23082019 - Anger, as B-Haram retakes 2 LGAs in Borno

11 

I’ve invested 

N1.3trillion in 

education 

— BUHARI 

8 

Police identify 4 

Ekweremadu 

attackers in 

Germany 

15 

Tension, as herdsmen 

rape, kill 62-yr old 

Enugu woman 

42 

Ministerial inauguration: Stocks rise to 2-month high, as NSE delists 2 banks 

19 

VOL. 26: NO. 63881 FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 

Anger, as B-Haram retakes 

2 LGAs in Borno 

•Secretariats of Gubio, Magumeri LGAs burnt down in attack 

•Insurgents surrender control of captured Councils hours later 

•Civilian JTF man abducted; attack targeted at troops, says Army 

INAUGURATION... 

STORY 

ON 

PAGE 8 

FG sets 

up panel 

to 

recover 

N614bn 

from 35 

states 

9 

INAUGURATION: President Muhammadu Buhari (2nd left) flanked by the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El- 

Rufai (left); Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele (2nd right) and members of the Governing 

Council of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and members, Board of Directors, CBN, after President Buhari inaugurated 

the CBN Centre of Excellence at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state, yesterday. 

Past leaders'll be tried for 

economic sabotage — AGF 

Auto crash claims 17 

lives, injures 2 in Kwara 

6 

Oyo-Ita returns as Buhari 

rejects her resignation 

COLUMNISTS DONU KOGBARA 17 OWEI LAKEMFA 31 

5 

9 

Naira down to 

N363.01 /$ 

in I&E 

47 

window 

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019—3


vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

Members of NYSC Batch B Stream II deployed to Rivers State performing The "Three Happy Cheers 

salute" shortly after their Swearing in Yesterday at the Permanent Orientation Camp in Nonwa/Gbam, 

Tai Local Government Area of the State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke. 

Past leaders'll be tried for economic 

Northern EdersForum, 

sabotage — AGF NEF; former Deputy President 

By Clifford Ndujihe, Dapo Akinrefon, 

Ben Agande, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, 

Henry Ojelu, Gabriel Ewepu, Olayinka 

Ajayi & Ezra Ukanwa 

ABUJA — Barely 24 

hours after he was 

returned to office, the 

Attorney General of the 

Federation and Minister of 

Justice, Abubakar Malami, 

SAN, yesterday vowed to 

prosecute past leaders, 

private individuals and 

corporate entities that 

connived to sabotage the 

country’s economy. 

This came on a day 

international anticorruption 

organization, 

Transparency 

International, TI, raised the 

alarm over looters in the 

new cabinet of President 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

inaugurated Wednesday. 

The TI allegation got the 

backing of Pan-Yoruba 

Socio-Political 

Organisation, Afenifere; 

National Publicity 

Secretary of the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, Comrade Timi Frank; 

and Mr Akin Osuntokun. 

However, the anticorruption 

organisation 

was pooh-poohed by 

Second Republic Governor 

of old Kaduna State, Alhaji 

Balarabe Musa; and 

Second Republic 

lawmaker, Dr. Junaid 

Mohammed. 

However, in a speech 

delivered at an event the 

Federal Ministry of Justice 

organised to celebrate his 

re-appointment as the AGF, 

Malami warned that 

Buhari’s 

administration “cannot 

afford to fail on account of 

lawless acts of corrupt and 

unpatriotic few who always 

derive pleasure in seeing us 

fail as a nation.” 

According to him, “the 

law must work; it must 

speak it’s firm language of 

justice at all times no matter 

whose ox is gored.” 

Malami revealed that his 

first line of action would 

involve the prosecution of 

every person and 

institutions that engaged in 

what he decsribed as 

underhand dealings that 

led to the August 16 ruling 

of a court in the United 

Kingdom that ordered 

seizure of $9billion in 

Nigerian assets. 

He said: “Sadly, in spite 

of the spirited and 

concerted efforts of the 

current administration to 

combat corrupt practices 

and rent seeking in all its 

forms, Nigerians woke up 

on Friday, August 16, 2019, 

to the rudest consequences 

of the underhand dealings 

of the past administration 

that has resulted in the 

award of $9 billion against 

the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria by a British court 

which ruled that Process 

and Industrial 

Development Limited, 

P&ID, had the right to seize 

$9billion in Nigerian 

assets. 

“It may interest you to 

know that the dispute that 

led to the arbitration 

between the FGN and 

P&ID which consequently 

resulted in the said court 

ruling arose from a 20 year 

Gas Supply Processing 

Agreement, GSPA, 

purportedly entered with 

P&ID by the past 

administration in 2010 

which contract P&ID never 

performed as agreed. 

“That being said, it must 

be placed on record that the 

Federal Government 

strongly views with serious 

concerns the underhand 

manners by which the 

negotiation, signing and 

formation of the contract 

was carried out by some 

vested interests in the past 

administration in 

connivance with their local 

and international 

conspirators all in a bid to 

inflict grave economic 

adversity on the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria and the 

good people of Nigeria. 

“As a government that has 

the mandate of the people, 

and their interests at heart, 

we shall not fold our arms 

and allow this injustice to go 

unpunished as all efforts, 

actions and steps shall be 

taken to bring to book all 

private individuals, 

corporate entities and 

government officials, home 

or abroad and past or 

present that played direct 

and indirect roles in the 

conception, negotiation, 

signing, formation as well as 

prosecution of the 

purported agreement”. 

He decried the fact that 

the country was bedeviled 

with an existential crisis of 

nationhood that is 

threatening to tear it apart, 

“with needless calls for 

Continues on Page 47 

By Bose Adelaja 

& Deborah Alade 

Attack on Senator Ekweremadu by IPOB in Germany (4) 

WHEN you push 

somebody to the 

wall, he will fight back. 

Many Nigerians are hungry, 

dying and languishing in 

poverty while our leaders 

are flaunting their wealth. 

The Germany attack is 

nothing compared to the 

pains and agonies we are 

subjected to by our 

politicians. 

—Grace Adedeji 

Petty Trader 

Under 

no 

circumstances 

should anybody take the 

law into his hand. The 

attack has shown how 

uncivilised and 

uncultured we are. 

Honestly, this is not 

the best way to express 

our anger because 

there are many ways to 

kill a bird than to hit it 

on the head. 

—Taiwo Adeleke 

Teacher 

THE 

western 

w o r l d 

knows that we 

have our right to even 

slap our idiotic leaders 

that are messing 

around the world, 

misbehaving. Thank 

God Germany is not 

Nigeria and they don’t 

care if he is dead or 

alive. 

—Friday Akebe 

Plumber 

Senator 

Ike 

Ekweremadu is 

too good to be 

maltreated this way in 

Germany. He has 

always promoted the 

interest of Ndigbo in 

the Red Chamber. This 

will also serve as a 

lesson to other 

politicians, who think 

that public funds is 

thier personal 

property. 

—Susan Oluchi 

Igwe, Nurse 

Iam sad that Senator 

Ekweremadu was 

attacked by IPOB. This 

is unacceptable. 

Election is the only 

means through which 

you can remove any one 

you feel has not 

performed. This is about 

Nigeria. I feel 

embarrassed as a 

Nigerian. It isn’t about 

PDP or APC. 

—David Eze 

Nwabuko 

Electrician 

The attack on 

Ekweremadu by IPOB 

in Germany calls for 

concern and a reflection on 

the state of the nation. All 

our leaders need to sit up 

and do the right thing by 

delivering good 

governance to the people 

rather than untold hardship 

which majority of the 

citizens face on daily basis 

as a result of poor 

infrastructure and no 

welfare. Also I believe they 

have passed a very strong 

message to our few elected 

public office holders. 

—Ifeanyi Okoye, Activist

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 

Woman whips daughter to death in Ondo, absconds from hospital 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—A four-year-old girl 

has reportedly been whipped 

to death by her mother in Akure, 

Ondo State capital. 

The yet-to-be identified mother 

was said to have rushed the girl 

to the State University Teaching 

Hospital, Akure Annex, where 

she was confirmed dead on 

arrival. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

mother used horsewhip on the 

daughter, leaving several marks 

on her body over a yet-to-be 

ascertained offence. 

Speaking with newsmen, some 

hospital workers said the woman 

escaped with the child’ corpse, 

which was brought to the 

Children’s Outpatients 

Department, COPD, of the 

Woman 

defrauds 

neighbour of 

N200,000 

By Onozure Dania 

L AGOS—POLICE, 

yesterday brought a 32- 

year-old woman, Precious 

Osagie, before an Apapa 

Magistrates’ Court sitting in 

Ajungule, for allegedly 

obtaining N200, 000 from her 

neighbour under guise of 

investing it in an online 

business. 

Osagie is standing trial on 

a three-count charge of 

conspiracy, fraud and 

stealing, preferred against 

her by the Police. 

The defendant however 

pleaded not guilty to all the 

three-count charge. 

Earlier, the prosecutor, 

Inspector Edet Ekpo, told the 

court that the defendant 

committed the alleged 

offences sometime in August, 

at 10.00a.m. at Amukoko, 

Apapa in Lagos. 

He said that the defendant 

obtained the sum of N200, 

000 from her neighbour, the 

complainant, one Mrs 

Chinyere Nnamene, under 

the pretence of investing the 

money in an online business 

(Aquatics Multilinks 

Resources International Ltd) 

which was to multiply within 

two weeks of investment. 

“The money was lost and 

the defendant could not give 

good account of how the 

money was invested and 

could not pay back to the 

complainant, “ Ekpo said. 

Magistrate Taiwo Popoola 

granted him bail in the sum 

of N50, 000 with two sureties 

in like sum. 

He said that the sureties 

must show evidence of three 

years tax payments to the 

Lagos State Government. 

Popoola adjourned the case 

till September 3 for mention. 


hospital. 

A worker in the hospital said the 

woman fled with the corpse after 

being questioned about the 

horsewhip marks on the 

deceased. 

The staff said: “She became 

agitated when she was 

questioned and some people 

started taking pictures of the girl 

with several horsewhip marks on 

her back. Suspecting that the 

hospital management might 

invite the Police, she grabbed the 

corpse of the girl, after she was 

confirmed dead by the doctors, 

and fled the hospital. All efforts 

to stop her proved abortive. 

“The woman brought in the girl 

to the hospital at the children’s 

emergency ward for treatment. As 

we tried to attend to her, we notice 

that she had maltreated the girl 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

ADO-EKITI—A commercial 

motorcyclist (name 

withheld), yesterday, raped his 

to the point of death.” 

Another source within the 

hospital said: “If you had seen the 

body of the girl, you would 

known it was a case of child 

abuse, as there were serious 

marks of beating all over her. 

“By the time the doctor on duty 

rushed to attend to her, it was 

discovered that she even 

brought the child dead. The 

doctor had to quickly tell the 

woman that the young kid she 

brought to the hospital was 

dead already. 

“Before you know it, the 

woman grabbed the girl and ran 

away from the hospital facility.” 

Doctor narrates incident 

A doctor, who spoke in 

confidence, said the girl was 

brought in dead by the mother. 

landlady, Bukola Olarewaju, to 

death at Olorunda area of Ado- 

Ekiti, Ekiti State capital. 


mother of three, described by 

According to him, 

“immediately she (the woman) 

brought in the child dead to the 

hospital, we tried to resuscitate 

her, but there was no life again. 

And before we knew it, the 

woman grabbed the corpse of 

her child and ran outside the 

hospital facility. 

“All efforts to trace her have 

since proved abortive, because 

we did not know how she just 

managed to escape from the 

hospital facility.” 

Speaking on the incident, the 

Administrative Secretary of the 

hospital, Dayo Owoseni, said: 

“I only heard about the incident 

this morning(yesterday) and we 

have called on the doctor on 

duty to come over and 

explained what happened. 

“Although, the Chief Medical 

family members as middle-aged, 

was at home alone after her 

husband had gone to work, while 

the children were said to have 

gone for holiday lessons, when 

Director of the hospital is not 

currently around and the 

remaining top staff are in an 

emergency meeting.” 

Police 

The state police spokesperson, 

Femi Joseph, who confirmed 

the incident, said that Police 

detectives have swung into 

action to arrest the suspect. 

Joseph said: “Investigation 

has already begun to unravel 

how it all happened,” saying 

there was no proper record of 

the case registered at the 

hospital, assuring that “efforts are 

on to track the woman.” 

The Police image-maker added 

that “we have already sent in 

some officers to go and investigate 

the case to know what actually 

went wrong.” 

HIGH-RISE: 

A saloon car 

veered off the 

Iyana-Ipaja Bridge 

and landed upright 

on the ground by 

Alafia Street 

junction in Lagos, 

yesterday. PHOTO: 

Joe Akintola, Photo 

Editor. 

Okadaman rapes landlady to death in Ekiti 

17 die in Kwara auto crash 

By Demola Akinyemi 

ILORIN—NO fewer than 

17persons have reportedly 

died in an auto crash at Bacita 

Junction along Jebba-Ilorin 

Highway in Kwara State. 

The accident, it was gathered, 

occurred yesterday afternoon. 

Vanguard reliably gathered that 

the accident, which involved an 

18-seater Toyota Hiace passenger 

bus and an articulated DAF 

container truck, also left two 

people injured. 

It was further gathered that the 

accident occurred as a result of 

over-speeding and dangerous 

driving, as the two vehicles had 

head-on collision at a bend along 

the highway. 

Speaking on the crash, the 

Head of Operation, Federal 

Road Safety Corps, FRSC, 

Kwara State Sector Command, 

Udeme Eshiet, confirmed the 

incident. 

He said the DAF container 

truck was going towards Jebba, 

in the Kwara North district, 

while the passenger bus was 

coming to Ilorin, the state 

capital, when the crash 

occurred. 

The FRSC official said the 

crash occurred at a sharp bend, 

as a result of over-speeding 

which led to head-on collision 

by the two vehicles. 

He said: “Due to excess 

speeding by both drivers, they 

could not negotiate the sharp 

bend properly, and when they 

eventually met, it resulted in a 

head-on collision.” 

The road safety official, who 

called on motorists to be more 

careful while driving on the 

nation’s highways to check 

avoidable accidents, also said 

passengers should always 

caution and report every 

reckless driver to law 

enforcement agents nearby. 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

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the incident happened. 

The fleeing suspect was alleged 

to have broken into the woman’s 

room, threatened her with a 

cutlass and tied her up before 

raping her. 

It was also gathered that after 

the act, the tenant fled the house. 

But some of his belongings were 

found in the room, which 

confirmed that he was responsible 

for the act. 

One of the children of the 

deceased, who spoke with 

Vanguard, said he saw the 

suspect on a motorcycle while 

returning home, but did know the 

okadaman had killed his mother. 

The husband of the deceased 

and her children could not hold 

their tears as they wept profusely. 

The state Police Command 

Public Relations Officer, Caleb 

Ikechukwu, who confirmed the 

incident, said the Police had 

swung into action to bring the 

suspect to book.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019—7 


‘How I drug, rape, rob women 

I meet on social media’ 

By Ifeanyi Okolie 

A25-year-old man, Godwin 

David, who specialised in 

drugging women he met on social 

media before dispossessing 

them of their valuables, have 

been arrested by operatives of 

the Special Intelligence 

Response Team, IRT, at the 

Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. 

It was gathered that the 

suspect had been luring women 

he interacted with on social 

media dating sites to hotels in 

Abuja and when they arrived, 

he would offer them drinks 

laced with drugs and when his 

victims fell asleep, he raped 

them, stole their mobile phones, 

cash and other valuable on 

them. 

Police sources disclosed that 

David ran into trouble recently 

after luring a 26-year-old 

woman who he met on the social 

media dating site to a hotel in 

Yanya area of the FCT. 

It was gathered that after 

agreeing to pay her N15,000 

per night, few minute into her 

stay, David was said to have 

drugged the woman’s drink 

and while she was asleep, he 

stole N25,000 in the woman’s 

purse, her mobile phone valued 

at N125,000 and also 

disconnected the hotel rooms 

intercom and fled. 

The source informed that the 

traumatised victim lodged a 

complaint against David at the 

Abuja office of IRT where she 

was advised to play cool. 

It was gathered that 

operatives got the name of the 

dating site where she met 

David and they went 

undercover. 

According to sources, one of 

the operatives uploaded 

pictures and profile of a woman 

and indicated that she was 

interested in men resident in 

Abuja. 

By Esther Onyegbula 

THE four policemen who 

were arrested over their 

alleged involvement in the 

extrajudicial killing of two 

robbery suspects at Iba area of 

Lagos, Tuesday , have been 

dismissed. 

They were found culpable of 

killing the suspects, during the 

internal disciplinary 

proceedings at the Provost 

Department of the Lagos State 

Police Command, Ikeja. 

Information at Vanguard’s 

disposal has it that the 

policemen— Fabiyi 

Omomayara, Olaniyi 

Solomon, Solomon Sunday and 

Aliyu Mukaila— were tried on 

a three-count charge bothering 

on discreditable conduct, 

unlawful and unnecessary 

exercise of authority and 

Godwin David 

It was gathered that after 

weeks of prowling on the site, 

David contacted the undercover 

operatives. 

He was said to have used the 

same tricks he had used on his 

previous victims and lured the 

operative to another hotel in 

Abuja and he also gave out his 

room number. 

Before he knew what was 

happening, he was arrested. 

David, a native of Ugehili 

Local Government Area of Delta 

State, confessed during 

interrogation that he ventured 

into the business of drugging 

and stealing from women 

because he couldn’t secure a 

decent job for a living. 

damage. 

They were immediately 

dismissed and whisked to the 

Homicide section of the State 

Criminal Investigation 

Intelligence Department, 

SCIID, Yaba for prosecution. 

The cops who were attached to 

Iba division were arraigned 

before the Magistrate Court 5, 

Ebute Meta, for conspiracy and 

murder, yesterday and remanded 

in Ikoyi prison custody. 

Recall that the Commissioner 

of Police Lagos State, Zubairu 

Muazu ordered their arrest and 

trial following a video which 

went viral on social media, 

revealing how they shot the 

suspects to death. 

In the video which sparked 

reactions, the policemen were 

seen ordering the suspects to 

come out of a commercial bus 

which was conveying them to 

The suspect also confessed 

that he had been using a drug 

known as refnol to sedate his 

victims and led operatives to 

Gwagalada area of Abuja where 

the drug peddler selling the 

drugs for him was arrested. 

According to him, “I am 

secondary school leaver and I 

have no job. I was formerly 

working at Gwagalada area 

council as a sales’ boy, but I lost 

my job in April. While I was still 

working, I used to buy stuffs for 

my boss. 

“I met one Musa who 

introduced me into drugs and I 

started using refnol for 

sleeping. So, when I lost my job, 

I visited a dating site known as 

In-massage. I then decided to 

lure women from the site to 

hotels, drugged and robbed 

them. 

“I met a lady that resides at 

Area 8 Abuja and I lied to her 

that I reside in Yanya. We 

agreed for N15,000 and she 

came and met me in hotel in 

Yanya. I bought her Indian 

hemp and a bitter drink. I 

drugged it and gave her to 

drink. She then slept off after 

taking the drink. 

“I stole her two phones and 

the sum of N25,000. This 

incident happened in June 26, 

2016. I reformatted the phones 

and went to Musa, who 

introduced me to hard drugs. I 

sold the phones to him and I 

spent the money. 

“In July, I also met another lady 

and lured her to Yanya, but at a 

different hotel. Unknown to me 

she was a sister to the lady who I 

had robbed previously. But while 

I was about robbing her, I was 

arrested. 

“I also did not know that the 

lady I robbed first had reported 

me to the IRT and they were 

around the hotel when I took the 

girl into the room and they 

arrested me.” 

4 killer-cops dismissed, arraigned, remanded in prison 

the station. One of the 

policemen was seen dragging 

one of the suspects out of the 

bus, from where his colleague 

fired two shots at him. 

This was done in the full glare 

of residents, some of who were 

recording the ongoing, on their 

phones. 

Confirming their dismissal, 

spokesman for the Lagos State 

Police Command, DSP Bala 

Elkana, said: “The four 

suspects, ex-Inspector Fabiyi 

Omomayara, ex-Sergeant 

Olaniyi Solomon, ex-Sergeant 

Solomon Sunday and ex- 

Corporal Aliyu Mukaila, were 

today, (yesterday) arraigned in 

Magistrate Court 5 Ebute Meta 

for conspiracy and murder and 

were remanded in Ikoyi prison. 

“The case was adjourned to 

August 23 for DPP advise. This 

will serve as deterrent to others.” 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

If it's Agege bread, we 

don't mind in Lagos. Let 

them keep their light 

You should have taught them 

how to touch you appropriately 

Aunty, you don old o


HANDOVER: From left, Water Resources & Technologies Manager, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling 

Company, Nils Deeke; Seriki Fulani Jaedanawa of Kano, Abubakar Buhari; Managing Director, 

Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, George Polymenakos; Group Quality, Safety & Environment 

Director, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), Zoltan Syposs and General Manager, 

Production, Kano State Water Board, Ibraheem Saad, during the handover ceremony of NBC's 

education and water CSR projects in Kano State, yesterday. 

Boko Haram recaptures 2 Borno 

LGAs 

By Kingsley 

Omonobi & Ndahi 

Marama 

M AIDUGURI— 

BOKO Haram has 

pulled out of two local 

government areas in Borno 

State, Gubio and Magumeri, 

hours after taking control of 

them on Wednesday 

evening in coordinated 

attacks. 


insurgents, yesterday 

morning, withdrew from the 

areas, which have had no 

military presence for 

sometime now. 

Gubio and Magumeri local 

government areas have no 

military presence as troops 

were withdrawn recently for 

routine operational changes 

as enshrined in the military’s 

rules of engagement 

Our correspondent 

gathered that hundreds of 

thousands of residents have 

been displaced, while others 

are under the captivity of 

insurgents, especially those 

who chose not to flee the 

attacks. 

In Gubio, the insurgents 

invaded the council 

headquarters, shooting 

sporadically, instilling fears in 

scores of residents and setting 

houses ablaze. 

Scores of people sustained 

injuries as they fled the areas. 

Confirming the incident, 

Caretaker Chairman of Gubio 

Local Government Area, 

Zanna Gubio, said the 

insurgents stormed Gubio 

town at about 6pm, performed 

their magrib prayers at about 

6:30pm and wreaked havoc 

on innocent civilians. 

According to him, they set 

houses and other public 

buildings, including the 

secretariats of the two local 

governments on fire without 

confrontation. 

Gubio said: “It is 

unfortunate that a week after 

•Razes secretariats, residential buildings 

•Pulls out hours after taking control 

•Attack targeted at troops —Army 

deadly attack that took place 

in Gubio, which led to the 

withdrawal of troops, another 

group of armed insurgents 

stormed Gubio town at about 

6pm, performed their magrib 

prayers at about 6:30pm in 

Gubio mosque before 

wreaking havoc on innocent 

civilians, and setting ablaze 

houses and public structures. 

“I am currently in 

Maiduguri for the swearingin 

ceremony of the newly 

appointed commissioners, 

and all of a sudden, I started 

receiving distress calls that 

my people are under Boko 

Haram attack. 

“Although, I cannot give 

you the actual number of 

casualties for now, but from 

all indications and the reports 

I have so far, the insurgents 

have taken over Gubio 

shooting at sight and burning 

structures without 

confrontation.’’ 

In Magumeri, the 

insurgents, before taking over 

control, succeeded in razing 

down the council secretariat, 

other public structures and 

residential buildings, 

including that of a member 

of the House of 

Representatives of Gubio, 

Magumeri and Kaga 

Federal Constituency, 

Usman Zannah. 

Reacting to the attack 

yesterday, Zannah said:“Two 

local government areas of 

Gubio and Magumeri where 

I hail from have been overrun 

by Boko Haram. 

“As I speak, all good houses 

in Gubio and Magumeri 

have been set ablaze, 

including my House and the 

council secretariat. My 

people have been displaced, 

and there is nothing we can 

do than to bring survivors 

into Maiduguri. 

“It is unfortunate that the 

insurgents took advantage of 

troops’ withdrawal from the 

affected areas to wreak havoc 

without confrontation.” 

Pulls out hours after 

taking control 

However, Vanguard 

learned, yesterday, that the 

insurgents have withdrawn 

their presence from the two 

local government areas. 

They were said to have 

carted away several new and 

fairly used tractor tyres, 

which they seized from the 

two local government 

councils’ secretariat as well as 

food items seized from 

communities in the LGAs. 

Mallam Ali Abba Kura and 

Babagana Mustapha in 

Gubio and Magumeri, who 

survived the attacks, told our 

correspondent that the 

insurgents were well armed 

and came in large numbers. 

Civilian Joint Task 

Force member 

abducted 

Reliable sources also said 

the attack in Gubio town led 

to the abduction of a Civilian 

Joint Task Force Member, 

CJTF (name withheld). 

Another source also said, 

the insurgents were not on 

killing mission, as they kept 

telling residents not to flee 

during the attacks but accept 

their ideology. 

‘’With first hand 

information at my disposal, 

no life was lost but a member 

of CJTF in his uniform in 

Gubio was taken away by the 

insurgents who also carted 

away several tractor tyres in 

Magumeri after destroying 

houses and public structures 

in both towns," the lawmaker, 

Zannah, said. 

Attack targeted at 

troops—Army 

Reacting to the attacks, 

yesterday, the Nigerian 

Army in a statement by Col 

Sagir Musa, Acting Director, 

Army Public Relations, said: 

“The attention of the 

Nigerian Army in the 

Theatre of Operation Lafiya 

Dole has been drawn to 

reports on various media 

platforms indicating attack 

on Gubio and Magumeri 

communities in Borno State 

at about 17.35hrs (5.35pm) 

of Wednesday, August 21, 

2019. 

“To avoid further 

misinformation that could 

create unnecessary tension, 

the Theatre Command 

wishes to state that the attack 

was targeted at Nigerian 

Army troops deployed in the 

areas to enable the terrorists 

gain access to shops in the 

market in the towns to loot 

food items and other 

logistics. 

“The attack was, however, 

repelled by the troops. 

Consequently, due to fierce 

exchange of fire, the 

terrorists were forced to 

withdraw in disarray from the 

town, resulting in damage on 

buildings and property 

along their route of 

withdrawal. 

“There was no casualty on 

the security force (troops) 

and no loss or damage to our 

equipment as wrongly 

insinuated on social media. 

“However, a vigilante 

sadly lost his life in a cross 

fire. Also, some civilians in 

the area reportedly sustained 

various degrees of injuries. 

“Peace has so far been 

restored in the communities, 

with residents going about 

their lawful businesses. 

"The Nigerian Army once 

again call on all wellmeaning 

members of the 

public to collaborate with the 

military and other security 

agencies in the area of 

sharing of information and 

suspicious movement of 

criminals in their 

communities to proactively 

deal with criminal activities.” 

I‘ve invested N1.3trn in 

education —Buhari 

By Emma Ujah , 

Abuja Bureau 

Chief & 

Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

P Muhammadu RESIDENT 

Buhari , 

yesterday, said his 

administration had invested 

about N 1.3 trillion in the 

nation’s education sector in 

four years. 

He spoke in Zaria, Kaduna 

State, at the inauguration of 

Ahmadu Bello University, 

ABU, Centre of Excellent, 

built by the Central Bank of 

Nigeria, CBN. 

“In the last four years, we 

have spent over N1.3 trillion 

in the education sector. That 

does not include overhead 

and personnel costs,” he said. 

Before unveiling the 

commemorative plaque to 

formally inaugurate the 

edifice that sits on a total floor 

area of 34,102.81sqm, Buhari 

said the construction of the 

project was a testimony to his 

administration’s efforts at 

supporting qualitative 

learning from the primary 

through to the tertiary level. 

The president said his 

administration, in its second 

term, will continue to accord 

education priority by 

ensuring adequate funding 

for the sector to make it 

affordable, qualitative and 

competitive with what was 

obtainable in more developed 

countries. 

While commending the 

CBN for supporting the 

Federal Government’s 

investments in the 

educational sector, as well as 

other key areas of the 

economy tied to overall 

national development, he 

urged the bank to sustain 

such funding support for 

research and overall 

economic development. 

In his remarks, the 

Governor of CBN, Mr. 

Godwin Emefiele, said the 

bank’s involvement in the 

funding and infrastructural 

support in the educational 

sector was borne out of the 

conviction that “an educated 

workforce played a critical 

role in the advancement of 

the Nigerian economy and 

the society in general." 

He said the bank’s analysis 

of the factors responsible for 

the growth of successful 

economies, indicated that 

investment in education 

played a prominent role in 

driving innovation and 

growth in advanced and 

emerging economies, while 

also contributing to 

significant reductions in 

inequality. 

According to Emefiele, the 

Centre of Excellence project 

was also designed to 

accommodate the Central 

Bank of Nigeria 

Collaborative Postgraduate 

Programme, CBN-CPP, 

which he described as a child 

of necessity in the Bank’s 

intervention programme in 

the educational sub-sector. 

Also speaking, Vice 

Chancellor of the university, 

Prof. Ibrahim Garba, said the 

Centre of Excellence on his 

campus had given the 

institution an edge over its 

peers in the region. 

The management of the 

institution, he said, would 

make the best of the centre 

for training highly skilled 

professionals in Economics, 

Banking, Forensic Audit, 

Accounting and related 

courses. 

Special agric zones to attract 

$4bn investments — Govs 

The Nigeria Governors’ 

Forum, NGF, has said the 

establishment of Special 

Agro-Processing Zones, 

SAPZs, in Nigeria has the 

potential of attracting 

between one to four billion 

dollars investments into the 

country. 

Chairman of the forum and 

Governor of Ekiti, Kayode 

Fayemi, disclosed this while 

briefing reporters after the 

forum’s 4th meeting, 

Wednesday, in Abuja. 

Fayemi explained that all 

states were potential 

beneficiaries of the SAPZs 

initiative, which would bring 

together the farming and the 

processing community. 

He said: "The forum was 

briefed by its deputy 

chairman, Governor Aminu 

Tambuwal of Sokoto State, on 

the meeting between the 

forum and AfDB. The officials 

came in company of existing 

and potential Chinese 

investors in Nigeria. 

“The meeting was part of a 

series of high-level 

engagements driven by the 

AfDB to promote the 

establishment of SAPZs in 

Nigeria. 

“This SAPZs, which will 

bring together the farming 

and the processing 

community, have the 

potential of attracting about 

$1 billion from the AfDB and 

up to $4 billion with the entry 

of private sector investors.” 

Fayemi said the governors 

already agreed with AfDB 

that a tasks desk for the 

initiative would be at NGF 

secretariat to coordinate 

interest expressed from 

various states. 

On the issue of health, he 

said members of the forum 

resolved to continue to 

support the actualisation of 

universal health coverage in 

Nigeria. 

The chairman said the 

governors, during the 

meeting, also received a 

presentation on polio 

eradication from Rotary 

International Nigeria 

PolioPlus Committee, led by 

its Chairman, Tunji Funsho. 

He said: “Rotary have 

been active in the dedication 

of polio for a considerable 

length of time.


VISIT: From left, Mr Jude Ndu, Chief Strategy and Brand Marketing Officer, Vanguard 

Conference/The Economic Forum Series; Mr Emmanuel Ijewere, Vice President, Nigeria 

Agribusiness Group/CEO, Best Food Limited, and Mr Eze Anaba, Editor, Vanguard Newspaper, 

during a courtesy visit of Vanguard management to Nigeria Agribusiness Group, in Lagos, yesterday. 

Photo: Akeem Salau. 

FG sets up panel to recover N614bn 

from 35 states 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—THE Federal 

Government said, 

yesterday, that a committee 

has been put in place to 

facilitate recovery of N614 

billion given to 35 states on 

budget support. 

This is even as the Minister 

of Finance, Budget and 

National Planning, Mrs. 

Zainab Ahmed, reiterated 

that the 2020 budget would 

be laid before the National 

Assembly by the last quarter 

of September. 

Briefing State House 

correspondents after the 

National Economic Council, 

NEC, meeting presided over 

by Vice President Yemi 

Osinbajo at the Council 

Chamber, Presidential Villa, 

Abuja, Ahmed, who 

presented an update to the 

council on the budget support 

facility, said 35 states 

benefited from the facility, 

adding that each state was 

expected to pay back 

equivalent of N17. 5 billion. 

However, efforts to get the 

Nigerian Governors Forum, 

NGF, to react to Federal 

Government’s statement 

proved abortive as calls 

pulled through the telephone 

line of the Director-General 

of the body, Dr. Asishana 

Okauru, rang out without 

response. A text message 

sent to his line was also 

unreplied. 

Similarly, the officer in 

HEALTH TIPS 

By Sola Ogundipe 

Coping with heavy sweating 

THERE are simple steps 

to help reduce heavy 

sweating and boost your 

comfort level, whether at 

the gym, on the job, 

anywhere you go. 

The right clothes can 

make a big difference if you 

tend to sweat a lot. Look for 

clothing with high cotton 

content. For instance, white 

will show more sweat, but 

it won’t be very visible on 

other colours or on prints 

or patterns. 

For men, wearing an 

under shirt can help soak 

up some of the sweat. 

Women could wear an 

absorbent camisole top or 

dress shields. 

Choose clothes with a 

loose weave, such as 

linens. Avoid silk because 

it makes you feel hotter. 

Pocket a handkerchief. If 

you keep one in your pocket 

or purse, you can wipe off 

excess sweat quickly before 

you need to shake hands. 

Buy ‘’breathable” shoes 

that will reduce sweat, and 

it’s important, especially if 

your feet are generally 

sweaty. 

Eating certain foods, such 

as hot peppers, can affect 

the amount of sweat you 

produce. Eating other 

foods, including onions and 

garlic, can make your sweat 

smell worse. 

Switch to higher-strength 

deodorants and 

antiperspirants. Some are 

prescription only, but you 

can also get higher strength 

products over the counter. 

Apply deodorants at the 

best time, although most 

will work best at night. The 

active ingredient has to go 

down into the sweat duct 

and clog it. If you apply it 

in the morning, when 

sweat volume is typically 

higher, it washes off. 

Applying deodorant at 

night also reduces the 

chance of skin irritations 

and will keep you using it 

more regularly. 

•As Finance Minister insists 2020 

budget must get to NASS Sept 

charge of Media and 

Publicity of the NGF, 

Abdulrazaq Maccido, said he 

couldn’t react because he was 

yet to see the statement of the 

Federal Government and 

referred Vanguard to the 

director general. 

Ahmed said: “Council 

agreed to constitute a 

committee of the 

Nigerian Governors 

Forum to meet with the 

Minister of Finance and 

the Central Bank of 

Nigeria to finalise 

modalities for 

repayment.” 

2020-2022 

Medium Term 

Expenditure 

Framework 

She said council was 

briefed on preparations 

for the 2020-2022 

Medium Term 

Expenditure Framework 

and the revenue 

generation challenges 

being faced by the 

government at the 

moment, adding that the 

balance of Stabilisation 

Fund Account as at 

August 20, 2019, was 

N21, 729,976,810.66, 

while the Natural 

Resources Development 

Fund was N95, 

896,886,829.69. 

The minister said the 

Ad-hoc Committee of 

Excess Crude and other 

special accounts of the 

federation requested for 

extension of time to 

finalise and present its 

report at the next 

meeting. 

On the Medium Term 

Expenditure Framework and 

Fiscal Strategy Paper, MTEF/ 

FSP, Ahmed said she 

informed NEC that the 

purpose of the presentation 

was to get inputs and 

recommendation from the 

council for further 

presentation to Federal 

Executive Council, FEC, for 

approval 

and 

implementation. 

“The draft 2020-2022 

Medium Term Fiscal 

framework indicates that 

Nigeria faces significant 

medium term fiscal 

challenges, especially with 

respect to revenue 

generation. 

“Therefore, there is 

need to improve 

revenue collections and 

e x p e n d i t u r e 

management, need to 

take bold decisions and 

urgent action to achieve 

fiscal sustainability and 

macro-fiscal objectives." 

Also briefing 

journalists, Governor 

Abdullahi Sule of 

Nasarawa State said 

Governor Abubakar 

Badaru of Jigawa State 

briefed NEC on updates 

on its committee on 

export promotion 

Oyo-Ita returns, as Presidency rejects resignation 

By Dirisu 

Yakubu 

ABUJA—Head of the 

Civil Service of the 

Federation, Winifred Oyo- 

Ita, yesterday, returned to 

her desk after a week of 

uncertainty surrounding her 

job. 

The Head of Service who 

was grilled by Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, for 

alleged financial infractions 

had last week tendered her 

letter of resignation in what 

was described by some 

Nigerians as a brilliant 

move. 

She reportedly took ill in 

the wake of a marathon 

interrogation session by the 

anti-graft commission and 

had to be rushed to a private 

medical facility located at the 

Jabi district of Abuja. 

Although attempt to get a 

private interface with 

Strike: FG directs inclusion of 

sacked staff school teachers 

in payroll 

ABUJA—THE Federal 

Government has 

directed that the Accountant- 

General office and National 

Salaries, Income and Wages 

Commission should 

commence the process of 

including in the payroll 

sacked teachers of staff 

schools in the 2020 budget. 

Vice President of Senior 

Staff Association of Nigerian 

Universities, SSANU 

(North), Mr Solomon Alfa, 

disclosed this while briefing 

journalists, yesterday, on the 

ongoing strike embarked 

upon by the union and its 

sister union, Non Academic 

Staff Union of Universities 

and Associated Institutions, 

NASU, in Abuja. 

He said the unions 

acknowledged that the 

Federal Government has 

restored the sacked 

employees of University Staff 

Schools to their jobs through 

a circular it said has been 

issued to the various 

institutions. 

The government directives 

was in obedience to the 2016 

industrial court judgement 

that had ordered the 

government to reinstate 

sacked staff school teachers. 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari was largely 

unsuccessful, Oyo-Ita graced 

the ministerial inauguration 

on Wednesday at the 

Presidential Villa, fuelling 

speculations that she might 

return to work, following the 

rejection of her resignation 

by her employers. 

Yesterday, she resumed 

duty after a difficult week. 

Although her resumption 

was kept away from 

journalists, a highly-placed 

Recall that the ongoing 

five-day warning strike in all 

universities in the country 

was as a result of the 

government inability to 

implement the court 

judgement, the disparity in 

disbursement of the Earned 

Allowances among others. 

However, in a circular dated 

August 20, 2019 addressed 

to the Vice Chancellor and 

signed by a Director in the 

Executive Secretary’s office, 

Chris Maiyaki, National 

Universities Commission 

directed the vice chancellors 

to liaise with the Ministry of 

Finance and the Office of the 

Accountant General of the 

Federation for the release of 

funds for the payment of 

arrears of salaries of the 

affected workers. 

Meanwhile, the non 

teaching staff of Nigerian 

universities have accused the 

Federal Government of 

discriminating against them 

and giving preferential 

treatment to the Academic 

Staff Union of Universities, 

ASUU, and warned that 

unless the government meets 

their demands, the warning 

strike, which is expected to 

end today, may snowball into 

what they called mother of all 

strike. 

Sultan, Onaiyekan, Ayokunle 

elected into global peace 

council 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

FOUR 

prominent 

Nigerian religious 

leaders have been elected 

into the Council of Religions 

for Peace, a United Nationsbacked 

organisation for global 

harmony. 

The newly-elected leaders 

of the council include the 

Sultan of Sokoto and 

President-General, Nigeria 

Supreme Council for Islamic 

Affair, NSCIA, Alhaji Sa’ad 

Abubakar; Catholic 

Archbishop of Abuja, John 

Cardinal Onaiyekan; the 

President, Christian 

Association of Nigeria, CAN, 

Rev. Samson Ayokunle; and 

a Catholic Rev. Sister, Agatha 

Chikelue. 

According to a statement by 

CAN’s Director, Legal and 

Public Affairs, Kwamkur 

Vondip, their election took 

place at the ongoing 10th 

World Assembly of Council of 

Religions for Peace in Lindau, 

Germany, yesterday. 

The statement read: “His 

Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad 

Abubakar, is now a comoderator 

of the organisation 

technically replacing His 

Eminence, John Cardinal 

Onaiyekan, who has been the 

organisation’s founding 

moderator. 

“His Eminence, Rev. 

Samson Ayokunle and 

Cardinal Onaiyekan are now 

Honorary Presidents of the 

council. 

“The Council also 

confirmed the election of 

Professor Azza Karam, an 

experienced erudite scholar 

and UN staff as the new 

Secretary General of the 

Organisation. The Professor, 

a Muslim Egyptian woman, 

replaces Dr. William Vendley. 

Prof. Karam is the first African 

and woman to have risen to 

that position. 

“A Nigerian woman and 

Catholic Sister, Agatha 

Chikelue, is also elected as 

woman representative of 

Women of Faith into the 

Council." 

staff in the Office of the Head 

of Service, who sought 

anonymity, pleaded for time 

and understanding, saying 

the media would be briefed 

at the right time. 

