01092019

PAGE 2, SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019, PAGE 3 

•New leadeers of the Abuja Newspapers Distribution Association, ANDA, including 

Mr. Benjamin Obute, President, , Mr. John Abuh, Vice President, Femi Emmanuel, 

General Secretary, Benson Ujong, Financial Secretary, Alhassan Ibrahim, Treasurer, 

Yakubu Abubakar, Assistant Secretary, Andrew Nwobodo, Assistant Financial 

Secretary,Abam Uket, PRO, Eunice Ogundare, Welfare Secretary, George Joseph, 

Provost 1,Faith Ipogah, Provost 11 and Murtala Abdullahi, Provost 111, with Northern 

Region Editor of Vanguard, Soni Daniel, during a visit to Vanguard House,Abuja. 

Female banker shot dead over PoS in Ondo 

By Dayo Johnson, Akure 

A 

30-year-old female 

banker in Ondo 

State, Nofisat Adetutu 

Ibrahim, has been shot 

dead by suspected hired 

killers over alleged 

disagreement with a 

notable business woman 

on the issuance of Point of 

Sale (PoS) machine. 

The deceased, a graduate 

of mass communications 

from Adekunle Ajasin 

University, Akungba, 

Akoko, was a contract staff 

in charge of PoS ordering 

before her life was cut short. 

Police detectives have 

quizzed the bank regional 

manager, the manager in 

the state capital and the 

prime suspect, the business 

woman. 

While the regional 

manager and the manager 

were released after hours of 

interrogation, the prime 

suspect was at press time 

still in police custody at 

Fanibi Police Station. 

The disagreement was 

said to have started when 

the business woman 

requested for a POS 

machine from the bank 

and the request was 

declined because another 

client operated same 

service at the same 

location. 

The business woman was 

said to have been irked that 

the deceased declined her 

request and reportedly 

threatened to deal with her. 

The regional and the 

branch managers were said 

to have been quizzed by 

police detectives for not 

taking action despite 

Warri Boys 

Association 

holds inaugural 

colloquium 

By Nicholas Esekhile 

WARRI Boys Association 

(WBA), 

a 

cosmopolitan pressure group 

domiciled in Lagos would 

hold its inaugural colloquium 

in which stakeholders in the 

Warri Growth and 

Development Project would 

brainstorm on how to improve 

on the fortunes of Warri in 

particular and Delta State in 

general. 

The planned colloquium 

will serve as a micro-platform 

for citizen’s engagement 

towards engendering, socio 

economic development in 

Warri in particular, and also 

Delta State in Extension. 

complaints of threat to her 

life by the deceased. 

Gunmen operating on 

motorbike, pretending to be 

customers arriving to 

transact business in her 

terminal, reportedly 

By Yinka Ajayi 

THE venue of the party, 

said to have been 

organised, yesterday, by selfacclaimed 

cross-dresser, Idris 

Okunneye (Bobrisky), to 

mark his birthday, was sealed 

by the police. Five suspected 

cross dressers were arrested 

at the place located on 

highbrow Wole Olateju 

‘I escaped herdsmen attack’ 

By Chris Onuoha 

THE last may not have 

been heard about 

rampaging herdsmen in 

parts of the country. 

In two separate incidents, 

victims told tales of woe. 

The first incident involved 

a victim identified as 

Olukolade Oke, who owned 

a farm in Wasimi, Ogun 

State, while the second saw 

a medical doctor, Conrad 

Esomonu, fleeing Ahiazu 

Mbaise, Imo State. 

Narrating the Wasimi 

incident, an eye witness said 

the farm owner was 

attacked in January by the 

herders in retaliation for the 

killing of 11 cows in the area. 

The herders were 

protesting the killing of their 

cows which had apparently 

stormed the area on 

Wednesday evening and 

tried to strangle her but 

while she tried to escape, 

they shot her twice at close 

range. 

Her lifeless body in her 

destroyed some farms in the 

area. And because Oke 

owned a farm in the area, the 

herders must have believed 

he was privy to the killing of 

the cows. So, he was 

attacked, the eye witness 

said. 

“The herders vandalised 

the farm but Oke somehow 

escaped in his car”. The eye 

witness said the incident was 

reported to the police. 

In the second case, some 

assailants, believed to be 

herdsmen stormed his 

Bonbolini Avenue, Owerri 

home on August 3, looking 

for him. 

A neighbour identified as 

Carol Ugwuegbu, who 

operates a provision store in 

the area, said the incident 

happened one particular 

evening. 

•From left: Media consultant, Aramide Tola Noibi; Hon Olisa Adefalujo and Hon 

Ayo Mefus during Senator Adefuye’s 75th birthday thanks giving service mass 

held at St. Dennis Catholic Church, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos. 

own pool of blood was 

discovered about 30 

minutes later. 

Ondo State Police 

Command spokesperson, 

Femi Joseph, confirmed the 

killing. 

Police stop Bobrisky’s party, arrest five cross dressers 

Crescent, off Admiralty Way, 

Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. 

Sources told Sunday 

Vanguard that the arrested 

persons were being detained 

at Maroko Police Station, 

Lekki. Bobrisky’s 

whereabouts could not be 

immediately ascertained. 

The self-acclaimed cross 

dresser has been in the eye of 

the storm of late after the 

Man stabbed to death in Ekiti 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

A 

middle aged man, 

Sunday Olorunleke, 

was, yesterday, found dead 

in his house at Abe Aba area 

of Ado Ekiti. 

The deceased, said to be a 

commercial motorcyclist, 

was found lying in the pool 

of his own blood after he 

was allegedly stabbed by yet 

to be identified persons. 

Sunday Vanguard 

gathered that the man was 

killed after his wife and 

children had gone out and 

only him was at home. 

Neighbours said the 

incident might have 

happened between 

Thursday and Saturday 

because he was still seen in 

the neighborhood on 

Thursday afternoon. 

According to them, the 

wife of the deceased put a 

call across to them on 

Thursday when she could 

not reach her husband on 

phone and they informed 

her that they saw him that 

day. The wife was said to 

have arrived Saturday 

morning and met the doors 

Federal Government said his 

dressing did not agree with 

Nigeria’s culture, alleging 

that it could be a bad 

influence on youths. 

The Director General of 

the National Council for Arts 

and Culture (NCAC), 

Otunba 

Segun 

Runsewe,warned Bobrisky to 

stop his mode of dressing or 

risk arrest. 

closed, and she had to break 

into the apartment with the 

assistance of the people, 

where she found her 

husband’s corpse on the 

floor. They called on the 

security agents to 

investigate the killing. 

NDDC COMMISSIONER: Ondo 

oil communities reject Edema 


STAKEHOLDERS in the 

oil-rich Ondo South 

under the aegis of the South 

Mandate Group (OSMG) 

have kicked against the 

nomination of Mr Gbenga 

Edema as the Commissioner 

representing Ondo State on 

the board of the Niger Delta 

Development Commission 

(NDDC). 

The group, which consists 

of All Progressives Congress 

(APC) members, oil 

producing communities and 

leaders of Ondo South, said 

the nomination of Edema 

was fraught with 

irregularities. 

A statement in Akure by 

their Chairman and 

Secretary, Benson Odoro and 

Ayesa Adebambo respectively, 

said since Edema is the 

Chairman of Ondo State Oil 

Area Development 

Commission (OSOPADEC), 

another person should have 

been nominated as the NDDC 

Commissioner. 

“The appointment of 

Edema as OSOPADEC boss 

by Governor Rotimi 

Akeredolu was illegal as he is 

not from core oil-producing 

communities in Ilaje Local 

Government Area of the 

state”, the statement said. 

SULEJA TANKER EXPLOSION: 

One dead, many injured, 19 

vehicles burnt 

By Wole Mosadomi 

ONE person died, 

several others 

seriously sustained injuries 

while 19 vehicles were 

burnt when a tanker in 

Suleja, Niger State. 

The fuel laden truck was 

said to have exploded at 

Dikko Junction along 

Kaduna-Suleja-Abuja road 

A 

member of the Peoples 

Democratic Party PDP, 

in Okpe Local Government 

Area of Delta State, Kennedy 

Eyube, has described 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as 

a visionary leader and 

someone developing the 

state with his Stronger Delta 

project. 

Eyube, a renowned 

philanthropist, in a 

statement in Warri, 

felicitated with the governor 

on the 28th anniversary of 

on Friday night. 

Niger State Emergency 

Management Agency 

(NSEMA) confirmed the 

lone death, saying the 

number of the injured could 

not be ascertained. 

Director General of 

NSEMA, Alhaji Ahmed 

Inga said the explosion 

occurred around 10:30p.m. 

on Friday. 

‘Okowa’s Stronger Delta project 

laudable’ 

By Adetutu Audu 

The spiritual head of INRI 

Evangelical Spiritual 

Church, Primate Babatunde 

Elijah Ayodele (JP), has warned 

that the country may be 

heading towards another 

economic recession. 

Speaking during the public 

presentation of the 2019/2020 

edition of his annual prophecy 

handbook, ‘Warnings to 

Nations’, which held at his 

church’s headquarters in 

Lagos, he stated that the 

challenges facing Nigeria are 

caused by leadership, warning 

that unless the leaders change 

their ways and turn to God, 

Nigeria would continue to 

swim in troubled waters. 

He said “A country like 

Delta State creation. 

He said: “It is worth 

celebrating because for 28 

years despite our ethnic 

diversity in Delta State, we 

have lived peacefully, 

harmoniously and united. 

As we celebrate, I urge the 

people of Delta State 

irrespective of their political 

affiliations to support the 

governor’s Stronger Delta 

project aimed at improving 

the welfare of the people”. 

Another economic recession looms 

— Primate Elijah Ayodele 

External Relations, Igo Weli, 

said in Port Harcourt, Rivers 

State that this social 

investment, in it’s 6th run, 

brings to 92 the total 

number of beneficiaries on 

the scheme since 2010 

inception. 

Weli, represented by 

Gloria Udoh, Manager, 

Social Investment & Social 

Performance, said the 

preference for overseas PG 

was forced by “lack of world 

Nigeria or, better still, the 

world at large needs to be 

guided by prophesy. For 

instance, white men will often 

times consult a psychologist 

when things are not right but 

a nation without prophesy 

will perish because when you 

don’t have the knowledge of 

what is coming ahead of you 

or time, you will run into 

jeopardy. 

“Our country (Nigeria) 

needs to do what is right and 

put what is right together to 

get things right. The country 

is not going well because past 

leaders fail to actualize some 

of the things they started.” 

Ayodele therefore urged 

President Mohammed 

Buhari to do the needful to 

avoid another recession. 

Niger Delta: Lucky 13 gain SPDC UK post graduate 

scholarships 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

13 Niger Deltan 

beneficiaries have 

been presented full tuition 

and boarding scholarships 

to pursue post graduate 

(PG) studies in United 

Kingdom universities by the 

Shell Petroleum 

Development Company, 

SPDC. 

SPDC General Manager, 

class research institutions 

and limited access to 

technology as key 

challenges in enabling 

Nigerians and Nigerian 

Companies play key role in 

the oil and gas value 

chain.” 

The beneficiaries, five 

from Rivers, four from 

Delta, three (Bayelsa) and 

one from Imo, described 

the opportunity as a 

lifetime privilege.

PAGE 4 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 

•From left: Apostle Peter Oyewusi, Mr Layo Benson, Senator Anthony Adefuye, 

Alhaji Fatai Bakare, Hon. Olisa Adefalujo and Chief Sikiru Asenuga as Shomalu/ 

Bariga APC stalwarts present a gift to Adefuye during an event to mark the senator’s 

75th birthday. 

Bayelsa PDP primary: Uncertainty 

over ‘anointed’ aspirants 

L 

By Olayinka Ajayi 

Ijaw youth leader 

backs Asari Dokubo 

By Tony Nwankwo 

eader of Niger Delta 

Volunteer Force 

(NDVF) and convener, Biafra 

National Congress (BNC), 

Alhaji Asari Dokubo, has fundamental 

right of association 

as enshrined in the Nigerian 

Constitution. Therefore, 

Bayelsa State as the 

‘Jerusalem’ of all Ijaws irrespective 

of where they come 

from, must avoid any acts 

that create disunity. 

Speaking in Lagos, former 

President, Ijaw Youth Development 

Association (IYDA), 

Comrade Fiyebo Eperetei, 

advised Ijaw youths to be 

conscious of Ijaw history and 

the roles of their leaders who 

had made sacrifices on Ijaw 

cause, which he said, must 

include the likes of Asari 

Dokubo. 

Take over forests nationwide to curb banditry 

— Conservator, Kainji Lake National Park 

Two days to the governorship 

primary election of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, in Bayelsa State, there is 

uncertainty over the prospects 

of choice aspirants. 

The situation was gathered 

to have been informed by 

what sources described as 

Governor Seriake Dickson’s 

indecision over whom to support. 

Before now, the impression 

was that Dickson cared less 

about his likely successor but 

indications emerged, suggesting 

that he has sympathy 

for Senator Douye Diri’s aspiration. 

Sources close to the Bayelsa 

helmsman told Sunday 

Vanguard that he had asked 

his men to work for Diri, who 

was among the 21 PDP aspirants 

who picked nomination 

forms. 

However, if the latest developments 

are anything to go 

by, Diri’s prospects are no 

longer bright. The reason is 

that the immediate past Secretary 

to the State Government, 

SSG, Mr. Kemela Okara, 

now appears to be the chosen 

one. 

Though information to that 

effect is not confirmed, many 

stakeholders believe the governor 

has changed his position 

on who to support. 

Reports suggesting that the 

governor has thrown his 

weight behind the former 

SSG elicited jubilation at 

Okara’s campaign headquarters. 

In what appeared like a 

confirmation of the news, an 

associate of the governor, 

Senator Inatimi Rufus-Spiff, 

has emerged as the Director- 

General of Okara Campaign 

Organisation. 

Notwithstanding, the aspiration 

of the duo of Okara 

and Diri was learned not to 

be popular among stakeholders, 

who regard them as unpopular 

choices. 

Government House sources 

said, of the aspirants, the 

ambition of a former Chairman 

of Bayelsa State Board 

of Internal Revenue, Dr. Nimibofa 

Ayawei, resonates. 

It was learned that his lastminute 

entry is not unconnected 

with the signal he got 

from the governor. 

Observers consider his 

popularity across the state and 

his loyalty to the party as assets. 

His decision not to sign the 

impeachment notice against 

then-Governor Diepreye 

Alamieyeseigha in 2005 remains 

a reference point. 

Leah Sharibu alive – Presidency 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

HE Presidency, yester 

Tday, said that the Christian 

Dapchi secondary school 

girl, who was held by the 

Boko Haram terrorists for not 

denouncing her Christian 

faith, Leah Sharibu, was still 

alive. 

Senior Special Assistant to 

the President on Media and 

Publicity, Mallam Garba 

Shehu, stated this in an interview 

with a group of journalists 

in Abuja. 

There have been speculations 

that Leah, a student of 

Government Girls Science 

and Technical School, Dapchi, 

Yobe State who was kidnapped 

in February 2018, 

may have been killed by her 

abductors. 

But clearing the air on the 

condition of the girl, Shehu 

said that the Buhari administration 

will not give up on 

her safe return. 

“Instead of giving up, the 

government is carrying forward 

processes that should 

hopefully yield her release by 

her captors’’, he said. 

He told reporters emphatically 

that much of what had 

been written about the girl in 

the media was fake news. 

By Wole Mosadomi, 

Minna 

HE Conservator of the 

TKainji Lake National 

Park, Jimoh Bolanle Oladosu, 

has called on the Federal 

Government to take 

over all forests across the 

country as a bold step towards 

curbing insecurity 

across the country. 

He said, already, most of 

the forests across the country 

have been identified as 

habouring criminals from 

where they hatch their criminal 

activities and torment 

Nigerians. 

The Conservator, who 

made the call when he 

paid a courtesy visit to 

the Nigerian Army 31 Artillery 

Brigade in Minna, 

declared that most of the 

forests have now become 

safe haven for bandits, adding 

that the only way to curb 

their nefarious actitivities is 

for the Federal government 

to set up a Joint Task Force 

to flush out the criminals 

before further terror is unleashed 

on innocent citizens. 

He said, “Such step already 

taken by government 

by setting up a joint Task 

Force comprising of the 

Military, National Parks 

Service (NPS) and local 

vigilantes has saved the 

Kainji Lake National Park 

in New Bussa, Niger State 

from being taken over by 

criminals and this can be 

replicated in other forests 

across the country to curb 

criminality. 

"If the forests are not 

manned and taken over by 

government, it is going to 

constitute a big threat to the 

country. Any forest that is 

•Host Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (3rd left); Governors David Umahi of 

Ebonyi State/Chairman of South East Governors Forum, Engr. David Umahi (4th left); Willie 

Obiano of Anambra State (4th right); Emeka Ihedioha (3rd left); Deputy Governor of Abia 

State, Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu (2nd left); Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika (middle); 

GOC, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.Gen. Abubakar Maikobi (left); Air Officer Commanding 

Ground Training Command, Nigeria Air Force (NAF), Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin 

(2nd right) and AIG, Zone 9, Umuahia, Baba Tijani, others, during the expanded meeting of 

the South East Governors Forum, held at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday. 

The former state legislator 

and Commissioner for Housing 

was among five lawmakers, 

who refused to append 

their signature to impeach 

Alamieyeseigha. 

Party leaders and other 

members regard him as 

someone without any baggage. 

Hence the decision to 

support his aspiration. 

Another person with bright 

chances is a former Managing 

Director of Niger Delta 


(NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe. 

He said, “Lines of communications 

remain open with 

the kidnappers, ISWA, to secure 

the release of Leah Sharibu. 

“Contrary to fake reports, 

she is alive - given assurances 

from our security agencies-, 

and the government is committed 

to her safe return, as 

well as all other hostages to 

their families. 

“Kidnapping for ransom 

should never be encouraged. 

This means not capitulating 

to the demands of terrorists: 

refrain from rewarding their 

heinous crimes with payment’’. 

N10 million paid to secure release of abducted 

Kaduna lawmaker 

Ben Agande Kaduna 

N10 million may have 

been paid as ransom to facillitate 

the release of the member 

of the Kaduna State 

House of Assembly, Hon. 

Suleiman Ibrahim Dabo, 

who was abducted along 

Kaduna-Zaria road on 

Thursday. 

A highly placed official of 

government, who was involved 

in the negotiations, 

told Sunday Vanguard that 

the amount was arrived at 

between the family members 

of the lawmaker and the abductors. 

It was gathered that apart 

from the N10million naira 

ransom, the abductors also 

demanded and received recharge 

cards from family 

members of the abducted 

lawmaker running into several 

hundreds of Naira. 

“Ten million naira ransom 

was paid and the lawmaker 

has been released. It was a negotiation 

between his family 

members and the kidnappers. 

The Kaduna State government 

was fully briefed about 

the developments but I can’t 

tell their level of involvement”, 

the source, a senior 

police officer told Vanguard. 

Messages sent to Kaduna 

State Commissioner for 

Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, 

on the issues were not 

answered as of the time of this 

report. 

not manned now is going 

to constitute big danger that 

may consume us. 

“If the Federal Government 

takes over and they are 

manned, apart from harnessing 

the resources therein, 

no miscreants, kidnappers 

or bandits can enter the 

place to perpetrate their nefarious 

activities. The forest 

is where hoodlums and 

miscreants use as their safe 

haven and hideouts. 

”It is better we take proactive 

measures now than 

to start spending huge sums 

of money on curative. A lot 

of our forests have been degraded. 

Niger state for instance 

has a lot of forests 

that are very rich in bio-diversity 

and if they can be 

manned, protected and preserved, 

they will be highly 

beneficial to the people of 

the state and the country". 

Bishop Wale Oke Clocks 63 

Bishop 

Francis 

Wale Oke 

Bishop Francis Wale Oke, 

Presiding Bishop of Christ 

Life Church Worldwide, President 

of the Sword of the Spirit 

Ministries and the Chancellor 

of the Precious Cornerstone 

University, Ibadan, will 

be 63 on Sunday, September 

8. 

Born on Saturday, September 

8, 1956, in Kasumu village, 

Ibadan, the University 

of Lagos engineering graduate 

and National Deputy 

President of the Pentecostal 

Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) 

answered the call of God in 

December 1975. 

Educational empowerment: 

NYCN, Belemaoil splash N120 

million on 600 students 

APP guber candidate, Obire, returns to 

APC with over 20,000 supporters 

T was a warm embrace 

Iyesterday for the members 

of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Ward 5, Ovu, 

in Ethiope East Local Government 

Area of Delta State 

as the state Progressive Peoples 

Alliance, PPA, governorship 

candidate in the last general 

elections, Dr. O’Diakpo 

Obire, returned to the party, 

with his deputy, Engr. Rex Biose 

and over 20,000 supporters 

across the State. 

Receiving Dr. Obire at the 

party's Ward 05 Secretariat in 

Ovu, the APC Ward Chairman, 

Chief Ukavwe Anibor, 

the exco members and notable 

party leaders applauded 

his decision to return to the 

party, adding that Obire is a 

political asset that would 

boost the strength of APC in 

Ethiope East LGA and Delta 

Divinely raised and anointed 

by God for mass evangelism, 

church planting and 

raising of believers across the 

world, Oke stepped into full 

time ministry on May 17, 

1982. 

The cleric hosts a daily 

broadcast, ‘Voice of the Lord’. 

Oke has not only held mass 

crusades across Nigeria and 

many other African nations, 

he has equally flown the banner 

of Jesus Christ by preaching 

the gospel in many other 

parts of the world such as 

Europe, Asia, North America 

and Eastern Europe, among 

others. 

Married to Tokunbo Victoria 

and blessed with two children, 

Dorcas and Isaac, Oke, 

who has been hosting yearly 

Holy Ghost Convention since 

1983, has authored many 

books such as, Alone with 

God, Walking in God’s Covenant, 

the Precious Blood of 

Jesus, Stepping into Greatness 

and Weapons of our Warfare, 

among others. 

By Davies Iheamnachor 

ational Youth Council 

Nof Nigeria, NYCN, in 

collaboration with Belemaoil 

Producing Limited, have released 

N120 million to 600 

youths in the Niger Delta as 

educational empowerment. 

This is just as the ex-Niger 

Delta agitator, Alhaji Asari 

Dokubo, has lamented that 

militants in the guise of cultists 

have taken over and 

sacked many communities in 

Rivers State. 

Speaking in Port Harcourt 

while handing over the 

cheque of 200,000 to each of 

the 600 beneficiaries for education 

support as part of activities 

for the 2019 International 

Youth Day celebration, 

the Manager, External Relations 

of BPL, Mr. Abel Jumbo, 

said the move was to encourage 

education among 

youths. 

Jumbo noted that the firm 

has confidence in youths of 

the nation, stating that investment 

in the youths amounts 

to developing the nation. 

Meanwhile, Dokubo, the 

leader of Niger Delta Volunteer 

Force, NDVF, urged ethnic 

nationalities in Rivers 

State not to allow themselves 

to be used in fighting for the 

stay of Shell Petroleum Development 

Company, in the 

region. 

Dokubo said: “Today as I 

speak, some of our communities 

are deserted because 

militants have taken over our 

villages. They have nothing 

to offer”. 

State at large. 

The Chairman said on June 

26, 2018, Dr. O’Diakpo Obire 

who was then a bonafide 

card-carrying member and a 

frontline governorship aspirant 

of APC, released a press 

statement in which he announced 

his decision to quit 

the party due to what he described 

as “protracted and 

intractable rancor“ between 

two factions that rocked the 

party over the control of its 

leadership in Delta State. 

In his response, Dr. Obire 

commended members of the 

Ovu Ward 05 APC exco and 

leaders for the warm welcome 

accorded him and his 

supporters, promising to remain 

steadfast in the party 

and contribute his quota to 

the growth of the party in Delta 

State.


From left: Dan Okeke, Executive Director (Abuja &North Central Bank) of United 

Bank of Africa; Minister of State for Budget and NationalPlanning, Prince Clem 

Ikanade Agba; Regional Head of UBA, Eke Ogba; and,Permanent Secretary, Ministry 

of Budget and National Planning, Mr. ErnestUmakhihe after a courtesy call on 

the minister, last Thursday. 

$9.6 BILLION JUDGEMENT DEBT 

P&ID contract designed to fail, extort 

Nigeria, Malami alleges 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region Editor 

ttorney General and 

AMinister of Justice, 

Abubakar Malami, 

yesterday, rejected claims by 

Process and Industrial 

Development Limited (P&ID) 

that he was responsible for the 

delay that culminated in the 

award of $9.6 billion penalty 

over the failure of a multimillion 

Gas Supply 

Processing Agreement 

(GSPA) which Nigeria signed 

with the company in 2010. 

Malami told Sunday 

Vanguard in Abuja that it was 

mischievous for anyone to 

blame him or the Buhari 

administration for a contract 

that had failed and a huge 

amount of penalty awarded 

against the government five 

years before they came into 

office. 

The minister, who 

produced documents to back 

his claim, pointed out that the 

GSPA signed between 

Nigeria’s Ministry of 

Petroleum and P&ID in 2010 

was deliberately skewered to 

fail so as to benefit a syndicate 

that was out to extort Nigeria. 

Malami said: “The records 

are there for anyone to see 

and judge if indeed Malami 

or indeed the Buhari 

government can be held 

responsible for an act that had 

been completed five years 

before we came into office. 

“The contract in question 

was a 2010 agreement signed 

five years before I came into 

office while the award by the 

United Kingdom Court of 

Arbitration was in June 2014, 

one year before I was 

appointed Minister of 

Justice. 

“As a responsible and 

responsive public officer keen 

on protecting the interest of 

Nigeria, I took steps to engage 

local and international 

lawyers to defend Nigeria’s 

interest once the stupendous 

award was brought to my 

knowledge as the chief law 

officer of the federation. 

“Among the prominent 

lawyers we engaged to pursue 

Nigeria’s interest in the UK 

court were Chief Bola 

Ayorinde, SAN, and Curtis 

Mallet-Prevost, Colt &Mosle, 

which did their best to defend 

our interest. 

“Above all, as far back as 

June 2017, I wrote series of 

letters to relevant security 

agencies in Nigeria to 

investigate the criminal 

conspiracy and economic 

sabotage occasioned by the 

GSPA contract. 

“In addition, I took 

appropriate steps to intimate 

relevant government 

institutions of developments 

as they unfolded regarding 

this matter and engaged in 

probable out-of-court 

settlement negotiations. 

“It is therefore wrong and 

unfortunate for any sane 

person to insinuate or imply 

that AGF Malami is culpable 

in any way regarding the 

award of $9.6 billion against 

Nigeria by an English court 

when it is clear that I had no 

hand whatsoever in the 

planning, signing and 

implementation of the socalled 

gas supply and 

processing contract in 2010.’’ 

The minister, who 

described the entire contract 

as a scam deliberately 

consummated to extort 

Nigeria by a cabal, pointed 

out that the parties to the 

agreement knew from the 

outset that the Nigerian 

Ministry of Petroleum does 

not produce and cannot 

supply gas but they still went 

ahead to sign the gas contract 

without involving the gas 

producers. 

His words: “We have 

enough reason to believe that 

the contract was designed to 

Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Imo State Governor, welcomes Dr. A.B.C. Orjiako, Chairman, 

Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc; as Mr. Austin Avuru, Chief 

Executive Officer, Seplat (2nd left) and Dr. Chioma Nwachuku (left) General Manager, 

External Affairs and Communications, Seplat, look on, during a courtesy 

visit by a SEPLAT team to the Governor at the Government House Owerri, Imo 

state 

Lightening kills student in Ekiti 

fail because even the P&ID Ltd 

is not an oil and gas player 

and should not have been 

engaged in the first place 

while the contract should 

have been a tripartite deal 

involving international oil 

companies, NPDC, and the 

firm instead of a bilateral one 

with the Ministry of 

Petroleum. 

“Process and Industrial 

Development Limited, local 

and international, does not 

have the license to operate oil 

and gas business locally and 

internationally or capital 

importation record in 

Nigeria. 

“It is evident that the whole 

process was intended to serve 

as a conduit for extorting 

money from Nigeria because, 

even though the gas plant was 

to be developed in Nigeria 

and the contract signed in 

Nigeria with all the parties, 

the arbitration centre was 

fixed in the United Kingdom 

just to tie the country’s hands. 

“It is also clear that the 

award against Nigeria is 

higher than the value of the 

contract, thereby showing 

that it is a punitive measure 

against the country rather 

than an award for damages. 

“So, the whole process was 

more of a deceit to rip off 

Nigeria’s assets and 

empower some local and 

international collaborators.’’ 

Police release 121 northerners found inside 

•Say they are on legitimate mission 

truck in Lagos 

By Evelyn Usman 

he Lagos State Police 

TCommand has released 

the 121 male passengers 

arrested by policemen 

attached to the Lagos State 

Taskforce on Environmental 

Sanitation and Special 

Offences, along Moshalashi 

Road, Agege, on Thursday. 

News had gone round that the 

passengers from the northern 

part of the country, who were 

found inside a truck, had 

sinister motive for being in 

Lagos. 

However, the command 

debunked the claim, stating 

that the men were in Lagos 

in search of greener pastures. 

The Command spokesman, 

DSP Elkana Bala, explained 

that the passengers were 

released and allowed to go 

about their legitimate 

businesses in Lagos State, for 

lack of any act of criminality 

on them. 

He said, “On August 30, 2019 

at about 12 noon , a team of 

police men attached to Lagos 

State Taskforce on 

Environmental Sanitation 

and Special Offences, 

Oshodi while on traffic 

enforcement duty, along 

Moshalashi road, Agege 

intercepted a truck, with 

registration number JIGAWA 

HJA-680-XA, loaded with 

121) male, between ages 16 

and 35 years, with 48 

motorcycles. 

“ The vehicle and passengers 

were searched but nothing 

incriminating was found. 

