork is always documented in 

the art market. So stealing a 

valuable piece of artwork is 

useless. The question is, where is 

the thief going <strong>to</strong> sell it? 

Highly priced artworks are also 

insured against loss resulting from 

theft, fire, or other types of 

damage. These tight securities 

and ability <strong>to</strong> grow in value make 

artworks safe investment options 

for the rich. An artwork auctioned 

<strong>to</strong>day for a price will surely 

appreciate, double or even triple 

in price in the next few years. For 

instance, “Salva<strong>to</strong>r Mundi”, 

which was once part of Charles 

I’s Royal collection, was sold for 

just £45 in the 1950s, though it 

was mistaken for a copy. 

You may have often heard that 

paper money or a country’s 

currency is only a receipt 

representing the gold in the bank 

with which that currency is 

backed. For a highly priced 

artwork, it is a representation of 

the amount of money the last buyer 

paid for it which is deposited in 

the bank or is in circulation within 

the global economic system. 

But the argument here is that 

beyond their ornamental or 

decorative values, gold, diamond, 

artworks, currencies have no 

intrinsic values. A piece of 

enriched Uranium has some 

intrinsic value because it can be 

employed in a nuclear reac<strong>to</strong>r 

where it is used in nuclear fission 

(the endless bombardment of the 

nucleus of its a<strong>to</strong>ms) <strong>to</strong> produce 

energy. Seeds of corn have 

intrinsic values <strong>to</strong>o because they 

can be eaten by human or animals 

as food or planted <strong>to</strong> produce more 

corns. Many plants and animals 

also have intrinsic values because 

they can be eaten as foods or 

harbour substances that can be 

used in medicines as active 

ingredients. 

Renowned art collec<strong>to</strong>r, Otunba 

Yemisi Syllon argues that the value 

of artworks is located in the fact 

they impinge on human minds 

providing aesthetic enjoyment 

when viewed. But so does the 

sight of a setting sun, a hibiscus 

flower, a beautiful woman, or a 

landscape of a panoramic golf 

course. Moreover, all these are 

live, while a work of art is lifeless. 

So, if the intrinsic values of 

artworks for which they are sold 

for hundreds of millions of dollars 

are in their ability <strong>to</strong> impinge on 

our senses and provide us with 

aesthetic enjoyment, a live 

hibiscus flower cultivated on a 

potable flower vase which 

produces similar stimulus should 

also be sold for hundreds of 

millions of dollars. That a live 

hibiscus flower cannot be similarity 

valued is a proof that the issue is 

not provision of aesthetic 

enjoyment. The exorbitant value 

of an artwork is an arbitrarily 

ascribed value; it has nothing <strong>to</strong> 

do with any intrinsic value. 

However, this art market culture 

and value system is now a well 

established one of which little or 

nothing like the hunter’s 

discovery of a mountain of gold 

can run down their values. So, if 

you have money, you had better 

go and buy a piece of artwork 

<strong>to</strong>day, for in few years, it can make 

you one of the richest persons in 

the world.


Women Societies, NCAC partner <strong>to</strong> 

fight cultural abuse 

In a bid <strong>to</strong> stem the current tide of 

public display of nudity and 

immorality among youths in <strong>Nigeria</strong>, 

the National Council of Women 

Societies (NCWS) and the National 

Council for Arts and Culture have 

decided <strong>to</strong> embark on far-reaching 

youth sensitisation initiatives. 

Both Councils met at the 

headquarters of NCAC in Abuja with 

a common resolve aimed at redirecting 

the drift <strong>to</strong> moral decadence especially 

among young women which they both 

agreed was getting out of hand. 

Speaking during the meeting 

attended by several media outfits, the 

National President of the NCWS, Dr. 

Laraba Shoda who led members of her 

executive, condemned the upsurge in 

public display of nudity citing the 

recent video spectacle of near-naked 

girls dancing in full public glare inside 

a transparent van in Lagos. 

She described another scenario 

where a young lady walked in<strong>to</strong> a mall 

completely naked lamenting such 

indecent behaviours by females 

particularly, negates the very essence 

of our culture which promotes the 

dignity of the African woman. 

Dr. Shoda said there was the need 

<strong>to</strong> create television programs with 

good cultural content unlike what 

obtains now just as she ex<strong>to</strong>lled 

NCAC for taking the lead in the 

campaign against the debasement of 

the African culture which according <strong>to</strong> 

her promotes high moral values 

amongst young women. 

On his part, the NCAC Direc<strong>to</strong>r- 

General, Otunba Segun Runsewe said 

the partnership of interest between the 

Women Societies and the NCAC will 

signal a new dawn in the crusade 

Otunba Segun Runsewe, D-G, National Council for Arts & Culture (middle) 

with Dr. Mrs. Gloria Laraba Shoda, National President, National Council of 

Women Societies (NCWS) on his right; Comrade Safiya Ibrahim Ogah, on his 

left; Haji Binta lbrahim, PRO and Hadiza A. Ibeh during a courtesy visit <strong>to</strong> 

NCAC in Abuja. 

against cultural degeneration and 

foreign erosion of our culture. 

Runsewe was upbeat that with the 

NCWS speaking up and with the new 

found collaboration with the NCAC, 

the time has come <strong>to</strong> nip the menace 

in the bud in order <strong>to</strong> avert another 

future crisis in the country. 

He informed <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns that his 

council is working on legislation with 

the National Assembly <strong>to</strong> curb the 

negative trend of public nudity while 

also packaging a culture friendly 

television program <strong>to</strong> excite the youths 

with the hope of restablishing our 

esteemed cultural values of time past. 

The DG decorated the women with 

NCAC pinups thereby conferring on 

them the status of cultural 

ambassadors of <strong>Nigeria</strong>. 

NCAC hosts 36 diplomats, 

sets new miles<strong>to</strong>ne in cultural 

diplomacy 

The stage has been set again for yet 

another cultural watershed with the 

National Council for Arts and Culture 

playing host <strong>to</strong> no less than 36 

ambassadors, high commissioners 

and representatives of countries 

drawn from around the world <strong>to</strong> a pre- 

International Arts and Crafts Expo 

dinner in Abuja. 

The assemblage of countries like 

South Africa, Iran, Cameroun, Spain, 

China, Sudan, Venezuela, USA and 

others from every continent in the 

world at the pre-INAC dinner, was a 

deliberate attempt by NCAC <strong>to</strong> rewrite 

the culture narratives of <strong>Nigeria</strong> as it 

prepares for a ground breaking 2019 

Expo. 

The NCAC pre-INAC dinner held at 

the Shera<strong>to</strong>n Hotels has become an 

annual prelude <strong>to</strong> kick-starting the 

event in earnest, making it a most 

memorable one especially for foreign 

nationals. 

During the dinner, the Direc<strong>to</strong>r- 

General of NCAC, Otunba Segun 

Runsewe, giving his welcome address, 

thanked the various ambassadors and 

high commissioners for gracing the 

occasion. He recalled that it was an 

improvement from the 22 countries that 

participated in the 2018 edition of the 

event. 

Runsewe said the essence of the 

dinner is <strong>to</strong> provide a platform for 

diplomats <strong>to</strong> interact and unwind in 

an informal atmosphere in a bid <strong>to</strong> 

further cement the cordial relationship 

already existing between them and the 

host country, <strong>Nigeria</strong>. 

According <strong>to</strong> Runsewe, the 3rd edition 

of INAC will dedicate an entire day <strong>to</strong> 

any country interested in entertaining 

the envoys, noting that last year 

witnessed phenomenal entertainment 

from countries like China, India and 

Bangladesh. 

After dinner, Otunba Runsewe 

presented souvenirs <strong>to</strong> the envoys, 

disclosing that plans are underway <strong>to</strong> 

ensure this year’s Cultural Diplomacy 

Day for Peace slated for November 24th 

is marked <strong>to</strong> establish a cultural link 

amongst nations with the aim of 

ensuring a common network of cultural 

identities. 

The dinner featured delicious 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n cuisine, sensational cultural 

presentations, group pho<strong>to</strong>s, 

exhibition of artistic masterpieces by 

contemporary <strong>Nigeria</strong>n artists, a 

display of vintage bronze casts and 

other his<strong>to</strong>ric artefacts, courtesy of 

NCAC. 

Alibaba’s Adventure: Capturing the insurgency menace in literature 

By Chukwuma Ajakah 

Uche Dominic’s latest contribution 

<strong>to</strong> children literature, Alibaba’s 

Adventure is written against the backdrop 

of contending socio-cultural, economic 

and political issues. The s<strong>to</strong>ry captures 

thorny contemporary matters that require 

concerted efforts <strong>to</strong> address with a sense 

of urgency. The setting of Alibaba’s 

Adventure is present day <strong>Nigeria</strong>. 

Specifically, the author situates the events 

in Gwoza, Bornu State where insurgency 

and banditry seem <strong>to</strong> be headquartered. 

Actions occur on familiar grounds such 

as the Sambisa Forest and Mandara 

Mountains. 

The plot revolves around Alibaba, a 

brilliant, but mischievous and 

adventurous primary 5 pupil of Gwoza 

Primary School. Alibaba is raised by his 

mother, Habibat because the father, 

Abubakar, had absconded on learning that 

he had got her pregnant. Alibaba’s 

Adventure tells the s<strong>to</strong>ry of school life in 

a semi-rustic society, adventure and 

mercurial rise from obscurity <strong>to</strong> fame. 

Alibaba and his mother live in a poor 

neighbourhood on the outskirts of the 

populous, but serene <strong>to</strong>wn of Gwoza. He 

is known more for his rascality than his 

brilliance. 

Alibaba and his friends often get in<strong>to</strong> 

trouble with teachers and parents 

due <strong>to</strong> the pranks they 

play. The trio is 

inclined <strong>to</strong> risky 

adventures. They take 

risky trips <strong>to</strong> caves and 

forests despite the 

warnings and 

punishments they 

receive. In addition <strong>to</strong> 

A l i b a b a ’ s 

misdemeanor, his 

mother has another 

major headache: The 

persistent harassment 

of an amorous 

landlord. Through 

her petty trade, she 

strives <strong>to</strong> pay his high 

rent <strong>to</strong> avert eviction. 

Then, something else 

happens: A band of 

bandits strikes and 

kidnaps Aisha, the 

Emir’s daughter. 

The abduc<strong>to</strong>rs demand a N2, 000,000 

ransom. The Emir declines <strong>to</strong> pay. Instead, 

he promises a reward of N5, 000,000 for 

anyone that brings useful information that 

will lead <strong>to</strong> the rescue of Aisha. 

Expectedly, everyone gets interested in 

the expedition with the prospect of 

becoming N5, 000,000 rich. One day, 

Alibaba stumbles on the 

kidnappers as he flees 

in<strong>to</strong> the forest <strong>to</strong> avoid the 

cane of Mr. Ezekiel, the 

primary 6 teacher. This 

encounter with men of 

the underworld provokes 

a twist of fate that turns 

him <strong>to</strong> a celebrated hero. 

The book published by 

Revcom Books (2018) 

comes in a glossy cover 

design and picture 

illustrations that make it 

suitable for young readers. 

It is an 80 paged novella 

crafted in 10 brief, but 

engaging chapters. Each 

chapter captures a 

significant segment, 

beginning with the 

generation of conflict in 

chapter 1 <strong>to</strong> its climax and 

eventual resolution in 

chapter 10. The cover page 

has the picture of Alibaba, Ahmed and 

Yusuf. Their posture and haggard 

dressing depict their poor background 

and obstinate stance. 

There is also a glossary of difficult words. 

The book is cast in the mold of s<strong>to</strong>rybooks 

by master craftsmen of children literature 

series like Onuora Nzekwu, the author 

of Eze Goes <strong>to</strong> School, Eddie Iroh, writer 

of Without a Silver Spoon and the iconic 

wordsmith, Cyprian Ekwensi whose 

works include Drummer Boy and 

Samankwe and the Highway Robbers. 

The novella is primarily meant for junior 

readers in primary and secondary 

schools, but its message cuts across all 

age groups. Parents need <strong>to</strong> read it for 

leisure and useful tips on parenting. It 

can also serve as a primer <strong>to</strong> security 

agencies on intelligence gathering and 

crime busting. 

The s<strong>to</strong>ry features fictive characters that 

represent diverse shades of people in the 

contemporary society. The protagonist, 

Alibaba, exemplifies thousands of 

youngsters raised in abject poverty, 

especially by single parents. His mother, 

Habibat, typifies the many women that 

resign <strong>to</strong> fate after being ditched by their 

lovers. 

There is also Haruna, the trai<strong>to</strong>rous 

brother-in-law <strong>to</strong> the Emir, who like 

Judas, betrays his benefac<strong>to</strong>r and tries <strong>to</strong> 

make quick money by abducting his own 

niece. The novella portrays good people 

like the Emir and his amiable wife as easy 

victims <strong>to</strong> mischief makers.

36 — Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19 , 2019 

Morality and the state: The 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n experience (3) 

This is the third instalment of 

the convocation lecture 

delivered by Prof. Sogolo at the 

2019 convocation of the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Academy of Letters, 

University of Lagos. The second 

part was published last Friday. 

By Godwin Sogolo 

IN a sense, <strong>Nigeria</strong> has sunk 

f r o m 

the era described by Ekeh <strong>to</strong> a 

low level of moral insensitivity, at 

both the civic and primordial 

publics. Today, it is one’s own relative 

or cousin who would rape one’s 

under-aged daughter; one’s kinsmen 

who would arrange for one <strong>to</strong> be 

kidnapped and negotiate a 

handsome ransom. It is a situation 

of anything goes and nothing evokes 

moral horror! 

In those days, elderly persons were 

accorded respect and given certain 

privileges. In the Western world, they 

are called “Senior Citizens” and 

allowed special provisions such as 

free transportation and free medical 

care. Today, <strong>Nigeria</strong>n elderly persons 

are <strong>to</strong>ld by the youths <strong>to</strong> hurry up 

and leave! In those days, when our 

children indulged in examination 

malpractices, we chastised them; 

<strong>to</strong>day, parents and teachers connive, 

plot and direct students on how <strong>to</strong> 

carry out exam malpractices. 

That is the collapse of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

moral system. It is sad: it is tragic! 

What we have <strong>to</strong>day is selective 

<strong>to</strong>lerance of immorality, concession 

and compromise. As against the old 

order, the new moral norm finds little 

or nothing wrong in a situation, for 

instance: 

•Where a convicted sena<strong>to</strong>r is 

allowed <strong>to</strong> continue <strong>to</strong> receive his 

salaries or even rewarded with an 

enhanced package; 

•Where state governors who have 

ended tenures of looting and 

PROF 

OF. GODWIN SOGOLO 

plundering, buy their way in<strong>to</strong> the 

upper chamber of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

Legislature; 

•Where an official contract is 

drawn up with a budgetary provision 

for “ransom payment” (an obvious 

invitation <strong>to</strong> kidnappers), and 

•Where the Police Force itself 

officially organises and pays ransom 

for the release of a kidnapped police 

officer. 

In those days, the payment of 

ransom, if ever, was done in secret 

and anybody found <strong>to</strong> have done so, 

was severely rebuked as 

encouraging criminality. Today, 

ransom payments are done almost 

openly and sometimes even publicly 

declared. Increasingly, violence, 

insecurity and brutality are 

becoming the norm rather than the 

exception. 

Failure in governance 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s moral crisis is a clear 

manifestation of the social distance 

existing between the individual and 

the state, the origin of which is 

connected <strong>to</strong> the failure in 

governance, manifested in an 

ineffective educational system that 

is incapable of inculcating in our 

youths sound moral values. These 

failures raise the important issue of 

loyalty, and perhaps also the 

question of legitimacy, as perceived 

by the individuals and the various 

sub-groups in post-colonial <strong>Nigeria</strong>. 

It is a situation in which the moral 

and political authorities of the State 

have been weakened. 

The dis<strong>to</strong>rtions have been further 

worsened by the inability of the state 

<strong>to</strong> fulfill its obligations <strong>to</strong> the citizens. 