“I know you want news to 

write but this is a difficult 

time for all of us. She (Oyo- 

Ita) will definitely address 

the issues at the right time 

but I believe you will agree 

with me that the time to do 

that is certainly not now,” he 

said.

10 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 

FG dispel rumours of impending 

fuel scarcity 

By Prince Okafor 

L F AGOS—THE 

e d e r a l 

Government, yesterday, 

through the Department of 

Petroleum Resources, DPR, 

dismissed rumours of 

impending scarcity of 

petroleum products 

particularly Premium 

Motor Spirit, PMS, also 

known as petrol. 

This came as the DPR 

sealed four fuel stations in 

Surulere, Lagos, for underdispensing 

and operating 

without valid licence. 

DPR’s, Head of 

Operation, Lagos Zonal 

Office; Sholabi 

Olanrewaju, while 

addressing newsmen in 

Lagos after an inspection 

exercise, assured 

Nigerians that the level of 

petroleum products 

available is enough to 

sustain the country for 

months and even beyond 

the last quarter of the year. 

Olanrewaju said: “There 

is sufficient level of 

petroleum products as at 

today’s stock that could take 

the nation for months. 

“So, I will advise 

members of the public that 

there is no need for panic 

buying of petroleum 

products in anticipation of 

scarcity. 

“Any petroleum marketer 

found to be selling PMS 

above the stipulated pump 

price of N145 per litre or 

causing a hitch in the 

supply chain will be 

severely dealt with in 

accordance with the law.” 

NYSC: Kumuyi, others to address 

youths on success principles 

By Sam Eyoboka 

LAGOS—-THE Deeper 

Christian Life 

Ministry has announced its 

annual National Youth 

Success Camp, NYSC, 

2019 with the theme: 

Preparing for a Secure 

Future. 

A statement by the 

National Coordinator of the 

youth arm of the church, Dr. 

Peter Elias, said that the 

Success Camp would 

feature “Complete 

transformation, developing 

excellence, digital 

awareness, success insight, 

empowerment discovery, 

heart talk, future skills and 

lots more.” 

Elias said: “The 

Convener and General 

Louis Odion, Zakari, Bank-Olemoh 

join Presidential media team 

A 

B U J A — 

PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

yesterday, approved the 

appointed of Mr. Louis 

Odion as Senior Technical 

Assistant on Print Media. 

Also re-appointment is 

Mr. Ade Ipaye as Deputy 

Chief of Staff to the 

President. 

In a statement by Laolu 

Akande, Senior Special 

Assistant to the President on 

Media and Publicity, Office 

of the Vice President, the 

President approved the reappointment 

of Dr Adeyemi 

Dipeolu, Special Adviser to 

President on Economic 

Matters; Mrs. Maryam 

Uwais who retains her 

position as Special Adviser 

to the President on Social 

Investment Programme, as 

well as Senator Babafemi 

Ojudu, Special Adviser to 

the President on Political 

Matters. 

Also re-appointed is Dr. 

Jumoke Oduwole, who will 

serve as the Special Adviser 

to the President on Ease of 

Doing Business. 

Equally, the President 

appointed Mr. Ahmad 

Zakari as Special Adviser 

on Infrastructure, Mr. 

Obafela Bank-Olemoh, as 

Senior Special Assistant on 

Education Interventions, 

and Mr. Ajuri Ngelale as 

Superintendent of the 

Deeper Christian Life Ministry, 

Pastor William Folorunsho 

Kumuyi, more than 

30 years ago started Free 

Vacation School to assist 

students of secondary 

schools and colleges in 

Mathematics as a 

renowned expert in the 

field and to make the most 

of the holiday period 

through Godly 

transformation. 

“Over the years, this 

event has evolved into an 

annual summer camping 

programme called ‘Success 

Camp’. As the name 

suggests, the overall goal 

is to unravel secrets of 

success to young people 

based on Godly, 

scriptural values.” 

Senior Special Assistant on 

Public Affairs in the 

Presidency. 

All appointees are to serve 

in the Office of the Vice 

President. 

Except for Zakari, Bank- 

Olemoh, Odion and 

Ngelale, all the other 

appointments take 

retrospective effect from 

May 29, 2019. 

A respected columnist 

and serial award-winning 

journalist, Louis Odion has 

a rich experience in both 

public and private sectors. 

He has close to three 

decades experience in 

journalism through 

Concord, THISDAY, Sun, 

peaking as Managing 

Director/Editor-in-Chief of 

National Life daily 

newspaper. He was twotime 

Commissioner of 

Information and 

Orientation in Edo State. 

Odion. 

Joint Border Security Exercise: Travelers groan 

over long delays at Seme border 

By Godwin Oritse & 

Godfrey Bivbere 

with Agency reports 

LAGOS—AS 

the 

closure of the Seme 

border entered its fourth day, 

many travelers have 

remained stranded for 

almost three days following 

restriction of movement 

around the country’s border 

with Benin Republic. 

A visit to the Seme border 

revealed that the restriction 

followed the joint border 

security exercise ordered by 

the Federal Government 

aimed at securing Nigeria’s 

land and maritime borders. 

The exercise, codenamed, 

Ex-Swift Response, 

was being jointly conducted 

by the customs, 

immigration, police and 

military personnel and 

coordinated by the Office of 

the National Security 

Adviser. 

It was gathered that 

incoming travelers and 

vehicles were thoroughly 

searched by the additional 

security officials drafted to 

the border, causing long 

delays. 

Many commercial 

vehicles conveying 

passengers into the country 

were ordered to park at the 

new border post for several 

hours while hundreds of 

Nigeria-bound trucks were 

parked across the border. 

A passenger on Chisco 

Bus Transport, Mr. 

Christopher Lawal, told the 

News Agency of Nigeria, 

NAN, that their vehicle had 

been stopped for inspection 

for several hours. 

Lawal said: “We don’t 

know what is happening. 

Our bus was stopped for 

inspection since 12 noon, 

they just asked us to wait. 

“We have spent close to 

LASG warns residents to relocate from flood-prone areas 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

LAGOS—THE Lagos 

State Government, 

yesterday, urged 

inhabitants in flood prone 

areas to relocate to various 

relief centres close to their 

abode to avoid possible 

natural disaster arising from 

flooding. 

It also directed 

management of 33 Local 

Government Areas to 

conduct biometric data of 

residents who are prone to 

experience massive natural 

disasters this year, 

particularly, flood. 

This has become 

necessary following alert by 

the Nigerian Hydrological 

Service Agency, NHSA, 

warning of an impending 

massive flooding in some 

states, including, Lagos. 

Director General, and 

Chief Executive Officer, 

CEP, Lagos State 

Emergency Management 

Agency, LASEMA, Dr. 

Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, 

said this at the flag-off of a 

roadshow sensitisation and 

awareness exercise across 

LGAs in the state. 

Oke-Osanyintolu said: 

“In any event of flooding, I 

urge residents to be calm, 

cool and collected as 

Governor Sanwo-Olu’s 

administration has put 

adequate measures in place 

to ensure safety of all. 

“We have urged those 

living in flood plains to 

leave their houses and 

relocate to safer place in 

their own interest. 

“Since we heard about 

the flood warning, we 

employed empirical strategy, 

going through our data 

and we discovered that of 

SWEARING-IN: 

Lagos State Governor, 

Mr. Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu (left) 

congratulating Hon. 

Justice Kazeem 

Alogba on his 

appointment as the 

new Chief Judge of 

the state during the 

swearing-in ceremony 

of the new 

state executive 

council at Lagos 

House, Alausa, 

Ikeja, on Wednesday. 

three hours now and 

nobody is telling us what 

is happening. 

“We are not aware of the 

restriction, we went on 

excursion to Ghana and 

coming back to the country, 

they just asked the driver 

to wait.” 

Also, a coconut trader, 

Daniel Avoseh, said that his 

four truck-load of coconut 

coming from Ghana was 

also stranded at border post 

since the exercise started 

on Tuesday., saying: “Up 

till now, they did not allow 

the trucks to pass. I am not 

aware of any restriction 

before I went to buy coconut 

in Ghana.” 

the 57 councils in our state, 

33 are prone to flooding 

annually.'' 

Med-View accuses Hajj Commission of breach 

of contract 

L AGOS—MED- 

VIEW Airline has 

accused the National Hajj 

Commission of Nigeria, 

NAHCON, of breaching 

its contractual agreement 

with the airline on the 

airlifting of pilgrims to 

Saudi Arabia. The airline 

also said it has petitioned 

the Presidency on the 

alleged breach. 

The accusation was 

made by the solicitor to 

Med-View, Mr. Debo 

Adeleke, in an interview 

with 

aviation 

Waste to wealth managers tell inspiring tales 

on Glo-sponsored African Voices 

LAGOS—THE need to 

rescue the ecosystem 

from further degradation is 

the concern of two 

environment health 

enthusiasts who will this 

week be featured in African 

Voices Changemakers, 

CNN’s magazine 

programme sponsored by 

telecommunications giant, 

Globacom. 

Bilikiss Abiola, 36, a 

Nigerian Chief Executive 

Officer of a recycling 

company in Lagos will be 

joined on 

the 

programme by two 

Liberians, Abraham 

correspondents in Lagos. 

He said: “Med-View 

made down payment of 

$8,897,663.63 as the total 

contractual sum for the 

airlift of 5, 720 pilgrims on 

May 20, 2019, with First 

Bank as the guarantor.” 

While tendering 

documents with various 

dates, Adeleke alleged 

that NAHCON through 

its Acting Chairman, 

Abdullahi Mukhtar, acted 

“wickedly, 

in 

contravention of the 

agreement and frustrated 

Med-View Airline from 

continuing with the 

Freeman and Baccus 

Roberts, who are cofounders 

of Monrovia-based 

Environmental Rescue 

Initiative, ERI. 

Born in Lagos, Abiola 

started her tertiary 

education at the University 

of Lagos, but relocated to the 

United States of America 

after the first year to continue 

her education at the Fisk 

University before 

proceeding to Vanderbilt 

University, where she 

earned a Master’s degree. 

She got on the payroll of 

IBM for five years and was 

subsequently granted an 

exercise.” 

But a source in 

NAHCON insisted on the 

phone that the ongoing 

hajj exercise was flawed 

with “personal interests.” 

Med-View further 

alleged that the act of 

NAHCON through 

Mukhtar amounted to 

economic sabotage, as “he 

attempted to compel the 

airline to partner with a 

Saudi Arabian’s carrier, 

Flynas despite its 

partnership with another 

Nigerian airline, Max Air, 

which is also participating 

in the exercise.” 

admission for a Master of 

Business Administration, 

MBA, at Massachusetts 

Institute of Technology, MIT. 

She was studying waste 

management as her 

specialist subject in MIT 

when she got inspired to 

begin a novel approach to 

recycling of waste by 

giving incentives for waste 

by the city dwellers. 

She took the idea back 

home to Lagos, Nigeria; a 

city which generates 9,000 

metric tons of waste daily 

and in 2012 co-founded a 

company called 

WeCyclers which collects 

recyclable rubbish from 

households within the city.

C 

M 

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VISIT: Governor 

Seyi Makinde of 

Oyo State (right) 

and his Sokoto State 

counterpart, Hon 

Aminu Tambuwal, 

during the latter’s 

visit to Governor 

Makinde at the Oyo 

State Government 

Lodge, Asokoro, 

Abuja, on yesterday. 

IBADAN TRADITIONAL CRISIS: We’ll never 

surrender our crowns, new kings vow 

By Ola Ajayi 

I CONTRARY 

B A D A N — 

to 

reports that the new kings 

promoted by the immediate 

past governor of Oyo State, 

Senator Abiola Ajimobi may 

drop their crowns as a 

panacea to the royal tussle 

between the Olubadan of 

Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji 

and the kings, the new 

monarchs, yesterday, 

distanced themselves from 

the peace meeting. 

Describing the comment 

as misleading and a ruse, 

the Otun Olubadan of 

Ibadanland, Oba Lekan 

Balogun said since they 

were not part of such peace 

move, they dissociated 

themselves from the 

arrangement. 

The kings had variously 

said they were not ready to 

surrender their crowns 

vowing that they would use 

their crowns whenever they 

so desired. 

The next in rank to 

Olubadan, who led the 21 

Obas crowned by former 

Governor Abiola Ajimobi on 

27th August 2017 said there 

was no way any move could 

be made in their absence 

being the direct 

beneficiaries of the law that 

granted them the elevation. 

Balogun said: “We are not 

•Dissociate selves from peace move 

averse to the peaceful 

resolution of the impasse 

which was unnecessary in 

the first instance and which 

informed the recent 

rapprochement between 

the Olubadan palace and 

some of us. 

“But to smuggle in a 

peace initiative that we are 

not part of through the 

backdoor is not acceptable 

to us and we reject the 

process in its entirety. 

“What’s more, the Oyo 

CONTROVERSY OVER YORUBA LEADERSHIP: 

Afenifere flays Akintoye's election as new 

Yoruba leader 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

& Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—TO fill the 

vacuum created by the 

deaths of Chief Obafemi 

Awolowo, Pa Adekunle 

Ajasin, Chief Bola Ige and 

Senator Abraham 

Adesanya, some Yoruba 

leaders converged on 

Ibadan, yesterday, to elect 

a new leader, Prof Adebanji 

Akintoye. 

But the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical 

organisation, 

State Government Gazette 

No 3 dated 29th March 

2018 which the said 

document ferociously 

attacked and which put a 

seal on our elevation is not 

presently a subject of 

litigation at any court of law. 

“Curiously, attempt to 

dubiously smuggle the 

said gazette into the 

ongoing appeal case in 

which the litigant sought to 

set it aside was thrown out 

with the judge describing 

Afenifere, described the 

election as a comedy show. 

Before the election of 

Akintoye by a 135-year-old 

man, Pa Olamilekan 

Akekaka, Elder Taiye 

Ayorinde, Chief Deji 

Osibogun and other 

elders, the convener of the 

meeting and founder of 

Oodua Redemption 

Alliance, Mr. Victor Taiwo, 

noted that Pa Ayo 

Adebanjo had been 

contacted to be the new 

leader but he rejected the 

offer. 

The new leader was 

unveiled at a programme 

titled: Assembly of all 

Yoruba groups worldwide. 

Associations that 

attended the gathering 

includes members of the 

Oodua People’s Congress 

(New Era); Oodua 

Redemption Alliance; 

Majiyagbe Oodua 

Vanguard; Awari Omo 

Oduduwa; and many 

others. 

At the event, Sheikh 

Abdukraheem Aduranigba, 

Chief Imam of Yorubaland 

who spoke on behalf of 

Yorubas in Kwara and Kogi 

states moved a motion for 

the nomination of Akintoye. 

After reeling out the 

qualities that informed their 

choice of Prof Akintoye, 

such move as an abuse of 

court process, vexatious 

and frivolous. 

“Do we now conclude that 

what the litigant could not 

achieve in the court of law, 

they wish to achieve it 

through the backdoor? We 

say no to such a dubious 

arrangement. 

“We equally reiterate that 

as much as we are for 

peace, unity and progress 

of our land, whatever 

peace process or initiative 

that will be sustaining must 

have our inputs.” 

which included patriotism 

to Yoruba cause, passionate 

commitment, bravery and 

uncompromising trait, the 

new leader was elected by 

a majority of those present 

at the event. 

It’s a comedy show 

— Afenifere 

But reacting, Afenifere 

described the election as a 

comedy show. 

Afenifere’s National 

Publicity Secretary, Mr. 

Yinka Odumakin said: 

“We don’t want to dignify 

such a comedy with any 

response. Prof Akintoye 

is an important 

personality in the Yoruba 

project and we spoke 

with him with the firm 

assurance that he is not 

part of the farce. And 

anybody that knows 

Yoruba history is aware 

that the leadership of the 

Yoruba is not something 

treated in such a childlike 

manner. Who were the 

Yoruba of substance at the 

so-called gathering?” 

Another Yoruba leader, 

who spoke on the condition 

of anonymity described the 

conveners as “rabblerousers”, 

adding that 

there is no substance in 

what they have done. 

How collaboration with OPC 

reduced crime rate in S’West 

— IGP 

Patrol, CSP Ogechi Moses 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

L Inspector-General AGOS—THE 

of 

Police, Mr. Mohammed 

Adamu, yesterday disclosed 

that his collaboration with 

the Oodua Peoples’ 

Congress, OPC, has led to 

a significant reduction in 

crime rate in the South- 

West. 

The IGP, who made the 

revelation through a 

delegation sent to the Aare 

Ona Kankanfo of 

Yorubaland and leader of 

the OPC, Iba Gani Adams, 

in Lagos, promised to 

sustain the synergy and 

partnership with the OPC 

to further reduce crime rate 

and ensure peace in the 

southwest area. 

Leader of the IGP’s 

delegation, Mr. Jude 

Nwankor, assured the Aare 

Ona Kankanfo that the 

mistake of the past would 

not repeat itself. 

Members of the 

delegation included the 

Officer in Charge of the 

Special Anti-Robbery 

Squad, SARS, in Lagos, 

CSP Peter Gana and the 

Commander, Seme Border 

Oyo PDP caucus rejects 27-yrold 

as commissioner-nominee 

By Adeola Badru 

IBADAN—A caucus of 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, in the Oyo State 

House of Assembly from 

Ibarapa North Area of the 

state, yesterday, Thursday 

called for the nullification 

of Mr. Oluwaseun 

Fakorede as a 

commissioner-nominee. 

The 27-year old Fakorede 

was recently nominated by 

Governor Seyi Makinde 

and has been screened by 

the Oyo State House of 

Assembly on Thursday, 

during the Assembly’s 

plenary. 

Chairman of the PDP in 

Ibarapa North, Mr. Samuel 

Adigun, said the people of 

Ibarapa North are not 

Udu. 

Rising from a meeting 

with the delegation, the 

Aare Ona Kankanfo 

commended the initiative of 

the IGP to partner with his 

organisation to fight crime, 

as he pledged that the OPC 

will not betray the course. 

Adams noted that the 

most important part of 

security is intelligence 

gathering, as he recalled 

how the police in Lagos 

tackled the menace of the 

dreaded Badoo cultists 

involved in several killings 

in the state by forming a 

partnership with the OPC. 

He also noted that the 

OPC was not set up as a 

crime-fighting organisation 

noting that the 

circumstances that led to its 

involvement in security 

matters when landlord 

associations sought its 

assistance to stem the tide 

of rising crimes. 

He reflected on the 

confrontations between the 

OPC and the police 

between 2000 and 2004 

and expressed joy that 

today the IGP has found 

the organisation worthy 

of his collaboration in 

crime-fighting. 

satisfied with the nominee 

as he is seen not to be part 

of the party. 

Adigun said: “His father 

is a staunch member of the 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC. What has he 

contributed to PDP that will 

warrant his nomination as 

a commissioner-nominee? 

We have other qualified 

PDP members that can be 

nominated by the 

governor. ” 

Reacting, Mr. Fakorede 

said it was an internal 

matter that would be settled 

in due course. 

“We are going to resolve 

the issue in due course. It 

is an internal problem 

which we are going to 

address appropriately with 

our leaders in question." 

Cleric tasks FG to improve 

economy 

LAGOS—THE Catholic 

priest of the Church of 

Assumption, Falomo, Ikoyi, 

Lagos, Rev Father Pius 

Omofuma, has urged the 

Federal Government to 

improve the economy to 

enhance the well being of 

Nigeria, noting that there 

was suffering in the land. 

The cleric, who made the 

call in his sermon at the 75th 

birthday Thanksgiving in 

honour of Senator Anthony 

Adefuye, also urged 

Nigerians to cooperate with 

the government in efforts to 

revive the economy. 

He said: “Nigerians must 

strive at all cost to fully 

identify with the genuine 

ideals for a better-improved 

economy, thus making 

Nigeria very vibrant in the 

comity of nations.” 

Rev. Father Omofuma 

advised Nigerians to 

emulate Senator Adefuye 

in his drive to alleviate the 

suffering of the masses, as 

a philanthropist. 

He urged the celebrant 

who he described as a 

genuine gift of God to 

mankind, to continue to 

affect the lives of others, 

especially the lessprivileged 

in the society. 

Present at the Mass and 

reception were Vice 

President Yemi Osinbajo, 

Governor Babajide Sanwo- 

Olu of Lagos, former 

Minister of Industries, Mrs. 

Onikepo Akande; former 

Chief of General Staff, Lt. 

Gen. Oladipo Diya (retd) 

and his wife, Josephine and 

Senator Olorunnimbe 

Mamora among others.


INSTALLATION: (On the platform front): Newly installed President, Rotary Club of 

Ikeja, District 9110 Nigeria, Rotary International, Oluwamuyiwa Fagbola; his wife, Taiwo, 

and Past Presidents at the installation of the President and Board of Directors, Rotary Club of 

Ikeja, in Lagos. 

N-Delta communities protest in Abuja over 

non payment of N6.9bn fees by SPDC 

•Give oil company 2 weeks to implement Senate resolution 

By Joseph 

Erunke 

ABUJA—INDIGINES of 

oil producing 

communities in Niger Delta, 

yesterday, took their protest 

over non compliance with the 

Senate resolution by Shell 

Petroleum Development 

Company, SPDC, on 

payment of N6.9 billion to 

Niger Delta communities to 

Abuja. 

The protesters, urder the 

aegis of Unity Fountain, 

Abuja, threatened that they 

may resort to destroying the 

company’s assets in the 

whole Niger Delta if the 

money was not released to 

the benefitting communities 

by the oil giant within two 

weeks effective from 

yesterday. 

Brandishing placards and 

banners with different 

inscriptions, the protesters 

vowed to go after the 

company’s facilities in the 

Niger Delta region if the 

resolution of the upper 

chamber of the National 

Assembly was not adhered 

to within two weeks. 

Chief Odede Hezekiah, 

Chief of Opolo Community 

in Bayelsa State, who 

addressed journalists at the 

protest ground, said they 

would have mobilised the 

people of the area to go after 

SPDC’s facilities to express 

their grievances but settled 

for protest in Abuja to draw 

attention of not only 


Buhari but the entire 

Nigerians to the 

development. 

He said: “We are giving 

them just two weeks from 

now, if they don’t respect the 

Senate resolution, anything 

can happen. We are giving 

them two weeks to pay the 

money meant to cover 

between 2014 and 2023. 

“Let them pay the whole 

money they are owing the 

whole Niger Delta 

communities, that is why we 

are here, if not, something 

will happen to their facilities. 

We want President Buhari 

to hear everything before we 

take our action." 

Also speaking, Mr Ayigba 

Shedrack, who identified 

himself as representing 

Azagbene community of 

Bayelsa State, said: “The 

Senate passed a resolution 

directing that they should 

pay N600,000 per hectare of 

land per annum to every 

host community in Niger 

Delta. 

“But as I am talking to you, 

they paid us N200,000 

unlike what they paid the 

Forcados, Borny and others 

in Port-Harcourt. Our 

people are agitated and 

when we go back, anything 

can happen.” 

It will be recalled that the 

Senate had, in April, this 

year, directed SPDC to 

respect its earlier resolution 

which mandated it to pay 

N6, 936,899,900 to some oilproducing 

communities in 

the Niger Delta region. 

Artisans disrupt oil firm’s operation 

in Edo over non-engagement 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN CITY — 

HUNDREDS of artisans 

made up of welders and 

filters, yesterday, disrupted 

operations at the site of an 

oil servicing firm, Oilserv 

Company Ltd, building a 

gas facility in Oben, 

Orhionmwon Local 

Government Area of Edo 

State over their non 

employment to do welding 

and filtering jobs. 

The workers under the 

aegis of Nigerian Welders 

Association, NWA, an 

affiliate of the United Labour 

Congress, ULC, and the 

Association of Filters Senior 

Staff Association, FISSAN, 

accused the company of 

bringing people outside the 

community to do the jobs for 

which they were qualified to 

do. 

Community Liaison 

Officer of the company, Jaja 

Morrison, when contacted 

said, he was not competent 

to speak on the matter and 

that enquiries should be 

directed to the company’s 

head office in Port Harcourt, 

Rivers State. 

The protest, which lasted 

for several hours, led to the 

barricading of the main 

entrance to the company with 

heavy trucks and other items 

by the protesters, who 

chanted war songs and had 

placards with different 

inscriptions. 

It took the intervention of 

the Nigerian Army to bring 

the situation under control as 

it was almost degenerating 

into a free-for-all. 

Addressing newsmen, 

chairman, NWA, Mr. 

Idemudia Osagiaro, said: 

“We are professionals and 

also from this community. 

Every job they do here is our 

profession. We wonder why 

they will bring people from 

other states to do jobs we are 

well qualified to do. This is 

not the first time a company 

will be building a gas plant 

in our community. " 

Also speaking, Chairman 

of FISSAN, Mr. Omoregie 

Sylvester appealed to the 

federal, state and local 

governments and the 

palace of the Oba of Benin 

to come to their rescue. 

NALPGAM implores FG to 

remove bottlenecks stifling 

sector growth 

By Chioma 

Onuegbu 

UYO 

—NIGERIAN 

Association of Liquified 

Petroleum Gas Marketers, 

NALPGAM, has thanked 

the Federal Government for 

the removal of obnoxious 

Value Added Tax on 

Liquefied Petroluem Gas, 

LPG, imploring it to further 

review and remove 

bottlenecks that were 

working to stifle the growth 

of the industry. 

National President of the 

association, Mr. Nosa 

Ogieva-Okunbor, who 

spoke at their Annual 

General Meeting, AGM, 

yesterday, in Uyo, Akwa 

Ibom State, also urged the 

state government to support 

effort of the sector in 

deepening the use of LPG 

in the state and create better 

and healthy citizenry. 

He said: “We thank the 

Federal Government for the 

removal of the obnoxious 

Value Added Tax on LPG 

and also implore the 

government to further review 

and remove bottlenecks 

that are rather working to stifle 

the growth of the industry 

and create the enabling 

environment to encourage 

the ease of doing business 

in the sector going by the 

huge job creation potentials 

the sector harbours. 

“Growing the LPG business 

will result in massive 

job creation, economic stability 

and growth. 

“Also, I want to use this 

medium to appeal to the state 

government to support our 

effort in deepening the use 

of LPG in Akwa Ibom State 

and create better and healthy 

citizenry. Available statistics 

show that the LPG 

consumption in Akwa Ibom 

is just 11,000 MT as at 2017.” 

Ogieva-Okunbor 

explained that a state, which 

is currently the highest oil 

and gas producing state in 

the country with a population 

of over 6,000,000 people, the 

figure goes to show the 

abysmal consumption level 

of LPG in the state. 

NAPO trustee suspends 

council meeting over 

leadership crisis 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT HARCOURT— 

A trustee of the National 

Association of Plant 

Operators, NAPO, an 

affiliate of the United Labour 

Congress of Nigeria, ULC, 

Mr. Christian Uwamalam, 

has announced the 

suspension of its National 

Executive Council, NEC, 

scheduled to hold in Bayelsa 

State tomorrow following a 

leadership crisis. 

Uwamalam, who 

addressed newsmen at 

NAPO’s office in Port 

Harcourt, Rivers State, 

yesterday, noted that the 

decision was because of 

issues around the leadership 

of the body, adding that the 

conveners of the planned 

meeting breached various 

articles of the union’s 

constitution in convening 

such meeting. 

He claimed that Chief 

Dickson Egbuwe, who is the 

convener of the meeting, 

lacked the constitutional 

powers to do so, stating that 

he (Egbuwe) was no longer 

the president of the union. 

The trustee said only 

Harold Bestowe has the 

constitutional powers to 

convene such meeting and 

invite trustee of the union, 

as the new president of the 

body, noting that Egbuwe 

was no longer a member of 

the union because he is 

currently an employer of 

labour. 

He said: “While l 

appreciate the recognition 

conferred on me and my 

office as a trustee of NAPO, 

let me note here that the 

convener of this purported 

meeting and invitation, 

Chief Dickson, is not in 

position to call for such NEC 

meeting as he has since 

sized to be a member of the 

union on the grounds that 

he is now an employer of 

labour.” 

UBEC/SUBEB distributes bus, 

25 motorcycles, instructional 

materials in Delta 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—UNIVERSAL 

Basic Education 

Commission/State Universal 

Basic Education Board, 

UBEC/SUBEB, yesterday, 

distributed instructional 

materials to schools in the 25 

local government areas of 

Delta State. 

A 18-seater Hiace bus, 25 

motorcycles, and several 

learning materials were also 

commissioned and 

distributed to schools in the 

25 councils for quality 

assurance monitoring. 

Wife of the state governor 

and Founder of 05 Initiative, 

Dame Edith Okowa, who did 

the commissioning, charged 

teachers in public schools to 

impart sound moral values 

and academic knowledge on 

their pupils and students. 

Stressing the need for 

teachers not to relent in 

playing their teaching role of 

imparting sound moral and 

academic knowledge on their 

pupils and students in a 

professional manner, she told 

them not to condescend so 

low under any guise to collect 

money from their pupils and 

students. 

According to Mrs Okowa, 

Ministry of Basic and 

Secondary Education was 

key and vital to human capital 

development programme of 

the state government, 

imploring Chief Inspectors of 

Education and Head 

Teachers in the state to 

continue to do the needful by 

ensuring that teachers under 

their supervision discharge 

their duties professionally. 

We’ll unlock Bayelsa’s rural 

economy — Igali 

By Gabriel 

Ewepu 

ABUJA— ONE of the 

governorship aspirants 

on the platform of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Bayelsa State, Godknows 

Igali, has said unlocking 

Bayelsa’s rural economy will 

be prioritised, if he was 

elected. 

Igali, who spoke with 

Vanguard on his economic 

agenda for the state, said his 

economic plan would be tied 

to the Sustainable 

Development Goals, SDGs, 

which will be a benchmark to 

assess his development 

programmes and projects. 

He said: “The rural 

economy is the bedrock of 

development and that is why 

you hear me talk about the 

issue of power. The main challenge 

of the rural economy is 

access to market and source 

of power to be able to galvanise 

the economy. 

“Bayelsa is a gas hub, and 

the whole system of providing 

electricity, that is buying of 

diesel to power the 

generators or plants, 

meanwhile, there is gas 

flowing under, we are going 

to change that narrative. 

“We are going to look for 

centres; we cannot be in every 

community, there must be 

centres where we can get 

generators, small mini 

turbines that can produce one 

to three megawatts to create 

industrial activities. 

“I am going to embark on 

massive housing 

programme, which is going 

to be one of my main focus 

but housing will not only be 

at the state capital."


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

N150M BURSARY FRAUD: EFCC grills 

Kwara Scholarship Board head, staff 

By Demola 

Akinyemi 

I Economic 

LORIN—THE 

and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, 

Ilorin Zonal Office, has 

c o m m e n c e d 

investigations into 

allegation of N50 million 

bursary fraud against 

some management staff 

of Kwara State 

Scholarship Board. 

In a statement, 

yesterday, by EFCC 

Director, Mr. Isyaku 

Sharu, those 

interrogated by the 

operatives of the 

commission included the 

Chairperson of the 

Scholarship Board, Hajia 

Fatimoh Yusuf, the 

Executive Secretary, Mr. 

Fatai Lamidi, and the 

board’s Accountant, Mr 

Stephen Ajewole, 

among others. 

The statement read: ”It 

was gathered that the 

Kwara 

State 

Government, in 2017 and 

2018, released the sum 

of N150 million as 

bursary allowances for 

10,000 students, who are 

indigenes of Kwara State 

in various tertiary 

institutions. The 

commission gathered 

that the board did not 

pay up to 4,000 students, 

but fraudulently 

converted the remaining 

ones to personal use. 

“The petitioners, who 

We need smart workers to realise 

Next Level agenda —Minister 

A BUJA—THE 

newMinister of State 

for Budget and National 

Planning, Clement Agba, 

has charged staff of the 

ministry to work harder and 

smarter to realize the Next 

Level agenda of Federal 

Government. 

Agba threw the challenge 

during a reception in his 

honour and hand-over of 

the ministry’s affairs by the 

Permanent Secretary at the 

ministry's headquarters. 

are students of various 

higher institutions of 

learning, had alleged 

that their names 

appeared 

as 

beneficiaries of bursary 

allowances at the Kwara 

State Scholarship Board 

but never received the 

money. 

“During interrogation 

with the operatives of the 

commission the students, 

who sighted their names, 

Matriculation Numbers 

He said the mood and 

thinking of President 

Buhari towards realization 

of the Next Level agenda 

was quite explicit and 

understandable, as he had 

made it clear that a lot of 

work needed to be done to 

achieve the set goals of the 

administration, as well as 

meeting the target of 

submitting 2020 Budget estimate 

to the National Assembly by 

September this year. 

He charged the staff of the 

ministry to adopt team work 

approach to their new 

assignments in order to 

and Signatures, became 

very angry, insisting that 

the names and 

Matriculation Numbers 

were correct, but their 

signatures were forged. 

They claimed not to have 

been the original 

beneficiaries of the 

controversial bursary 

allowance, despite their 

particulars on the 

scholarship board 

documents. 

“The officials of the 

achieve the ministry’s 

mandate. 

‘‘It is quite understandable, 

reading the mood of the 

President. He has made it very 

clear to us that there are a whole 

lots of work to be done and he 

needs the budget to be before the 

National Assembly in September. 

‘‘That means for this ministry 

in particular, we do have a lot of 

work to do. I can see we have 

very capable hands on deck. The 

only way to succeed is for us to 

work together. 

‘‘I believe in the power of team 

work. Together, everybody can 

achieve much.’’ 

board had earlier told 

the operatives of the anti 

graft body that the 

Students were issued 

cheques, but the 

commission discovered 

that only few 

beneficiaries were given 

cash. As at the time of 

filing this report, the 

officials of the board 

were still being 

questioned by operatives 

of the EFCC.” 

GSK VISIT—From left: MD, GlaxoSmithKline, GSK, Consumer Nigeria 

Plc., Kunle Oyelana, Director, Food and Drugs Services, Ministry 

of Health, Pharm. Mashood Lawal, and Director, Communications 

and Government Affairs, GSK Nigeria, Omongiade Ehighebolo, 

during a courtesy visit by GSK to the Ministry of Health, in Abuja. 

KATSINA MISHAP: Victims traveled 

without permission —NYSC 

By Bashir Bello 

KATSINA—THE Katsina 

State Coordinator, 

National Youth Service 

Corps, NYSC, Alhaji 

Ahidjo Yahaya yesterday 

said corps members 

involved in last Sunday's 

motor accident that claimed 

the lives of three corps 

members, while several 

others escaped with various 

degrees of injuries, 

travelled without 

permission. 

This came as he warned 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

corps members fond of 

traveling without 

permission to desist, noting 

that traveling without 

permission attracted 

punishment. 

The coordinator gave the 

warning during the 

swearing in ceremony of the 

orientation course for the 

2019 Batch B Stream II 

corps members numbering 

about 1,502 (621 males and 

881 females) deployed to 

the state. 

According to him, “Most 

of the journies by the corps 

members, 60 per cent or 70 

oer cent are done without 

permission. And we have 

been warning them and we 

would continue to warn 

them. Traveling without 

obtaining permission is 

there in the Act establishing 

the NYSC since 1973, it was 

amended and it is still 

there. There are various 

punishment for various 

offences. It is there in the 

Bylaw. It depends on days 

you spent. It can lead to 

extension of service year, 

remobilization (repeat the 

service year), it depends on 

the gravity of the offence 

that you commit. There are 

various offences viz a vis 

there punishment. They 

are there in the bylaw. 

“The last Sunday’s 

ghastly motor accident 

involving our corps 

members traveling to 

Funtua was not with 

permission. They went to 

Funtua without 

permission,” the state 

coordinator said. 

The coordinator said five 

of the corps members were 

still receiving treatment at 

the hospital while 

arrangements were on top 

gear for the burial rites of 

the three who lost their lives 

in the accident. 

“We have bought three 

caskets and they are there 

in the General hospital. We 

would be conveying them 

to their various homes by 

Saturday for their burial. We 

are footing the expenses of 

the burial arrangements." 

Meanwhile, declaring 

the orientation course open, 

the Katsina State Governor, 

Aminu Bello Masari 

represented by the 

Permanent Secretary, 

Ministry of Youth and 

Social Development, 

Hussaini Dangani called on 

the corps members to shun 

corruption, other social 

vices to embrace integrity 

and be change agents. 

Grants to encourage interest 

and research in microfinance 

—Grooming centres 

L AGOS—GROOMING 

Research Grant, has 

said the university grant for 

undergraduate and 

postgraduate students is 

aimed at improving interest 

in research and studies in 

microfinance and business 

development In Nigeria. 

The grants scheme, a 

programme that 

encourages students to 

undertake their research 

projects in these areas is 

conceived to reverse this 

trend and thus broaden 

interest in this critical area 

of national development 

The project coordinator, 

Mr Chikezie Egbulefu, 

who spoke on the sideline 

of an entrepreneurship 

workshop organized by the 

Centre for Research in 

Enterprise and Action in 

Management, CREM, in 

Lagos, explained that the 

current limited interest by 

students in the areas of 

microfinance, inclusive 

finance and rural 

development remains a a 

major concern as it limits 

the possibilities of growth 

of innovative and business 

ideas in these areas.. 

He called on students to 

grab the opportunity that 

the grant offers and become 

part of and key players in 

the growth in the 

microfinance subsector, 

saying “I am here because 

I believe so much in what 

our youths can offer to the 

development of this country 

and also to see how we can 

fine tune the microcredit 

scheme to best international 

standard. We have a 

research grant for 


postgraduate students 

which entry runs till 

September 4, 2019. The 

sole purpose is to improve 

interest in and knowledge 

of microfinance and 

financial inclusion among 

our student population. 

“A total of 150 


postgraduate students will 

benefit financially; 100 

undergraduates will 

receive a grant of N75,000 

each, while 50 

postgraduate students will 

receive a grant of 

N150,000 each. Awardees 

will be selected strictly 

according to criteria set up 

by a panel of experts 

charged with managing 

beneficiary screening and 

selection. Details of the 

selection criteria are 

available on 

www.groomingresearchgrant.org.” 

CHIEF LAWANI VS SEN MORO: 

Benue Tribunal reserves 

judgement 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI—THE 

Benue State 

National and State 

Assembly Election Petition 

Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, 

has reserved judgment in 

the petition by Chief Steven 

Lawani of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, 

challenging the victory of 

Senator Abba Moro of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, in the last Benue 

south senatorial district 

election. 

Chairman of the tribunal, 

Justice Akin Adeleye 

informed about the decision 

yesterday y after counsels 

of both parties had adopted 

their final written 

addresses. 

Addressing the tribunal 

counsel to Senator Moro, 

Mr. Ken Ikonne urged the 

panel to dismiss the petition 

because the petitioner had 

Rotary Club donates to Lagos 

State Correctional Centre 

AGOS—ROTARY Club 

Lof Eko Atlantic has 

donated, food, household 

items and toiletries the 

Lagos State Correctional 

Centre, formerly known as 

Children Borstal Home on 

Kudirat Abiola Way, 

Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos . 

The President of the club, 

Dr. Sunit Deb Roy and his 

team made the donation 

when they visited the 

Centre, which was said to 

have brought succor and 

relief to students and staff 

of the home. 

filed the pre-hearing application 

out of time. 

Ikonne explained that the 

application for prehearing 

was filed on May 3, 2019 

which was nine days after 

the close of pleadings. 

“The prehearing notice 

was issued contrary to the 

provisions of the First 

Schedule to the Electoral 

Act 2010 as amended. On 

that basis the petition would 

have been thrown out if 

ruling was given during 

pretrial thereby making the 

job of the Judges easier,” 

he stated. 

Ikonne noted that the 

petitioner claimed there 

were irregularities in about 

1,227 polling units but 

failed to call any polling 

unit agent or ward collation 

agent as witness stressing 

that only nine local 

government collation 

agents were called to testify 

in the matter as witnesses 

hence failing to prove his 

case. 

A statement by Aramide 

Nobir said the Rotary Club 

of Eko Atlantic, District 

9110 Nigeria, Rotary 

international however 

urged the inhabitants of the 

home to be remorseful, 

admonishing them to 

“have an appreciative heart 

so that they can be 

meaningfully and gainfully 

be identified as exemplary 

role models to the 

increasing population so 

that subsequently, the 

teeming population can 

learn from them.

14 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 

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

Don’t come to my office to 

discuss 2023, Lalong tells 

mschief makers 

By Henry Umoru 

A 

B U J A — 

GOVERNOR of 

Plateau State and 

Chairman, Northern 

Governors Forum, Simon 

Lalong, has warned those 

he described as rumour 

mongers and mischief 

Makers not to come to his 

office and discuss 2023 

politics of the State. 

Lalong has also asked 

mischief makers to stop 

misleading political office 

holders for personal 

aggrandizement. 