They were profiled with a 

view to ascertaining who they 

are, where they come from, 

their background and their 

mission in Lagos. They all 

came from Jigawa State, 

North West Region of Nigeria 

and are mostly artisans, 

commercial motorcyclists 

and traders. 

“Some of them are already 

based in Lagos with their 

families while others are 

coming for the first time. They 

are in the state in pursuit of 

greener pasture. The Police 

being satisfied with their 

legitimate mission in the 

State has allowed them to 

proceed to their various 

destinations. The Command 

will not relent on its efforts to 

protect the lives and 

properties of the good people 

of Lagos State”. 

South-East govs ban herdsmen, cattle movement 

among communities 

By Dennis Agbo 

& Chinedu Adonu 

overnors of South-East 

Ggeopolitical zone have 

banned movement of 

herdsmen and cattle from one 

community to the other 

within the zone. 

The governors also said they 

had assurances of the Federal 

Government that the shut 

Akanu Ibiam International 

Airport would be reconstructed 

by two set of contractors to 

ensure that the work was 

completed by December. 

According to them, all the 

states in the zone would, in the 

next one week, roll out 

palliative measures as a result 

of the closure of the Enugu 

airport. 

The governors spoke in 

Enugu, yesterday, during their 

meeting with enlarged 

stakeholders that included the 

Minister for Aviation, the Army, 

the Police, the clergy, Igbo 

leaders, and Federal Ministry 

of Works. 

In a communiqué delivered 

by Chairman of the Governors 

Forum, Chief Dave Umahi, the 

stakeholders said they 

deliberated on two major topics 

on matters of insecurity and 

the matters arising from the 

closure of the Enugu airport. 

Umahi said their 

discussion agreed that their 

earlier joint air operation to 

flush out bandits from forests 

in South-East would 

continue. 

He said: “We also agreed 

that we have to put 

measures in place to 

restrain movement of 

herdsmen and their cattle 

from one state to another 

which is a source and point 

of conflict with the natives 

and farmers. And also 

restrain the movement of 

cattle and herdsmen from 

community to communities 

across farmlands.” 

While commending Enugu 

State governor for 

establishing Forest Guards as 

earlier agreed by South- East 

Governors, the meeting 

encouraged the remaining 

governors in the zone to 

launch theirs. 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

secondary school student has been killed by lightening 

A in Emure Ekiti. The incident which occurred in the early 

hours of yesterday threw the community into mourning. 

The student and his friend, it was learnt, had gone to a 

mountain in the community where they allegedly stole some 

eggs from a fowl which were already in hatching process. 

The boys were said to have chased away the hen and packed 

the eggs and fried them. The deceased was however reportedly 

killed by lightening after eating the eggs but his partner was 

yet to eat his own portion when the incident happened. 

Traditional worshipers immediately stormed the community 

to make sacrifices. 

Niger Deltans salute Sanwo-Olu over Commissioner 

By Tony Nwankwo 

iger Deltans in Lagos have praised Governor Babajide 

NSanwo-Olu over the appointment of a son of the Niger 

Delta from Ughelli, Delta State, Mr. Sam Egube, as 

Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in Lagos 

State. In a congratulatory message, the coordinator of Ijaw 

Monitoring Group, Comrade Joseph Evah,on behalf of Niger 

Deltans, expressed joy that their agitation over the years for the 

recognition of Niger Deltans living in the South West was 

yielding dividends. 

“We have been agitating to be part of governance because of 

our large population, our contribution to the economy and 

development of Lagos State. We know our region produced 

Nigeria's First Professor of English, Prof. J.P Clark and Nigeria's 

first professor of Mathematics, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, 

Urboho also produced first class economists like the late Chief 

Michael Ibru, Chief Gamaliel Onosode and the legendary 

David Dafinone of the Guinness Book of Records Family of 

Accountants, and assured that Egube will not fail Lagos State”. 

Evah said. 

Our hospitality not only for business 

but lifestyle -Mantis Group 

By Chioma Obinna 

he hospitality industry in Nigeria recently received a boost 

Twith the unveiling of The Providence Hotel by Mantis 

group in Ikeja area of Lagos. 

According to the group, the establishment of the hotel was not 

just for money-making but a lifestyle that would stand the taste 

of time. The Providence Hotel by Mantis was officially unveiled 

recently by the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, 

NIDCOM, Mrs. Abike Dabiri in Lagos with a charge for those 

running the business to ensure its sustainability. 

The hotel which has 79 rooms comprising of 37 standard 

rooms, 29 deluxe rooms, five junior, three executives, two 

diplomatic and three penthouse suites, also has a 24-hour 

complimentary Wi-Fi, 24-hour concierge, in-room dining 

among others.Commissioning the facility located in a 

Government Reserved Area, (GRA) in Ikeja, Lagos, Dabiri said 

such an investment would encourage Nigerians in the diaspora 

to come home and contribute to rebuilding the nation. 

Her words, “It is not about how you begin but how you are 

going to sustain it.” 

Corroborating her views, the Chairman, The Providence Hotel, 

Mr. Hyacinth Oseji said the choice of GRA, Ikeja was borne out 

of the need for a quality hotel that would with the needed 

requirements of a home outside the home. 

OML25: Rivers communities seek 

UN’s support against SPDC 

By Davies Iheamnachor 

ost Communities of Oil Mining Lease, OML25, in Kula 

HKingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers 

State, Offion-Ama, Belema and Ngeje, have called on the United 

Nations, UN, to intervene in their struggle against the return of 

Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to operate the 

oil field. The communities made this call when a former 

Commissioner of Information and Communications in Rivers 

State, Dr. Austin Tam-George, led a team on a fact-finding visit 

to the oil field shut two years ago. 

Speaking on behalf of the Offion-Ama Council of Chiefs, 

Chief Mpakabuari Welsch, called on the UN to intervene in the 

struggle, saying the communities do not want Shell’s return.


Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe; President/Chairman, National 

Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Tony Agenmonmen; Publisher/Editor-In-Chief, 

Brand Communicator, Joshua Ajayi and Executive Head, Corporate Affairs, MultiChoice 

Nigeria, Caroline Oghuma, at the 2019 Women In Marketing & Communications Conference/Awards 

(WIMCA) held at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. 

BORDER CLOSURE:Nigerians lament 

as prices of food items skyrocket 

By Josephine Agbonkhese 

& Bose Adelaja 

arely 11 days into the 

Bongoing border security 

exercise ordered by the 

Federal Government, prices 

of some basic food items have 

skyrocketed, with traders and 

consumers appealing to President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

to reverse the order. 

A market survey by Sunday 

Vanguard in some major 

markets in Lagos State, 

showed that the hike has not 

only affected foreign brands 

but also influenced the prices 

of local products due to the 

law of demand and supply. 

Items affected the most include 

rice, frozen foods, 

groundnut oil, okra, stockfish, 

and beverages. 

At Ikotun Community 

Market, a 50-kilogramme 

bag of foreign rice, which was 

between N15,000 and 

N16,000 prior to the closure, 

is now between N17,000 and 

N17,500, while the locallyproduced 

brand goes for 

N16,500. This is N1,500 

above its former price. The 

implication for retail buyers 

is that a ‘derica’ cup of rice 

now costs between N280 and 

N300, instead of the N200/ 

N250 for which they were 

purchased. 

Similarly, 25liters of refillable 

groundnut oil, which 

sold for N8,000/N9,000, now 

costs N13,000 while non-refillable 

costs 10,800, which is 

N300 above its former value. 

Frozen foods appear the 

most affected, as a kilogramme 

of frozen chicken, 

which sold for N1,200, now 

costs N1,600, while a kilogramme 

of frozen turkey 

now sells at N1,700, a whopping 

N400 above its former 

value. Meanwhile, Orobo 

Fryer, a local frozen chicken, 

commonly used by fast foods 

and other restaurant operators, 

which sold for between 

N800 and N900 per kilogramme, 

now costs 1,200. 

When Sunday Vanguard 

asked why Nigerians would 

not patronise Orobo Fryer 

for its affordability, Miss 

Mayowa, a frozen food seller 

at Igando Market, another 

major market within Alimosho 

area of Lagos, said the 

item was very problematic. 

She said: “The problem 

with Orobo Fryer is that you 

must not boil it, because if you 

do you will not see any part of 

it to eat. It becomes very soft 

and breaks into pieces when 

boiled. So, it is only fried.” 

Meanwhile, a carton of frozen 

turkey which sold for 

N13,000 as at August 19, was 

selling at N18,000 in Igando 

Market as of yesterday. Also, 

a carton of chicken which was 

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, inspecting Siun-Ogere road rehabilitation 

project being constructed by the State Public Works Agency, Friday. 

N9,500, was selling at 

N14,000. 

At Igando Market, a rice 

trader, who simply identified 

himself as Chinedu, spoke 

furiously against the border 

closure, as he accused the 

government of “acting without 

thinking.” 

He said: “The government 

does not think before it acts. 

Nigeria still cannot produce 

the quantity of rice needed to 

feed the entire country, but it 

went ahead to close the borders. 

Many locally-produced 

brands have tiny grains that 

melt quickly. 

“The one I would have 

managed is Lake Rice, but 

getting it in large quantity is 

difficult because I was told I 

cannot purchase more than 

two bags at a time. Even the 

volume of okra needed to feed 

this nation cannot be produced 

in Nigeria. We rely so 

much on Cotonu for okra. 

That is why its price has also 

shot up since the border was 

closed. A big basket of okra, 

which sold for N4,000 or 

N5,000, is now N8,000.” 

Further findings by Sunday 

Vanguard revealed that other 

staple foods like spaghetti, 

crunches, beans, and pastries 

were affected. 

Also, the survey revealed 

that the prices of salt, sugar, 

palm oil and seasonings remain 

as they were. 

At Mile 12 Market, Mr. 

Chike Emodi, who sells frozen 

foods, said the commodities 

are scarce in the market. 

He said: ‘’I have exhausted 

my stock and I don’t know 

where to get the product. A 

customer who usually buys 

fours cartons of Croker fish 

on weekends has now resorted 

to this small fish called 

‘’Panla” due to the scarcity of 

the items,” 

In Ikorodu, a trader Madam 

Ovie Elizabeth urged the 

government to lift the ban. 

‘’Nigeria is not self-sufficient. 

Our government should 

let us have enough local foods 

in stock before coming up 

with the restrictions.” 

Speaking to Sunday Vanguard, 

Public Relations Officer, 

PRO, of Nigeria Customs 

Service, Joseph Attah said the 

exercise is not targeted at anybody 

but to right the wrongs 

of the past. 

He said:‘’What we are doing 

has blocked the chances 

of smugglers who are supplying 

substandard items at reduced 

prices which may not 

conform with the approved 

standard and quality. 

“The exercise has led to the 

arrest of 33 illegal migrants 

while over 4,000 bags of substandard 

rice and thousands 

of bails of fairly used clothes 

have been impounded by the 

Joint Task Force. 

‘’Nigerians should be happy 

at the exercise and support 

the fight as we can no longer 

condone illegalities. The 

team is working in synergy 

with the people regardless of 

their civic responsibilities.’’ 

The Federal Government 

had recently closed Nigeria’s 

border with Benin Republic 

over what it described as activities 

of smugglers. 

It consequently deployed a 

combined team of military 

and para-military agencies to 

the borders. 

Book launch 

•From left: Pastor Olusegun Babaleye; Pastor (Mrs) 

A Shola-Ayinde; Dr Yomi Ogunbekun, Chairman of the 

occasion; Pastor (Mrs) Funmi Akinwale, author of the 

book; her husband,Pastor Oladele Akinwale and Mrs 

Yetunde Olusoga, CEO, Lute and Harp Ventures, Surulere 

at the official book launch of the book 'Feed to 

Live' authored by Pastor (Mrs) Funmi Akinwale held 

at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday. Photos by Lamidi 

Bamidele. 

•Pastor (Mrs) Funmi Akinwale delivering a speech 

during the book launch. 

•Mrs Nonye Nwachukwu (left)and Pastor S. O. Idowu. 

Jettison list of nominees of NDDC 

board, IPFEJ urges Buhari 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

THE Isoko Progressives 

for Fairness, Equity 

and Justice IPFEJ, has 

urged President Muhammadu 

Buhari, to jettison the 

list of nominees into the Niger 

Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, insisting 

that it was proper for the 

Isoko nation to produce the 

next Chairman of the board 

in the interest of fair play and 

equity. 

IPFEJ, in a statement by its 

coordinator, Mr. Peter 

Omokri and secretary, Comrade 

Felix Ughwusieba, described 

"the way and manner 

the announcement of a purported 

new board of NDDC 

was made as questionable", 

urging the President to probe 

the process. 

The statement said: "Mr. 

President is a man who be- 

lieves in the rule of law and 

will never go contrary to the 

NDDC Act; and will always 

follow due process in the composition 

of a new board of 

NDDC. 

"The rotational policy guiding 

the appointment of the 

chairman and MD of the 

board as enshrined in the 

NDDC Act as amended, 

should be replicated in the oil 

producing tribes that constitute 

the respective member 

states. 

"In other words, all the oil 

producing nations that made 

up the member states of the 

NDDC should have a feel of 

the viable positions accrued 

to it. Of the five tribes in Deta 

State namely, Urhobo, Isoko, 

Itsekiri, Ijaw and Anioma, 

only the Isoko tribe is yet to 

produce either the Chairman, 

Managing Director or Executive 

Director of NDDC.”


$9.6BN JUDGEMENT DEBT: 

20 things 

to know! 

By Tunde Oso 

1. In 2010, the late President Umar Yar’Adua 

authorised partnership with private companies to 

develop Nigeria’s energy infrastructure. 

2. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources then, 

headed by the late Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, struck 

a gas supply and processing agreement (GSPA) 

with Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) 

founded in 2006 by two Irishmen, Michael Quinn 

and Brendan Cahill. 

3. By the terms of the agreement, P&ID was to 

build and operate an accelerated gas development 

project at Adiabo in Odukpani Local Government 

Area (LGA) of Cross River State. The agreement 

required the Federal Government to supply natural 

gas from Addax Petroleum-operated Oil Mining 

Leases (OMLs) 123 and 67 

for P&ID to refine into fuel 

suitable for power 

generation in the country. 

According to the 

agreement, the initial 

volume of gas was about 

150 million cubic feet per 

day, which would be 

ramped up to about 400 

million cubic feet per day 

during the 20-year-period. 

4. The British firm, in 

August 2012, served the 

Federal Government a 

Request for Arbitration. 

The Federal Government 

told the arbitration 

The $9.6billion judgement 

debt is about one third of 

Nigeria’s 2019 federal budget 

of about $29billion and about 

20 percent of the nation’s 

foreign reserves estimated 

at $44billion 

tribunal, “The failure of P & ID to acquire the site 

and build Gas Processing Facilities was a 

fundamental breach and that no gas could be 

delivered until this has been done.” 

5. Tribunal ruled that the Nigerian 

government’s obligations under Article 6B were not 

conditional upon P &ID having constructed the gas 

processing facilities. 

6. In July 2015, the arbitration tribunal ruled 

that the Federal Government had repudiated its 

obligations under the GSPA and that P & ID had 

been entitled to accept the repudiation and claim 

damages for breach. 

7. But on December 23, 2015, the Nigerian 

government asked the tribunal to set aside the 

award but the tribunal dismissed the application on 

February 10, 2016, paving the way for the hearing 

on July 22 to 24, 2016 to determine the damages. 

8. The tribunal ruled that the damage suffered 

by the British firm was the loss of net income the 

company would have received if the government 

had kept its side of the contract. According to two 

members of the three-man tribunal, Lord Hoffmann 

and Anthony Evans, P&ID’s expenditure and 

income should have been about $6.597 billion if the 

GSPA was duly performed by the government. 

They said the award should be paid together with 

interest at the rate of seven percent from March 20, 

2013. The third member of the tribunal, who was 

Nigeria’s former Attorney-General and Minister of 

Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), in his minority 

ruling, said although P&ID was entitled to 

compensation for the breach, its damages could not 

have been more than three years from the date of 

the alleged breach. Ojo argued that apart from 

being a new company 

incorporated in 2006, the gas 

project could not have started 

yielding benefits earlier than 

2015. On January 31, 2017, Ojo 

said the highest amount payable 

as damages to P&ID should not 

be more than $250 million. 

9. Final award remained 

unsettled since 2013, leading to 

the claim that it had attracted an 

additional $2.3 billion in 

uncollected interest as of March 

2018. The tribunal claimed the 

damages were calculated as the 

present value of 20-year income, 

minus certain capital and 

operating costs incurred from building and 

running the refining facility. 

10. “The final award is governed by such a 

treaty — the New York Convention. So, Nigeria’s 

status as a foreign sovereign does not deprive this 

court of jurisdiction to confirm the award,” P&ID 

said in its March 16, 2018 application seeking 

enforcement of the award. 

11. The federal government opened initial 

negotiations for the settlement of the award. 

12. A British Commercial Court affirmed the 

ruling of the tribunal 

13. The federal government said it had 

commenced moves to reverse the judgment and 

had already instructed its lawyers to initiate appeal 

proceedings against the judgment at the 

British court. 

14. Solicitor-General of the Federation, 

Dayo Apata, assured that government would 

do everything possible to defend vigorously 

its interest and that of the people of Nigeria, 

pointing out that part of the moves was to 

seek for a Stay of Execution of the said 

judgment. He added that the issue was a 

current litigation issue in the United States. 

15. In a counter-statement, Brendan 

Cahill, one of P&ID’s founders, said: “It is 

disappointing that Nigeria chose to 

repudiate the terms of a deal that would 

have benefited the country by bringing 

electricity to millions of its citizens.” 

He said the company, “backed by its 

investors,” would pursue enforcement of the 

award. 

16. Former President Goodluck Jonathan 

disowned the contract, saying it was signed 

in January 2010 while his predecessor was 

battling a terminal illness whereas he 

assumed office as President in February of 

the same year. “ 

17. Jonathan through his former aide, 

Reno Omokri, said Lukman and other 

members of his group treated then Vice 

President Jonathan with disdain and kept 

him in the dark about their actions because 

he had no executive authority, as then- 

President was unable to hand over to him as 

constitutionally stipulated. 

18. The Minister of Justice and Attorney 

General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar 

Malami (SAN), vowed to prosecute all those 

involved in the failed gas project. 

19. P&ID confirmed it had instructed its 

lawyers to identify Nigeria’s assets that 

could be targeted to recover the $9.6billion. 

It hinted at the possibility of seizing 

Nigerian naval vessels or oil cargoes. 

20. The $9.6billion judgement debt is 

about one third of Nigeria’s 2019 federal 

budget of about $29billion and about 20 

percent of the nation’s foreign reserves 

estimated at $44billion.

PAGE 8— SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 

$9.6 BN JUDGEMENT DEBT: 

Nigeria has bad 

case, options limited 

– Zuri, prof of petroleum law 

• Warns: This may affect Naira stability 

• ‘Varsity of Petroleum in pains, CBN, PTDF, 

others not helping’ 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

Shehu Abdullahi Zuri, a professor of petroleum law and policy, is 

Pro-Chancellor University of Petroleum Resources, Effurum. Zuri 

speaks on Nigeria’s bid to stop the judgement of a British 

arbitration tribunal which makes Nigeria liable to pay $9.6billion to a firm in 

the United Kingdom for allegedly breach of contract arising from a gas 

project. 

There are fears that Nigeria 

could lose $9.6billion dollars in a 

gas project. What do you think, as 

an expert, is the implication of 

that for the economy? 

It is very disappointing. I have to 

admit that because it shouldn’t have 

been so. We have a pool of competent 

international lawyers within and 

outside the country. Against that 

background, the transaction should 

have been handled better, knowing the 

far-reaching implications. But now that 

we are here, there are very few options 

available to the country because the 

decision was not entered within 

Nigeria’s jurisdiction. It is a foreign 

issue as it is. We had ample time and 

opportunity to defend that case but for 

the typical Nigerian attitude, we 

couldn’t do that just like we handled the 

Bakkassi case. So, this judgement is 

reminiscent of what transpired during 

Bakkassi. The only difference is that 

Bakkassi case was tinctured with so 

much international politics and we 

could see that Nigeria was 

disadvantaged during the period 

because we were under a military 

regime which was considered an 

aberration. The attitude of that 

government has created a reputation 

that Nigeria would have to contend 

with. 

So what are implications for the 

economy? 

Here we are again with this judgement 

and the threat, well informed threat 

anyway, on the strength of the decision 

of the court. The solicitors representing 

the other side will go ahead and attach 

Nigeria’s assets worth 9-point 

something billion dollars. Now, it has 

calamitous consequences on the 

country. One, it will portray Nigeria as 

being dishonest in international 

commerce and, therefore, investors will 

be wary of doing business with Nigeria. 

Secondly, Moody, the international 

trade agency, I am sure, will look at the 

judgement on Nigeria and possibly 

degrade the credit worthiness of 

Nigeria in terms of doing business. That 

can cause panic and capital flight from 

the Nigerian economy particularly now 

that the economy relies heavily on 

direct foreign investments. Thirdly, the 

implication for the country will be, as a 

result of the packaged actions being 

considered by the lawyers who obtained 

the judgement against Nigeria, 

certainly, it will affect the stability of 

Naira in the currency basket. 

Nigeria says it will appeal the 

judgement. Do you see us making 

any headway out of the logjam? 

Yes, Nigeria could appeal but, you see, 

court processes are not governed by the 

principle of automatism. What I mean 

here is that you can appeal but the 

chances of upturning a judgement on 

appeal hangs on the balance of 

probability. But, yes, it is an option 

available to Nigeria but whether 

Nigeria will succeed or not is a hard 

call for anybody to predict. I believe 

that in the hall that we are at the 

moment, the best option available to 

Nigeria is to negotiate through an outof-court 

settlement although a 

judgement has already been entered. 

Nigeria can apply for the stay of 

execution of that judgement. Now, we 

don’t know whether the system of the 

country (UK) will convince the court 

that gave the judgement that granting 

an order for stay of execution is fair in 

the circumstance of the case because, a 

situation where you have this kind of 

case and you have not taken it seriously 

for whatever reason leaves so much to 

be desired; any serious court will view 

an application for order of stay of 

execution as an opportunity to delay 

justice. So, if the application for stay of 

execution is to create the enabling 

environment for the country to 

negotiate out-of-court, I think it is a 

good one. But the handling of the case 

could have been better by our 

government. 

The best option 

available to Nigeria is 

to negotiate through 

an out-of-court 

settlement although a 

judgement has already 

been entered. Nigeria 

can apply for the stay 

of execution of that 

judgement 

The Buhari administration has 

ordered a probe. Is that a 

welcome development? 

Well, given the circumstances of the 

case, it is ideal so that Nigerians will be 

able to know the facts of the case; after 

all, the case was built around an 

international transaction. Given our 

antecedents, particularly in 

government, I believe Nigerians deserve 

to know what actually happened and 

who is to blame. Now, it is not enough 

to make a diagnosis of what has 

transpired. What are the hard lessons 

for this country to learn, that is if we are 

ever ready to learn? 

Now talking about Effurun, what 

are some of your activities as a 

Council? 

•Shehu Abdullahi 

Zuri 

Obviously, whoever has visited my 

university will walk away disappointed 

and, I think, I have to say it before 

someone says it because the university 

has not been mentored the way it should 

have been. So the far-reaching 

implication of this was recording a 

stunted growth as an institution which 

is pathetic to say the least. This is the 

first specialised university in Nigeria, 

the first in West Africa and the fifth or 

sixth in the world. So, it should have 

been a flagship in terms of 

championing professional courses in 

the areas of petroleum engineering, 

policy and economics. Unfortunately 

that has not been the case. That is not to 

say that before my resumption, the 

university had not commenced and that 

is not to say that there were no courses 

in the area of maritime engineering, oil 

and gas engineering. There were 

courses. But what I am saying in 

essence is that the university should 

have been better than it is. So, we went 

to work immediately we were 

inaugurated as a council, we picked up 

the pieces and we defined a different 

mileage on which we were going to 

confront the challenges of the 

university. We have rejigged the system 

and the dividends are very obvious. We 

have changed the narrative about the 

university because development has 

resumed. We are not relenting, we are 

not daunted by the challenges that we 

met and with a redefined vigor we are 

making tremendous progress. 

In specific terms, what are those 

things? 

When we resumed, we met a university 

that had not been able to access critical 

intervention funding from stakeholders 

in the management of the Nigerian 

university system, particularly TETfund. 

As we speak, the first release that we got 

from TETfund as of 2017, the structures 

that we embarked upon have reached 

the roofing stage and I think this is 

huge milestone as against where we 

were coming from. Additionally, it was 

under my Council that post-graduate 

programmes of the university were 

approved and we have since advertised 

and we will soon induct the first PG 

students. Besides, we have changed the 

psyche on the part of everybody in the 

university, to be specific the psyche of 

rewarding hard work and exceptional 

brilliance. It was not too long ago that 

the university co-hosted the first 

national workshop on bio-mass in 

collaboration with University of Abuja; 

it was the first of its own kind. We are 

playing a leading role in redefining the 

energy mix in the country we have a 

company that we set up in the university 

called Energy Solutions and we have 

secured strategic partnership with 

similar institutions like the University 

of Brunel in the UK in organizing the 

national workshop on bio-mass as an 

alternative energy mix for the country 

and it is also another milestone and we 

have won awards. The university is 

developing a modular refinery. We 

would like to key into the Federal 

Government resolve to licence modular 

refineries to augment our aggregate 

petroleum production and local 

refining capacity. And I believe that, as 

a university of petroleum resources, we 

are making huge strides. We would have 

been in the woods before now but I 

think we have retraced our steps to 

where we should be and we are 

executing religiously the statutory 

mandate of the university. 

Do you think the output will 

help production particularly in 

the area of petroleum? 

You mean the modular refineries? 

Those of us who are specialists in this 

area own up to the inconvenient reality 

about modular refinery in the 

production mix of the Nigerian 

National Petroleum Corporation. They 

are not large scale producing entities, 

so what they bring to the total 

production, which is about 1.8million 

to 2.1million barrels per day, is not 

much but I think the wisdom behind it 

was probably to curb oil bunkering in 

the producing basin of the Niger Delta 

and, perhaps, it will give a latitude for 

the participation of local companies in 

the business of oil refining in the 

country. 

Continues on page 10



& Victor 'Tunde Oso 

Mr. Joe Ajaero, President of 

United Labour Congress and 

General Secretary of National 

Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), 

says Nigeria cannot afford the $9.6billion 

judgement debt. He also speaks on the 

delay in the implementation of minimum 

wage 

His words: “Yes the delay in the 

implementation of the minimum wage is 

all about consequential adjustments and 

the Federal Government should take the 

blame. The matter has been lingering for 

two years. Government, actually ought to 

have incorporated it into the 2019 

Budget. A common ground is needed to 

be reached quickly even as negotiations 

continue. I heard one government official 

say the wage has yet to be implemented 

as a result of unresolved little details. 

“This shows the lack of seriousness of 

government. The consequential 

adjustments are not little details. What 

government proposes is N10, 000 

adjustment across the board, which are 

being rejected. This is because the 

increase in minimum wage from N18, 

000 to N30, 000 was 66 per cent. Hence 

workers want 66 per cent increment 

across the board. 

“In labour relations, there’s what is 

called power relations. No minimum 

wage is achieved without a struggle. We 

all know why government is delaying, 

dilly dallying. It should however, realize 

that it is not gaining any advantage by 

this delay because it not to would have to 

pay the backlog in salary arrears. This 

minimum wage is actually two years 

behind time and it is unfortunate that 

we’re wasting more time with this delay. 

“The $9.6billion judgment against 

Nigeria is another evidence of our 

government‘s usual tardiness in 

responding to issues of urgent concern. It 

must therefore, find its way out of the 

quandary it has put itself either by 

diplomacy or legally. This kind of money 

can transform the lives of close to 200 

million Nigerians. The huge figure 

represents one-fifth of the country’s 

declared foreign reserves of $45bn.It is 

very unfortunate, because the project 

would have generated 2,000 MW of 

power for the national grid. 

“States have always given the excuse of 

insufficient revenue for their inability to 

pay the minimum wage, hinging it on the 

fact that the Federal Government 

received a larger share from the 

federation account while states were left 

with insufficient revenue to pay salary if 

the state is to provide other basic social 

needs. 

“This, however, does not hold water 

because you discover that states that are 

earning huge allocation, either because 

of derivation or for other economic 

factors are the most notorious defaulters 

on minimum wage. I don’t want to go 

into their names, but workers suffer most 

in supposed rich states in Nigeria today 

than other states. So, payment of 

minimum wage depends on the political 

will of respective state executives”. 

We are very 

vulnerable at the 

moment – Muda Yusuf 

Mr Muda Yusuf, Director General of the 

Lagos Chamber of Commerce and 

Industry (LCCI), speaks on minimum 

wage and the $9.6billion judgement debt 

against Nigeria. 

Yusuf said: “The issues of consequential 

adjustments and payment of arrears are 

thorny issues that the federal and state 

governments would have to grapple with 

at this time. The reality is that the 

financial standing of the federal and state 

governments is fragile. 

“Meanwhile, the minimum wage policy 

would expectedly impact positively on the 

welfare of workers [when implemented], 

especially the low-income ones. The 

current minimum wage debases the 

humanity of workers. N18, 000 is just 

about $50 for a month. This is 

abysmally low. We are talking of 

workers who perhaps have families, need 

to pay house rent, pay school fees, pay for 

transportation and pay for housing, pay 

for health services. It is practically 

impossible to access basic needs of life at 

such a wage level. 

“There is therefore a good reason to 

applaud the outcome of the wage 

negotiations. Of course, the N30, 000 

minimum wage [which is just about $83 a 

month] is barely adequate to meet even 

basic needs of the worker, especially in 

the light of the collapse of social services. 

“However, the trouble with the public 

service across all levels of government is 

the unsustainable workforce that they are 

carrying. There also too many political 

appointees at all levels of government. 