Loyalty is a reciprocal attitude. So, 

it is either won or lost on the basis of 

mutual exchange. Today, the 

responsibilities of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n state 

have been virtually taken over by the 

primordial communities. The 

communities take care of the 

members’ welfare needs, including 

the problems of birth and death; they 

construct roads, bridges and other 

infrastructure through self-help; 

build schools, hospitals, medical 

clinics and even provide financial 

support for their members 

in times of special needs. 

As the state becomes more 

irresponsible, and as it 

increasingly abandons its 

civic responsibilities, so is its 

moral authority weakened. 

Indeed, this is a violation, 

by the state, of its 

contractual obligation <strong>to</strong> 

the citizens and no such state 

has the legitimate right <strong>to</strong> 

expect the loyalty of the 

people. As the loss of the state 

translates in<strong>to</strong> the gain of the 

primordial unit, ethnicity continues 

<strong>to</strong> grow as a powerful force in the 

moral consciousness of the people. 

A major failure of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

state is in the scant attention it pays 

<strong>to</strong> its responsibility of educating the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n youth, a responsibility that 

is being gradually transferred by the 

state <strong>to</strong> the private sec<strong>to</strong>r. Today, 

despite an increase in the number of 

public educational institutions at all 

levels, private institutions have 

virtually rendered state institutions 

worthless in the provision of quality 

education. The effect on the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

middle class is catastrophic and 

overwhelming. An average family, 

with two-three children, is saddled 

with the task of having <strong>to</strong> pay 

millions of naira (far beyond their 

meager earnings) as school fees. 

How some of them cope, especially 

civil servants, is a question that 

boggles the mind. What cannot be 

hidden are the frustrations of millions 

of <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns who have been 

abandoned by the state <strong>to</strong> cater for 

themselves. 

The <strong>Nigeria</strong>n situation, 

unfortunately replicated in much of 

Africa, is often ignored by some 

scholars in their eagerness <strong>to</strong> apply 

Western theoretical models in 

matters relating <strong>to</strong> the individual, 

citizenship and the relationship 

between the state and civil society. It 

is a known fact that societies in the 

developed world already have an 

established model of the role of the 

individual in relation <strong>to</strong> the state. 

That relationship is defined mainly 

in terms of the meaning of 

citizenship. 

The citizen is perceived as an 

au<strong>to</strong>nomous person who has 

willingly placed himself under 

certain implicit contractual 

obligations in the Hobbesian sense. 

Not only is the individual 

consciously aware of his rights, he 

expects and demands them from the 

state. The state, in return, accepts its 

responsibilities <strong>to</strong> the individual 

citizens. And, it is on this implicit 

compact that the Western 

differentiation between state and 

civil society rests. 

The idea of civil society is as 

complex as any other social construct 

and I cannot veer <strong>to</strong>o far in<strong>to</strong> the 

area by way of attempting a 

definition. In any case, its meaning 

changes from one scholar <strong>to</strong> another 

and from tradition <strong>to</strong> tradition. The 

most common understanding of civil 

society, however, is that it is a 

depoliticised, free and au<strong>to</strong>nomous 

public sphere in which individuals 

and associations conduct their 

affairs through the principle of social 

justice, unhindered by the state. 

Generally, the idea of civil society 

involves the presence of a moral 

consciousness, with individual rights 

taking priority over other 

obligations. There is, in addition, 

another important component of 

civil society as unders<strong>to</strong>od in Western 

literature, which Jean-Francois 

Bayart describes as its capacity <strong>to</strong> 

“moderate the excesses of the state 

… in so far as it is in confrontation 

with the state or more precisely, as 

the process by which society seeks <strong>to</strong> 

breach and counteract the 

simultaneous <strong>to</strong>talisation unleashed 

by the state”. 

In much of Africa, especially in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>, the notion of the individual 

as a citizen, with rights and 

privileges, in relation <strong>to</strong> the state is 

not one that flows freely in people’s 

consciousness. Nor is the state 

perceived as an agent with 

obligations <strong>to</strong> the individual. In most 

cases, the state is seen as the acquired 

property of powerful rulers, despite 

the pretentious romance with 

democratic institutions. The truth is 

that there is hardly any sense of 

obligation <strong>to</strong> the citizen, unless it 

becomes necessary as a means of 

holding on <strong>to</strong> power. 

Herein lies the contrast between 

the state as unders<strong>to</strong>od in the Western 

world and the state as perceived in 

much of post-colonial Africa. In the 

West, the state is the joint property of 

both the citizens and those in 

government. Consider the protests by 

the Yellow Vests in France. Barring 

exceptional cases such as the social 

unrest that erupted in the Sudan, the 

general perception has been that in 

Africa, the state belongs <strong>to</strong> the rulers. 

I have discussed these peculiar 

characteristics of African social 

institutions so as <strong>to</strong> emphasise their 

his<strong>to</strong>rical origin. It must be admitted, 

however, that much as the effects of 

the past linger, the influence of 

contemporary global trends on 

Africa are also important. Like other 

human societies, contemporary 

Africa continues <strong>to</strong> be influenced by 

social and political changes taking 

place all over the world. So, whether 

or not there are persistent social 

challenges, modern Africa cannot 

escape being a part of the global 

search for liberal democracy, 

equality, justice, freedom, human 

rights and the dignity of the human 

person. In fact, these qualities are 

highly cherished in Africa, although 

they were more prevalent in precolonial 

Africa than <strong>to</strong>day. 

Global developments have 

influenced the creation of new social 

institutions in post-colonial Africa 

such that those Western structures 

that permit the differentiation 

Barring 

exceptional cases 

such as the social 

unrest that erupted 

in the Sudan, the 

general perception 

has been that in 

Africa, the state 

belongs <strong>to</strong> the 

rulers 

between state and civil society are 

beginning <strong>to</strong> sprout. Organisations 

such as the media, trade unions, 

student bodies, intellectual groups, 

religious bodies and professional 

associations are now parts of an 

emerging civil society prepared <strong>to</strong> 

“confront and moderate” the 

excesses of the state. As in other parts 

of the contemporary world, these 

positive social developments should 

tap the reservoir of values that exist 

in the primordial realm of our 

society. In spite of this positive note, 

civil society in Africa is still in a severe 

crisis, as anybody familiar with the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n situation can testify. 

Role of the Humanities 

Now, <strong>to</strong> return <strong>to</strong> the essence of 

moral education, as formulated by 

Pla<strong>to</strong> in The Republic, I believe that 

the moral gap between the people 

and the state in <strong>Nigeria</strong> can only be 

bridged by a radical value reorientation 

in education. To say 

that morality can be acquired by 

education is also <strong>to</strong> say that a 

people’s moral system, perceptions 

and attitudes can be impacted 

positively or negatively. It goes with 

the basic understanding of the broad 

functions of education. There is the 

education that imparts knowledge, 

skills and vocational expertise – for 

instance, the natural sciences, 

engineering, medicine, law, etc. 

Then, there is the education that is 

devoted almost entirely <strong>to</strong> teaching 

the student the art of living; the 

education that nourishes the 

intellect, spirit and moral qualities 

of man; in short, the education that 

humanises. 

In the course of thinking about this 

<strong>to</strong>pic, I had <strong>to</strong> consult the eminent 

scholar and playwright, Femi 

Osofisan, who, as far back as 1981, 

asked the question if, indeed, the 

humanities ever humanised. 

Osofisan’s answer, certainly, out of 

frustration with the conduct of 

academics in public office at the 

time, was negative. He explained 

why the humanities had failed <strong>to</strong> 

play this critical role. I agree with 

him. But, as we have tried <strong>to</strong> show in 

this discussion, a great deal of the 

lapses in our system are traceable <strong>to</strong> 

colonial importations, including the 

educational system, some of which 

did not quite fit in<strong>to</strong> the existing precolonial 

formations. 

It is sad that a large percentage 

(over 60 per cent, UNESCO: 2018) 

of <strong>Nigeria</strong>n youths <strong>to</strong>day have no 

access <strong>to</strong> education of any sort. For 

those with access, the dominant 

impression is that the quality of their 

education remains doubtful. Indeed, 

it is generally believed that most 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n educational institutions 

are beginning <strong>to</strong> turn out only streetwise 

graduates who place a high 

premium on craftiness and 

manipulative skills, but are lacking 

in any sense of morality. 

Instead, they tend <strong>to</strong> be 

transactional in their dealings, 

almost seeing every social 

interaction as a business deal, with 

the belief that morality itself is old 

fashioned(I have a younger 

colleague and friend who jokingly 

calls me old school and thinks that 

my views on morality are outdated. 

He would insist - and seriously 

sometimes - that moral dispositions 

such as kindness, generosity, 

sympathy and such other sentiments 

are manifestations of emotional 

weaknesses of persons unable <strong>to</strong> 

withstand social pressures. He may 

have a point - there are persons 

incapable of controlling the flow of 

their moral sentiments. However, 

such a viewpoint is dangerous, not 

only <strong>to</strong> the well-being of society but 

also <strong>to</strong> the survival of humanity). It 

is worth noting, however, that the 

transactional attitude <strong>to</strong> social 

relations is increasingly becoming 

a global phenomenon, especially at 

the international level where some 

political leaders give priority <strong>to</strong> 

economic interests at the expense of 

human rights and such other moral 

values. 

So, it is factually incorrect <strong>to</strong> say 

that moral apathy or the emerging 

trend of insensitivity among our 

youths is limited <strong>to</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong> or that it 

is an African peculiarity. The trend 

is universal and it is a growing 

behavioural character of young men 

and women everywhere. Still, that 

does not obviate the fact, as we have 

tried <strong>to</strong> show, that its peculiarities in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> constitute a threat <strong>to</strong> the wellbeing, 

if not the survival of our 

society. 

In almost every educational 

system, certain disciplines in the 

humanities do not have as much 

appeal <strong>to</strong> candidates seeking 

admission <strong>to</strong> tertiary institutions, 

compared <strong>to</strong> professional/ 

vocational courses such as medicine, 

engineering, law, accountancy, 

business studies, journalism, etc. 

Until recently, in <strong>Nigeria</strong>, 

philosophy, my own discipline, was 

one of the highest rejects, 

understandably, because, unlike 

many others, it is neither linked <strong>to</strong> 

some specific jobs in the public or 

private sec<strong>to</strong>r, nor is it a teaching 

subject in the nation’s primary and 

secondary schools. 

To be concluded

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19 , 2019 — 37 

Development in focus as 

Sanwo-Olu inaugurates cabinet 

By Gboyega Akosile 

IN fulfilling his electioneering promise 

that his cabinet would be constituted 

within 100 days of his government, Lagos 

State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, 

recently released the first batch of 25 

nominees <strong>to</strong> occupy cabinet-ranked 

positions in the state. The list shows an 

administration that is ready <strong>to</strong> serve, given 

the pedigrees of nominees, most of whom 

are tested individuals with proven records 

of accomplishment of performance in their 

various fields of endeavour. 

Three weeks after, a new list consisting 

13 names of another set of tested and 

trusted individuals was released making 

the cabinet positions 38 in all. Expectedly, 

the two lists generated a lot of interest in 

the political circle as well as the public 

domain. Every Lagosian at home and in 

the diaspora is interested in who occupies 

what position. You cannot query their 

interest. First, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s 

government came in<strong>to</strong> power, with an 

emphasis during electioneering that 

inclusive governance would be the core 

of its administration. In addition, 

Lagosians see the enormous challenges 

that have confronted the State in the recent 

years and they know that only a focused, 

dedicated and forward-looking cabinet 

can help <strong>to</strong> deliver Governor Sanwo-Olu’s 

campaign promises. 

Lagos has grown in leaps and bounds, 

with its population hitting almost 23 

million people and still counting. This 

naturally comes with its challenges; 

increase in <strong>to</strong>ns of waste generated, rise 

in the number of patients at various 

government hospitals and primary health 

centres, more pressure on the existing 

infrastructure-roads, schools and housing 

among numerous social amenities being 

provided by government. Lagos, therefore, 

cannot be administered in 2019 using a 

1979 template. 

The state has undoubtedly benefitted 

from its population growth-more revenue 

generation; physical development is 

recorded in different sec<strong>to</strong>rs making it a 

state on the move. At the last count, Lagos 

is said <strong>to</strong> have hit close <strong>to</strong> N30 billion mark 

every month in internally generated 

revenue (IGR), making it the most 

economically viable state in <strong>Nigeria</strong> and 

fifth largest economy in Africa. However, 

the State government has argued that this 

feat is still a far cry from what is required 

<strong>to</strong> run a megacity such as Lagos. For 

example, the budgetary allocation of the 

police department in New York City 

is $5.6 billion, when compared <strong>to</strong> the 

budget of the entire Lagos state, which 

stands at $2.4 billion; one can safely 

conclude that there is more <strong>to</strong> be done by 

government <strong>to</strong> get the state running. 

Being the nation’s economic nervecentre, 

Lagos is a city on the move but 

with enormous challenges. Apart from 

poor state of arterial roads that complicate 

free flow of traffic, commuters <strong>spend</strong> 

productive hours in chaotic gridlocks that 

are caused by failed sections on roads and 

disorganised traffic management. Many 

observers have opined that planning the 

best campaign strategies <strong>to</strong> win the 

governorship election was not much of a 

challenge before Governor Sanwo-Olu, as 

his party, APC commanded large following 

and significant popularity in Lagos <strong>to</strong> 

ensure his vic<strong>to</strong>ry. What they say will be 

the most testing hurdle waiting <strong>to</strong> be 

surmounted by him was the strategy <strong>to</strong> 

deploy in solving the long-standing and 

emerging challenges facing the state. 

When Sanwo-Olu emerged as APC 

candidate, Lagos had literally become a 

dumpsite as heaps of municipal waste 

littered the streets. The state agency set 

up for waste disposal had been 

disengaged in a curious and controversial 

circumstance, leaving residents <strong>to</strong> resort 

<strong>to</strong> indiscriminate dumping of refuse, 

which became a daily eyesore, even <strong>to</strong> 

the government of the day. The aesthetics 

of the environment was affected. All of 

these brought down the pride of Lagos, 

despite its growing profile as a hub for 

commerce, technology and innovation. 

Sanwo-Olu’s campaign was premised 

on the need <strong>to</strong> address these challenges, 

with the aim of proffering short and longterm 

solutions <strong>to</strong> them. Project 

T.H.E.M.E.S that became the thrust of his 

campaign slogan was formulated as an 

operational framework <strong>to</strong> solve these 

identified challenges and sustain the 

profile of Lagos as centre of excellence. 

Upon assumption of office as the 15th 

Governor of Lagos on May 29, 2019, 

Sanwo-Olu channelled his energy 

<strong>to</strong>wards a process of scouting for visionary 

individuals from various areas of human 

endeavour that will help him midwife his 

vision and deliver on his campaign 

promises. He said, during the 

electioneering that ‘‘as Lagosians, we can’t 

be like people who cannot solve their 

problems. Therefore, we must find 

solutions <strong>to</strong> our problems because they are 

created by us’’. 

As one who believes in harnessing the 

capabilities of homegrown professionals, 

Sanwo-Olu assured Lagosians that his 

Commissioners and cabinet-ranked 

Special Advisers would be drawn from 

local pool of resources and will cut across 

acceptable demographics. Besides, he 

promised his cabinet would be constituted 

within 100 days <strong>to</strong> set the ball of 

governance rolling. 

In keeping the promise made <strong>to</strong> 

Lagosians, Sanwo-Olu announced the 

names of members of his cabinet exactly 

47 days after his swearing-in. This is a 

rare feat for a governor serving his first 

term. The Governor said he unders<strong>to</strong>od 

the challenges confronting the state, 

noting that the selection process was a 

painstaking and laborious exercise, which 

the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s 

government came in<strong>to</strong> 

power, with an emphasis 

during electioneering that 

inclusive governance 

would be the core of its 

administration 

aimed at introducing fresh ideas <strong>to</strong> 

governance. He said the team of 

professionals and politicians would be 

serving Lagosians in line with his 

administration’s vision of delivering a 

smart city-state that will rank among the 

<strong>to</strong>p most liveable cities in the world. 