According to a statement 

by his Director of Press, 

Simon Macham, the 

governor, who hosted a 

reception in Abuja to 

honour Dame Paullen 

Tallen following her 

inauguration as Minister of 

Women Affairs by President 

Muhammadu Buhari, said 

the event was another 

opportunity for the political 

class in Plateau to not only 

celebrate Tallen, but to 

reflect on the progress of the 

state. 

The governor, who urged 

Paulen Tallen to work with 

him for them to succeed and 

to attract federal patronage 

for the overall benefit of the 

STANBIC 

IBTC 

Holdings PLC, a 

member of Standard Bank 

Group and Nigeria’s 

leading end-to-end 

financial services group, 

has announced the 

appointment of Mediacraft 

Associates as the Group’s 

new PR agency. The 

appointment took effect 

from August 5, 2019. 

The appointment of 

Mediacraft Associates 

followed the conclusion of 

a very competitive pitch 

process that featured some 

of Nigeria’s leading PR 

agencies. 

By this appointment, 

Mediacraft Associates will 

be responsible for the PR 

and Reputation 

Management for all the 11 

subsidiaries of the Stanbic 

IBTC Group. 

Bridget Oyefeso- 

Odusami, Head, 

state, said “in life, God has 

a purpose for everybody, it 

may be your time it may not 

be your time. But if you are 

patient, your time will come. 

Sometimes you struggle for 

it but will not get, and 

sometimes you don’t 

struggle for it, God will give 

it to you on a platter of 

gold. When we came into 

office in 2015, I was 

virtually alone with just a 

few members in the House 

of Representatives, but 

today I have the Deputy 

Speaker in the House of 

Representative, three 

Senators who are willing to 

work with me for the good 

of our state.” 

On rumour mongers, 

Lalong said, “Don’t come 

to my house to talk about 

2023. In 2013, many of us 

did not know we are going 

to be where we are today. 

If God wants you to be 

something in 2023, he will 

give it to you, you don’t 

need to pitch people 

against each other and 

bring others down. You 

don’t need to struggle.” 

The governor was joined 

by the Deputy Speaker of 

the House of 

Representatives, Idris 

Maje, Senators Ignatius 

Longjam, Hezekiah Dimka 

and Istifanus Gyang. 

Stanbic IBTC appoints Mediacraft 

Associates as new PR Agency 

•Retains Playhouse Communications 

as Digital Agency 

Marketing and 

Communications at Stanbic 

IBTC, said: “The PR pitch 

process was very thorough, 

transparent and 

competitive and we are 

happy to finally announce 

Mediacraft Associates as 

our new PR agency. In 

arriving at this choice, we 

considered not just their 

level of competence and 

professionalism, but also 

their experience and track 

record, especially in the 

financial services sector 

where we play. We believe 

that we made the right 

choice.” 

John Ehiguese, Founder/ 

CEO of Mediacraft 

Associates, expressed 

excitement and pleasure on 

winning the Stanbic IBTC 

business. He said: “The 

Stanbic IBTC business 

means a great deal to us for 

two major reasons. First, is 

the transparency and 

integrity of the entire pitch 

process. The second reason 

is that Stanbic IBTC is a 

brand that I have 

personally always admired 

from a distance. Both our 

organisations share a 

common set of core values, 

especially with regards to 

very high professional and 

ethical standards. 

“We are happy to finally 

have Stanbic IBTC 

Holdings PLC on our client 

list. There is of course the 

challenge of having to 

service all the subsidiaries 

in the Group, but then we 

did not get to where we are 

today by running away 

from challenges.'' 

BRIEFING: From left, Elder Moses Ihonde, former Press Secretary to Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Elder 

Nath Okoro; Elder Solomon Asemota, Chairman, Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN); 

Elder Bosun Emmanuel, Secretary, Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) and Rotimi Ajibowu 

Publisher, Ecclesia Magazine during a press conference on Religious tolerance in Nigeria and in 

commemoration of the United Nations Day for Victims of Religious Violence in Lagos yesterday. 

CSOs fume as Fatoyinbo shuns PFN probe 

into Dakolo’s rape allegation 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

ACivil 

BUJA—SEVERAL 

Society 

Organisations, CSO, have 

expressed dismay over the 

decision of Founder and 

Senior Pastor of 

Commonwealth of Zion 

Assembly, COZA), Biodun 

Fatoyinbo to shun the probe 

panel set up by the 

Pentecostal Fellowship of 

Nigeria, PFN, to investigate 

the rape allegation leveled 

against him by Busola, wife 

of Nigerian soul singer, 

Timi Dakolo. 

Bishop Emma Isong, PFN 

Spokesman, had said the 

Fellowship’s investigation 

into the allegation was 

inconclusive because of 

Fatoyinbo’s decision to 

ignore the probe panel’s 

invitation. 

Recall that, at the peak of 

the rape scandal, the 

Christian Association of 

Nigeria (CAN) had 

mandated PFN, as its bloc 

supervising Pastor 

Fatoyinbo’s church, to probe 

the rape allegation and 

make its findings public in 

two weeks. 

However, in separate 

reaction to Bishop Isong’s 

declaration, civil society 

groups across the country 

has urged the Dakolos to 

press their case to a 

conclusive end in court. 

They also lampooned 

Pastor Fatoyinbo for 

purportedly missing an 

opportunity to clear his 

name of the mess. 

While urging Nigerians 

to refrain from mob reaction 

over the Pastor’s alleged 

refusal to honour PFN’s 

invitation, the CSOs called 

on the Christian body to 

come harder on the COZA 

founder. 

Dakolo’s rape allegation 

should not be swept under 

the carpet - BBOG coconvener, 

Aisha Yesufu 

Speaking in an interview 

with Vanguard, Coconvened 

of 

BringBackOurGirls 

Movement (BBOG), Aisha 

Yesufu, said: “The Pastor’s 

attitude towards the PFN 

shows disrespect to 

whatever he stands for as a 

religious leader. His action 

is contemptuous to the 

Church since the panel was 

a mandate by the umbrella 

Christian body in the 

country. The PFN should 

come on harder on Pastor 

Fatoyinbo than they have 

done so far. But the most 

important thing is for the 

Dakolo’s to follow this matter 

to its logical end within the 

ambit of the law. 

“Rape allegation in 

whatever form is not a matter 

to be swept under the 

carpet. It should not just be 

about themselves (Dakolos) 

alone now. This matter 

should be treated by the 

courts. Parties to the case 

should appear before the 

law and testify under oaths. 

Let Nigerians listen to what 

they all have to say before 

the law.” 

Refrain from mob 

reaction, CDND urges 

Nigerians 

For the Coalition in 

Defence of Nigerian 

Democracy, CDND, 

emotional or sentimental 

reaction from citizens over 

the declaration by Bishop 

Isong on PFN’s position 

could threaten peace and 

ULC writes Ngige, lists workers’ expectations 

...As NUPENG felicitates with Ngige, Sylva 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young 

UNITED 

Labour 

Congress of Nigeria, 

ULC, has written the 

Minister of Labour and 

Employment, Senator Chris 

Ngige, welcoming him back 

to the Ministry, and 

intimating him of the 

expectations of Nigerian 

workers from his second 

coming. 

This came as Nigeria 

Union of Petroleum and 

Natural Gas Workers, 

NUPENG, congratulated 

Ngige on his reappointment 

as Labour and Employment 

Minister, extending hands 

of fellowship to the Minister 

of State, Petroleum 

Resources, His Excellency 

Timipre Sylva. 

NUPENG in a statement 

by its President and General 

Secretary, Prince Williams 

Apkoreha and Olawale 

Afolabi, said “We are also 

aware that you have made 

considerable deposit into 

the public bank of trust since 

your foray into active politics 

and we hope that your 

experience in the first term 

in office as a Minister would 

come to bear as a guiding 

light in the discharge of this 

herculean and crucial 

national assignment. 

As a responsible Union, 

we pray that God continues 

to keep you and may your 

wisdom never diminish as 

you continue to serve assiduously 

to take Nigerian industrial 

relations matters to 

desirable next level, while 

cementing on the gains 

previously recorded. For 

Sylva, NUPENG said 

among others; “we have 

the conviction that your 

experience and meritorious 

track records as Governor 

of oil producing Bayelsa 

State and as special adviser 

on Petroleum to Edmund 

Daukoru would be brought 

to bear in managing this 

integral part of our 

country’s economy and to 

overcome challenges. 

MINISTERIAL LIST: Eyengho lauds 

Buhari over appointments 

A 

BUJA— THE 

Secretary of 

Advocacy for Change 

group, Mr Eyengho 

Samuel Besidone has 

commended President 

Muhammadu Buhari over 

his choice of ministerial 

appointees, noting that the 

resourceful persons chosen 

by this administration has 

shown the President’s 

readiness to fix the nation. 

Eyengho spoke yesterday 

in Abuja while 

applauding Hon. Rotimi 

Amaechi, Chief Godswill 

Akpabio, Chief Timipre 

Silva, Mr Festus 

Keyamo, Clement 

Ikanade Agba, Dr Osagie 

order in the society. 

To prevent that, 

Convener of the coalition, 

Ariyo Atoye urged the 

police to expedite action in 

its own investigation and 

update Nigerians on the 

matter. 

“Nigerians should refrain 

from taking to mob reaction 

as well as emotional or 

sentimental speeches in 

whatever guise over this 

matter. 

“Rape allegation is 

criminal in nature. 

Nigerians should allow the 

police to do their work. If 

either of the parties to the 

case is not satisfied, the 

court is there for action to 

be instituted before the law.'' 

Meanwhile, ULC in a letter 

by its President, Joe 

Ajaero, among others, 

said: “Despite our 

differences on matters of 

principles sometimes on 

the speed with which 

problems confronting 

Nigerian workers and trade 

unions have been handled 

during your previous spell 

in the Ministry, we have 

come to find in you a public 

officer that would not allow 

himself to be intimidated by 

forces of retrogression 

whose desire would 

have been to keep 

Nigerian workers under 

permanent servitude.'' 

Ehanire, and others in the 

list, stressing that their 

appointment is welldeserved. 

According to Eyengho, 

the perceived anger being 

exhibited by Nigerian 

youths across the world can 

be stemmed if there is 

proper handling of 

resources made available 

for the ministries. 

“The government of the 

day is becoming more of an 

old age stock, which is 

telling on the youths, who 

make up about 44% of the 

total population. There is 

need for this administration 

to include more youths in 

governance,” he added.


Insecurity: Ndigbo call for plebiscite in 

‘Owerri Declaration’ 

By Chidi Nkwopara 

OWERRI—IN a sevenpoint 

communiqué tagged 

Owerri Declaration, issued at the 

end of the deliberation during 

Igbo National Summit in Owerri, 

Ndigbo, yesterday, called for 

plebiscite to secure their 

homeland. 

“They declared that: “We are 

compelled to call for a plebiscite 

to secure our God-given 

homeland, propelled by our 

collective will to selfdetermination, 

to embrace a 

sustainable future of peace, 

security and development for 

ourselves and our children yet 

unborn.” 

It was also their considered 

opinion that “Ndigbo and her 

willing neighbours be regarded 

as an autonomous region, with 

the right to full control of her 

FOUR of the people that 

attacked Ike Ekweremadu, 

former Deputy Senate President, 

in Nuremberg, Germany, have 

been identified by the Bavaria 

police, TheCable has reproted. 

Ekweremadu, a serving senator 

from Enugu State, was beaten up 

by members of Indigenous 

Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, 

in Nuremberg on Saturday at an 

event organised by “Ndigbo 

Germany.” 

Nuremberg is the second 

largest city after Munich in the 

state of Bavaria. 

The Nigerian embassy had 

mounted pressure on the German 

federal authorities to bring the 

attackers to justice, following the 

initial reluctance of the state police 

to investigate the assault, which 

was captured on video. 

TheCable learned that Yusuf 

Maitama Tuggar, Nigeria’s 

ambassador to Germany, 

reminded the federal authorities 

on their responsibility to foreign 

territory, resources, executive and 

legislative institutions, her 

judiciary, economic and social 

resources.” 

While expressing worry over 

what they called “the escalating 

insecurity, fear and horror in our 

homeland,” the people also 

fumed over threats to their 

continued existence as a people, 

more so in the face of mounting 

pressure of occupation by alien 

terrorist-herdsmen.” 

“We, hereby, declare that our 

people are no longer willing to 

live a life of meaningless 

existence in the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria,” the participants 

stated. 

They recalled that since the 

amalgamation of the Southern 

and Northern protectorates in 

1914, the region has known no 

stability, but rather has witnessed 

incessant crises, resulting in the 

government dignitaries visiting 

the country. 

Under section 102 (1), chapter 

3, of the German Criminal Code, 

attacks against organs and 

representatives of foreign states 

are punishable with fines and 

imprisonment. 

It states: “(1)Whosoever 

commits an attack against the life 

or limb of a foreign head of 

state, member of a foreign 

government, the head of a 

foreign diplomatic mission who 

Civil War of 1967. 

They said: “That war saw the 

worst state of pogrom in which 

over three million people, mainly 

Igbo citizens, were brutally killed 

and the territory devastated. The 

end of that war left Igboland and 

her neighbours in ruins with no 

efforts since then to rebuild the 

region.” 

They further opined that 

political stability is anchored on 

the fundamental principles of 

democracy, rule of law and 

equity, adding that 

“unfortunately, the Fulani 

minority do not understand, let 

alone believe, in these basic 

norms of co-existence among 

peoples.” 

‘Why we met’ 

Setting the tone for the day’s 

deliberation earlier, chairman of 

Enugu State Council of 

Traditional Rulers, who also 

chaired the event, Igwe L. O. 

C. Agubuzor, lamented that the 

is accredited in the federal 

territory, while the victim is in 

Germany in his official capacity, 

shall be liable to imprisonment not 

exceeding five years or a fine, in 

especially serious cases to 

imprisonment of not less than one 

year. 

“(2) In addition to a sentence of 

imprisonment of at least six 

months, the court may order the 

loss of the ability to hold public 

office to vote and be elected in 

public elections (section 45(2) and 

atmosphere in Nigeria is highly 

charged because of the security 

situation in the country. 

He reasoned that it was 

expedient that all hands must 

be on deck, if Ndigbo would 

successfully check the growing 

trend. 

For Professor Uzodinma 

Nwala, the meeting was 

convened, following calls from 

across the world over the 

growing insecurity in Igboland. 

Nwala said: “I believe that 

Ndigbo can defend themselves. 

The longing for freedom sits 

deep in the minds of the 

Igboman. We have a serious 

challenge in our hands, but we 

don’t want to make the mistake 

we made during the war.” 

On the menace of herdsmen 

in Igboland, Professor Nwala 

said: “We need Anti-Open 

Grazing Law in the South-East. 

Our legislative houses should 

do the needful here. Our 

security is in our hands.” 

VISIT: From left—Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Anders Einarsson; Ekiti State Commissioner for 

Investment, Trade & Industries, Olusoga David; Sean Webster and Suraj Ajiboye of SMAP Farms, during the visit of Promasidor’s 

management to Ekiti State Governor’s Office, at Ado-Ekiti. 

Police identify 4 of Ekweremadu’s attackers in Germany 

By Peter Okutu 

A BAKALIKI—PRO-Umahi 

group in the United 

Kingdom, UK, Divine Mandate 

International, DMI, has said it 

won’t tolerate any act of 

intimidation on Governor David 

Umahi of Ebonyi State or any 

other Igbo leader by the 

Indigenous People of Biafra, 

IPOB, in UK.. 

The warning came on the heels 

of the attack on Senator Ike 

Ekweremadu in Nuremberg, 

Germany, by members of IPOB, 

and further threats by same group 

to attack South-East governors 

and other Igbo leaders anywhere 

they are seen abroad. 

This was contained in a letter 

to Governor David Umahi by the 

(5)). 

This is aside the civil case that 

can be instituted by the victim. 

An official of the foreign affairs 

ministry in Abuja told TheCable 

that the Bavaria state police have 

analysed the attack videos and 

identified four of the suspected 

attackers. 

“I cannot reveal their identities 

for now, because the German 

authorities are now co-operating 

with us and investigating the 

attack,” the official said. 

...as UK group dares IPOB over attack on Igbo leaders 

group, signed by the chairman, 

Dr. Nick Nwokporo; Secretary, Dr. 

Francis Kalu, and Public 

Relations Officer, Dr. Bartholomew 

Aleke, a copy of which was 

made available to Vanguard. 

The group flayed IPOB for 

attacking Ekweremadu, 

describing their action as 

shameful, barbaric and 

disgraceful. 

A'Ibiam Int’l Airport: 

Traders appeal 

to FG over 

closure period 

By Chinedu Adonu 

E NUGU—SOUTH-EAST 

Amalgamated Markets 

Traders Association, 

SEAMATA, has appealed to 

the Federal Government to 

review the period of closure of 

Akanu Ibiam International 

Airport, Enugu to 60 days. 

President-General of 

SEAMATA, Chief Gozie 

Akudolu who made this 

appeal in a statement in 

Enugu yesterday, lamented 

the effect the long closure 

would have on businesses and 

commercial activities in the 

South-East. 

While explaining that the 

airport remains first choice for 

traders in the region, they said 

that traders in the South-East 

would remain the worst 

affected while the closure of this 

airport lasted, adding “more so 

as we approach the end of the 

year with its attendant rise in 

tempo of business activities.” 

Recall that the Federal 

Government through Federal 

Airports Authority of Nigeria, 

FAAN, notified airlines, 

passengers and stakeholders 

that the runway of the airport 

would be closed for major 

repairs by 12a.m. tomorrow. 

According to him, it is public 

knowledge that this allimportant 

airport remains the 

gateway of our esteemed 

members to their business 

destinations, especially outside 

the country. 

He noted that the positive 

advantage of the proximity of 

the airport to South-East 

business locations, with the 

security situation in our 

country, cannot be overemphasised. 

Akudolu said: “It will be 

recalled that the first 

international flight from this 

airport in 2013 had our 

members making up over 85 

percent of the passengers 

onboard. 

“Much as the reason for the 

closure of the airport is to fix 

the failed portions of the 

airport runway to guarantee 

the safety of the passengers 

and the aircrafts, it is our 

considered opinion that this 

can be effectively and 

efficiently achieved in less than 

60 days.” 

While reiterating their 

unalloyed faith in Governor 

Umahi and other Igbo leaders, 

they challenged IPOB to dare to 

make real their threats. 

DMI promised to cooperate 

with UK authorities, Ohanaeze 

UK and other affiliate bodies to 

ensure that the miscreants and 

their supporters anywhere face 

the full weight of the law.


ROADSHOW: From 

left— Senior Manager, 

Infrastructure Planning 

and Design, MTN Nigeria, 

Ibrahim Jekhine; Head, 

International Business, 

Sterling and Wilson, 

Subhamkar Das; Senior 

Manager, Enterprise Value 

Sales, MTN Nigeria, 

Mopelola Balogun and 

Senior Telecoms and 

Media Research Analyst, 

International Data 

Corporation, IDC, 

Oluwole Abegunde, at the 

IDC Cloud Roadshow in 

Lagos, sponsored by MTN 

Nigeria. Photo Akeem 

Salau 

Buhari tasks African telecom regulators on 

consumer protection 

315,000 people pay tax in Edo, says EIRS boss 

•As police arraign 2 over assult on officials 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN CITY—OUT of 

the about 5 million 

population in Edo State, it 

has been revealed that only 

315,000 pay tax regularly in 

the state. 

Executive Chairman, 

Edo State Inland Revenue 

Service, EIRS, Igbinidu 

Inneh stated this when he 

hosted the President/ 

Chairman Chartered 

Institute of Taxation of 

Nigeria, CITN, Dame 

Gladys Olajumoke 

Simplice where he urged 

the tax regulatory body to 

help through the Joint Tax 

Board, JTB, to make government 

invest in the process 

of tax collection as well 

as set up a periodic peer review 

scheme to know how 

each state’s tax authority is 

faring. This he said would 

help identify gaps for critical 

investment. 

In the meeting, Inneh also 

appreciated the CITN on its plan 

to use the EIRS facility as the 

South/South zonal training 

ground for tax issues. 

The CITN and District Society 

Chairmen from Edo and other 

states were on a five day working 

visit to the state. 

While commending the Edo 

State Governor for giving 

direction to the issue of tax 

generation in the state, Dame 

Simplice said "The transformation 

I have seen in Benin is 

tremendous. I have looked at 

what the Edo State Internal 

Revenue is doing and I think it 

should be encouraged to do more. 

I am impressed. 

"The governor has been 

fantastic. When a governor decides 

to use tax payers money 

to benefit the people, then that 

is the beginning of development. 

It shows the cooperation 

between government and the 

governed. 

Uviejitobor makes case for bridge across 

Enerheh river 


ASABA—THE member 

representing Udu 

Constituency in the Delta 

State House of Assembly, 

Chief Peter Uviejitobor has 

advocated for a bridge 

across Enerhen River to 

connect Opete community 

in Udu local government 

area of the State. 

Speaking to newsmen in 

Asaba, Uviejitobor said the 

Enerhen-Opete bridge if 

constructed would reduce 

the pressure of traffic on 

the Udu bridge which was 

fast deteriorating as a result 

of age and lack of 

maintenance. 

The lawmaker noted that the 

Udu bridge which was 

constructed over thirty five 

years ago remained the only link 

from Warri and Uvwie to the 

densely populated Udu local 

government area, stressing that 

a second bridge was urgently 

needed in the locality. 

Uviejitobor, who said the daily 

heavy traffic on the Udu bridge 

was of great concern, also drew 

attention to the dilapidated 

state of the bridge, saying that 

the bridge required urgent 

rehabilitation to avoid danger. 

He noted that virtually all the 

hand-rails on the bridge had 

"When citizens see what money 

has been used on, they are willing 

to pay tax, this is due 

representation which eradicates 

embezzlement." 

Meanwhile, two persons; Glory 

John, a female and John Omoruyi 

fallen off among other serious 

issues affecting the bridge. 

The lawmaker disclosed that 

there was heavy urban drift to Udu 

local government area, adding 

that the area required some basic 

infrastructure to address the 

Konica Minolta reinvents 

office print with IT enable 

bizhub i-Series 

By Gabriel Olawale 

L AGOS—SKYSAT 

technologies in partnership 

with Konica Minolta Business 

solution has unveiled new bizhub 

i-Series with next generation 

information technology enabled 

multifunction printer line from the 

award winning bizhub legacy 

portfolio. 

Speaking at the launch in Lagos, 

Chief Executive Officer, SKYSAT 

Technologies, Izzat Debs said that 

the company's ambition to create 

value for customers and rethink 

the way multifunctional printers 

work informed i-series. 

"By listening to our customers 

and end-users while building on 

our previous office printing 

solution, Konica Minolta has 

addressed the need of our evolving 

workplace. Bizhub i-Series is a 

smart technology hub that fully 

embraces the way businesses are 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

AMuhammadu BUJA—PRESIDENT 

Buhari 

yesterday charged African 

telecommunications Regulators 

not to focus only on 

the benefits of emerging 

technologies but also on the 

threats they pose on the 

consumers. 

President Buhari threw 

the challenge at the 2nd 

edition of Conference of 

A f r i c a n 

Telecommunications Regulators 

on Consumer Affairs 

(CATCO) 2019 holding 

in Abuja, with theme: “Empowering 

the Telecom Consumer 

in an Era of Technological 

Evolution’’. 

The President who was 

represented by Polycarp 

Shambo , the Chief of Staff, 

Secretary to the Government of 

the Federation, Boss Mustapha, 

said much as the technological 

evolution has changed the way 

we interact as nations and also 

deepened the frontier for the 

Good, the Bad and the Ugly’, 

there is urgent need for regulators 

to be on top of their game in 

safeguarding the interests of the 

end users of these complex 

technologies. 

CATCO is a platform where the 

telecoms regulatory bodies across 

the length and breadth of Africa 

gather to exchange ideas and 

compare notes on how best to 

improve telecoms services 

experience for the consumer. 

The president stressed the need 

for every country to keep herself 

abreast of the fast paced 

technological evolution from the 

first, second, third, fourth and the 

fifth generation of technologies, 

which he said cannot be overemphasised. 

‘‘Without any doubt, we are in 

an era where advancement in 

Information and Communication, 

Technologies (ICTs) is fast 

changing the dynamics of 

economies globally. 

"It is also an established fact 

that telecommunications and 

broadly speaking, ICT, has 

become an enabler of economic 

growth. In Nigeria, the sector has 

been driving the Federal 

Government’s digital 

transformation agenda aimed at 

boosting efficiency in governance 

and all the key sectors of the 

economy." 

have been arraigned by the Nigerian 

Police before an 

Ogbeson Magistrate Court within 

the Oregbeni Magisterial District 

in Ikpoba-Okha Local 

Government Area of Edo State 

over an assault of a staff of the 

EIRS. 

challenges of urbanisation. 

Uviejitobor said the dualization 

of Udu road from Enerhen 

junction to ECN junction and 

Orhuwhorhun road, and from 

Orhuwhorhun Roundabout to 

Ekete junction, was long over 

due. 

evolving. 

"This smart device technology 

enhances office connectivity 

while preparing it to be futureready. 

From operational 

improvements to digital 

transformation, the i-Series 

streamlines business processes 

by powering new opportunities 

for productivity and innovation. 

"The new bizhub i-Series is very 

simple to use and secure. Smarter 

with blending operability and 

high-quality performance. The i- 

Series houses a powerful engine, 

a quad-core central processing 

unit with standard 8gb of memory 

and 256gb solid state drive for 

quick response. 

"The stylish, contemporary 

design boasts an intuitive 

smartphone-style user interface 

with a tilt able, floating 10" 

touchscreen panel and LED 

status indicators. Interfaces on 

both the A3 and A4 models 

function is precisely the same way 

for ease-of-use across devices." 

Wall Street gains as retail earnings 

highlight consumer confidence 

U 

.S. stocks rose broadly on Thursday as strong 

results from retailers bolstered confidence in consumer 

demand, while investors look ahead to Federal Reserve 

Chief Jerome Powell’s speech for more clues on future 

interest rate moves.Stocks pared slight gains after data 

showed U.S. manufacturing industries recorded their first 

month of contraction in almost a decade over concerns about 

the U.S.-China trade conflict. 

Leading gains on the S&P 500 was Nordstrom Inc 

(JWN.N), up 9.6%, as it joined Target Corp (TGT.N) and 

Lowe’s Cos Inc (LOW.N) in delivering a quarterly profit 

beat. 

Last week retail giant Walmart Inc (WMT.N) issued a 

strong quarterly report, while solid retail sales numbers 

dispelled fears over a U.S. recession. 

Oil rises further above $60, 

Jackson Hole summit in focus 

Oil rose further above $60 a barrel on Thursday, 

supported by a drop in U.S. crude inventories and 

OPEC-led supply cuts, although worries about the global 

economy weighed. 

U.S. crude inventories fell by 2.7 million barrels last 

week, more than analysts expected. Still, the U.S. Energy 

Information Administration also said gasoline and distillate 

inventories rose. 

Brent crude LCOc1 rose 24 cents to $60.54 a barrel by 

1330 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 

added 45 cents to $56.13. 

Traders are awaiting a speech from Federal Reserve 

Chairman Jerome Powell on Friday in Jackson Hole, Wyoming 

that could indicate whether the central bank will 

continue to cut interest rates. 

India needs to reduce ecommerce restric- 

tions to revive economy: Amazon executive 

INDIA needs to encourage ecommerce and reduce 

red tape to help small businesses sell online and export 

goods to help revive sagging domestic economic 

growth, a senior Amazon.com executive said. 

“There is so much opportunity to just let ecommerce 

thrive versus trying to define every single guard rail under 

which it should operate,” Amazon’s India head Amit 

Agarwal told Reuters, ahead of the launch of Amazon’s 

biggest campus in the world in the southern Indian city of 

Hyderabad, on Wednesday. 

India revised its ecommerce rules in early 2019, creating 

hurdles for Amazon and rival Walmart Inc’s ecommerce 

subsidiary, Flipkart. 

“I feel ecommerce can actually accelerate India’s 

economy in a big way, if it’s just allowed to thrive,” said 

Agarwal, whose comments come at a time when India’s 

economic growth has slumped to near five-year lows. 

Agarwal said Amazon works with some 500,000 sellers, 

and has created over 200,000 jobs in India since launching 

its ecommerce operations in 2013. 

Armese Power begins roll-out of 

electricity meters 

A 

RMESE Power Solutions, yesterday, said it has 

commenced massive meter deployment, following 

the recent flag-off of the Meter Asset Provider, MAP, scheme 

by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, 

PHEDC, in Rivers State. 

In a statement by the company, Chief Executive Officer 

of Armese Power Solutions and Armese Consulting, Imran 

Aslam Khokhar, emphasized the adequacy of the company’s 

current stock of meters to plug 50 per cent of the metering 

gap at this stage of the MAP project within the PHED 

franchise area. 

He said, “Our valued customers have been contacting 

us for meters following the official rollout announcement 

by PHED. As usual, we are poised to address their requirements 

with our premium metering products and crack team 

of installers. 

“However, customers are required to file their meter applications 

with PHED and make payments into dedicated 

accounts that have been publicized. PHED will in turn share 

their details with us for installation within 10 working 

days.” 

Khokhar reinforced Armese’s year-long track record of 

meter deployment in the PHED coverage area which caters 

to the power requirements of an estimated 14 million 

people. 

He said, “Our track record in the business is not in doubt. 

In the past one year, we have deployed over 100,000 meters 

within the PHED franchise. We are poised to deploy 

the metering solutions we are renowned for yet again with 

MAP. Keeping the lights on is what we do and ending estimated 

billing is our ultimate objective.” 

Some stories credited to Reuters


I 

’M drawn to eccentrics 

and to difficult, grouchy 

old folks; and I must confess 

that I just love Sheikh Ibrahim 

Yaquoub El-Zakzaky! 

I know that I am risking the 

wrath of those who regard this 

radical Shiite leader as a 

dangerous felon and very 

serious religious icon. But I 

possess a trivial streak and 

reckon that there is nothing 

wrong with occasionally 

seeing the funny side of 

situations that weren’t meant 

to be funny; and I must 

confess that El-Zakzaky’s recent 

medical drama made me 

laugh until tears ran down my 

face. 

When the Nigerian 

government, which had held 

El-Zakzaky and his wife in 

custody since 2015, reluctantly 

agreed to send him to India 

for medical treatment, I and 

many other onlookers 

breathed huge sighs of relief 

because his enraged - and 

fearless - followers were 

constantly demonstrating 

against his incarceration; and 

their protests were escalating 

at a time when the country was 

in such a volatile state that any 

public outpouring of anger 

could have triggered off a 

widespread breakdown of law 

and order. 

Frankly, I had hoped that 


Buhari secretly shared my 

view that discreetly allowing 

Mr. and Mrs. Z to escape in 

India would be the best way 

of avoiding further bloodsoaked 

confrontations 

between Shiites and law 

enforcement officials back 

home. 

El-Zakzaky is known to be 

fond of Iran and the feeling is 

mutual; and I saw no reason 

why he should not be given 

an opportunity to find his way 

to the Iranian embassy in 

Delhi and export his wahala 

to Tehran. 

But it turned out that this 

•Shiite leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky with Indian doctors in New Delhi 

El-Zakzaky 

administration was not in the 

mood for easy, face-saving 

exits from avoidable battles; 

and the Sheikh and his spouse 

were so hemmed in by 

security operatives in Delhi 

that they declared India an 

even worse proposition than 

Nigeria. 

I watched with amused 

fascination as El-Zakzaky took 

it upon himself to be as troublesome 

as it is possible to be 

I saw no 

reason why El- 

Zakzaky took 

should not be 

given an 

opportunity to 

find his way to 

the Iranian 

embassy in 

Delhi and export 

his wahala to 

Tehran 

when you are a prisoner. I 

couldn’t help smiling as he 

grumpily toyed with the 

exasperated Indian doctors 

who had been selected to 

manage his healthcare and 

firmly rejected their 

attentions…on the grounds 

that he (understandably, if 

you ask me) wanted to choose 

his own healers. 

I couldn’t suppress my mirth 

when tight-lipped, po-faced 

Naija government spokesper- 

sons issued whingey statements 

accusing him of indulging 

in “unruly antics” in India 

and of being “uncontrollable”. 

But the real icing on 

the cake - the part of this 

comedic saga that made me 

succumb to stomach-clutching 

giggles - came when it was 

announced that Oga Sheikh 

had had more than enough of 

India and was winging his 

way back to Abuja, 

unrepentantly untreated. 

And I’m sure that nobody 

was surprised to hear that the 

Indians were totally fed up 

with him and not remotely 

sorry to see him go!!! I know 

plenty of hitherto neutral 

Nigerians who now admire 

him for refusing to play ball; 

and I guess I’ll always be 

drawn to rebellious types who 

don’t feel obliged to be 

obliging, especially when they 

are convinced that injustice is 

being inflicted on them and/ 

or others. 

I actually felt like going to 

the airport to warmly welcome 

the surly Sheikh and thank 

him for annoying the 

establishment and providing 

me with some much-needed 

merriment in this bleak era! 

But I wouldn’t have expected 

any reciprocal gratitude. 

I’m certain that had I been 

able to meet him and tell him 

that I am a Christian member 

of his burgeoning fan club, 

he’d have sniffed 

suspiciously, balefully eyed my 

uncovered head (so immorally 

unIslamic!) and unsmilingly 

waved me aside with regal 

disdain!!! 

As I’ve said before on this 

page, I don’t understand the 

hatred that a large chunk of 

the Nigerian Sunni Muslim 

majority is directing towards 

Shiites in general and El- 

Zakzaky in particular. I pray 

Sowore 

THE Federal High Court 

in Ikoyi, Lagos, has 

ordered the Department of 

State Services and the 

Inspector-General of Police to 

appear before it on September 

4 to discuss the detention of 

Omoyele Sowore, the coconvener 

of the 

#RevolutionNow movement. 

Sowore was arrested by DSS 

officials on August 3 because 

he was planning a peaceful 

protest titled RevolutionNow. 

I urge the court to 

immediately release Sowore. 

I don’t personally know him; 

but he is a media colleague 

best known until recently as 

the main brains behind the 

famous Sahara.com news 

website. 

And I believe in free speech 

and in journalists and other 

vocal citizens who bravely 

criticise governments that 

don’t take kindly to criticism. 

The “inflammatory” word 

“Revolution” is undoubtedly 

what made the authorities get 

jittery and lock Sowore up. 

But why should they panic 

about a word that has been 

used by previous Nigerian 

governments - as in Green 

Revolution and Ethical 

Revolution? 

that he and his jailors can find 

a civilised way of resolving this 

impasse that is injecting unnecessary 

additional 

tension into the body politic of 

a nation that is like a pressure 

cooker at the moment. 

“Revolution” has also been 

used by numerous foreign 

governments: as in Cultural 

Revolution, Industrial 

Revolution, etc. Meanwhile, 

there is a harmless Workers’ 

Revolutionary Party in the 

United Kingdom. 

Long story short, there is 

nothing intrinsically 

destructive about the word 

“Revolution”; and the Bottom 

Line is that protestors have a 

right to call themselves revolutionaries 

if they so 

wish…and aren’t breaking any 

law if they describe their 

movements as revolutions. 

Besides, God knows that we 

desperately need a good 

governance revolution in this 

country. So what’s the fuss 

about someone planning a 

public show of dissatisfaction 

on behalf of those of us who 

yearn for the change Buhari 

promised us? 

Responses 

To 

Donzol2002@Yahoo.co.uk Or 

To 0802 747 6458 Or 0811 675 

9752. Please kindly note that 

unless you specifically request 

anonymity, your email or text 

message may be published 

with your name and contact 

details attached.


THE sad irony about the rampant 

spate of ethno-religious clashes that 

occur among Nigerians from different 

backgrounds, especially in our major 

urban areas, is that it consumes the 

poor, struggling masses toiling to 

make a daily living. 

The leaders who sow the seeds of 

division for their political burnt. 

aggrandisement hardly ever go toeto-toe 

A minor disagreement between a 

against one another. Long after porter and an Area Boy degenerated 

they have resolved their selfish into a fight which was joined by 

differences the poor who have belligerents from the opposite ethnic 

nothing against one another continue groups. As usual with such events, 

to pay the price in loss of lives, limbs matters rapidly deteriorated leading 

and property. 

to loss of millions of naira worth of 

The ethnic flare-up between some goods, especially foodstuff. Luckily, 

elements of the Yoruba and Hausa no lives were reportedly lost though 

communities in Ilepo Market, many were injured. 

Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council People who live and trade peacefully 

Development Area, Lagos State over together everyday suddenly become 

the past weekend later spilled over to enemies ready to fight to the death at 

the nearby Katangowa second hand the slightest misunderstanding. 

clothes market on Monday. A mystery Nigeria can never succeed in building 

early morning fire gutted a section of a united, prosperous country in this 

the market and many shops were atmosphere of mutual hatred, 

Katangowa crisis: Needless, avoidable 

suspicion, belligerence and 

intolerance. 

It is unfortunate that though 

Nigerians live peacefully together and 

thrive through economic, social and 

even political interactions, we have 

failed to evolve a workable conflict 

resolution mechanism to foster 

peaceful cohabitation. 

The situation in our markets is not 

helped by the fact that instead of 

having unified market unions the 

various ethnic groups build their little 

Berlin Walls away from other groups, 

sometimes with their own “warriors” 

and cache of arms. 

It is the responsibility of 

government to maintain law and 

order. Apart from setting up 

intelligence units in markets to deal 

with brewing crises before they 

explode, state governments should 

set up inter-ethnic conflict resolution 

groups in each market to liaise with 

the Police and other law enforcement 

agents to ensure that troublemakers 

are not allowed to operate. 

The idea of allowing miscreants to 

harass and extort traders in the 

markets should be discouraged. This 

is one of the greatest sources of crisis 

flare-ups. 

Government-accredited agents 

should administer any revenue 

collection that is due to it with the 

backing of law-enforcement agents. 

In return, there should be visible 

improvement in the living conditions 

of the markets to encourage people 

to pay their obligations. 

These crises are totally needless, 

wasteful and can be stopped only if 

government takes up its responsibility 

with fairness to all. 

Ekweremadu and the IPOB mob 

By CLARIUS UGWUOHA 

IT was shocking that the immediate 

past deputy Senate president, 

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 

representing Enugu West in the 

Nigerian upper chamber, and who 

stood stoutly behind the Nnamdi Kanuled 

Indigenous People of Biafra in the 

hey days leading to their proscription, 

was attacked in far-away Germany by 

a mob comprising IPOB members. 

Several reasons have been adduced 

for this insalubrious and truly 

appalling treatment that seemed to fly 

in the face of reason. A closer scrutiny 

of the scenario raised many pertinent 

clues. First, Chief Ike Ekweremadu 

wore a brocade embroidered with the 

Nigerian coat of arms. 

This was a crime of immense 

dimension that signposted betrayal of 

and insensitivity to the cause of the 

intolerant IPOB. The fire-spitting 

group did not like the apparent lipservice 

support of Igbo leaders in 

power. The top senator’s outfit 

suggested complete apathy to the 

raging zeal of the separatist group. It 

was not a surprise that it was the first 

target of the angry mob. 

Secondly, there have been increasing 

cases of Fulani herdsmen menace in 

the Eastern part of Nigeria, with Enugu 

as hotbed. Senator Ekweremadu was 

perceived as taciturn and not truly 

condemning the invasion or raising 

appropriate legislative concerns to 

curb the menace. 

More irksome to IPOB was the 

proscription of an unarmed group 

seeking self-determination peacefully, 

while armed herdsmen that roamed 

the countryside killing, raping and 

maiming, were termed hoodlums. 

There was no legislative effort or 

collective outcry by Igbo leaders to 

press for their interdiction or to fight 

for the cause of IPOB beyond the 

release from detention of Nnamdi 

Kanu. 

It is understood too that while IPOB 

was strictly for separatism, the political 

leaders of the East, including 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, were perceived to 

be only concerned with a Nigerian 

Presidency of Igbo extraction. IPOB 

believed that the only way out for an 

emancipated Igbo nation was a Biafra, 

citing the perennial marginalisation of 

the zone which had worsened in the 

present dispensation. 

While some regions had seven and 

six states respectively, only the East 

has just five states. That lopsidedness 

affected all levels of representation 

which were skewed against the East, 

including number of local 

governments, House of 

Representatives and Senate seats. 

They were of the view that an Igbo 

president in the circumstances would 

be unable to impact the zone owing to 

various political straitjackets. 

Ohaneze and other Igbo leaders 

differed. That ideological divergence 

OPINION 

was the root cause of the face-off and 

tirades between IPOB and the political 

leaders of the East. The Ekweremadu 

attack was, therefore, on the face of it, 

not personal but directed at all leaders 

of Eastern extraction who had only 

paid superficial consideration to the 

increasing challenges of their people 

in a deeply divisive and stratified 

Nigerian nation. They yearn for 

support for the cause of Biafra by 

political leaders of the East. 