•Ajaero 

$9.6bn can transform 

lives of close to 200 

million Nigerians 

—Ajaero, labour leader 

The $9.6billion 

judgment against 

Nigeria is another 

evidence of our 

government‘s usual 

tardiness in 

responding to issues 

of urgent concern 

There are also instances of ghost workers 

in many of the states and local 

governments. 

“These are the fundamental issues in the 

capacity of the states and local 

governments to pay decent wage. 

Current workforce in many of these 

jurisdictions is not sustainable. There 

are also instances of fiscal leakages, 

issues of value for money in public 

expenditure and the quality of 

expenditure priorities. 

“If the right things are done, capacity to 

pay should not an issue. A review of the 

current revenue allocation formula would 

be necessary to enhance the capacity of 

the states and local governments to cope 

with the new minimum wage 

“Most private sector institutions are 

already paying well over the N30, 000 

minimum wage. The minimum wage 

conversation is more of an issue for the 

public sector than the private sector. 

Although many micro and small 

businesses there may be compliance 

challenges owing to the numerous 

impediments and burden of the 

business operating environment. 

Many of them are in fact struggling to 

remain afloat. Some employers in 

this category sometimes even borrow 

to pay salaries of workers. So, for 

this class of businesses, capacity may 

be an issue. 

“In all of these, increased quality 

spending on social services by 

government would bring considerable 

relief to workers and less pressure on 

their income. There should be 

quality spending by government in 

education, health care, transportation, 

agriculture to provide food, social 

housing and many more. The 

macroeconomic management should 

also be such that will keep inflation 

low and preserve the value of the 

income of workers and the citizens. 

“It is doubtful whether the states 

have the capacity to pay the 

consequential adjustments being 

currently proposed by labour. It is 

important to speed up negotiations to 

avert another round of workers strike, 

which normally comes with attendant 

dislocations in the economy. 

Backdating Implementation 

“This will depend on the outcome of 

negotiations between labour and the 

various tiers of government. While it 

may be easier for the federal government 

to contemplate payment of arrears, the 

same cannot be said of the states. 

Implementation issues may possibly 

trigger another form of industrial action. 

“The most difficult part will be the 

consequential adjustment which may 

have a significant impact on the finances 

of government. 

Implications of $9.6 Billion 

Judgement Debt 

“From the recent briefing by some of 

the cabinet ministers, there is optimism 

that the ultimate ruling at the appeal 

would be in favour of Nigeria. It is also 

not clear whether the judgment 

referenced financial assets or any other 

asset. 

“But in the unlikely event that we did 

not win the appeal and the settlement has 

to be in cash; the consequences would be 

devastating. Currently the foreign 

reserve is under pressure and oil price 

outlook is not quite positive. The 

•Paul-Ozieh 

macroeconomic fundamentals would be 

thrown completely out of balance. This is 

not the time to be exposed to any major 

shock. We are very vulnerable at the 

moment”. 

With such amount, we 

can reverse medical 

tourism -Oseni, Lagos 

NMA Chairman 

Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian 

Medical Association, NMA, Dr Saliu 

Oseni, on his part, said: “N8.92 trillion is 

the Nigerian budget for 2019. $9.6 billion 

is just a bit below the Nigerian budget for 

2019 and indeed losing such an amount 

is going to be a disaster to the country’s 

economy and, by extension, the health 

sector would suffer from it. 

“Of course, investing such an amount on 

health, if properly managed and 

monitored, would definitely turn the 

sector around and, with appropriate 

infrastructures available, we would 

compete with the health sector in 

developed countries. Indeed putting this 

amount into primary health care would 

go far and wide. 

“However, it is important that we must 

not lose such a huge amount of money to 

bad governance, thus it’s important for 

government to challenge this judgement 

appropriately to reverse it. 

“All we can say is to pray for our country 

for a progressively caring government. 

With such amount, we can actually 

reverse the medical tourism by 

developing some quaternary service units 

where highly specialised medical services 

could be rendered. This could be made 

available in the six geographic zones, 

also cancer centres could be built to 

create improved and subsided treatment 

for cancer patients.” 

Continues on page 10 

•Oseni 

•Yusuf


Using about a quarter of 

our foreign reserves to pay 

would be catastrophic. It 

will severely limit the 

capacity of government to 

provide the needed 

infrastructure for growth 

and development 

Govt should act fast to save our economy—NACCIMA 

By Peter Egwuatu, Assistant 

Business Editor & Naomi Uzor 

The National President, Nigerian 

Association of Chambers of 

Commerce, Industry, Mines and 

Agriculture, NACCIMA, Hajiya 

Saratu urged the Federal Government 

to save the economy by ensuring that 

the dispute over the failed gas project 

is resolved. 

She said: “The government has taken 

the right step to investigate this issue 

to determine what happened and we 

are all awaiting the outcome. 

Certainly $9 billion is a lot of money 

which if lost just like that will 

negatively impact on our efforts as a 

nation to reposition on our economy 

on the path of growth and 

development. We must get to the 

root to save our economy.” 

Losing $9b’ll limit 

capacity to provide 

infrastructure –MAN 

Also, Director-General, 

Manufacturers Association of 

Nigeria, MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi 

said: “I think it is an unfortunate 

development and I am glad the 

government has come out to assure 

Nigerians that the judgement would 

be appealed. 

“It is also noteworthy that the 

government is investigating the 

process that led to the award of the 

ill-fated multi-million gas supply 

processing contract that gave birth to 

the judgement to P&ID. We should 

not have this type of 

embarrassment, as it may raise 

doubts about our integrity and 

reliability. 

Using about a quarter of our 

foreign reserves to pay would be 

catastrophic. It will severely limit 

the capacity of government to 

provide the needed infrastructure for 

growth and development.’’ 

‘$9billion can fix rot 

in education sector’ 

By Elizabeth Uwandu 

Against the backdrop of the failed 

gas project which resulted in a- 

$9billion court ruling against Nigeria 

by a UK court, the Dean, Faculty of 

Arts, Delta State University, Abraka, 

Prof. Sunny Awhefeada told Sunday 

Vanguard that the fund could fix the 

rot in the education sector. 

He said: “The money would have 

made a great difference if judiciously 

and honestly invested. $9b is a lot of 

money and it would have transformed 

every tier of education in Nigeria. But 

the question is: will our highly corrupt 

officials not steal the money?” 

Also speaking, the author of “Essay 

Writing Secrets and A Study Guide to 

Chinua Achebe’s Anthills of the 

Savannah,” Mr. Kunle Abrahams 

said: “The issue is not about what to 

do with the money but how to 

properly invest it.’’ 

The Publisher, Goldmark Publishing 

Company, Mr. Abraham Obinnaya 

said: “The sum is staggering but 

when compared to the gap in the 

education sector in the country, it is 

still not enough to fix the rot in the 

sector. 

“The educational sector will be most 

impacted by having such funds 

channeled into the retraining of 

teachers across the nation with 

practical best practices in focal 

subjects.’’ 

Nigeria has bad case, options limited – Zuri, prof of petroleum law 

Continued from page 8 

How have you carried the people 

and the community along? 

I think I am very lucky because I am 

coming from a university background. I 

am not a politician, I succeeded a 

politician as Pro-Chancellor of the 

university but I am not a politician as 

yet. When I resumed the first thing I did 

was to reconnect with major 

stakeholders within the location of the 

university. The university is in the heart 

of Urhobo land and you have 

paramount rulers of Urhobo Kingdom 

like the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, 

the Ovie of Effurun, the chief of Okpe 

who was a major general in the 

Nigerian army; so the first thing I did 

was to make a clarion call that they 

should get involved in the renewed 

vigor to change the narrative of that 

university in terms of development 

drive, in terms of negotiating and 

wooing critical high impact 

infrastructures to the university and I 

was warmly received by the monarchs. I 

also went as far as visiting the palace of 

the Olu of Warri. I think the 

relationship between the university and 

the host community has never been 

better than it is now. 

Are you getting help from some 

government institutions and 

agencies? 

Some of them have remained 

insensitive and indifferent to the plight 

of my university. For instance, I have 

visited the CBN Governor twice, 

pleaded on behalf of the university 

almost a year ago but as we speak CBN 

has not done anything. Recently they 

commissioned a multi-complex for 

Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, well we 

are not competing with ABU but we 

should also be recognised as a 

university. As a pioneer specialised 

university, there was no reason CBN 

should be foot dragging on our request 

for special intervention. PTDF that had 

given a commitment at take-off of the 

university to the tune of N500million, 

they have not turned in N50million as 

we speak. And as we speak, there is no 

project that was funded by PTDF in the 

Federal University of Petroleum 

Resources Effurun and that is a 

paradox. 

As an expert in the petroleum 

resources, what’s your take on the 

state of Nigerian refineries and 

subsidy? 

Well, I am not a cabinet minister. Let 

me lay that background first. In 2015, I 

presented a paper on fuel subsidy. I 

don’t believe in turn around 

maintenance and my reason is obvious. 

We have been there for too long, we 

need to recognise the fact that the 

technology we have today in our 

refineries is the technology of late 70s, 

oil technology has moved on. So if you 

said you are building a policy around 

turn around maintenance, you are only 

playing a catch up. 

What should Nigeria do? 

$9.6bn can transform lives of close to 200 million 

Nigerians —Ajaero, labour leader 


Think of ill-equipped 

health facilities $9.6b can 

help – Paul-Ozieh, 

pharmacist 

Also speaking, a former Chairman of 

the Association of Community 

Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, Lagos 

State branch, Abiola Paul-Ozieh, said: 

“Of course, losing $9.6 billion would 

be a big blow to Nigeria as a nation. 

Think of the fact that it is about 20 per 

cent of our foreign reserves. 

“Think of the ill-equipped health 

facilities that endangered the lives of 

millions of Nigeria. Think of the huge 

sums of money deployed into medical 

tourism because our health facilities 

Just like I said during my presentation 

in 2015, the only option left for this 

country is to build new refineries, bring 

on stream new generation of refineries 

and we would have solved the lingering 

problem of petroleum scarcity in the 

country. The problem government 

appears to be having is how to 

synchronize between public sector 

funding and private sector funding of 

new generation refineries in the country 

and we need to go back to the licensing 

regime. I do know that towards the end 

of 1990s, there were some 

entrepreneurs, industrialists in the 

country who were given licences to set 

up private refineries and they failed. I 

believe what went wrong with the 

licencing exercise was that people with 

adequate resources and serious 

commitment to invest in new refineries 

were not the people who were licenced, 

probably they did not indicate interest 

are not adequately equipped with 

manpower and machines. 

“Think of the National Health 

Insurance Scheme, NHIS, that is 

wobbling and fumbling. Think of the 

sorry circumstances of our public 

health institutions that make Nigerian 

health care professionals leave 

Nigeria for other countries seeking 

greener pastures. 

“What about the promised 10,000 

primary health centres this current 

government has not been able to 

deliver? In fact, $9.6 billion would 

have gone a long way to equip the 

PHCs which are the first contact of the 

public with health service delivery. 

“Think of our numerous tertiary 

health care institutions, the teaching 

hospitals which were once tagged - 

to invest in the downstream sector. And 

I think, as it is now, even if government 

decides to build refineries, it has a 

competition in its hands because 

Dangote refinery is coming on stream 

and the average period that you need to 

build a refinery is three years. So, 

assuming Ibe Kachikwu, when he 

announced that government had 

already taken a policy decision to 

establish new refineries, we should have 

been commissioning those refineries. 

But I think for some reasons, the policy 

was lost in government bureaucracy. Be 

that as it may, now that the right 

entrepreneur Dangote has been licenced 

and he is someone with the commitment 

and the financial muscle to invest in the 

downstream sector, he will make all the 

difference that was needed to restore 

stability, equilibrium between local 

consumption and local refining 

capacity. 

Centres of Excellence. Now they have 

become mere consulting centres with 

little drive for research and the 

atmosphere not conducive for 

training, development and research. 

“Imagine what turnaround with 

$9.6b. What about the various health 

related research centres? 

Imagine if regulatory bodies like the 

Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, 

PCN, Medical and Dental Council of 

Nigeria, MDCN, NC, LMNSC are 

supported with adequate funding and 

resources. What mileage these ones 

will go to order our health care 

delivery system. 

“The news is unpleasant and 

portends a bleak future as it were for 

our already shaky financial status. 

One is just hoping that it is a dream 

that will not come true”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019, PAGE 11 

Arrested kidnappers 

Katsina, Kaduna lead 

as kidnappers abduct 

over 90 in August 

•Kaduna-Abuja Expressway most terrorised 

•Enugu- Port Harcourt Road source of worry 

•Benin-Ore, Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa, East-West roads calm 

By Charles Kumolu, 

Deputy Editor 

Investigations by Sunday 

Vanguard revealed that the 

wave of kidnapping remained 

high in August as more than 

90 people were abducted 

across Nigeria. 

The incidents which happened in 

some states across the six 

geopolitical zones, showed the 

kidnappers becoming more daring 

in their methods of operation. 

The events of August saw the 

abductors taking victims from their 

homes and the highways. 

Of Nigeria’s 36 states Katsina 

recorded the highest cases with 50, 

who were taken from Wurma village 

in one night by a group of 100 

bandits. Though the Police pegged 

the number at 15, locals said no 

fewer than 50 people were 

kidnapped. 

Trailing the state is Kaduna, which 

•Gov Masari of 

Katsina State 

has emerged one of the hotbeds of 

kidnappers as 20 confirmed 

incidents took place. 

Zamfara State which before now 

had been a flashpoint had no major 

case given what was attributed to 

the deal between the state 

government and bandits. 

There was also a significant drop 

in the number of cases in the South 

•Gov El-Rufai of 

Kaduna State 

West, especially on Ife-Ilesa-Ibadan 

Expressway and Benin/Ore 

Expressway which connects the 

zone to the South-south and Southeast 

geopolitical zones. 

The relative calm on Benin-Ore 

Road was attributed to the clearing 

of forests at some hotspots. 

Edo State Commissioner of Police, 

Danmallam Abubakar, said the 

clearing helped to curb kidnapping 

and robbery previously experienced 

on the road. 

Within the month under review, 

major incidents hardly happened on 

East-West Road and Elele-Owerri 

Road which had witnessed alarming 

incidents of kidnapping in the 

preceding months. 

However, Kaduna-Abuja 

Expressway remains the most unsafe 

road in the country as most incidents 

in Kaduna State, happened along 

the Kaduna stretch of the road. 

Last Tuesday, a former governor of 

Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo 

narrowly escaped being kidnapped 

by armed bandits along the road. 

According to one of his aides, the 

incident happened when the exgovernor 

was on his way to Abuja. It 

was also supported by a video clip. 

A breakdown of the state-by-state 

findings by Sunday Vanguard 

revealed that on the average, three 

Nigerians were abducted daily in 

the last 30 days. 

August 1. 

Igwe Sunday Orji and his wife 

were abducted in Enugu State. 

The state Police Command 

confirmed the abduction of the 

traditional ruler, who is the king of 

Obom-Agbogugu, Awgu Local 

Government Area. 

August 2: 

Five persons including a pastor of 

the Redeemed Christian Church of 

God ,RCCG, were kidnapped. They 

were abducted along Sagamu- 

Benin-Ore Expressway on their way 

Continues on page 12

PAGE 12—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 

Katsina, Kaduna lead as kidnappers 

abduct over 90 in August 

military uniform blocked the access road 

to the Babatunde Fashola Housing 

Estate and intercepted a Honda Accord 

with Reg. No. LND 753 AL and five 

other vehicles and kidnapped seven 

persons. 

August 25: 

A Permanent Secretary in Enugu State 

Ministry of Lands, Augustine Ude, was 

abducted in Awgu axis of Enugu-Port 

Harcourt Road. 


to the church’s congress in Mowe, 

Ogun State. 

August 2: 

Abubakar Idris, a social media 

commentator was kidnapped in 

Kaduna. His wife, Khadija Idris said 

he was abducted at their residence 

near the Psychiatric Hospital in 

Barnawa neighbourhood of Kaduna. 

The incident occurred at1:00 a.m. as 

Idris was returning home. 

August 4: 

Kidnappers reportedly 

killed a Kaduna-based 

Living Faith Church 

Pastor, Jeremiah 

Omilewa, along Kaduna- 

Abuja highway. 

The late pastor was 

returning from Abuja 

with his wife and his son 

when the kidnappers 

forced their vehicle to 

stop and seized them. 

August 13: 

Gunmen suspected to 

be kidnappers abducted 

Mr. Ifeanyi 

Onyenankeya, a popular 

blogger in Imo State. 

He is owner of two 

popular news blogs, Okigwe Arena 

and Imo Arena. 

He was reportedly abducted on 

Monday night at his father’s 

compound, No. 3, Duru Close, 

Ekeagbara, Okigwe. 

August 14: 

Gunmen reportedly abducted 

another pastor in Kaduna State. 

The pastor was said to be in charge 

of the Nagarta Baptist Church 

Ungwan Makiri, close to Udawa in 

Chikun Local Government Area of 

the state. 

The pastor was said to have been 

abducted by heavily armed men 

numbering over 20. 

Armed men 

kidnapped the 

traditional ruler of 

Eziama Obiato, in 

Mbaitolu Local 

Government Area 

of Imo State, 

Dennis Nwaba 

August 14: 

A Divisional Police Officer, DPO, 

was allegedly kidnapped along the 

Benin-Asaba expressway last Friday. 

The incident reportedly occurred 

between the Onicha-Ugbo and 

Issele-Uku stretch of the road. The 

name of the victim was given as Mr. 

Okoro. 

August 17: 

The Ogun State Police Command 

said it has rescued three persons, 

who were reportedly kidnapped in 

Ode Omi, a border town between 

Lagos and Ogun State. 

The victims were 

identified as Abdulasis 

Sanni, the son of the 

Chief Imam of Ode Omi 

and two brothers, Jelili 

and Bamidele Adams. 

August 22: 

Armed men kidnapped 

the traditional ruler of 

Eziama Obiato, in 

Mbaitolu Local 

Government Area of Imo 

State, Dennis Nwaba. He 

was kidnapped from his 

palace, at about 8.30a.m 

by four armed men, who 

came in a Honda Civic 

car, the Imo State Police 

Public Relations Officer, 

PPRO, Vitalis Onugu, said. He said 

the two men, who used a bike to 

pursue the kidnappers, were shot by 

the armed men. 

August 22: 

Kidnappers abducted the wife of 

the Anglican Bishop of Ikeduru 

Diocese, Emmanuel Maduwuike. 

The victim, Mrs Anuri Maduwuike, 

was abducted while she was going 

home from Owerri, the Imo State 

capital. 

August 22: 

A member of Sokoto State House of 

Assembly, Aminu Bodai, was 

abducted by gunmen in Bodai 

village of Dange/Shuni Local 

Government Area of the state. 

The gunmen in the early hours of 

the day went to the resident of the 

lawmaker and abducted him 

August 23: 

Three people were abducted in 

Enugu State. The victims are an 

Nnewi-based businessman, Ernest 

Otugo, his wife and his friend. Otugo is 

the President of the Ibite Olo 

Community in Ezeagu Local 

Government Area. 

The Otugos and their children were 

travelling with a family friend, identified 

only as Reuben, an indigene of Awka, 

Anambra State, to Enugu from Nnewi for 

a social event. They were travelling in a 

Toyota Venza car when they were 

accosted by the abductors at Amokwe, 

Udi Local Council along old Enugu- 

Awka Road. 

August 24: 

Seven persons were kidnapped in 

Kaduna by armed men in military 

uniforms in the highbrow Malali area of 

the state. 

It was learned that the gunmen in 

August 26: 

The Chief Medical Director of Irrua 

Specialist Teaching Hospital ,ISTH,Prof. 

Sylvanus Okogbeni was abducted at 

Ramat Park, Benin City, in Ikpoba-Okha 

Local Government Area of the state 

while returning to Benin. 

The Edo Police Command confirmed 

the killing of two of its officers attached 

to the CMD during the incident. 

August 27: 

About 7 persons, including three final 

year law students of the Ahmadu Bello 

University Zaria, one male and two 

female as well as four others, were 

kidnapped on the notorious Kaduna- 

Abuja highway. 

August 27: 

Bandits killed three travellers and 

kidnapped dozens on Kaduna/Abuja 

Expressway by Olams Farms. 

August 25: 

A younger brother to Jauro, Turaki , a 

confidant of former Vice President Atiku 

Abukakar was kidnapped in Njoboliyoin 

Adamawa State. Umar Hammandikko 

was taken away by gunmen at Njoboliyo 

in Yola South Local Government Area of 

the state. 

August 27: 

Two persons, who went to deliver 

ransom for the release of two children of 

a Kaduna-based bishop, were abducted 

by the same gunmen, who had earlier 

kidnapped the children. 

The two persons were abducted by the 

bandits after collecting the ransom from 

them. The bandits did not release the 

children of the bishop. 

August 3: 

Armed men suspected to be 

kidnappers abducted a university 

lecturer identified as Abubakar Idris in 

Kaduna State. 

The police authorities in the state 

confirmed the incident in a 

statement. 

August 27: 

More than 50 people, including 

pregnant women and children, were 

abducted in a raid on a village in 

Katsina State. 

The attack on Wurma village in 

Katsina, northwest Nigeria, began 

around 11:30 pm last Tuesday.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019, PAGE 13


BBNaija Season 4: 

How Tacha, Mercy court 

summary eviction 

Given social media dictates, Tacha and Mercy are by far the most popular housemates in the 

Big Brother Season 4 but if care is not taken the duo may soon see themselves out of the 

House sooner than they expected. Yes, when it comes to voting they have a huge chance to 

go all the way but their excesses in the House and constant brush with Biggie may have the 

eviction hammer dangling their way – summarily and there won’t be a damn thing their teeming 

fans and followers can do about it! 

For acts of inciting violence and attempting to disrespect the authority of the House, Mercy and 

Tacha have received ‘Strikes’ 

Barely two weeks after getting addressed on the many infringements in the House as well as 

receiving ‘Strikes’ and warnings as a result of their inability to follow Biggie’s House rules, the 

Housemates got issued ‘Strikes’ again last week. 

Three weeks ago, Mercy was issued a warning for damaging Big Brother property and as 

a result got the long talk on why being Biggie’s guests involves being at their best behaviours. 

It may seem as if she forgot that breaking the rules will lead to punishments which may be 

‘Strikes’ or straight disqualification from the Big Brother House. 

For going against the rule book which clearly states that provocation and violence are not 

permitted in the House, Mercy was given her first ‘Strike’. Later on, she got another ‘Strike’ 

for trying to physically assault Ike. Two more ‘Strikes’ and she will automatically be 

disqualified from the Big Brother House. 

Tacha on her part, got her first ‘Strike’ when she did not respond immediately to 

Biggie’s call. This is deemed an act of disrespect. So, as a consequence of her disregard 

and insolence towards authority of Big Brother she got her first and second ‘Strikes’. Big 

Brother found her guilty of disrespect as well as undermining the world of Big Brother. 

She’s one more ‘Strike’ away from being nailed and sent away from the House. 

While the two housemates may be walking a thin line between eviction and staying 

in the House to achieve their dream of winning the ultimate prize, only 6 of the 

remaining Housemates will be holding their breathes as they face actual eviction 

at the Live Show tonight. Tacha, Sir Dee, Venita, Frodd, Esther and Cindy are 

those awaiting if their lucks would hold tonight. 

I like rich guys, not Yahoo 

Yahoo kind —Lizzygold 

Onuwaje 

ormer Miss Delta State and blossoming Nollywood 

Factress, Lizzygold Onuwaje, has never minced words 

when it comes to the types of men she’s attracted to. She likes 

them rich but not just rich but men who have truly worked 

for their money. 

“It’s not like I’m a very rude person, but I’m blunt 

and friendly at the same time. But I like rich guys, if 

you are not rich; I can never be attracted to you. I 

like rich, clean and fresh guys. When I say rich, I 

don’t mean ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ kind of guys, because 

they are not hardworking. I want a guy who is 

consistent with his work and riches. Right now, 

I’m okay where I am, so I don’t think I’ll leave 

him for any other,” she had quipped in a chat 

with Potpourri. 

“I like men that are caring. You have to be 

rich, caring, romantic and nice. Some men are 

rich but stingy. Be rich and be willing to spend 

the money. If I tell you I need anything, let me 

get the alert. I like alerts a lot.” she added. 

Lizzygold is an ex beauty queen from Warri 

South Local Government, an Itsekiri girl, who 

has done over 40 films as an actress. Apart from 

that, she is also a philanthropist who has an NGO 

•TLizzygold 

that takes care of the tuition of some indigent 

Onuwaje 

students in the universities. She is a movie 

producer too and a mother of one. 

Kcee, MC Galaxy perform as “33” Export 

unveils limited edition 40th anniversary 

label 

P 

opular Afropop singer, Kcee performed 

major hits live at “33” Export’s ‘City of 

Friends’ in Calabar last weekend. Nigeria’s 

foremost beer brand, “33” Export Lager has 

unveiled its commemorative Limited edition 

label to mark its 40th anniversary at ‘City of 

Friends’ Calabar. 

The event starred some A-list artists, such 

as Kcee and MC Galaxy, both of whom are 

fan favorites in Calabar. Since 1979, “33” 

Export has been at the forefront of helping 

consumers to strengthen and build 

relationships. It was indeed a great 

celebration as loyal consumers relished the 

experience at the bespoke city known as 

the “City of Friends”. 

The ‘City of Friends’ provides consumers 

with a grand opportunity to come together, 

connect with friends and celebrate one 

another in an atmosphere of games, live 

comedy and live music. “ 

Thousands of consumers thronged into 

the venue that was dotted with ice-cold “33” 

Export stands to share the momentous 

experience as well as be the first set of 

consumers to witness the new label that 

authenticates the unrivaled quality of the 

great brand. 

•Kcee 

•Tacha 

•Yvonne 

Jegede 

•Mercy 

Yvonne Jegede begs old 

toasters to come back 

By Tolulope Abereoje 

ollywood actress, Yvonne Jegede 

Nwho recently got divorced, is now 

begging her old toasters to come 

back as she is now out of 

relationship. 

In a post on her 

Instagram page, Jegede 

wrote a special 

announcement to her 

old toasters formally 

announcing that her 

marriage is over. She 

ended the post with “a 

ti lo a ti de” a Yoruba 

phrase meaning “we 

have gone, we are now back” 

“Special announcement, if you have 

toasted me before and I told you I was in a 

relationship, please come back. Ati lo Ati 

de,” she wrote. 

Yvonne Jegede who got married to 

Olakunle Fawole in 2017 confirmed her 

marriage was over in March. The actress 

welcomed her child, Xavier with Olakunle 

in November 2018. 

Airtel, Views Channel join forces 

for youth-oriented contents 

ew weeks after the first anniversary of Views Channel, a youth oriented channel on 

FStarTimes platform, Maxima Media Group, has announced a partnership with Airtel 

Nigeria to produce premium content that targets Millennials and Generation Z. 

The telecommunications company has been at the forefront of creative output and produces 

memorable and story-driven commercials to stimulate the minds of the populace and 

establish its role in the sector as creative and content-driven. Through the partnership, 

View Channel is expected to create more youth-oriented contents with the backing of the 

telecommunications company. 

Speaking on the partnership with Views Channel, Ibiyinka Dada, Digital Media Manager, 

Airtel Nigeria said, “We decided to partner with Views Channel because they have innovative 

and groundbreaking content, which runs in line with the goals of Airtel Nigeria. We have 

decided to take the leap with the channel to reach out to Millennials and Generation Z via 

pop culture valid content and series” 

Based on the new agreement, contents on Views Channel such as The Condo, Allisson’s 

Stand, Down on Twitter and Lyrical Play will be sponsored by Airtel. These shows define the 

goals of Views Channel as an innovative platform 

that speaks the language of the Millennial and 

Generation Z, no matter their tribe or tongue. 

Speaking on the development, Femi 

Ogundoro, the Managing Director of Maxima 

Media Group said, “We are very excited about 

this partnership, having one of the most innovative 

companies in Africa behind us. It says a lot about 

what our brand stands for and means we are 

aware as a society of the need for Millennials 

and Generation Z to have content curated directly 

for their needs. Airtel coming on board provides 

a strong base of support for this goal; although 

we’ve had other notable brands support Views 

Channel, this sponsorship deal is on a larger scale 

and we are so proud to announce it to the world.” 

Views Channel launched in August of 2018 

and since then has been at the forefront of 

Millennial and Generation Z driven content. It 

recently celebrated 365 days of air-time and is 

driven by the goal of reaching young people at 

every point of contact from digital to physical 

contact. Based in Lagos, Nigeria, the channel 

currently broadcasts from Channel 108 on 

StarTimes on a 24-hour operational basis, 

running with a goal of emerging as one of the top 

3 channels on StarTimes in 2019. 

•Femi Ogundoro, 

Views Channel CEO


•I Go Dye 

•Jaywon 

Treat Sowore like one of your 

sons, I Go Dye begs Buhari 

Popular comedian, Francis Agoda better known as I Go Dye has reached out to President Mohammadu 

Buhari to temper justice with mercy and release human rights activist, former presidential 

candidate of African Action Congress and Sahara Reporters owner, Omoyele Sowore who has 

been in detention since August 3, 2019 over allegation of treason after calling for a protest tagged 

‘RevolutionNow’. 

In a post on his Instagram page and made available to Potpourri the humour merchant chronicled 

the military antecedents of the President, prevailing on him that the situation in the country is dire, 

that the objectivity of Sowore’s actions need to be considered. 

He writes: “We all cry everyday for freedom from poverty, insecurity,unemployment, poor 

health conditions, ethnic and religious intolerance, freedom from police harassment 

of our youths on a daily basis just to mention a few. 

“We cannot totally agree that all is well,when more than 10 percent of our 

population have left the country in search of greener pastures, while some 

of our youths are being killed everyday outside our borders. What then 

is the hope of those left in the country? Our legislators have not added 

their voice of reason towards finding a way to bring about efficient 

and productive governance. I want to remind you that Nigeria belongs 

to all of us, the objectivity of Sowore actions need to be considered. 