His words: “We <strong>to</strong>ok our time <strong>to</strong> pick the 

best hands for the <strong>to</strong>ugh job Lagosians have 

elected us <strong>to</strong> do. The nominees for the 

twenty five (now thirty eight) 

Commissioner and Special Adviser 

positions include women and men who 

have made their mark and at the zenith of 

their professional callings.” Tough job? Yes, 

the tasks ahead are expected <strong>to</strong> be rigorous 

as Gov. Sanwo-Olu posited, given the 

challenges the state is confronted with and 

the expectations of the people based on 

the confidence reposed in the 

administration. 

Infusion of technocracy and 

political know-how 

Being the centre of innovation, Lagos 

has raised the bar of excellence with 

injection of fresh ideas and energy in 

governance. This tradition has been 

sustained in the last 20 years, and the 

young administration of Sanwo-Olu 

appears <strong>to</strong> be <strong>to</strong>eing the path, if the profiles 

of his nominees are anything <strong>to</strong> go by. 

Of the 38 cabinet members cleared for 

inauguration by the State House of 

Assembly are active politicians who are 

equally professionals in various fields. The 

infusion of politics and professionalism is 

perhaps the unique selling point of the 

Sanwo-Olu Cabinet. 

•Gboyega Akosile is Deputy Chief Press 

Secretary <strong>to</strong> Lagos State Governor, 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu 

Succour as FG strengthens 

diabetes care at PHCs 

Rainbow Specialist Hospital makes case for podiatry, 

diabetes foot services in <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

By Sola Ogundipe 

TOWARDS 

stem 

ming the increasing 

incidence of diabetes in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>, the Federal Ministry 

of Health is strengthening 

the primary 

healthcare system <strong>to</strong> include 

diabetes management 

with foot care - assessment 

and referral - 

in<strong>to</strong> the existing health 

care service at the primary 

healthcare level. 

At the 6th Annual International 

Diabetes, Podiatry 

& Diabetes Foot Care 

workshop organised by 

Rainbow Specialist Medical 

Centre, Lagos, the 

National Desk Officer, 

Diabetes, Federal Ministry 

of Health, Dr. Alayo 

Sopekan who decried the 

burden of diabetes foot 

disease said its economic 

burden was quite significant. 

“In <strong>Nigeria</strong>, a large 

majority of people living 

with the disease have little 

or no knowledge of 

diabetes and its complications. 

It is estimated 

that the rate of foot ulcer 

among people living with 

diabetes is between 8.3 

percent and 19 percent in 

the different zones of the 

country. 

“The rate of amputation 

was also estimated <strong>to</strong> be 

as high as 53.2 percent in 

people with foot ulcer in 

some centres, thereby 

making diabetes foot the 

most common cause of 

non-traumatic amputation 

in the lower extremities in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>.” 

Sopekan, represented 

by an official of the ministry’s 

Diabetes Desk, Dr. 

Olanike Kehinde 

Akinkoye, however assured 

of Government’s 

commitment in providing 

leadership for prevention 

and control of diabetes 

and other non-communicable 

diseases through 

the Federal Ministry of 

Health “by strategically 

eliminating the risk fac<strong>to</strong>rs, 

improving the management 

of these diseases 

as well as preventing 

their complications. “ 

Already the apex ministry 

had prepared the National 

Guideline for the 

Prevention, Control and 

Management of Diabetes 

and currently carrying out 

a Diabetes Awareness and 

Care Project in the FCT 

and Imo State through 

support of the World Diabetes 

Foundation, WDF. 

“These supports include 

capacity building at 

Pharmacists establish 24-hr 

centres <strong>to</strong> check drug, 

chemical abuse nationwide 

By Chioma Obinna 

HOPE of survival 

has risen for <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

exposed <strong>to</strong> un<strong>to</strong>ward 

effects of drugs, 

substances of abuse and 

poisons as the Pharmaceutical 

Society of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, 

PSN, upscaled its 

information centre <strong>to</strong> a 24- 

hour National Drug & 

Poisons Information, 

Emergency Response 

and Research Centre. 

To this end, an eights<strong>to</strong>rey 

building estimated 

at N2.6 billion <strong>to</strong> house 

all the centres is under 

construction. 

The National drug centre 

will, among other 

things, serve as a counselling, 

referral and when 

necessary, mobilise appropriate 

response team 

for victims. It would also 

be a coordinating centre 

<strong>to</strong> responses <strong>to</strong> suicide 

attempts, rehabilitation of 

drug addicts and people 

injured by poisons as well 

as serve as information 

and research warehouse 

for re<strong>to</strong>oling pharmacy 

and pharmacists <strong>to</strong>wards 

greater relevance. 

At the unveiling of the 

project last week in Lagos, 

Chairman, Project 

Committee of the PSN, 

Dr John Nwaiwu said the 

Centre would also serve 

as part of preparing <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

for chemical and 

drug terrorism and other 

disease epidemics. 

Every State in <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

would have a dedicated 

phone line and personnel 

Nwaiwu noted. 

“The personnel must be 

fluent in local language 

for wider coverage and 

effective communication 

response <strong>to</strong> poisoning issues, 

adverse drug reactions 

report, enquiries on 

drug abuse use, suicide 

attempt calls and connects 

health professionals 

in hospitals, community 

pharmacies and 

other healthcare facilities, 

as <strong>to</strong> availability of emergency 

drugs, orphan 

drugs, Red Cross, State 

emergency response 

units, community pharmacists 

with hospitals 

and special care centres 

nationwide among others. 

“The Centre will also 

serve as a training facility 

open <strong>to</strong> all healthcare 

professionals and a window 

for internship programmes 

for pharmacy 

graduates etc.” 

the Primary Care level 

within the selected sites 

and medical outreaches. 

It is envisaged that the 

project would be scaled 

up. 

“More so, the Federal 

Ministry of Health in collaboration 

with nonhealth 

Ministries, Department 

and Agencies 

developed the 7-year 

National Multisec<strong>to</strong>ral 

Action Plan (NMSAP) for 

the prevention and control 

of NCDs <strong>to</strong> serve as a 

strategic guide for the 

national response <strong>to</strong> 

NCDs in <strong>Nigeria</strong>,” 

Akinkoye said. 

The Coordina<strong>to</strong>r and 

Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Rainbow 

Specialist Medical 

Centre, Dr. Afokoghene 

Rita Isiavwe said the 

Medical Centre has, in 

the builtbeen building local 

capacity <strong>to</strong> improve 

management and prevention 

of diabetes foot 

complications and raise 

awareness on proper foot 

care in persons living 

with diabetes mellitus; 

through much needed 

trainings via regular interactive 

workshop sessions. 

The <strong>Nigeria</strong> Podiatry 

initiative, she said, had 

produced a documentary 

on diabetes foot while 

over 1000 local health 

care workers had been 

trained. Also, a certification 

programme on diabetes 

foot care at Rainbow 

Specialist Medical Centre 

had been successfully 

institutionalised. 

“The theme for this 

year’s workshop - Building 

the Diabetes Foot 

First Responders, is very 

relevant and important, as 

having a strong diabetes 

foot care pro<strong>to</strong>col at the 

primary care level will 

save more diabetes limbs 

and lives by ensuring Primary 

health care workers 

are able <strong>to</strong> recognise the 

high risk diabetes foot and 

know how <strong>to</strong> promptly 

triage them, <strong>to</strong> reduce 

delays in getting appropriate 

foot care services,” 

Isiavwe said. 

In his remarks, the Direc<strong>to</strong>r, 

World Walk Foundation 

Jamaica Chapter, 

Dr. Owen Bernard declared 

that foot care was 

not minor, but often an 

expensive venture that 

requires team effort 

which should be multidisciplinary 

in approach. 

Unfortunately, there’s a 

dearth of podiatrists, the 

specialists who manage 

foot problems, worldwide. 

“It makes sense <strong>to</strong> train 

as many people as possible 

so that we can deal 

with the problem of foot 

care, especially at the 

PHC level. We need <strong>to</strong> 

<strong>spend</strong> moiré time and 

money <strong>to</strong> prevent foot 

amputation,” he stressed.

38 —Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 

UK faces food, fuel shortages in no-deal 

Brexit 

WITH less than 75 

days until Britain 

is set <strong>to</strong> exit the European 

Union, a government 

report leaked <strong>to</strong> The 

Sunday Times newspaper 

reveals the disastrous 

effects a no-deal Brexit 

would unleash on the 

country. 

The United Kingdom 

would likely face food, 

fuel and medicine shortages 

if it crashes out of 

the bloc without a transition 

deal, according <strong>to</strong> the 

forecasts compiled by the 

Cabinet Office under the 

code name “Operation 

Yellowhammer.” 

The dossier also predicts 

the introduction of 

a hard border in Ireland, 

which has been a main 

sticking point in negotiations, 

and severe travel 

disruptions at UK ports 

that could last up <strong>to</strong> three 

months. 

Medical supplies coming 

from Europe will be 

“vulnerable <strong>to</strong> severe extended 

delays,” and the 

availability of fresh food 

will be reduced, causing 

prices <strong>to</strong> rise, the newspaper 

reported. 

It added that the public 

and businesses remain 

largely unprepared for a 

no-deal Brexit, and that 

growing “EU exit fatigue” 

had hampered 

contingency planning. 

“This is not Project Fear 

— this is the most realistic 

assessment of what 

the public face with no 

deal,” a senior government 

source <strong>to</strong>ld the Sunday 

Times. “These are 

likely, basic, reasonable 

scenarios — not the worst 

case.” 

However Michael 

Gove, the British minister 

responsible for planning 

for a no-deal Brexit, 

said on Twitter that 

operation Yellowhammer 

was indeed a “worst case 

scenario” and that “significant 

steps have been 

taken in the last three 

weeks” <strong>to</strong> accelerate 

planning. 

A Downing Street 

spokesperson <strong>to</strong>ld CNN 

“we will not comment on 

leaked documents.” 

Some have disputed 

the accuracy of the report. 

The Government of 

Gibraltar — which is a 

British terri<strong>to</strong>ry on 

Spain’s southern coast 

— <strong>to</strong>ld CNN the briefings 

were “out of date” 

and based on planning 

for “worst case scenarios” 

which it has “already dealt 

with.” 

The UK had been due <strong>to</strong> 

leave the EU on March 29 

this year. But it was granted 

a new deadline of Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 

31, after failing <strong>to</strong> 

pass a withdrawal agree- 

63 killed in Kabur wedding blast 

Sudan opposition names members of sovereign 

council 

UK PM Boris Johnson 

SUDAN’s opposition 

coalition has named 

five people, including a 

woman, as civilian members 

of the country’s sovereign 

council <strong>to</strong> be sworn in 

on Monday, a source within 

the coalition has said. 

A landmark power-sharing 

agreement signed on 

Saturday paved the way for 

Sudan’s transition <strong>to</strong> a civilian-led 

government and 

eventual general elections. 

The deal provides for a sovereign 

council as the highest 

authority in the country, 

but largely delegates executive 

powers <strong>to</strong> a cabinet of 

ministers, which is yet <strong>to</strong> be 

formed. 

According <strong>to</strong> the agreement, 

the opposition coalition 

is allowed <strong>to</strong> choose 

five members of the council 

and the military another 

five, with the two sides 

jointly choosing a civilian 

as an eleventh member. 

The Forces of Freedom 

and Change (FFC) chose 

Aisha Mousa, Siddig Tower, 

Mohamed Elfaki Suleiman, 

Hassan Sheikh Idris 

and Taha Othman 

Ishaq, a coalition source 

<strong>to</strong>ld Reuters news agency 

on Sunday. 

On Saturday, the Transitional 

Military Council’s 

(TMC) spokesman said its 

head Lieutenant General 

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, 

his deputy General Mohamed 

Hamdan Dagalo 

and Lieutenant General 

AT least 63 people 

have been killed 

and scores wounded in an 

explosion targeting a 

wedding in the Afghan 

capital, officials said on 

Sunday, the deadliest attack 

in Kabul this year. 

The suicide blast 

<strong>to</strong>ok place on Saturday 

evening in the men’s reception 

area of the Dubai 

City wedding hall in western 

Kabul, in a minority 

Shia neighbourhood, 

packed with people celebrating 

a marriage. 

Women and children 

were among the casualties, 

said Nasrat Rahimi, 

a spokesman for the interior 

ministry. The Islamic 

State of Iraq and the Levant 

(ISIL or ISIS) group 

claimed responsibility for 

the attack on Sunday. 

The blast came as the 

Taliban and the United 

States are trying <strong>to</strong> negotiate 

an agreement on the 

withdrawal of US forces in 

exchange for a Taliban 

commitment on security 

and peace talks with Afghanistan’s 

US-backed 

government. 

The Taliban denied any 

involvement, calling Saturday’s 

blast “forbidden 

and unjustifiable”, but 

Afghan President Ashraf 

Ghani, said that the group 

“cannot absolve themselves 

of blame, for they 

provide platform for terrorists”. 

In a series of tweets on 

Sunday, Ghani strongly 

condemned the “inhumane 

attack” and called 

for an “extraordinary security 

meeting <strong>to</strong> review and 

prevent such security lapses”. 

The blast occurred near 

the stage where musicians 

were and “all the youths, 

children and all the people 

Yasser Al-Atta will serve as 

three of the five military 

members. 

The TMC is yet <strong>to</strong> announce 

the other two members 

of the sovereign coun- 

ment through Parliament. 

The deadlock in Westminster 

ultimately led <strong>to</strong> 

the resignation of former 

Prime Minister Theresa 

May, paving the way for 

new leader Boris Johnson 

who has vowed <strong>to</strong> exit the 

bloc on Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 31 — 

even without a deal. 

who were there were 

killed,” witness Gul Mohammad 

<strong>to</strong>ld The Associated 

Press news agency. 

The groom, Mirwais 

Elmi, recalled greeting 

smiling guests in the afternoon, 

before seeing their 

bodies being carried out 

hours later.The attack 

“changed my happiness <strong>to</strong> 

sorrow”, the young man 

<strong>to</strong>ld local TV station Tolo 

News. 

“My family, my bride are 

in shock, they cannot even 

speak. My bride keeps 

fainting,” he said. “I lost my 

brother, I lost my friends, I 

lost my relatives. I will never 

see happiness in my life 

again.” 

In the aftermath of the attack, 

images from inside the 

hall showed blood-stained 

bodies on the ground along 

with pieces of flesh and <strong>to</strong>rn 

clothes, hats, sandals and 

bottles of mineral water. 

cil. Tens of thousands of 

people <strong>to</strong>ok <strong>to</strong> the streets of 

capital Khar<strong>to</strong>um on Saturday 

<strong>to</strong> celebrate the final 

signing of the powersharing 

deal. 

China records consistent drop 

in criminal cases 

CHINA says the 

number of criminal 

cases reported <strong>to</strong> and investigated 

by its police in 

the first half of the year 

has decreased by 6.7 per 

cent year-on-year after 

dropping for three consecutive 

years. 

Police sources made 

this known at a national 

meeting on public security 

and social order, 

held in central China’s 

Wuhan City. 

The police said that 

eight kinds of serious 

violent crimes, such as 

intentional homicide, 

severe intentional injury, 

rape, and drug trafficking, 

declined by 11.1 

per cent year-on-year 

over the same period. 

Gibraltar rejects US request <strong>to</strong> 

detain Iranian ship 

GIBRALTAR has rejected a request by the US <strong>to</strong> again 

seize an Iranian tanker that it has been holding since 

July on suspicion of transporting oil <strong>to</strong> Syria. 

The US made the last-minute request on Friday, a day after 

Gibraltar lifted its detention order against Grace 1. Gibraltar 

said it could not comply with Washing<strong>to</strong>n’s request <strong>to</strong> issue a 

new detention order because US sanctions against Iran did 

not apply in the EU. 

The Grace 1 is due <strong>to</strong> leave Gibraltar later on Sunday, Iran’s 

UK envoy says. 

The ship with its crew of 29 - from India, Russia, Latvia and 

the Philippines - was seized with the help of British marines on 

4 July, after the government of Gibraltar - a British terri<strong>to</strong>ry 

- suggested it was heading for Syria in breach of EU sanctions. 

The move sparked a diplomatic crisis between the UK and 

Iran, which has escalated over recent weeks and saw Iran 

seize a British-flagged and Swedish-owned oil tanker, Stena 

Impero, in the Gulf. 

The Gibraltar authorities freed the vessel on Thursday after 

receiving assurances from Iran that Grace 1 would not discharge 

its cargo in Syria. 