The Diaspora IPOB mob may sound 

self-righteous. But they should know 

that it is far easier to point a finger 

than to effect correction. What are they 

The Diaspora IPOB 

mob may sound selfrighteous; 

but they 

should know that it is 

far easier to point a 

finger than to effect 

correction 

doing in the safe confines of Germany? 

Would their dream Biafra be created 

there? 

The Arab Spring revolution did not 

depend on leaders of the country. It 

was a mass action that originated from 

commoners with verve, nerve and 

conviction. Attacking Ekweremadu is 

cheap escapism. The Germany crowd 

ought to come back to their country, 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

risk their lives for the emancipation of 

their people and find appropriate 

pressure groups within the confines of 

Nigerian laws for an enabling 

environment for a realisation of the 

Biafra of their dreams. 

Why did IPOB retreat to safe confines 

upon proscription without holistically 

challenging the high-handedness 

through the country’s jurisprudence? 

Nnamdi Kanu was spirited out of the 

country to live to fight another day. 

That appeared a wise decision. But it 

should be understood that 

revolutionaries most of the time just 

lay down their life for a worthy cause 

and never live to reap from the 

struggle. Like Martin Luther King jnr, 

Malcolm X, Roser Parks and other 

Black Rights Activists in the United 

States who paved the way for a Barack 

Obama to take centre stage as first US 

Black President. 

For Senator Ike Ekweremadu and 

other political leaders, it is time for 

sober reflection. The attack had 

negative and positive connotations. 

The citizens are becoming more and 

more intolerant of ambiguous 

representation. They want leaders who 

can feel the pulse of their people at all 

times not merely during electoral 

periods. It is time for effective 

grassroots representation and not for 

beefing up security and hiking of 

security votes. 

• Ugwuoha, a public affairs analyst, 

wrote from Egbema, Imo State

From left: Chairman, SPE Nigeria Council, Mr Debo Fagbami and wife; Managing Director, 

SNEPCo, Mr Bayo Ojulari; Africa Regional Director, SPE, Prof. Wumi Iledare; SPE 

International president, Mr Sami Al Nuaim and Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr 

Osagie Okunbor during the awards and closing dinner of Society of Petroleum Engineers 

Nigeria international conference and exhibition held in Lagos. 

Ministerial Inauguration: 

Stock prices rise to 

2-month high 

..as NSE delists 2 banks 

By Peter Egwuatu 

Following the inauguration 

and allocation of portfolios 

to federal cabinet members by 


Buhari, the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE, yesterday, 

recorded its highest rally in 

two months. The benchmark 

index, All-Share Index, went 

up by 1.01 percent. 

Specifically, the NSE Index 

gained 276.72 points to close 

at 27,352.94 points from 

27,629.66 points the previous 

day. 

Similarly, another major 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$93.40 0.55 

2,191.00 0.00 

$11.55 0.16 

$59.82 -0.48 

$55.25 - 0.43 

305.95 306.45 306.95 

372.127 372.7351 373.3433 

339.1456 339.6998 340.2541 

311.0639 311.5722 312.0806 

2.8712 2.8758 2.8805 

0.4988 0.5088 0.5188 

418.991 419.6758 420.3605 

43.1819 43.2529 43.3239 

81.578 81.7113 81.8446 

419.6716 420.3575 421.0433 

45.487 45.5613 45.6357 

20.1522 20.1851 20.218 

CBN Exchange rate as at 22/08/2019 

stock market gauge, market 

capitalization, rose by N135 

billion to close at N13.44 

trillion, representing 1.01 

percent also. 

Contrary to some 

speculations the market had 

sustained downward trend 

since after the general 


election in the first quarter of 

the year, with just a few 

bullish trading days. 

The total volume of shares 

traded grew by 73.6 per cent 

with an exchange of 363.97 

million shares worth N4.52 

billion traded in 3,451 deals. 

This was in contrast with a 

total of 209.62 million shares 

valued at N3.24 billion 

exchanged in 3,743 deals on 

Tuesday. 

The banking equities led 

the activity chart with United 

Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc 

becoming the most active 

stock with 64.73 million 

shares traded worth N381.92 

million. 

Meanwhile, NSE officially 

delisted two banks from its 

daily official list yesterday. 

The banks are Skye Bank Plc 

and Fortis Microfinance 

Bank. 

In a notice released by the 

Exchange, it said: “The 

delisting of the afore-listed 

companies was approved by 

the National Council on May 

30, in line with its regulatory 

delisting process.” 

NSE said that the 

companies were delisted as a 

result of the revocation of 

their operating licenses by 

their primary regulator, 

Central Bank of Nigeria 

(CBN). 

LCCI faults merger of Finance, Budget & 

Planning ministries 

•Charges new cabinet to fix economy 

By Naomi Uzor 

T 

he Director General, Lagos 

Chamber of Commerce and 

Industry, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, 

has faulted the merger of 

Finance, Budget & Planning 

ministries, and advised that 

fixing the economy should be 

paramount on the agenda of the 

newly cabinet. inaugurated federal 

Yusuf, in an exclusive 

interview with 

Vanguard, noted that the 

merging of the two 

ministries may have an 

adverse effect on the 

effectiveness and quality 

of economic policy 

formulation and 

implementation. 

He further noted that 

the newly sworn-in 

ministers and the 

government are 

confronted with a 

looming global recession 

driven by the protracted 

trade war between the 

United States and 

China, and other 

geopolitical issues. 

Yusuf also stated: “Oil 

price has dropped U$60 

per barrel. Also, the 

general revenue outlook 

is not positive. 

Therefore, fixing the 

economy should be 

paramount on the 

agenda of the new 

cabinet. Policy coordination, 

especially between the monetary 

and fiscal authorities, and among 

the key economic ministries is 

very important. The ministers 

should also regularly engage 

economic operators in their 

respective sectors in order to get 

appropriate feedback on 

economic policy. 

“Revenue performance of the 

government is weak at this time; 

hence all hands must be on deck 

to ensure revenue optimization 

across all ministries without 

necessarily imposing additional 

burden on the business 

community. 

“There should be fresh strategy 

to stimulate domestic and 

foreign investments, in order to 

attract more private capital into 

the Nigeria economy. It is equally 

very crucial to urgently reform 

the oil and gas sector in order to 

reduce the current pressure of 

fuel importation and subsidy 

payments on government 

finances. 

Transport fare rises amid drop in petrol price in July 

•As prices of rice, others decline 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

Transport fare paid by 

passengers for bus, air, 

motorcycle and water way 

journeys rose month-on-month 

(MoM) in July despite the 

decline in the price of Premium 

Motor Spirit, PMS, also known 

as petrol, during the period. 

According to the latest PMS 

report by the National Bureau of 

Statistics’ (NBS), average price 

paid by consumers for PMS 

decreased by 1.2 percent yearon-year 

(YoY) and 0.2 percent 

MoM to N145.0 in July 2019 from 

N145.4 in June 2019.” 

Meanwhile, NBS’ latest 

Transport Fare Watch report 

showed that the fare paid by 

passengers for bus journey 

within the city increased by 7.06 

percent to N195.76 in July 2019 

from N182.84 in June 2019 while 

fare paid by commuters for bus 

journey intercity increased by 

0.76 percent to N1,619.05 in 

July 2019 from N1,606.92 in 

June 2019. 

The report further showed that 

the fare paid by air passengers 

for specified routes single 

journey increased by 0.32 

percent to N30,562.97 in July 

2019 from N30,464.86 in June 

2019 while fare paid for 

journey by motorcycle (Okada) 

per drop increased by 1.38 


from N117.00 in June 2019. 

It further stated that fare paid 

by passengers for water way 

passenger transport increased by 

9.05 percent to N550.89 in July 

2019 from N505.18 in June 2019. 

NCC advocates 

adoption of new 

technologies by 

SMEs, others 

By Juliet Umeh 

The Executive Vice 

Chairman of Nigeria 

Communication Commission, 

NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, 

has called on Small and 

Medium Enterprises, 

SMEs, and other 

organisations to embrace 

emerging technologies like 

Artificial Intelligence, AI, to 

sharpen competitive edge for 

their products and services 

Danbatta gave this charge 

while speaking at the Nigeria 

Innovation Summit held in 

Lagos with the theme, 

“Accelerating Nigeria’s 

Economic Growth through 

Innovation”. 

He noted that emerging 

technologies have the capacity 

to provide tremendous 

opportunities for companies 

that leverage on them. 

He said: “The digital playing 

field will eventually even-out 

and what will be paramount 

will be the innovative ways by 

which new and emerging 

technologies such as AI, 

augmented reality, robotics, 

cloud computing, big data, 

Over-the-Top, OTT, blockchain 

technology, advanced 

security systems and others are 

deployed by companies 

looking for the next 

competitive edge to drive 

innovative products and 

services for their consumers. 

This has become important as 

companies already face a new 

level of expectations from 

consumers, employees and 

business partners. 

“It is for these stated reasons 

that NCC aligns with the 

position of the organizers of 

this event that this is the time 

for Nigeria, with her youthful 

population, to leverage the 

afore-mentioned new 

technologies and apply them 

in sectors such as health, 

agriculture, financial services, 

education, renewable energy 

and clean-techs to solve 

problems around us.” 

Also speaking, Chief 

Executive Officer of Emerging 

Media, Mr. Kenneth Omeruo, 

said the theme of the event 

became necessary, stressing 

that the era we are in globally 

is characterised by emerging 

technologies that are driving 

great innovations. 

Prices of rice, others drop 

Meanwhile, the prices of rice, 

tomatoes, agric egg and yam 

declined in July, according to the 

“Selected Food Price Watch” 

report for July also released 

yesterday by NBS 

The report stated: “The average 

price of one dozen of Agric eggs 

medium size decreased year-onyear 

by 0.73 percent and MoM 

by 5.45 percent to N468.31 in 

July 2019 from N495.32 in June 

2019 while the average price of 

piece of Agric eggs medium size 

(price of one) decreased YoY by 

6.88 percent and MoM by 2.35 


from N39.31 in June 2019. 

“The average price of one kg 

of tomato decreased YoY by 

39.47 percent and MoM by 9.96 


from N226.07 in June 2019.

20—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019

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NBA 2019: Legal practitioners discuss sexual harassment in law firms 

Sexual harassment is 

increasingly gaining 

prominence in global 

and national discourse 

nowadays. This may not 

be unconnected to the 

widening dissemination 

of information through 

the social media 

platforms, most 

especially, the twitter 

and Facebook. Through 

these platforms, the 

world has become a 

global village, where 

happenings in any part 

of the globe are shared 

across the ‘four corners’ 

of the globe in a matter 

of seconds. We are 

besieged everyday with 

stories of allegations 

from victims of sexual 

abuses and convictions 

of felons who committed 

sexual offences from all 

around the world, with 

some of these offences 

having been committed 

decades earlier. So, we 

hear of priests, actors, 

musicians and so on 

being convicted of 

paedophilia, producers 

being convicted of 

sexual quid pro quo and 

many other forms of 

sexual abuse against 

upcoming artistes both 

in the movie and music 

industries. 

Despite the fact that 

Notable lawyer and 

accomplished author, 

editor/ Law books publisher 

Deji Sasegbon, SAN, who 

passed away on December 10, 

2016 has figuratively 

resurrected in a new set of 

books entitled ‘Sasegbon’s 

Judicial Dictionary of 

Nigerian Law’. 

Sasegbon was in his lifetime 

renowned for such landmark 

publications like the Nigerian 

Supreme Court Cases, 

NSCC, in 38 volumes, Legal 

Desk Book, Nigerian 

Companies and Allied 

Matters Law and Practice in 

6 volumes and Sasegbon’s 

Laws of Nigeria in 30 

volumes. 

His latest work ‘Sasegbon’s 

Judicial Dictionary of 

Nigerian Law’(also known by 

its acronym, SJD, published 

in seven volumes, and about 

to be released, posthumously, 

are a fitting epitaph to his 

illustrious memory, a further 

assurance of his immortality 

and a valuable addition to 

legal jurisprudence. 

Vitally,‘Sasegbon’s Judicial 

Dictionary of Nigerian, is a 

comprehensive compilation of 

legal words and phrases. 

This finely researched 

publication is, from every 

conceivable measure, the 

definitive encyclopedia of 

legal definitions of Nigerian 

law. 

Sasegbon’s Judicial 

Dictionary of Nigerian Law is 

a complete statement of the 

entire body of Nigerian legal 

definitions as rendered in the 

language of the Courts, and 

based upon the authority of 

cases of Superior Courts. With 

its repertoire of over 150, 000 

terms, it can be said to be the 

•The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, is flanked by a delegation of the NBA Technical Committee 

on Conference Planning, TCCP, led by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Paul 

Usoro, SAN, during a courtesy call on the governor at Government House, Port Harcourt to brief him 

on the forthcoming Annual General Conference taking place in Lagos from today. 

sexual offences know no 

boundaries, the issue of 

sexual harassment in the 

office, especially, the 

n i n e - t o - f i v e 

establishments, are 

heavily under-reported 

and under-discussed, 

hence, mostly undertackled. 

While there 

could be a dearth of 

information on the 

prevalence of the issue in 

Nigeria, studies 

conducted in some other 

countries show that at 

least one-in-four women 

(25 percent) and one-inten 

men (ten percent) are 

victims of sexual 

harassment cum abuse in 

workplaces. 

This is one reason to look 

forward to the 59th 

Annual General 

Conference of the 

Nigerian Bar 

Association, scheduled 

to hold in Lagos, from 23 

to 29 August, 2019. The 

organizers of the 

conference have put 

sexual harassment in the 

Legal/Justice community 

on the front burner for 

discussion by the 

lawyers at the summit. 

Sexual harassment in 

the workplace could be 

defined as any type of 

unwanted sexual 

advances, comments, 

actions, jokes, or 

physical touch that 

occurs in one’s place of 

work. It could also 

include coercion or 

requests for sexual 

favours in exchange for 

employment or 

promotion opportunities 

Deji Sasegbon resurrects with new publication 

most authoritative, 

comprehensive law dictionary 

ever published in Nigeria. 

Acclaimed as a tour de 

force, this latest publication 

from the illustrious stable of 

Sasegbon’s DSC Publications 

was not only conceived by 

him, but was that to which he 

devoted his attention before 

his untimely death in 2016. 

The completion of his work 

was actualized by his widow, 

Oge Sasegbon, herself a 

seasoned lawyer, along with 

the Deputy Editor in Chief, 

Mr Ehi Esoimeme and an 

excellent team of scholars and 

editors which Deji Sasegbon 

had put together at DSC 

Publications before his 

demise, SJD comprises of 

historical and modern 

Nigerian cases up to 2018, as 

well as primary and 

subsidiary legislation. 

Dripping with erudition in 

the inimitable Sasegbon 

tradition of profound and 

prodigious work, this latest 

offering draws definite 

distinctions between key 

words and phrases – as 

opposed to just stating 

definitions word for word – 

thereby enabling the reader 

to gain a full, wholistic and 

contextual understanding of 

definitions. In most parts of 

the publication, the 

comparative approach is 

utilized as definitions are 

drawn from Federal and State 

Laws across the country. In 

addition to drawing 

distinctions between key 

words and phrases, the 

Dictionary also examines the 

effect of certain issues in the 

legal field. 

A totally unique and 

additional scope to the 

• Late Sasegbon, SAN 

Dictionary is the publication’s 

examination and application 

of ‘the effect’ of certain key 

definitions when applied in 

practice. This is contained in 

Volume 3 and represents a 

completely new creation 

within the purview of 

providing legal definitions. 

The hallmark of Sasegbon’s 

Judicial Dictionary of Nigerian 

Law is Volume 7, which 

comprises of definitions of terms 

and phrases of Nigerian 

jurisprudence from the mind of 

the learned silk, Deji Sasegbon, 

SAN, himself. There are no cases 

or statutory references in this 

volume. Rather, it complements 

Volumes 1-6 with simple and 

lucid definitions, which give 

further understanding to the 

more formal language of the 

other volumes. Volume 7 also 

contains illustrations of the 

actual application of the 

definitions to local real-life 

situations. Its contents are 

straightforward, easily 

comprehensible, and they give 

additional clarification to the 

legal and judicial definitions 

contained in the earlier Volumes 

Tel: 08152060944 

or any other sexually 

explicit verbal or visual 

actions, such as being 

exposed to pornographic 

materials. 

The inclusion of this 

issue in the 

Conference’s agenda is, 

in part, an admission by 

the organizers of the 

existence, if not a large 

prevalence, of sexual 

harassment in their field 

of practice which 

includes the Bar, Bench, 

Police and other 

agencies and bodies that 

(1-6). 

An additional and equally unique 

feature of this publication is the 

provision of a Comprehensive Index, 

not just of the words and phrases that 

are defined therein, but also the Case 

Law and Statutes referred to 

throughout the publication. Also, of 

great value is the cross-referencing, 

particularly between Volumes 1-6 and 

Volume 7. 

Viewed critically, ‘Sasegbon’s Judicial 

Dictionary of Nigerian Law’, along with 

its earlier sister publication, Sasegbon’s 

Laws of Nigeria (also referred to as the 

Encyclopedia of Nigerian Law), 

arguably, form the most comprehensive 

research tool available to lawyers and 

legal scholars in Nigeria today. 

play a role in the 

delivery of justice in the 

country. 

For the uninitiated, this 

seems unimaginable as it 

is generally believed 

that these professionals, 

a recourse group for the 

victims of sexual 

harassment/assault who 

wish to seek redress in 

the law courts, not only 

know their rights and 

how to pursue them but 

could also easily fight for 

themselves. These 

people seem not to 

understand that the rich 

also cry, that the pillar of 

support also needs 

support. 

The issue of sexual 

harassment has existed 

in legal workspace for as 

long as it has been in 

other sectors and 

professional spaces. As 

with the larger society, a 

greater percentage of 

victims are the younger 

legal practitioners, who 

bear the greater burden 

of this ill practice. What 

makes the issue more 

terrible in the justice 

system is that the 

perpetrators of this 

injustice are those who 

are versed in the laws of 

the land. They, not only 

have the clout to 

‘silence’ their victims, 

but also know all the 

loopholes there could be 

in the law books that 

they could take 

advantage of to avoid 

persecution. 

The inclusion of the issue 

in the agenda of this 

august gathering is 

timely for several 

reasons. It will serve as 

a wake-up call to the 

perpetrators of this 

inglorious act to retrace 

their steps to avoid the 

ugly consequences that 

may befall them if they 

continue in their 

immoral behaviour. 

It would also embolden 

the victims of sexual 

harassment/assault to 

square up with their 

harassers, who are either 

their supervisors or 

higher-ranking 

employees, and fight for 

their rights. 

The larger society would 

also benefit from the 

discussion as it will bring 

to the public space the 

harmful effects of the 

issue both to the 

i n d i v i d u a l 

psychologically and 

physically, as well as to 

the business and will 

also chart a course on 

how the other victims 

could cope with sexual 

abuses. 

'AELEX recognised as Nigerian ‘law firm of the year’ 

by who’s who legal 2019 

AELEX has been 

recognised as Nigeria’s ‘Law 

Firm of the Year’ by Who’s Who 

Legal, WWL. 

The firm was recognised at the 

WWL’s sixth annual ceremony 

held in London. 

This is the sixth time the firm 

has won this award - recognition 

for its exceptional quality of work 

over the past year. 

Partner Davidson Oturu, 

received the award on behalf of 

the firm. Partner ‘Soji Awogbade, 

who heads the firm’s Energy 

Practice, was recognised as one 

of the Thought Leaders Global 

Elite for Energy law from 

Nigeria. 

üLEX Managing Partner, 

Theophilus Emuwa, said it was 

an honour to be recognised 

again by Who’s Who Legal as 

the top law firm from in Nigeria. 

“We understand that this 

recognition speaks to the quality 

of legal services we deliver,” he 

said.

28 —VANGUARD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, , 2019 

By Imam Murtadha Gusau 

• 

ALL praise is due to Allah, the 

Most Merciful, the Bestower 

of mercy, the Continually Pardoning, 

the Most Kind. He owns 

infinite mercy and He grants allencompassing 

blessings. 

“Have you not contemplated 

the fact that Allah placed everything 

throughout the heavens and 

everything throughout the earth 

at your service, and that He granted 

you immense blessings, both 

apparent and inconspicuous?” 

[Qur’an] 

I bear witness that none has the 

right to be worshipped except 

Allah. There is none who deserves 

worship besides Him. 

And I further bear witness that 

Prophet Muhammad is Allah’s 

worshipping servant and Messenger. 

Dear Muslims, you must observe 

Taqwa of Allah, the Most 

Exalted. Observing Taqwa of Allah 

yields success in the hereafter 

as well as in this world. Allah, the 

Most Exalted, said: 

“The hereafter with your Lord is 

exclusively for the people of 

Taqwa.” [Qur’an] 

Dear brothers and sisters, there 

are five pillars of Islam among 

which Hajj is the most important. 

Hajj is obligatory on every physically 

and financially stable Muslim 

once in a lifetime. Being able 

to perform Hajj is the blessing for 

all Muslims. Hajj is the form of worship 

that Muslim owes to Allah Almighty. 

In the Noble Qur’an Allah 

the Most High says: 

“…Pilgrimage to the House is a 

duty owed to Allah by all who can 

make their way to it…” [Qur’an, 

3:97] 

Muslim can erase all his previous 

sins by performing Hajj with 

love and enthusiasm for Almighty 

Allah. 

When pilgrims came back home 

after performing Hajj they returned 

spiritually refreshed, forgiven 

of their previous sins and all 

set to start their new life free from 

sins. For those who performed 

Hajj with sincere intention our beloved 

Prophet Muhammad 

(Peace be upon him) said in one of 

his Hadith: 

“Whoever performs Hajj for the 

pleasure of Allah and therein utters 

no word of evil, nor commits 

any evil deed, shall return from it 

(free from sin) as the day on which 

his mother gave birth to him.” 

[Muslim] 

Hajj Mabrur (accepted Hajj) is 

the one which is not mixed with 

any misdeed. Our beloved Prophet 

(Peace be upon him) said that: 

“Verily there shall be no reward 

for an accepted Hajj except Jannah 

(Paradise).” [Al-Bukhari] 

Pilgrims should stick to the spiritual 

values rest of their lives that 

they learned during the noble 

journey of Hajj. If pilgrims want to 

know their Hajj is accepted then 

they need to focus on their actions 

before and after performing Hajj. 

Those whose Hajj is accepted by 

Allah Almighty are the lucky ones 

and they are ones whose sins have 

been forgiven. 

Dhul Hijjah 22, 1440 A.H. 

Signs of an accepted Pilgrimage/Hajj 

Dear Muslims, below I will discuss 

some signs that will help pilgrims 

to let them know whether 

their Hajj has been accepted or not 

by Almighty Allah: 

1. The accepted Hajj refers to the 

one performed truly and offered 

with full sincerity to Allah Almighty. 

2. Signs of an accepted Hajj also 

includes that the man returns 

from Hajj as a better person than 

the one he was before the Hajj and 

that he keeps away from sins. 

3. The sincerity of intention 

should remain even after the Hajj. 

The pilgrim should not show off 

about Hajj. 

4. The sign of an Accepted Hajj is 

that upon one’s return, his life 

changes from worst to good. The 

person who performed Hajj indulges 

in good deeds and always 

tries to fulfill the commands of Allah 

Almighty. 

5. If pilgrim Hajj is accepted the 

person will run away from all 

those things that Allah Almighty 

disliked. 

6. Pilgrim should try his best to 

fulfill the obligations laid down by 

Allah and must be grateful that his 

Hajj has been accepted. 

My dear listeners and readers, 

the above mentioned were some 

signs of an Accepted Hajj (Hajj 

Mabrur). The pilgrim should continue 

performing good deeds and 

acts of worship regularly until he 

meets Allah Almighty. 

...the accepted Hajj 

is the one which is 

not mixed with any 

misdeed. The accepted 

Hajj may 

also refer to the one 

performed truly 

and offered with full 

sincerity to Allah 

The Almighty. 

May Allah accept the Hajj of all 

pilgrims who performed this year! 

Ameen 

Respected servants of Allah, as 

I said, when the pilgrims return to 

their home countries after the journey 

of Hajj, they return spiritually 

refreshed, forgiven of their sins, 

and ready to start life anew, with a 

clean slate. Family and community 

members often prepare a celebration 

to welcome pilgrims 

home and congratulate them on 

completing the journey. Those 

who have performed the Hajj are 

often called by an honorific title, 

“Alhaji or Haji Hajiya or Alhaja,” 

(one who has performed the Hajj). 

Dear brothers and sisters, how 

fortunate are these souls who are 

blessed with these golden words 

from the beloved Prophet Muhammad 

(Peace be upon him): 

“Whoever performs Hajj for the 

pleasure of Allah and therein utters 

no word of evil, nor commits 

any evil deed, shall return from it 

(free from sin) as the day on which 

his mother gave birth to him.” [Al- 

Bukhari and Muslim] 

And also his saying: 

“Verily there shall be no reward 

for a Mabrur Hajj (accepted Hajj) 

except Jannah (Paradise).” [Al- 

Bukhari and Muslim] 

It is hoped that all the pilgrims 

were sincere in their intentions 

and had traveled thousands of 

miles only to secure the pleasure 

of Allah by fulfilling the obligation 

laid down upon them. May Allah 

the Almighty grant all the pilgrims 

acceptance and grant them opportunity 

again and again to visit 

the Two Noble Mosques (Haramain 

Sharifain), ameen. 

The pilgrims should focus their 

attention toward certain points, 

which are necessary and of utmost 

importance and which many 

pilgrims ignore because they are 

unaware of their significance: 

Firstly, the sincerity of intention 

should remain even after the performance 

of Hajj. There should be 

no pomp or show. One should not 

wish to be called or recognised as 

Alhaji or Haji Hajiya or Alhaja. 

Many people adopt the habit of 

talking frequently about their journey 

in order that people may 

come to know of their Hajj. They 

talk about the expenses incurred 

in the way of Allah, their charity 

amongst the poor and the needy, 

their devotion and worship, their 

assisting the weak and old, etc.; 

and all is mentioned only with the 

intention of gaining fame. This is a 

deceit from Shaitan (Satan) who 

ruins the devotion without the 

person even knowing it. It is therefore 

of great importance that the 

pilgrim does not talk about his Hajj 

without necessity as it may lead 

to ‘Riya’(showing-off, insincerity). 

Continues on page 27 

Lagos State is best in Hajj 

operations — Imam Lawal 

LAGOS State has been described as the best and most 

committed and dynamic of all the states in Nigeria in 

hajj operations. 

A member of the State Ad-hoc committee on 2019 hajj operation, 

Imam AbdulHakeem Lawal, stated this at the Murtala 

Muhammad airport, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday when the fifth 

batch of Lagos pilgrims arrived from Saudi Arabia. 

Imam Lawan who was corroborated by some pilgrims, stated 

that the seamless nature of handling the hajj operations to 

and from Makkah and ensuring convenience for pilgrims was 

unprecedented and unmatched by any other state in the federation. 

This feat according to Imam Lawal who is also the National 

Missioner of IKWAN Muslim society, was the reason the State 

has continued to receive awards of excellence from the National 

Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on yearly basis. 

The 432 pilgrims on board Flynas Airbus A330 touched 

down yesterday exactly 9.05am. 

It will be recalled that 2,269 pilgrims embarked on the Holy 

pilgrimage from the state. The return journey started last Saturday 

with 432 pilgrims. The arrival of the fifth flight has 

therefore brought the total number of Lagos State pilgrims 

that have arrived in Lagos so far to 2,150. 

The last flight which is expected in Lagos today according to 

schedule, will convey the remaining 119 Lagos pilgrims which 

will include the State Amirul-Hajj, Dr. AbdulHakeem Abdul- 

Lateef, Chairman of the Ad-hoc committee, Alhaji. Ahmed 

Jebe, other members of the committee, the Board Secretary, 

Mr. Rahman Ishola and other officials of the board. 

Akinbile-Yussuf vows committment 

to Lagos pilgrims’ welfare 

THE newly appointed commissioner for Home Affairs in 

Lagos State, Pharm(Mrs) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf has 

promised to ensure adequate welfare programmes for pilgrims 

in the state. 

Akinbile-Yussuf who was the immediate past commissioner 

for Wealth Creation and Employment said she would give her 

all to consolidate on the achievements recorded by the state 

in the areas of pilgrims’ welfare during Hajj operations. 

She made the pledge during a reception thrown in her honour 

by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 

Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area of Alimosho 

federal constituency on Tuesday. 

She noted that her new portfolio would not in any way 

change her desire to give the dividends of democracy to the 

people of Alimosho. 

She thanked her husband, Alhaji Adegboyega Olubodun- 

Yussuf, party leaders and loyalists for their support and promised 

not to disappoint them. 

She said: ‘’ Lagos State has achieved so much in terms of 

pilgrims welfare particularly during Hajj operations where it 

has been adjudged as the best state that cater very well to the 

wellbeing of pilgrims. 

‘’To this end, we will not allow other states to overtake Lagos 

in this regard. We are going to be creative in our efforts to 

sustain our leading role in Hajj operations and even Christian 

pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 

Earlier in his welcome address, chairman of APC in the LCDA, 

Alhaji Ganiyu Onatoye thanked Governor Babajide Sanwoolu 

and leaders of the party in Alimosho and the state for reappointing 

Akinbile-Yussuf as commissioner.

Dhul Hijjah 15, 1440 A.H. 

Nigerian doctor 

ors treat over 2,550 patients 

daily in S/Arabia 

•As NAHCON assesses performance 

By Fatima Sanda Usara 

Adelegation of National Hajj 

Commission of Nigeria 

(NAHCON) comprising board 

members, senior management staff 

and journalists on Sunday, 18 th 

August, visited seven Nigerian clinics 

within Makkah to assess the level of 

their operations. 

Chief Doctor, Dr Usman Galadima, 

took the team, headed by board 

member representing Ministry of 

Foreign Affairs, Amb. Nura Rimi, 

round the clinics to ascertain the 

arrangements for themselves. 

It is worthy of note that NAHCON 

received commendation from the 

Saudi Ministry of Health for the 

healthcare support put in place for 

Nigerian pilgrims. By the end of the 

visit, the team was more impressed 

with what it met on ground than the 

image it arrived with. 

Clinic HQ1, Masfala, was the largest 

of all the clinics and records about 

600 patients everyday. It has two 

different consultation sections. The 

first area on the ground floor is 

designed as treatment unit for 

pilgrims with mild complains. The 

upper floor, where two wards bearing 

six admission beds, an observation 

room and a seclusion area are carved 

out, is like the referral section where 

only serious or complicated cases are 

treated. The doctors on this latter 

floor are consultants. At the time of 

visit, one of the doctors had relocated 

downstairs to help attend to patients 

in the minor ailments’ unit because 

of their large number. 

A minimum of 42 doctors run the 

clinics on a daily basis on an average 

ratio of three doctors respectively for 

the three shifts. Approximately 

2,550 patients visit the clinics on a 

daily basis, resulting to a random 

statistics of at least 61 patients to each 

doctor everyday. It is therefore no 

wonder that the patients overwhelm 

the doctors on ground. However, the 

triage strategy was employed to 

reduce the waiting time thereby 

easing the crowding. 

The team enquired over what 

could be responsible for the large 

turnout of patients at the clinics. The 

explanation is deductible. It was 

gathered that approximately 236 

referrals to major Saudi hospitals 

were made since the arrival of 

Nigerian pilgrims on 10 th of July in 

Madinah to the 18 th of this month 

when the visitation was conducted. 

Therefore, it could safely be 

concluded that of the 2, 550 

patients that visit the clinics daily 

since 10 th of July 2019, only an 

average of six serious cases visited 

the clinics per day leaving the 

remaining 2, 544 as other ailments. 

Notwithstanding, the clinics do 

register some degree of 

emergencies that do not need 

referrals but treated in the facilities 

or even admitted. At the time of 

visit, there was one such case on 

admission due to heat stroke and 

dehydration. He was placed on 

intravenous fluid because he ran 

the risk of running into shock and 

sudden death if not placed on fluid 

immediately. 

Therefore, majority of the cases 

are body aches, malaria and minor 

respiratory infections. 

The clinics are known to witness 

two peak periods of patients’ visits: 

in the mornings after returning 

from the sacred mosque and in the 

late evening after most pilgrims as 

well return from night (isha’i) 

prayer in the Haram. Since those 

with major complaints do not wait 

for a convenient time to visit the 

clinics, this indicates the general 

inference above. Besides, it was 

disclosed to the team that when an 

apparent emergency situation is 

brought to the clinic during these 

peak periods forcing the doctor to 

divert attention to the patient, 

those on the queue begin to 

grumble with signs of agitation and 

impatience. Such are times when 

they mostly complain of 

favouritism, being kept waiting and 

so forth. However, a doctor’s 

professional instinct tells him to do 

the right thing always. 

As data do not lie, it was 

discovered by the team that drugs 

that are constantly replenished are 

analgesics, anti-malarial drugs; 

upper respiratory track drugs such 

as cough syrup and antibiotics. 

Others are gastro-intestinal drugs 

like antacids. And of course, the 

strenuous nature of Hajj activities 

or due to physiology of Hajj as a 

place where large congregations of 

people gather explain the increased 

risk of respiratory infections and the 

other complaints. 

Drug dispensary is one of the key 

indicators of the frequently reported 

illnesses. And the dispensary system 

is one of the well-coordinated 

networking activities in the clinics. 

All clinics are connected through 

what is known as the Electronic 

Medical Record (EMR) System. This 

means that all computers in the 

clinics are connected to the central 

system such that drug dispensary is 

being monitored from the central 

store. Where any drug runs out in a 

particular clinic, the supervising 

officer picks the information and 

immediately supplies that clinic with 

the drug. However, where the 

server is down and monitoring at 

the central store is hindered, the 

pharmacist sends a text message 

and soon, ambulance is dispatched 

with the supply. This network 

ensures no clinic runs out of any drug 

that is available in the store thereby 

questioning the claim that clinics are 

being left without drugs. 

Another advantage of the EMR is 

that it detects the number of times 

pilgrims visit one or multiple clinics. 

And indeed it paid off. Data has 

captured pilgrims who visit multiple 

clinics gathering drugs for reasons 

best known to them. So far, the EMR 

has been able to track many of these 

drug collectors and appropriate 

action taken to apprehend them and 

others. It was revealed that many of 

those who gather during the peak 

periods do so because the dugs are 

free and would like to transport them 

back to Nigeria as gifts to their loved 

ones. Many instances of these 

occurrences were narrated to the 

team. Some of them, it was revealed 

confessed after they were subjected 

to serious diagnostic steps. 

All Nigerian clinics are located in 

areas where majority of Nigerian 

pilgrims are lodged thereby making 

access to them as easy as it could be. 

Fifth batch of Lagos Pilgrims during their arrival at the Murtala Muhammad 

International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos at exactly 9.05am, yesterday 

"Vanguard, 

FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2019 —29 

MAN calls for more effor 

ort t to 

tackle insecurity 

MUSLIM Association of Nigeria (MAN), has called for more 

efforts to end several cases of insecurity at different levels 

in the country. 

The Association at the end of its National Officers’ meeting held 

in Lagos, recently, listed armed banditry, kidnapping, ritual killings, 

incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers, rape and 

other forms of threats to security as serious issues calling for more 

attention from government, especially at the federal and state 

levels. 

In a statement signed by its President, Alhaji Tajudeen O. Ojikutu 

and National Publicity Secretary, Alhaja Nurat Adebayo, the 

Association urged the federal government, in particular, to weigh 

the consequences of insecurity to lives and properties of the citizens, 

the effects on good governance and, therefore, take purposeful 

actions. 

MAN suggested deployment of more hands in the country’s security 

architecture, use of modern equipment of information gathering 

and scenario building, more funding and decentralization of 

policing and other security sector activities as possible ways forward. 

The Association also urged governmental at different levels 

to create employment opportunities so as to meaningfully 

engage young school leavers and youth, in general. 

Signs of an accepted Hajj 

Continued from page 26 

However, if necessity arises and one must talk about his Hajj then he is at 

liberty to do so. But, he must not indulge in this type of conversation 

unnecessarily. 

Secondly, it is noted through experience, that many pilgrims return 

with only the bad side of the journey and make it a habit of talking about 

nothing except the hardships they have encountered during Hajj. The 

pilgrims should strictly refrain from this. On the contrary they should 

talk about the greatness of the sacred places, the spiritual gains, the 

enjoyment in devotions, including Umrah, Tawaf, visit to Masjid Al- 

Nabawi, prayers in Masjid Al-Haram and the Prophet’s Mosque etc. If 

one looks at his journey of Hajj carefully he will find that the good things 

far outweighs the bad ones. Every second spent in these sacred places is 

incomparable with anything in the world. 

My people, wallahi the journey of Hajj is a long journey; one has to 

travel by air, pass the immigrations, go through the customs, security 

checking, encounter people who speak foreign languages, etc. In these 

circumstances, difficulties are certain to arise. When we travel in our 

country do we always travel with comfort and ease? Do we never encounter 

difficulty? Do we not find ourselves held up in traffic for hours 

on a Motorway? Considering the fact that two to three million pilgrims 

perform the rituals of Hajj at one time, in one place and that they all 

come from different countries and backgrounds and that many of them 

have never before used or seen the facilities available to them. We think 

the difficulties encountered are insignificant. Moreover, the pilgrims 

are rewarded abundantly by Allah Almighty upon every difficulty encountered 

in their journey whereas the same is not the case when we are 

on any other journey. 

Those people who engage in these types of conversation become the 

cause of discouragement to others like myself who have not yet had the 

opportunity to perform Hajj. These unfortunate pilgrims fall into the 

category of people mentioned in the Qur’an: 

“…and who stop (men) from the way of Allah, and from the Sacred 

Masjid… [Qur’an] 

They should take heed that if people are discouraged by their conversation 

and postpone their Hajj then those who have discouraged them 

will be equally responsible. 

Thirdly the sign of a ‘Mabrur Hajj’ or an ‘accepted Hajj’ is that upon 

one’s return, his life changes from worst to good. He becomes totally 

punctual in fulfilling the commands of Allah Almighty. His love and 

inclination toward the Hereafter increases and love for the worldly pleasures 

decline. Therefore, it is essential that the pilgrim is watchful over his 

actions and should try his utmost to instill in himself good characters 

and refrain from all types of evil. He should try his best to fulfill the 

obligations laid down by Allah and avoid all the things forbidden by 

Him. 

Respected servants of Allah, it was narrated on the authority of Abu 

Hurairah may Allah be pleased with him that the Prophet (Peace be 

upon him) said: 

“The performance of two Umrahs (lesser pilgrimage) expiates the sins 

that are committed in the interval between them, and the accepted Hajj 

commands no reward except Paradise.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] 

In another narration, it reads: 

“Two consecutive Umrahs cause the sins which are committed therein 

between them to be forgiven, and the accepted Hajj commands no 

reward except Paradise.” [At-Tirmithi] 

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 

“Perform Hajj and Umrah repeatedly for they both rid one of poverty 

and just sins as the blacksmith’s bellows removes all impurities from 

iron and gold.” [At-Tirmithi, Ibn Majah and An-Nasa’i] 

The bellow is a tool that the blacksmith uses to purify his metals, this 

may be made clearer through the following Hadith that refers to Madinah: 

“Madinah is like a pair of bellows; it expels its impurities and brightens 

and clears its good.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] 

Dear believers, scholars have said that the accepted Hajj is the one 

which is not mixed with any misdeed. Signs of the accepted Hajj as 

repeatedly mentioned include that the slave returns from Hajj as a better 

person than the one he was before he left and that he keeps away 

from sins. The accepted Hajj may also refer to the one performed truly 

and offered with full sincerity to Allah The Almighty. Imam Al-Qurtubi 

may Allah have mercy upon him said: 

“All interpretations expressed about the accepted Hajj are correlative, 

confirming that it is the Hajj which fulfills its rulings and is performed 

perfectly as required of the Muslim.”


Using vocational education to tackle extremism: The 

Xinjiang Experience 

such common enemies of humanity. These programs have 

delivered worthwhile results. No terrorist incident has 

occurred in Xinjiang for nearly three years since the education 

and training program started. Local people have gained a 

strong sense of security and happiness. 

The region has attracted a soaring number of tourists, with 

nearly 76 million in the first half of 2019, up 46 percent year 

on year. Xinjiang's education and training ensures its own 

social stability and is conducive to regional security and 

stability. The programs have contributed experience to 

international actions against terrorism and extremism. Yet, 

some people, for reasons of ideological prejudice or other 

ulterior motives, are doing all they can to smear the 

reputation of Xinjiang’s vocational education and training 

centers. Their censure of Xinjiang’s huge effort in countering 

terrorism and extremism will be firmly rejected by the 

Xinjiang people. 