Please kindly treat Sowore like one of your sons, whose ultimate 

goal is to have a better society. I am human and I feel the pains of 

millions of Nigerians who sleep every day without a meal, blinded 

by a hopeless situation. Please sir. on behalf of the voiceless listen 

to the voice of reason and make Nigeria better than you met it.” 

It is not the first time the comedian will be writing an open letter to the 

President. He has done so on many occasions as well as to other political 

leaders in the country. 

By EKAETTE BASSEY 

ot every young man in the teenage years or twenties, who owns a car has a 

Npalatable story to tell after a run in with the police, who considers most young 

men of that age bracket Internet fraudsters or Yahoo Yahoo boys but for video skits 

comedian Onoruvie Godswill Enweroghene popularly known as Brother Solomon it 

was a different kettle of fish altogether. What could have turned out to be an unpleasant 

experience became a memory he would not only forget but one that would spur him to strive for 

greater heights in his chosen career. 

“ I never knew the Police also enjoys my comedy not until a team of F-SARS stopped me while I was 

driving and asked for my papers which I presented. My papers were faultless and they still asked me 

to follow them to their office. When their boss saw me and he was like “Are you not Bro Solomon 

the comedian, the one that runs with one shoulder bent? And I said yes “. So he asked them 

why they arrested me and the squad leader couldn’t say anything. He ordered for my 

immediate release. You can imagine if I weren’t a comedian, they would have laid a false 

allegation on me just to extort from me,” he revealed in a chat with Potpourri 

Speaking further he said he never knew he was that popular and admitted the experience 

pushed him to want to be better on his craft. 

Brother Solomon is the CEO of Laughpills Comedy. He was born October 30,1992. 

He’s from Isoko North local government area of Delta State. 

StarTimes’ dating reality show ‘Hello Mr 

Right’ commences auditions September 7, 8 

S 

How comedy saved me from police 

brutality —Comedian Brother Solomon 

Homosexuality is African, not a European import —Jidenna 


igerian born American singer, Jidenna, claims homosexuality has also existed in the African culture 

Nand that it wasn’t brought over by Europeans. 

In a recent interview with Sway Universe, Jidenna who never hesitates to represent Nigeria spoke about the myths surrounding same 

sex relationships in Africa. 

“You hear these African leaders, who are dressed in three-piece suits, got an iPhone, speaking in English and not their native tongue 

saying, ‘it’s unAfrican to be homosexual, it’s unAfrican. We don’t have it. That was brought as a European import.’ It’s not true; it’s not true 

at all. If you go to Uganda, the kingdom of Buganda at the time, before it became Uganda, there was an openly gay king. If you go to 

Zimbabwe, the Bushmen as they call them, you’ll see homosexual acts in the cave paintings. If you go to different communities in West 

Africa, there were different rites of passage where if a woman was with a woman, or a man was with a man, they were thought to be more 

powerful. There was never a time where this didn’t exist,” he said. 

•Bro Solomon 

•Jidenna 

Hunger, poverty is reason most men turn gay -—Jaywon 


fro-pop singer, Jaywon, has taken to social media to share his two cents on the prevalence of gay people in the country and his analysis on the 

A issue which is pretty interesting. He has since got social media users talking. While many people are of the opinion that some people are 

naturally born gay, others however believe there are people who claim to be gay in order to gain certain benefits. ‘Oba Orin’ who accepted the 

possibility of some people being born gay, stated that some people are only gay as a result of poverty and hunger that is now the order of the day 

in Nigeria.. “Sometimes I wish I could ask these gays in Nigeria why they are doing it because we all know only few are born not loving their 

bodies and wish to swap it the other way. Aside that, it is hunger and poverty that make some turn gay and it’s not like they want to do it or are happy 

doing it,” he said. 

Reddot Television Network set to release ‘Aluko’s Residence’ 

Africa’s first user-generated content platform 

with 100 percent focus on African content, 

Ogelle, powered by Reddot Television 

Network is putting all facilities on ground to 

produce its flagship movie, ‘Aluko’s 

Residence’, set for release mid-October. 

The Ogelle platform that has recorded 

impressive acceptance not just from users in 

Nigeria but globally is currently on locations 

in Lagos to perfect the film. 

Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, the 

producer of the movie, Osita Oparaugo, CEO 

of Reddot Television Network said; “We have 

over 4,000 videos on Ogelle and over 1,000 

films from all over Africa on the platform, but 

none of them as at today was made by Reddot 

Television Network, the parent company of 

Ogelle. Some of them we bought, some we 

leased, some are on revenue-sharing 

arrangement.” 

“This is the first time we are making our 

own film. We took our time to make sure the 

film we will make as our flagship film will be 

one that will travel globally and bring smiles 

on the faces of Africans and lovers of African 

content everywhere,” he disclosed. 

Aluko’s Residence, an approximately 30- 

minute-weekly comedy series designed for the 

entertainment of the general web audience, 

will run every Friday on Ogelle.com beginning 

mid-October, Oparaugo added. 

Áluko Residence’ is the story of a newly 

married young couple with rather faulty 

marital foundation. Ola Aluko falls on hard 

times but is convinced by a pastor that getting 

married is the solution out of his stagnant 

career. His fiancée Ovie, a successful wedding 

planner, bails him out as she sponsors their 

wedding with the promise that he will repay 

as soon as fortune smiles on him. The couple 

agree to keep this a secret and both families 

are not aware of this arrangement. The 

upheavals arising from this arrangement, the 

interference of family members who feel 

entitled, and the antics of the security man at 

the gate, ‘Bill Gates’ played by ‘Monkals 

Kalu’, makes the hilarious drama a film to 

watch. 

tarTimes have announced that Africa’s number 1 dating reality show ‘Hello Mr. Right’ will commence in Nigeria 

with auditions on September 7 and 8. 

The auditions scheduled to hold on Saturday and Sunday at NTA 10, Tejuosho in Lagos is open to male and female 

participants who are single and above 18 years. The TV show, currently enjoying massive viewership in other African 

countries including Kenya and Zambia will be aired from October 2019 exclusively on StarTimes, with a cash prize of 

N300,000 available for the successfully matched couple. Speaking on the initiative, The Public Relations Manager of 

StarTimes, Kunmi Balogun noted that “The show follows the general format of the well-known dating show which 

originated from China called “If You Are the One”. During the show, a male guest introduces himself and tries to 

impress a group of female participants. The women can opt-out of the selection process if they don’t like the guy, and 

he picks the woman he wants to date from the ones who are left after a series of questioning.” 

“Hello Mr. Right” is for anyone who is single and searching – it’s a fun way to meet interesting people and maybe find that special one. 

We are now calling on interested, potential contestants to come for the auditions for a chance to find love”, he said.

PAGE 16—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 

By Benjamin Njoku 08111813022 

Married him because of fame? 

He was not even popular when I 

met him. He was the one that 

approached me and said that 

he would like to marry me. 

At first, I rejected his 

proposal saying “I can 

never marry a 

musician.” But he didn't 

give up as he kept visiting 

me and taking care of my 

needs. At that stage, I said 

‘okay let me give him a chance’. 

That's how we began the 

journey. 

My fears 

Following all the things we 

have been hearing about 

musicians and their marriages. 

I didn't want to be a victim. That 

is why I rejected his initial 

proposal. But if you have never 

come closer to him before, you 

wouldn't know that he's a 

musician. At home, he never 

behaves like one. I will 

score him 99 percent 

when it comes to taking 

care of his wife and 

children. 

I quit my job to 

Our hope 

Our hope is in 

the Lord, and I'm 

sure He's going to 

do the best for us. 

I know that this 

time will not last. 

It's just for a 

moment. My 

husband deserves 

more than what is 

before us. But who 

are we to 

question God? I 

know this time 

will never be 

forever. 

save my husband 

— Lord of Ajasa's wife 

Popular Yoruba rapper, Olusegun Osaniyi, a.k.a Lord of Ajasa, has been down with 

peptic ulcer disease since early this year. He was due to undergo a surgical operation 

few months back, but owing to his terrible weight loss and strength, the doctors at LUTH 

decided to put the operation on hold. However, in the midst of his protracted illness, his 

lovely wife of 10 years, Oluwafunmilayo, nicknamed 'Olori Lord of Ajasa', has proved to the 

world that she's inseparable from her husband. In fact, since Lord of Ajasa's health condition 

worsened, Oluwafunmilayo has never been herself. First, she had to quit her job in order 

to properly attend to her husband and she has never given up the battle to save him from 

dying. In this touching encounter, she speaks about the bond she shares with her husband, 

and why she cannot abandon him in his trying times. 

By Benjamin Njoku 

Managing husband's illness 

God has been my strength ever since 

he was diagnosed with peptic ulcer 

disease. On the 31st of May, he had an 

appointment with his surgeons at 

LUTH, to determine when he would 

be operated upon. He was supposed 

to have gone for the operation in April 

but due to his loss of weight, the doctors 

declined to carry out the operation. 

They wanted him to regain weight and 

strength before an operation could be 

carried out on him without 

complications. 

Standing by him 

Love conquers everything and it has 

to be by the grace of God to stand by 

him. I quit my job for about three 

months now to stay with him. We 

visited about six hospitals before we 

finally settled for LUTH. When you 

say you love someone, love should be 

‘for better for worse’. But we are 

praying that we should not see the 

worse. As a woman, a child of God 

and his wife, I think I should be able 

to stay with him in his trying times. 

God has been my strength. 

How I met him 

I met him two years after I 

completed my secondary education. 

We had been friends for quite some 

time before we got married on the 21st 

of March 2009. We have been married 

for ten years now. Our union is blessed 

with two boys. 

Envisaged that 

he would be 

down someday? 

Since I met him, 

he had never 

received an 

injection. 

Whenever he was 

down, I usually 

provided him with 

his favourite 

malaria drug, 

which is very 

cheap, Amala. 

More than 15 

years since I have 

known my 

husband, he had 

never been down 

to the point of 

My husband 

deserves more 

than what is 

before us. But 

who are we to 

question God? I 

know this time 

will never be 

forever 

receiving an injection. So, I was so 

surprised that he could be sick for this 

long. 

give up too. 

My feelings 

I have never felt 

like giving up at all. 

Even at the 

hospital when he 

started asking 

me to bring pen 

and paper to 

write down all 

his past works, I 

told him capital 

'No' that he 

wouldn't give up 

neither would I 

Some women would have given up, 

but I can't speak for them. I can speak 

for myself. You know, most men don't 

take care of their wives and 

children. And in a situation 

like sickness, that's when you 

see the care of a woman. 

Assuming he was not nice to 

me, I wouldn't have stayed 

back. But he has never for 

one day neglected me. I will 

be with him until death do 

us part. 

Being a music star's wife 

As a wife of a musician, one 

has to be tolerant and avoid 

being jealous because of the 

fact that your husband is in 

the eyes of the public. You 

shouldn't be meddling in his 

affairs all the time, whether 

he's posing for shots with his 

female fans or not. Yes, as a 

woman, you will feel bad. But if you 

want the best for your husband, you 

keep praying for him.

Despite June 12, Babangida was our 

greatest lawgiver in the last century 

“The most uncharitable critic 

of IBB [Babangida}, after 

experiencing four other administrations 

(Shonekan, Abacha, 

Abubakar, and now Obasanjo), 

readily concedes that but 

for the annulment of June 12, 

1993, the man, IBB, would 

have been an untainted 

hero.”—Double Chief Duro 

Onabule, Chief Press Secretary 

to President Babangida. 

n that note readers 

Oshould permit me to 

open a subject which should 

be dear to the mind of any 

right thinking Nigerian. That 

matter can be summarised in 

one simple question: Has governance 

always been as bad 

as we have experienced since 

1999? A corollary to that question 

is: Was there a time when 

government left us with a feeling 

that we can solve existing 

problems instead of multiplying 

them? The just concluded 

book was started last September 

when a top notch member 

of the ruling party answering 

reporters’ questions about 

the achievements of his government 

had proclaimed that 

“no government, including 

Babangida’s, since independence 

had done more for Nigeria 

than we have done.” Was 

it true? Unknown to the 

speaker, he had thrown a challenge 

which only a true researcher 

would accept. Nothing 

prepared me for what I 

was later to find out. 

Oddly enough, as the author 

of two impressions associated 

with the IBB era, I was responsible 

for getting the tag 

‘Hidden Agenda’ and ‘N40 

billion political transition 

programme’ registered on the 

media circuit. I was a sharp 

critic of the government on 

many points. As it turned out, 

I was also an active supporter 

and promoter of at least six of 

its most important landmark 

achievements. There was never 

a time I was totally for or 

against IBB’s regime. Each issue 

was decided on its own 

merits based on my own personally 

held principles. 

The differences highlighted 

in Duro Onabule’s statement 

and the ruling party’s spokesman 

presented for me an opportunity 

to ask the question: 

Apart from June 12, what exactly 

did IBB achieve in seven 

years? I am aware that he was 

in power for eight years. But I 

wanted to examine the man’s 

tenure free of the issue of June 

12 – which, in my own view, 

had distorted our history. One 

day, somebody else will undertake 

the same sort of study on 

Gowon, Shagari, Obasanjo, 

Jonathan and Buhari. By that 

I mean a clinical evaluation 

completely devoid of the emotional 

claptrap which partisan 

politics induces in people 

writing about the tenures of 

Presidents and Governors. 

Shocking as it might sound, 

there are very few books on 

our past leaders which are not 

essentially public relations 

printout. In the book, titled 

‘IBRAHIM B BABANGIDA 

1985-1992: LETTING A 

THOUSAND FLOWERS 

BLOOM’, which was delivered 

to him on his 78th birthday, 

on August 17, 2019, I had 

gone to great pains to avoid 

leaving barefaced untruths as 

history for readers now and for 

posterity. It is probably the first 

book ever written about a 

former Nigerian Head of 

State, who, though he was 

Obi is Nigeria, and 

Nigeria is Obi 

e all know that there 

Whas been a huge culling 

of the so- called Yahoo 

gangs in the US who have stolen 

over $22million from US 

companies. We all know that 

is a guestimate . The true cost 

will be far more than that. 

Shocking though to admit, 

money talks in Nigeria. The 

trouble is, it does not matter 

how you get it as long as you 

have an offensive amount of 

money, doors will open including 

an unfettered power 

to command respect and adulation. 

It has become the ultimate 

dream of millions of 

Nigerians. I may sound past 

it but, growing up respect was 

earned and not bought. 

You are worthy of acclaim 

and respect when you work 

very long and very hard to 

succeed. It did not matter what 

you did but you earn respect 

and self worth by being proud 

of your toiling in a honest and 

decent work. 

Our elders were looked up 

to for examples and direction. 

We more or less emulated 

what they did and what they 

said. So the responsibility on 

aware the work was going on, 

was not allowed to make an 

input. There was no interview 

with him throughout. He was 

not asked to explain anything, 

defend any measures or offer 

any excuses. Everything in the 

book was sourced from data 

and evidence available in the 

public domain which over 

twenty researchers and I could 

lay our hand on. Nothing else! 

We did not even attempt to interview 

his friends and those 

who worked with him and 

who are still alive. This was 

going to be cold blooded inquiry 

into the tenure of a government 

and rendition of 

truths as close as my colleagues 

and I could get to 

them. 

On August 17, 2019, just as 

we intended, we delivered 

some copies of the book to the 

Hill Top Mansion. We now 

have a limited number to distribute. 

Kindly let me render 

some portions of the book for 

your information. They were 

all taken from the book. 

The first remarks explain 

how the seven years of the Babangida 

administration had 

been placed in a wider global 

context. There is an abiding 

tendency in Nigeria to judge 

our leaders from the narrow 

spectrum of partisan politics, 

ethnicity or how one particular 

event associated with them 

has affected us – for good or 

ill. Thus, an unambiguous 

statement was made about 

what the book ‘IBRAHIM B 

BANBANGIDA 1985-1992: 

LETTING A THOUSAND 

FLOWERS BLOOM’ set out 

to achieve. It was an attempt 

to take an overall view of Nigerian 

history 27 years after 

the last chapter of that history 

our elders then was to be worthy 

of emulation. 

Alas, we have broken our 

values and moral compass 

decades ago and sadly, our 

chickens have come home to 

roost. When I left home for 

the UK, my dear father gave 

three words of advice : be 

prayerful, believe in the Almighty, 

remember whose 

child you are and protect your 

name. 

Simple? Of course. It was 

loaded with the moral Compass 

and cornerstone of how 

to be a decent and upstanding 

member of society. It was never 

about making money or 

succeeding by any means necessary. 

It was about ensuring 

that I lead a life that will not 

only serve me but that I will 

serve others by my example. 

We have shallow and vacuous 

entities parading around 

like little emperors who demand 

absolute obedience because 

their dark money 

speaks to the greedy and the 

desperate. 

There is no love or emotion 

there, you have money, you buy 

their loyalties. Simple and pathetic. 

In the days of old money, 

we were aware of money 

passing down from one generation 

to the next because 

honest money knows the true 

value of every kobo earned. 

They make money and they 

never live beyond their means 

in fact they are more likely to 

penny pinch because they 

know the true worth of every 

toil to arrive at where they are. 

They save and rarely shout for 

attention. They had class and 

most likely had good breeding. 

Some time ago, I wrote 

about the Nigerian condition 

and preoccupation with acquisition 

of wealth by all 

means necessary. It resonated 

with a lot of people, who despair 

of the nation’s demise to 

greed and destruction. For 

others it was an affront to curtailing 

their quest to live large 

whenever the hustle comes 

their way. They reckoned; it is 

anyone’s game , the chance to 

be a big man. 

There are consequences but 

these Nigerians, the opportunity 

to make it far outweighs 

the disadvantages of loss of 

freedom, conviction. We celebrate 

convicted felons don’t 

we? Ibori, a case in point, now 

Obi. They roll out the carpet 

and jostle for handouts! So 

the case of 419ners is not new. 

In fact, it is one of pride and 

the only crimebin our nation 


that man cannot only fly, he truth, from what I know, is 

can cruise higher, farther and that of all those who have prepared 

for high office in this 

faster than any feathered 

creature on earth. 

country, he is the only one who 

In many ways, Nigeria’s did a thorough preparation, 

economy and society were including the preparation of 

altered in more ways than at his immediate family. And 

any point in our history during 

IBB’s tenure. The sheer accidental Presidents – peo- 

that is because we used to have 

volume of decrees passed ple who have greatness thrust 

and amended must leave on them. “Anyone who knows 

one wondering if the Minister 

of Justice and Attorney- known him since 1966, will 

my friend, as closely as I have 

General, Prince Bola Ajibola, 

ever slept in those turbupelling 

him. The types of 

realise that something is prolent 

years.” 

friends he made, the type of 

Nigerians don’t read history 

and our leaders gener- 

of things he got interested in, 

things he was reading, the type 

ally reflect our aversion to the type of life he led, the type 

learning from history. The of demands he made on himself 

over the years…Looking 

Nigerian President who ordered 

history removed from back to even when we were 

the curriculum of secondary playing games, when he visited 

you on a casual basis, the 

school is still alive and bragging 

about his exploits. No type of things he talked 

American President will lose about… 

his senses and make the “I remember when he invited 

me to address a soldiers’ 

same order. And if the US 

President does, surely nobody 

will obey his instruc- 

theme was ‘The Economic 

conference in 1984. The 

tions. Consequently, we, as a Policy for Progress in Nigeria.’ 

…. I was writing my 

nation, continue to fall into 

the same self-created manholes 

– one administration ‘You haven’t touched ….the 

speech…and he said to me 

after another. So, the book issue of unemployment. I don’t 

has anticipated the question: think you have handled that 

Why now write another book sufficiently. Interest rates for 

on Babangida. The reasons example, the impact of that 

follow: “For those who on the economy.’” 

would wonder why undertake 

such a study, at this time this revelation. “On the issue 

Finally, MKO Abiola made 

or any other time, the Durants 

also provided my alibi person who has ever been in- 

of agriculture, he is the only 

when they declared: ‘The terested in discussing the problem 

of farmers in this coun- 

present is the past rolled up 

for action, and the past is the try.” Readers need to be told 

present unrolled for understanding.’ 

It is almost imposvations 

after being close to the 

that Abiola made these obsersible 

to make sense of what pinnacle of Nigerian power 

is happening to our economy 

and society today with- 

civilian leaders in the 1970s 

under three military and one 

out some understanding of to 1980s. 

how we got here.” 

Next week, we will take a 

Never in the nation’s history 

have Nigerians wit- 

was announced on Septem- 

look at IBB’s cabinet which 

nessed such a preponderance 

of destructive forces and weeks after he seized power. 

ber 10, 1985, less than two 

so few clearly articulated Nothing testifies to the statement 

made by Abiola about 

solutions to existing problems 

before new issues crop his thoroughness and preparation 

more eloquently than 

up – just as threatening and 

divisive. We seem to have lost, that. 

since the end of the last century, 

the sense of reasonable TIONS ABOUT THIS 

GENERAL OBSERVAcompromise 

which kept the SORT OF WORK 

nation from disintegrating This sort of work is not 

in the last years of the last meant for card-carrying party 

members wanting to im- 

century. 

One of the greatest surprises 

in our research was pro- 

relations as the objective. 

press the leader with public 

vided by none other than Only non-partisan chroniclers 

Bashorun MKO Abiola, can enlighten us in this regard. 

long before June 12: “The 

was recorded and the main 

character had left the stage of 

our collective history to determine 

the long term impact of 

policies and programmes on 

our lives today. 

“Because this is an attempt 

to write history, specifically, the 

economic, social and political 

history of Nigeria covering 

over seven tumultuous years in 

many respects, there is the need 

to plead for understanding on 

account of limitations faced by 

every historian. Will and Ariet 

Durant, history’s most famous 

couple, who, together, wrote 

ten books, pointed out the problem 

in ‘THE AGE OF FAITH’. 

According to them, “The historian 

always over-simplifies, 

There is an abiding 

tendency in Nigeria to 

judge our leaders from 

the narrow spectrum of 

partisan politics, 

ethnicity or how one 

particular event 

associated with them 

has affected us – for 

good or ill 

and hastily selects a manageable 

minority of facts and faces 

out of a crowd of souls and 

events whose multitudinous 

complexity he can never quite 

embrace or comprehend.” 

Seven years of Babangida produced 

enough materials to 

write at least ten books. No single 

book can adequately cover 

all of them.” 

Later on, another observation 

was made in the attempt 

to let readers know that there 

are elements in the seven years 

selected which have historical 

parallels elsewhere. For instance, 

“French historian, 

Charles Peguy, in 1909, said 

that the world had changed 

more in the last thirty years up 

to that point than in the years 

since Jesus died. He had his 

reasons. It was the age of mass 

transportation – cars, trains, 

lorries, ocean liners – and the 

Wright Brothers had just proved 

is that of being poor. Criminality 

is not particular to Nigerians 

but, we have made it 

into a fine art and an occupation 

of choice for far too many 

Nigerians as a life choice. 

Pardon me, if I don’t feign 

surprise or shock or sadness for 

that matter. I made my peace 

that I do not represent fraudulent 

Nigerians and that I will 

live my life so as to set a good 

example for my children and 

those whom I meet. We are not 

all Obis but there are many of 

us that are.Far too many people 

are dishonest in Nigeria. 

But I would like to say here, 

that is not who we were and it 

is not who some of us are. 

There are honest and hard 

working Nigerians up and 

down the country but they have 

not earned the respect of the 

majority because they work 

hard and they may not have 

the money to throw about. 

They are the Nigerians we 

should respect. No matter what 

these hoodlums say, in the long 

run;honesty pays. For one,you 

sleep better at night and your 

conscience is clear. You do not 

envy your neighbour because 

you are content knowing full 

well that you are content with 

your lot. 

Nigerians have to make 

honesty part of the moral fabric 

of our society and shame 

those who tar its citizens with 

the same brush. 

We are all are not Obis. 

This young man was the face 

of young and up and coming 

stars. A supposedly self made 

man . A new Nigerian, recognised 

and on the front page of 

Forbes. . 

The truth does out... eventually. 

His background and the 

source of wealth really is unravelling 

thanks to the FBI. 

They say, you can fool all the 

people some of the time and 

some of the people all the time, 

In the meantime, 

again honest 

Nigerians will face 

prejudice and 

suspicion everytime 

they make mention 

of their nationality 

but you cannot fool all the 

people all the time. 

He sure pulled the wool 

over the eyes of a lot of us. 

We had hoped that this young 

man, will be one of the people 

, the next generation will 

look up to. Alas, that simply 

was not the case. 

Their crime is not a victimless 

crime, it is a massive 

crime that leave millions of 

people robbed of their savings 

and future. It is a shame 

and a disgrace. We should 

call it what it is. 

Obinwanne and co, will 

exchange their fast life for a 

cell and years behind bars. 

In the meantime, again 

honest Nigerians will face 

prejudice and suspicion everytime 

they make mention 

of their nationality. 

My archive 

See how we lost our humanity. 

The secret of change is to 

focus all of your energy, not 

on fighting the old, but on 

building the new.”- Socrates 

These past weeks, for me, 

have been intentionally pol- 

itics free. The toxicity of the 

world of politics in particular, 

our brand of politics: ‘the do 

or die brand, is soul destroying. 

So it is for the sake selfpreservation, 

it was wise to 

take time out and reflect; if 

one has a conscience, then it 

is preferred that occasionally, 

one leaves politics temporarily 

well alone, even if for a 

very short while. 

If only one could. There is a 

saying that: if you are not interested 

in politics, politics is 

interested in you. Alas, one 

might as well get drawn in 

after a healthy sabbatical, a 

hiatus of sanity and decency. 

It enables clarity and definitely 

sees the political woods 

from the trees. 

As 2019 approaches, we see 

the same old suspects; they are 

busy playing musical chairs 

with the nation by decamping 

from one party to the next. It 

is as if the people have no say 

in who governs the country, the 

greedy and miscreants are 

already and potentially carving 

out the national cake 

It is disgraceful and shocking 

as they attempt to cause 

unrest, uncertainty as they 

decamp from one party to the 

next, it beggars belief how 

these politicians were ever 

voted in the first place; do they 

really represent the voices and 

interests of the people? They 

are like conjurors, with the 

sleight of hand; they place old 

wine into new bottles and 

present it as new to the gullible. 

It has been done so many 

times before and they reckon 

if it isn’t broke why fix it? There 

lies the problem. 

These snake oil sellers have 

nothing but unrest and con to 

sell to the nation. If only they 

could deliver good news for 

once and promote unity and 

prosperity for all. It is not too 

much to ask for, is it?

PAGE 18 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 

Mayaki: 10-yr-old Nigerian girl 

who teaches kids her age in UK 

Deepening her knowledge 

Martin Benbridge, an 

instructor at the club, 

described Emmanuella as 

the school’s shining star in the area of 

technology considering her superior 

skill, great attitude, and passion for 

sharing her knowledge, all of which 

culminated in her selection as a 

teacher. 

Her body of work and knowledge of 

internet operations, networking, 

Dreamweaver, Python and Java 

Coder, amongst others at the age of 

nine, have filled several analysts and 

tech coaches with confidence that she 

can achieve this in a few years from 

now. 

This view is further corroborated by 

the fact that despite the remarkable 

progress she has made at such a 

tender age, Emmanuella is showing 

no signs of slowing down. R, Lisp, 

Prolog are programming languages 

she intends to take on soon, in 

addition to deepening her knowledge 

of Java and Python Coder. 

Indeed such diversification is 

needed in Nigeria, Emmanuella’s 

home country, where an exclusive 

focus on oil as the sole revenue 

resource has made the economy 

vulnerable and stymied growth. 

In 2013, Oxford Economics found 

that innovation, research, and 

technology, which Emmanuella 

majors in, contributed 

over 30 billion pounds 

to the United 

Kingdom’s economy, a 

figure higher than 

Nigeria’s 2018 

national budget. 

She has shown what 

is possible with the 

right education and 

guidance and her story 

is something she 

wishes other kids, 

especially in Nigeria, 

get to share. 

Skills and practice 

Emmanuella told 

Sunday Vanguard that 

she wants the 

Nigerian government 

to set up infrastructure 

to enable the country’s 

kids learn basic 

By Gabriel Olawale 

FOR many centuries, the game of chess was regarded as the 

zenith of human cognitive ability. To master the game, one 

requires near ingenuity and supreme intellectual ability. 

However, in the year 2017, Google’s AlphaZero AI program defeated the 

world’s best computer chess program after only four hours of learning and 

creating unique chess moves – all without any human interference! 

Such is the power of Artificial Intelligence. 10-year-old Emmanuella 

Mayaki is, however, rewriting the script and setting new milestones. 

At age seven, she had already earned a proficiency certificate in all 

major Microsoft programs and now, at 10, after building and launching a 

website entirely on her own, she has now acquired knowledge and 

competence in Java and Python coder to the degree where she teaches 

other kids her age at a Code Club in the United Kingdom. The After 

School Code Club, organised by Southfields Primary School Coventry 

England where Emmanuella is a student, offered her the chance to teach 

following the discovery of her rare talent and enthusiasm, as well as 

patience, to transfer her knowledge on to others. 

I think it’s wrong 

for parents not to 

allow a child that 

is up to six or 

seven years to go 

near their 

computer 

computing skills and practice coding 

because this, in her well-considered 

view supported by data, is the future. 

She explained her position thus: “I 

want to become a machine learning 

engineer because I have experience 

in programming and my job is to 

program a machine to perform specific 

tasks. My knowledge of modern 

software such as Eclipse, which I use 

to program Java applications, is also 

part of the reasons I want to be a 

machine learning engineer.’’ 

On how she became a tech teacher 

at a young age, Emmanuella said: “I 

have always wanted to pass on my 

knowledge to other children as I 

believe that technology is the future 

of tomorrow and it is better to start 

today than to start tomorrow. I am also 

aware that the fields of technology are 

so vast, the more people my age 

learning to participate in it, the better 

for us all and the society at large. 