The US Justice Department then filed a request <strong>to</strong> detain the 

Grace 1 on the grounds that it had links <strong>to</strong> Iran’s Islamic 

Revolutionary Guard Corps, which it has designated a terrorist 

group. 

Gibraltar, in a statement on Sunday, said it could not comply 

with the request. It said: “The EU sanctions regime against 

Iran - which is applicable in Gibraltar - is much narrower 

than that applicable in the US.” 

There has been no response yet from Washing<strong>to</strong>n. 

Iran’s ambassador <strong>to</strong> Britain, Hamid Baeidinejad, tweeted 

on Sunday that two specialist engineering teams were on 

their way <strong>to</strong> Gibraltar and said: “The ship is expected <strong>to</strong> depart 

<strong>to</strong>night.” 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n medical student 

killed in Ukraine 

THE family of Gbolade Ejemai, a 30-year-old, <strong>Nigeria</strong>n medical 

student, who was murdered in Kharkov, Ukraine, allegedly by one 

Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Popvrako, is crying out for justice. 

Up <strong>to</strong> 150 <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns living in the diaspora have been murdered across 

countries such as South Africa, United Arab Emirates, China and 

Ukraine, in the last three and half years. 

Ejemai, a final year medical student of Kharkov International Medical 

University, had lived in Ukraine for 10 years during which he had 

made an acquaintance of Popvrako. 

It was gathered that Popvrako, a 36-year-old Ukrainian mother of 

two, had planned with her father <strong>to</strong> kill him. She had invited him over <strong>to</strong> 

her house <strong>to</strong> have a discussion – an invitation the deceased had unsuspectingly 

honoured. 

“At 10:22 am, I received a distress message from him,” his young 

widow, Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Luganska, <strong>to</strong>ld TheCable, in a phone interview. The 

message read – Trak<strong>to</strong>rostroitelei 95, 188 apartment, call police! that 

there is a conflict. 

“As I was trying <strong>to</strong> do that, he called me again at 10:36 am, crying and 

saying that they had stabbed him.” 

Before Luganska could get there, she met an ambulance conveying 

him <strong>to</strong> the hospital (City Clinical Hospital for Emergency and Emergency 

Medicine), where he later slipped in<strong>to</strong> coma. 

Segun Ashade, a friend of the deceased, also <strong>to</strong>ld TheCable, in a phone 

chat, that the whole incident was master-minded and executed by the 

lady and her father. 

Ashade recounted that the deceased narrated his ordeal on hospital 

bed, three days after he came out from coma. 

“Gbolade said they had an argument in the room. (The girl’s father, 

Mr. Popravko was reportedly in the house as well on that day). In the heat 

of the argument, the lady’s father brought a knife with which the lady 

stabbed Gbolade in the s<strong>to</strong>mach. He later heard them saying this is not 

enough <strong>to</strong> kill him, get something else! The father scuttled in and out of 

the room and returned with a hammer, and struck Gbolade on the head 

with it,” he said. 

White House says ‘no recession in 

sight’ despite market turmoil 

WHITE House officials pushed back on Sunday against 

concerns that economic growth may be faltering, saying 

they saw little risk of recession despite a volatile week on 

global bond markets, and insisting their trade war with China 

was doing no damage <strong>to</strong> the United States. 

“There is no recession in sight,” White House Economic 

Adviser, Larry Kudlow, said on Fox News Sunday. Consumers 

are working. Their wages are rising. They are <strong>spend</strong>ing and 

they are saving…I think we are in pretty good shape.” 

U.S. s<strong>to</strong>ck markets tanked last week on recession fears with 

all three major U.S. indexes closing down about three per cent 

on Wednesday only <strong>to</strong> pair their losses by Friday due <strong>to</strong> expectations 

the European Central Bank might cut rates. 

For a brief time last week, bond inves<strong>to</strong>rs also demanded a 

higher interest rate on two-year Treasury bonds than for 10- 

year Treasury bonds, often construed as a sign of lost faith in 

near-term economic growth. 

However, Trade Adviser Peter Navarro on Sunday likewise 

dismissed last week’s warning signs, saying “good” economic 

dynamics were encouraging inves<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> move money <strong>to</strong> 

the U.S. 

“We have the strongest economy in the world and money is 

coming here for our s<strong>to</strong>ck market. It’s also coming here <strong>to</strong> 

chase yield in our bond markets,” Navarro <strong>to</strong>ld ABC’s This 

Week. 

That sort “flight <strong>to</strong> safety” is typically driven by concerns of 

global economic trouble – in this case, the possibility that the 

Trump administration’s tariff battle with China may dampen 

business investment and growth worldwide. 

The tariffs on Chinese goods, Navarro said, “are not hurting 

anybody here”.


:Vanguard News 

Sanwo-Olu <strong>to</strong> swear in 

cabinet members <strong>to</strong>morrow 

OBI 

I, formerly known as Miss 

Jennifer Nneka Obi, now wish <strong>to</strong> 

be known as Mrs Jennifer Nneka 

Obi Nweke. All former documents 

remain valid. General public 

please take note. 

ONWE 

I, formerly known as Miss Onwe 

Chinenye Juliet, now wish <strong>to</strong> be 

known as Mrs Agboamaka-Obi 

Chinenye Juliet. All former 

documents remain valid. General 

public please take note. 

OGIGAI 

My correct name is Ogigai Polite 

Festus but was wrongly captured 

and written as Ogigai Paul. 

Ogigai Polite Festus remains my 

correct name. All former 

documents remain valid.GTB 

Bank and General public please 

take note. 

AHIAIDU 


Ahiaidu Omenogo Catherine, 

now wish <strong>to</strong> be known as Mrs. 

Ezeugo Omenogo Catherine. 

All documents bearing my 

former name remain valid. 

General public take note. 

AKINTUNDE 


Akintunde Omo<strong>to</strong>la Juliet, 

now wish <strong>to</strong> be known as Mrs 

Taiwo Omo<strong>to</strong>la Juliet. All 

former documents remain 

valid. General public please 

take note. 

OKORE 

I, formerly known as Okore Mary 

Azuma, now wish <strong>to</strong> be known 

as Chris<strong>to</strong>pher Mary Onuabuchi. 

All former documents remain 

valid. Secondary Education 

Management Board Umuahia 

and general public take note. 

AJEMRONA 

I, formerly known as 

Ajemrona Chris<strong>to</strong>pher, now 

wish <strong>to</strong> be known as 

Ajemrona Destiny 

Oborakpororo henceforth. All 


valid, general public take note. 

OTU 

I, formerly known as Otu 

Lynda Hajia henceforth, want 

<strong>to</strong> be known as Obi Lynda 

Hajia. All other documents 


take note. 

OTOHAGWA OMETIE 


Ometie Judith Roli, now wish <strong>to</strong> 

be known as Mrs Jones Judith 

Roli. All former documents 

remain valid. General public, 

banks and all concern 

institutions should please take 

note. 

OGUERI 

I, formerly known as Ogueri Esther 

Egojuka, now wish <strong>to</strong> be known as 

Nwaokeke Esther Ugo Egojuka. All 

former documents remain valid. Imo 

Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, 

Owerri, Banks and the general public 

should please take note. 

AROWOKEYE 

This is <strong>to</strong> confirm that the name 

Segun Tosin Arowokeye and 

Olusegun Arokeye refer <strong>to</strong> one and 

same person, but now wish <strong>to</strong> be 

known as Arowokeye Oluwasegun 

Tosin. All former documents remains 

valid, Keys<strong>to</strong>ne bank and general 


EMENENA 


Benedicta Orobosa Emenena, 


Benedicta Orobosa Ewe<strong>to</strong>. 



take note. 

AZARAEL 

I, formerly known as Azarael 

Marvis Adrian, Nzete Marvis 

and Nzete Marvis Adrian, now 

wish <strong>to</strong> be known as Nzete- 

Azarael Marvis Adrian. All 

former documents remain valid. 

Banks, Embassy and General 

public should please take note. 

MMEFU 

I, formerly known as Helen 

Chidima Mmefu, now wish <strong>to</strong> 

be known as Helen Chidima 

Ebikpolade. All former 

documents remain valid. 

General public please take 

note. 

ADEOYE 

This is <strong>to</strong> notify the general 

public That Adeoye Ayomide 

Salako and Salako-Adeoye 

Ayomide David is the same 

person, but now wish <strong>to</strong> be 

addressed as Salako-Adeoye 

Ayomide David. All documents 

remain valid, general public 

should take note. 

AKINGBADE 


Akingbade Jumoke Ejiro, 


Emiko Jumoke. All former 



note. 

NWEZE 

I, formerly known as Miss Nweze 

Stephanie Chinyere, now wish <strong>to</strong> 

be known as Mrs. Chima- 

Ekumankama Stephanie 

Chinyere. All documents bearing 

former names remain valid. The 

general public should take note. 

AYIWE 

I, formerly known as Ayiwe 

Friday, now wish <strong>to</strong> be known as 

Peter Ayiwe Elijah. All former 



EJENAVI 

I, formerly known as Miss Ejenavi 

Ejiro Beauty, now wish <strong>to</strong> be 

known as Mrs Enahoro Ejiro 

Beauty. All former documents 

remain valid. General public, banks 

and all concern institutions should 


OWEREGBULAM 

I, formerly known as Roselyn C. 

Oweregbulam, now wish <strong>to</strong> be 

known as Roselyn C. Daniels. All 


The general public should please 

take note. 

OKPEDE 

My name was wrongly written as 

Okpede Ndidi, instead of my 

correct name, Opeke Esther 

Favour. All documents bearing 

my former name still remain valid. 

General public and all relevant 

authorities please take note. 

EMENENA 

I, formerly known as Dr. Miss 

Rukome Precious Emenena, now 

wish <strong>to</strong> be known as Dr. Mrs. 

Rukome Precious Madjemu. All 


General public please take note. 

ANDAFA 


Deinmy Gift Andafa, now 

wish <strong>to</strong> be known as Mrs. 

Deinmy O’Neill. All former 



note. 

ORIAKU 

I, formerly known as Oluchi 

Helen Oriaku, now wish <strong>to</strong> be 

known as Oluchi Helen Oriaku 

Jombo. All former documents 



ULOAKU 

This is <strong>to</strong> certify that the names: 

Miss Emmanuel Josephine Uloaku, 

Miss Nworgu Josephine Uloaku and 

Mrs Ejike Josephine Uloaku refer 

<strong>to</strong> one and the same person as Ejike 

Josephine Uloaku. All former 



BABATUNDE 


Babatunde Opeyemi Mary, 

now wish <strong>to</strong> be known as 

Adediran, Opeyemi Mary. All 



take note. 

ESHEMITAN 

I, formerly known as Mrs 

Eshemitan Marian, now wish 

<strong>to</strong> be known as Miss 

ELimhinogbe Marian. All 



take note. 

UGAN 


Ugan Emily, now wish <strong>to</strong> be 

known as Mrs. Akinola Emily. 



take note. 

NKWO 

I, formerly known as Nkwo 

Benjamin Chiebuka, now wish <strong>to</strong> 

be known as Kenneth Benjamin 

Chiebuka. All former documents 

remain valid. The general public 


EGBIVWIE 


Egbivwie Elohor Judith, now 

wish <strong>to</strong> be known as Mrs Eboh 

Elohor Judith. All former 

documents remain valid. The 

general public should please take 

note. 

EBUBBE 


Omejeenyinniy Edozie Ebubbe, 

now wish <strong>to</strong> be known as 

Omejeenyinniy Edozie Ebubbe Jk 

Jaa. All former documents remain 

valid. General public please take 

note. 

DAWON 

I, formerly known as Miss Dawon 

Abidemi Muinat, now wish <strong>to</strong> be 

known as Mrs. Abioye Abidemi 

Muinat. All former documents 



OGIE 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Ogie Godbless, 

now wish <strong>to</strong> be known and 

addressed as Anthony 

Atahine Godbless. All former 



note. 

SAGAY 


Sagay Rachael Oghenenyore, 

now wish <strong>to</strong> be known as Mrs 

Rachael Levi Samuel. All 


valid. General public take 

note. 

OPARA 


Opara Ifeyinwa Anthonia, 

now wish <strong>to</strong> be known as Miss 

Eric Ifeyinwa Purit. All former 



note. 

OGHO 

I, formerly known as Miss Ogho 

Ogheneruonano Juliet, now wish 

<strong>to</strong> be known as Mrs. Ireba 

Ogheneruonano Juliet. All former 



EDEHERI 


Edeheri Endurance, now wish <strong>to</strong> 

be known as Mrs Igugu Festus 

Endurance. All former 



ROWLAND 

I, formerly known as Miss Rowland 

Margaret Ikpokomi<strong>to</strong>p, now wish 

<strong>to</strong> be known as Mrs Isah Rowland 

Margaret. All former documents 

remain valid. General public, banks 

and all concern institutions should 


NWOSU 


Nwosu Chidinma Cynthia, now 

wish <strong>to</strong> be known as Mrs. 

Anyanwu Chidinma Cynthia. 


valid. The general public should 


UMWENI 


Ekhoowa Charity Umweni, now 

wish <strong>to</strong> be known as Mrs 

Ekhoowa C. Simon Okisak nee 

Umweni. All former documents 

remain valid. The general public 


By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

L 

A 

G O S — 

GOVERNOR 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu of 

Lagos State, yesterday, said 

he would inaugurate the 

State Executive Council 

<strong>to</strong>morrow after swearing-in 

of 38 Commissioners and 

Special Advisers-designate 

already cleared by the State 

House of Assembly. 

Sanwo-Olu stated this, 

weekend while receiving a 

body of retired <strong>to</strong>p civil 

servants under the aegis of 

the Association of Lagos 

State Retired Heads of 

Service and Permanent 

Secretaries, ALARHOSPS. 

The Commissioners and 

Special Advisers are 

FOOD SECURITY: We need 374,000 

<strong>to</strong>ns of fish annually —LASG 

By Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

LAGOS—THE Lagos 

State Government, 

yesterday, disclosed that the 

fish consumption demand 

in the state has risen <strong>to</strong> 

374,000 <strong>to</strong>ns annually. 

The Permanent Secretary, 

Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. 

Olayiwole Onasanya 

revealed the statistics at the 

closing ceremony of the 15th 

Annual Executive Weekend 

Training on Investment 

Opportunities in Fish 

Farming organised by the 

State Government. 

Onasanya lamented that 

the demand for fish 

increases daily without any 

adequate increase in 

supply, saying, as the 

population increases, so the 

demand for fish also jumps. 

The Permanent Secretary 

noted that the state could 

only provide 155,262 <strong>to</strong>ns 

per annum leaving it 

with a deficit of 218, 738 

THE founder of 

Fastrack Group of 

Schools, Festac Town, 

Lagos, Mrs. Adesuwa 

Obaseki has reiterated that 

the school is committed <strong>to</strong> 

grooming world-class 

leaders that will be solution 

providers <strong>to</strong> environmental 

and global issues. 

Speaking during the 

school’s 15th annual 

graduation/prize giving 

and awards ceremony in 

Lagos, Mrs. Obaseki noted 

that the school in 

collaboration 

SHECAN 

with 


expected <strong>to</strong> be sworn in by 

10 am at Adeyemi-Bero 

Hall, Alausa, Secretariat, 

Ikeja. 

Sanwo-Olu said the 

wheel of governance would 

be in full gear before the 

end of the week, in 

fulfillment of his campaign 

promise <strong>to</strong> inaugurate his 

cabinet within 90 days. 

He said: “We are 

swearing in all other 

complements of cabinet and 

also Permanent Secretaries 

<strong>to</strong> have the engine of 

governance on full swing. 

At that point, we believe 

that all the campaign 

promises we made can 

come <strong>to</strong> reality and 

Lagosians can benefit more 

from the choice they made 

at the last election.” 

<strong>to</strong>ns per annum. 

He said: “Lagos State 

with a population of 

22million people is 

structured <strong>to</strong> have a fish 

demand of 374,000 <strong>to</strong>ns per 

annum as against the 

current fish production 

figure of 155,262 <strong>to</strong>ns per 

annum. 

“The deficit in supply is 

being met through 

importation which gulps 

enormous foreign exchange 

which the Federal Ministry 

of Agriculture has estimated 

at a <strong>to</strong>tal sum of $1billion.” 