A number of countries, organizations and individuals apply 

double standards in their approach to terrorism and 

extremism, which will in effect shield and incite terrorism 

and extremism. Such acts go against international morality 

and human conscience, and are scorned by all just people of 

goodwill. Xinjiang still has much to do in the fight against 

terrorism and extremism, and improvements can be made 

in this regard. In the context of local conditions, and 

complying with the spirit of documents such as the UN Global 

Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the UN Plan of Action to 

Prevent Violent Extremism, Xinjiang will put prevention first 

while taking resolute action against terrorism and extremism. 

We will make unremitting efforts to improve vocational 

education and training, protect the people’s basic rights, and 

ensure long-term social stability and security in Xinjiang. 

•(Dr. Zhou Pingjian is Ambassdor of China to Nigiera) 

•Vocational Education and Training in Xinjiang: A Good Experience in Countering Extremism Zhou Pingjian. 

By Dr. Zhou Pingjian 

VOCATIONAL Education and Training in Xinjiang: A 

Good Experience in Countering Extremism Zhou 

Pingjian Terrorism and extremism are the common enemies 

of humanity, and the fight against terrorism and extremism 

is the shared responsibility of the international community. 

Over the years, to ensure public safety and wellbeing, the 

international community has spared no effort and made 

tremendous sacrifices in preventing and combating terrorism 

and extremism. Many countries and regions, in light of their 

own conditions, have developed effective measures and drawn 

valuable lessons from these efforts. 

In his Sallah message early this month, President 

Muhammadu Buhari advised parents to protect their children 

from the deadly exposure to violent extremists who manipulate 

and exploit them for their own evil agenda. 

“Extremism is like a cancer, which must be detected and 

destroyed from its early stages of growth,” the President said. 

We could not agree with President Buhari more on his 

insightful observations. 

In China, what Xinjiang’s vocational education and 

training is doing is exactly to treat extremism as a cancer 

from its early stages of growth. And it works wonders. 

On August 16, a white paper titled Vocational Education 

and Training in Xinjiang, released by China's State Council 

Information Office, tells about the different aspects of the 

programs, responding to the so-called concerns harbored by 

some countries, organizations and figures. 

For some time, Xinjiang, a key battlefield in the fight against 

terrorism in China, has been plagued by terrorism and 

religious extremism, victimizing innocent civilians and 

police. So it is absolutely just and lawful for Xinjiang to carry 

out the antiterrorism and deradicalization efforts to ensure 

long-term stability and prosperity and protect people's rights 

to life, health and development. 

Terrorism and extremism must be addressed so as not to 

ruin the considerable development achievements of Xinjiang 

since its peaceful liberation in 1949. Xinjiang’s practice of 

educating and rehabilitating the victims of terrorist and 

religious extremist teachings through vocational education 

and training centers is similar to efforts by many other 

countries and regions, with the same goals of dealing with 

the problem at source and protecting people’s basic human 

rights. It’s fair to say that Xinjiang’s vocational education 

and training programs have achieved notable results, and 

contributed experience to international actions against 

terrorism and extremism. 

As for fighting against terrorism and extremism in Xinjiang, 

we follow five principles: First, the government fights 

extremism in accordance with local conditions. In its 

vocational education and training, Xinjiang has learned from 

experience of other countries, and striven to achieve real results 

in line with the actual conditions of the autonomous region. 

In countering terrorism and extremism, Xinjiang draws on 

the experience of other countries, and provides people 

influenced by terrorist and religious extremist teachings with 

education in standard spoken and written Chinese, an 

understanding of the law, and training in vocational skills. 

These efforts have eradicated extremist thoughts, delivered 

widely recognized results, helped to safeguard social stability 

in the region, and protected the environment for the healthy 

development of religions. Second, the government puts 

prevention first while taking firm action on terrorism and 

extremism. 

In its fight against terrorism and extremism, Xinjiang has 

consistently adopted the policy of addressing both the 

symptoms and root causes. On the one hand, Xinjiang strikes 

hard at terrorist and extremist forces, and on the other hand, 

it gives prevention a high priority, sparing no effort to educate 

and rehabilitate the large number of people who have 

committed only minor offences under the influence of 

terrorism and religious extremism. Xinjiang adopts an 

approach of rehabilitation rather than punishment and 

compassion rather than rejection to free them of religious 

extremist thinking. It teaches them laws and standard spoken 

and written Chinese, so that they can become educated 

individuals with vocational skills – useful individuals and 

individuals of value to society. Third, the government 

promotes the rule of law. 

It is an essential requirement of developing socialism with 

Chinese characteristics to build a socialist country governed 

by the rule of law. In the process of promoting vocational 

education and training and eliminating the environment for 

breeding terrorism and religious extremism, Xinjiang 

promotes the rule of law, upholds the authority of the 

Constitution and laws, adopts appropriate legal thinking 

and measures to deal with problems, and confines all its 

efforts within the legal framework. 

The deradicalization work of the vocational education and 

training centers is always based on facts and laws, without 

targeting any specific region, ethnic group or religion. Fourth, 

the government respects and protects human rights. The 

vocational education and training efforts in Xinjiang protect 

people’s basic human rights, and at the same time rehabilitate 

as far as possible those who have committed unlawful or 

criminal offences under the influence of religious extremist 

teachings. 

The centers place the trainees first, manage them in line 

with regulations like schools, provide people-centered 

services, strictly prohibit any form of humiliation or 

mistreatment, and guarantee their personal freedom. In the 

centers, the trainees receive high-quality education and 

training in diverse skills, and their right to education is fully 

The programs 

have contributed 

experience to 

international 

actions against 

terrorism and 

extremism 

safeguarded. 

Fifth, the government must 

take on the responsibility and 

achieve tangible results. It is the 

bounden duty of a responsible 

government to protect its 

people’s lives, health, property, 

and other basic rights, and 

provide a safe, stable and 

harmonious living 

environment. 

Governments at all levels in 

Xinjiang, bearing their 

responsibility to the people in 

mind, are engaged in a host of 

patient, careful and extremely 

hard efforts to educate and 

rehabilitate victims of terrorist and religious extremist 

teachings. Success in vocational education and training 

promotes justice, safeguards people’s dignity and presents a 

positive image of government. Indeed, Xinjiang deserves 

praise for its measures in the fight against terrorism and 

extremism -- undoubtedly part of the global struggle against


Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

Terrorism, like world, without end 

NIGERIANS, and indeed 

Africans may not be 

jubilating as Syria, Tuesday, 

moved towards ending its civil war. 

It took a firm grip of the Idlib 

Province eliminating terrorists, 

including those of the al Qaedalinked 

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and 

the Islamic State of Iraq and the 

Levant, ISIS and forcing the 

remnants to flee. We are not ecstatic 

because we do not readily make 

the link between the terrorists 

being eliminated in Syria and 

those terrorising African countries 

like Mali and Somalia. 

We do not realise that the Boko 

Haram terrorising Cameroon, 

Chad, Niger and Nigeria killing 

about 20,000 people and 

displacing over 2.3 million others, 

is actually the Islamic State of West 

Africa Province; the regional arm 

of ISIS. We do not realise that by 

fighting their war against the 

terrorists, the Syrians are also 

fighting our own wars against 

terrorists in Africa; rather than 

support Syria, we are distracted by 

nebulous claims about democracy 

in that country. 

The ISIS, is like al Qaeda, a 

creation of feudal Arab, American 

and Western power 

miscalculation. It trained, funded 

and nurtured Boko Haram, and 

wielded so much power within that 

organisation that it could choose 

its leaders. ISIS which was 

formally created in June 2014 

under Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has 

been the most vicious and 

audacious jihadi group in 

contemporary history. The Obama 

administration initially claimed 

ISIS, which declared a caliphate 

on Iraqi and Syrian lands with a 

ten-million population, was a 

liberation movement to take out 

the Al-Assad administration and 

restore ‘democracy’ in Syria. 

Today, ISIS is operational in 

over a dozen countries, including 

Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Philippines 

where in 2017, it seized the city of 

Marawi. In Africa, it is active in 

Somalia, Egypt, Libya, Burkina 

Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, 

Niger and Nigeria. But 

inexplicably, American President 

Donald Trump has 16 times since 

December 19, 2018, declared ISIS 

defeated or dead. 

In that first statement, he 

declared: "We have won against 

ISIS”. He said due to this victory, 

he was withdrawing American 

troops from Syria and reducing the 

14,000 US troops in Afghanistan 

by half. In protest, then Defence 

Secretary, James Mattis, next day, 

resigned. But the illusory defeat of 

ISIS became a Trump singsong. 

His outlandish claims do not show 

an understanding of terrorism 

which is the intentional use of 

violence or force against people 

and property for political ends. He 

does not seem to comprehend that 

it is a weapon employed over the 

ages which like the gun, depends 

on who is wielding it and for what 

purpose. 

Trump’s declarations do not take 

into consideration the fact that 

terrorism is not about seizing or 

losing territory as happened to the 

al-Bagdadi caliphate. Rather, 

terrorism is a parasitic organism 

in human society. What is terrorism 

or who is a terrorist, quite often, 

depends on who is making the 

definition. For instance, when the 

Algerians refused to be 

assimilated into France and 

demanded independence, the 

French labelled them terrorists. In 

order to remove the ‘terrorists’ 

Terrorism is an 

ideology based on 

religion, politics 

and/or motives of 

greed; so long as 

humans exists, so 

shall terrorism 

France drowned that country in an 

ocean of blood in which about two 

million people were killed. 

Depending on who is writing this 

history, the terrorists in this case 

could be the Algerian liberation 

fighters or the French imperialists. 

In the case of Kenya, the British 

colonialists, in the name of 

fighting terrorism, unleashed 

terror on the populace for eight 

years from 1952, officially killing 

over 10,000 Kenyans and 

displacing 1.2 million. For good 

measure, the British built pen-like 

detention camps to which they 

herded the Kenyan populace. When 

Dedan Kimathi, the Kenyan proindependence 

leader, was arrested, 

he was summarily tried at the 

Nyeri colonial court and sentenced 

to death. The colonialists then 

erected a temporary tower beside 

the court, hanged Kimathi and 

transported his corpse to the 

Kamiti Prison where he was buried 

in an unmarked grave so his body 

will never be discovered. That was 

terrorism at work. 

In 1956, when Cyprus demanded 

independence, the British seized 

leading political figures, including 

Archbishop Makarios. When he 

refused to denounce the use of 

violence, they accused him of 

"actively fostering terrorism" and 

deported him to Seychelles where 

he spent three years in exile. 

Similarly, when Nelson Mandela 

and other incarcerated liberation 

fighters refused to renounce armed 

struggle against apartheid in 

South Africa, the United States and 

Britain denounced them as 

terrorists. After a phone call with 

Mandela in July 1990, five months 

after his release from a 27-year 

incarceration, then British Prime 

Minister, Margaret Thatcher still 

thought of Mandela as a terrorist 

with a “rather a closed mind”. 

Referring to Mandela and the 

ANC, President Ronald Reagan 

said in a 1986 statement: “The 

South African government is under 

no obligation to negotiate the 

future of the country with any 

organisation that proclaims a goal 

of creating a communist state, and 

uses terrorist tactics and violence 

to achieve it.” Until 2008, 

Mandela remained on the 

American Terrorist Watch List! 

On the other hand, a country that 

was born by terrorism, is Israel. 

Those who migrated to establish 

the new state, used terrorism as a 

primary weapon. In one of their 

most infamous terror campaigns, 

the Israelis in 1946, bombed the 

King David Hotel killing 93 

persons with over 50 injured. The 

two leading terrorist groups in pre- 

Independence Israel were the 

Irgun whose last commander-inchief 

was Menachen Begin, who 

became Prime Minister from 

1977-86, and the Stern Gang, one 

of whose senior commanders, 

Yitzhak Shamir became a twoterm 

Prime Minister. Benzion 

Netanyahu, the father of current 

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin 

Netanyahu, was the personal 

secretary of Ze'ev Jabotinsky, 

founder of the Irgun. 

It is not only non-state actors like 

Timothy James McVeigh, the 1995 

Oklahoma City bomber who killed 

168 persons and injured 680, or 

Mohammed el-Amir Atta who led 

the 911 attacks which killed 2,996 

and injured more than 6,000, that 

consciously execute terrorist acts, 

modern states also do. For 

example, Posada-Carriles Luis 

Clemente Posada Carrilesan, an 

American Central Intelligence 

Agency, CIA, agent on October 6, 

1976 bombed a civilian Cuban 

airline, Cubana de Aviación Flight 

455 on a flight from Barbados to 

Jamaica killing the 77 persons on 

board. He was jailed in Venezuela 

for his crime, but escaped to the 

United States which protected him 

until his death on May 23, 2018, 

some 42 years after the bombing. 

In another case, the United 

States under President Ronald 

Reagan went from training and 

funding Nicaraguan terrorists 

called the Contras, to actually 

carrying out terrorist attacks by 

mining civilian ports in Nicaragua 

and blowing up civilian ships. The 

International Court of Justice, ICJ, 

on June 27, 1986 found the US 

guilty of these terrorist attacks. 

Terrorism is an ideology based on 

religion, politics and/or motives of 

greed; so long as humans exists, 

so shall terrorism. 

Deconstructing Jonah’s ‘consolidating’ manifesto 

BY INNO PAUL 

THE building block of any thriving 

democracy is a ‘people-centered 

manifesto’ because the role a rudder 

plays in the successful navigation of a 

ship is what a manifesto does to any 

government. In other words, a serious 

aspirant is first known by the quality 

of his manifesto. 

As the race for who takes over from 

the Countryman Governor, Henry 

Seriake Dickson, reaches the home 

stretch, the point must be emphasized 

that the state needs a man of 

competence, character and diligence to 

continue/consolidate on the prevailing 

peace in the state. 

In a bid to succeed his boss, the 

current deputy-governor, retired Rear 

Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, has 

released what experts describe as “a 

winning manifesto”. Christened 

“Service and Continuity”, John Jonah’s 

aspiration is the best for the oil-rich 

state of Bayelsa at this time. By all 

standards, the eight years of Dickson- 

Jonah administration has laid enduring 

legacies for the state. 

In a bid to further consolidate on the 

foundation already laid, experts argue 

that the baton should be passed on to 

John Jonah, who is part of the team 

that has brought a new lease of life for 

Bayelsa State. As a saying goes, 

“needless to change a winning team”. 

The 2019 gubernatorial election 

presents, for the first time in the history 

of the State, the opportunity to truly 

consolidate and build on the gains of 

an eight-year administration. Choosing 

Jonah to fly the PDP’s flag in the 

coming election will brighten the 

party’s chances of retaining the state, 

as the people are more inclined to 

achieving continuity for the good of all 

the citizens. 

This scenario places before Bayelsans 

the choice of moving forward together 

through consolidation, or degrading 

the established foundation of 

development over the last eight years, 

and thereby moving backwards. 

Laying out his own pedigree and 

what qualifies him to step into 

Dickson’s shoes, Jonah says: “I have a 

track record of impeccable dedication, 

service, and strong leadership capacity 

from my service in the Nigerian Navy. 

I have in the course of my 36 years of 

service in the Nigerian Navy managed 

billions of naira of public funds, with 

an unblemished record and with no 

scandal. 

“Before my role as deputy governor, 

I was already a seasoned administrator 

resulting from various offices I 

occupied in the Nigerian Navy, finally 

culminating as commandant of the 

Defence College, again with an 

unblemished record; aside being head 

of International Peace Keeping 

Association for two years with an 

unblemished record.” 

Key priority areas identified by John 

Jonah are security, power, education, 

health, agriculture, infrastructure, 

youth development, job creation and 

building a creative economy. As a man 

who has been around the power circle 

in the state in the last eight years, 

Jonah has a better understanding of 

where the outgoing government 

stopped and areas of consolidation, a 

task that will be difficult for an entirely 

new person. 

It is the responsibility of any 

responsible government to provide 

Insiders posit that he has 

grassroots support, perhaps 

because he is virtually on 

top of all the economic and 

investment portfolios of the 

restoration administration 

certain deliverables to its constituents, 

including, but not limited to, 

infrastructure, education, and health. 

Jonah promised in his manifesto: “I do 

not intend to deviate from this 

traditional role of government.” But, he 

maintained that in the light of certain 

realities and peculiar factors now at 

play in the nation, there will be need 

to single out certain sectors for 

particular attention. 

If given the mandate, Jonah has 

committed himself to hit the ground 

running upon assumption of office, to 

as a matter of urgency, take every 

necessary step to mitigate the spate of 

wide-spread insecurity now prevalent; 

ensure the provision of steady power 

for industrial purposes, for the MSME 

sector, and for others, all on a willing 

payer basis; reduce the level of poverty 

and unemployment experienced by her 

people, through building a creative 

economy. 

He promised to consolidate/fortify the 

existing security apparatus (Doo-Akpo) 

in every region of the state through 

dedicated government funding and the 

introduction of a Security Trust Fund 

(similar to the Education Trust Fund). 

Jonah also pledged to consolidate the 

Dickson Administration’s efforts to 

operate a fully-functional airport, 

thereby reducing exposure to the risk 

of road travels between Bayelsa and 

other locations in the country. 

He has deputised the incumbent 

since the first term of the Restoration 

Government. For his deputy, Jonah, 

whom he had often referred to as his 

brother, believed to be one of his 

favourites, Governor Dickson is not 

totally unaware of his desire to succeed 

him in office by 2020. 

Insiders posit that he has grassroots 

support, perhaps because he is 

virtually on top of all the economic and 

investment portfolios of the restoration 

administration. Added to this is the 

belief by many that he still has a 

massive war chest and wide 

connections. These and several others 

are already laying the red carpet to 

brighter days for a greater Bayelsa. 

•Paul, a public affairs analyst, wrote 

from Port Harcourt.

C 

M 

Y 

K 


C 

M 

Y 

K 


34 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 

By Theodore Opara 

Used Chinese vehicles: Double tragedy for auto industry — DVC Obi 

THE rejection of the auto pol 

icy bill by the Presidency and 

the commenced shipment of used 

vehicles from China to Nigeria 

have been described as a double 

tragedy for the nation's auto industry. 

Chairman, Motor Vehicles and 

Miscellaneous Assembly Sectoral 

Group of the Manufacturers Association 

of Nigeria, MAN, Dr. 

David V.C. Obi, who made the 

remarks recently described the 

commencement of sustained 

shipment of used vehicles from 

China to Nigeria as a development 

that may sound the death 

knell for the local auto industry 

unless government takes an 

urgent step to halt the invasion 

or impose high duties on such 

vehicles. 

Obi said the “Chinese gift” was 

not only shocking, but would also 

amount to opening the floodgates 

for used vehicles to submerge the 

local industry. 

He said that when the impending 

‘Chinese used car armada’ is 

viewed alongside the rejection of 

the auto policy bill by the Presidency, 

what has befallen the auto 

industry would be described as 

“double tragedy.” 

Obi, who is also chairman of the 

DVC Group warned that if the 

used vehicles from China were 

allowed to flood the local market, 

they would complete the damage 

influx of used vehicles from 

Europe and America have done 

to the local industry over the years. 

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce 

announced recently that a 

state-backed company in 

Guangzhou had officially shipped 

used cars to Cambodia, Myanmar 

and Russia with Nigeria as 

one of the major destinations for 

the first batch of 300 units. The 

export, it was reported, was 

expected to deepen implementation 

of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, 

BRI, promote the stable 

growth of foreign trade, and increase 

demand for new vehicles 

in that country. China is said to 

have an estimated fleet of more 

than 300 million privatelyregistered 

vehicles, the largest in 

the world. 

Obi, however, warned that with 

•Decries auto policy bill rejection 

•A used car market. 

the ban on production and sales 

of fossil fuel vehicles by Chinese 

provinces, European countries 

and other parts of the world, taking 

affect in a few years, Nigeria 

should not open its borders for the 

dumping of disused vehicles from 

industrialised countries. 

He said: “I was shocked. I was 

alarmed. Everybody knows that 

once China joins the used 

vehicles shipment to Nigeria, we 

are finished. Moreover, the shipment 

is an official initiative of the 

Chinese government and will be 

sustained over many years, which 

means that millions of vehicles 

driven in China will end their lifespans 

in Nigeria as the Chinese 

look forward to electric cars. 

“Luckily for them, we are relieving 

them of the burden of disposing 

of vehicles they can no longer 

use. But, unfortunately for us, 

Take bribe, get fired, FRSC warns personnel 

•Returns money to accident victim 

THE Federal Road Safety 

Corps, FRSC, has vowed 

to dismiss from service any of its 

personnel found extorting motorists. 

Corps Public Education Officer, 

Mr. Bisi Kazeem gave the 

while reacting to the recent arrest 

of 37 FRSC operatives for alleged 

extortion of motorists on the 

highways. A team comprising 

the FRSC, ICPC and DSS made 

the arrest of the erring personnel. 

The FRSC management had in 

a complaint to ICPC said the incidents 

of extortion were rife in 

six states; Kaduna, Bauchi, Abia, 

Rivers, Kogi and Ogun. 

A statement by the FRSC said: 

“We abhor corruptive tendencies. 

There are internal mechanisms 

such as the Corps Marshal Monitoring 

Unit and Surveillance 

and Intelligence Unit. There is 

also zonal commanding officers 

unit of surveillance and monitoring, 

sector commanders unit, all 

aimed at checking excesses of 

marshals. The corps marshal felt 

that reports concerning the issue 

of extortion is getting alarming 

and didn’t want to stop at internal 

mechanism.” 

The statement added that this 

necessitated the collaboration 

with the ICPC and DSS, stressing 

that it led to the deployment 

of technology which facilitated 

the arrests. 

Meanwhile, the Argungu Unit 

Command of the Federal Road 

Safety 

Corps has 

•Acting Unit Commander Argungu Unit, Kebbi State, Usman D. Abubakar handing over N416,000 to 

Abdullahi Sarkin Fawa Yabo of the Ministry of Lands and Housing Sokoto, a relation of the victims. 

ONCE a simple means of 

transport to allow people 

to get from one place to another, 

the concept of the car is rapidly 

changing as the boundaries 

between our lives and 

automobiles intertwine. Under 

the banner Style Set Free, Hyundai 

Motors illustrates its innovative 

vision of how cars of the future 

will become individualised 

living spaces. As cars are fast 

becoming fashion statements, 

Hyundai is not leaving anything 

to chance. 

People already personalise 

their living spaces with a 

multitude of gadgets and 

different forms of technology. This 

•DVC Obi, Chairman, Motor Vehicles 

& Miscellaneous Assembly 

Sectoral Group of the Manufacturers 

Association of Nigeria 

our government does not seem to 

know the implications of allowing 

this kind of dumping; one of 

which is stifling the efforts to promote 

local assembly, deepen auto 

technology and generate jobs.” 

He lamented the refusal of President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

give assent to the Nigeria Automotive 

Industry Development 

Plan, NAIDP, Fiscal Incentive and 

Guarantees Bill, arguing that the 

Chinese were simply taking advantage 

of a loophole resulting 

from the lukewarm implementation 

of the auto policy. 

returned N416,000 to victims of 

road crash that occurred on Saturday, 

August 17, 2019 along bye 

pass on the Argungu - Birni Kebbi 

road near College Of Education, 

Argungu. 

FRSC zonal public education 

officer ACC Aliyu Maaji, said the 

crash involved a Toyota Carina 

II with registration number YYB 

117 AA and a Toyota pick up van 

registered AA 98 GWN. Four 

persons, all males were involved. 

Three of them were injured but 

no fatality. The victims sustained 

varying degrees of injuries and 

were conveyed to Argungu General 

Hospital. 

The Zonal Commanding Officer 

of Zone 10, Sokoto, comprising 

Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, 

ACM Kayode Olagunju, commended 

efforts and integrity of 

his men and called on all officers 

and men in the zone to continue 

to do their best and ensure 

prompt rescue of road crash victims. 

He directed the operatives 

to always carefully document 

monies and other items recovered 

from crash scenes adding 

that these should be promptly 

handed over to the victims or relations 

of dead ones without tampering 

with any of the items. 

He warned that the monitoring 

teams will always be on the road 

to fish out staff that engage in 

extortion or compromised in the 

discharge of their duties. 

Style Set Free–Hyundai Motor’s 

vision for future mobility 

is something everyone does according 

to their own tastes and 

sensibilities. Soon, the same will 

be done with cars as well. Style 

Set Free is about creating a 

‘perfect space’ inside one’s car, 

and asks what it takes to create 

such a space. 

With Style Set Free, Hyundai 

considers how future vehicles will 

offer customers more freedom to 

design their cars in a way similar 

to how people design their 

homes, and shape their 

automobiles the way they do their 

lifestyles. The company envisions 

that interiors will be customisable 

with organic materials. 

Continues on Page 35


•Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV 

Hyundai SUV's earn highest 

safety marks 

HYUNDAI's 

new 

technologies will ensure 

five star safety in all its 

Sports Utility Vehicles. The 

new Hyundai smart sense 

safety technologies will be 

available in the Hyundai 

Kona, Santa Fe and Tucson 

from 2020. The Santa Fe and 

Tucson are household 

names in Nigeria. 

Already the 2020 Hyundai 

Kona, Santa Fe, and Tucson 

were all awarded five-Star 

Overall Safety Ratings, the 

highest available overall 

safety rating issued by the 

government’s National 

Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 

NHTSA, as a 

facet of its New Car Assessment 

Programme, NCAP. 

Kona, Santa Fe and Tucson 

exemplified exceptional 

safety in crashworthiness 

and collision avoidance - 

due to the new Hyundai 

SmartSense safety technol- 

Porsche 911 family welcomes 

new member 

PORSCHE is expanding its 

eighth-generation range with the 

addition of the 911 Carrera. The new 

sports car is being launched as a Coupé 

and Cabriolet, and generates 385 hp (283 

kW) from its 3.0-litre, six-cylinder boxer 

engine with biturbo charging. The Carrera 

is the entry-level 911 model and offers 

15 hp (11 kW) more power output 

than its predecessor. It shares a similar 

range of standard features to the 911 

Carrera S. These include a 10.9-inch 

touchscreen display, comprehensive connectivity 

and innovative assistance systems, 

such as the Porsche Wet Mode that 

ensures even safer handling. The 911 

Carrera is distinguished by smaller sized 

wheels, brakes and tailpipe covers on the 

exhaust system. 

As with the Carrera S model, the engine, 

chassis and brakes are designed 

for exclusive sportiness. The 3.0-litre, sixcylinder 

boxer engine of the 911 Carrera 

generates power largely through the 

smaller wheel diameters of the turbines 

and compressors that feature in the new 

turbochargers. Power transmission is handled 

by the new eight-speed dual-clutch 

transmission (PDK). This enables the 911 

Carrera Coupé to accelerate from 0-100 

km/h in 4.2 seconds, with a top speed of 

293 km/h. The optional Sport Chrono 

Package shaves a further 0.2 seconds off 

the sprint time. The combined fuel consumption 

(NEDC-correlated) of the 

Coupé is 9.0 l/100 km, while the Cabriolet 

records this figure as 9.2 l/100 km. 

The driving dynamics set-up includes 235/ 

40 ZR tyres on 19-inch alloy wheels on the 

front axle. The mixed tyre configuration features 

20-inch wheels with 295/35 ZR tyres 

at the rear. Stopping power is provided on 

both axles by 330-millimetre brake discs with 

black, four-piston monobloc fixed callipers. 

The new Porsche 911 Carrera Coupé and 

911 Carrera Cabriolet are now available for 

order. Price details can be obtained at the 

nearest Porsche Centre. 

ogies available in these 

2020 models. Forward Collision-Avoidance 

Assist, 

FCA, uses the car’s frontfacing 

camera and radar to 

help detect an imminent 

collision and avoid impact 

or minimize damage by 

braking autonomously. 

Sensing road markings, 

Lane Keeping 

Assist, 

LKA, helps 

to prevent 

accidental lane departure 

and may automatically steer 

the car if required. Driver 

Attention Warning, DAW, 

monitors ones’ driving patterns 

- detecting drowsy or 

inattentive driving. 

Once detected, it alerts 

the driver with a sound cue 

and warning message on 

the instrument panel. Additional 

safety technologies in 

these vehicles include 

Blind Spot Collision Warning, 

BCW, and Rear Cross 

Traffic Warning, RCCW. 

NHTSA conducts vehicle 

testing and ratings each 

year to give consumers information 

about crashworthiness, 

collision avoidance 

and other areas that improve 

the safety of new vehicles. 

Hyundai praised NHTSA, 

IIHS, and the automotive 

industry for working together 

to make rear seat 

reminder systems standard 

features on new vehicles in 

the future. Making these 

systems standard equipment 

will help prevent 

child deaths from heatstroke 

in vehicles. In August 

2019, Hyundai announced 

that they will be 

making Rear Occupant 

Alert, ROA, door-logic system 

standard on most new 

vehicles by 2022. 

Style Set Free– 

Hyundai Motor’s 

vision for future 

mobility 

Continues from Page 34 

“In the future, self-driving technology 

in electrified vehicles will 

eliminate the need for drivers. 

This won’t be a luxury, it will be 

an absolute necessity,” says 

Wonhong Cho, Executive Vice 

President and Chief Marketing 

Officer at Hyundai Motor Company. 

“Syle Set Free aims to provide 

a unique in-car experience 

that no other automakers have 

offered so far, but one that customers 

have been looking for.” 

Syle Set Free is based on future 

automotive developments, 

like autonomous driving. It allows 

users to fully customise and 

upgrade their driving 

environment to create their own 

life space inside their vehicle 

through upgradeable products 

and services. In the future, 

Hyundai intends to build a selfcustomising 

marketplace similar 

to an app store. Here, customers 

will have the freedom to select 

software and hardware for their 

vehicles to upgrade them 

according to their needs. With 

Syle Set Free, the company 

demonstrates its customer-centric 

approach to future mobility. 

•Porsche Carrera Cabriolet

36— Vanguard, FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2019 

By Chioma Gabriel, 

Editor, Special Features 

Chief Ralph Obioha, 

was leader of the 

defunct National 

Democratic Coalition, 

NADECO, in Canada 

and United States, and 

national chairman of 

the Justice Party. In this 

interview, he talks 

about the humiliation 

that former Deputy 

Senate President, 

Senator Ike 

Ekweremadu, was 

subjected to in 

Germany and said the 

development has 

further damaged the 

image of the 

Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, and in 

the process created 

more problems for 

Ndigbo in Nigeria. 

On the Ekweremadu’s nasty 

experience in Nuremberg, 

Germany in the hands of IPOB 

members, last weekend and 

where Igbo are heading 

Using intimidation on political 

office holders to make our case 

will not help us as a people. 

Everybody in Nigeria is familiar 

with the issues around Nigeria 

and having said that, I have been 

in the vanguard of sitting on the 

table and really trashing out the 

inequalities, imbalance, obvious 

subjugation, and short-changing 

of the Igbo in the polity. 

Particularly, let me talk about the 

Igbo of the South-East. The issue 

of imbalance in Nigeria has 

affected the Igbo more than any 

other tribe. Disdain for the 

situation is now manifesting in 

anger that resulted in what 

happened recently in Germany 

to former Deputy Senate 

President, Ike Ekweremadu who 

was publicly disgraced during his 

visit to Germany. 

Every right-thinking Nigerian 

will condemn what they did to 

him and I’m pleading with our 

people not to be overwhelmed by 

the hysteria and mass action. The 

kind of treatment meted out to 

Ekweremadu will be counterproductive 

and will not advance 

any cause if it continues. 

For the avoidance of doubt, I 

do not share the practice of using 

intimidation or abuses to make 

any point. I believe in dialogue 

and working out things. 

Ekweremadu is just a metaphor 

and we should not adopt the trend 

of what is happening now or we 

will be working against our cause 

and case. Intimidation should not 

be used to beat people into line. 

It will only breed anarchy, 

dictatorship and all kinds of 

societal evils. 

On the other part, I will call on 

the government of President 

Muhammadu Buhari not to think 

that not doing anything will take 

care of the depth of discontent in 

the South-East region. In fact, 

what happened in Nuremberg 

should be a great wake-up call 

for a very quick intervention in 

the line of peaceful dialogue, to 

find out the deep underlying 

causes of the problems. 

There is also another issue here. 

For Ike Ekweremadu to adorn an 

Igbo attire with a Nigerian coat 

STATE OF THE NATION: 

Igbo unjustly treated but 

don't need Biafra 

— RALPH OBIOHA 

•Says Biafra Republic not problem of Igbo now 

HIGHLIGHTS 

•IPOB’s actions have created more problems in Igbo in 

Nigeria 

•Why Buhari must address discontent in South-East 

•Attack on Ekweremadu in Germany should be a wake-up 

call 

•Intimidation won’t help Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB achieve Biafra 

•I’m not in support of Kanu’s agenda, and ready to bear the 

burden 

•Kanu is not god of the Igbo and will never be 

•I don’t believe in creation of Biafra 

•Nnamdi Kanu, missing track, abandoned referendum 

agitation 

•Those in govt far from people in grassroots 

of arms on it is insensitive on his 

part. In everything that occurs, 

there are always two sides to it. I 

have heard all kind of 

insinuations since that incident. 

Some people are saying that 

Ekweremadu partially organised 

that incident by wearing that 

particular attire, knowing the type 

of resentment it possibly could 

generate and may even have 

planted the people there to do the 

attack. It may be far-fetched but 

when these things start 

spreading, it begins to gain 

credence. 

Some have even misconstrued 

it that since he has issues with 

corruption fighting agencies, he 

might have worn that coat-ofarms 

attire to look more Nigerian 

than northerners. It is laughable 

but then, when you give it a 

second thought, you may say that 

it could be credible. 

But the final thing is that he 

should have used some discretion 

in knowing what to wear. Igbo 

attire does not call for Nigerian 

coat of arms. Our attire calls for 

maybe a lion’s head or elephant’s 

body or a tiger’s head not a 

Nigerian coat of arms, and he was 

going for a cultural festival. And 

Let nobody deceive 

you that all 

northerners are in 

El-dorado. That is 

not true. Most 

Nigerians are 

calling for good 

governance and 

provision of 

infrastructure for 

the society 

by the way, this cultural festival 

of eating new yam in Germany, 

do they grow yam in Germany? 

On fears that Ekweremadu’s 

attack could become a trend 

given Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the 

IPOB leader’s comment political 

leaders travelling overseas could 

get similar treatment 

I will advise Nnamdi Kanu, 

wherever he maybe, to desist from 

these tactics because intimidation 

will not in anyway help him in 

achieving his cause. You should 

also know that it is not every Igbo 

man that is in agreement with 

Nnamdi Kanu’s agenda. I, for 

one, I am not in support of it and 

I have always said so. If that is a 

crime, it is a burden I’m prepared 

to bear but he should not chart 

that cause because it is counterproductive, 

because it will set an 

alarm and people would begin to 

ask, is this what we are going to 

get if Biafra becomes a reality? 

He now seems to be 

abandoning his referendum call 

which is one thing I believe in. I 

want to see what a referendum 

will achieve in Nigeria but with 

this, he is losing track. He should 

not be carried away by the 

frustration and the hot anger of 

our youths due to the deprivation 

they are facing in Nigeria. They 

cannot use intimidation to achieve 

any cause. That will not work. 

Almost everybody is suffering 

from the fact that things are not 

working well in Nigeria. Let 

nobody deceive you that all 

northerners are in El-dorado. That 

is not true. Most Nigerians are 

calling for good governance and 

provision of infrastructure for the 

society. The fact that only a few 

people in Nigeria can afford to 

get treatment overseas when the 

masses in Nigeria don’t have 

hospitals to take care of their 

health is bad indeed. 

Our education sector in Nigeria 

is suffering while the big men are 

training their children in foreign 

universities. Things have been 

ran down in Nigeria and these 

•Jobberman are the issues that should be 

addressed, not apportioning to a 

governor a security vote running 

into billions of naira which are 

never accounted for. The powers 

that be should get to task and 

begin to tackle the Nigerian 

problem. The way the problems 

facing Nigeria are being tackled 

by the current government is 

unimaginable. The government 

must move very quickly to 

address the problems. 

What do you have against 

IPOB initially? 

I don’t like IPOB. I don’t believe 

that Biafra is the issue now or a 

creation of an enclave called 

Biafra for the Igbo is the right 

thing. I don’t believe that but if it 

is what the Igbo want and it scales 

through via a referendum, I will 

bow to the wishes of the majority. 

So, when Nnamdi Kanu talked 

about a referendum, I supported 

him on that. When he started 

talking about Biafra, it didn’t go 

down well with me. I want a 

Nigeria where everything is 

equally shared, where what 

belongs to the others will be given 

to them and what belongs to us 

is given to us. The Igbo are 

suffering from the disadvantage 

of poor government policies in 

Nigeria. 

The Igbo have been unjustly 

undermined because in the 

constitution, there is a provision 

that everything should be shared 

inclusively, not in an exclusive 

format. Take for an example, 

when all the security apparatus 

is mostly being occupied by 

people from one section of the 

country, it does not reflect the 

federal character which should be 

applied in putting people in such 

positions. Selecting people from 

one section has created a sense 

of exclusiveness. It does not 

reflect federal character. 

Perhaps the president gave 

Continues on page 37

Vanguard, FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2019 — 37 

Igbo unjustly treated but don't need 

Biafra — RALPH OBIOHA 

Continues from page 36 

these appointments to people he 

trusts 

If anybody is stretching that 

argument further, then, he’s 

trying to tell other Nigerians that 

he’s not fit to be the President of 

Nigeria because the constitution 

he swore to doesn’t contain the 

elements of trust or distrust. That 

should not be said anywhere 

because the moment he swore to 

uphold the constitution of 

Nigeria, his own personal 

feelings have gone into the back 

burner. What is in the front burner 

is for him to prosecute the tenets 

of the Nigerian constitution. 

Before the Ekweremadu 

experience, there were protests 

by #RevolutionNow across 

some cities in Nigeria and I think 

the citizens are saying enough 

is enough. Revolution is 

beginning to set in... 

More of what happened will 

happen again in future. More 

people will take to the streets to 

vent their spleen against a 

government that is not doing 

enough. A revolution or whatever 

you may call it is not an instant 

cause. It evolves and then, 

reaches a crescendo where it now 

becomes revolution. What 

happened in French revolution 

started with complaints about 

food and the point of no return 

was when it because obvious that 

the French leader was far 

removed from the people. 

Now, the people in government 

in Abuja do not understand what 

is happening in Aba or Ibadan or 

Jos. They don’t even seem to 

appreciate the level of discontent 

or the level of frustration in the 

polity. They are living in a 

different world and now, I think 

the government must move 

quickly in addressing the issues 

bedevilling the Nigerian political 

landscape. President Buhari 

must make visible changes which 

people will see and say, yes, this 

is it. There must be good roads 

and security on the highways. 

There must be good schools for 

the future generation, good 

hospitals when Nigerians are ill. 

Can you believe it, that since 

independence, there are few 

areas that ordinary pipe borne 

water has been done as a priority 

service to the populace? I can tell 

you that in Imo State and during 

the regime of Rochas Okorocha, 

there was nothing like public 

water system. In Enugu State, I 

will tell about at least two 

governors, Chimaroke Nnamani 

and Sullivan Chime who actually 

wanted public water system in 

Enugu. 

No other capital city in the south 

have such. These are some of the 

things that should receive the 

attention of the government. 

There is also the issue of rail 

development. These are the 

issues to tackle, not one governor 

to receive billions of naira by way 

of security votes which were never 

accounted for and where is the 

security? These are the things that 

are not addressed, these are the 

symptoms that are generating 

unrest and mass action which 

must be tackled. If there are good 

roads, rails, hospitals and good 

schools for the children and 

security of lives and property, 

Nigerians will not be beating their 

senators abroad or taking to the 

streets to protest. 

#RevolutionNow will be dead on 

arrival but as it is, the tension is 

building up and Ekweremadu is 

a test-case. 

These issues of kidnapping, 

herdsmen menace, banditry are 

all symptoms of the problems. But 

what I don’t agree with is that the 

government could be sponsoring 

insecurity or herdsmen 

kidnapping as some people 

insinuate on social media. They 

should desist from that because, 

such a thing could never be. 

Banditry, herdsmen problems, 

insecurity are failures of 

governance but not that 

government sponsors them. 

These kidnappers have come to 

realise that kidnapping is a 

profitable venture and these are 

the things government should 

tackle. 

There are insinuations in many 

quarters that the South-East 

governors are not handling the 

Igbo question responsibly.... 

There are problems and 

somebody must be blamed for 

something. The governors are the 

number one persons in every 

state and so, it is natural to blame 

them first. The amount of 

resentment against Rochas 

Okorocha when he was in charge 

in Imo and the turn around of 

goodwill being bestowed on 

Emeka Ihedioha is a classical 

example of bad and good 

governance. So, you must blame 

whatever is happening on 

somebody. IPOB by getting into 

the habit of look for them 

wherever they are and 

embarrassing them is just looking 

for a scapegoat. We must admit 

that the governor is only a mini 

sovereign all over the country. 