“In the Code Club, I am teaching 

HTML and CSS, also Graphics 

because if you build a website you 

need some graphics to add on to the 

page. In the Club, there are currently 

about nine pupils. Hopefully, the club 

will increase its members in 

September. 

Teaching experience 

“In the first week, I was pretty 

nervous because I had never taught a 

group of children. 

Although, my 

experience was 

sublime because I 

gained experience 

and I also enriched 

my skills. My 

observations were 

that not everyone 

grasps how to do it 

on their first try and 

there are some that 

they rush through it 

in a breeze. 

Java and Python 

certification 

Getting certified in 

high core 

programming 

languages was like a 

dream come true for 

me, I always thought 

Python and Java were 

hard and it won’t be 

Emmanuella Mayaki 

easy for me to grasp how to do it, but I 

motivated myself with the belief that it 

is just about trying until you get it. 

However, to my surprise, when I 

commenced lessons, I found it very 

easy. Moreover, Machine Learning 

deals with high core programming 

languages like Python, Java, C++, 

C# among others. 

“Since my dream job is to be a 

Machine Learning Engineer, I 

would like to learn R, Lisp, 

Prolog and go deep into 

Python and Java as these 

languages are used to 

program machines to 

perform tasks. My 

ultimate goal is to 

become a machine 

learning engineer, an 

emerging field of tech 

generally involving 

the application of 

Artificial Intelligence 

that provides 

systems the ability 

to automatically 

learn and improve 

from previous 

experience 

without being 

explicitly 

programmed. In 

simple language, 

it involves 

equipping 

computer systems 

with the ability to 

learn on its own and 

figure out ways to 

perform new tasks – 

an upgrade on 

robotics where 

computers mindlessly 

perform specific tasks 

repeatedly without 

consideration of 

intervening 

circumstances.’’ 

On Nigerian children and 

government 

“All I have to say to the 

Nigerian children is that it is 

never too early to start as 

anything can happen at any 

time. I also want to urge the 

Nigerian government to set up 

infrastructure so that the 

Nigerian children learn how to 

code, learn the basic computing 

skills and also receive a better 

education because we are the 

future leaders of tomorrow and 

nothing should hinder us from 

achieving our goals. 

“I think it’s wrong for parents 

not to allow a child that is up to 

six or seven years to go near their 

computer, fearing that they will 

spoil it because part of what 

helped me was privileged of 

accessibility. Today, My Academy 

App among others is already on 

Google play store where I pass on 

knowledge of coding and 

graphics. I remember at age seven, 

I set a target to become a 

professional web designer and 

analyst at age nine, and I have 

accomplished it.’’


'We are breaking silence 

on menstruation' 

Urmila Ch, an Indian human 

rights activist with emphasis on 

menstrual hygiene, spoke with 

Sunday Vanguard on her 

campaign, tagged, ‘Breaking the 

Silence on Menstrual Hygiene’, 

in partnership with Olutosin 

Oladosu, during her visit to 

Nigeria. 

By Funmi Ajumobi 

Purpose of visit 

The major purpose of my visit is to 

bring awareness on menstrual 

hygiene. We focus on Lagos and 

Ondo States but Olutosin Oladosu and I 

have a common vision to work across 

Nigeria and Africa. We have reached out 

to 700 people through our workshop to 

sensitise them on the best practise on 

menstrual hygiene that girls should 

practice like using cotton cloth correctly. 

Why menstrual hygiene in Nigeria 

despite other areas of human rights you 

are into? 

I realised that all of women’s problems 

are related to keeping quiet and not 

speaking out. I am a survivor of marriage 

violence. I lived with a man who used to 

beat me very badly to the extent I had to 

go through surgery. I am still nursing 

emotional scars from the father of my 

only daughter. He was my childhood 

boyfriend from four years old, and my 

first boyfriend. You can imagine the 

emotional trauma I had from the hands 

of someone I loved profoundly. I walked 

out of the marriage because it was a 

matter of being alive. When I walked out, 

I pledged to myself to talk about my 

problem because, for eight years in my 

marriage, I hid it from my parents and 

everyone that I was being beaten. Nobody 

in the society knew that my husband, who 

is a successful medical doctor and from a 

good family, was hurting me. All of my 

work experiences with the United Nations 

(UN) and as a journalist, I kept realising 

that women have one problem. They put a 

false face that everything is going on well 

in their lives, and they like to smile about 

it. I did a story on menstruation in 2012 

which won an award. When I went to 

Mumbai to receive the award, I sensed 

that it was God calling me to use my time 

and personal suffering to enhance the 

quality of life women are living. The 

article was titled, ‘We Don’t Talk About It’. 

When I went back home, something 

changed in my heart. I realised that the 

award was an indication for me to work 

on menstrual hygiene management using 

my first experience of domestic violence 

to break the culture of silence. That is why 

my initiative is not called menstruation 

but ‘Breaking the Silence’. Just like 

Olutosin Oladosu here in Nigeria is 

doing, it is not about menstrual hygiene 

alone, it is about empowerment, helping 

other women to overcome their problems, 

it is about networking, self care like what 

we enjoy today at the Transformational 

Centre in Ibasa. So it has been seven 

years of breaking the silence. 

What I teach is not rocket science, it is a 

simple package of information but you 

will be surprised to know that as simple 

as it seems, it is lacking across the world. 

I teach the biology of menstruation. 

What do you see that is peculiar to 

Nigeria on menstrual hygiene since you 

came? 

So far we have trained about 700 

people and this figure is not good enough 

to represent a nation 

like Nigeria. With the 

population of Nigeria, 

we need to have about 

10,000 people trained 

to render this service. I 

don’t want to hurt the 

sentiment of people 

and misguide 

government. It is not 

about Nigeria. It is 

about the 700 people 

we trained. What I 

found out among the 

700 people we 

trained, from Ondo 

and Lagos is that none 

of the girls had local 

awareness on 

menstruation before 

their first 

menstruation. They 

entered menstruation 

and puberty without 

parental guidance. So 

how can parents leave 

their children to step 

into adolescence 

which is a turbulent 

I teach why 

girls 

menstruate, 

understanding 

the blood that 

comes out, the 

days and years 

it takes to 

menstruate 

stage alone? As babies, you are taught 

on how to drink milk to how you take 

solid food; they hold your hands to take 

the first step but puberty, where you are 

transiting to adult, there is no advice. 

This was a departing point on the 700 we 

•Urmila Ch 

trained. Secondly, wrong information is 

being given to the girls by 

community elders and 

mothers, that if they go 

near a boy, they will get 

pregnant. So the fear of 

pregnancy is instilled into 

them. Parents should give 

their wards the right 

information. Let them 

know a child comes with 

responsibility. Only the 

right information can 

protect your daughters. 

What did you give to the 

700 girls you mentored in 

your tour? 

There are different 

NGOs working on 

menstrual hygiene 

management but each has 

its individual narrative on 

sexual reproductive 

health. I discourage 

individual narrative 

because it is better to use 

the United Nations or 

international content on 

training to prevent wrong 

information going out to girls and to 

protect local sentiment or hurting local 

content. 

What I teach is biology of menstruation, 

according to science. I teach why girls 

menstruate, understanding the blood that 

comes out, the days and years it takes to 

menstruate. So, it is not about stories, it is 

scientific facts. It is also about using 

different products, correct use of the 

products because nobody taught us that. 

Thirdly we teach them how to dispose the 

used product, because they just throw it 

anywhere they like. And it is polluting the 

water body. It is polluting the animals, 

polluting the environment because it is 

plastic. 

Plastic takes 500 years to decompose 

During these years, it is going to pollute 

your water body, your animals, your soil 

and crops and we are so ignorant about it 

and nobody is checking. In India, we have 

done research and we know the extent of 

damage. We know how many metric tons 

of sanitary napkins are being used in a 

month. We teach girls how to keep clean 

all the time. We also teach personal 

hygiene management to persons with 

disability. We teach menstrual hygiene 

management in schools and public 

places. We also distribute sanitary 

napkins and, in Nigeria, Olutosin 

mobilised more than 1,000 sanitary pads 

with her organisation’s funds as free gifts 

during our trainings. 

Are you then advising that we adopt 

cotton or cloth for our menstruation in 

order to check environmental pollution? 

This is a very large issue. If you don’t 

give this now, what do you give? Clothbased 

is very expensive and tampon is not 

available. Until we sensitize and create 

policies to produce sanitary that contains 

no plastics, we can’t stop people from 

using what is available. It’s a policy thing. 

The manufacturers need to be sensitised 

to stop using plastic-based products for 

sanitary napkins. There is no other option 

for people who are using it for now. We 

are pressurising and the campaign is on. 

The companies have the money to 

produce environment friendly products. It 

is not that we don’t care about the 

environment but, for now, women are very 

important. We are focusing on them as we 

push for policy change. 

What is the best way to dispose of 

sanitary napkins? 

Don’t throw them into water body, pond, 

well, or near somebody’s pool. 

Don’t throw them in the toilets because 

the toilets are full of used sanitary pads in 

offices, homes and everywhere else. 

In Nigeria, we have trucks that drain 

our toilets, yet they empty the contents in 

the ocean? It is wrong because it is 

pollution. And we have individual level 

disposal, institutional level disposal and 

country level disposal. At individual level, 

you have to wrap your pad with the pouch 

provided on each pad and no woman is 

doing this because they are not aware. 

This information is more important than 

the one in the books. You have to look for 

a dustbin. If you are running a school, it is 

your responsibility to have dustbins in 

designated corners. In government offices 

and private companies and public places, 

these should be places where only girls 

should know and not boys. There is need 

for awareness first and policy change 

later. Institution level ensures that there 

are lots of dustbins. So it is about 

household planning, institutional 

planning, government planning. It is all 

about awareness and policy change 

coming later. Why we have many of these 

diseases like dysentery and diarrhoea is 

because of pollution by sanitary pads. It is 

a matter of public and community health, 

and also because it leads to diseases. 

You also have to make sure the dustbin 

is clear and burnt, buried and 

decomposed.

PAGE 20 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 

Why fathers should stop trying to be their son’s best friend! 

Some few weeks back, I 

was talking to the father 

of a teenage boy who 

was despairing that his son 

insisted on putting his playstation 

above homework, 

chores and even sleep. He 

asked, with a defeated shrug: 

“What can I do?” I was afterall 

an agony aunt. He seemed to 

believe that as the boy’s 

father, he had no part to play 

in his problem at all. When I 

told him to “take the damn 

thing off him”, I’m not sure 

which of us looked more 

surprised. The father because 

I was suggesting a firm act of 

parenting that was clearly an 

alien concept, or me, because 

I was required to point out 

such an obvious solution. 

Not long after this incident, 

I ran into an older friend who 

rose to the position of the 

principal of a reputable male 

secondary school in Lagos. 

According to him, “Society is 

increasingly equality-driven, 

which is a good thing. But 

something clearly has got lost 

in translation when a father 

believes this must be extended 

to his connection with his 

young son. You see family 

relationships where formalities 

have been removed so much 

so that the child is allowed to 

call his father by his pet name! 

This would be a good thing if 

it worked, but it doesn’t. 

“Instead of acquiescing to 

their father’s firm but fair 

demands, too many boys find 

themselves calling the shots. 

They dictate how much home 

work they will do, if any. They 

decide whether they will sit at 

the family table to eat and what 

time they will finally switch off 

from technology and grab 

some sleep. If they’re rude 

to their mothers, it is of no 

consequence. Should they fall 

behind at school, it is left to 

their teachers to try to cajole 

them into catching up. 

Structure and orders are lost 

– and in the vain hope this 

will allow friendship to thrive 

between father and son. 

“Of course similar behaviour 

can occur between daughters 

and mothers, but the brain of 

an adolescent boy is wired 

differently to that of his female 

counterpart, meaning it is 

potentially more of a problem. 

He matures later, meaning he 

has less of a sense of personal 

responsibility when it comes to 

his own safety and success. 

Studies have shown that boys 

are more likely to take risks and 

be more optimistic about the 

outcome – this makes strict 

rules and discipline all the more 

important when it comes to 

keeping on the right path. 

“I’m not suggesting we 

should return to the autocratic, 

distant parenting of the past, 

but the permissive style of 

many fathers today does not 

help their sons. During my 35- 

year career, first as a teacher 

and then as a principal, I have 

taught many hundreds of boys. 

When I meet a pupil I taught 

years ago, they often thank me 

for being strict at school. They 

say that though they might not 

have liked it at the time, they’re 

grateful to me now for the high 

standards and discipline 

instilled in them. I was friendly 

but not overly so. Good fathers 

play a similar role in their son’s 

lives. 

“I’m not saying they don’t 

show great warmth, but they 

would never put friendship 

above rules and routine. 

Effective parenting means 

insisting on bedtimes, 

making sure home-works are 

completed and to a decent 

standard. It is about having 

basic expectations that 

children turn up for meals, 

help with household chores 

and switch off computer 

games when asked. I 

wouldn’t be bothering to 

bring this up at all were it not 

for how dearly this 

surrendering of authority is 

costing our boys. Because 

without a loving but firm role 

model keeping them on track 

at home, many are failing to 

thrive outside of it. 

“Today, girls are outstripping 

boys at school, 

university and in their early 

careers. Modern methods are 

a far cry from the way in 

which boys of my generation 

were raised. I was the eldest 

of four sons, and our father, 

while loving and 

encouraging, was also quite 

clear about where the 

boundaries lay and how we 

should contribute to family 

life. Each week, a rota of 

weekend chores would 

appear on the kitchen door. 

One brother would vacuum; 

another would dust and clean 

the furniture; I might be 

washing the car, while 

another tackled feeding the 

chicken. 

“This was thought fair and 

reasonable and we took pride 

in doing the jobs well. There 

were other expectations of us 

too. We had to be respectful to 

our mother and thank her for 

the food she put in front of 

us. And there was no 

question of us arguing about 

bedtime. 

“I needn’t tell you that 

teenagers aren’t always 

naturally sensible, grateful, 

polite and well-behaved. They 

don’t appreciate that if they 

play computer games instead 

of getting their sleep, they will 

under-perform the next day. It 

needs to be spelled out to 

them. 

“For what child is ever going 

to self-regulate? These are 

traits that need to be learned 

through the enforcement of 

rules. If a boy is never taught 

what he should do in order to 

operate as a successful 

member of the family, how 

can he possibly know? I 

never saw the way I was 

raised as unreasonable. My 

father didn’t nag us to keep 

our bedrooms tidy or moan 

about us doing our home 

work. He was strict about 

what he felt mattered 

without being pedantic. He 

was my father, and I loved 

and admired him. He 

provided me with a template 

of how to be a good man and 

parent, but at no point did I 

consider him to be my friend 

– nor do I ever recall 

wanting him to be. 

“That doesn’t make me 

unusual. Children want and 

like the security that comes 

from a degree of discipline 

from their father far more than 

they want another pal. Trying 

to be mates with a son 

generates a generation of 

feckless and lazy boys, 

without the skills, selfdiscipline 

or motivation to 

well-founded adults. All 

children need love, boys 

included, but what modern 

fathers need to understand is 

that the best way to help their 

boys is by providing structure, 

rules and discipline. And not 

by trying to be their best 

friend.” 

I beg your pardon! 

(Humour) 

An elderly couple has been 

courting for some time. 

Finally, they decided to go 

ahead and get married. 

Before the wedding they go 

out for dinner and had a long 

conversation about how their 

marriage might work. They 

discuss finances, living 

arrangements and so on. 

Eventually, the old gent 

broaches the subject of their 

physical relationship. “How 

do you feel about sex?”, he 

asks cautiously. 

“Well”.she says delicately. 

“I’d say that I would like it 

infrequently”, the old gent 

ponders the remark for a 

moment. 

“Sorry, dear”, he casually 

asks, looking over his glasses 

at his lady friend. “Was that 

one week or two?” 

Y 

OUR column to express your loving 

thoughts in words to your sweetheart. Don’t 

be shy. Let it flow and let him or her know how 

dearly you feel. Write now in not more than 75 words 

to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, 

Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: sundaylovenotes@yahoo.com 

Please mark your envelope: “LOVE NOTES" 

What it means to share a 

heart 

Your hand is full love for everyone 

You extend the hand of your heart to her 

Offering a part of her from you to her 

She thinks she knows you 

She recognises your hand not your heart 

Your heart that is her castle but she does 

not know 

From your heart she extends her hand to 

someone else 

If only she understands what it means to 

share a heart 

How much you can hate her if she lets you. 

Kingsley Alumona 

kingsley.alumona@yahoo.com 

Love is a cycle 

When you love, you get hurt, 

When you get hurt, you try to hate, 

When you hate, you try to forget, 

When you try to forget, you start missing, 

When you start missing, you fall in love again. 

Oluchi Eziagbala, 

eziagbalaoluchi@gmail.com


Sponsorship /Networking 

•Ifeoma 24, seeking for 

admission into Igbinedion 

School of Nursing Okada, 

needs a philanthropist to 

sponsor her, acct2086159272, 

ZenithBank,Nwaokeke 

Ifeoma Kate 08091134141 

•Peace needs financial 

sponsorship, to enable her 

pay and write WAEC. 

09015450542 

•Leke done with masters in 

Germany, needs sponsorship, 

scholarship or bond to 

complete his PHD 

programme. 08034671293, 

07033311984 

Lovers 

Searching Female 

•Grace Igbo by tribe, a 

sincere Christian, lovely, and 

good looking, needs a God 

fearing, handsome wealthy, 

comfortable and educated 

widower, aged 40-45, for a 

relationship that will lead to 

marriage.081692799070, 

08066651155 

•Mary 30, from Bayelsa state, 

but employed and resides in 

Akwa Ibom state Uyo, needs 

a caring, and mature man, for 

a serious relationship that 

will lead to marriage. 

07033264541,08175135097 

•Chioma 26, a single mother, 

of two, needs a God fearing 

Igbo man, to take care of her 

and also make her happy. 

09015424488 

•Mary 45, fat, needs a man, 

who is God fearing, a Catholic, 

tall, caring, neat, good 

looking, healthy and wealthy, 

aged 46-60, for marriage. 

08037724464 

Searching Male 

•P AA, 42, teacher a father of 

one, Urhobo, by tribe and 

resides in Oghara, needs an 

Urhobo lady aged 25-35, in 

Delta state, for a relationship 

that will lead to marriage. 

09096391943, 08141602337 

•Alex handsome, cool and 

caring needs a beautiful and 

loving lady, for a serious 

relationship, in Lagos. 0903 

918 2820, 09098614797 

•Olabode needs a lady, for a 

serious relationship. 

08032604556,08088969710 

•Victor employed and resides 

in Uyo Akwa Ibom State, 

needs a virtue lady, aged 28, 

for a relationship.08024344008 

•Onuchukwu resides in 

Enugu state, needs a good 

wife. 08030887308 

•Joshua 29 resides in Benin, 

needs a sexy, hot and 

romantic lady, for a 

DISCLAIMER! 

relationship.08162065737, 

08064612547,08163604963, 

08057053801 

•Sammy 35, resides in Lagos, 

needs a lady who can satisfy 

him with sex, to settle down 

with him.09038602611 

•Ajayi 49, fair in complexion, 

resides in Lagos, a media 

consultant, mining and 

agriculture, needs a fair in 

complexion, well curved, 

single graduate police officer, 

armed officer, Air force officer, 

navy and other paramilitary 

officer, doctor, lawyer, rich lady 

who is financially ok, for 

marriage. 08088974646 

•Olatunde 31, from Osun 

State, but resides in Lagos, 

needs a Yoruba lady, aged 23- 

25, for a serious relationship, 

in Lagos.09091198303 

•Prince, a graduate, genotype 

AA, blood group O+, selfemployed 

and resides in 

Lagos, needs a matured lady, 

for a serious relationship. 

08084406610,09051715105 

•Gbenga 48, an engineer, 

resides in Ilesa, needs a 

Yoruba lady, aged 30-40, for a 


08064851444 

•Samuel 34, dark in 

complexion, tall, needs a 

decent lady, aged 25-45, for a 


08147182717,08089879143 

•Uduak 30, from Akwa Ibom, 

Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in 

or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does 

so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking. 

Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of 

requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore 

request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to 

enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For 

enquiries, text or call 08026651636, or 08054700825 

Uyo, but resides in Abuja, a 

businessman, needs a lady, 

aged 20-25, who also resides 

in Abuja, for a relationship. 

09027771812, 07063443154 

•Tayo from Ibafo, needs a 

serious lady, aged 25-28, for 

marriage.07061221598, 

09038275948 

•Daniel 38, resides in Lagos, 

a businessman, needs a God 

fearing lady, for a relationship, 

that would lead to marriage. 

09061573026 

•John resides in Benin, needs 

a lady, for fun.08134603145 

•Steve 46, Godly, hard 

working and resides in Ilesa, 

Osun State, needs a Godly, 

hardworking, serious minded 

lady, aged 35-40, for a 

relationship that will lead to 

marriage.08105760632 

•Ayo 46, fair in complexion, 

employed, from Delta state, 

but resides in Benin City, 

needs a lady, who isemployed, 

for a serious relationship that 

will lead to marriage, aged 35- 

50.08069826125 

Sugar Cares 

Searching Female 

•Loveth 25, busty and hot in 

bed, needs a sugar daddy, who 

can spend money on her, aged 

40-70.08068934816 

Searching Male 

•Dickson 29 resides in Delta 

state, needs a sweet and 

caring sugar mummy, to 

explore with.09079288906, 

09070616630 

•Richard 24, fair in 

complexion, good looking and 

resides in Port Harcourt, needs 

a sugar mummy, who is 

financially stable and cool, for 

a romantic relationship. 

09027881104 

•George 28,6ft tall,good 

looking and resides in Abuja, 

needs a spicy sugar mummy, 

for a relationship.09024634671 

•Amuzie 20, from Aba, Abia 

State, needs a caring sugar 

mummy within Aba or Abia 

state. 09013657963 

•Kamcy 28, average height, 

dark in complexion, from 

Anambra State, needs a sugar 

mummy, aged 30-50 for 

relationship.08131188762 

•Austine 38, resides in Benin 

City, needs a nice and good 

looking sugar mummy, who 

can help him, aged 45-50, for 

a serious relationship. 

09034141399 

•Frncik 23, dark in 

complexion, humble, cool and 

from Imo state, needs a sugar 

mummy that can help him. 

09079945869 

•Frank 40, resides in Lagos, 

an estate manager, and fun to 

be with, needs a sugar 

mummy, aged 50-55, for a 


08068553322 

•Olawale tall, very romantic 

and resides in Lagos, needs a 

chubby, busty and romantic 

sugar mummy.08081147517 

•Ugo 30, from Asaba Delta 

state, needs a sugar mummy, 

aged 39-49, for a cool 

relationship.08159646279, 

07056215685 

•Prince 22, from Abia state, 

needs a good sugar mummy 

that can take care of him. 

08082682854 

•Frank 23, humble, cool from 

Imo state, needs a sugar 

mummy, who can help him. 

09079945869 

•Chris fun to be with, 

employed and resides in 

Lagos, needs a sugar mummy, 

aged 50 and above. 

08068553322 

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVEL 

VELTY BASED SOLUTION (ADVER 

VERTORIAL) 

Please what is your best 

penis enlarger? James 

That will be a combination of 

Max Man II Pills and the 

Handsome Penis Pump. 

Combinations are more 

effective than single solution 

novelties – Uche 

I have received the Jack 

Rabbit Vibrator. I don’t 

usually kiss and tell but I had 

my first orgasm last 

weekend and I am very 

pleased – Evelyn 

I have been married for six 

years and intercourse has 

been a problem at times. I 

don’t get wet easily and I am 

bruised after sex sometimes 

– Nneka 

Sorry. Not all women lubricate 

adequately during sex, even 

with foreplay. That is why 

every woman is advised to 

always keep a lubricant close 

by. Get the Luscious Flavored 

Lbricating Gel. Apply it 

generously over your genitalia 

before intercourse and the pain 

will stop and sex will be fun 

again – Uche 

Just used my African 

Superman pills for the first 

time. Solid. Super-duper 

performance. Three rounds 

in forty minutes. I have never 

had it that good. Thanks bro. 

You are the man! I will tell 

my friends about you guys – 

Chuks 

You are welcome - Uche 

Sometimes I ejaculate and 

stain my trousers even 

before sex takes place. It is 

that bad and embarrassing - 

Chris 

Such drastic premature 

ejaculation that takes place 

before penetration is common 

when you don’t have sex 

regularly or when you are in a 

new relationship. It stops 

eventually when your sex life 

is up and running so don’t 

worry about it too much. Get 

the Rock Hard Delay Cream 

and combine it with a Penis 

Sleeve. Together they will help 

you have sex for longer – Uche 

When I am fully erect, my 

organ is 6 inches long. I want 

a penile extension that can 

enable me satisfy my wife 

after I have ejaculated. I hear 

you have such - Maurice 

At the moment we have the 7 

inch penile extension. Also 

you don’t have to wait till you 

ejaculate before wearing it. 

Penile Extensions can be 

worn just like condoms to 

prolong action and prevent 

premature ejaculation – Uche 

I have been suffering from 

premature ejaculation for 

years and I always read 

your article about solutions 

to premature ejaculation but 

I thought it was all fake until 

I used Rock Hard Delay 

Cream. I last longer now I 

must confess - Chinedu 

I have little sexual 

experience and just got 

married. How can I learn 

fast? Effiong 

You can get substantial sex 

education from the right books 

and films. I will recommend two 

adult educational films for a 

start. Get Maximizing G Spot 

Pleasures and Adam & Eve 

Legendary Sex Positions 

movies. Between these two 

instructional videos, you will 

pick up enough knowledge to 

have a wonderful love life – 

Uche 

I am 39 years old and I have 

been having difficulties with 

getting in the mood for sex 

with my husband until I 

came across the Libigirl 

supplement. It saved my 

marriage and restored my 

sex drive. Thank you so 

much - Vivian 

I have been experiencing 

weak erection for some time 

and eventually bought a 

Penis Pump. My erections 

are harder after pumping. It 

is just that when I start 

having sex, it will get soft 

again – Samuel 

If you are using a penis pump to 

get an erection, you must use it 

with a Cockring. Once you pump 

and get your erection, wear the 

Cockring immediately and you 

will maintain the erection for up 

to twenty minutes – Uche 

During intercourse, when I 

ejaculate, what comes out is 

really small - Zikora 

Sperm quality has nothing to do 

with semen quantity. Sperm 

quality is what determines your 

ability to get a woman pregnant 

while semen quantity merely 

leads to a longer ejaculation time 

and more enjoyable intercourse. 

So until you start trying for kids, 

you have nothing to worry about 

– Uche 

You are welcome. Adults in need of 

these treatments/novelties can call 

us on 08171912551, 

08027901621 or 07086754515 

for help or visit 

www.zeevirtualmedia.com to 

place their orders with their 

computers or on their phones with 

the zee mobile shopping app. 

Zee Virtual Media delivers all 

over Nigeria. For enquiries email 

us 

at 

zeevirtualmedialtd@.com- 

Uche Edochie, MD, Zee 

Virtual Media.


By Josephine Agbonkhese 

08054650907 

Email: jossynovia@gmail.com 

MARY DINAH: 

Beauty queen feeding 

Africa’s children 

By Ephraim Oseji 

Her appearance bellies her achievements, both professionally 

and academically. UK-based Mary Dinah, the Chief Executive 

Officer of M.A.D. Hospitality, a hospitality consulting firm, has 

over 15 years of experience working in some of the world’s 

leading hotel brands. Within Starwood Hotels, she was Food and 

Beverage Marketing Representative for all 49 hotels in Africa and 

the Indian Ocean, while also Head of Marketing in charge of five 

hotels in Nigeria: Four Points by Sheraton Lagos, Sheraton Abuja, 

Sheraton Lagos, Le Meridien Port Harcourt and Le Meridien Ibom 

Golf Re¬sort. 

Dinah holds a B.Sc in Computer Science from the University of 

Nottingham, M.Sc International Hotel Management from the 

University of Surrey (Distinction), Master’s in Global Business 

from the University of Oxford (Distinction) 

and a Post Graduate in Entrepreneurship 

from Harvard University (Distinction). 

A philanthropist whose ultimate goal 

is to feed every child in Africa with 

three meals per day, Dinah is the 

Founder of ‘Food for Thought’, a nonprofit 

established in 2014. 

In this interview, the dark 

complexioned genius who recently 

fulfilled her childhood dream of 

becoming a beauty queen, speaks about 

her profession, charity work and reveals 

plan for her one year reign as Miss Nigeria 

Great Britain and Miss Lagos 2019; two 

crowns won within the Miss Nigeria Great 

Britain showcase. 

ow did you build a career in hospitality? 

H Well, I have been in the hospitality 

industry for over a decade. I started when I was 

very young in the UK as an intern with five star 

hotels such as Hilton, Sheraton and Marriott. I 

have been able to progress and grow within my 

hospitality career both practically and 

academically. I also set up a hotel management 

company, M.A.D. Hospitality, about 10 years ago, 

which has grown to be very successful. So, I am 

quite pleased that I have accomplished a lot in 

hospitality. 

What are some of the key principles you stood 

for that you think young ladies aspiring to 

venture into hospitality and pageantry should 

emulate? 

There are two things I have always stood for. The 

first is not to let anyone place you in a box. We all 

have the capacity to do a lot of different things at 

the same time. After receiving a Distinction from 

Oxford University for my Master’s in Global 

Business, I was told I couldn’t be a beauty queen 

as I am ‘beyond that’. I politely told them ‘no’. 

It’s not possible to be beyond a dream. If you 

want it, go get it and remember, you can 

obtain the things you want in any order you 

wish. The ladder I am climbing is mine; and 

the picture I am painting, only I know. So, it’s 

important not to let anyone distort the pixels 

in what they don’t understand and can’t 

visualise. You are the master artist in this 

composition and everyone else is a spectator; 

so, run the show. If they don’t fully understand 

your path, they can catch up later. 