To address the 

challenges, Onasanya said 

the state government has 

embarked on programmes 

and projects which include 

fish farm estates 

development; fish cage 

culture system; training/ 

capacity building 

programmes; agricultural 

value chains empowerment 

and artisanal fisheries 

development, 

others. 

We’re committed <strong>to</strong> grooming 

world-class leaders 

— MRS OBASEKI 


Ogbonna Patience Daniel, now 

wish <strong>to</strong> be known as Mrs 

Ogbonna Patience Ego. All 

documents bearing my former 

names remain valid. The general 

public should take note. 

among 

organised a leadership 

training program for girls, 

engagement of 

experienced and result 

oriented personnel, 

amongst many other 

programmes. 

She said: “We can only 

keep improving as an 

organisation shouldered 

with the responsibility of 

grooming the best of the 

best in<strong>to</strong> trailblazers. As a 

people, it is the duty of you 

and I <strong>to</strong> contribute our own 

little quota <strong>to</strong>wards making 

the community, our country 

and indeed the world a 

better, safer and more 

peaceful place <strong>to</strong> live in. 

“Our commitment is <strong>to</strong> 

render functional, 

qualitative and globallyaccepted 

educational 

service. Our focus remains 

grooming world-class 

leaders who will be solution 

providers <strong>to</strong> environmental 

and global issues.’’


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

LEO: You can make it a successful day with positive approach 

on your part. You will be in a better position <strong>to</strong> 

defuse tension within your working arena. Try <strong>to</strong> be more 

ambitious. 

VIRGO; Yes! You’re not scared a bit even, when opposition 

and/or competition come your way but, if you give in <strong>to</strong> 

diplomatic approach, you’ll fare better <strong>to</strong>day. 

LIBRA: Pressure that came your way suddenly will give 

way unexpectedly, <strong>to</strong>day, <strong>to</strong> the betterment of your course. 

The more financially ambitious you are <strong>to</strong>day, the better 

for you. Be steadfast. 

SCORPIO: You sincerely believe in intelligent argument or 

discussion. And if you allow your ability <strong>to</strong> be diplomatic 

come <strong>to</strong> play <strong>to</strong>day, you’ll be better for it. Enjoy your love 

life. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

“Abandon the idea that you will forever be 

the victim of the things that have happened 

<strong>to</strong> you. Choose <strong>to</strong> be a vic<strong>to</strong>r.” -Adam Smith- 

Don’t believe everything that your mind is telling 

you, especially if it’s negative and self-defeating. 

Many people hurt themselves because 

of such negative habits that pollutes the 

mindset. - Ella Randle - 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

Lack of money is 

lack of friends; if 

you have money 

at your disposal, 

every dog and 

goat will claim 

<strong>to</strong> be related <strong>to</strong> 

you. ~ Yoruba 

SAGITTARIUS: You’ll tend <strong>to</strong> become both creative and 

persuasive <strong>to</strong> the administration of others. Then those 

who’ve been resisting secret love may slip suddenly and 

become excited. 

CAPRICORN: Even if opposition persists, supports you are 

getting from the influential people will be enough <strong>to</strong> see 

you through. Yet, the more cooperative you are the better. 

AQUARIUS: Your creativity quotient within your working 

arena will <strong>to</strong>day be enhanced. You’ll be blamed if you keep 

official issues secrets from your challenges at work. 

PISCES: After a few tension soaked days, you’ll have the 

needed opportunity <strong>to</strong> look through windows of the world 

and have your way as well. Magnetic and/or magic days is 

predicted for lovers <strong>to</strong>day. 

ARIES: Even if you continue <strong>to</strong> work under pressure via 

increased workload, you will have good results <strong>to</strong> show for 

your efforts <strong>to</strong>day. Be steadfast. 

TAURUS: Promise made <strong>to</strong> genuine personalities should 

be kept if not because of <strong>to</strong>day but for better <strong>to</strong>morrow. Be 

reasonable and clean. 

GEMINI: Those of you willing <strong>to</strong> let go hard feelings at 

work are for a progressive day <strong>to</strong> the betterment of your 

finances. Let go yesterday, move ahead. 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

By Kola Fayemi 

CANCER: Once again, you’ll have the needed opportunity 

<strong>to</strong> assert yourself <strong>to</strong> the administration of others. Both love 

and financial success can be yours with efforts. Reason with 

your tried and trusted friends. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date and place of birth <strong>to</strong> the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

WHAT’S MY HOROSCOPE? 

Dear Joshua, 

Kindly tell me how the planets lined up when I was 

born and the day of the week I was born but don’t publish 

my date of birth.. Please tell me my full horoscope 

Anonymous, <strong>Nigeria</strong>. 

Dear Anonymous, 

You were born on a Sunday. 

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA 

Day of Birth = Sunday 

Sun Sign = Scorpio. Sun in Zero Degree of Scorpio 

Moon Sign = Libra: Moon in 5th Degree of Libra 

Mercury in 12th Degree of Scorpio 

Venus in Zero Degree of Sagittarius 

Mars in 1st Degree of Aquarius 

Jupiter in 29th Degree of Cancer 

Saturn in 10th Degree of Scorpio 

Uranus in 27th Degree of Cancer 

Neptune in 25th Degree of Libra 

Plu<strong>to</strong> in 26th Degree of Leo 

North Node in 8th Degree of Capricorn 

South Node in 8th Degree of Cancer 

No planet in earth spar sign, one in available, two in 

fire, three in air, four in cardinal, fixed and water star 

signs hosted five planets each. 

PHYSICAL INFLUENCE = 50% 

NON-PHYSICAL INFLUENCE =50% 

PLANET AT HOME = NONE 

ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA 

You are both an intelligent and emotional person. And 

as there was planet at home when you were born, <strong>to</strong>o 

many ideas will always struggle for prominent place in 

your mind, thus decision making is difficult but most 

times, your intelligence comes <strong>to</strong> the rescue. Certainly, 

you appear <strong>to</strong> other as a gentle person who can be mistaken 

for soft fellow but your inner-self is the personality 

with a steel like will power. 

You are the consistent type who may find it difficult <strong>to</strong> 

change once you have made up your mind as indicated 

by distribution of the planets as written out in paragraph 

two of this exercise. 

One major challenge you have been battling for a very 

long time is constant worries, some times, necessarily 

and the other time, uncalled for, as indicated by conjunction 

Mercury and Saturn formed when you were born. 

Placement of your natal Sun (basic self head) and Moon 

(your sub-conscious self) in Scorpio and Libra 

respectively are indications of your being mainly Scorpio 

born person and partly in Libran. And that is <strong>to</strong> say basic 

characteristics of both Scorpio and Libra are highly pronounced 

in you. Then, you are spiritually gifted; if you 

don’t develop it is another thing. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa


HOMAGE—President Muhammadu Buhari (left), in a handshake with Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, 

Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Communications Commission (NCC), when the EVC paid a 

Sallah homage <strong>to</strong> the President in his Daura, Katsina, home at the just concluded Sallah recently. 

IPOB's attack on Ekweremadu, 

warning <strong>to</strong> Igbo leaders —KANU 

Continues from Page 5 

promise <strong>to</strong> investigate and 

bring <strong>to</strong> book everyone who 

was part of that dastardly 

assault on a serving 

national leader. 

“On my part, I promise <strong>to</strong> 

lead the House Committee 

on Foreign Affairs which I 

currently chair, and, 

indeed, other members of 

the House, who have since 

yesterday continued <strong>to</strong> call 

in <strong>to</strong> express their 

indignation against the act, 

<strong>to</strong> move a motion on the 

floor of the House and <strong>to</strong> 

call for broader 

investigations on the 

matter, with a view <strong>to</strong> 

decisively dealing with all 

those involved and seeking 

protection for the politicallyexposed 

persons on foreign 

trips and assignments in 

foreign jurisdictions. 

“While conceding that it 

is the right of any group or 

individual <strong>to</strong> protest against 

a perceived wrong done <strong>to</strong> 

them in every democratic 

set-up like ours, it goes 

without saying that there is 

a limit <strong>to</strong> the extent any 

protest can go. 

“It ceases <strong>to</strong> be a protest, 

for instance, when those 

involved in such a protest 

begin <strong>to</strong> make attempts on 

life or endanger the rights 

of others <strong>to</strong> peaceful and 

lawful assembly as we saw 

in the case at Nuremberg, 

Germany. As law-abiding 

people, we must have a 

recourse <strong>to</strong> civility and 

proper ways of doing 

things at all times.” 

It’s unnecessary 

— PDP 

Similarly, Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

condemned the attack on 

Ekweremadu, saying it was 

unnecessary. 

PDP in a statement signed 

by its National Publicity 

Secretary, Kola 

Ologbondiyan, noted that 

the attack on the lawmaker 

was uncalled for, 

unprovoked and could not 

be justified under any 

guise whatsoever, adding 

that the development 

portrayed the nation in bad 

light. 

The statement read: “The 

PDP charges the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

Ambassador <strong>to</strong> Germany as 

well as the German 

government <strong>to</strong> take 

appropriate decisive action 

on the matter.” 

The party also urged the 

Federal Government, 

particularly the National 

Assembly <strong>to</strong> take urgent, 

comprehensive step <strong>to</strong> 

address issues leading <strong>to</strong> 

acts of resentment and 

agitations by <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

within and outside the 

country in the last four 

years. 

Not in Igbo 

character—S-East 

APC youths 

Reacting in a similar 

manner, the South East 

APC Young Progressives 

Forum said the attack on 

Ekweremadu by IPOB was 

not in the character of the 

Igbo. 

Leader of the group, 

Comrade Otimkpu 

Paschal, said it was against 

Igbo’s core values and 

respect for elders for IPOB 

members <strong>to</strong> treat 

Ekweremadu in a 

disdainful manner. 

He said: “This is barbaric 

and unacceptable. The 

incident was an 

embarrassment <strong>to</strong> the Igbo 

nation and the country at 

large. 

“It is also shamefully 

pathetic that an event, 

which was nobly put 

<strong>to</strong>gether by the Igbo 

community, whose 

members make up the 

majority of <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns living 

in Germany, ended up in 

such a disgraceful manner. 

Obviously, this is not how 

<strong>to</strong> repay a man who has 

contributed his quota <strong>to</strong> 

nation-building. 

“Irrespective of political 

affiliation, Sena<strong>to</strong>r 

Elweremadu is an 

outstanding leader in 

Enugu and <strong>Nigeria</strong> and an 

unpretentious Igbo leader. 

“We may not agree with 

him politically because of 

differences in parties, but 

this is the highest insult on 

Igbo leaders. The last time, 

it was former Governor 

Rochas Okorocha at 

Chetham’s House, 

London. Today, it is Sena<strong>to</strong>r 

Ike Ekweremadu. 

“It is most worrisome and 

even inconceivable that the 

attackers chose a great 

occasion where our people 

were celebrating and 

showcasing our rich 

cultural heritage (the New 

Yam Festival) <strong>to</strong> exhibit 

such unbecoming and 

condemnable conduct in 

the name of agitation.” 

Lawan, Omo- 

Agege react 

Also, the Senate 

president, Ahmad Lawan 

and his deputy, Ovie Omo- 

Agege, condemned the 

attack, describing it as not 

only a dastardly exportation 

of irrationality, but also an 

aggressive international 

affront against the image of 

Igbo and <strong>Nigeria</strong>. 

In Separate statements, 

yesterday, in Abuja, both 

Lawan and Omo-Agege 

called on the German 

authorities and <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

Embassy in Germany <strong>to</strong> 

bring the masterminds <strong>to</strong> 

book. 

Lawan in a statement by 

his Special Adviser, Media, 

Ola Awoniyi said: “It is 

incredibly absurd for 

anybody <strong>to</strong> blame the 

distinguished sena<strong>to</strong>r for 

the violent criminal 

activities in his home base, 

the purported reason cited 

by the mob for the 

bewildering attack. 

“Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ekweremadu, 

like all his distinguished 

colleagues in the Ninth 

Assembly of the Senate, is 

concerned about the 

insecurity and other 

challenges in that area and 

other parts of <strong>Nigeria</strong>. 

Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ekweremadu has 

also been in the forefront of 

the patriotic efforts <strong>to</strong> find 

lasting solutions <strong>to</strong> the 

challenges. 

“The barbaric attack on 

Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ekweremadu at a 

forum <strong>to</strong> which he was 

invited <strong>to</strong> contribute <strong>to</strong> 

charting a course for the 

progress and happiness of 

Ndigbo debases our values 

as civilised people. It is 

most reprehensible and 

should be condemned by 

all right-thinking 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns.” 

The President of the 

Senate, who urged the 

German authorities <strong>to</strong> 

identify those involved in 

the despicable act so the law 

could take its course, called 

on <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns <strong>to</strong> always 

reflect deeply and broadly 

before embarking on a 

course of action and 

advised the youth <strong>to</strong> 

ventilate whatever 

grievances they had along 

lines prescribed by the law 

and recommended by 

reason and democratic 

ethos. 

On his part, Sena<strong>to</strong>r 

Omo- Agege in a statement 

by his Special, Media and 

Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, 

expressed shock over the 

undeserved assault and 

called on law enforcement 

agencies in Germany <strong>to</strong> 

investigate and bring <strong>to</strong> 

book all those involved in 

the vicious attack. 

He said: “Sena<strong>to</strong>r 

Ekweremadu honoured the 

invitation of patriotic Igbo 

in Germany who wanted 

him <strong>to</strong> deliver a keynote 

address at the event 

organized <strong>to</strong> commemorate 

the New Yam Festival but 

some aggressively 

discourteous elements 

hijacked the effort <strong>to</strong> 

perpetrate a disgraceful 

assault that seeks <strong>to</strong> 

deepen the portrayal of 

members of the 

Independent People of 

Biafra, IPOB, as enemies of 

democratic norms and 

values in which the 

majority must always have 

its way after the minority 

must have had its due say 

in all matters. 

“What they did is not only 

a violent assault against the 

good image of the Igbo 

race across the world but an 

aggressive attack against 

the traditional norms of a 

people known <strong>to</strong> be 

hardworking and 

respectful of meaningful 

contributions by leaders 

such as Sena<strong>to</strong>r 

Ekweremadu. 

“Such disappointing 

physical abuse also grossly 

disregards Sena<strong>to</strong>r 

Ekweremadu’s democratic 

antecedents and his longstanding 

commitment <strong>to</strong> 

the cause of his people. 

But, as he has said out of 

the usual largeness of his 

forgiving heart, these 

people know not what they 

do. 

“Such criminal attack, 

along with other anti-social 

attempt <strong>to</strong> accuse, condemn 

and lynch anyone remains 

utterly condemnable and 

illegal, notwithstanding 

whether it takes place on 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n or foreign soil as 

it is the easiest invitation <strong>to</strong> 

anomie.” 

It’s uncivilised 

— Orji Kalu 

In his reaction, Senate 

Chief Whip and former 

Abia State governor, 

Sena<strong>to</strong>r Orji Uzor Kalu, 

condemned in very 

strong terms the attack on 

Ekweremadu. 

Kalu in a statement 

yesterday, described the 

action of the mob as 

uncivilized, unacceptable 

and barbaric, and urged 

Ndigbo <strong>to</strong> respect leaders 

at all levels. 

He also called on the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Embassy in 

Germany <strong>to</strong> urgently bring 

<strong>to</strong> book the masterminds of 

the ugly incident <strong>to</strong> serve 

as deterrent <strong>to</strong> others. 

He said: “After watching 

a viral video of the physical 

attack on former Deputy 

Senate President, Sena<strong>to</strong>r 

Ike Ekweramadu, I was not 

only disappointed but 

irritated and disturbed with 

the action of some members 

of IPOB. 

“The assault on the 

sena<strong>to</strong>r is a slap on Igbo 

leaders regardless of age, 

party affiliation and 

religion. The perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs of 

the uncivilized act must 

face the wrath of the law. 

“Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ekweramadu is 

not only one of the Igbo 

leaders but also a 

prominent <strong>Nigeria</strong>n and as 

such should be accorded 

due respect by all and 

sundry at home and 

abroad. 

“For the South East <strong>to</strong> 

move forward, the people 

of the region must embrace 

dialogue as a way of 

resolving pertinent issues 

and eschew violence.’’ 