The person that is in charge is 

the President. He must be able to 

direct the governors of all the 36 

states and in doing same, he must 

not infringe on the constitution. 

The South East governors 

sometimes appear lack-lustre in 

handling security challenges in 

the region. They talked about 

forests guards, agreed on that 

and issued a communiqué but 

that is not exactly what is 

happening 

I’m aware the Enugu governor 

has taken pro-active steps in 

setting up forest guards in his 

state. When you make such a 

policy and begin to implement 

such a programme, it is not a 

switch-on or a switch-go sort of 

thing. The guards must be 

recruited and trained. The issue 

of police is still a matter for the 

Federal Government. So, the 

governor must have to pass 

through the fire line of not going 

against the constitution to 

achieve what he wants. 

But there is a lot a governor can 

do. The Commissioner of Police 

is supposed to be under him. He 

should use the commissioner to 

achieve some of his aims. There 

was an incident once along Port 

Harcourt-Enugu Road around 

the Awgu axis. There were reports 

The Igbo fought for 

Nigeria and we 

should not be 

dispossessed of our 

inheritance in the 

Nigerian state. That 

is my point. Let not 

one man who is 

probably romantic 

about Biafra confuse 

the bottom line of 

what our people 

should address. 

of activities of herdsmen by many 

people who encountered that 

experience on that route. The 

governor should mobilise 

policemen around such flashpoints. 

The governor as the Chief 

Security Officer should be able to 

summon the Commissioner of 

Police to tackle the menace rather 

than allowing it to fester and 

being used in the social media to 

create panic and fear. 

Many of our people overseas 

don’t want to come home because 

of what they read in the social 

media about the level of insecurity 

in the region and you will agree 

with me that what comes out of 

the social media are exaggerated. 

And these people are not doing 

our society any good by creating 

fear on the very source of 

maintenance income our people 

are getting from our sons and 

daughters in the diaspora. This 

is what is happening and the 

social media to that extent it is 

becoming counter-productive. 

Sensationalism is not good for 

any society and the fourth estate 

of the realm should counter what 

is happening in the social media. 

You mean, the national dailies 

should not report killings so as 

not to scare Nigerians in the 

Diaspora? 

The point I’m making is that 

when such issues are 

exaggerated, not all that are 

being projected are actually the 

truth. Some are embellished. We 

should cut out the fat from the 

meat than exaggerating the 

issues. I’m not saying that when 

a crime happens, it should be 

hidden from the public view. 

There should be discretion in 

media report. 

I’m not going to the rooftop to 

shout that my daughter has been 

raped, I’m not saying that 

everything should be hidden. 

What is important is for the 

government to get proactive to try 

to contain such. One report 

should move the government to 

rapidly respond to a crime 

situation. We should be careful 

with fake news. 

Ruga is creating problems in 

Nigeria and in the South-East, 

there is the belief that governors 

have secretly given land for Ruga 

and some herdsmen say the 

cows belong to Igbo people. 

Cattle-rearing has taken a new 

dimension in the last four years. 

In the past, they were moving 

about until the banditry element 

was introduced into it. I disbelieve 

the allegation that our people own 

the cows. 

All over Africa, Igbo are known 

for spare parts business not cattle 

business. It’s confusion, and in 

fact, fake news. That is why I said 

we should be wary of social 

media dissemination of 

information. Every vehicle spare 

parts business in Cameroon, 

Gabon, Angola, South Africa or 

wherever in Africa is dominated 

by Igbo. Our business is not 

cattle-rearing. 

When I said I don’t believe in 

creation of Biafra, it is based on 

the principles that Igbo have 

shown excellence in specific fields 

and therefore, we should not 

restrict ourselves to an enclave 

called Biafra. 

Rather, the Igbo should fight for 

equity in the Nigerian context. 

The Igbo fought for Nigeria and 

we should not be dispossessed 

of our inheritance in the Nigerian 

state. That is my point. Let not 

one man who is probably romantic 

about Biafra confuse the bottom 

line of what our people should 

address. 

There must be equilibrium in 

Nigeria. There must be peace and 

that is what the Igbo man desires 

for his businesses to thrive. We 

built Nigeria by our sweat and 50 

years ago, the Igbo commitment 

was demonstrated by the fact that 

we had to start life again with only 

20 pounds. And see where we are 

today. 

So, I’m averse to the approach 

of Nnamdi Kanu on the issues 

and there are many that stand with 

me on this. Now, Nnamdi Kanu’s 

approach is not helping his cause. 

Does it mean that if I disagree 

with someone, that person should 

arrange for me to be killed? Is that 

what we are desiring? Will there 

be zero opposition in that Biafra 

assuming they get it? The signs 

that Kanu is demonstrating now 

is increasing opposition to his 

cause within the Igbo. Let him be 

aware of this. 

He should also be aware that 

many people don’t agree that 

what he is doing is the best for 

the Igbo. He is not god of the Igbo 

and will never be. People like us 

with benefit of experience and 

hindsight will always advise him 

to apply break. 

He should also be very careful 

of how enemies will infiltrate his 

organisation and be issuing 

statements in his name that may 

not be accurate and correct. One 

of them is a statement credited to 

him that he is looking for the 

travel itinerary of South-East 

governors and leading Igbo 

politicians when they travel 

abroad. That will be the most 

unpatriotic thing to do to his 

cause. 

He should also be aware that if 

the authorities where he is can 

prove that he said this, that he 

incited violence that took lives, he 

can be prosecuted there and it will 

be a great loss to his cause. 

At no time will the Igbo nation 

want a situation where this kind 

of thing will be visited on the 

Igbo.


IHEADINDU 

I, formerly known as 

Iheadindu Chiedozie, now wish 

to be known as Iheadindu 

Chiedozie Hippolite. All 

former documents remain 

valid. General Public take 

note. 

NWOKE 

My name was wrongly 

arranged on my BVN as Nwoke 

Chinazo .A., instead of my 

correct name, Nwoke Chinazo 

Chukwuamaka. All former 

documents remain valid. 

General Public take note. 

ENYI 

I, formerly known as Miss 

Rachel Chizoba Enyi, now wish 

to be known as Mrs Rachel 

Chizoba Gideon Irubor. Former 


Banks and General Public 

please take note. 

OFOKANSI 


Ofokansi Chigozie Francisca, 

now wish to be known as Mrs 

Ogboinyi Chigozie Francisca. 

All former documents remain 

valid. General public please 

take note. 

UDOH 

This is to confirm that the names 

Udoh Ikoabasi Matthew and Helen 

Ikoabasi Udoh refer to one and same 

person, but now wish to be known 

and address as Chibuisi Ikoabasi 

Helen. All former documents remains 

valid, Heritage Bank and General 

public please take note 

OPARA 


Opara Amarachi Loveline, now 

wish to be known as Mrs 

Ikwuagwu-Igbokwe Amarachi 

Loveline. All former 


General public please take 

note. 

ANOLUWAPO 

I, formerly known as Benjamin 

Anoluwapo Sarah, now wish to 

be known as Benjamin Sarah 

Esther Anuoluwapo. All 



take note. 

EKPO 

I, formerly known as Esther 

Sunday Ekpo, now wish to 

be known as Esther 

Princewill Lucy. All former 



note. 

AKINRINWA 


Akinrinwa Susan Bayo, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. 

Nkantah Susan Asema. All 



take note. 

RUFUS 


Rufus Foutuboere Victoria, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. Rufus 

Foutuboere Victoria Stephen. 

All documents bearing my 

former name still remain Valid. 

General public and all relevant 

authorities please take note. 

EBUKA 

My name was wrongly written 

as Okoye Ebuka, instead of my 

correct name, Okoye Innocent 

Chukuwebuka. All former 



TESLIM 

My name was wrongly 

arranged Oloadapo Ishola 

Teslim, instead of my correct 

name, Oladapo Teslim Ishola. 


valid. General Public take note. 

SOBOGUN 

This is to inform the public 

that the name, Sobogun 

Elizabeth Tola and Owojori 

Elizabeth Tola refer to me. All 



take note. 

SYLVESTER 


Sylvester Martha Ukamaka, 


Ohabuenyi Martha Ukamaka. 



take note. 

ADEDOKUN 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Mrs Grace Adelola 

Adedokun, henceforth want 

to be known as Mrs Grace 

Adelola Babs- Olawoyin. All 



take note. 

OJIDE 

I, formerly known as Miss Ojide 

Ngozi Sabina, now wish to be 

known as Mrs Chibueze Ngozi 

Sabina. All former documents 

remain valid. General public 


EFFIONG 

I, formerly known as Faith 

Monday Effiong, now wish to 

be known as Mrs. Faith Ekaete 

David. All former documents 



EMMANUEL 


Onwuegbuzie Clement 

Emmanuel, now wish to be 

known as Onwuegbuzie 

Clement Tochukwu. All former 



note. 

ALEXANDER 

I, Mr. Ezenwaobi Alexander Udozo 

hereby confirm that the names 

Ezewaobi Alexander Udozo and 

Ezewaobi Alex Udozo refer to one and 

same me. I now wish to be known as 

Mr. Ezenwaobi Alexander Udozo. 

All former documents remain valid. 

General public please take note. 

OKORONTA 

I, fomerly known as Miss 

Mirian Ugochi Okoronta, now 

wish to be known as Mrs Mirian 

Ugochi Ochang. All former 

documents remains valid, 

general public please take note. 

ERUKE 


Eruke Omonigho Mary, now 


Awosika Omonigho Mary. All 



GBADEGESIN 


Gbadegesin Theopllous 

Olumide, now wish to be known 

as Gbadegesin Olumide 

Adeyanju. All former 



OKORIE 

I, formerly known as Ivy 

Echem Okorie, now wish to 

be known as Ivy Anadi. All 


valid. General Public take 

note. 

UDOBI 


Philomina Ifeyinwa Udobi, 

now wish to be known as Dr. 

(Mrs.) 

Philomina 

Ifeyinwa Udobi-Owoloja. All 



take note. 

OLISE 


Maltida Olise and Miss Favour 

Alade Olise, now wish to be 

known as Mrs Favour Alade 

Ineh. All former documents 

remain valid, general public 


ADEBIYI-ABEGUNDE 

OB 

I, formerly known as Adebiyi- 

Abegunde Abiodun Obafemi, 

now wish to be known as 

Adebiyi Obafemi Abiodun. All 



take note. 

CHINEDU 

I, formerly known as Chinedu 

Eunice Maduabuchi, now wish 

to be known as Nmachi Eunice 

Chinedu. All former documents 



UWADIA 


Uwadia Esther Ijeoma, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. Obuh 

Esther Michaels. All former 



note. 

MAKINDE 

I, formerly known as Gloria 

Kenechi Makinde, now wish to 

be known as Mrs. Gloria 

Kenechi Chima. All former 



note. 

PAUL 

I, fomerly known as Mrs. Paul 

Marvis Jane, now wish to be 

known as Miss James Marvis 

Jane. All former documents 

remains valid, general public 


OKWUDARUE 


Obiageli Ngozi Okwudarue, 

now wish to be known as Mrs. 

Obiageli Ngozi Mattah. All 



ANDREW 


Ogbuagu Andrew, now wish 

to be known as Ogbuagu 

Chidubem Henry. All former 



CHUKWUMA 


Chukwuma Anna Ijeoma, now 


Okwesili Anna Ijeoma. All 



take note. 

JIMI OD 

I, formerly known as Jimi 

Joseph, now wish to be known 

as Emogware Joseph 

Ejimeyovwi. All former 



note. 

BELLO 

My name was wrongly written 

as Bello Fadewemino 

Wonsebolatan, instead of my 

correct name, Bello 

Fadewemimo Bola. All former 



EZE 

I, formerly known as Miss Eze 

Nkechi Silver, now wish to be 

known as Mrs Ukachi Nkechi 

Silver. All former documents 



OZIEGBE 

I, formerly known as Oziegbe 

Elizabeth Omoh, now wish to 

be known as Adeyemo 

Elizabeth Omoh. All former 



note. 

STEPHEN 

I, formerly known as Iduh 

Christopher Uche Stephen, 

now wish to be known as Iduh 

Christopher Uche. All former 



note. 

INYA 

I, Inya Olughu Austine, hereby 

confirm that my name was wrongly 

written as Dennis Austine instead 

of Inya Olughu Austine. I now wish 

to be known 

as Inya Olughu Austine. All former 

documents remain valid. General 

public please take note. 

NWABUEZE 


Nwabueze Joy Anwuli, now 

wish to be known as Joy 

Anwuli Enebeli. Former 


Banks and general public take 

note. 

IHUOMA 

I, formerly known as Ihuoma 

Mary Chinwendu, now wish to 

be known as Ikechukwu Mary 

Chinwendu. All former 



PRINCE 


Anyaogu Prince, now wish to 

be known as Anyaogu 

Chibuisi. All former 



FAYORI 

I, formerly known as Miss Fayori 

Olajumoke, now wish to be 

addressed as Olatilu Olajumoke 

Esther. Access Bank Plc, other 

financial parastatals, institutes of 

learning and the general public, 

please take note. All former 


ENAJIYERIN 


Enajiyerin Augustina 

Eseoghene, now wish to be 

known as Agbatutu Augustina 

Eseoghene. All former 



note. 

NWAIWU 


Nwaiwu Jane Chidinma, now 


Nnanemere Jane Chidinma. All 



take note. 

MIRACLE 

I, formerly known as Muyideen 

Victoria Olohunkemi Miracle, 


Agbelega Victoria Olohunkemi. 



take note. 

OMONI 


Omoni Florence, now wish to 

be known as Mrs Orhoro- 

Okome Aghogho Florence. All 



take note. 

OKOCHA 


Okocha Juliet Chikodi, now 


Nwabunwanne Juliet Chikodi. 



take note. 

NGOKA 


Ngoka Chidalu Odinakachi, 


Osuji Chidalu Odinakachi. All 


valid. The general public should 

take note. 

OKEH 


Juliana Nneka Okeh, now 

wish to be known as Miss 

Juliana Nneka Eze. All 


valid. The general public 

should please take note. 

UBEBE 


Ubebe Perelade Augustina, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. Disi 

Akin Perelade Augustina. All 



REHEEM 


Raheem Fausat Tanwa, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. Joseph 

Fausat Tanwa All former 



OPARA 

I, formerly known as Mrs 

Opara Ifeyinwa Anthonia, 


Miss Eric Ifeyinwa Purity. All 



take note. 

OYEBADE 

I, formerly known as Oyebade 

Titilade Adefunke, now wish to 

be known as Adegbola Titilade 

Adefunke. All former 



note. 

UCHEGBULAM 


Chimeremnma Nwaoma 

Uchegbulam, now wish to be 

known as Chinma Nwaoma 

Stanley-Ukah. All former 



note. 

ONYILOFOR 


Onyilofor Chiamaka Esther, 


Anyanwu Chiamaka Esther. All 



take note. 

ANENE 


Onyekachukwu Carol Anene, 


Onyekachukwu Carol Adeoti. 



take note. 

IHEJIEKPO 

I, formerly known as Ihejiekpo 

Scholastica Chidi, now wish to 

be known as Alozie Scholastica 

Chidi. All former documents 



OGUMOMA 


Ogumoma Peace Awo, now 


Endoni Peace Awo. All 

documents bearing my former 

name still remain valid. 

General public and all relevant 

authorities please take note. 

KAMALU 


Kamalu Precious Chidinma, 


Nze Precious Chidinma. All 


valid. The general public should 

please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME 


OHAZURUIKE OKOYE MOKWENYE ANANI EJEH ETUKOMENI 

I, formerly known as Miss My name was wrongly written as I, formerly known and addressed as I, formerly known and I, formerly known and I, formerly known and addressed as 

Ohazuruike Ijeoma Lilian, Okoye Chinenye Chikodili, instead Miss Mokwenye Awele Christabel, addressed as Miss Anani addressed as Miss Onyeoma Miss Etukomeni Ekenem Vivian, 

now wish to be known as Mrs. of Okoye Chinenye Linda. I now 

Ishioma Mabel, now wish to Rita Ejeh, now wish to be 

now wish to be known and 


Njoku Ijeoma Lilian (Nee wish to be known as Okoye 

be known and addressed as Mrs. known and addressed as Mrs. addressed as Mrs. Ibisi Ekenem 

addressed as Mrs. Akinmulewo- 

Ohazuruike). All former Chinenye Linda. All former 

Olomah Ishioma Mabel. All Onyeoma Rita Nmor. All Vivian. All former documents remain 

documents remain valid. The 

Ezekiel Christabel Awele. All former 

documents remain valid. Banks and 

former documents remain former documents remain valid. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, 

general public should please 

take note. 

the general public should please take 

note. 




take note. 


take note. 

Awka and general public please take 

note. 

BUWA 

CHIKWENDU 

EBIRERI-OJO 

OKOH 

ADAEZE 

NDUKA 

I, formerly known and I, formerly known and I, formerly known and I, formerly known and This is to confirm that Adaeze I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss Buwa addressed as Miss Chikwendu addressed as Miss addressed as Okoh Emmanuel Onuoha Favour and Maxwell- addressed as Miss Nduka Lynda 

Omayemi Pauliet, now wish to Ebelechukwu Catherine, now Oghenerukevwe Ebireri-Ojo, 

Awele, now wish to be known Onuoha Favour Adaeze refer to one 

be known and addressed as Mrs. 


Uju, now wish to be known and 

wish to be known and addressed 

and addressed as Gideon and same person. I now wish to be 

addressed as Mrs. 

addressed as Mrs. Nnaemeka 

Ajuzieogu Omayemi Pauliet. as Mrs. Okweghi Ebelechukwu. 

Oghenerukevwe Ogbene. All Emmanuel Awele. All former known and addressed as Maxwell- 


Joy Uju. All former documents 

All former documents remain former documents remain documents remain valid. Onuoha Favour Adaeze. All former 

valid. General public please valid. General public please valid. General public please General public please take documents remain valid. General remain valid. Banks and 

take note. 

take note. 

take note. 

note. 



NGWUDEAGULU 

OSAYANDE 

AFEYO 

BOLUFEMI 

EJEGI 

ALEYAKPO 

I, formerly Known and I, fomerly known as I, fomerly known as Miss I, fomerly known as Bolufemi I, fomerly known as Miss Ejegi I, fomerly known as Miss 

addressed as Ngwudeagulu Peter Osayande Iyoriobhe, now Afeyo Glory, now wish to be 

Ayomi Destiny, now wish to Aleyakpo Hope, now wish to 

Chibuike, now wish to be 

wish to be known as Usifoh 

Bukola, now wish to be known 

known and addressed as 

known as Mrs Gadimoh Afeyo 

be known as Mrs Akpele be known as Mrs Peter Hope 

Osayande Iyoriobhe. All 

Udeagulu Peter Chibuike. All 

as Mutu Bukola. All former 

Glory. All former documents 

Ayomi Destiny. All former 

Obianife. All former 

former documents remain former documents remains 

valid. General public please valid, general public please remains valid, general public documents remains valid, documents remains valid, 



take note. 

take note. 




AVWIOROKO 

IKPASA 

OMAGBEMI 

ALAGBA 

OGBEDOBOR 

UGOCHUKWU 

I, fomerly known as Miss I, fomerly known as Ikpasa 

I, fomerly known as Miss I, fomerly known as Osiaro I, fomerly known as Miss I, formerly known and 

Avwioroko Amity Aghogho, 

Sylvester, now wish to be 

Omagbemi Laju, now wish to Charity Alagba, now wish to Ogbedobor Ruth Enakome, 

addressed as Miss Ugochukwu 


Chinonyerem Nancy, now 

known as Ikpasa Sylvester 

be known as Mrs Ezento Laju. be known as Osiaro Charity now wish to be known as Mrs 

wish to be known and addressed 

Emakpor Amity Aghogho. All 

former documents remains Oghenetoja. All former 

All former documents remains Oreva. All former documents 

Oghojafor Enakome Ruth. All 

as Mrs Harry Chinonyerem 

former documents remains 

valid, general public please take documents remains valid, 

valid, general public please remains valid, general public 

Nancy. All former documents 

valid, general public please remains valid, general public 

note. 


take note. 


take note. 


URHOBOCHA 


DAMA 


TRUST 


OSAJIE 

I, fomerly known as Osajie 

NWUDU 


JUDGE 

I, formerly known as Judge 

Eucharia Mayewa Urhobocha, Aghogho Joy Dama, now Ukukor Oke Trust and Kingsley, now wish to be Ngozi Edith Nwudu, now wish Ebiowei Destiny, now wish to 

now wish to be known as Mrs wish to be known as Mrs 

Emmanuel Oke Trust, now 

to be known as Mrs Ngozi Gift be known as Badei Ebiowei 


known as Offiong Kingsley 

Sule. All former documents Destiny. All former 

Eucharia Mayewa Ikpawho. All Effiong Aghogho....Joy 

Ukukor Oke Trust Michael. Enefiok Osajie. All former remain valid. General public, documents remain valid. 

former documents remains Martha. All former documents 

All former documents remains documents remains valid, banks and all concern General public, banks and all 

valid, general public please take remains valid, general public valid, general public please 

institutions should please take concern institutions should 

note. 



take note. 

note. 


REMERE 

I wish to confirm that the names 

IYERE 

I, fomerly known as Bernice 

OLOKOR 

I, fomerly known as Olokor 

OKOYE 


NWOKOLO 

I, fomerly known as Nwokolo 

ODIFE 

I, fomerly known as Odife 

Remere Austine Omasan and Remere 

Aruoriwo Iyere, now wish to Evelyn Ejiro, now wish to be Okoye Patricia Anurika, now Angelica Chinenye, now wish 

Charles Chidi, now wish to be 

Austine Omagbitse refer to one and 

be known as Bernice Aruoriwo 


known as Eze Onyebuchi 

same person, now wish to be known 

known as Okocha Evelyn 

to be known as Umeji Angelica 

Nnabuko Patricia Anurika. All 

Charles Chidi. All former 

as Remere Austine Omagbitse. All Elijah. All former documents Ejiro. All former documents 

Chinenye. All former 

former documents remains 


former documents remain valid. remains valid, general public remains valid, general public valid, general public please documents remains valid, 

General public, banks and all concern 

immigration and general public 


institutions should please take note. 


take note. 

general public please take note. please take note. 

OLAMIDE 

I, formerly known as Bada 

ISREAL 

I, formerly known as Toyin 

NNAM 


ESROM 

I, fomerly known as Esrom 

OBUZOR 

I, formerly known as Obuzor 

OKE 

I, fomerly known as Oke 

Precious Olamide, now wish to Akinloye Isreal, now wish to Patience Ijeoma Nnam, now Mercy Oluwaseun, now wish to Ogheneruonano Felinda, now Destiny Oghenetega, now 

be known as Bada Precious 

be known as Akinloye Toyin 

wish to be known as Mrs Igbo be known as Orisabinone 

wish to be known as Obuzor wish to be known as Adjekukor 

Isaac, all former document 

Ekemena Felinda. All former 

Quadri, all former document 

Patience Ijeoma. All former Mercy Oluwaseun. All former 

Destiny Oghenetega. All 

remain valid. FCMB and 

documents remain valid, any former documents remains 


General public should please 

documents remains valid, documents remains valid, 

authority it may concern and valid, general public please 

should please take note. take note. 

general public please take note. general public please take note. general public to take note. take note. 

MIEYEN 

OMORUYI 

UCHE 

IKE 

OKPE 

ANYANWU 

I, fomerly known as Miss I, fomerly known as Micheal I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss Ike I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss 

Wright Mieyen, now wish to Omoruyi, now wish to be Uche Chioma Sandra, now Ifeoma Evangel, now wish to Okpe Grace Tochi, now wish Anyanwu Chioma 

wish to be known as Mrs. be known as Mrs. Ugochukwu to be known as Mrs. 

Christiana, now wish to be 

be known as Mrs. Sagbene known as Micheal Ichofe. All 

known as Mrs. David 

Osuagwu Chioma Sandra. All Ifeoma Evangel. All former Nwachukwu Grace Tochi. All 

Wright Mieyen. All former former documents remains 

Chioma Christiana. All 

former documents remain documents remain valid. The former documents remain former documents remain 

documents remains valid, valid, general public please valid. General public please general public should please valid. The general public should valid. The general public 

general public please take note. take note. 

take note. 

take note. 


should please take note. 

MMADUBUGWU 

OHANAKA 

UDEME 

OKOM 

ORAJEKWE 

I, formerly known as I, formerly known as Miss We, formerly known as Uche Moses Udeme, Mrs. Augustina I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss 

Mmadubugwu Chioma Ohanaka Blessing Ogechi, 

Augustina Ogochukwu Okom Perpetual Ndidiamaka 

Anderline, now wish to be 

Ogochukwu Udeme and Victor Ifeakachukwu Udeme, now wish 


Imegu, now wish to be known Orajekwe, now wish to be 

known as Dimkpa Chioma 

Furo Blessing Ogechi. All to be known as Uche Moses Enuekwe, Mrs. Augustina as Mrs. Augustina Ogochukwu known as Mrs. Perpetual 

Anderline. All former 

documents remain valid. The 

former documents remain Ogochukwu Enuekwe and Victor Ifeakachukwu Enuekwe. All 

Udeme. All former documents Ndidiamaka Onyeji. All former 

general public should please valid. The general public should 

remain valid. General public documents remain valid. 

take note. 


former documents remain valid. General public please take note. please take note. 

General public please take note 

OKORODUDU 

EGWOWA 

OGIDIAGBA 

AMROVHWE 

MBAH 

MAHMUD 

I, formerly known as Miss My full and correct name is Egwowa I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss 

Okorodudu Nelly Afoke, now Moses Onomuzono, but it was 

Emuesiri Ogidiagba, now wish 

Amrovhwe Oghenekevwe Mbah Nzubechi Dominica, Mahmud Mukhtar Mariam, 

wrongly written as Egwowa 

Marian, now wish to be known 


to be known as Mrs. Emuesiri 

now wish to be known as Mrs. now wish to be known as Mrs. 

Onomuzo on some of my documents. 

as Mrs. Oshomah 

Akpataku Afoke Nelly. All 

Egwowa Moses Onomuzono remains 

Ogidiagba Dalton. All former 

Chimezie Nzubechi Dominica. Bashiru Mukhtar Mariam. All 

Oghenekevwe Marian. All 

former documents remain my correct name. All former documents remain valid. former documents remain All former documents remain former documents remain 


take note. 




note. 


take note. 


take note. 


take note. 

AKPAROBOKE OBIESIE ENAGEMO OZADHE OKUKPOLOR UD 

I, formerly known as I, formerly known as Miss 

I, formerly known as Enagemo I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Blessing 

Akparoboke Jonathan, now Obiesie Chidinma Juliet, now 

Godwin Toritseju, now wish to Ozadhe Dorcas Elumebe, now Okukpolor, now wish to be 

wish to be known as Ukoko wish to be known as Mrs. Okwu 

be known as Ovedje Godwin wish to be known as Mrs. known as Mrs. Obi Ngozi 

SPACE FOR 

Jonathan Kessiena. All former Chidinma Juliet. All former 

Toritseju. All former Oketaivwota Dorcas. All 

documents remain valid. documents remain valid. 

Blessing. All former documents SALE 

documents remain valid. former documents remain 

General public please take General public please take General public please take valid. General public please remain valid; the general public 

note. 

note. 

note. 

take note. 

should please take note.



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

DESOPADEC: Group drags Okowa 

to court over appointment of 

Diden as Chairman 


A SABA—WORRIED 

by what it described 

as injustice to the Urhobo 

nation, Centre for Human 

Rights and Anti-Corruption 

Crusade, CHURAC, has 

dragged Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa to court over the 

appointment of Chief 

Michael Diden as 

Chairman of Board of the 

State Oil Producing Areas 

Development Commission, 

DESOPADEC. 

The group in the suit 

is praying the court to 

nullify the appointment 

of Diden, arguing that 

the immediate past 

chairman of the board, 

Chief Godwin Ebosa is 

also from the Itsekiri 

ethnic nationality. 

It will be recalled that 

Diden was sworn in as 

chairman of DESOPADEC 

board alongside 16 others 

on July 31 by Governor 

Okowa in Asaba, the state 

capital. 

Noting that the 

appointment of Diden 

NPA Board raises concern over 

illegal encroachment into 

Calabar Port 

By Ike Uchechukwu 

C Board ALABAR—THE 

of the Nigerian 

Ports Authority, NPA, has 

raised concern over illegal 

encroachment within the 

vicinity of the Calabar Port, 

Cross River State. 

Chairman, of the Board, 

Mr Emmanuel Adesoye 

said this yesterday in 

Calabar at the end of the 

board’s visit to Calabar Port. 

His words: “The issue of 

encroachment is of serious 

concern. We mentioned it to 

the Obong of Calabar when 

we visited him in his palace. 

We need to work in an 

atmosphere devoid of threat 

to lives and property.” 

He said a quit order 

would be issued after due 

procedure, adding that he 

was not impressed with the 

low level of activities at the 

negates the provision of the 

act establishing 

DESOPADEC, the group 

in a statement by its 


Oyinkedi Fuofegha, said 

the state High Court sitting 

in Warri has commenced 

hearing in the matter. 

According to the group, 

Governor Okowa by virtue 

of the provisions of Section 

7(1) a, b & c and (2)a & b of 

the DESOPADEC Law, 

2015 (as amended in 

2019) cannot validly 

appoint Diden (4th 

defendant) as Chairman 

of the commission when 

the governor had 

previously appointed the 

former chairman of the 

board from the Itsekiri 

Ethnic nationality. 

The claimant suit by J.P 

Oromoni is further seeking 

the court to compel 

Governor Okowa to 

withdraw the appointment 

of Diden, adding that he 

was not qualified to be 

appointed as board 

chairman pending the 

determination of the 

substantive suit. 

Delta ex-councillors forum 

gets new leadership 

UState 

GHELLI—DELTA 

Past 

Councillors Forum has 

inaugurated a new 

executive for the group with 

a mandate to intercede on 

behalf of the former 

councillors. 

The forum is made up of 

councillors from the 25 

councils of the state who 

served from 2014 to 2017. 

They also passed a vote 

of no confidence in the 

immediate past executive 

of the forum led by Felix 

Ayemidejor, Richard Pessu 

and Sunday Iyeke as 

chairman, secretary and 

publicity relations officer 

respectively. 

Director of Media and 

port, but promised that the 

board and management 

were working hard to 

increase the volume of 

activities at the port. 

He said: “There is need 

for us to continue to 

dialogue to find a peaceful 

resolution, but if all that 

fails, we can now go ahead 

as a responsible entity to 

quit them. We were in the 

shoreline and I am not 

happy with the level of 

activities there because of 

collapsed jetty. 

“I am sure that is going 

to be addressed soon. We 

want to see the level of 

activities increase at the 

port and that is what we are 

working on.” 

Adesoye said that the 

board and management 

was taking appropriate 

measures to address the 

issue of low drive at the 

Calabar Port. 

Publicity of the forum, 

Morgan Ogapha in a 

statement at the end of the 

forum's meeting yesterday 

in Ughelli, accused the 

immediate past executive of 

the forum of poor handling 

of the affairs of the group, 

lack of transparency and 

insincerity to its members. 

He said, “Kema Egenu, 

Ejiro Eghwrudje and 

Ekiyor-Zua Daniels where 

inaugurated as chairman, 

vice chairman and secretary 

respectively alongside 

other executive members 

with a task to interface 

between members of the 

forum and concerned 

authorities on issues 

concerning the forum.” 

FCMB CLINIC: From left, Manager, Agege Branch, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Adenike Sannitops; 

(3rd from left), Manager, Local Airport Ikeja Branch, Mrs. Rosemary Onwuchekwa and (5th from left) Direct 

Sales Manager, SME Banking, FCMB, Mr. Valentine Osobase, flanked by some of the winners at the FCMB 

organised Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Clinic for Business Account holders at Agege, Lagos. 

PW44 video evidence, a scam, forensic 

analyst tells A/Ibom guber Tribunal 

By Chioma Onuegbu 

UYO—A 

Forensic 

expert, Edidiong 

Udoh has described the 

video evidence earlier 

tendered by Mr. William 

Ndarake, witness 44 to the 

petitioners at the ongoing 

gubernatorial Election 

Petition Tribunal sitting in 

Uyo, as a scam, stage 

managed to mislead the 

Tribunal. 

Also, A staff of 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, Akwa Ibom State, 

Mr Ikpong Inyang also told 

the tribunal that petitioners 

witness, PW44, Ndarake 

who had claimed to be an 

Ad-hoc staff of INEC is an 

impostor. 

Inyang, who testified 

yesterday, as RW20, 

tendered his original 

identity card as evidence. 

Mr. Nsima Ekere and the 

All Progressives Congress, 

.…INEC staff disclaims PW44 as Presiding Officer 

APC, in the petition are 

challenging the declaration 

of Governor Udom 

Emmanuel of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, by 

INEC, as winner of the 

governorship election in 

the state. 

Inyang testified that 

Ndarake PW44 did not 

serve as Assistant Presiding 

Officer 2 of the commission 

in Abiakpo, Ntoedino, ward 

4, unit 5, Obot Akara LGA 

of the state as he had 

claimed, adding that he has 

a list of ad-hoc staff of ward 

4, polling unit booklet and 

the list of supervising 

officers in the area. 

While being cross 

examined by counsel to 

PDP, Uko Udom, SAN, 

Inyang told the tribunal that 

the Presiding Officer for 

that unit was a female 

Corps member, Ifeyinwa 

Priscilla Ifeanyi and that 

her name was listed among 

the names of people he 

(Inyang) supervised as 

Presiding Officers. The list 

was admitted in evidence by 

the tribunal as Exhibit RS 27. 

Earlier, Udoh, who 

faulted claims by PW44 

that the video revealed 

massive thumb printing 

at Senator Christopher 

Ekpenyong’s House, 

noted that the video was 

deliberately orchestrated 

where the GPS was 

switched off by the witness, 

to prevent analysts from 

tracing the location of the 

event in the video. 

Udoh who analysed how 

the video evidence was 

stage managed at the 

resumed hearing yesterday, 

said contrary to Mr. 

Ndarake’s evidence that the 

video was recorded under 

duress with the phone 

placed on the ground, the 

video showed scenes recorded 

by more than one 

person with the participants 

fully showing indications of 

being part of the plot. 

He said, “If the phone 

was placed on the floor, the 

only angle it would have 

captured would have been 

only one point of the roof 

of the building or one 

direction of the room, but 

the video shows activities 

of what happened even on 

top of the table and all 

angles of the room, 

meaning the device was in 

motion from the beginning 

to the end.” 

Under cross examination 

by counsel to INEC, Sylva 

Ogwemoh, SAN, the 

forensic expert further 

testified, “From my 

observation, over three 

persons were involved in 

the making of this video 

apart from PW44.'' 

N’Delta youths issue NDDC 7-day ultimatum over water 

hyacinth job 

By Emma Amaize 

Y YOUTHS ENAGOA— 

of Niger 

Delta, yesterday, gave the 

Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, a 

seven-day ultimatum to 

commence payment to 

youths and other 

beneficiaries cutting across 

oil producing communities 

in the region, who executed 

water hyacinth contracts, an 

empowerment scheme of 

the interventionist agency, 

to avoid needless 

commotion in the region. 

The youths, under the 

auspices of the 21st Century 

Youths of the Niger Delta 

and Agitators with 

Conscience, urged the 

Professor Nelson 

Branbayefa- led NDDC 

Board “to do the needful 

and immediately commence 

the payment for the water 

hyacinth jobs before it leads 

to another unnecessary 

youth restiveness, loss of 

lives and properties in the 

Niger Delta region.” 

Leader of the group, selfstyled 

“General” Izon Ebi, 

in a statement, said, “ The 

water hyacinth job is the 

only little mussel thrown to 

Emmanuel assures immediate implementation 

of party members' complaints 

By Chioma Onuegbu 

& Harris Emmanuel 

U YO—GOVERNOR 

Udom Emmanuel of 

Akwa Ibom State has 

assured caucus members 

of the state chapter of his 

party, the People’s 

Democratic Party, PDP, that 

all their complaints will be 

implemented from next 

week. 

Emmanuel gave the 

assurance yesterday, at the 

permanent site of the party 

in Atan Offot community 

the youths of the Niger 

Delta as a yearly 

empowerment scheme, 

which is their right and 

entitlement in order not to 

be lured or hoodwinked 

into crime and criminality. 

“Almost all directors and 

top politicians who have 

Uyo, during a post election 

thank you meeting. 

He said, “I want to 

reassure the youths, 

women and elders of this 

great party that I appreciate 

you all from the unit to state 

levels. I have ordered that 

all your complaints should 

be addressed. 

“Before the end of next 

week implementation will 

commence. If by the end of 

next week, we don’t start 

the implementation of 

your complaints, if I talk 

don’t believe me. 

slots in the water hyacinth 

job “have paid themselves 

and keep dribbling the 

youths. Previously, they 

issued award letters and 

your place of cleaning, 

but this board just 

collected our account 

and company details. 

I want to assure the 

youths that their wishes 

will be met. 

“Today I stand here as the 

man elected through the 

platform of this great party 

to re-echo my avowed 

commitment to the Akwa 

Ibom Project. I will channel 

all my efforts, which will be 

backed by your support, 

into the pursuit and 

actualisation of the 

completion agenda. 

“Together, we will make 

Akwa Ibom the state we will 

be proud to bequeath to our 

children and the 

generations to come.''

C 

M 

Y 

K 


We have tourism 

blueprint—Imo 

By Chinonso Alozie 

O 

W E R R I — 

GOVERNOR 

Emeka Ihedioha of Imo 

State yesterday, said he 

was ready to reveal his 

blueprint for the 

development of the 

tourism sector in the 

state. 

G o v e r n o r 

Ihedioha stated this in 

Owerri through 

his Commissioner for 

Tourism, Creative Art and 

Culture, Chijoke 

Nzekwe, at the creative 

art seminer organised by 

the British Council. 

This is just as the 

Director of Programmes, 

British Council, Ojoma 

Ochai, said the aim of the 

British Council was to 

help the youths of the state 

develop their skills as well 

as empower them in 

business skills. 

According to the state 

commissioner, “the state 

THE new inducted 

fourth President, 

Rotary Club of Lagos 

Island, District 9110, Vipul 

Agrawal, has stated that 

he will continue with the 

club's commitment and 

legacies. 

Agrawal, accompanied 

by his wife, Poonam, said: 

“I am humbled by the trust 

and responsibility reposed 

in me by our members. I 

am also humbled and 

excited by the vast canvas 

of opportunities to do 

service for our 

communities that await us. 

“We will strive to do our 

best to make a difference 

in the lives of the lessprivileged 

in the 

government has a blue 

print on tourism which 

will be revealed to Imo 

people and the country 

soon. 

“There is a new 

ministry called Creative 

Art, Tourism and 

Culture; there was no 

such minaret before 

now that shows the 

commitment of the state 

government in line with 

the governor's Rebuild 

Imo agenda. 

“The endowment in 

this state, in this sector 

is unbelievable. We are 

richly blessed with 

creativity. When you 

look at Nollywood, it is 

populated by our 

people. 

“Hospitality is a 

natural attribute of our 

people. Looking at the 

revenue that will be 

generated in this sector 

will be comparable to 

the oil-rich 

countries.” 

EU donates ICT 

equipment to Anambra 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

A WKA—ANAMBRA 

State government has 

received Information and 

Communication 

Technology, ICT, 

equipment and furniture 

worth millions of naira 

from the European Union, 

EU, for use at the Central 

Pharmaceutical Centre, 

Awka. 

Commissioner for 

Health, Dr Vincent 

Okpala, who received the 

items on behalf of the state 

government, commended 

EU for establishing data 

operation centre in the 

state and also for 

implementing the existing 

partnership with the state 

government and World 

Health Organisation, 

WHO, adding that the 

equipment would help 

to solidify the state 

healthcare system. 

He said: “The Health 

System Strengthening, 

HSS, initiative is a 

wonderful one; it is a 

strong initiative that will 

help to solidify our 

healthcare system. 

“It provides for 

strengthening the basic 

building blocks of 

functional healthcare 

service system across the 

state. 

“Medical tourism is a 

big goal set by Governor 

Willie Obiano's government 

and to achieve this, 

we must have a functional 

health system.” 

Rotary restates 

commitment to humanity 

communities we live in.” 

The new President, a 

leading building 

industry professional 

and a senior member of 

the Lafarge Nigeria 

management team, who 

took over the mantle of 

leadership from 

Rajkumar Gulati, 

explained that the club's 

projects focused on 

Vision 2020—free 

cataract eye surgeries in 

association with Geeta 

Ashram Lekki; blood 

donation camps, 

provision of food, 

beverages, clothing and 

footwear to the needy, 

particularly at leprosy 

hospices, among others. 