Secondly, there should always be a higher 

goal in everything you seek. One that is ‘non 

sibi’ which means ‘not for oneself’. I look 

forward to using this platform to alleviate 

hunger in children all across Africa through 

my charity, ‘Food for Thought’. Already, we’ve 

started feeding all the 120 students in 

Anglican Girls’ Seminary School in Lagos. 

We feed them daily and we will continue to 

do so forever. I chose to start this programme 

with an all-girls school as a subtle nod to my 

push for gender equality in Nigeria. 

The world of pageantry is perceived to be a 

cesspool of immoralities; is that the reality? 

Well, there are a lot of people who might 

misunderstand modelling and pageantry, just as 

they misunderstand hospitality. I remember that 

as a 

*Mary 

Adetokunbo 

Dinah 

young girl, I was excited to 

work as a hotelier but 

was told by my 

Pastor that it is not 

a decent 

environment for 

women to work in. 

This is a very 

backward 

viewpoint which 

again hinders 

women from 

pursuing their 

chosen career paths. 

In my many years 

in hospitality, I 

have gone on to 

win 

numerous 

awards, 

including 

the 

Golden 

Circle 

Award 

at 

Mariot 

and 

Marketing 

Award 

at 

Four 

Seasons 

amongst 

others. I 

was 

previously 

Ambassador of 

Tourism in 

Lagos State 

and I’ve 

been 

asked to 

speak 

on 

several 

ocasions 

*Dinah with 

children 

including 

the 

Women 

in Tourism 

Entrepreneurship 

Conference at the Lagos Business School 

and the British Council Study UK 

conference. I continue to make an impact in 

society with my hospitality knowledge and 

that wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t 

dispel naive and unfounded comments 

about women in hospitality. 

…and how will your one year reign as 

Miss Nigeria Great Britain and Miss 

Lagos affect Nigeria positively? 

On the night I won the pageant, I 

remember saying in my speech that “if 

you’ve been given fame or fortune, it’s 

imperative to use it for greater good and 

make an impact to elevate the lives of other 

people”. Personally, I have a responsibility 

to use everything I have achieved to make a 

big impact during the next one year as Miss 

Nigeria. It will require all my knowledge 

and skills from diplomacy to academia, 

hospitality, charity work and my personal 

training, sports and fitness. As a focus, I 

have chosen ‘Zero Hunger’ as my area of 

impact. It is a United Nations sustainable 

development goal. Whenever I eat, I think of 

children who are hungry and have nothing 

to eat. Without food, we wouldn’t be alive; 

hence Abraham Maslow places it in the 

category of very essential basic needs in his 

widely published ‘Hierarchy of needs’. I am 

passionate about ensuring that children 

have three meals a day across Africa. Like I 

said earlier, I am already realising this 

dream on the platform of my NGO, Food 

for Thought. 

What other aspect of Nigeria’s economy 

will you use your influence to develop? 

Tourism. I was quite fortunate to have met 

the DG of Nigeria Tourism Development 

Corporation, NTDC, when he attended one 

of our rehearsals and discussed ways of 

using this platform to develop tourism in the 

country. Lagos is an incredibly beautiful 

state and should be a global megacity. So 

far, it has not got as much tourist traffic 

compared to cities like Miami, London and 

Paris. I love travelling and I have visited 

those cities but to me, Lagos is the most fun 

place on earth. Recently, I was at a private 

beach in Ilase which looks like a scene from 

day dream in paradise. Lagos has untold 

beauty that people, including ‘Lagosians,’ 

have not had time to explore. I definitely 

will be promoting tourism and encouraging 

other people around the world to come to 

Lagos and experience what we 

have here. 

Let’s talk about Food for 

Thought and its agenda... 

Food for Thought is focused 

on alleviating hunger and 

poverty by feeding poor children 

in Africa. The organization 

actively supports five United 

Nations Sustainable 

Development Goals and works 

in partnership with the UN. 

Established since 2014, the 

foundation has been successful 

in other youth benevolence 

programs including Job-Link 

which was Nigeria’s first ever job 

centre. Now acquired by the 

Nigerian government, Job-Link 

connected over 10,000 youths to 

gainful employment and trained 

more than 5,000 people on 

employability skills and CV 

writing. We have received 

numerous awards for our 

contribution to society including 

the Vice Chancellors Award at 

The University of Surrey, 

Governors Award in Lagos State, 

Social Impact Award at British 

Council (2017) and I received 

the Future Leaders Award (2018) 

in the United Kingdom.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019, PAGE 23 

08112662589 

Why this maid was a Godsent to my dad and I! 

Zack is a 39-year-old I 

freak who runs a very 

high-tech cybercafe. 

He also has this reputation of 

being a chronic womanizer – 

a fact he readily agrees to, 

blaming his sexual addiction 

on his father, he explains. 

“My father never married my 

mother because she was in 

school when she had me. 

When my grandmother who 

was looking after me died, my 

mother was still busy pursuing 

her academic career, so it 

was decided I should go and 

live with my father. I was already 

a lanky lad of 15 and 

my dad was still unmarried. 

I couldn’t cook and it was 

quite expensive buying already 

cooked food, so he 

looked around for a maid. The 

first one lasted a few months 

and was sent packing because 

she stole. Then a co-worker 

bough this beauty to be our 

housemaid. She was a 19- 

year-old and the understanding 

was that she would learn 

a trade. So she settled for 

fashion designing. 

“It was inevitable that my old 

man would start sleeping with 

Moira, the maid. It happened 

one night that, thanks to electricity 

failure, the house was 

so quiet, enabling me to 

chance on their secret! The 

weather was so hot that I 

couldn’t sleep. I heard giggles 

and low moans coming from my 

dad’s bedroom. I grew curious 

when I heard the same noise 

two days later that I crawled out 

of bed. This time, we had electricity 

and I peeped through the 

keyhole of my dad’s bedroom 

door. This bed was right opposite 

he door. I was surprised to 

see both of them starkers and 

Moira giving my dad oral sex. 

My dad looked silly and vulnerable. 

I’d never seen him 

naked before nor had I seen a 

full naked female body. I hurried 

back to my room for fear 

of being caught but I was so 

excited by what I had seen 

that I couldn’t sleep. For days, 

it stayed on my mind. 

Then it was Friday night and 

my dad went on his usual 

drinking spree with his friends, 

leaving me alone as usual with 

Moira. We were very good 

friends by now and I really like 

her. She came to my room and 

I was relaxing on the bed. I felt 

my stomach turn at the sight of 

her but I didn’t know why. She 

noticed how uncomfortable I 

was – and how aroused. Not 

believing what I was hearing, 

she assured: “You are too tense. 

I’ll do something to help you 

relax. You wait, you’ll see, I 

know you will enjoy it.” My 

eyes were on stalks as she gave 

me the same treatment I saw 

her give my dad. My head was 

spinning. It was a dream come 

true! It felt so good that my 

body shook as I experienced my 

first orgasm ever. That relieved 

my tension, I tell you! 

After this, we became even 

closer, concealing our little sessions 

from my father. A few 

weeks later, when my dad was 

out drinking again, I went to 

Moira’s room. I became excited 

when I saw her naked, expecting 

my usual treatment when 

Moira cheekily told me it was 

time I became a man. Then she 

proceeded to teach me how to 

have full sex. It was tremendous 

feeling – I never realised 

that anything could feel so 

good. Unfortunately, Moira 

never explained to me that sex 

could lead to pregnancy. 

At the tender age of 16, I was 

hooked on sex. I had made a 

few friends in the mixed school 

I sent to and in the neighbourhood. 

I began regular sex with 

a classmate who was my steady, 

and two other girls down the 

street. We kept things secret of 

course, until my classmate told 

me she was pregnant. Her 

parents arranged for her to 

have an abortion and, fortunately 

for me, neither her parents 

nor my dad ever found out 

who was responsible. When 

she told me she was pregnant, 

it was then I realised the miracle 

powers of that sticky stuff. 

By then, Moira was also pregnant 

– and it could be my dad 

or me! She eventually gave 

birth to a lovely daughter and 

my dad married her. She was 

already a qualified fashion designer. 

We are still great friends, 

Moira and I, but we no longer 

have sex. I will always be 

grateful to her for he bittersweet 

experience I had with he. 

I only wish I had known more 

about sex when I was young as 

I could have prevented my 

classmate’s misery. 

From that experience, I kind 

of became addicted to sex – 

discovering it brought various 

experiences with varied partners. 

I got married somewhere 

along the line and we 

have beautiful children. I also 

have three other kids by three 

other women and everyday, I 

try to cure myself of this terrible 

addiction. But the temptations 

are so irresistible. 

Loud Whispers 

With 

Erelu Bisi Fayemi 

Shame 

Shame: A painful feeling of humiliation 

or distress caused by the 

consciousness of wrong or foolish 

behavior 

Shameless: A lack of shame, especially 

about something generally 

considered unacceptable 

There is a cultural practice in 

parts of Yorubaland, mostly 

modern-day Ondo and Ekiti 

States. Every year, around the time 

of the New Yam festivals, communities 

come together to show their 

displeasure towards any person or 

group of people who did something 

deemed to be unacceptable during 

the year. Groups of young people 

would gather in front of the person’s 

house and sing songs of derision 

about their misdeeds. Theft, adultery, 

swindling, insubordination, or 

any other action considered unworthy 

of a member of the community 

were the common offences which 

would attract the unwelcome presence 

of a mob of taunting people. If 

the group showed up in front of your 

house, you had to go out and receive 

them and dance to their insulting 

songs and drumming. You also had 

to give them food, drink and money. 

If you refused, you would be beaten 

and your house could be looted or 

burnt. The objective of this practice 

was a simple one. It was meant to 

shame the offender. There was the 

understanding that everyone lived 

in the community bound by mutually 

understood norms and conventions. 

There were things you simply 

did not do. You did not steal another 

person’s property. You did not sleep 

with another man’s wife. You did not 

cheat on your husband. You did not 

rain abuses on elderly people. You did 

not disrespect your in-laws. You did 

not accept bribes. You did not cheat 

your workers. You did not steal and 

eat the eggs from the sacrifices left at 

the roadside. You did not attempt to 

poison your co-wife’s child. If you did 

any of the above things, you would 

hear from your community during 

that time of the year set aside for reckoning. 

This public outing of offenders 

served to remind everyone that there 

was a price to be paid for shameful 

behavior or for shamelessness. It was 

a strong accountability tool. This 

struck fear in people since no one 

wanted to be at the receiving end of 

such public disgrace. Story has it that 

one day, a certain man who had been 

accused of theft during the year was 

visited by the townspeople, and he decided 

to give them a warm welcome. 

With a cutlass. That was the end of the 

practice in that particular community, 

and of course an attendant slide into 

a culture of impunity. 

A few days ago I was at the Association 

of Nigerian Authors, Ekiti 

State chapter, annual meeting. My big 

brother and mentor of many years, 

the famous Poet and Public Intellectual, 

Odia Ofeimun, gave the Key Note 

Address. He spoke, amongst other 

things, about the critical importance 

of using our own languages for creative 

thinking and writing. Without 

the use of our own languages, it will 

be difficult to pass on our positive 

thought processes, philosophy and 

values to the next generation. In the 

Yoruba language the word Itiju 

means Shame. It has a clear meaning, 

and those who speak the language 

know what it means to have 

Itiju or to lack it. One of the worst 

epithets you can hurl at a Yoruba 

person is Alainitiju – a shameless 

person. The word taboo in Yoruba is 

Eewo. Each community has criteria 

for what qualifies as Eewo, but 

there are common denominators 

such as incest, defilement of children 

and theft of communal property. The 

traditional name and shame ceremony 

I described above was one of 

the ways in which communities prevented 

Itiju from becoming normal 

behavior and people losing their fear 

of committing forbidden acts which 

would qualify as Eewo. Sadly, this 

has become a thing of the past. 

Today we have laws on our statute 

books which are meant to guide our 

behavior, regardless of our status, 

ethnicity, religion, tradition or culture. 

We are not supposed to need 

groups of youth chanting insults to 

get justice and/or appease the community. 

Yet a culture of shamelessness 

continues to thrive. When it 

comes to the issue of sexual violence, 

the most painful part of it is that victims 

are the ones who are shamed 

and not the perpetrators. That needs 

to change. Last week, the Ministry 

of Justice, Ekiti State, put out a public 

notice on a Sex Offender, one 

Reverend Asateru Gabriel, formerly 

of St Andrews Anglican Church, 

Ifisin-Ekiti. He is currently serving 

a five-year prison sentence at the 

Federal Prison, Ado-Ekiti for sexual 

abuse and exploitation of a sevenyear 

old girl. He has been registered 

in the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice 

Sex Offenders Register. The Sex Offenders 

Register, the first of its kind 

in Nigeria, was created in 2013 during 

the first administration of Governor 

Kayode Fayemi, but was abandoned 

when he left office. According 

to a statement from the no-nonsense 

Attorney-General of Ekiti State 

and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister 

Wale Fapohunda, in addition 

to the use of the register, the following 

steps are being taken to address 

sexual violence in Ekiti State: 

1. Pasting of the photographs 

of convicted Sex Offenders in prominent 

public spaces in their communities 

and their local government 

headquarters 

2. Issuing an advisory to the 

traditional ruler of the Sex Offender’s 

community on the status of the 

offender 

3. Uploading of the Sex Offender’s 

photograph on the website 

of the Ministry of Justice 

4. Compulsory psychiatric tests 

for all persons on whom the Director 

of Public Prosecutions has issued 

a ‘case to answer’ legal opinion for 

the offence of child defilement. 

It is my fervent hope that 

a Sex Offenders Register 

can be opened nationally 

and in all our States. 

When individuals commit 

sex crimes, it can be 

perceived as a matter of 

personal failing, 

something they need to 

be ashamed of and pay 

for 

When this information was shared 

online last week, the response was 

overwhelmingly positive. Some people 

however expressed concern that 

the prison sentence was too small 

for such an offence. First, considering 

the rate of attrition of sexual violence 

cases, we should be thankful 

there was a conviction in the first 

place. Second, there is an ongoing 

review of the 2011 Gender-Based 

Violence Law in Ekiti State with a 

view to updating and strengthening 

it. 

Some years ago, I came across the 

case of a male teacher who was 

found to have impregnated one of 

his students at a secondary school in 

Ibadan. When the scandal was being 

discussed, some of his colleagues 

casually mentioned that he had done 

the same thing to a student in another 

school in the same city and 

had been hurriedly posted out when 

it was discovered. How did a teacher 

who was found to have abused a student 

in one school get posted to yet 

another school? Why was he not in 

jail? Was there no way of holding 

him accountable? It is hoped that 

institutions and employers will do 

their due diligence to ensure that 

they are not letting in foxes amongst 

chickens. Every public institution, 

including schools and places of worship, 

need unambiguous sexual offences 

policies as well as a whistleblower 

mechanism. It is my fervent 

hope that a Sex Offenders Register 

can be opened nationally and in all 

our States. When individuals commit 

sex crimes, it can be perceived 

as a matter of personal failing, something 

they need to be ashamed of 

and pay for. If such crimes have been 

enabled due to collusion, indifference 

and intimidating the accusers, 

then it is a collective failure of responsibility, 

and when this happens 

all those concerned should cover 

their faces in shame. It is not only 

the predator who unzips his trousers 

and pounces on a victim who is evil 

and shameless. The same applies to 

all those who turn a blind eye and 

carry on with business as usual, this 

would mean they are all Alainitiju. 

Shameless. I am rubbing my hands 

in anticipation of the next Alainitiju 

whose photograph will be published. 

Long Live Ekiti State. Long Live Federal 

Republic of Nigeria. 

•Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender 

Specialist, Social Entrepreneur 

and Writer. She is the Founder 

of Abovewhispers.com, an online 

community for women. 

She can be reached at 

BAF@abovewhispers.com

PAGE 24 – SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 

In the past weeks, some 

senior government officials 

have come under the spotlight 

of the anti-graft agency. And 

there are several high profile 

cases involving politically 

exposed persons. The Buhari 

government says it wants to 

fight corruption. But it has 

been heavily criticized 

especially by opposition 

elements that the fight is 

selective. With the recent 

actions of the anti-graft 

agency, it does look like 

there’s a renewed energy in 

the commission. 

The commission has been 

dedicated in the discharge of its 

duties whether it is before or now 

and, under the leadership of the 

acting Executive Chairman, Mr 

Ibrahim Magu, we have had a more 

determined focus and exhibited a 

high degree of professionalism in 

our responsibilities. 

There are allegations that the 

commission is selective in its 

fight. Is the commission 

worried about the portrayal of 

some of the cases it chose to 

prosecute in recent times? 

Let’s put the question in proper 

perspective. Those who are subjects 

of prosecution, have allegations of 

crime been made against them? Has 

evidence been gathered against 

them and are they being prosecuted 

before the law courts? The issue of 

selectivity is immaterial because the 

word may be capable of several 

interpretations. 

You are a lawyer and you know 

that in law when you are leading 

the process to ensure justice, justice 

must be seen to be done. It is not 

only about perception but also about 

the trueness of what you are doing. 

But perception is also important 

from the framing of that popular 

saying in law. Isn’t it? 

Essentially, for us, we are color 

blind. What is essential is that there 

is a complaint about somebody. The 

complaint is investigated, and once 

we gather prima-facie evidence, we 

proceed to court against that person 

and we allow the court 

to prosecute, and the 

court is the final 

institution to determine 

the guilt or otherwise. 

We have been hearing 

this claim of selective 

justice from time 

immemorial. During 

the regime of President 

Olusegun Obasanjo, 

this issue of selective 

justice came up. 

During the time of 

President Jonathan, 

yes, there was the same 

allegation as well. 

Now, we keep talking 

about the same claim. 

Is it that those who are 

being prosecuted are 

not the right persons to 

be prosecuted? I 

think that should be the 

issue. Do we have 

enough evidence to 

prosecute them or not? 

The fact that you have 

ten people in a room 

and you start with one 

person does not mean that you will 

eventually not reach the other nine 

persons. And we are not unmindful 

of the fact that these anti-corruption 

agencies have limited resources in 

terms of personnel and money 

available to them. So, they can’t take 

on everybody at the same time. 

These things have to be done 

methodologically. If you recollect, 

some weeks back, a former governor 

in one of the northern states who 

happens to belong to the APC 

(ruling party at the federal level), 

One thing to know 

about all these 

cases of internet 

fraud is that these 

things are actually 

under reported in 

Nigeria. Within the 

past one year, the 

commission has 

embarked on 

Operation Cyber 

Storm 

his properties and money linked to 

him have been subject of 

investigation based on allegations 

made by the commission through 

the court. So, what are we talking 

about on the issue of selective 

justice? If the issue is about 

selective justice, the EFCC would 

not have gone after the former APC 

governor. 

Some people would tell you 

that there are actually wars 

against such personalities in 

APC and that’s why you went 

after them. But the question is, 

is it true that the only cases 

the EFCC goes after are those 

on which you received petitions 

from outside or do you 

originate your own cases? 

There are several ways that 

investigation could be kick-started. 

It could come in form of criminal 

complaint or intelligence gathering. 

For instance, financial intelligence 

could be generated by the NFIU 

through FCR to the EFCC or ICPC. 

Then there may be the need to 

conduct investigation into a 

particular account to ascertain 

whether that account is not being 

used for crime or money laundering. 

It is not exactly true that all 

investigations really come as a 

result of criminal complaint. 

What has become of Ikoyi 

43million dollars (estimated 

13billion naira) the EFCC 

busted the other time? 

If you understand the workings of 

EFCC, you would know what the 

agency does and how they go about 

it. The EFCC is established by the 

Act of EFCC 2004. And that Act 

provides for laws that the 

commission has to operate. One of 

those laws is what is called the 

Advance Free Fraud Act. Using 

Section 17 of it, otherwise called 

Non-Conviction Forfeiture, the 

commission ensured that the money 

was forfeited to the Federal 

Government of Nigeria and, in line 

with the provisions of the EFCC Act, 

the appropriate officers of the 

commission have ensured that the 

money was transmitted 

to the Federal 

Government. At that 

level, the responsibility 

of EFCC stops. The 

money was subject to an 

order of final forfeiture 

and, as a result of that, 

the EFCC has 

concluded what it 

should do to ensure that 

the money got to the 

appropriate quarters. 

Is the commission 

still prosecuting 

cases around the 

money? For example, 

the case of the 

former National 

Intelligence Agency 

head? 

There was no time the 

EFCC instituted a case 

against the head of any 

agency. What was 

carried out at that point 

in time was 

investigation. We have 

not yet initiated a case 

against the head of any agency. 

So the money has not been 

linked to anybody? 

I told you the mechanism we used. 

Investigation is still going on. The 

money forfeited is under Non- 

Conviction Forfeiture; you go after 

the loot while we are still 

investigating to determine where 

the loot came from, because the 

focus of the EFCC is the proceeds of 

crime. And that is what pains most 

of the criminals who engage in 

those crimes more. 

•Kabiru Latona 

REVELA 

How 

hac 

tran 

• Says 750 

• Speaks o 

Babachir 

By Chris Onuoha 

Mr Kabiru Lato 

Commission, E 

States (US) Federal Bu


TIONS ON FBI LIST: 

scammers 

k into financial 

sactions – EFCC 

cases recorded in 8 months 

n $43m Ikoyi money; Okorocha, Yari, Oyo-Ita investigations, 

Lawal; alleged shutting down of state govts 

na is Assistant Director, Legal Services Department of the Economic and Financial Crimes 

FCC. In this interview, he speaks on the list of suspected Nigerian fraudsters compiled by the United 

reau of Investigation (FBI), among other issues bordering on economic and financial crimes. Excerpts: 

What about if you lose the 

case and the money is 

someone’s rightful money? 

No. It couldn’t have been because 

there are mechanisms before final 

forfeiture. 

Mrs Oyo Ita, the Head of 

Service, what is EFCC 

investigating? 

We don’t discuss the issue of 

investigations in the papers or on 

television screen. Investigations are 

conducted discretely. Newspaper 

reports are one thing and what the 

commission is doing is another 

thing. The point is this: People have 

accused us in the past of playing to 

the gallery, going to the media. 

What we are doing and have been 

doing is scientific investigation. 

Whatever we are doing now as 

regards some aspects of 

investigations, we prefer not to 

discuss on television screen. 

There are cases involving lot 

of money being investigated by 

the US Federal Bureau of 

Investigations (FBI) in Nigeria. One 

of the cases is about $11 billion 

allegedly involving one Mr 

Obinwanne ‘Invictus’ Okeke. What 

is going on? 

One thing to know about all these 

cases of internet fraud is that these 

things are actually under reported in 

Nigeria. Within the past one year, 

the commission has embarked on 

Operation Cyber Storm. It is just 

that many people are not aware of 

how the commission is discharging 

its services. There’s been a kind of 

refined internet scam, whereby these 

boys have the ability to hack into the 

websites and emails of individuals 

within Nigeria and outside, take 

possession of your mails, conduct 

your financial transactions and 

cause heavy losses to the 

individuals. The commission has 

been quietly working along this axis 

arresting and prosecuting so many 

of them. Between January and 

August 2019, we have recorded over 

750 crimes along this line minus the 

recoveries we have made overseas 

and in Nigeria that are the objects of 

these scams. 

Against this background, is it safe 

to make financial transactions on 

internet in Nigeria? 

Well, technology is good, 

including the internet, but just like 

every human invention, there is a 

positive aspect to it, but we equally 

have individuals who manipulate it 

for negative tendencies. You can’t 

rule that out. 

Nigeria has gotten a bad 

name because of these 

fraudsters, how they 

surreptitiously interact with 

people across the world using 

emotional ways to get money 

from them. With this image, is 

•Mike 

Igini 

NFIU connected to the EFCC or 

does it operate differently? 

The promulgation of the NFIU Act 

makes it a different body. But that 

does not mean that the NFIU is not 

performing its role as a disseminator 

of financial intelligence to the FCAF 

including the EFCC. 

But some people are of the opinion 

that there has been a breakdown of 

that connection with the EFCC, that 

intelligence sharing has slowed 

down. 

To the best of my knowledge, there 

is no breakdown. We recently 

attended a meeting of what is known 

as the intelligence taskforce 

comprising of all these bodies. In 

fact, there is a robust relationship 

among us. Don’t forget that under 

relevant laws, the EFCC has the 

capacity to demand and generate 

some level of financial intelligence. 

What about the case of former 

SGF Babachir Lawal and some 

former governors? And 

secondly, the case of former 

Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 

there is this question, why is it 

now that you are going after 

the people who are related to 

him? 

Like I said at the beginning, there 

is no perfect timing for prosecuting 

criminal cases. Generally, criminal 

prosecution has no expiry date. If 

you commit a crime now, except in 

the case of some criminal offences, it 

could be after five years before you 

are prosecuted. Again, there are 

limited resources, so you strategise 

on how to go about your 

prosecution. Several factors come 

into play, it is not just a question of 

you pick someone today and you 

decide to go to court tomorrow. 

Several factors determine when 

some cases go to court. 

There is a former 

governor in the 

South-East who, I 

understand, is to 

appear before you 

again, that is, 

talking about the 

alleged case of 

former Imo State 

governor, Owelle 

Rochas Okorocha, 

and immediate past 

governor of Zamfara 

(Abdulaziz Yari). 

Is that true? 

Yes, investigation is 

going on. I am sure you 

are aware that the 

properties (of Okorocha) 

were subject to 

forfeiture orders. For 

that of Zamfara former 

governor, sometime ago, 

the ICPC obtained an 

interim forfeiture order 

of certain properties and 

money fixed in an 

account allegedly 

belonging to him 

Many people have challenged 

the right of the EFCC to seize 

the accounts of some of these 

people. Why do you keep doing 

that? 

You can fight corruption 

proactively or reactively but the 

proactive measure is the best way to 

prevent it from happening. We talk 

about the NFIU providing financial 

intelligence to the EFCC and this is 

what happens in many cases. When 

inquiries are made and preliminary 

•Kabiru Latona 

There is no 

perfect 

timing for 

prosecuting 

criminal 

cases. 

Generally, 

criminal 

prosecution 

has no 

expiry date 

results point to allegations, rather 

than allow money from being 

moved, we quickly move in, freeze 

the account and obtain an interim 

order. The court has ruled on it, the 

competency predicated on existing 

laws. EFCC is not 

obtaining forfeiture 

orders on a nonexistence 

platform, we 

use existing laws. 

On the shutting 

down of state 

governments 

The commission is not 

shutting down state 

governments. What the 

commission is trying to 

prevent is abuse of 

public funds. We are 

not shutting down 

because many states, 

local governments are 

operating and how 

many of them have shut 

down? But when you 

get financial 

intelligence that 

somebody is about to 

move money because 

he is elected as a 

trustee of the people 

and he wants to move 

the commonwealth of 

the people to his personal account, 

would you allow that? Is that not the 

reason the commission was set up in 

the first place, and these things are 

subject to judicial review? If at the 

end of the day, the court finds out 

that there is no provable reason, the 

order will not be granted. 

• Interview first aired 

on ChannelsTV

PAGE 26 – SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 

By Esther Onyegbula 

he Commissioner of Police in 

T charge of Police Special Fraud 

Unit, Lagos, Kabiru Ibrahim, in this 

chat, tells Sunday Vanguard that 

policemen are currently being trained 

to complement efforts at fighting 

internet fraud. He provides insights into 

the multidimensional nature of the 

crime, saying the police have chased 

many internet fraudsters out of Nigeria. 

Most financial crimes are 

committed online these days. How 

do you equip your men towards 

stemming the tide? 

If you noticed, this place is not as busy 

as it used to be. The reason is that most 

of our policemen are undergoing 

training and capacity development at 

the Police Training College, Jos while 

others are undergoing courses at the 

Police Detective College, Oji River, 

Enugu State. This is the second batch of 

officers to undergo training. These 

trainings are geared towards building 

human capacity and equipping our men 

and officers to adequately address new 

developments in fraud. And it is going 

to be continuous. At the end of the 

training, officers who pass the 

examinations would 

continue to investigate 

fraud while others 

would be redeployed to 

other departments and 

sections. 

Most victims for 

so many reasons 

find it difficult to 

report that they 

have been 

defrauded. How do 

you get your leads? 

And the tool mainly 

used in perpetrating 

fraudulent acts 

today is the mobile 

phone which is very 

personal. How do 

you get evidence 

from it? 

An individual’s mobile phone is more 

visible than the individual. Every single 

Police have chased 

many fraudsters 

out of Nigeria — 

Ibrahim, CP, Special 

Fraud Unit 

thing a person does with his or her 

mobile phone is visible. Text messages, 

phone calls and conversations can be 

traced. That is why 

even when call logs, 

messages and 

conversations are 

deleted, they can be 

We are beaming 

searchlight on 

fraudsters to the 

extent that so many of 

them can’t operate in 

Nigeria anymore 

retrieved and 

extracted whenever 

investigations 

demand. A phone is 

like a computer, 

even when 

information is 

deleted it can be 

retrieved and used 

as pieces of 

evidence. The only 

exception is when 

such cases are not 

reported. 

What is your 

relationship with 

the telecom operators in terms of 

cracking hard cases, since they are so 

particular about keeping privacy 

obligations with subscribers? 

We have excellent relationship with 

telecommunication companies. In spite 

of telecommunication subscribers’ right 

to privacy, a subscriber loses that right 

once he or she commits a crime and is 

being investigated for fraud by the police. 

Why is there an increase in 

financial crimes lately? 

The reason is that we worship and 

respect money. Many people can do 

whatever to get money. But what the 

Nigeria Police and other agencies 

involved in investigating financial crimes 

are doing is that we are beaming 

searchlight on fraudsters to the extent 

that so many of them can’t operate in 

Nigeria anymore. We have made it 

virtually impossible for them to operate. 

A lot of them had to relocate outside the 

country to evade arrest. We have been 

able to checkmate the activities of 

fraudsters with detailed investigations we 

have done. 

•IGP Adamu 

PATHETIC! 

94-yr-old pensioner, Ugo, 

begs Buhari for pension 

•Asks: 'Is it because I didn’t steal in govt?' 