It’s sacrilegious 

— Abaribe 

Reacting in a similar 

manner, Senate Minority 

Leader, Sena<strong>to</strong>r Enyinnaya 

Abaribe, Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, Abia South, 

described the attack on 

Ekweremadu as 

reprehensible and utterly 

sacrilegious. 

In a statement yesterday in 

Abuja, Abaribe said the attack 

smacks off of utter ignorance 

of the prevailing situation at 

home with regards <strong>to</strong> what the 

leaders were doing in the 

circumstance. 

Abaribe said he and the 

entire minority caucus in the 

Senate were appalled by the 

very nauseating attack on 

Ekweremadu. 

“We condemn it. It is a 

brazen show of ingratitude <strong>to</strong> 

a man who has been in the 

forefront of the struggle for all 

that is good for the Igbo race.” 

A b a r i b e 

described Ekweremadu as 

one who had given his all in 

standing for the Igbo race, 

particularly when “we stuck 

out our neck <strong>to</strong> arrange and 

stand for surety for the IPOB 

leader, Nnamdi Kanu. 

He said: “Obviously, this is 

not how <strong>to</strong> repay a man, an 

outstanding leader of men, an 

unpretentious Igbo leader 

who has given his all, even 

going as far as deploying his 

means <strong>to</strong> arrange for the bail 

of Nnamdi Kanu, not 

minding the repercussions <strong>to</strong> 

his illustrious political career. 

“It is unfortunate. The 

perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs of the attack 

should know that as Igbo, we 

respect elders and reverence 

our leaders. The unwaranted 

attack is not the character of 

the Igbo. This is un-Igbo. It is 

most worrisome and even 

inconceivable that the 

attackers will choose an 

auspicious occasion where 

our people are celebrating 

and showcasing our rich 

culture <strong>to</strong> exhibit such 

unbecoming and 

condemnable conduct in the 

name of agitation. 

“No, that was not 

agitation, no right thinking 

human will identify with 

such behaviour. Yes, 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> is going through a 

horrendous phase, which is 

a fault line that her leaders, 

particularly we the Igbo 

leaders are engaging 

others <strong>to</strong> find a lasting 

solution <strong>to</strong>. 

“Resorting <strong>to</strong> mob 

mentality and venting the 

spleen on our leaders 

rather create a vacuum 

that will leave our people 

helpless and confused in 

the circumstance.” 

Sena<strong>to</strong>r Abaribe noted 

that there were rules of 

engagement in the country 

when things go awry, 

adding that was the way 

"we should go at all 

times, until we reach an 

acceptable national 

consensus in which 

Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ekweremadu will 

always play a major role. 

He appealed <strong>to</strong> 

Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ekweremadu 

not <strong>to</strong> be discouraged in 

any way, but rather be 

s<strong>to</strong>ic and take it in its 

stride as the price often 

paid in leadership.

42—Vanguard, MONDAY AUGUST 19, 2019 

By Alemma-Ozioruva 

Aliu 

Col 

Paul 

Osakpamwan Ogbebor, 

retd, is a businessman, a 

leader in the Niger Delta and 

founding member of the Pan 

Niger Delta Forum, 

PANDEF. 

He was a pioneer cadet of the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Defence Academy, 

NDA. Among the 61 cadets 

of Course 1, he was one of 

the 34 that graduated and is 

one of the four still alive 

<strong>to</strong>day. In this interview, he 

shared his thoughts on the 

state of the nation and the 

way forward for the country. 

Assessment of the President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

administration so far. 

It is only if you have military 

background or vast in military 

his<strong>to</strong>ry that you will 

understand and know that 

Buhari has achieved so much. 

As at May 2015, Boko Haram 

insurgents were flying their 

flag in about 15 local 

government areas, meaning 

that they <strong>to</strong>ok over part of 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>. As at May 15, 2015, 

26 states were unable <strong>to</strong> pay 

salaries. As at May 2015, the 

Federal Government borrowed 

<strong>to</strong> pay salaries of April and May 

2015. 

To fight insurgency is more 

difficult than fighting a civil 

war. And the kind of 

insurgency we are fighting is 

not just an insurgency. We are 

fighting external invaders, that 

is, the problem on the ground. 

Insurgents are civilians that are 

mobilised <strong>to</strong> cause a revolution 

and take over the existing 

government but that is not the 

aim in this case of Boko Haram. 

They are not out <strong>to</strong> take over 

the government. 

From intelligence reports, all 

they are doing is purely <strong>to</strong> gain 

grounds, harass <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns and 

then get logistics <strong>to</strong> finance and 

support whatever is their 

motive because till <strong>to</strong>day we are 

not <strong>to</strong>ld what their motives are. 

What are they fighting for? 

These are just strangers from 

North Africa, Syria and other 

places looking for where <strong>to</strong> 

settle. 

Such people are very difficult 

<strong>to</strong> deal with. They are fighting 

without an aim, yet they are 

coming in numbers. They are 

just coming <strong>to</strong> the country <strong>to</strong> 

fight, what they are fighting for, 

we don’t know. 

The militants in the Niger 

Delta said they want more of 

the resources exploited from 

their place. That is not what 

Boko Haram want. All they 

want is: <strong>Nigeria</strong> is very fertile, 

the borders are very porous so 

they want logistics as much as 

possible and again, they find 

that <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns are very 

vulnerable so they recruit 

young <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns <strong>to</strong> be used in 

other places. Those are the 

people we are fighting with. 

Can you imagine the resources 

we are commiting <strong>to</strong> fight 

them? If we had put these 

resources <strong>to</strong> build <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

railways, electricity or other 

vital projects, we could have 

INSECURITY: FG wrong on 

Ruga— COL OGBEBOR 

HIGHLIGHTS 

•Fighting insurgency more difficult than a civil 

war 

•We're fighting external invaders 

•Lack of national goal hampering <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s devt 

•One of our biggest problems is system failure 

•<strong>Nigeria</strong> not ready for anti-corruption war 

•Let’s declare six months emergency on 

corruption 

covered all the cities. 

If you are not a military 

person you will not understand 

what Buhari has done since he 

came <strong>to</strong> power. At the time he 

<strong>to</strong>ok over in May 2015, we had 

only four Divisions of the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Army. Today, we have 

eight. We had two naval bases 

in Lagos and Calabar, <strong>to</strong>day we 

have four. We had only three 

Airforce bases in <strong>Nigeria</strong>, <strong>to</strong>day 

we have five. 

Can you calculate how much 

was spent on creating these 

bases? As wealthy as America 

is it will be difficult for them not 

<strong>to</strong> talk of <strong>Nigeria</strong> that is 

struggling. We have deployed 

resources <strong>to</strong> strengthen our 

armed forces <strong>to</strong> be able <strong>to</strong> take 

care of these insurgents that I 

call invaders, so we have 

achieved a lot. 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns forget so easily. 

Before May 2015, we were 

having suicide bombers from 

place <strong>to</strong> place, we were losing 

many people everyday but 

<strong>to</strong>day it is no longer like that. 

In warfare, just like we say in 

Benin, when you beat a child, 

you leave that child <strong>to</strong> cry. If 

you are slaughtering an 

animal, after cutting the neck, 

there is a reflex action; that is 

what we are having now. Boko 

Haram is no longer organised, 

you cannot say this is the local 

government they are now 

occupying. You cannot say this 

local government is closed 

down now and the economic 

situation is grounded. All the 

states of <strong>Nigeria</strong> are 

functioning. There is fear of 

insecurity but now what we are 

having is a reflex action. In 

terms of security, Buhari has 

achieved a lot. I will score this 

government about 85 per cent 

Insurgents are 

civilians that are 

mobilised <strong>to</strong> cause a 

revolution and take 

over the existing 

government but that 

is not the aim in the 

case of Boko Haram. 

They are not out <strong>to</strong> 

take over the 

government 

on security. 

He also said that he will fight 

corruption. In 2016, he was in 

South Africa and he addressed 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns where he said he 

wished this was a military 

government. You catch people 

red handed, they have s<strong>to</strong>len 

so and so amount of money, 

they didn’t say they didn’t steal 

and for three years nothing has 

happened <strong>to</strong> them. 

You think of even people 

whose cases are in court, they 

went <strong>to</strong> contest election and 

won. What kind of country is 

this? If you were the president, 

will you not be fainting? So I 

know Buhari very well, he 

could have fought it but the 

country is not ready for it, they 

don’t see the evil of corruption. 

There is a difference between 

corruption and stealing. 

Stealing is if I take your thing, 

I have deprived you as an 

individual but corruption is: 

something you gave <strong>to</strong> me <strong>to</strong> 

enhance this area that I live in, 

I will collect and put it in my 

pocket. By that I have deprived 

so many people -this 

generation and future 

generation of something <strong>to</strong> 

build on. That is corruption and 

that is why many developed 

countries fear it because it is 

worse than any offence you can 

commit anywhere. 

When you talk of corruption, 

my recipe is like what we did 

in the time of Yar’Adua when 

he declared six months of 

emergency on the economy. We 

should also declare six months 

of emergency on corruption. 

Give him a free space; let us 

set up special courts and clean 

the stable that is only when we 

can achieve something about 

corruption and start afresh. 

When you talk of the economy, 

at the time Buhari <strong>to</strong>ok over, 26 

states were unable <strong>to</strong> pay 

salaries you know how much 

bailout was given <strong>to</strong> them. 

Fourteen local governments 

were flying external flag; you 

know how much was pumped 

in<strong>to</strong> those ones? If the money 

had been pumped in<strong>to</strong> the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n economy we could 

have been booming <strong>to</strong>day. 

On insinuation that age may 

have slowed Buhari down 

Government is a team work. 

When you talk of age, is he 

older than President Reagan 

when he was president of the 

USA? Look at the lady in 

Germany (Angel Merkel) is 

she not older than Buhari? So 

age is not the issue. The issue 

is the problems we are having 

on ground in <strong>Nigeria</strong> - 

structural problems, we are 

having system failure. 

Bring people from the 

highest institutions, from 

performing countries <strong>to</strong> 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>, they will fail because 

of system failure. People see 

what belong <strong>to</strong> the nation as 

individuals and take them and 

put in their pockets and that 

person will go and contest 

election and win; you send that 

person <strong>to</strong> court nothing 

happens. So, anybody ruling 

such people can become tired. 

How will you rate Buhari on 

Niger Delta? 

When he <strong>to</strong>ok over, pipelines 

were being broken at will; he 

invited some of us <strong>to</strong> ask what 

could be done. I, Paul Ogbebor, 

went <strong>to</strong> the riverine areas <strong>to</strong> 

mobilise and meet people and 

that was how we formed 

PANDEF (Pan Niger Delta 

Forum). We and all the people 

that were breaking pipes, came 

<strong>to</strong>gether, met him and 

articulated a 16-point agenda, 

he accepted the report. 

We were able <strong>to</strong> reduce the 

breakage of pipes and 

militancy by about 90 per cent, 

there is still something going 

on <strong>to</strong>day but it is minimal 

struggle. People say he is <strong>to</strong>o 

old but look at what he has 

done <strong>to</strong> the Shi’ites. If he had 

done that <strong>to</strong> a southerner, they 

would have accused him 

wrongly. Some people say he 

wants <strong>to</strong> Islamise <strong>Nigeria</strong> but 

some of these people are 

Muslims. 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns have not still 

unders<strong>to</strong>od what development 

is, they have not still imbibed 

nationalism and it is not their 

fault, it is the fault of <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

as a whole. 

As <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns, what do we 

wake <strong>to</strong>wards? There is no 

national goal. For instance, 

before 1960, all <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns woke 

up <strong>to</strong> say they wanted 

independence and they 

worked for it, they made 

sacrifices <strong>to</strong> be independent 

and that was achieved. After 

then, unfortunately, <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

went <strong>to</strong> war, all the resources 

of <strong>Nigeria</strong> were 

commandeered <strong>to</strong>wards 

ending the war and getting 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> <strong>to</strong> be one and that 

Continues on page 43

Vanguard, MONDAY AUGUST 19, 2019 — 43 

INSECURITY: FG wrong on Ruga 

— COL OGBEBOR 


became <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s second 

national goal. 

Thereafter, we have not had 

another national goal that all 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns could be mobilised 

<strong>to</strong>wards. What we have <strong>to</strong>day 

is individual goals. <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

are the hardest workers in the 

world but <strong>to</strong>wards individual 

goals. So, <strong>to</strong> be able <strong>to</strong> harness 

the resources, the energy of 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns, <strong>Nigeria</strong> should now 

be thinking of having a third 


Many countries have done it. 

I was in India in 1974 as 

Deputy Military Attaché. You 

will wake up and go <strong>to</strong> a 

popular area like Tinubu 

Square in Lagos; between 4 

and 6 in the morning, you will 

find them loading dead bodies, 

people who died from cold and 

hunger overnight. And I 

asked: what can you do <strong>to</strong> save 

these people who are dying? 

They <strong>to</strong>ld me that if they put 

all the resources of India 

<strong>to</strong>wards saving these people, 

they could only save 10 per 

cent, so what they were doing 

was putting the resources of 

India <strong>to</strong>wards a national goal 

so that that national goal 

would be enhanced <strong>to</strong> save the 

lives of the children of these 

people dying. 

And what national goal did 

they go for? Technological 

development and on this, you 

don’t need <strong>to</strong> have natural 

resources, all you need is 

manpower development and 

brain power. That is why the 

Indians <strong>to</strong>day have come up <strong>to</strong> 

the level they are. Instead of 

being net importer, they are 

now exporters. When I was 

there, whenever <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

come <strong>to</strong> recruit, you find them 

coming in millions <strong>to</strong> be 

teachers and whatever you can 

think of here. 

Three years ago, I went <strong>to</strong> 

India <strong>to</strong> recruit, I couldn’t get 

anybody <strong>to</strong> recruit because 

their economy has surpassed 

that of <strong>Nigeria</strong>. As at 1974, one 

naira was an equivalent of 97 

British pounds and was higher 

than the Indian rupees but 

<strong>to</strong>day, one naira is less than one 

rupee so they have achieved a 

national goal. I think we should 

start building <strong>to</strong>wards a 


What is your opinion of 

intervention agencies like the 

NDDC that seem not <strong>to</strong> be 

meeting its target in terms of 

quality of their interventions? 

Like I said before, one of 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s biggest problem is 

system failure, this is part of the 

system failure. 

The most pitiable situation in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> is that we are still using 

foreigners for our development 

and you ask questions they say 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns don’t have the 

competence yet you have 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns as chairmen of local 

government areas, governors 

of states and president. 

If you don’t break egg, will 

you eat omelette? Why not 

develop <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns? 

In 1965, the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Army 

built Jos <strong>to</strong> Baro railway line 

extension. 

In 1974, I went <strong>to</strong> Tanzania 

when they were building the 

Tarzan railway line from 

Tanzania <strong>to</strong> Zambia, they used 

the military. As at <strong>to</strong>day, there 

is no officer of the <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

Armed Forces that is not 

having a minimum of first 

degree, 80 per cent have 

Masters between 20 and 25 

per cent have Ph.D, what are 

they doing? 

Our prisons are filled up, 

what are they doing? Bring 

these people out, mobilise 

them <strong>to</strong> build railways and 

other things. Railway is the 

easiest transport infrastructure, 

we don’t have self confidence 

and that is why we are having 

system failure. We don’t have 

confidence in ourselves. We 

have everything that is 

required here. It was slaves that 

built the underground tunnel, 

the railways in America, in 

Britain when technology was 

minimal. Now we have so many 

universities, we have our 

children everywhere, we 

should internalise these 

things. 

Look at Suez canal, how was 

it built? The British government 

refused, the then world powers 

didn’t want <strong>to</strong> help Egypt build 

the Suez canal. What did Egypt 

do considering the economic 

and security importance of the 

canal? They got one of their 

contrac<strong>to</strong>rs, enhanced it and 

gave it the contract and that is 

what Arab Contrac<strong>to</strong>rs is <strong>to</strong>day. 

As at 1960, the Israelis found 

that 80 per cent of their 

construction was done by 

foreigners, they s<strong>to</strong>pped it by 

law and started their own and 

they started exporting their 

work. As at <strong>to</strong>day, we have over 

200 Israeli companies in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> alone employing 

There is a difference 

between corruption 

and stealing. 