OIL & GAS CONFAB: From left—Country Communication Manager, Total Nigeria, Charles 

Ebereonwu; GM, External Relations, Nigerian LNG Ltd., Eyono Fatayi-Williams; MD, ExxonMobil Nigeria 

and Chairman of the occasion, Paul McGrath; Chief Financial Officer, NNPC, Mallam Umar Ajiya; Group 

Managing Director, Aiteo Eastern E&P Company Ltd., Victor Okoronkwo; representative of MD, Shell Nigeria 

Exploration and Production Co., Ibiyemi Asaolu, and Chairman, Association of Energy Correspondents of 

Nigeria, NAEC, Mr. Olatunde Dodondawa, at the 2019 NAEC conference and award, on the theme Harnessing 

Oil and Gas Potential for National Development, in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele. 

Herdsmen rape, kill 

67-yr-old woman in Enugu 

•Herdsmen innocent—MACBAN 

By Dennis Agbo & 

Harris Emmanuel 

ENUGU-A 67-year-old 

woman, Mrs. Regina 

Mba, has been raped and 

killed by herdsmen at an 

Enugu suburb, Nchatacha- 

Nike, in Enugu East Local 

Government Area of Enugu 

State. 

This led to a protest, with 

members of the community 

blocking Enugu-Abakaliki 

Highway with her corpse, 

burning tyres and causing 

traffic jam. 

The protest attracted a 

large number of security 

personnel, including the 

Army, Police and Air Force, 

who embarked on air 

surveillance until the crowd 

was dispersed and 

movement resumed. 

President-General of 

Nchatancha-Nike 

community, Mr. Kingsley 

Anike said: “She (the 

deceased) was in her farm 

yesterday (Wednesday) 

within the hours of 2p.m. 

and 6p.m. when she was 

attacked. 

“When we expected her 

home, she didn’t come 

back. We searched for her 

throughout the night and 

this morning (yesterday), 

there was an expanded 

search team. 

“It wasn’t really a distant 

farm because people are 

not living far from the 

location. We saw her body, 

with her torn undies by the 

corpse. There were injuries 

on her hands and the back 

of her neck. We called the 

Police and they came, took 

pictures and took the body 

to a mortuary.” 

Asked why they suspect 

herdsmen, Anike said: 

“Isn’t that obvious? We 

knew these herders with 

their cattle within that area. 

When this thing happened, 

they moved out. It couldn’t 

have been any other 

person; indigenes couldn’t 

just have attacked fellow 

indigenes and an old 

woman for that matter. 

“If the Police want, let 

them investigate and state 

the facts. We know what the 

country is and we pray that 

justice will take its course.” 

Anike denied an 

allegation that the 

community had previous 

misunderstanding with the 

herdsmen. 

...Enugu govt 

Reacting, Enugu State 

Government said it 

condemned the incident in 

its entirety. 

Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi then directed 

chairmen of the 17 local 

government areas, who are 

yet to mount vigilante 

security checkpoints in their 

respective areas to do so 

within two weeks, to ensure 

adequate security 

operations in their localities. 

A statement by Secretary 

to the State Government, 

Professor Simon Ortuanya, 

said: “We condole with the 

family of the deceased and 

hereby charge the security 

agencies to commence a 

full scale investigation into 

the unfortunate incident 

with a view to 

apprehending and 

prosecuting the culprits.” 

He added the state 

government “deeply 

appreciates the good 

people of the state for their 

cooperation and support” 

and reassured them that 

“we are winning the war 

against criminality.” 

Also Deputy Governor of 

the state, Mrs Cecilia 

•We're investigating—Police 

Ezeilo, and the House of 

Representatives member 

for Enugu East/Isi-Uzo 

federal constituency, Prince 

Cornelius Nnaji, visited the 

community to commiserate 

with the family of the 

deceased. 

Police 

Meanwhile, Enugu State 

Police Command, through 

its spokesman, Ebere 

Amaraizu, said the Police 

received a report of the 

incident and the 

Commissioner of Police, 

Suleiman Balarabe, has 

directed for a full scale 

investigations with a view 

to establishing what 

happened, persons 

involved and motives. 

He said the command 

advises the public to be 

law abiding and avoid any 

thing that will truncate the 

existing peace and security 

in the state. 

Hausa/Fulani 

community panic 

Sources told Vanguard 

that the Hausa/Fulani 

community in the state is 

afraid of reprisal since cases 

of killing by herdsmen has, 

in the recent time, become 

common place in the state. 

However, chairman of 

Miyetti-Allah Cattle 

Breeders Association, 

MACBAN, Enugu State, 

Alhaji Haruna Salleh, 

denied that the killing was 

perpetuated by herdsmen. 

Salleh said: “We have 

been searching since we 

got the news and there are 

no herdsmen around there. 

It was not herdsmen that 

killed the woman.” 

MACBAN calls for probe 

of Akwa Ibom incidents 

In a related 

development, MACBAN 

also dissociated itself from 

the killing in Mkpat Enin 

council of Akwa Ibom State 

by herdsmen. 

State chairman of the 

Association, Alhaji Farouk 

Umar, described it as “a 

heinous and criminal act 

that must not go 

unpunished.” 

Umar, who spoke through 

the Association’s scribe, 

Alhaji Yerima Ahmed, said 

the association does not 

condone any form of 

violence as exhibited by the 

assailants in Mkpat Enin, 

in which one farmer was 

killed, while others 

sustained injuries. 

He advised security 

agencies not to leave any 

stone unturned in ensuring 

that the masterminds of the 

crime were fished out and 

punished to serve as a 

deterrent to others. 

According to him, it was 

very difficult to unmask the 

true identity of the brain 

behind the attacks in a 

particular location because 

of the nomadic nature of 

cattle breeding, as the 

herdsmen do not have a 

fixed settlement in the state. 

Umar spoke about 

having proper 

documentation of the 

itineraries and activities of 

the herders to checkmate 

cross-border violence. 

He said: “Herdsmen do 

not have a permanent 

settlement in Akwa Ibom 

State. Some bring cattle 

from the neighbouring 

states. 

“We call on security 

agencies to be more 

proactive, and identities of 

herders coming into a 

particular state or locality 

must be properly 

documented.”


BIRTHDAY: From left, Guest preacher, Rev Father Pius Omofuma; 

wife of Lagos State governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; her husband, Mr 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the celebrant, Senator Anthony Adefuye; Deputy 

Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; the celebrant’s eldest son, 

Bayo Adefuye; his sister, Adenike, and officiating ministers during the 

75th birthday Thanksgiving Service Mass of Senator Adefuye, at St Dennis 

Catholic Church, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos. 

Meinbutus tasks Sylva, Keyamo on 

Koko-Lagos road, Warri, Burutu ports 

•Akpabio, Sylva’s appointments,masterstroke for N-Delta devt— Loyibo 

•As Ochei congratulates Amaechi, Keyamo, Adebayo 

By Emma 

Amaize& Perez 

Brisibe 

WARRI—A Niger Delta 

Group, Meinbutus 

Federated Communities, 

Warri Kingdom, Delta State, 

has called on Minister of 

Petroleum, Chief Timipre 

Sylva, and Minister of State 

for Niger Delta Affairs, Chief 

Festus Keyamo, to facilitate, 

as a matter of urgency, the 

completion of the Koko-Lagos 

Road and revival of Warri and 

Burutu ports in the state. 

Also, traditional Prime 

Minister of Tuomo Kingdom 

in Delta and Bayelsa states, 

Chief Mike Loyibo, has 

described the appointments 

of former governors Godswill 

Akpabio and Sylva as a 

masterstroke for development 

of Niger Delta. 

Similarly, an All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, leader in Delta State, 

Victor Ochei, has 

congratulated Chibuike 

Amaechi on his 

reappointment and 

subsequent inauguration, as 

Minister of Transportation. 

In a congratulatory letter, 

Ochei, a former Speaker of 

the Delta State House of 

Assembly, described 

Amaechi’s return to the 

Transportation ministry as an 

eloquent attestation to his 

landmark achievements 

during his first tenure. 

He observed that 

"President Buhari’s stance on 

retaining Amaechi at the 

Transportation ministry, 

stemmed from his impressive 

antecedent, replete with 

copious demonstration of 

sterling adroitness, unalloyed 

patriotism and selflessness. 

He also congratulated 

Kayamo and Otunba Richard 

Adebayo, who is Minister of 

Trade, Industries and 

Investments. 

Meanwhile, Meinbutus 

Federated Communities in a 

statement by the Amanana- 

Owei, King-Jerry Prebor, 

congratulating the two 

ministers on their 

inauguration, said: “You both 

differed from other politicians 

in your approach to the 

development of Niger Delta 

and toed your lines, which 

had paid off. 

“You now have the 

opportunity of making the 

difference. We, the people of 

Meinbutus, have faith in your 

abilities to turn things around 

and use your elevated 

positions to bring about the 

needed development of the 

Niger Delta region. 

“The Olu of Warri recently 

visited the President on the 

issue of Koko-Lagos roads 

and revival of the ports and 

other things, we are in 

support of the stand of the 

Olu of Warri and we now have 

the opportunity through the 

two of you to actualise them. 

You can be the heroes of the 

Niger Delta if both of you 

decide to change the story 

and earn yourselves world 

recognition,” the group said. 

Meanwhile, Chief Loyibo 

while applauding the 

appointments of the former 

governors, also commended 

President Buhari for the 

reappointment of Amaechi 

and Abubakar Malami as 

Minister of Transport and 

Attorney-General of the 

Federation, describing them 

as Nigerians who have 

The celebrant, Senator Anthony Adefuye (4th left) his wife, Chief 

Bolaji Adefuye (5th left); his son, Bayo Adefuye (3rd right); Senator 

Femi Okurounmu (right); the celebrant’s children, and former President, 

Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Onikepo 

Akande (2nd right), during the cutting of the cake at the 75th birthday 

reception in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. 

contributed immensely in the 

next level agenda of the 

president. 

He said: “On behalf of the 

people of Niger Delta and the 

Ijaw nation in particular, I will 

like to commend Mr. 

President on the appointment 

of Sylva, Akpabio and 

Keyamo as Minister of State 

for Petroleum, Minister of 

Niger Delta Affairs and 

Minister of State for Niger 

Delta. 

“In our quest for the 

development of Niger Delta, 

we believe this is a 

masterstroke for development 

of the region, which has been 

bedeviled with years of 

underdevelopment by 

previous administration." 

Malnutrition: Nasarawa registers 

3,295, treats 2,637 children 

•As CISLAC decries rising cases in Kastina 

By Bashir Bello 

& David Odama 

L AFIA—NASARAWA 

State Primary Health Care 

Development Agency, 

NSPHCDA, yesterday, said it 

had registered no fewer than 

3,295 children in the 

community based 

management of acute 

malnutrition, MAM, 

programme and treated about 

2,637 of malnutrition since its 

inception in 2018. 

This came as Civil Society 

Legislative Advocacy Centre, 

CISLAC, decried increasing 

cases of malnutrition in 

Katsina State, saying Multiple 

Indicator Cluster Survey, 

MICS, put stunting in the 

state for year 2017 at 35 per 

cent while Oxford Policy 

Management, OPM, on 

nutritional smart survey put 

stunting in 58.0 per cent in 

2018 respectively. 

Executive Chairman of 

NSPHCDA, Dr. Mohammed 

Adis, while speaking with 

journalists in Lafia, said 

community-based 

management of acute 

malnutrition was rolled out in 

the three local governments 

of Akwanga, Keffi and Lafia 

with five health facilities per 

council designated as 

outpatient therapeutic 

programme in the state. 

The chairman, who said 

contrary to insinuations that 20 

children had died as a result 

of non availability and 

administration of expired 

RF95 or RF100 supplement 

supplied by UNICEF, said: 

“We have record of distribution 

of the supplement to our 

various centres and the 

expired supplement have 

been mopped up for 

destruction using existing set 

out policy on ground. 

The insinuations that 

malnourished children were 

rejected in various hospitals 

across the state as a result of 

non availability of the 

supplement should be 

discarded and disregarded in 

Nasarawa State.” 

Severe malnutrition 

still on increase in 

Katsina— Report 

Meanwhile, in Kastina, 

indices quoted by CISLAC 

said MICS put stunting in the 

state for year 2017 at 35 per 

cent while OPM on 

nutritional smart survey put 

stunting in 58.0 per cent in 

2018 respectively. 

It also put severe acute 

malnutrition at 4.1 per cent for 

children under five years in 

2017 while in 2018 it’s 3.0 per 

cent and underweight at 18.5 

per cent in 2017 while in 2018 

it is 31.4 per cent respectively. 

CISLAC Programme 

Manager, Chioma Kanu, who 

disclosed this during a oneday 

engagement with women 

and youth groups on 

prevention and treatment of 

severe acute malnutrition in 

the state, decried the figure, 

which she said instead of 

decreasing its on the increase. 

Land grabbing; Court adjourns 

hearing in suit against 

lawmaker 

Ahigh court in Ozoro 

Division, Isoko North 

Council area of Delta State, 

has adjourned hearing in a 

land dispute case filed by 

Oyovie family of Erovie 

quarters, Ozoro kingdom 

against a serving federal 

lawmaker representing the 

area and three others. 

Hearing the case in a suit 

number HCZ/39/2016, the 

presiding judge, Justice E. 

Emefoniye, stressed the 

need for both plaintiff and 

defendants to be fully 

present at the next court 

sitting to commence hearing. 

He lamented the slow pace 

of proceedings in the matter, 

insisting that a case that had 

Forum counsels youths against 

anger, tasks Omo-Agege, 

Keyamo on N-Delta devt 

THE President of South- 

South Consultative 

Forum, SSCOF, Mr Moses 

Mugidi, has called on 

youths at home and abroad 

to excersie caution in venting 

their anger on matters that 

border on issues affecting the 

country. 

In an interview with 

journalists after an enlarged 

meeting of the group in 

Effurun, Delta State, Mugidi 

said it was “an obvious fact 

that the youths are the most 

affected by lack of attention 

and care by the government 

in a nation where there is 

supposed to be enough for 

all.” 

He condemned the attack 

on former Deputy Senate 

President, Senator Ike 

Ekweremadu, in Germany, 

saying: “The political 

leaders should know that 

each passing day opens up 

a new thinking and action 

plan in the minds of angry 

Nigeria youths who feel 

cheated and abandoned in 

their own country 

“Political leaders need to 

redouble their efforts to justify 

the confidence reposed on 

been in court since 2016, 

ought to have been sealed 

at this level of hearing. 

He urged both the counsel 

for the plaintiff and the 

defendant to ensure 

adequate representations of 

claims and counter claims at 

the next adjournment date 

of October 24, 2019. 

It will be recalled that the 

Oyowe family had 

approached the court in 2016 

with prayers to compel the 

lawmaker and his agents to 

release the family landed 

property (over 150 plots) 

annexed for constituency 

project before being 

diverted. 

them to represent their 

people at whatever position 

they find themselves. It is 

time indeed to justify their 

positions in office or be 

treated like what happened 

in Germany. 

He also called on Senator 

Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy 

President of the Senate and 

Festus Keyamo, SAN, 

Minister of State for Niger 

Delta Affairs, to set up a 

think-tank that would come 

out with a blueprint in 

synergy with governors of 

the South-South for 

sustainable development of 

the zone. 

According to Mugidi, “as 

we celebrate your 

appointment and elevation, 

only credible development 

can cause you to win and 

keep the people’s support 

towards a better South- 

South as well as build on 

your current political 

portfolio. 

"I implore you to carry 

everyone along in the South- 

South, those you know can 

contribute to the 

development of the region 

irrespective of political 

affiliation."


Russia, China seek U.N. intervention 

over U.S. missile developments 

RUSSIA and China 

have asked the United 

Nations Security Council 

to meet over “statements 

by U.S. officials on their 

plans to develop and deploy 

medium-range missiles,” 

according to the request 

seen by Reuters. 

Moscow and Beijing want 

to convene the 15-member 

council under the agenda 

item “threats to international 

peace and security” and 

have requested that U.N. 

disarmament affairs chief 

Izumi Nakamitsu brief the 

body. The Pentagon said on 

Monday it had tested a conventionally 

configured 

cruise missile that hit its 

target after more than 500 

km (310 miles) of flight, the 

first such test since the United 

States pulled out Cold 

War-era Intermediate- 

Range Nuclear Forces Treaty 

(INF). 

U.S. Defense Secretary 

Mark Esper was asked in a 

Fox News Channel interview 

on Wednesday whether 

the test was aimed at sending 

a message to China, 

Russia or North Korea and 

indicated that the main 

concern was China. “We 

want to make sure that we, 

as we need to, have the capability 

to deter Chinese 

bad behavior by having our 

own capability to be able to 

strike at intermediate ranges,” 

he said. 

Esper said on a visit to Australia 

this month he was in 

favor of placing groundlaunched, 

intermediaterange 

missiles in Asia relatively 

soon. Esper was also 

asked about a rocket test 

•Putin 

accident in Russia this 

month which U.S. officials 

believe was associated with 

the Kremlin’s hypersonic 

cruise missile program. 

“Clearly they are trying 

to expand their strategic 

nuclear arsenal to deal 

with the United States,” he 

said, adding that all such 

new weapons would have 

to be included in any future 

strategic arms reduction 

treaty. “Right now Russia 

has possibly nucleartipped 

... INF-range cruise 

missiles facing toward Europe, 

and that’s not a good 

thing,” he said. 

Russian President 

Vladimir Putin said on 

Wednesday the United 

States was in a position to 

deploy a new land-based 

cruise missile in Romania 

and Poland, a scenario he 

considered a threat that 

Moscow would need to respond 

to. 

The United States has 

said it has no imminent 

plans to deploy new landbased 

missiles in Europe. 

This week’s U.S. test would 

have been banned under the 

INF, which prohibited landbased 

missiles with a range 

of between 310 and 3,400 

miles, reducing the ability 

of the United States and 

Russia to launch a nuclear 

strike at short notice. China 

was not a party to the 

INF treaty and has a large 

arsenal of land-based intermediate-range 

missiles. 

Brexit: Backstop indispensable, Macron 

tells Johnson 

BORIS Johnson has met 

Emmanuel Macron in 

Paris for Brexit talks, with the 

French president saying the 

UK’s vote to quit the EU must 

be respected. 

But he added that the Ireland-Northern 

Ireland backstop 

plan was “indispensable” 

to preserving political 

stability and the single market. 

The backstop, opposed 

by Mr Johnson, aims to prevent 

a hard border on the island 

of Ireland after Brexit. 

2020: Trump seeks to mobilize women in battleground states 

PRESIDENT Donald 

Trump’s re-election 

campaign is hosting events 

in 2020 battleground states 

on Thursday to mobilize 

and train suburban women, 

an important voting bloc 

that defected from Republicans 

during last year’s congressional 

contests. 

The campaign representatives 

- who include conservative 

commentators, a 

former “Apprentice” contestant, 

a beauty pageant winner 

and campaign and 

White House staff – will try 

to persuade women to talk 

openly about their support 

for Trump and encourage 

others to do the same. 

Mr Johnson said that with 

“energy and creativity we can 

find a way forward”. 

On Wednesday German 

Chancellor Angela Merkel 

said the onus was on the UK 

to find a workable plan. UK 

Prime Minister Mr Johnson 

insists the backstop must be 

ditched if a no-deal exit from 

the EU on 31 October is to 

be avoided. 

He argues that it could 

leave the UK tied to the EU 

indefinitely, contrary to the 

“We want to empower 

women to share their stories 

about why they support 

President Trump and help 

bring more supporters into 

the fold,” said Erin Perrine, 

a deputy press secretary 

who will host an event in 

North Carolina. 

A campaign official involved 

with the planning 

said they expect hundreds 

of attendees at gatherings 

in 13 states including Pennsylvania, 

Florida and Ohio. 

Much of the talk will focus 

on Trump’s economic record 

and how he has kept his 

promises on issues like immigration 

and healthcare, 

the officials said. 

result of the 2016 referendum, 

in which 52% of voters 

opted to leave. But the EU 

has repeatedly said the withdrawal 

deal negotiated by 

former PM Theresa May, 

which includes the backstop, 

cannot be renegotiated 

Ḣowever, it has previously 

said it would be willing to 

“improve” the political declaration 

- the document that 

sets out the UK’s future relationship 

with the EU. 

Washington formally 

withdrew from the landmark 

1987 pact with Russia 

on Aug. 2 after determining 

that Moscow was 

violating the treaty, an accusation 

the Kremlin has 

denied. Chinese Foreign 

Ministry spokesman Geng 

Shuang said on Tuesday 

that the U.S. test showed the 

United States was stoking 

a new arms race and confrontation, 

which would 

have a serious negative impact 

on regional and global 

security. 

A North Korean spokesman 

said on Thursday the 

U.S. test and plans to deploy 

F-35 jets and offensive military 

equipment around the 

Korean peninsula were 

“dangerous” moves that 

would “trigger a new Cold 

War” in the region. Asked 

whether he thought it was 

appropriate for Washington 

to continue to seek negotiations 

with Pyongyang 

after its repeated recent 

tests of short-range missiles, 

Esper said the biggest 

U.S. concern was about 

North Korea’s long-range 

missiles, tests of which it has 

frozen since 2017. 

“I think you need to take 

a look at the bigger picture,” 

he said when asked if 

recent U.S. statements playing 

down the short-range 

tests amounted to giving 

North Korea permission to 

conduct them. 

It was not clear how those 

discussions will unfold. 

While Trump’s efforts to 

build a wall on the U.S.- 

Mexican border have 

stalled, he has persisted in 

a controversial effort to crack 

down on immigration, including 

separating families. 

A promise to lower prescription 

drug plans has not 

been met, and his hope of 

riding a strong economy into 

2020 is facing headwinds 

from signs a recession may 

be looming. 

The events, which coincide 

with the 99th anniversary 

of women suffrage, are 

being put together in part 

by the Trump Victory Leadership 

Initiative, a grassroots 

arm of the campaign 

that will target key demographic 

groups in the 

months leading up to November’s 

election. 

The latest Reuters/Ipsos 

poll, conducted this week, 

shows 39% of women approve 

of Trump’s performance 

in office and 56% disapprove. 

The numbers 

have hovered at these levels 

for a year. 

Perrine said the numbers 

did not reflect the true level 

of support from Trump 

among women, however. 

She noted, for example, that 

51% of the donors in the latest 

quarter were women. 

Tunisian PM delegates his powers 

to focus on presidential race 

TUNISIAN Prime Minister Youssef Chahed will temporarily 

delegate his powers to Public Service Minister 

Kamal Morjane to focus on his candidacy for the presidency 

and to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, 

he said on Thursday. 

The Sept. 15 vote follows the death at age 92 last month 

of Beji Caid Essebsi, the first president to be democratically 

elected in Tunisia after the popular uprising of 2011. 

Chahed is competing in a race crowded with prominent 

figures, including the current defense minister Abd El 

karim Zbidi, the vice president of Ennahda Islamist party 

Abdel Fattah Mourou and former prime minister Mehdi 

Jomaa. 

Former Tunisian president Moncef Marzouki and Nabil 

Karoui, a businessman and owner of the private channel 

Nessma TV, will also stand. Chahed, Mourou and Zbidi 

are likely frontrunners. 

“In order to ensure the transparency of the presidential 

election and the equal opportunities between all candidates, 

I am temporarily delegating my powers until the 

end of the campaign for the Minister of Public Service, 

Kamal Morjane.”, Chahed said in a speech. The election 

campaign runs from Sept. 1 to 13. Tunisia’s president 

controls foreign and defense policy, governing alongside 

a prime minister chosen by parliament who has authority 

over domestic affairs. 

Execution set for US killer who 

preyed on gay men 

A 

SERIAL killer who preyed on gay men along the US 

east coast is set to be put to death in Florida , barring a 

stay by the US Supreme Court. 

Gary Ray Bowles admitted to killing six men in 1994 from 

Florida to Maryland but was only convicted of three deaths. 

Sometimes dubbed the “I-95 killer”, most of his victims were 

found nearby to the interstate corridor that spans the entire 

eastern seaboard of the US. 

The Florida Supreme Court rejected his appeal earlier this 

month. 

Investigators say the 57-year-old West Virginia native left an 

abusive household as a child and worked as a prostitute to gay 

men for a number of years before beginning his killing spree. 

After two jail sentences for grand theft, robbery, assault and 

rape, he moved to Daytona Beach in 1993. 

During this time he continued to work as a prostitute, and 

was living with a girlfriend who left him after discovering his 

sex work. 

He later told authorities that he blamed gay men for their 

break-up, and was angered to learn that his girlfriend had had 

an abortion, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal. 

After a manhunt, Bowles was arrested in Jacksonville while 

living under a false identify. He was convicted of killing Walter 

Hinton, 47, and given a death penalty. 

He also pleaded guilty and was given life sentences for the 

murders of John Hardy Roberts, 59, and Albert Alcie Morris, 

37 

Ḃowles will be the 99th inmate to be put to death in Florida 

since 1976 when the death penalty was restored by the Supreme 

Court, according to the Daytona Beach New journal. 

Man who eat his ex-girlfriend’s 

brain, body parts faces trial 

THE murder trial has begun for an Indiana man who is 

accused of killing his ex-girlfriend in September 2014 

and eating her body parts after their breakup. 

Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said in his opening 

statement on Wednesday that evidence will show old 

Joseph Oberhansley, 38, kicked in the door of Tammy Jo 

Blanton’s Jeffersonville home nearly five years ago and 

stabbed her to death. 

Mull said Oberhansley then removed and consumed 

parts of her organs, including her brain. ‘Joseph Oberhansley 

butchered Tammy Blanton like you wouldn’t kill a 

livestock animal,’ Mull said, according to the Courier-Journal. 

Mull said Oberhansley had gone to the 46-year-old’s home 

to ‘talk some sense into her’ after she broke off their relationship. 

He reportedly used an electric jigsaw to open Blanton’s 

skull. 

The so-called ‘cannibal killer’ had previously admitted to 

the crimes including ‘cooking a section of her brain and 

eating it’ after his arrest in Jeffersonville, Indiana, police 

said. Authorities also said he devoured parts of the victim’s 

heart and lung.However, Oberhansley has called the allegations 

against him ‘all bull crap lies’ and insists he is innocent. 

Blanton had accused Oberhansley of rape the weekend 

before her murder. But Oberhansley claims that was also a 

lie. In a 10-minute rant at a pre-trial hearing last month at 

Clark County Court, Oberhansley claimed Blanton was ‘getting 

high and drunk and texting a bunch of bull crap’. 

Oberhansley also told the judge that he had uncovered 

new evidence that pointed to his innocence. 

He suggested detectives had missed the murder weapon 

as it could not have been the ‘cheap little knife’ investigators 

found. Oberhansley ignored his frustrated lawyers who 

warned him to keep quiet. The judge cautioned him to save 

his comments for his trial. 

But then Oberhansley brazenly tried to hold a news conference 

on his way-out of court before sheriff’s deputies led 

him away. Oberhansley was found mentally not competent 

in October 2017 to be tried. He was hospitalized for more 

than six months at Logansport State Hospital after the judge 

ruled he wasn’t capable of participating in the trial. 

C 

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Iran unveils new missile defence 

system, calls US talks ‘useless’ 

IRANIAN President 

Hassan Rouhani 

has inducted a locally 

built air-defence system 

into the country’s missile 

defence network at an 

unveiling ceremony in 

the capital, Tehran. 

The display of the new 

system, Bavar-373, on 

Tuesday came amid 

heightened tensions with 

theUnited States, which 

last year unilaterally 

withdrew from a multinational 

nuclear deal 

signed between world 

powers and Iran and 

reimposed crippling 

sanctions on it. 

Iranian officials have 

previously called Bavar, 

which means “believe” in 

Farsi, the country’s first 

domestically produced 

long-range missile defence 

system. 

Iran began production 

after the purchase of Russia’s 

S-300 system was 

suspended in 2010 due 

to international sanctions 

that have barred it from 

importing many weapons. 

It installed the 

stalled S-300 system in 

March 2016 following 

several years of delays in 

the wake of the nowcrumbling 

2015 nuclear 

deal. 

Speaking at the ceremony, 

Rouhani said the 

mobile surface-to-air system 

was “better than S- 

300 and close to [more 

advanced] S-400.” 

With a range of more 

than 200km, Iran’s official 

IRNA news agency 

said the long-range missile 

system is suited to the 

country’s geography. 

In his speech, Rouhani 

also struck a muscular 

tone on dealings with the 

US, saying that “talks are 

useless” over the nucle- 

PAKISTAN’s Prime 

Minister Imran 

Khan has ruled out seeking 

further dialogue with 

India over Kashmir, expressing 

his frustration with 

New Delhi over its decision 

to strip the region of its autonomy 

earlier this month. 

“There is no point in talking 

to them. I mean, I have 

done all the talking,” he told 

the New York Times on 

Wednesday. 

“Unfortunately, now 

when I look back, all the 

overtures that I was making 

for peace and dialogue, I 

think they took it for appeasement. 

There is noth- 

ar deal. 

“Now that our enemies 

do not accept logic, we 

cannot respond with logic,” 

Rouhani said. 

He added: “When the 

enemy launches a missile 

against us, we cannot 

give a speech and say: 

‘Mr. Rocket, please do 

not hit our country and 

our innocent people. 

Rocket-launching sir, if 

you can please hit a button 

and self-destroy the 

missile in the air.’” 

Iran shot down a US 

Global Hawk surveillance 

drone with a surface-to-air 

missile in June 

for allegedly violating its 

airspace, a claim that the 

US denies. 

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign 

Minister Mohammad 

Javad Zarif used a 

positive tone over French 

proposals to salvage the 

nuclear deal, which was 

signed by France, the 

United Kingdom, Germany 

China, Russia and 

the European Union, in 

addition to the US. 

PM Khan rules out Kashmir talks with India 

ing more that we can do.” 

Khan has taken a strong 

stand since India abrogated 

Article 370, which allowed 

Indian-administered 

Kashmir the jurisdiction 

to make its own laws 

in all matters except finance, 

defence, foreign affairs 

and communications. 

He has accused the Indian 

government and Prime 

Minister Narendra Modi 

of changing the demography 

of Kashmir through 

“ethnic cleansing”. 

On Sunday, he said in a 

tweet that the country was 

hijacked by a “fascist, racist 

Hindu Supremacist ideology 

and leadership”. 

“The most important thing 

is that eight million people’s 

lives are at risk. We are 

all worried that there is ethnic 

cleansing and genocide 

about to happen,” Khan 

told the Times. 

On Thursday, the Pakistan 

PM intensified his 

criticism and tweeted that 

India was denying Kashmiris 

the “right to observe 

their religious practices” 

and urged the international 

community to 

“prevent an impending 

genocide of Kashmiris in 

Indian Occupied Kashmir”. 


80 Charged With Internet Fraud, 

Money Laundering In US 

US authorities on Thursday announced charges 

against 80 people, most of them Nigerians, in a 

wide-ranging fraud and money laundering operation that 

netted millions of dollars from victims of internet con 

jobs. 

Federal prosecutors unsealed the dozens of indictments 

after 17 people were arrested and taken into custody in 

Los Angeles and elsewhere in the United States. 

Most of the remainder of those indicted were believed 

to be in Nigeria, the US Justice Department said. 

The suspects allegedly targeted the lovelorn, the elderly, 

and small and large businesses, using a variety of 

scams to persuade their victims to send money over the 

internet. 

“Some of the victims of the conspiracy lost hundreds of 

thousands of dollars to fraud schemes, and many were 

elderly,” the Justice Department said. 

The indictment alleges that at least $6 million in fraudulently 

obtained funds were transferred through a money-laundering 

network run by two Nigerians — Valentine 

Iro, 33, and Chukwudi Christogunus Igbokwe, 38. 

They were among those arrested. Attempted thefts 

amounted to at least $40 million, it said. 

“Billions of dollars are lost annually, and we urge citizens 

to be aware of these sophisticated financial schemes 

to protect themselves or their businesses from becoming 

unsuspecting victims,” said Paul Delacourt, assistant director 

in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles office. 

Brazil blames amazon fires on NGOs 

THE head of INPE, the agency tasked with monitoring 

forest clearing, was sacked over the figures. 

While it was not possible Wednesday to measure the size of 

the area affected by fires, thick smoke in recent days has blanketed 

several cities, including Sao Paulo, and caused a commercial 

flight to be diverted. 

Forest fires tend to intensify during the dry season, which 

usually ends in late October or early November, as land is 

cleared to make way for crops or grazing. 

But the WWF has blamed this year’s sharp increase in accelerating 

deforestation in the Amazon, which is seen as crucial to 

keeping climate change in check. 

“Historically, in this region, the use of fire is directly linked 

to deforestation as it is one of the techniques for tree clearing,” 

WWF said in a statement. 

Bolsonaro hit back Wednesday, saying “criminal action by 

those NGOs, to call attention against me, against the Brazilian 

government” following funding cuts may be the reason for the 

forest fires.“This is the war that we are facing,” Bolsonaro told 

reporters.“The fires were lit in strategic places. All the indications 

suggest they went there to film and start fires. That’s what 

I feel.”


LAGOS FILMLAB PROJECT—From left: West African Associate Arts 

Consultant, British Council, BC, Oyindamola Fakeye; Ag. ES, Lagos 

State Employment Trust Fund, LSETF, Teju Abisoye; Director, Employment 

Department, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Iyabo 

Seriki-Bello; Director of Programme, BC, Ojoma Ochai, and Head, 

Productions, Biola Alabi Media, Lolo Eremie, at the press conference to 

announce the Lagos FilmLab Project, funded by the LSETF and British 

Council, Thursday, in Lagos. 

CONFAB ON POVERTY—From left: ED, Micro Enterprises, Bank of 

Industry, Toyin Adeniji; Mr. Yomi Adedeji, CEO Softcom Limited; 

Dr. Olatunde Adekola, Senior Education Specilist, World Bank, and 

Mrs. Hilda Kragha, CEO Jobberman, during the Softcom conference 

on the role of technology in combating poverty and driving social 

change, held in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: KEHINDE SHONOLA 

COMMEMORATION—Port Harcourt Plant Manager, International 

Breweries, Oguntunde Akintayo; Marketing Director of the breweries, 

Tolulope Adedeji; Hero Brand Ambassador, Owoh Chimaobi Chrismathner, 

aka Zoro, and the breweries Operations Director, Johan Gouws, at the 

commemoration of Brand Day at the Port Harcourt Brewery Plant in Rivers 

State, yesterday. 

- 

PFN ON PASTOR FATOYINBO—Bishop Emmah Gospel Isong, National 

Publicity Secretary, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN (left), with 

Akinola Akinwale, National Administrative Secretary, PFN, during a press 

conference by the fellowship to state its position on the sexual allegation 

against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, yesterday, in Lagos. 

C 

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 —47 


NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

PROTEST —Members of the oil communities in Niger/Delta, during their protest against noncompliance 

by Shell to Senate resolution directing the company to pay rent to the host communities, 

in Abuja Thursday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan. 

Past leaders'll be tried for economic 

necessary executive orders and alarming and is 

sabotage — AGF to close apparent gaps in increasing level of 

Continues from Page 5 

s e p a r a t i o n , 

dismemberment and illmotivated 

restructuring”, 

blaming it on “long years of 

failure of our justice 

system”. 

He said the Ministry of 

Justice would rigorously 

pursue judicial reforms 

targeted at protecting the 

sovereignty and integrity of 

the country, as well as 

promote the policy thrusts 

of President Buhari’s 

administration. 

Malami said the 

administration had in its bid 

to further recover proceeds 

of corruption, decided to 

fully activate the provision 

of section 15 of the Money 

Laundering (Prohibition) 

Act. 2011 (As Amended), 

against private individuals 

and corporate entities 

culpable of concealing, 

disguising, converting, 

transferring, hiding, 

removing from the shores of 

Nigeria, acquiring, using, 

retaining or taking 

possession or control of any 

fund or property they 

knowingly or reasonably 

ought to have known to 

have formed part of the 

proceeds of unlawful acts. 

“As bad news to the 

rogues within our financial 

system, in the next four 

years, the Federal Ministry 

of Justice, in collaboration 

within anti-corruption 

agencies, shall be beaming 

anti-corruption searchlight 

on the financial institutions 

(F18) and Non Designated 

Financial Institutions, 

DNFIs, in order to make 

them pay dearly for the 

dastardly role they have 

played and are still playing 

in encouraging and 

deepening corruption in 

Nigeria. 

“From arms procurement 

fraud, INEC bribery case to 

Diezani case and several 

others, quantitative data 

available to the Federal 

Government abundantly 

shows that financial 

institutions are directly 

involved in most of the 

major corruption cases 

investigated by the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, and Independent 

Corrupt Practices and other 

Related Offences 

Commission, ICPC, from 

2015 till date”, he added. 

He said the Justice 

Ministry would equally 

support the development 

and promotion of 

appropriate executive bills 

capable of achieving the 

objective of combating 

systemic and grand 

corruption ravaging the 

country. 

“Where necessary, the 

Ministry shall initiate 

Naira depreciates to N363.01 

/$ in I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

The Naira yesterday depreciated to N363.01 per 

dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the I&E window rose to N363.01 

per dollar yesterday from N362.77 per dollar on 

Wednesday, translating to 24 kobo depreciation for 

the Naira. 

However, the volume of dollars traded (turnover) 

in the window rose by 74 percent to $306.82 million 

yesterday from $176.49 million on Wednesday. 

Similarly, the Naira depreciated by thirty kobo in 

the parallel market yesterday. 

According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange rate 

platform of the Association of Bureaux De Change 

Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the parallel market 

exchange rate rose to N358.8 per dollar yesterday 

from N358.5 per dollar on Wednesday translating 

to thirty kobo depreciation of the Naira. 

the anti-corruption 

initiatives currently in place 

in Nigeria. To compliment 

this, we shall be improving 

on the Ministry‘s asset 

recovery drive through 

collaboration with relevant 

stakeholders, and 

leveraging technology for 

greater efficiency; 

development of a culture of 

cohesive synergy among 

the three arms of 

government.’’ 

M e a n w h i l e , 

Transparency 

International, TI, yesterday, 

raised the alarm over 

looters in the new cabinet of 


Buhari, inaugurated 

Wednesday. 

The alarm was raised by 

Head of Transparency 

International, Nigeria, 

Auwal Ibrahim Musa, 

popularly called 

Rafsanjani, in a chat with 

Vanguard while speaking 

on the anti-corruption fight 

under the Buhari-led 

administration. 

According to Rafsanjani, 

many people in the newly 

inaugurated cabinet are 

“professional looters” 

whose corrupt practices are 

widely known by 

Nigerians, hence they lack 

moral standing to be in the 

business of governance. 

Rafsanjani said: “In the 

area of corruption, a 

government that comes to 

fight corruption is inviting 

people whose corruption 

cases are under 

investigation, on which 

they are supposed to step 

aside. In other places, even 

in Africa, when you are 

accused of corruption, you 

will resign and answer 

them until the investigation 

is over. 

“But in this case, some 

people have even returned 

money and properties were 

confiscated but under this 

pretentious integrity 

government, you can see 

that they are even being 

appointed as ministers. It is 

really disheartening. 

“Nigerians do not need 

Amnesty International to 

wake them up to demand 

for accountability in the 

area of human rights. 

Transparency International 

does not need anyone to tell 

them that the amount of 

looting, stealing and waste 

of public fund is glaring 

underdevelopment in 

Nigeria. 

“Continuing this 

bastardization of public 

funds, how can you have a 

prosperous fight against 

corruption with 

infrastructure, health care 

and education suffering? 

These are the things that 

the President said he has 

come to fix. 

‘’With these kind of 

people, questionable 

people you have appointed 

ministers, you are spoiling 

the confidence of 

Nigerians to believe in any 

anti-corruption fight. They 

are celebrating 

questionable and are 

being rewarded with 

appointments... 

“In Nigeria, we also have 

the obligation to draw the 

attention of the 

monumental corruption 

going on in the country and 

these things are happening 

at local government and 

state levels, and if all of us 

continue to keep quiet, we 

will continue to face the 

misery of life because this 

government claimed to 

have come to fight 

corruption and what we are 

seeing now from local 

government, state and 

national levels is 

disheartening. They cannot 

be fighting corruption with 

slogan. Slogan is not all 

about fighting corruption.” 

We’ve been taken for a 

ride with anti-corruption 

bogey—Afenifere 

Reacting to the TI’s claim, 

the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical 

organization, 

Afenifere, said Nigerians 

have been taken on a ride 

with the President’s anticorruption 

drive. 

Afenifere’s National 


Yinka Odumakin said: “It is 

a Buharicidal selfcombustion 

that a man who 

rode to power on anticorruption 

would appoint 

43 people out of 200 million 

people and people don’t 

have to scratch their heads 

to say “see thief, see thief, 

see thief. 

“There is no rational 

explanation for this action 

than the fact that the 

country was taken on a ride 

with an anti-corruption 

bogey.” 

It’ll dent Buhari’s war 

against graft – Northern 

elders 

On their part, the 

Northern Elders Forum, 

NEF, said the presence of 

persons being prosecuted 

for corruption in President 

Buhari’s cabinet will 

“compromise the 

government’s integrity 

credentials and dent its 

credibility in the fight 

against corruption.” 