By Charles Kumolu, Deputy Editor 

A 

94-year-old retired Deputy 

Permanent Secretary, Mr. 

Nweke Ugo, has called on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on 

Pension Transitional Arrangement 

Directorate, PTAD, to resume the 

payment of his pension. 

Ugo, who is being owed 18 months 

areas, said he solely depended on 

the pension for survival until it was 

stopped without reasons. 

The nonagenarian with pension 

number 63910, worked at the 

Ministry of Education, Ministry of 

Transport and Ministry of 

Agriculture before he retired in 1967 

as Deputy Permanent Secretary. 

The retiree, who is a lawyer, was 

on a monthly pension of N22, 000 

until it was stopped last year. 

A visit to his Lagos residence by 

Sunday Vanguard revealed that 

the senior citizen needs the pension 

to survive as his alternative source 

of livelihood no longer yields 

funds. 

Ugo, who presently lives at the 

mercy of handouts from a few wellwishers, 

would be clocking 94 next 

Tuesday without hope of where his 

meal for the day would come from. 

Efforts by Sunday Vanguard to 

speak to the PTAD were fruitless. 

However, the retiree said: “Some 

people in government do not do 

perform their duties. That is the 

reason they can’t pay my pension. I 

want them to pay my pension. I 

served the government in my time 

and I never took bribes. I can 

Why is the government 

treating me like this? 

Am I the only 

pensioner? This is 

wickedness. The 

government is not fair 

to me. If I had behaved 

like others who stole 

money, I will not bother 

about the pension 

mention those, who took bribes 

during our time in government 

including ministers. I was a 

scholarship officer and would have 

been a millionaire if I took bribes. 

A multinational company that is still 

•Mr. Nweke Ugo 

operating in Nigeria wanted to 

bribe me in 1958 but I refused. The 

company wanted me to give them 

the new rate for importation of cars 

which was classified information at 

the time but I refused. They said they 

would pay money into any account 

I wanted abroad but I refused. Why 

is the government treating me like 

this? Am I the only pensioner? This 

is wickedness. The government is 

not fair to me. If I had behaved like 

others who stole money, I will not 

bother about the pension. What is 

pension? How much are they even 

paying me? They are paying me 

N22,000. They are paying me 

peanuts. What they are doing, we 

did not do it in our days. If they 

don’t pay me now, is it when I die 

that they would pay Nora, his wife? 

Who is Nora to them?” How many 

times would they verify me? “ 

Pensioners are suffering 

In an earlier interview, he 

narrated his experience with PTAD 

to Sunday Vanguard, saying the 

agency cared less about his plight. 

He said: “I called the pension 

office in Abuja recently about my 

pension but was told that I should 

get someone to introduce me. My 

pension number is 63910. I know 

that there is an Igbo woman at the 

head of the Pension office. She was 

campaigning with Buhari while 

pensioners are suffering. Why 

didn’t she do her work? The 

situation reminds me of what 

Archbishop Taylor told me in Congo. 

I was there for a conference and he 

asked why Nigerians were always 

going for conferences instead of 

staying back to do their work. He 

said Nigeria should be built on hard 

work, not conferences. That was in 

1961. 

I want the HOS, Minister of 

Finance, Ministry of Agriculture 

and Natural Resources and Ministry 

of Education where I stayed for a 

long time to make sure that I start 

receiving my pension again. 

Old pension 

“Chief Okoli assists me. 

Sometimes, he gives me money and 

even assists my wife. He brings 

papers to me to read. This property 

belongs to me. I used to collect rent 

but my tenant locked the place for 

over one year and I am losing 

money. If I had that money, I would 

not be bothering myself about 

pension because I believe Christ 

would settle everything one day. 

With what is happening, I always 

ask myself if we still live in the same 

Nigeria I grew up in and worked in 

the civil service. I have attended 

many verification exercises. The last 

one I attended was in July last year. 

I am still receiving the old pension 

which predated the increment done 

by Obasanjo. 

When my wife called Abuja, they 

said she should go to the last office 

where I served to bring a letter of 

recognition. They said they needed 

the letter to start paying me again. 

How can I do that?”

Nigerian Governors in 

Blame-game and Dogfight 

Many Nigerians 

who have al 

ways accused 

President Buhari’s government 

of undue involvement 

in blame-game, need to 

look a little away from the 

federal space to see that in 

virtually every state of the 

federation, governance is 

essentially by blame-game 

and dogfighting. It is in fact 

not hard to find that rancorous 

primaries and battle 

infested political campaigns 

do not end with elections. 

Instead, they often extended 

to the post-election 

era especially, the transition 

period. This happens 

more in places where the 

combatants belong to opposing 

political parties, although 

in recent years, the 

battles within have become 

more vociferous. In some 

cases, such battles are vicious 

enough for the blind 

to see. Watching events in 

Lagos, for instance, one gets 

the picture of a fight to finish 

which can leave one of 

the fighters breathless. The 

poser, where did Ambode 

really go wrong is what analysts 

ponder over these 

days concerning Lagos politics. 

Everyone including 

the legislature seems determined 

to sniff life out of the 

immediate past governor 

of the state. 

The trend is not new. In 

Kano, there was a time 

when former governor 

Kwankwaso could not enter 

a state he had governed 

twice. In Nasarawa state, 

the government of Al- 

Makura in its days in office 

suddenly began a probe of 

former governor Abdullahi 

Adamu. It didn’t matter 

that the latter had left government 

for as long as 11 

years. What mattered was 

that there was a disagreement 

at that point in time 

which reminded Al Makura 

that government was a 

continuum. In Kogi, Yahaya 

Belo amidst an aggressive 

reelection plan is currently 

on an all-front battle with 

his deputy- a fight in which 

the state legislators are 

generally believed to have 

been materially well mobilized. 

The most common fight 

which is usually between a 

governor and his immediate 

predecessor is attributable 

mainly to greed. It 

manifests, firstly, in the form 

of intense last-minute activities 

by an out-going governor 

to either siphon whatever 

fund is on ground or to 

set a booby trap for his successor. 

In Imo State, former 

governor Rochas Okorocha 

waited till the last 

weeks of his tenure to set up 

4 new universities, of course 

with one in his village. Okorocha 

was to later expound 

his optimism ‘that the universities 

would provide 

great opportunity for thousands 

of Imo children, who 

are desirous of university 

education but could not secure 

admission due to 

shortage of space in the existing 

universities.’ Is it possible 

that the former governor 

did not see this obvious 

vacuum for more than 7 of 

his 8 years in office? Latest 

reports of assault and threat 

to arrest the former governor 

are fallouts of the dogfight 

in Imo. In Oyo state, 

governor Makinde was 

shocked to find that his 

predecessor during the 

transition period had allegedly 

approved contracts to 

the tune of N30 billion 

within a day. Makinde’s 

aides also reportedly uncovered 

“plans to mischievously 

increase the wages 

of Tertiary Institutions staff 

without actually paying 

them before May 29, thereby 

leaving the new administration 

to grapple with 

the burden.” 

Interestingly, wherever 

such plans were uncovered, 

the outgoing governor 

quickly covered up. In 

Bauchi, governor Bala 

Mohammed, learnt of secret 

plans by his predecessor 

to recruit teachers and 

other civil servants with the 

aim of making the successive 

administration lose focus. 

But this was vehemently 

denied by Alhaji Ibrahim 

Sade the then Commissioner 

for Information, in the 

The most common fight 

which is usually 

between a governor 

and his immediate 

predecessor is 

attributable mainly to 

greed. It manifests, 

firstly, in the form of 

intense last-minute 

activities by an outgoing 

governor to 

either siphon whatever 

fund is on ground or to 

set a booby trap for his 

successor 

state. Are the allegations always 

unfounded? The situation 

else where does not 

seem to suggest so. In Adamawa 

state, former governor 

Jibrilla, in the last few 

weeks of his tenure was said 

to have embarked on massive 

recruitment exercise of 

teachers and civil servants, 

which was vehemently denied 

by his officials. But 

when some media correspondents 

visited the state’s 

Secretariat and the state’s 

Education Board, they met 

a convergence of hundreds 

of applicants, especially 

youths, who gathered at 

various ministries either to 

be enlisted or interviewed 

for employment into ministries 

and parastatals just 

before the inauguration of 

a new administration. 


Whereas the revelations 

appear good for the fight 

against corruption, the 

trend in reality is mere dogfighting 

and the recycling 

of accusations where yesterday’s 

accuser often ended 

up as today’s accused. 

During the tenure of Adams 

Oshiomhole in Edo state, he 

occasionally brandished 

several files at press conferences 

which allegedly contained 

wrong doings of 

Lucky Igbinedion’s government. 

At each conference, 

he never forgot to announce 

the impending imprisonment 

of his predecessor as 

he was always on his way 

to Abuja to submit the files 

to the EFCC. The files 

which many believed contained 

nothing never left 

Benin throughout the 8 

years of the former governor. 

When governor Isa 

Yuguda left office as Bauchi 

state governor, his successor 

Mohammed Abubakar 

told the nation that Yuguda 

engaged himself in embezzlement 

of public funds 

and last-minute allocation 

of lands, vehicles etc. Now 

that Abubakar is out, his 

successor says the former 

accuser, spent N2.3 billion 

to buy materials for burying 

dead bodies in the state. 

Dr. Ladan Salihu, who 

spoke for government said 

the funds were spent between 

January and May 

2019. 

Unfortunately, the fights 

are usually employed to 

deride traditional rulers 

many of whom often became 

pawns as they hardly 

played the role of impartial 

fathers. No one really saw 

the rationale for the installation 

of an Olubadan in 

almost every street of 

Ibadan by former governor 

Ajimobi of Oyo state. What 

he succeeded in doing was 

to present an opportunity 

for the traditional institutions 

to be ridiculed. In 

Ogun state, we hear the 

immediate past administration 

similarly created 75 

Obas. Only last week, over 

100 monarchs in Imo state 

openly called on the state 

governor, Emeka Ihedioha, 

to without further delay, dissolve 

the traditional ruler’s 

council headed by Eze 

Samuel Ohiri. Their argument 

was that the previous 

council headed by Eze Cletus 

Ilomuanya, was illegally 

dissolved by former governor 

Okorocha whom they 

also want probed for sundry 

misdemeanours. Unknown 

to the monarchs and 

other citizens who are dancing 

to the dogfight music, 

the main victim is the development 

of their state. 

Considering that no Nigerian 

can benefit from the 

blame-game and unnecessary 

politicization of governance, 

it is time, since 

elections are over, to insist 

that our leaders should face 

societal development 

squarely. While there is 

nothing wrong in making 

former governors account 

for their stewardship, that 

should be left to the relevant 

agencies without making 

it the main goal of governance. 

In this regard, we 

agree with those who think 

the main task Governor 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos 

State should be concerned 

with at this point in 

time, is the emergence of 

Lagos as Africa’s “own Dubai.” 

The economy and status 

of Lagos can make that 

happen. An end to floods in 

some states such as Edo 

should be tackled just as 

governors in states like Gombe 

that have never had 

water should make that a 

priority to improve the living 

standards of the people. 

PhD,Department of Philosophy, 

University of Lagos 

08116759758 

The return of barbarians (3) 

As I was saying, the pau 

city of world class 

economists and public 

finance management professionals 

in President Muhammadu 

Buhari’s current cabinet 

and economic team is a 

valid reason for thinking that 

this government is either not 

serious about building a vibrant 

productive economy or 

is just incapable of doing so. 

Whatever may be the case, the 

possibility that the economy 

will improve significantly between 

now and 2023 is quite 

low. This brings us to another 

important issue: the quality of 

those appointed as ministers 

in the recent exercise. In constituting 

his cabinet, a visionary 

result-oriented President, 

given the unhealthy state of 

Nigeria’s economy, would 

have diligently selected only 

thirty-six ministers to meet the 

minimum constitutional requirement 

concerning the 

number of ministers and lower 

drastically the cost of governance. 

But with forty-three 

ministers, a sizeable number 

of whom have questionable 

antecedents, President Buhari 

has demonstrated appalling 

insensitivity to the current disturbing 

economic situation 

made worse by his government’s 

ruinous profligate borrowing 

and ballooning recurrent 

expenditure at the federal 

level. So, the question arises: 

Is the President really 

aware of the gloomy economic 

realities or is the problem 

simply a matter of nescience, 

gross incompetence and desire 

to reward those that 

worked for his controversial 

re-election? Something tells 

me it is a combination of all 

these. To be candid, this government 

appears to be more 

interested in consolidating its 

power than in delivering good 

governance because given the 

parlous state of the country’s 

economy at the moment, a 

thinking and focused President 

would constitute an efficient 

lean cabinet to reduce 

cost and improve efficiency by 

avoiding unnecessary overlap 

or duplication of functions. 

Unfortunately, Buhari is not 

such a President, and the vicious 

cabal allegedly governing 

on his behalf are not interested 

in people-oriented 

leadership, which Nigerians 

need so badly right now. Beaming 

our critical searchlight on 

the appointments (a constitutional 

function where the President 

would have easily improved 

upon the practice of 

his predecessors by attaching 

portfolios to the names for 

more detailed, effective and 

stringent screening at the 

Senate) one is immediately 

struck not only by its nepotic 

favouritism of the north (especially 

the north-west) and 

side-lining of the south-east 

but also by the large number 

of individuals with ugly dark 

shadows of corruption hanging 

all over them. Morally 

speaking, appointing people 

with disgusting putrid stench 

of corruption into high offices 

ought to be anathema in a 

government that is genuinely 

fighting corruption. However, 

for leaders of the APC once 

you join the party and begin 

to sing the praises of Buhari, 

you become completely sanctified 

and your burden of corruption 

dissolves into nothingness 

– cynics have actually 

described how some of the 

names made the list as a bizarre 

re-enactment of the discredited, 

morally bankrupt, 

medieval practice of Indulgences 

by the Roman Catholic 

Church. Consequently, it is 

not surprising that Buhari’s 

ministerial list reads like a 

roster of who-is-who in the 

accursed book of corruption. 

Most well-informed Nigerians 

would agree that since 

1999 no administration has 

patronised and rewarded corrupt 

politicians and retired 

military personnel as much as 

the current government. One 

of the shambolic features of 

Buhari’s choice of ministers 

is that Festus Keyamo, a 

former external prosecuting 

counsel for the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission 

(EFCC), is in the same 

ministry of Niger Delta with 

Godswill Akpabio as minister 

of state and substantive 

minister respectively. Given 

Generally 

speaking, the 

ruling elite are not 

interested in 

working for the 

suffering masses 

that background, how would 

both men interact at work on 

a daily basis without some degree 

of psychological tension 

and cognitive dissonance? 

Abubakar Malami, the returning 

Attorney-General and 

Minister of Justice, is implicated 

in federal government’s 

serial disobedience of court 

orders. 

The conclusion from the 

foregoing is clear and unequivocal: 

Buhari not only rewards 

corruption, he celebrated 

it in the latest ministerial 

appointments because those 

involved are his loyalists. It 

follows that anyone still in 

doubt that the APC government 

cannot win the fight 

against corruption should get 

his or her head examined urgently. 

Buhari’s anti-corruption 

programme has turned 

into a caricature or legerdemain 

designed to deceive gullible 

Nigerians. That is why 

the agencies responsible for 

it, particularly the EFCC, 

have become instruments for 

harassing and intimidating 

dissenters: they go after mostly 

those that do not support 

the President and the ruling 

party. In my opinion, the ministers, 

especially the reappointed 

ones, are barbarians. 

Why? Because like a typical 

barbarian who lacks the refined 

civic attributes of those 

the ancient Greeks referred to 

as “citizens” (attributes like civility, 

adherence to the rule of 

law and a highly developed 

social conscience) most of the 

people in power now behave 

as if Nigeria belongs to them 

exclusively for the purpose of 

satisfying their bulimic craving 

for primitive accumulation. 

Put differently, despite 

their elevated status in the society, 

Nigeria’s top political 

office holders are not civilised 

enough to lead, given that they 

lack the intellectual, emotional 

and moral refinements that 

constitute the essence of a civilised 

human being. That is 

why they behave as if political 

office is an end in itself, as 

if public funds and assets are 

for the satisfaction of their insatiable 

desires. Considering 

that we are now under the epidemic 

of kakistocracy, there 

is no silver lining in the horizon 

given that the present set 

of leaders cannot lift Nigeria 

from the morass of escalating 

insecurity, economic stagnation 

and cancerous corruption. 

Meanwhile, the ruling 

power blocks made up of certain 

prominent individuals 

from the core north and southwest, 

are united by the lust for 

power. But whereas northerners 

in the corridors of power 

are obsessed with maintaining 

the north’s political dominance 

at the centre, their 

southern counterparts are interested 

in eating the crumbs 

that fell from their Fulani 

masters’ table. Generally 

speaking, the ruling elite are 

not interested in working for 

the suffering masses. It might 

be objected by some readers 

that the outlook presented 

here about the current administration 

is too pessimistic 

and negative. That is correct; 

but we should remember that 

truth is not always palatable 

or comforting. On the contrary 

people avoid speaking truth 

to power mostly out of fear for 

the negative repercussions. 

That said, my pessimism is 

based on objective assessment 

of the current situation, not on 

starry-eyed propaganda-induced 

optimism which beclouds 

one’s sense of reasoning. 

How can any reasonable 

Nigerian be optimistic after 

the President had assembled 

a group dominated by people 

of questionable character 

with a barbaric (in otherwords 

extremely selfish) attitude to 

public service? Nigerians 

must prepare for four more 

years of motion without movement 

in the right direction. 

The issue of corruption, 

though quite telling, is not the 

only thing wrong with the 

ministerial list. The number 

of women in it is abysmally 

low, and the average age of 

the appointees is closer to fifty 

than to forty. The current 

administration has not done 

enough to integrate women 

and youths in the top echelons 

of governance. President Buhari, 

by his recent choice of 

ministers, confirmed that he 

is gerontocratic and probably 

a misogynist as well. After all, 

he espouses the archaic belief 

that the place of woman is to 

prepare food and serve as sexual 

outlet for men, and his 

cabinet since 2015 has been 

dominated by people above 

fifty years. Therefore, even if 

Buhari is allowed to stay in 

office for another four years 

after 2023, his attitude to 

women and Nigerians between 

the ages of twenty-five 

and forty-five will remain the 

same – just as a leopard cannot 

change its spots, Buhari is 

not likely to change from his 

ingrained habits no matter 

what the sycophants around 

him might say. 

To be continued


FBI LIST: 

Skillful scammers, 

greedy victims 

•Why people fall prey — Experts 

By Prince Osuagwu, 

Hi-Tech Editor 

The story of the 80 Nigerians 

recently indicted for internetrelated 

crimes by the US 

Federal Bureau of 

Investigations, FBI, has raised 

a new security consciousness for people 

doing online transactions to adopt 

protective measures. 

Although, this has worsened the 

country’s international image, high 

level financial fraud by Nigerians isn’t 

new, nor is it in its complexity or 

intensity. 

In December 2013, Tobechi Enyinna 

Onwuhara, after a financial fraud 

history of over $38million was 

sentenced to 70 months imprisonment 

in the United States. He was a fugitive 

for four years and was featured on 

America’s Most Wanted List. 

The case was investigated by the FBI, 

United States Secret Service, the 

Alexandria Police Department, the U.S. 

Marshals Service and Australian 

Federal Police. 

Onwuhara was eventually found in 

Sydney, Australia and helped to 

coordinate the recovery of evidence and 

extradited to the United States. 

In 1995, a former Union Bank 

Director and advanced fee-fraud artist, 

Emmanuel Nwude, defrauded Nelson 

Sakaguchi, a Director at Brazil’s Banco 

Noroeste based in São Paulo, of $242 

million. 

Nwude was said to have posed as then- 

Nigerian Central Bank Governor Paul 

Ogwuma. 

He allegedly sold a non-existent 

airport to Banco Noroeste, an incident 

that has been listed as the third-largest 

crime in banking history. 

There was also an intriguing example 

of the case of Onyeka Opara, a 

Nigerian apprehended and extradited 

from South Africa to New York. 

Between 2014 and 2016, Opara 

participated in business email 

compromise scams targeting thousands 

of victims around the world, including 

the United States. 

As part of the scams, emails were sent 

to employees of various companies 

directing that funds be transferred to 

There are two noticeable 

common factors in all 

financial fraud cases or 

cybercrime generally. 

One is greed and the 

other carelessness or 

poor attention to details 

specified bank accounts. 

The emails purported to be from 

supervisors at those companies or third 

party vendors that did business with 

those companies. 

The emails, however, were not 

legitimate. 

Rather, they were either from email 

accounts with a domain name that was 

very similar to a legitimate domain 

name, or the metadata in the emails 

had been modified so that the emails 

appeared as if they were from 

legitimate email addresses. 

After victims complied with the 

fraudulent wiring instructions, the 

transferred funds were quickly 

withdrawn or moved into different bank 

accounts. 

There are two noticeable common 

factors in all financial fraud cases or 

cybercrime generally. One is greed and 

the other carelessness or poor attention 

to details. 

A security expert, Mr Chidi Adim, 

said, “Many people may not fall victim 

of cyber fraud if they are contented and 

pay attention to details. You can notice 

that most of the high profile financial 

frauds were transaction-based. Why 

would people want to buy what they did 

not see, from people they don’t know 

and places they are not familiar with? 

“If you are cautious before parting 

with money on a transaction you cannot 

certify full proof, you will never fall 

victim. 

“Again, in all the scam mails, just a 

little check will unravel the unrealistic 

nature of them and the senders; but 

carelessness will not allow victims to be 

vigorous. 

“For me, I don’t have a Facebook or 

any social media account in my real 

name or picture. I don’t post 

information about me or my family 

online and my transactions are targeted 

and done under very careful and strict 

conditions. That is the way to put a 

firewall around yourself just like you 

also need to do to your mobile or 

computer systems. Otherwise, 

everybody is vulnerable”. 

Although Adim stated that cyber or 

financial crimes are not peculiar to 

Nigeria or Nigerians and argued that 

the country was not even in the first 12 

countries with high rate of cybercrime, 

he, however, admitted that the effect on 

the country’s economy is telling. 

The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement 

System (NIBSS) Fraud Landscape in 

Nigeria reports that the Nigerian 

financial services providers lost over 

two billion naira to financial crime in 

2018 alone. 

According to the report, the 2018 

fraud volume is the highest seen in the 

last four years. The volume of mobile 

financial crime committed in the 

financial sector in 2018 was 38, 852 

which resulted in the loss of over N2 

billion (2,081,090,699.56) as against 

2017 when the fraud volume was 25,043 

and a loss of over N1 billion 

(1,631,680,256.85) 

Also in 2018, about 89% of all 

financial services fraud in Nigeria 

happened through electronic channels 

while only 11% were non-electronic. 

The industry has noted that there is an 

alarming rate of fraud perpetuated 

using mobile channels in the country 

How 

mobile fraud 

happens 

Despite efforts of mobile operators to 

protect their networks from attack, 

there is still the feeling in the 

Information and Communications 

Technology (ICT) circle that more could 

be done to also protect users SIM cards 

from being hacked or compromised. 

According to industry experts, most of 

the mobile frauds happen through SIM 

swap. This is mainly when fraudsters 

exploit the operators’ inability to 

seamlessly port a phone number to a 

new SIM or when the mobile banking 

application is being mapped to an 

incorrect mobile number. 

Phishing – When users are tricked into 

revealing personal information such as 

PINs, passwords over the phone 

Network downtime – When issues 

arise on the operator’s network and 

certain services are delayed, it usually 

creates opportunities for fraudsters to 

attack users. 

Agent-related fraud – Deliberately, 

some licensed agents may decide to 

take advantage of users’ ignorance to 

perpetrate frauds like split transactions, 

overcharging, fake accounts and even 

impersonation, among others 

Insider threat: Frauds committed 

either as a result of information from 

the organisation’s staff or their 

carelessness 

Data & identity theft – When financial 

data is not sufficiently secured and 

access not properly protected, it creates 

the opportunity for hackers 

Prevention 

However, security experts say that no 

matter how deadly the attacks and 

attackers may be, their effects are 

preventable. 

Principal research scientist to network 

and endpoint security company, 

Sophos, Mr Chester Wisniewski, said: 

“Cybercriminals are evolving their 

attack methods and often use multiple 

payloads to maximise profits”. 

According to him, software exploits 

were the initial point of entry in 23 

percent of incidents and also used in 

different forms in 35 percent of all 

attacks, demonstrating how exploits are 

used at multiple stages of the attack 

chain. 

“Cybercriminals are always looking 

for a way into an organization, and 

supply chain attacks are ranking higher 

now on their list of methods. Therefore, 

IT managers should prioritize supply 

chain as a security risk”, Wisniewski 

said. 

He advised mobile financial service 

providers to have a strong foundation 

and take cognizance of all possible 

fraud scenarios while developing the 

products or applications. 

The scientist also tasked 

organisations to develop a Fraud 

Indicator Dashboard for robust 

monitoring leveraging data analytics, 

because learnings from analytics in the 

mobile payment industry can help in 

early detection of red flags. 

There is also the Effective 

Consequence Management which, he 

explained, to mean when MFS 

providers set the right tone at the top 

and exercise strong disciplinary action 

against identified suspects.


Police hunt for father who beat 

4-yr-old -old ‘witch h kid’ to o death 


WHY four-year-old girl, Testimony 

Toke Babalola, was reportedly 

whipped to death by her parents in Akure, 

Ondo State capital few weeks ago has been 

unravelled. 

The girl had been rushed to the State 

University Teaching Hospital, Akure 

Annex where she was confirmed dead. 

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the 

parents used horsewhip on the daughter, 

leaving several marks on her body after 

reportedly committing a yet to be 

ascertained offence. 

The leadership of Ondo State Chapter 

of the Nigerian Association of Women 

Journalists, NAWOJ, which visited the 

church of the girl’s mother, 

said, "Testimony had been 

going through beating and 

torture administered by her 

As we tried 

to attend to 

her, we 

noticed 

that the girl 

had been 

maltreated 

to the point 

of death 

parents in a bid to cast out 

evil spirit (witchcraft) from 

her”. 

The NAWOJ leader, Mrs 

Doris Olumoko, narrating 

their findings, said, “Parish 

Priest of Mary Queen of 

Angels Catholic Church, 

Akure, Reverend Father 

Mathew Ologun, got wind 

of the ill-treatment meted 

out to the child on June 2 

through the church 

children’s caregiver who 

noticed scars all over her 

body. 

"The Rev. Father 

explained that the father of 

the girl, Mr. Felix 

Babalola, who attends one 

white garment church, 

claimed that the girl was 

possessed with evil spirit and that all the 

marks in her body were as a result of the 

church deliverance style. 

"However, unknown to the church, the 

beating and torture of Testimony 

continued until she was rushed to hospital 

dead. 

“The father said his church (Cherubim 

and Seraphim) told him that his daughter 

was possessed and needed deliverance, 

hence the constant beating. 

“Before the beating started, the father 

was said to have also claimed that the girl 

was over-pampered by her grandmother 

who she had been living with in Ikare- 

Akoko since age nine months before being 

taken back to Akure recently. 

“The head of the Children Department 

told us that she observed the girl’s 

predicament in June during the church 

Children’s Day anniversary. 

"The head of the Children Department 

told us that when she confronted the 

mother to know how the girl had so many 

marks on her body, she said it 

was due to the punishment she 

used to get from her father for 

being stubborn. 

"The mother was said to have 

claimed that the father used to 

administer punishment on the 

girl whenever she failed to kneel 

down and greet him, saying they 

were trying to teach her moral 

lessons which she didn’t get in 

grandma’s place”. 

The father of the deceased, 

according to sources, 

absconded when he found out 

that the police were on his trail. 

A worker in the hospital, where 

the deceased was rushed to, said 

that after the mother who 

brought her was questioned 

about the horsewhip marks on 

the deceased, she fled with the 

corpse. 

“She became agitated when 

she was questioned and some 

people started taking the picture 

of the girl with several horsewhip marks 

on her backside. 

“After she suspected that the hospital 

management may invite the police, she 

grabbed the corpse of the girl and fled the 

hospital. All efforts to stop her proved 

abortive”, the worker said. 

"The woman brought the girl to 

the children's emergency ward for 

treatment. 

"As we tried to attend to her, we 

noticed that the girl had been 

maltreated to the point of death”. 

Another source in the hospital 

said, "If you see the body of the girl, 

it was a case of child abuse as there 

were serious marks of beating all 

over her. "By the time the doctor 

on duty could attend to her, it was 

discovered that she even brought 

in the child dead. 

"The doctor had to tell the 

woman that the kid she brought to 

the hospital was dead already. 

"The woman grabbed the girl and 

ran away". 

Speaking on the incident, the 

Administrative Secretary of the 

hospital, Dayo Owoseni, said, "I 

only heard about the incident and 

we have asked the doctor on duty 

to come over and explain what 

happened to us”. 

Police detectives in the state have 

been on the trail of the parents since 

the mother who brought the girl to 

the hospital escaped with her 

corpse. 

Meanwhile the mother of the 

deceased girl has been arrested 

while the husband is declared 

wanted. 

Sunday Vanguard gathered that 

the mother, during interrogation, 

said that her present husband was 

not the father of Testimony. 

She told police detectives that she 

gave birth to the girl before she married 

her present husband. 

The parents were trailed to Ikare-Akoko 

but some youths prevented detectives from 

arresting them. 

They were later handed over to the 

traditional ruler of the town who reportedly 

promised to hand them over to the police. 

But it was learnt that the parents escaped 

*Testimony 

from the palace while the mother was 

picked up by police detectives acting on a 

tip-off. The husband, who reportedly got 

wind of the arrest of the wife, went 

underground. 

Ondo State Police Command 

spokesperson, Femi Joseph, confirmed the 

arrest of the girl’s mother adding that the 

father was still on the run. 

We e are treated ed like e lepers 

– Sacked Ondo Poly Teachers 


UNEASY calm pervades the 

Staff School of Rufus Giwa 

Polytechnic, Owo as 42 

workers of the school were affected by 

commercialisation. 