Stealing is if I take 

your thing, I have 

deprived you as an 

individual but 

corruption is: 

something you gave 

<strong>to</strong> me <strong>to</strong> enhance this 

area that I live in, I 

will collect and put it 

in my pocket 

Israelis and bringing things 

manufactured there. <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns 

are highly educated, they are 

highly exposed, government 

should trust them, believe in 

them, let us s<strong>to</strong>p bringing 

foreigners <strong>to</strong> bring 

development. Why build 

houses that you cannot live in, 

why drive on roads that you 

cannot build? Let <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns do 

it so that they can generate 

employment, and foreign 

exchange. 

What is your opinion on 

Fulani herdsmen/farmers 

clashes and the controversial 

Ruga policy? 

We have been having Fulani 

in this country, I grew up <strong>to</strong> 

meet them, I was in the North 

for many years as a cadet. We 

never thought of who is a 

Fulani, who is Hausa or a 

Christian or Muslim, we all 

saw ourselves as <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns. I 

think it is just politics. We are 

<strong>to</strong>ld that the people you call 

herdsmen <strong>to</strong>day, they cover the 

whole of West Africa, if they are 

criminals; deal with them as 

criminals don’t call them big 

names. Whether they are 

Muslims, religious fanatics or 

herdsmen, deal with them as 

criminals, don’t politicise it. 

As for Ruga, I think the 

Federal Government is making 

a mistake. It is the fault of the 

Federal Government. When I 

was young, there were 

railways, cows were being 

brought by train, dropped in 

Osogbo and from there they are 

marched <strong>to</strong> different places. 

Can you imagine that <strong>to</strong>day, 

Lagos alone consumes 6,000 

cows everyday and 20,000 

goats and rams, do you know 

the logistics that will cost? 

Government is supposed <strong>to</strong> 

provide the enabling logistics 

these are big time businesses. 

Many countries live by selling 

dairy products. These things 

we are politicising are 

economic issues. How many 

cows are we consuming in 

Benin, in Enugu, Kaduna and 

elsewhere? It should be 

organised. We used <strong>to</strong> have 

native cows, encourage people 

<strong>to</strong> rare cows wherever they are 

so that we spare the Fulanis the 

stress of matching cows across 

the country. 

What we are having now is 

because the Federal 

Government did not plan ahead 

for our development. How do 

we move cows, goats other 

animals <strong>to</strong> the stables? 

The problem we have is that 

there is no nationalism. In my 

book, I recommended that 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n girls should go for 

compulsory two years national 

service in military training once 

they are 16 and boys once they 

are 18 years. The aim is <strong>to</strong> get 

everybody and give orientation 

<strong>to</strong>wards a national goal. All 

countries that are called 

industrilaised <strong>to</strong>day started 

with regimentation; national 

service. General Yakubu Gowon 

did very well by starting the 

NYSC; we should now make it 

national service for everybody 

and not only for graduates. 

How do you view the call for 

revolution by Omoyele 

Sowore? 

First of all, Omoyele Sowore 

shot himself on the foot. If he 

had such things in his mind, 

he shouldn’t have contested 

for the presidential elections. 

He failed through the ballot; he 

wants <strong>to</strong> come in through the 

window. 

Secondly, what is the 

revolution about? We have 

heard of Mo Tse Tong, we have 

heard of other revolutionaries 

but what is the objective of this 

one, what is the goal? I 

watched some people on 

television the other day who 

said they wanted revolution but 

Sowore did not reach out <strong>to</strong> 

them so what is the revolution 

about? Is revolution the only 

means of making a change? We 

don’t need revolution; we have 

patterns that we can emulate. 

We can emulate India; we can 

emulate the Asian countries by 

educating our youths. When I 

was in elementary school in 

Benin here, we were thought 

how <strong>to</strong> make stamps, tell 

s<strong>to</strong>ries, different hand works, 

but those things are not here 

<strong>to</strong>day. There is a saying that: 

teach the child what you want 

and he will grow up <strong>to</strong> become 

that. 

How will you assess 

Governor Godwin Obaseki of 

Edo State and the crisis he has 

been having with his 

predecessor, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole? 

Obaseki looks highly exposed 

maybe because of his 

background. His grandfather 

was a very rich man, Gaius 

Obaseki. He was one of the 

most educated Benin men and 

he was in business. He was an 

exporter and importer, he was 

also the Iyase of Benin, his own 

father was also highly read. His 

mother was a confidential 

secretary in the presidency for 

many years until she retired. 

So, the parental background is 

very strong. He schooled here 

before he travelled out so he 

must have imbibed the culture 

of development. I think he is a 

man who is developmen<strong>to</strong>riented 

and also knows how 

<strong>to</strong> use money properly. 

He is a thinker and a doer so 

I think he should be supported 

<strong>to</strong> finish his first four years and 

then maybe given another four 

years <strong>to</strong> solidify whatever he 

has started. 

I don’t see why there should 

be any quarrel between them. 

When Oshiomhole was going 

he said Edo State does not 

have money and wanted 

somebody that is prudent, he 

wanted somebody who will use 

whatever is there <strong>to</strong> develop the 

state and I think that is what 

Obaseki is doing. 

Maybe Oshiomhole wanted 

whoever is here <strong>to</strong> be a 

surrogate but in the his<strong>to</strong>ry of 

the world, those who impose 

surrogates have problems 

because the man they want <strong>to</strong> 

be answering their name, a 

time will come when the man 

will say no.

PAGE 44 — Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 

KELLOGG'S FAMILY FIESTA—From left: Omotayo Azeez-Abiodun, Public 

Relations Manager, Tolaram Group; Mrs. Jennifer Christian, resident of 

Alaka Estate, with her son, Jayden Christian; Darling<strong>to</strong>n Igabali, Area 

Marketing Manager, Kellogg's, and Mrs. Aisha Nawal, resident, during 

the Kellogg's Big Family Breakfast exercise at LSDPC Alaka Estate in 

Surulere, Lagos. 

THREE CROWNS MEET—From left: Pas<strong>to</strong>r (Mrs.) Celestina Opara; Pas<strong>to</strong>r (Mrs.) 

Gladys Oparah; Mr Akeem Audu, Brand Manager, Three Crowns; Bishop (Mrs.) 

Francisca Ezeugo, and Pas<strong>to</strong>r (Mrs.) Patricia Ajaero, during the Three Crowns 

August meeting at Overcomers Christian Mission worldwide in Owerri, Imo 

State. 

GOOD WOMEN CONFAB—A cross section of women at the 47th Good 

Women Annual Conference of The Sacred Cherubim and Seraphim 

Church World Wide, in Ibadan, Oyo State. 

BADGANG FEAST—From left: Sergeant at Arms, The Bikers with Attitude 

and Determination Gang (BADGANG), Niyi Odukomaiya; Digital 

Marketing Executive, Dufil Prima Foods Plc., Miss Oriola Oluwadarasimi; 

Social Direc<strong>to</strong>r, BMW Club, Linda Dominguez, and President, BADGANG, 

Segun Solanke, at the BADGANG Jollof & Palmie 3.0 event, supported 

by Indomie Relish, in Lagos.


NFF mourns 

Oyuki Obaseki 

The <strong>Nigeria</strong> Football 

Federation has expressed 

shock over the death on the 

morning of yesterday, of a former 

Chairman of the <strong>Nigeria</strong> Premier 

League and 2nd Vice President of 

the <strong>Nigeria</strong> Football Federation, 

Chief Oyuki Jackson Obaseki. 

The 75 –year old breathed his 

last on Sunday in Benin City, 

having left his giant footprints in 

the sands of time with his extensive 

work, passion and vision <strong>to</strong> take 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> League’s elite division <strong>to</strong> 

new heights. He was pioneer 

chairman of the body 

known as Interim 

Management 

Committee 

which was 

inaugurated in 

February 2005, 

and which 

transmuted 

<strong>to</strong> the 


Premier 

League 

t h e 

following 

year. 

D’Tigress retain 

2019 Afrobasket 

women title 

By John Egbokhan 

D 

’Tigress have done again it. 

They have won a back-<strong>to</strong>back 

FIBA Afrobasket Women 

Championship title, beating 

hosts and record champions, 

Senegal 60-55 in the final of the 

2019 edition played last night at 

the 15, 000 seater Dakar Arena. 

In the first quarter, Coach Otis 

Hughley started with regular 

starters, Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Macaulay, 

Adaora Elonu , Evelyn Akha<strong>to</strong>r 

,Iify, Ibekwe and his selection 

paid full dividend as the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns won the opening 

quarter 14-10. 

The chants by the home crowd 

were not enough <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p a sailing 

ship It was not a high-scoring 

game but D’Tigress led by 4 

points after the opening 10 

minutes nonetheless. 

D’Tigress <strong>to</strong>ok the second 

quarter 32-24. Ezinne Kalu was 

the <strong>to</strong>p performer for <strong>Nigeria</strong>, 

with 10 points while Lena Niang 

was the best performer for the 

hosts, posting six points. Just 

when it looked like the 

momentum was going Senegal’s 

way, D’Tigress made a spirited 

fightback in the 

Still at half time, A<strong>to</strong>nye 

Nyingifaled with three assists, 

while Ndeye Sene was Senega;s 

leading player in terms of assists 

with two assists. 

D’Tigress ended the third 

quarter with an 11-point lead, 

4837 heading in<strong>to</strong> the last quarter 

of the Championship match 

inside a packed Dakar Arena. 

Ezinne Kalu still the <strong>to</strong>p scorer 

with 12 points while Lena Niang 

of Senegal posted eight points 

<strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>p score for the hosts, who 

were playing catch-up on the 

rampaging <strong>Nigeria</strong>n ladies. 

Evelyn Akha<strong>to</strong>r led in rebounds, 

one more than Senegalese As<strong>to</strong>u 

Tarore. 

In the final quarter, Senegal 

romped <strong>to</strong> a 21-0 lead, <strong>to</strong> take 

the lead from the <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns, But 

with a three pointer, <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

reacted <strong>to</strong> lead 51-49 in a nerverending 

finale. The nerves were 

down inside the Dakar Arena as 

the Lionesses staged a big 

fightback <strong>to</strong> cut down <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s 

lead. 

Super Eagles midfielder, 

Wilfred Ndidi yesterday 

denied Frank Lampard a winning 

return <strong>to</strong> Stamford Bridge after 

Chelsea were held <strong>to</strong> a 1-1 draw by 

Leicester City. Mason Mount 

scored his first Chelsea goal inside 

the first seven minutes on his first 

appearance at the Bridge. 

But Ndidi’s bullet header midway 

through the second half rescued a 

deserved point for Brendan 

Rodgers’ side. On his Stamford 

Ukraine coach Andriy 

Shevchenko has called up 

twenty-four players for the 

upcoming European 

Championship qualifier against 

Lithuania and friendly with threetime 

Africa champions <strong>Nigeria</strong>. 

Of the 24 players called up for 

preparation and participation in 

the games, three are on the books 

of British clubs including Andriy 

Yarmolenko (West Ham), 

Oleksandr Zinchenko 

(Manchester City) and Maryan 

Shved (Celtic). 

An analysis of the roster revealed 

that three goalkeepers, eight 

defenders, eleven midfielders and 

two strikers have been invited by 

manager Andriy Shevchenko. 

Yevhen Shakhov, Sergey 

Sidorchuk, Nikolay Shaparenko 

Chelsea 1 Leicester 1 

Ndidi’s thumping 

header leaves Blues 

winless under Lampard 

Bridge homecoming, Lampard was 

forced <strong>to</strong> make some <strong>to</strong>ugh choices 

with his starting XI, dropping 

Mateo Kovacic and Tammy 

Abraham in favour of Christian 

Pulisic and Olivier Giroud. 

Despite playing 120 minutes 

against Liverpool in midweek, the 

Blues looked the sharper side as 

they came racing out of the blocks. 

Inside the first minute of play, 

Pedro could have opened the 

scoring after being set up by Giroud 

Ukraine coach names EPL 

stars for Eagles friendly 

and Artem Besedin have 

been placed on 

standby. 

T h e 

Ukrainians 

will face 

Lithuania 

o n 

September 

7 in 

Vilnius 

and take 

on the 

Super 

Eagles 

in the 

first ever 

meeting between the 

two countries at the 

Dnipro Arena on 

September 10. 

Rabat 2019: Team <strong>Nigeria</strong> good <strong>to</strong> 

go, Toriola, Gumel assure 

Team <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s captain at the 

12th African Games in 

Morocco, Segun Toriola said 

yesterday in Rabat that <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

athletes and officials were set <strong>to</strong> 

dazzle at the competition. 

Toriola said he and his 

colleagues were in good shape and 

would do their best <strong>to</strong> ensure 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> finished <strong>to</strong>p of the Games. 

The Games scheduled for Aug. 

19 <strong>to</strong> Aug. 31 had started 

unofficially on Friday, with some 

football games and beach 

volleyball. 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> are aiming <strong>to</strong> better 

their second position placing at 

the last edition held in 2015 at 

Congo Brazzaville. 

“We are good <strong>to</strong> go, because we 

have prepared very well. We will 

try our best <strong>to</strong> win the games. 

“All is set with us because we have 

prepared well, and every one of us 

is happy <strong>to</strong> be here,” Toriola said. 

Speaking also, Habu Gumel, 

President of <strong>Nigeria</strong> Olympic 

Committee (NOC), said Team 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s athletes had shown a lot 

of courage and commitment 

through their preparations. 

“We are confident that with such 

level of spirit, and coupled with the 

lot of training they have received, 

Team <strong>Nigeria</strong> will give us the 

required medals. 

place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State 

recently. 

A <strong>to</strong>tal of 16 athletes (6 females 

and 10 males) and 5 coaches, as 

well as 2 officials, will fly 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s flag in wrestling at the 

Games in three styles; Women 

Wrestling, Freestyle and Greco 

Roman, and the Olympic 

champion believes their ‘best 

efforts’ will bring glory <strong>to</strong> the 

country. 

“My charge <strong>to</strong> the athletes and 

but the Spaniard hit a sweet volley 

in<strong>to</strong> the side netting. 

There was more <strong>to</strong> come and 

Chelsea were rampant. Mount and 

Pulisic were both denied by Kasper 

Schmeichel in the space of a few 

seconds as Leicester struggled <strong>to</strong> 

contain the Blues. 

But their resistance soon broke 

when Ndidi was caught dwelling 

on the ball by Mount. The young 

midfielder kept his balance and 

with his second <strong>to</strong>uch slid an effort 

beyond Schmeichel. 

Just a minute later, Chelsea were 

almost in again when Mount’s 

shot was spilled by Schmeichel 

and Pulisic was denied by the 

Dane. 

Chelsea nearly doubled their 

advantage when Giroud’s 

clever backheel found 

N’Golo Kante steaming 

in<strong>to</strong> the box but a vital 

block from 

Christian Fuchs 

denied the 

Frenchman a 

certain goal. 

12th African Games: Igali charges wrestlers <strong>to</strong> 

give ‘best efforts’ in Morocco 

President of the <strong>Nigeria</strong> 

Wrestling Federation 

(NWF) Hon. Daniel Igali has 

charged the country’s wrestlers 

and coaches <strong>to</strong> the 12th African 

Games in Morocco <strong>to</strong> ‘give your 

best efforts’ when hostilities 

resume in the Northern African 

Nation. 

Igali gave this charge at the 

unveiling ceremony of <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s 

wrestling team <strong>to</strong> the quadrennial 

multi-sport event which <strong>to</strong>ok 

Estate agent wins 

Betway N50m 

Fortune has smiled on a Port 

Harcourt based Estate Agent 

Emeka Cephas who won a 

whooping sum of N50m after 

staking with just N13,000. 

In a statement by the Marketing 

manager, Lere Awokoya, Emeka 

played a 10 game accumula<strong>to</strong>r <strong>to</strong> 

win this sum. 

He equally affirmed that this win 

is the second biggest payout in 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s sports betting his<strong>to</strong>ry. 

“<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns appreciate our love 

of the game and commitment <strong>to</strong> 

prompt payment.” 