Spokesman of the Forum, 

Dr Yima Sen, told 

Vanguard that the defence 

being put up by supporters 

of government does not 

hold water. 

He said: “In addition to 

the position by 

Transparency 

International, I have seen 

that concern expressed by 

some Nigerians as well. 

The resultant effect would 

be to compromise the 

government’s integrity 

credentials and dent its 

credibility in the fight 

against corruption. 

“There is even the report 

of two ministers pairing in 

a ministry whereby one 

prosecuted the other in 

EFCC cases. I don’t know if 

the government has 

deliberately overlooked 

some of these issues or if it 

has evidence to the contrary 

that the public is not aware 

of. 

“Another argument, 

perhaps more legalistic 

than moral, could be that 

these cases are mere 

allegations and 

accusations that are 

unproven. Furthermore, it 

could be that there have 

been plea bargains 

unknown to the public. 

‘’Whatever the case, 

corruption remains a 

serious threat to national 

development in Nigeria 

and if not checked could 

eventually destroy this 

country. It has become 

endemic, pervasive and 

even seems hegemonic. 

Additionally worrisome is 

the fact that this concern is 

applicable at the state and 

federal levels.’’ 

It shouldn’t come as a 

surprise – Osuntokun 

Mr. Akin Osuntokun, 

Political Adviser to former 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo said the report 

should not come as a 

surprise. 

Osuntokun said: “I have 

not read the details of the 

report. But of course, this 

should not come as surprise 

neither can it be otherwise. 

It is a specific extrapolation 

from their annual country 

reports which have 

consecutively scored 

Nigeria worse in corruption 

perception index than the 

predecessor government of 

President Goodluck 

Jonathan. The devastating 

significance is the manner 

in which it has put the lie to 

the fictive anti-corruption 

posturing of the Buhari 

government. I have always 

argued that the true 

measure of this 

government is the 

assessment of those 

international organizations 

and agencies which have 

no vested partisan interest 

in Nigeria. There has been 

no credible international 

organization that has not 

reached similar or worse 

conclusion on Nigeria 

under Buhari. And you 

don’t need to look too hard 

to see evidence. Just look at 

the regime of the oil subsidy 

finances and the escalating 

debt overhang that has 

dramatically piled up in 

recent years. Look at the 

corruption impunity 

implied in the composition 

of the new cabinet. Not to 

talk of the reinforcement of 

the culture of nepotism as 

cardinal feature of 

government. It is the 

measure of the gap 

between reality and the 

false counter claims of 

probity and integrity. And 

the tragedy is that since his 

re-election the President 

has deepened rather than 

alleviate this syndrome.” 

TI’s views are cooked – 

Junaid Muhammed 

However, Second 

Republic lawmaker, Dr. 

Junaid Mohammed, 

berated Transparency 

International, arguing that 

sometimes their 

accusations are doctored to 

ridicule some people 

internationally. 

“My experience with 


is that their views are 

cooked within Nigeria and 

because it is cooked here, it 

always contains a lot of 

biases. I appreciate what 

they do but they have to be 

very careful and very 

transparent, otherwise they 

will inherit some of the 

politics and biases in this 

country. 

“I could remember 

vividly in 1986, 


declared me an 

international prisoner of 

conscience. In spite of that, 

I still believe they can do a 

better job. I do not believe 

in nasty generalization. 

‘’There is no perfection in 

government, Buhari has 

committed error in 

government, whoever 

comes after him would also 

commit his. But I am not 

bound to accept anything 

by Transparency 

International,” he said. 

It's difficult to find 

leaders that are not corrupt 

in Nigeria – Balarabe 

Musa, Adeniran 

Former governor of old 

Kaduna State, Alhaji 

Balarabe Musa, was 

indifferent to the allegation, 

saying it was difficult not to 

appoint corrupt people 

“It’s inevitable because of 

the state of corruption in 

Nigeria. It is difficult to find 

leaders that are not corrupt 

in Nigeria. It possible but is 

very difficult. We should all 

try and expose those we 

know that are corrupt.” 

Chairman, Centre For 

Anti-Corruption And Open 

Leadership, CACOL, Mr. 

Debo Adeniran, spoke in 

like manner, saying: ‘’We 

also made the same 

observation but we 

reasoned that many of those 

ministers are under 

investigation. 

‘’When you look at all the 

ministers, only a few of 

them don’t have corruption 

allegations. We feel for the 

benefit of doubt, and 

because of the principle 

that all accused persons are 

innocent until proven 

guilty, we cannot say they 

are guilty. "

48 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 

•Adherents of the Osun Osogbo festival 

OSUN OSOGBO TEMPLE: When 

priests challenge Ataoja’s authority 

By Shina Abubakar 

OSOGBO —-THERE is 

palpable tension at the 

palace of Ataoja as the monarch, 

Oba Jimoh Oyetunji and the 

Osun priest and priestess are at 

loggerheads over the 

custodianship of the Osun- 

Osogbo temple. 

A visit to the palace further 

reflects the tussle, as dwellers 

and workers in the palace are 

divided along the warring 

factions. 

While those who support the 

monarch do so openly, 

supporters of the priest and 

priestess are discreet about it. 

The monarch is said, after 

unresolved differences, to have 

installed one Alhaji Moshood 

Adesina and Alhaja Aweda as 

new priest and priestess of the 

Osun deity, compelling the 

deposed priests and priestess, 

Dr. Olayiwola Adigun and Mrs. 

Adesiyan Olayiwola to 

approach the law court to seek 

redress to the perceived 

injustice against them. 

While the Ataoja insists he has 

the right to remove or install 

anyone he wishes as the priest/ 

priestess, the deposed 

LAGOS—AS part of its 

cardinal objectives, the 

Rotary Club of Ojudu District 

9110 in collaboration with 

Special Marshall Unit, RS 2.1 

Lagos State command, has 

donated food items, toiletries, 

and other essential 

commodities to Ozanam 

Destitute Home in Agidingbi, 

Lagos, to ameliorate the 

plights of destitute living 

within the community. 

The Club also visited Ojodu 

Abiodun Grammar School and 

the Health Centre in the 

community to extend its hands 

to fellowship to enhance 

quality of learning and Health 

traditionalists believe they have 

not committed any taboo or 

offence that warranted their 

removal and purported 

replacement. 

The fallout 

According to Adigun, he was 

no longer in the monarch’s 

good books when the Ataoja 

requested that the deity should 

be a money-spinning venture, a 

request he vehemently turned 

down. 

The priest disclosed that he 

told the monarch that, as a 

custodian of the deity, he was 

responsible for the protection of 

the integrity of the temple and 

its adherents. 

He also insisted that the deity 

would not be desecrated during 

his reign as its priest. 

Ataoja denies claim 

In an attempt to deny the 

claim, the Ataoja denied having 

such discussion with the 

deposed priest. 

Speaking through one of his 

chiefs, Ajagunna of Osogbo, 

Chief Opatola said he never had 

any disagreement with either 

the priest or priestess, neither 

did he depose either of them. 

care services to the people. 

Speaking at his official visit, 

the District Governor, for Ogun/ 

Lagos, Jide Akeredolu, said: 

“The Club would build new rest 

room facilities for the health 

centre and renovate four 

dilapidated class rooms for the 

school. 

“We also planted flowers, Star 

Apples Tree and others in line 

with ‘Save the Planet’s vision for 

beautification and reduction of 

global warming,” 

“The gesture was part of the 

Club’s voluntary Service to 

communities, which is geared 

towards augmenting 

government’s efforts to alleviate 

•Ataoja of Osogbo: Oba Jimoh 

Oyetunji 

He added that the monarch 

only asked the son of the 

priestess (Ayo), who 

overstepped his boundaries to 

leave the palace. 

“The Kabiyesi never had any 

issue with the priest and 

priestess; they voluntarily 

withdrew their services from the 

palace in solidarity with the son 

of the priestess, which is 

uncalled for. They both left the 

poverty in the society. The 

Rotary Club Ojodu, also built 

and inaugurated a road traffic 

control booth at Omole Phase 1, 

to give shelter to traffic officers 

at that junction for efficient 

traffic control.” 

The District Governor added 

that all the projects the Club 

aims to prosecute across the 

district would be supported by 

Global Grants, saying that his 

official visit to Ojodu was 

designed to examine what the 

sub-district is doing and what 

they plan to do in order to help 

them achieve them. 

On her part, the president of 

Rotary Club Ojodu, Rotarian 

temple in the palace and 

relinquished 

their 

responsibilities.” 

He said it was only Ayo that 

was asked to leave the palace 

after refusing to heed the 

instruction of the monarch not 

to be copulating with his wife 

within the shrine and when he 

was asked to leave, the mother 

decided to leave too, protesting 

the Ataoja’s decision”, the chief 

said. 

Priest counters claim 

But Adigun affirmed during 

court proceeding that he was 

not deposed as the Osun priest, 

pointing out that the decision of 

Ataoja to ask Ayo Olosun to 

leave the palace was an excuse 

to get rid of the priestess and 

priest who had initially refused 

his proposition to turn the 

temple to money-making 

venture. 

“This issue of Ayo copulating 

with his wife in the palace is an 

excuse to ease the priestess 

away from the system. Even in 

churches, mission homes were 

built where the clerics and their 

wives leave to make babies. 

“The major issue is that the 

Kabiyesi wanted to be making 

money at all cost from the 

worship of the deity, which we 

vehemently refused after which 

it has been one accusation after 

another. 

Some people 

alleged that I 

have sold Osun 

deity, they are 

ignorant. Nobody 

can take Osun 

deity from the 

shrine. There is a 

lot of power 

behind the deity 

“I wonder how copulating 

with one’s wife in a room and not 

in the shrine could become an 

issue that cannot be resolved 

except by banishing one from 

the palace”, he stated. 


elders in the town were not 

bothered about the issue until it 

took another dimension when 

the monarch was alleged to 

have sold the symbol of the 

Osun deity by the deposed 

Rotary Club gives back to communities 

Nonye Uche-Nwachukwu, 

said her administration is 

leaving no stone unturned to 

ensure that the community 

feels their presence 

positively, saying that the 

Club would work hand-inglove 

with the Retaract Club 

Ojodu Ambassadors to 

empower the youths 

economically. 

Nonye noted “We are out to 

serve humanity in diverse 

ways especially the less 

privileged among us to give 

them that sense of belonging, 

and for posterity sake we are 

not giving up in fulfilling our 

mandate.” 

priest. 

Adigun said the Ataoja, in a 

bid to enrich himself, sold the 

symbol of the deity to some 

foreigners for N15 million, an 

allegation the monarch 

debunked during a press 

conference. 

Ataoja said it was impossible 

to sell the deity when it cannot 

be seen or held physically. 

The Osogbo monarch further 

threatened to arrest and sue the 

priest for defamation. 

But the priest insisted that the 

symbol and not Osun goddess 

was sold, claiming to have 

retrieved it after paying the sum 

paid by the buyers. 

The priest said: “I still 

maintain my stand that the 

symbol that represents the 

goddess was sold and I have 

retrieved it after giving back the 

money to the people. “The 

symbol could not be checkedin 

at the airport, the foreigners 

called me and narrated their 

experience and offered to 

return it if they can recoup their 

money, which I paid back. 

“Presently, the real symbol is 

with me and I challenge anyone 

to sue me before any court of law 

for defamation or anything else, 

the real symbol is with me”, 

Adigun claimed. 

The Ataoja at a press 

conference he addressed on 

Thursday August 8, 2019 further 

reiterated that no one can sell 

the Osun deity. 

“Some people alleged that I 

have sold Osun deity, they are 

ignorant. Nobody can take 

Osun deity from the shrine. 

There is a lot of power behind 

the deity”, he stated. 

Court case 

However, the suit before the 

State High Court instituted by 

the deposed priest and priestess 

sought the order of the court to 

reverse the purported 

installation of new priest and 

priestess of the deity. 

The plaintiffs further brought 

a mandatory application before 

the court to grant them access 

to the temple and to perform 

their duties as priest and 

priestess of Osun pending the 

determination of the substantive 

suit before the court. Similarly, 

Ataoja also sought an 

interlocutory injunction asking 

the court to restrain the priest 

and priestess from coming to the 

temple during the festival. 

Justice A. O. Ayoola, who 

presided over the matter, ruled 

that Adigun and Adesiyan be 

allowed unfettered access into 

the temple and the groove, as 

well as to be allowed to perform 

their duties as worshipers of the 

deity pending the 

determination of the substantive 

suit before the court. 

Why we’re on the fence— 

Osogbo elders 

Attempts to get the reaction of 

the elders prove abortive as they 

are not ready to discuss the 

matter. 

However, a palace chief, who 

spoke on the condition of 

anonymity, told Vanguard that 

“Most of us sit on the fence 

because of the gladiators’ 

antecedents and we believe 

after exhausting their energy 

on the matter, they would both 

regain the inner self and 

embrace dialogue. 

“The Court would not be the 

final arbiter in the dispute, they 

would still have to come to the 

table and reach a compromise, 

but at present, ego is at the 

forefront of the dispute, hence, 

the decision of elders and other 

stakeholders to stay aloof.”


Ile-Epo market clash leaves traders on edge 

•As Police, traders prevent spread in Lagos 

By Monsuru Olowoopejo 

LAGOS—WORRIED by the 

impact of the clash 

between Hausa and Yoruba 

traders at Ile-Epo market in 

Agbado-Oke Odo Local 

Council Development Area, 

LCDA, Lagos, the State Police 

Command and Iyaloja General, 

Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo 

and other stakeholders have 

intensified meetings to prevent 

the spread of the crisis to other 

markets. 

They have held separate 

meetings at different police 

stations especially at the State 

Criminal Investigation 

Department, Panti in Yaba 

where several leaders of the 

market were in attendance. 

Inspite of Tinubu-Ojo’s 

presence last Monday at the 

market, which was divided into 

two with the main market 

largely occupied by the Yoruba 

traders while the shanties 

majorly occupied by the Hausa 

porters and scavengers, it was 

gathered those injured were 

still poised for revenge. 

Also during her visit, it was 

learned that the traders were 

trading under fear that any of 

the warring factions could 

launch reprisal attacks on the 

other; crippling activities 

within the market. 

The intensity of the meeting 

further became imperative after 

another possible clash between 

Hausa and Yoruba traders was 

said to have been prevented at 

the Ketu Market by it leaders 

during the week. 

To prevent further spread of 

the clash that crippled activities 

on Lagos-Abeokuta 

Expressway for over five hours 

and destruction of goods and 

property worth millions of naira, 

Vanguard learned that the 

Police deployed a patrol team 

to the axis to forestall any 

planned attack from the groups. 

We’re restoring peace — 

Babaloja of Ile-Epo market 

Speaking with Vanguard, 

Babaloja of Ile-Epo Market, 

Alhaji Abiodun Kosoko, 

disclosed that since the clash 

last Sunday, they have 

activated several strategies that 

would restore lasting peace to 

the market. 

He assured that the strategy, 

adopted by the Police and 

traders would yield the 

required solution. 

He said: “Aside that, the 

THE TEAM 

Police under the instruction of 

the Commissioner of Police 

summoned us to different 

meetings on the cause of the 

clash and how best to sustain 

the peace and harmony in the 

market.” 

While assuring traders that 

efforts have been intensified to 

forestall further clashes, the 

Babaloja hinted that some of the 

injured persons have been 

EDITOR: Dayo Johnson 

Deputy Editor: Dapo Akinrefon 

08023844928 (sms only) 

CORRESPONDENTS: 

Ola Ajayi 

Ibadan 

Dare Fasube 

(Photo) 

Daud Olatunji 

Abeokuta 

Rotimi Ojomoyela 

Ekiti 

Monsuru Olowoopejo Lagos 

Adeola Badru 

Ibadan 

discharged from hospital. 

He said: “Those arrested were 

yet to be released. All these are 

to get remote cause of the clash 

because we have been trading 

here for several years in peace 

and harmony.” 

Market politics 


fight was further fueled by the 

leadership tussle that has 

•Aftermath of the clash between Yoruba and Hausa traders 

By Daud Olatunji 

ABEOKUTA—THE Ogun 

State government has 

distributed relief materials to 

victims of flood disaster caused 

by torrential rainfall in Opako- 

Adigbe, Abeokuta. 

Speaking during the exercise, 

held at the Trade Fair Complex, 

Laderin, Abeokuta, Governor 

Dapo Abiodun, represented by 

his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Shuaib 

Salisu, extended his 

condolences, saying the 

distribution was necessary to 

fulfill the promise of providing 

succour to residents of the 

State. 

Governor Abiodun revealed 

that the distribution of relief 

materials would be the first time 

by the State Emergency 

Management Agency, SEMA, 

saying that it had always been 

from Federal government 

through National Emergency 

Management Agency, NEMA. 

He noted that the urgency 

and empathy attached to the 

incidence, led to the quick 

provision and distribution, 

without waiting for the Federal 

government. 

“This administration under 

Prince Dapo Abiodun will 

continue to provide succour to 

the masses, even without 

national assistance, such as this. 

This gesture is the first by the 

State”, he affirmed. 

The Governor underscored 

the need for people to maintain 

clean environment, particularly 

clearing of drainages within 

their communities, saying that 

government had given 

approval for the reconstruction 

of box culverts in the affected 

areas across the State. 

He enjoined residents to avert 

similar occurrence by planting 

trees and adhering strictly to 

other professional safety tips, 

when putting up new and 

additional structures, adding 

that there was no amount of 

materials that could totally 

ameliorate their loss. 

lingered for several months in 

the market. 

It was gathered that the 

leader of the Hausa section of 

the market, identified as Baba 

Moria, does not enjoy the 

support of market members. 

It was gathered that some 

traders had written to Tinubu- 

Ojo, demanding for his removal 

but their plea was rebuffed. 

•Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State 

Governor Abiodun assured 

that the damaged road, 

drainage and canal were under 

repair, as the road links at least 

three 

local 

governments. 

Earlier, Permanent Secretary, 

Ministry of Environment, 

Yetunde Dina, represented by 

the Director of Special Duties, 

Pastor Bola Orekoya said 

palliative measure being put in 

place was a testimony of 

government’s commitment to 

the well-being of its citizens, 

advising the people to adhere 

We’ve deployed patrol team 

there —PPRO 

On the strategy they have 

adopted, the Police Public 

Relation Officer, Bala Elkana, 

told Vanguard that a patrol 

team had been deployed to the 

axis, saying, “we do not want 

any further breakdown of law 

and order within that axis.” 

Ogun govt distributes relief materials to flood victims 

strictly to environmental laws to 

prevent recurrence. 

Representatives of 

the beneficiaries who 

included Mrs. Esther Ibikunle, 

Mr. Michael Olusobande and 

Emmanuel Adegoke, 

commended the government 

for their support and prayed for 

God’s grace for them to do 

more. 

Materials distributed include 

bundles of roofing sheets, bags 

of cement, bags of rice, 

mattresses, mosquito nets, 

soaps and variety of food items.


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

LEO; Your concentration level and determination are the 

pillars of your success today. Yet you’ll need to respect 

your senior colleagues and protect your image 

VIRGO; It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you 

just have to drop both aggression and mental arrogance 

to allow things to roll accordingly. Then, you’re accident 

prone within your working arena. Respect the law and its 

agents today. 

LIBRA; Serious thought may be giving to matters of the 

heart but it’s better you tarry a while. Joint ventures of 

short duration today may be an invitation to avoidable 

trouble. 

SCORPIO; If you back your financial plans with concrete 

and positive actions things’ll go according to your desire. 

If you fail to realise importance of your spouse you would 

work your way into avoidable trouble; aren’t you tired of 

crisis? 

SAGITTARIUS; Your intelligence, competence and level 

of concentration may today bring you envy, which you 

don’t deserve within your working arena in a negative 

form but. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

“The highest form of ignorance is when a 

person rejects something they don’t know 

anything about.” -Wayne Dyer- 

Stop labeling things as erroneous because 

you do not have enough information about 

people or events that you don’t understand as 

being weird. Learn to cultivate a broader 

perspective and viewpoint on life. — Ella 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

A wise 

person will 

always find a 

way. 

~ Tanzanian 

proverb 

By Kola Fayemi 

CAPRICORN; The Moon highlights your Solar second 

house of money which is good but, if you try to buy true 

love with money, you’ll be disappointed. 

AQUARIUS; The Moon in your Star sign’ll gives you new 

confidence and with new supports from the powers-thatbe, 

it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, 

especially with the veterans within your base of operation. 

Yet you will be lucky today. 

PISCES; Better days are ahead of you but, you will today 

need to do away with non-productive argument and/or 

agreement. Try to be more diplomatic now. 

ARIES; If what you’re doing today’ll depend on 

tomorrow’s event it’s better you’re more careful now. Even 

things may not go according to your personal plans today. 

Yet it’s important you plan both your immediate and far 

future carefully now. 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

TAURUS; If you take to aggression, your ego would be 

deflated by your superior 

colleagues, but your being co-operative in a civilised way’ll 

prevent trouble. 

GEMINI; Those willing to put you to shame one way or 

the other’ll be disappointed with the turn of things today. 

It’s good to secure support of your spouse. 

CANCER; You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times 

and it’s now time you settle down for hard work in order to 

prevent avoidable trouble. Be patient please. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astrological 

Counselling, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos 

What’s my career? 

Dear Joshua, 

I am interested in your Astrological counselling. Kindly 

tell me everything ASTROLOGICAL about myself, especially COUNSELLING 

my finance and 

career; would I be rich eventually, if yes what should I do 

to make it happen quickly. 

Abdul-Ganiyu, Abuja. 

Dear Abdul-Ganiyu, 

There are indications of financial success for you but 

you can not change what Almighty God Has designed for 

you talking about the timing (the quickness you talked in 

your letter) Certainly however no failure for you. 

Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, 

together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in 

Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to both 

Accountancy profession and the academic world. Truly you 

did not make wrong choice of career. 

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not 

be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. 

Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very comfortable 

when you were born. It will not be out of place if you have 

filling stations as time goes by, because you are basically 

a GAS PERSON. Another money spinning vocation for 

you include writing either along your line or for film 

making industry; it is important you exhibit the higher 

quotient of creativity in your inner-self. Yes your dream of 

becoming A Professor will come to reality. Politics is 

another area you are not looking at now but will surely 

come. Do you say why? Because Aquarius is equally 

political. 

Venus that was powerfully placed when you were born is 

all about MONEY. Thus you have special ability to make 

money. And as it was at positive angle to disciplined Saturn, 

you are not giving to serious frivolity. One major challenge 

here is envy by others but you will eventually overcome. 

Another source of challenges is your love life which looks 

not totally balanced. 

Basically you are a family minded person. You are equally 

loving and caring. But sometimes your love of freedom get 

better off you to the resentment of your closer 

partner(s).Then some other times it is other party’s fault 

making love-business very interesting. And unless you are 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa


Griezmann 

under pressure 

to deliver for 

injury plagued 

Barca 

B 

•Griezman 

arcelona forward Antoine 

Griezmann is under 

pressure to deliver in his 

home bow against Real Betis 

on Sunday with the La Liga 

champions facing an injury 

crisis in attack as they look to 

respond to last week’s 

surprise defeat at Athletic 

Bilbao. 

The 1-0 loss was Barca’s 

first opening-day defeat in 11 

years and their early-season 

jitters were further 

compounded when striker 

Luis Suarez and electric 

winger Ousmane Dembele 

were ruled out for at least a 

month with muscle problems. 

Lionel Messi missed the 

trip to Bilbao with a calf injury 

and although Barca’s all-time 

top scorer has returned to 

training, he is unlikely to be 

handed a starting berth given 

that he missed most of preseason. 

With the Catalans short of 

three of their top forwards, all 

eyes will be on Griezmann in 

his first appearance at the 

Camp Nou since his 120- 

million-euro (£109 million) 

move from Atletico Madrid, 

and not least because Barca 

need a win to kickstart their 

season. 

Barca coach Ernesto 

Valverde challenged 

Griezmann to be more 

involved in his next outing. 

“He has to be more involved 

in the play and always be 

looking to get involved,” he 

said. 

“It is good to have him near 

the area because of his 

movement but that will only 

work if we completely 

dominate games.” 

Nwora to release 

12-man roster on 

August 27 

•As D’Tigers arrive China 

’Tigers coach Alex Nwora 

D has disclosed that the 

final 12-man roster for the 

FIBA World Cup holding in 

China will be released after 

their Peak invitational 

campaign on August 27 

before their first game against 

Russia on Saturday, August 

31 

Ṅigeria whose last 

appearance at the World Cup 

was 2006 is grouped 

alongside Russia, Argentina 

and Korea. 

The Nwora tutored side 

with 15 players still in camp 

eight days to the World Cup 

starting on August 31 will 

compete against fellow 

World Cup bound Iran, 

Montenegro and Poland as 

they perfect their plans. 

The senior men national 

team which departed Lagos 

Tuesday arrived Wednesday 

night before proceeding to 

Yangzhou for the Peak 

Invitational International 

tournament which started 

yesterday and ends on 

Tuesday next week. 

Ex Super 

Falcons 

striker 

Chiejine 

dies at 36 

ormer Super Falcons 

Fstriker, Ifeanyi Chiejine 

has died after a protracted 

illness. She was 36. 

A family member disclosed 

that Chiejine died at 10.35pm 

on Wednesday and it came as 

a rude shock as she was 

showing signs of recovery 

from a long illness. 

“We received the news with 

shock and the whole family 

is saddened by her passing,” 

said athletics coach Sade 

Olalekan who is married to 

Chiejine’s elder sister. 

“She was a shinning star 

that brought joy to the family 

and Nigeria in general.” 

Chiejine played 68 games 

and scoring 18 times for the 

Super Falcons. She was the 

youngest player at the 1999 

FIFA Women World Cup and 

went on to play in the 2003 

and 2007 tournaments. At the 

2007 Africa Games in Algeria 

she was the highest goal 

scorer with five goals to her 

credit. She played for local 

clubs like Pelicans Stars of 

Calabar, FCT Queens of 

Abuja and Flying Babes 

before going to the USA, 

Russia and Finland to play. 

“We are sad to announce the 

sudden demise of our former 

Super Falcons player. Rest in 

peace, Ifeanyichukwu 

Stephanie Chiejine,” the 

Nigeria Football Federation 

(NFF) said in a tweet. 

•Chiejine 

•Iwobi 

Aston Villa v Everton 

Iwobi won’t be rushed 

into starting line-up 

—Silva 

Everton Manager, Marco Silva has said he was not going 

to rush Nigerian forward, Alex Iwobi in the starting 

line-up in tonight’s Premier League clash with Aston 

Villa. 

Silva was asked about the progress of new signing Iwobi, 

who is yet to make his debut for the club, but the Everton boss 

will not rush him into the line-up. 

Silva said: “He is looking forward to that [making his Everton 

debut]. He started [pre-season] late, this is just his second week 

working with the team. 

“We have to take care of the situation and give him enough 

time to get fitter. He is getting better and if I decide he will be 

ready, then he will give that high quality. I have no doubt about 

that.” 

Everton can take top spot in the Premier League on Friday, 

but head coach Marco Silva says his side must prove themselves 

worthy with victory over Aston Villa. 

The Toffees travel to Villa Park on Friday Night Football, live 

on Sky Sports Premier League, hoping to continue their 

unbeaten start to the season and knowing that a win would 

move them to the summit of the top flight heading into the 

weekend’s matches. 

“It would be good but we have to prove we are able to do that,” said Silva. “It is up 

to us to prove on the pitch we are able to get the three points. 

“We have to respect our opponent, they have quality. Like always we go there to 

win a football match and play at our best level.” 

Gunners invade Anfield with high spirits 

nai Emery insists 

UArsenal go into 

Saturday’s table-topping 

clash at Liverpool in high 

spirits and vowed to play to 

their strengths at Anfield. 

The Gunners were on the 

wrong end of a 5-1 thumping 

on their last visit to Anfield, 

with Roberto Firmino netting 

a hat-trick and Sadio Mane 

and Mo Salah also getting on 

the scoresheet. 

But after starting this season 

with back-to-back wins, the 

Arsenal coach heads to 

Merseyside in the belief his 

side can get something from 

the game – and has insisted 

they will look to attack the 

European champions. 

“Each match is a big 

challenge and for us one to 

prepare as well as possible,” 

Emery told a press conference 

to preview the game at 

Ronaldo: Messi 

made me a 

Anfield. 

“We need to continue 

creating our way, be strong, 

to recover and be fit some 

players, the percentage they 

need to improve. 

“We are very close to 

achieve that every player can 

be ready to play. We need 

some more time. For Saturday 

we are with a good spirit, 

every player is ready to play 

with a big ambition.” 

better player 

Cristiano Ronaldo opened up about his relationship 

and rivalry with Lionel Messi in the second part 

of an interview broadcast by Portuguese television 

channel, TVI.The Portuguese forward says he enjoys an excellent relationship 

with Messi and believes that their long-standing rivalry was mutually beneficial. 

He also had a few words of advice for João Félix on how to succeed in LaLiga. 

Relationship with Messi: “There’s no doubt at all that he made me a better player 

and I did the same to him. Rivalries are good, they’re healthy - in football or in any 

other sport. I have the greatest admiration for the career Leo has carved out and he has 

opnly said that he was sorry to see me leave the Spanish league. That’s because we 

had a rivalry that he enjoyed. It’s perfectly normal - the healthy rivalry that exists in 

football. Professionally we get on really well”. 

Have you ever had dinner with Messi?: “No, but maybe in the future, why not? I’d 

have no problem with that - he’s Argentinean and so is my wife”. 

Dare ‘ll usher new era in youth, 

Sports devt —Ojo Ola Oyo 

•Dare 

igerians are now 

Nassured of a new era of 

smooth administration and 

all-round, unlimited boom in 

the development of youths 

and sports in the country. 

That was the conclusion of a 

socio-political group, Ojo 

Ola Oyo based in Ibadan, Oyo 

state. 

Reacting to the 

inauguration and eventual 

assumption of office 

Wednesday by the new 

minister of sports, founder of 

the group, Kehinde 

Olaosebikan said, “with the 

dexterity and lucid vision of 

Mr. Sunday Dare, the new 

minister in charge of sports 

and youth development, 

Nigerian sports will witness 

a boom in growth and 

development.” 

Ojo Ola Oyo, a social 

political organization 

promoting the ideals for 

youth and development with 

its base in Ibadan said that 

Sunday Dare had proved that 

he possessed all that is 

required to reposition the 

ministry and take sports and 

youth affairs in the country to 

the next level. 

Already, Ojo Ola Oyo was 

impressed that the new 

minister had hit the ground 

running with the exposition 

of a clear cut vision while 

some of his contemporaries 

were still in the dark as to the 

functions of their ministries. 

Alhaji Kehinde 

Olaosebikan founder of Ojo 

Ola Oyo noted, with joy that 

the minister has ‘’began work 

in a way that was not known 

in the history of assumption 

R 

•Ronaldo 

•Lukaku 

Lukaku 

blasts 

Solksjaer 

omelu Lukaku has 

criticised the way he 

was used at Manchester 

United and rejected 

suggestions he is just a target 

man, something Ole Gunnar 

Solskjaer remarked shortly 

after his departure. 

The Norwegian was 

somewhat dismissive of 

Lukaku after his move to Inter 

Milan, saying ‘he’s one of the 

top number nines when you 

want to play with that kind of 

striker, he’s that target man’. 

Lukaku said: ‘A lot of people 

try to make me the player that 

I’m not. Because of my size, 

they think that I’m like the 

traditional big guy, who posts 

up all the defenders, holds 

the ball and then plays it and 

brings in other players. Well, 

I’m not that type of dude. 

‘I’m a scorer, 100%. I need 

to face the goal, that’s when 

I’m dangerous. That’s why, 

when I play for Belgium, I’m 

so much more dangerous 

because I’m in a situation 

where I face the goal at all 

times. At all times. 

“I never have my back to the 

goal, I face the goal at all 

times. So that’s when I’m 

really dangerous and that’s 

why I’m really successful for 

my country.’ 

of office in the country. 

Without any prior 

knowledge of his posting, the 

new minister rolled out a well 

articulated vision and 

mission of his administration 

with great emphasis on 

efficient administration and 

inclusive sports 

development, all resonating 

well with the officials of the 

ministry” 

Ojo Ola Oyo explained that 

what the country needed 

mainly now, in youth 

development, sports and 

other sectors’ management, 

are brilliant, focused and 

proactive administrators like 

Sunday Dare, capable of 

taking functional steps and 

pragmatic decisions on their 

feet.


Negotiations are 

underway in Paris 

as Real Madrid’s 

representatives have 

travelled to France in order 

to speak with Paris Saint- 

Germain about Neymar. 

Los Blancos are optimistic, 

without having given much 

away about the talks. 

Barcelona have been 

trying for a number of weeks 

to find an offer that satisfies 

PSG, but they’re yet to find 

anything that comes close. 

Madrid, meanwhile, have 

been waiting until the last 

few days to make their move. 

Madrid are convinced that 

they’ll find PSG willing to 

sell to them, due to their poor 

relationship with the 

Catalans and Neymar’s 

public desire to leave. 

But those at Barcelona 

expect another gesture from 

Neymar, this time to make 

his preference towards a 

Camp Nou move clear, but 

the Brazilian doesn’t want to 

jeopardise his departure and 

just wants out of the Parc 

des Princes. 

With just 11 days of the 

NFSC urges new 

sports minister to 

embrace all sports 

Nigeria Football supporters 

club(NFSC), has congratulated 

the new sports Minister, Sunday 

Dare, who was among the ministers sworn 

in on Wednesday by President Buhari at 

the Presidential Vila, Abuja. 

In a statement by the club, signed by it’s 

President General, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo and 

the National Chairman, Rev. Samuel 

Ikpea, expressed confidence that Honourable, 

Dare, a veteran Journalist will no 

doubt use his wealth of experience to reposition 

the country’s sports and take it to 

greater height. 

The club, while promising to give the minister 

all necessary support to enable him 

succeed in his assignment, commended 

President Mohammadu Buhari for the good 

choice he made in appointing Sunday Dare 

as sports Minister. 

Oladipo stressed that Nigeria deserved 

to be one of the 10 best sporting nations in 

the world today. 

“And as such, it is time to wake up and 

bounce back to where we should be. Also 

all sports, football, Basketball, Handball 

Lawn Tennis, Table tennis and the host of 

others should be encouraged to develop “ 

he concluded. 

Real Madrid in Paris 

to discuss Neymar 

window remaining, no 

significant progress has been 

made yet, meaning that things 

will need to pick up pace 

soon. 

Players are now being 

considered by PSG, despite 

turning down an offer of 100 

million euros as well as 

Gareth Bale, Keylor Navas 

and James Rodriguez. 

Pepe set for full Arsenal debut 

against Liverpool 

Arsenal boss Unai Em 

ery has hinted he is ready 

to unleash £72million 

club-record signing Nicolas 

Pepe against Liverpool. 

The 24-year-old made a promising 

debut as a second-half substitute 

in last weekend’s 2-1 win 

over Burnley as he seeks to acclimatise 

to life in north London following 

a summer move from 

Lille. 

The Gunners were beaten 5-1 

at Anfield last season and the European 

champions have started 

the new season in ominous fashion, 

beating Norwich and Southampton 

either side of lifting the 

Uefa Super Cup against Chelsea 

in Istanbul. 

Emery admitted Pepe will need 

Enyimba will Trash Rahimo FC – Oladapo 

•Enyimba team 

Neymar 

Salah 

Liverpool to 

increase Anfield 

capacity above 

60,000 

Liverpool have confirmed that 

they are now actively pursuing 

new, ‘ambitious’ plans to redevelop 

the Anfield Road stand of the club’s 

home ground. 

\Previous outline planning 

permission for an extension to the 

stand will be allowed to expire next 

month in order for an alternative 

proposal to be put forward. \ 

The original plans catered for the 

addition of just 4,000 seats - a figure 

that would have taken overall 

capacity to just over 58,000. 

\However, it is now understood that 

the club’s owners, FSG, are keen to 

go beyond the 60,000 mark. 

LFC’s chief operating officer Andy 

Hughes said: “The progress that has 

been made during ongoing 

feasibility studies has resulted in us 

being in a position to allow the 

outline planning permission to 

lapse. 

“We are committed to working with 

local residents, planning officials 

and others as we now focus on the 

detail behind any proposed 

redevelopment for Anfield Road. 

Enyimba FC Midfielder Austin Oladapo has 

expressed confidence in the ability of the 

team to overturn the 1- 0 loss in the Champions 

League preliminaries into a landslide victory 

against Rahimo FC come Sunday. 

Oladapo stated that the team is in form, as 

preparations for the reverse fixture have been 

impressive, having trashed Destiny FC 6-1 on 

Tuesday and secured wins against Diamond 

Stars, Wilbros FC and NPFL side Delta Force in 

their friendlies. 

“I know we can come out winners on Sunday 

and make everyone proud and we are going to 

qualify for the next round,” Oladapo said. 

It should be noted that the two-time CAF 

Champions League winners, Enyimba, will host 

the Burkinabe on Sunday behind closed doors in 

Aba – even though Coach Usman Abdallah says 

they have not received a formal letter from CAF. 

The People’s Elephants must gain a 2-0 win to 

qualify for the next stage of the competition. 

time to adapt but suggested he 

will not be deterred by handing 

him his full debut despite the difficult 

test that lies in wait on Merseyside. 

“The most important thing is, 

like a person, to help him and his 

family to feel comfortable here,” 

said Emery. 

“I think his individual performances 

are progressively getting 

better. For Saturday, he is maybe 

ready to have more minutes. I am 

going to decide on Friday, but really 

his progress has been positive 

and has been good for the 

team and for him. The most important 

piece of the adaptation 

is to help him to feel easy and be 

comfortable with us.” 

SWAN 

congratulates 

new sports 

minister, reels 

out expectations 

The Sports Writers Association of 

Nigeria (SWAN) has 

congratulated the newly appointed 

Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. 

Sunday Dare, describing his 

appointment as well-deserved. 

According to SWAN, Mr. Dare’s 

appointment “represents a new frontier 

in the administration of sports in 

Nigeria and one that is expected to 

usher in dynamism, resourcefulness 

and focused leadership. 

“As the umbrella body of all sports 

journalists in Nigeria, affiliated to the 

Association Internationale de la Presse 

Sportive (AIPS) and the Nigeria Union 

of Journalists (NUJ), SWAN calls on 

the new Minister to give every sport 

adequate attention, unlike some of his 

predecessors that focused mainly on 

football to the detriment of others. 

A statement issued by its national 

secretariat and signed by the Deputy 

Secretary General, Babafemi Raji, 

noted that over the years, the fortune 

of Nigeria in international 

championships have continued to 

dwindle due largely to lack of 

concerted effort to discover budding 

talents that abound in the length and 

breadth of the country. 

“SWAN believes that Nigeria 

deserves more than what the country is 

getting from sports in view of the 

abundance of natural talents in 

practically every field; hence our hope 

that you will give priority to grassroots 

sports. 

“Equally of importance to SWAN is 

the regrettable state of federal 

government-owned sports facilities; we 

make bold to say that they are mostly 

in dire need of rehabilitation, 

especially the pitch of the now 

Moshood Abiola National Stadium, 

where it is evident that anthills are 

freely springing up due to lack of 

maintenance.




Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

THURSDAY’S SOLUTION 

How to 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 to right), column, (also nine lines 

from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine 

blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no 

number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or 

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

Across 

1 The drink of the gods (6) 

4 Game played in a court (6) 

8 British soldier (5) 

9 Fictional vampire (7) 

10 Car frame (7) 

11 Skirts worn by 

ballerinas (5) 

12 Police officer (9) 

17 Vertical part of a stair (5) 

19 Be enough (7) 

21 Decorated (7) 

22 Scottish dances (5) 

23 14-line poem (6) 

24 Confer, impart (6) 

Down 

1 Observe (6) 

2 Red aperitif (7) 

3 Bottomless gulf (5) 

5 Group of four musicians (7) 

6 Grown-up (5) 

7 Funeral car (6) 

9 Scattered (9) 

13 Odd (7) 

14 Apparel (7) 

15 Fractures (6) 

16 Playground item (6) 

18 Contempt (5) 

20 Smithy (5) 

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri-Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Hotline: 

08027767834; 01-4544821. Abuja office: 7, Dambata Close, Area 7, Garki, 09-2921024. Ikeja office: 73, Awolowo Way. V.I. Office: Murplus Plaza, 27, Sanusi Fafunwa Street. Asaba: 21, Anwai 

Road. Benin City: 4E, Arusa Street. Port Harcourt: 50, Ikwerre Road; Warri: 102, Efurun-Sapele Road. Advert: advertproduction@yahoo.com; E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, 

news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01-4548355. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

23082019 - Anger, as B-Haram retakes 2 LGAs in Borno

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