“Having been operational in the 

<strong>Nigeria</strong>n market for almost two 

years, we are here for real. As a 

measure of our commitment, we 

will always keep our promise.” 

“We are a premium 

international brand, with fully 

localized operations in <strong>Nigeria</strong>.” 

The Betway WinBoost feature 

played a major role in Emeka’s 

fortune. He actually won #40 

Million with <strong>to</strong>tal odds of 3,077, 

but the WinBoost fetched him an 

additional #10m, bringing his 

<strong>to</strong>tal win <strong>to</strong> N50m. 

<strong>to</strong> the coaches is what we practice 

on the mat – <strong>to</strong> go out and give 

your best effort. You can’t do better 

than that,” Igali, a Commissioner 

Designate in Bayelsa State said. 

“Nobody can do better than their 

best effort on the mat. 

“If an athlete leaves the mat, 

and feels that they could have 

done more, they’ve cheated 

themselves. And that is our 

philosophy on the mat and that’s 

how we train". 

Sanusi 

charges 

Flying Eagles, 

Falconets <strong>to</strong> 

go for gold 

The General Secretary of 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> Football 

Federation, Dr. Mohammed 

Sanusi has challenged the U20 

boys’ and girls’ National Teams 

<strong>to</strong> go for gold medals in the 

football events of the ongoing 

12th All-Africa Games in Rabat, 

Morocco. 

Paul Aigbogun’s wards were 

forced <strong>to</strong> a 1-1 draw by their 

counterparts from Burkina Faso 

in their opening match of the 

men’s football event on Friday, 

while Chris Danjuma’s 

Falconets <strong>to</strong>ok no prisoners, 

hammering South Africa’s 

Basetsana 3-0 in their first 

match on Saturday. 

“I have confidence in the two 

teams that are in Morocco for 

the football events and I know 

they will do the country proud. 

The Falconets have shown their 

teeth right from the beginning 

while the Flying Eagles have <strong>to</strong> 

rejig their strategy. 

“From available records, 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> has not won gold medal 

in the men’s football event since 

1973 that we hosted the 2nd All- 

Africa Games in Lagos. It is a 

very long time and the Flying 

Eagles have <strong>to</strong> do make their 

best efforts <strong>to</strong> win this this year,” 

said Sanusi. 

Aruna Quadri 

hits semifinal of 

Bulgaria Open 

Aruna Quadri stunned one of 

the most decorated Japanese 

stars in table tennis <strong>to</strong> reach the 

semfinal round of the ITTF World 

Tour tagged Bulgaria Open. 

Being the last quarterfinal match 

in the men’s singles, the Bulgaria 

fans were treated <strong>to</strong> an exciting 

moment as there was an 

unbelievable scenes in 

Panagyurishte after the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n 

hero knocks Japanese no.4 seed Jun 

Mizutani in a seven-game thriller. 

The 2019 <strong>Nigeria</strong> Open 

champion expressed appreciation <strong>to</strong> 

the Bulgarian fans for their 

unrelenting support during the 

encounter. Trailing 1-2 on games but 

Aruna Quadri is well known for his 

comebacks and his fighting spirit 

shone through on this occasion, 

saving two game points in game four 

before going on <strong>to</strong> recover from 4-9 

down <strong>to</strong> win game five 11-9. 

Mizutani responded well <strong>to</strong> claim 

game six, forcing a decider: 9-6 

down Mizutani 

up the fight, 

going on <strong>to</strong> 

hold two 

match point 

opportunities. 

refused <strong>to</strong> give 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Coutinho in Munich <strong>to</strong> complete 

Bayern move 

Philippe Coutinho has arrived at 

Bayern Munich <strong>to</strong> complete his 

medical as he edges closer <strong>to</strong> 

sealing his loan move from 

Barcelona. 

The Brazilian midfielder has 

agreed <strong>to</strong> join the Bundesliga 

champions on a season-long loan 

deal - with Bayern having the 

option <strong>to</strong> make the deal permanent 

at the end of the campaign. 

Bayern sporting direc<strong>to</strong>r Hasan 

Salihamidzic said on Friday: “I 

can confirm that Karl-Heinz 

Rummenigge [Bayern chairman] 

and I have been in Barcelona this 

week, agreeing with the player 

and the adviser. 

“We had very good talks and I 

want <strong>to</strong> say thank you <strong>to</strong> 

Barcelona. 

“Medical check and signature and 

we are very happy <strong>to</strong> have won 

this player, it will be a one-year 

loan deal with a call option.” 

He flew in a private jet <strong>to</strong> 

Germany where he headed <strong>to</strong> the 

Eriksen 

Eriksen wants 

<strong>to</strong> leave 

Tottenham for 

free 

C hristian 

Eriksen was 

one of the players 

who looked likely <strong>to</strong> 

moving <strong>to</strong> pastures 

new this summer, 

with Real Madrid the most 

p r o b a b l e 

destination, although 

Manchester United were also a 

possibility at the end in case Paul 

Pogba moved <strong>to</strong> Madrid. 

In the end the Danish player is 

staying in London (and the 

Frenchman in Manchester). And 

the Tottenham man has decided 

<strong>to</strong> see out his contract, which 

finishes next summer, and leave 

for free, ensuring Spurs get 

nothing when he goes. 

Fury ridicules Joshua 

Tyson Fury has hit back at Anthony 

Joshua after his rival ridiculed 

him for fighting Ot<strong>to</strong> Wallin. The 

Gypsy King takes on little-known 

Swedish fighter Wallin in Las Vegas 

in September in another tune-up 

fight ahead of his rematch with 

Deontay Wilder next year, but 

Joshua wasn’t impressed with the 

opponent selection. Joshua said he 

would never fight ‘lower-tier 

heavyweights’. After hearing the 

comments, Fury responded by 

questioning the caliber of Andy Ruiz 

Jr – AJ’s next opponent. ‘What about 

Andy Ruiz then? Was he a <strong>to</strong>p tier 

heavyweight when he fought him? He 

got knocked out by him,’ Fury <strong>to</strong>ld 

Behind the Gloves. 

‘No he wasn’t, that’s the answer <strong>to</strong> 

that question. Nobody knew who 

club offices for his medical and 

contract documentation. 

Coutinho joins on loan for a 

season, until June 2020, for 20m 

euros and Bayern paying his 

salary. The German side can buy 

him for 120m euros at the end 

of the loan if they so 

wish. 

Chukwueze 

opens La Liga 

goal account 

<strong>Nigeria</strong> International Samuel Chukwueze was 

on target as Villarreal were held by Granada 

4-4 at the Estadio de la Cerámica in their La 

Liga opener on Saturday. 

Santi Cazorla drew the first blood from the spot before 

Granada leveled up through Fede Vico, who also 

converted from the penalty spot. 

Moi Gomez res<strong>to</strong>red the Yellow submarine’s lead, but 

the Visi<strong>to</strong>rs were level again after evading Villarreal 

defender, Ruben Pena <strong>to</strong> put the ball in<strong>to</strong> his own net. 

Not long after the fourth goal of the match, Villarreal 

forward Gerard Moreno scored <strong>to</strong> make it a one goal lead. 

Chukwueze then followed up, opening his goal account for 

the season with a brilliant run after picking up the ball just 

past the half-way mark. 

The winger beat his markers, dribbling behind 

them before hitting a precise low shot, aimed 

for the bot<strong>to</strong>m left corner and beyond the 

goalkeeper’s reach. 

However Villarreal’s two goal lead was 

halved two minutes after Chukwueze’s goal. 

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Rober<strong>to</strong> 

Soldado from a fine header before An<strong>to</strong>nio 

Puertas scored the equalize nine minutes 

before time. 

Despite this scenario being well 

known, the Mirror reports that 

Spurs have tried <strong>to</strong> change 

Eriksen’s mind, by making him an 

offer of over a million euros a 

year,despite being aware that 

there is little chance of changing 

his mind, because Eriksen is 

extremely hurt by the behaviour 

of club bosses who he feels 

prevented him from trying his luck 

at one of Europe’s big clubs. 

Sources at the club say the 

reason Eriksen didn’t leave 

this summer was because no 

formal offer was ever made 

for him. The Danish 

international’s hope right now is 

that Tottenham understand he 

won’t renew and will start last 

ditch negotiations with buying 

clubs in the remaining days of the 

transfer window <strong>to</strong> try and get 

something for him, although that 

would leave them with the the 

problem of being almost certainly 

unable <strong>to</strong> replace one of their 

leading players for the season 

ahead 

Andy Ruiz was. He was a two-week 

replacement opponent. ‘People only 

become somebody by getting an 

opportunity. This time last year 

Andy Ruiz was 

nobody, absolutely 

f****** nobody. 

‘Today he’s 

heavyweight 

champion of the 

world. If he wasn’t Fury 

given the opportunity 

on two weeks notice 

then nobody would 

know his name. 

‘He contradicts 

himself quite a lot 

actually. AJ, you 

must think before you 

speak, you little 

p****.’ 

Chukwueze 

Madrid <strong>to</strong> appeal against 

Modric’s red card 

Real Madrid have decided <strong>to</strong> file 

an appeal in attempt <strong>to</strong> avoid 

Luka Modric being su<strong>spend</strong>ed for 

the straight red card he was 

shown on Saturday against Celta 

Vigofor a challenge from behind 

on Denis Suárez. 

The referee’s match report states 

that the Real Madrid midfielder 

was sent off in the 56th minute for 

“striking the rival player’s achilles 

tendon area with his studs, with 

no possibility of getting the ball”. 

Real Madrid consider the referee’s 

version <strong>to</strong> be incorrect as, in their 

Joshua 

De Bruyne confused by 

VAR handball rules 

Kevin De Bruyne admitted he was confused by the handball 

rules after Manchester City were denied a dramatic late 

winner against Tottenham by VAR. 

The Premier League champions thought they had snatched a 

3-2 vic<strong>to</strong>ry in injury time at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 

but Gabriel Jesus’ strike was disallowed on review for a 

handball by Aymeric Laporte. 

Replays showed the ball had brushed off the <strong>to</strong>p of the 

City defender’s arm as a cross came in, which under 

new interpretations has <strong>to</strong> be penalised - 

regardless of whether the handball was 

deliberate or not - because it led <strong>to</strong> a goal. 

De Bruyne does not feel the rule is 

consistent because, had the ball hit a 

Tottenham player’s arm in the same 

manner instead of Laporte’s, play 

would have been allowed <strong>to</strong> continue. 

“It is what it is,” the Belgian said of 

VAR. “If they want <strong>to</strong> make football 

better they should have it. But I 

think the only thing - the rules 

should be clear. If the ball had 

<strong>to</strong>uched somebody of 

Tottenham’s arm it’s not a 

penalty, but if it <strong>to</strong>uched 

our arm it is not allowed. 

“It should go both ways 

in something like that. 

I don’t understand that 

as a player. It makes it 

really confusing.” 

view, Modric was attempting <strong>to</strong> 

play the ball, and s<strong>to</strong>od on Suárez 

without meaning <strong>to</strong>. 

Modric is facing a suspension of 

one <strong>to</strong> three games for the red card. 

Article 123 of the disciplinary code 

in Spain concerning “violent 

play”, which would likely apply 

<strong>to</strong> Modric, states that where a 

player is responsible for violent 

play involving risk <strong>to</strong> another 

player but which doesn’t lead <strong>to</strong> 

damaging consequences or injury, 

the suspension will be one <strong>to</strong> three 

games, or up <strong>to</strong> one month out. 

Sadio Mane has become just the 

second player <strong>to</strong> score 20 goals 

(from Premier League players) in 

2019, following in the footsteps of 

Sergio Aguero. 

After his Uefa Super Cup heroics 

against Chelsea, Mane put the 

Reds ahead as Liverpool <strong>to</strong>ok the 

lead against Southamp<strong>to</strong>n in a tight 

contest at St. Mary’s Stadium. 

The goal means the Senegalese has 

scored 20 times in all competitions 

in 2019, <strong>to</strong> stay on level terms with 

Manchester City’s Aguero who has 

achieved the same feat. 

It is an as<strong>to</strong>nishing level of 

Ehizibue, 

Collins make 

big impression 

on Bundesliga 

debuts 

Three <strong>Nigeria</strong>n players made 

their debuts in the German 

Bundesliga on the opening day 

of the 2019-2020 season. 

Munich-born <strong>Nigeria</strong>n fullback 

Kingsley Ehizibue was in action 

for 90 minutes as FC Cologne 

suffered a 2-1 loss <strong>to</strong> VfL 

Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen 

Arena. 

The 24-year-old signed a fouryear 

contract with FC Cologne 

in the off-season, which ended 

his stint with Dutch clubs. 

Ehizibue won 89 percent of his 

challenges, clocked up a joint 

<strong>to</strong>p speed of 34km/hour and 

completed 80 percent of his 

dribbles. 

At the BayArena (Leverkusen), 

Super Eagles first choice leftback 

Jamilu Collins lasted the 

entire duration as Bundesliga 

newcomers SC Paderborn 

suffered a 3-2 loss at the hands 

of Bayer Leverkusen. 

Collins racked up a game-high 

seven interceptions over the 

course of ninety minutes and 

made two clearances and one 

tackle. 

Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi 

played the last five minutes of 

Mainz’s 3-0 loss <strong>to</strong> Freiburg at 

the Schwarzwald-Stadion 

(Freiburg im Breisgau). 

The home team were 2-0 up 

thanks <strong>to</strong> goals from Lucas 

Holer and Jonathan Schmid 

before the <strong>Nigeria</strong> international 

came off the bench. 

Mane joins Aguero in exclusive goalscoring club 

durability from the 27-year-old 

who shows no signs of slowing 

down. 

Against Chelsea in Wednesday’s 

Super Cup, Mane became the first 

African <strong>to</strong> score a brace in the 

competition. 

He recorded 26 goals in 2018-19, 

landing the Premier League 

Golden Boot and the Champions 

League crown. 

Mane might be in contention <strong>to</strong> 

win the Ballon d’Or for the first 

time and he should be in the 

running the African Player of the 

Year prize.

C 

M 

Y 


Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

FRIDAY’S SOLUTION 

ACROSS 

1 Herb used in stuffing (4) 

3 Something that rouses <strong>to</strong> 

action (8) 

9 Bubble raised on the skin 

(7) 

10 Axe or Exe, for example 

(5) 

11 Broadcasting medium 

(5) 

12 Stick <strong>to</strong>gether (6) 

14 Floor covering (6) 

16 Festival in spring (6) 

19 Slow sentimental song 

(6) 

21 Concede (5) 

24 Device for measuring 

spirits in a pub (5) 

25 Concerned only with 

one’s personal welfare (7) 

26 Close investigation (8) 

27 Nautical unit of speed 

(4) 

DOWN 

1 Take away (8) 

2 Steady, dull and laborious 

routine (5) 

4 Three times (6) 

5 Merriment (5) 

6 Young hare (7) 

7 Nimble (4) 

8 In one’s own house (2,4) 

13 Musical note (8) 

15 Heart of a nuclear power 

station (7) 

17 Heavenly spirits (6) 

18 More likely than others 

<strong>to</strong> win (4-2) 

20 Lawful (5) 

22 Arrange in line (5) 

23 Gaffer (4) 

How <strong>to</strong> Play Sudoku 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two 

of the same number). 

Each row (nine lines from left <strong>to</strong> right), column, (also nine lines 

from <strong>to</strong>p <strong>to</strong> bot<strong>to</strong>m) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine 

blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no 

number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or 

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri-Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Edi<strong>to</strong>r: 01-4548355. Advert Hotline: 

08027767834; 01-4544821. Abuja office: 7, Dambata Close, Area 7, Garki, 09-2921024. Ikeja office: 73, Awolowo Way. V.I. Office: Murplus Plaza, 27, Sanusi Fafunwa Street. Asaba: 21, Anwai 

Road. Benin City: 4E, Arusa Street. Port Harcourt: 50, Ikwerre Road; Warri: 102, Efurun-Sapele Road. Advert: advertproduction@yahoo.com; E-mail: edi<strong>to</strong>r@vanguardngr.com, 

news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Edi<strong>to</strong>r: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01-4548355. All correspondence <strong>to</strong> P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

19082019 - Nigeria to spend N2.53bn on 43 ministers

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