The development raised concerns 

across Ondo State even as accusing 

fingers were pointed at the state 

government. 

But Information and Orientation 

Commissioner, Donald Ojogo, 

absolved government of blame, saying 

the school “is a wholly private business 

venture by the institution” 

Sunday Vanguard gathered that 59 

staff members were affected but the 

institution recalled 17 original workers 

seconded to the Staff School when it 

was established about 27 years ago. 

However, the fate of the remaining 

42 is hanging and would have to be 

determined by private investors. 

Their disengagement was contained 

in a letter entitled ‘Letter of 

Disengagement of Services’ and dated 

August 5. 

Speaking on the development, Acting 

Rector of the institution, Dr Ganiyu 

Ogundahunsi, denied that they were 

sacked but said that running the 

institution was no more sustainable. 

“As of now, the cost of running the 

school is N74m in one year whereas 

the total income from the school every 

year is N4m. This is not sustainable”, 

he said. 

“The Governing Council has 

therefore decided to privatize the 

school: 

“All the employees employed directly 

by the polytechnic will return to the 

polytechnic employment while efforts 

are made to persuade investors and the 

state Ministry of Education to absorb 

other categories of employees but no 

person will lose his or her employment 

as a result of these changes in the 

corporate structure”. 

Meanwhile, reacting to the sack of 

the workers, the Chairman of the 

Senior Staff Association of Nigerian 

Polytechnics, SSANIP, RUGIPO 

Chapter, Comrade Olowolade Chris, 

expressed dissatisfaction with the way 

the workers were “ treated as lepers”. 

Olowolade described the decision to 

lay off the workers as unpopular more 

so that the institution is performing 

optimally in curricular activities. 

“The decision is unfair for the 

management. They are 100 percent 

bonafide staff of the polytechnic 

considering the mode of their 

employment regularisation and 

confirmation of appointment and the 

way they were being promoted”, he 

said. 

Government decision, according to 

him, was contrary to the promise 

Governor Akeredolu gave during a 

meeting with union leaders on July 

23 in his office.


COSMETIC SURGERY: 


& Yinka Latona 

Crave for cosmetic surgery has 

become a norm among Nigerian 

ladies, particularly celebrities, 

despite condemnation by religious leaders. 

For some, it is fashionable to adopt 

cosmetic surgery to correct what they 

termed as “inadequacies” in some parts of 

their bodies like the breast region, buttocks 

and the stomach. 

To them, the procedure enhances their 

beauty. It is commonplace to find old people 

wanting to remain young, no thanks to 

social media which seem to have changed 

the way many people view beauty. 

Consequently, many Nigerian women are 

eager to undergo the procedure in order to 

achieve their dream of perfect women 

regardless of the implications. 

Meanwhile, stories abound about those 

who successfully benefitted from the 

procedure while there are others who 

attempted it but never lived to tell the story 

due to unforeseen complications. 

Nigerian women alleged to have 

successfully undergone the cosmetic surgery 

procedure include popular actresses Tonto 

Dike, Onyi Alex, Ini Edo, Toke Makinwa, 

Rukky Sanda and Caroline Danjuma who 

were said to have had liposuction and breast 

implants. 

However, one-time beauty queen, Nneka 

Onwuzuligbo, was not as lucky as she 

reportedly died as a result of complications 

arising from alleged cosmetic surgery. 

The story of the late Mrs Stella Obasanjo, 

who died after a tummy-tuck in a Spanish 

hospital, is still fresh in the minds of many 

Nigerians. 

Just recently, the news of the death of a 27- 

year-old lawyer made headlines. 

The lady, identified as Eno, was said to 

have had a buttock enhancement surgery at 

a private medical facility in Abuja but died 

due to complications. 

In the ensuing controversy, while the 

hospital said the surgery was successful, 

many Nigerians are wondering why the 

deceased is not alive today. 

The risk involved in cosmetic surgery has 

inevitably triggered many questions: Is 

cosmetic surgery really death by choice? Is 

the supposed ‘ideal’ beauty or perfect looks 

worth the stress? Does the part of the Bible 

that says, “You are carefully and 

wonderfully made”, have meaning to 

Christian women procuring the services of 

cosmetic surgeons? 

While medical experts say cosmetic 

surgery is just a part of medicine and safe, 

some religious leaders believe it is a sin 

against God. 

According to a plastic surgeon at the 

University Teaching Hospital Benin, UBTH, 

Benin, Prof Olugbenga Oludiran, cosmetic 

surgery is remarkably safe but charlatans 

exist. 

Oludiran described cosmetic surgery as 

any surgical procedure carried out to 

enhance one’s looks, appearance, etc, 

essentially to make him beautiful, younger 

or both. 

It may be as simple as removing perceived 

blemishes, or as complex as changing facial 

Death by 

choice? 

•Procedure remarkably safe - Prof Oludiran 

•It is against God’s rule - Rev. Kristilere 

or body features to enhance body image and 

social appeal. 

Oludiran acknowledged that cosmetic 

surgery was not risk- free, noting that side 

effects, complications and even deaths may 

occur depending on what is done. 

He said: “People die on sports field or get 

injured, it doesn’t make sports unsafe. People 

die on the dance floor, in their houses and on 

the road. It doesn’t make all that unsafe.” 

Like every other surgery, the surgeon, he 

Saggy breasts 

can be lifted; breast 

size can be tinkered 

with to meet the 

desires of the patient 

said, is expected to assess the patient on the 

safety of the proposed procedure, adding 

that the surgeon and the patient must know 

when to stop. 

“Avoid ‘Michael Jackson’s curse’. It’s a 

trap for the rich patient and greedy surgeon. 

Less is always more. Keep it simple always.” 

Listing some of the complications that 

may arise from cosmetic surgery, he said 

there could be body reactions, scarring, loss 

of facial expressions, blood loss, 

disfigurement or even dismemberment and 

death can occur but cosmetic surgery is 

remarkably safe. 

“In the trained hand, the success rate is 

excellent. Success drives the demand. 

Unfortunately accidents can happen 

anywhere in the world and in the hands of 

even the ‘best expert’”, he said. 

Oludiran traced the growing quest for 

cosmetic surgery to man’s huge 

consideration for looks, appreciation of 

beauty and appeal, as well as body image, 

adding that, in some cases, some are 

obsessed with identity. 

“There have been and there will be more 

need for it going forward. It’s a world of 

fashion and possibilities. As long as it is 

possible and affordable, people will go for 

it.” 

Noting that a lot has happened in the last 

two decades, he said pioneers had 

established the discipline of plastic surgery 

in most of the teaching hospitals across the 

country and many trainees developing 

private units for cosmetic surgery and 

diverse reconstructive procedures. 

The doctors who trained much earlier, 

according to him, were driven to greener 

pastures during the economic collapse of 

the 80s. 

Further explaining that not all doctors are 

trained for it, Oludiran said it is the preserve 

of plastic surgeons to conduct cosmetic 

surgery but added that in a few instances, 

doctors and nurses can be trained in simple 

procedures like liposuction which they are 

not expected to go beyond. 

He, however, regretted that ‘charlatans’ 

exist in the practice, saying they are threats 

to the society, and so must be discerned and 

avoided. 

Stressing the need for regulation to stop 

quacks behind deaths and complications, 

Oludiran stated that in Nigeria, 

enforcement is often weak. 

Types 

Throwing light on the types of cosmetic 

surgery, he said: “There is a whole range of 

procedures that can be carried out on 

several parts of the body to enhance those 

parts, balance and promote symmetry and 

harmony in relation to the whole of the part, 

and overall body shape. 

“For instance, there are procedures for the 

nose, the lips, the cheek, the eyelids, the chin 

and so on, either on those parts alone, or as 

a set of procedures involving the whole face. 

There are lesser interventions on the face to 

promote youthfulness like facial injections 

of Botox to remove wrinkles and make the 

face look smooth. 

“Various substances can be injected on 

facial parts for similar results or to make 

the parts appear full. These are called body 

fillers. Hair transplants can be done to 

remove baldness in men. Further down the 

body, the nipples can be customized to the 

wishes of the patient. 

“Saggy breasts can be lifted; breast size 

can be tinkered with to meet the desires of 

the patient. It can be reduced or enlarged, or 

in cases where the right and the left exhibit 

discrepancies, they can be balanced. 

“The shape of the tummy can be altered to 

remove tummy fat and eliminate 

redundancies by way of abdominoplasty. 

There is slouch flexibility depending on 

what exists; the wish of the patient and the 

experience of the operating surgeon. 

“Butt enhancements are also popular 

procedures. Operations on the vaginal are 

also possible to create ‘restoration of 

virginity’, tighten vagina, lengthen and or 

increase the size of the male organ. There 

are procedures on the arm, the calf, etc”. 

Corroborating Oludiran’s views, a public 

health advocate and general practitioner, Dr 

Excellence-Oluye Olukayode, dismissed 

reports that many people are dying of 

cosmetic surgery, saying more people are 

benefiting and coming out successfully. 

“If it is killing people, more people will 

not be demanding for it. Like every surgery, 

there are possible complications that can 

arise and every surgery has a risk”, 

Olukayode said. 

He argued that people are dying from 

fibroid operation but that has not deterred 

thousands of people from undergoing 

fibroid surgery. 

Religious perspective 

One of the religious leaders opposed to 

cosmetic surgery is a Senior Pastor, 

Shepherd Hill Baptist Church, Obanikoro 

Lagos, Reverend Israel Kristilere. 

Kristilere said, “It is wrong not only for 

women but also for men. It is like an attack 

against God’s rule which He is not pleased 

with”. 

According to him, apart from medically 

recommended cosmetic surgery, any 

surgery done to enhance beauty or to look 

sexy is an act of playing God and telling 

Him he failed in His creation. 

“If it is done because you want to be more 

beautiful, it means you are telling God that 

He did not create you well. Such surgery 

done to enlarge the breast, the buttock, hip 

or any part of the body to make you look 

sexy is a sin”, the pastor stressed. 

“But if there is a medical challenge or 

condition, maybe a man or woman has to 

do cosmetic surgery to correct an 

abnormality, it is okay. Probably fire burn or 

accident, cosmetic surgery can be used to 

correct such body damages.” 

He lamented the rate at which Nigerians 

are getting involved in cosmetic surgery. 

“The Bible says all God’s creation was 

good and perfect. By doing cosmetic 

surgery, it is a way of telling God that His 

work wasn’t perfect and good and you need 

to make it better. It is a no-go area for every 

child of God because you are offending 

Him by doing cosmetic surgery”.


10 YEARS OF BOKO HARAM: 

Beheaded pastor's 

widow's escape from ‘hell’ 

By Sam Eyoboka 

“Even though the events of September 9, 

2011 were localized to New York plus three 

other cities, and the July 2007 attacks on 

the United Kingdom restricted to London, 

the governments of the United States and 

Britain rightly interpreted these as acts of 

war against America and Britain, 

respectively. In the same vein, the Nigerian 

government should have recognized the 

continued acts of terrorism in the country 

as war against the sovereignty of the 

Nigerian State. Unfortunately, the 

Nigerian government has been in denial 

and the problem has continued to 

escalate....The consequences of Nigeria’s 

continued denial of the war declared 

against its sovereignty will be very grave. 

More puzzling is the fact that the countries 

that recognize Islamist attacks as 

declarations of war have tried to convince 

Nigerians to see the situation otherwise” - 

Excerpts from The Boko Haram Chronicles. 

Deadliest group 

The Islamic State in West Africa or the 

Islamic State’s West Africa Province 

(abbreviated as ISWA or ISWAP), 

formerly known as Jam’at Ahl as-Sunnah 

lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihd (“Group of the 

People of Sunnah for Preaching and 

Jihad”) and commonly known as Boko 

Haram, until March 2015, was a jihadist 

terrorist organization based in the North- 

East but also active in Chad, Niger and 

northern Cameroon. 

Founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002, 

the group has been led by Abubakar 

Shekau since 2009. When Boko Haram 

was first formed, its actions were nonviolent. 

The main goal was to “purify 

Islam in northern Nigeria”. But since 

March 2015, the group has aligned with 

the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant 

(ISIL). Meanwhile, it has killed tens of 

thousands and displaced about 2.3 

million from their homes and was rated 

the world’s deadliest terror group by the 

Global Terrorism Index in 2015. 

Boko Haram’s increasing 

radicalisation led to military operations 

against the group and the 

summary execution of its 

leader, Yusuf, in July 

2009. Its unexpected 

resurgence, following a 

Some of the 

captives who 

renounced 

Christianity at 

the point of 

being killed, after 

their rescue, told 

Mrs. Veronica 

Ojih about her 

husband’s final, 

defiant moments 

mass prison break in 

September 2010, was 

accompanied by 

i n c r e a s i n g l y 

sophisticated attacks, 

initially against soft 

targets, but progressing in 

2011 to include suicide 

bombings of police 

buildings and the United 

Nations office in Abuja. 

Government’s 

declaration of a state of 

emergency at the 

beginning of 2012 in 

Borno State, but extended 

the following year to 

cover the entire North- 

East, led to an increase in 

security forces’ abuses 

and militant attacks. 

Of the estimated 2.3 

million people displaced 

by the conflict since May 

2013, at least 250,000 

have left Nigeria and fled into Cameroon, 

Chad or Niger. Boko Haram, according 

to reports, killed over 6,600 in 2014. The 

group has carried out mass abductions 

including the kidnapping of 276 girls 

from Government Secondary Girls 

School in Chibok, Borno State in April 

2014 and later some girls in Dapchi, Yobe 

State. 

In mid-2014, the militants reportedly 

gained control of swathes of territory in 

Borno estimated at 50,000 square 

kilometres (20,000 square miles), but did 

not capture the state capital, Maiduguri, 

where the group was originally based. On 

March 7, 2015, Boko Haram’s leader 

•Veronica and her kids. 

Abubakar Shekau pledged allegiance to 

ISIL, rebranding as ISWA. In September 

2015, then-Director of Information at the 

Defence Headquarters announced that all 

Boko Haram camps had been destroyed 

but attacks from the group continued 

with the Wall Street Journal, penultimate 

Thursday, alleging, in a report, that about 

1,000 soldiers killed by Boko Haram were 

secretly buried in the North-East. The 

Director of Defence Information, Onyema 

Nwachukwu, however insisted that the 

military does not engage in secret burial 

but accords fallen soldiers a befitting 

funeral. 

Despite the denial, tales of woe continue 

as several persons displaced are yet to 

return to their homes while several others 

have taken flight to different habitats for 

fear of further damage to 

whatever is left of their 

‘homes.’ 

Relocation 

The story is told of this 

widow who was forced to 

relocate from the North to 

Lagos with her children 

after the horrific murder of 

her husband. Tearfully, she 

narrated her ordeal as her 

husband, who came back to 

Maiduguri from Bible 

School to visit his family, 

was murdered. She recalled 

the sermon he preached at 

the church that weekend 

encouraging all to be firm 

till the end. As if he knew... 

Later that week, Boko 

Haram went on the 

rampage. They operated 

freely in Maiduguri where 

they had a camp ground, 

targetting Christians. 

Pastor George Ojih and his 

family were amongst those 

who fled to a military 

barracks for safety. Several 

days later when the violence appeared to 

have subsided, he (Ojih) went in search of 

a widow from his church who wasn’t 

hiding in the barracks with them. 

During that rescue mission, he and an 

accompanying deacon were captured by 

Boko Haram militants and taken to their 

camp. There, then group leader, Yusuf, 

reportedly addressed Ojih among other 

captured Christians and announced, 

“Convert to Islam or die!” Ojih wouldn’t 

bulge. Instead he kept urging fellow 

captives to stay strong. 

Incensed, Yusuf allegedly ordered the 

beheading of the pastor after which he 

•Slain Pastor Ojih 

declared to the other captives, “This is 

what we do to those who refuse to accept 

Islam!” 

A few days later, security forces captured 

Yusuf and he died mysteriously in custody. 

Final moments 

Some of the captives who renounced 

Christianity at the point of being killed, 

after their rescue, told Mrs. Veronica Ojih 

about her husband’s final, defiant 

moments. She is obviously one of 

Nigeria’s earliest widows from Boko 

Haram terrorism going back to the 

group’s July 2009 uprising, 10 years ago. 

When America-based international 

human rights lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe, 

asked the widow if she had received 

compensation from government as some 

were being offered, she said Borno State 

government officials told her they were 

only paying compensation to the families 

of people killed during their tenure. Her 

husband’s murder happened before their 

tenure and so she wasn’t qualified for 

compensation. How could a nation fail 

to protect its citizens and then fail to 

comfort them? 

It was, however, gratifying when she 

spoke of her eventual relocation from the 

theatre of war as Mr. Bayo Adewoye, 

acting on the instructions of the erstwhile 

National President of Christian 

Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo 

Oritsejafor, and a security consultant and 

President of Macedonian Initiative, Rev. 

Ladi Thompson, helped to move her and 

her two kids from Borno to the South. She 

was pregnant with their third child then. 

According to her, Adewoye got in touch 

with her and promised to pay for her kids’ 

education. And once in a while, Adewoye 

would call and ask about the kids’ results. 

One year, she read the grades to him and 

he said, “Let me call you back.” 

When he called back, he said: “I have 

discussed this with my bible study group. 

Your son’s grades are not great. We need 

to move him to a better school. We will 

pay for the new school”. 

On the gesture, the widow said, “It is 

one thing to be a one-off or cash-and-go 

philanthropist and it is another thing to 

be a caring, consistent humanitarian. He 

not only paid the fees but he cared about 

the kids’ performance. In that wise, 

Adewoye was doing what Ojih himself 

would have done. George must be smiling 

in heaven”. 

Expressing gratitude on her behalf, 

Ogebe said, “This is a man whom she tells 

me she has never met. Yes. He has never 

shown up to claim credit or glory for his 

charity. He is leaving it all up to His 

Rewarder. He is from South-West, she is 

from North-Central and the pastor who 

relocated her is from the South-South. 

They have no bond, no connection than 

the love of God. Ironically I found out 

during our interview that she is from my 

place... 

“This is why I believe in Nigeria but I 

believe in Nigerians more. We have been 

our own government when there was no 

governance. We can be our own ministers 

when there is none. We have proven time 

and again that we can survive without 

them and in spite of them”. 

Quoting Isaiah 1:4-23, he went on, “Woe 

to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt 

is great, a brood of evildoers, children 

given to corruption!.....They do not defend 

the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s 

case does not come before them.” 

Veronica had wanted to relocate to 

Kaduna because of the high cost of living 

in Borno but discovered after buying a 

land there that it had been taken over by 

herdsmen. 

The 10th anniversary of the killing of 

Ojih coincides with the news of the alleged 

execution of Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi 

girl, in Boko Haram’s captivity. 

It is sad that 10 years after Boko Haram 

terrorism started, tragedies linked to the 

group have continued in Nigeria. In the 

UK, a Nigerian grandfather, Oluwole 

Ilesanmi, was arrested by the police for 

preaching on the street. The police have 

since apologized for wrongful arrest and 

paid him compensation of £2,500. 

However, in Nigeria, Evangelist Eunice 

did exactly the same thing - preached on 

the street in Nigeria’s capital – and 

slaughtered like a ram, and three years 

later, there has been no justice in her 

case. 

•Additional report by Emmanuel 

Ogebe


By Chimaroke Nnamani 

The recent spate of the killings in 

Igboland, the latest being in my 

own constituency of Enugu East 

Senatorial District where Rev. Fr. Paul 

Offu and pregnant Regina Mbah were 

gruesomely murdered by hoodlums 

alleged to be Fulani herdsmen is 

barbarous and horrendous. I condemn 

in totality the odious and dastardly acts 

and extend my heartfelt commiseration 

to the families of the victims. 

I have taken note of the commendable 

actions of the governor of Enugu State, 

Rt. Hon. IfeanyiUgwuanyi towards 

arresting the situation. If given time, 

these actions will completely stem these 

atrocities. I also have full confidence in 

the government and people of Enugu 

State and all relevant groups within the 

Enugu system that this too shall pass. 

However, and more importantly, this 

should avert our minds to a deeper 

socio-political dilemma. Ndigbo, an 

African ethnic nationality primarily 

domiciled in South-Eastern Nigeria 

and also some communities in 

neighbouring states who subscribe to 

Igboness, have gone through travails 

leading to sociological mutation. 

By simple calculations, Ndigbo are 

the people who occupy the vast 

mangrove and forest terrain in the 

political as well as geographical East of 

Nigeria. Many may wonder what I 

mean by political alongside 

geographical Eastern Nigeria. This is 

simple. By political actions, 

particularly emanating from 

colonialism, Eastern Nigeria starts 

from the eastern tip of the Niger Bridge 

in Onitsha, but this is a reductionist 

partitioning against the more 

meaningful and natural habitation by 

which Ndigbo are also known as 

occupying the vast plain from the 

western tip of the same Niger Bridge at 

Asaba to points far beyond the western 

borders of Agbor in Delta State. 

These social trauma include the slave 

trade that began in 1471 when the 

Portuguese and the Spanish carted 

away over 3,000 West Africans, mainly 

Igbo, and by the time the slave trade 

ended in 1833 over 3.5 million Igbo 

had been shipped to the new world. 

It is on record that as far back as 

1591, the Igbo areas of today’s Nigeria 

were put on Portuguese world map as 

inhabited by some vigorous people 

whose deep culture celebrated energy, 

accomplishment and wisdom. The 

Spanish in 1593 were to expand on this 

view in identifying the terrain as 

deeping in a stretch of the Bight called 

Biafra whose people lived their lives in 

lifting to art form the career in sojourn 

(njepu), thought (echiche), industry (olu) 

andaccomplishment (ntozu). 

The truth of this glorious past and 

the joy of her greatness have been 

celebrated by our modern historians 

and writers who, though, regret that the 

same Igbo areas (Bight of Biafra) 

exploded in one ball of fire with the 

introduction of the slave trade which 

depleted the manpower resources as it 

upturned values. 

It is alleged that European slave 

traders were fairly well informed about 

various African ethnicities, leading to 

slavers targeting certain ethnic groups 

which plantation owners preferred. 

Particularly desired ethnic groups 

consequently became fairly 

concentrated in certain parts of the 

Americas. The Igbo were dispersed to 

colonies such as Jamaica, Cuba, Saint- 

Domingue, Barbados, Haiti, the future 

United States within the then Virginia 

and Maryland colonies and Belize. 

With the goal for freedom, enslaved 

Igbo people were known to the British 

colonialists as being rebellious, 

cantankerous and having a high rate of 

suicide in the process of escaping from 

slavery. 

In May 1803 a shipload of captive 

West Africans, upon surviving the 

notorious Middle Passage, were caged 

by U.S.-paid captors in Savannah via a 

slave ship, to be auctioned off at one of 

the local slave markets. The ship’s 

enslaved passengers included a number 

of Igbo people from the then 

Portuguese-named Bight of Biafra. The 

Igbo were known by planters and 

slavers of the American South for being 

Ndigbo Worldwide – 

The Reality Of A Virtual 

Nation In The Diaspora 

•Nnamani 

fiercely independent and resistant to 

chattel slavery. The group of 75 Igbo 

slaves were bought for forced labor on 

plantations in St. Simons Island for 

$100 each.The chained slaves were 

packed under the deck of a small vessel 

to be shipped to the island. During this 

voyage the Igbo slaves rose up in 

rebellion, taking control of the ship and 

drowning their captors, in the process 

causing the grounding of the ship in 

Dunbar Creek at the site now locally 

known as Igbo Landing. 

With the strongest, the best and the 

brightest forcibly exported to Europe 

and the Americas as slaves, the Igbo 

areas were set in an unprecedented 

track in retrogression. So, for about two 

hundred years after formal abolition 

and about one hundred 

years after apparent 

extinction of slave 

dealing business, the 

Igbo areas, the people 

and their resources lay 

prostrate, yet to recover 

even in the face of 

pernicious modern 

allocation of values. 

Even in the grim 

periods in history, 

Ndigbo have held on to 

the dominant values and 

character traits which 

elevated those forebears 

of the people who 

thought (echiche), 

sojourned (njepu), 

worked (oru) 

andaccomplished 

(ntozu). Their 

accomplishment 

showed in the 

glamourous Bight of 

Biafra culture seen by 

the Portuguese and the Spanish. Till 

date, the modern Igbo explore to the 

fullest those attributes which are 

identified as the trinity of Igbo 

character trait and process of 

personality. Every Igbo man employs 

his. The same Igbo sojourns, home and 

abroad and at the same time acts, works 

and creates wealth. We all know that 

sojourning is a great industry of the 

Igbo, which is achieved with the proper 

deployment of one of the greatest Igbo 

With the 

strongest, the 

best and the 

brightest forcibly 

exported to 

Europe and the 

Americas as 

slaves, the Igbo 

areas were set in 

an unprecedented 

track in 

retrogression 

media of actualization – Ukwun’ije. 

Ndigbo, rising in their cradle in the 

Holy City of Nri, had deployed the feet 

and fanned out into the global arena. As 

they journeyed, they bore the cot of 

reason we call akpauche. This, we all 

know, we use to direct the strokes of 

physical gesture which we know as our 

aka Ikenga. These form the trinity of the 

Igbo character, at home and abroad. 

The end product is the accomplishment 

(ntozu). When it is told in the hills, 

valleys, cities and village, then we are 

celebrating that accomplishment. That 

is Odenigbo – the universal applause for 

fame. 

The process of slavery and dispersal of 

Ndigbo have continued through search 

for better occupation, better livelihood 

and also continued 

voluntary servitude.The 

Igbo nation has therefore 

become a nation 

exercising perpetual and 

cultural migratory shift, 

thus in dispersal with 

heartbeat outside the 

boundaries of the South- 

Eastern states which have 

now become a mere 

symbolic home forNdigbo 

Global or Ndigbo 

Worldwide. 

With this social 

mutation, the Igbo has to 

face the reality that the 

search for a sovereign 

ethnic state outside the 

boundaries of the official 

Nigeria has become 

untenable, elusive, and an 

infinite national 

romanticism of the 

sovereign nature. This 

dispersal was impelled by 

the conditions that have made the Igbo 

homestead inhospitable – poor 

infrastructure, lack of basic amenities 

and the abysmal lack of federal 

presence in the region decades after the 

much-touted post-civil war 

reconstruction, rehabilitation and 

reconciliation. 

Therefore, the heartbeat of a virtual 

Igbo nation is outside the confines of 

the Igbo homestead. NdigboGlobal or 

Ndigbo Worldwide who reside all over 

the world with the majority still in 

South-Eastern Nigeria have unfettered 

access to the global basket of fortunes 

and limitless dreams. In the global 

arena where there is no quota system 

and where the society thrives on 

competition and merit, an Igbo can 

achieve his potentials including high 

political offices that apparently elude 

him in the place he calls home, Nigeria. 

The dreams of the Igbo worldwide are 

not thereforeinhibited by socio-political 

conspiracies that have confined them to 

an engineered artificial minority status 

within the Nigerian state.Such 

conspiracies theorized as prophylaxis to 

recurrent and future attempt at 

recreating a Biafra type scenario, an 

unwritten policy heralded by the winthe-war 

strategy of the 12-state 

structure. In my humble opinion, 

presidential power as an immediate 

goal for the Igbo is now 

secondary.Physical and fiscal 

restructuring of the Nigerian sociopolitical 

space to allow for full effusion 

of the trinity of Igbo character is more 

emergent. Some Nigerians in impulsive 

uppity have been known to have 

expressed umbrage at an Igbo 

becoming Vice President nine years 

after the then war of blame that is 

Nigeria versus Biafra. 

Zik of Africa, M. I. Power, ‘Boycott the 

Boycottables’, the ‘Timber and Calibers’ 

and many others, we pray they will 

continue to rest in peace in the bosom of 

the Lord. May they hearour cries and 

lamentations! Onye mu 

nayajerentasinaukwumdikaukwuanu. 

That is to say that my fellow hunter is 

now seeing my legs as those of an 

antelope. In the mansion they built with 

their compatriots through their actions 

and inactions, their men have become 

consigned to the quarters for the boys. 

The new Igbo is therefore the Ndigbo 

Global or the Ndigbo Worldwide. That 

new Igbo has to define through 

intellectual thinking what he or she 

wants from the present Nigerian nation. 

Globalization provides a myriad of 

multi-sectoral potentials for human 

development in areas like trade, 

commerce, real estate, transport, agrobusiness, 

banking, construction, 

manufacturing, shipping, ICT, 

academics, sports, and so on.What he or 

she wants could in reality be outside 

political power because the leverages 

for achieving political power are no 

longer there because of inter-ethnic 

conspiracy that produced a hostile and 

neglected environment within her 

homestead. Thus confirming her 

minority status in the Nigeria of today. 

From the analysis of the indices of good 

living such as poverty index, life expectancy, 

school enrollment, maternal and infant 

mortality rates, MDGs and SDGs, etc., 

Ndigbo have fared relatively well despite 

practical exclusion from the sanctum of 

power and unfair manipulation of the 

fulcrum of leverages of power since the ill 

winds of 1966.The categorization of nonpolitical 

power goals would protect her 

from unbridled jealousy and hostility, hence 

left to live in peace within the confines of 

geo-political Nigeria but use the global 

space to thrive. Yessoo – the virtual 

Nation in the diaspora. 

Ndigbo have to sit down in a 

colloquium, where Igbo historians, 

sociologists and political scientists will 

define what is left for us within the 

Nigerian nation outside fighting for 

political power and then invest in the 

world as a canvass. 

·Chimaroke Nnamani writes 

from Ojiagu-Agbani, near Enugu, 

Nigeria @ChimarokeNamani

Recovering Imo property 

video currently in cir 

A culation detailing the 

attack on Mr. Jasper 

Ndubuaku, chairman of the 

Imo State Property Recovery 

team by people alleged to be 

“Imo youths” or “paid thugs" 

depending on which side of 

the story you choose, is very 

disturbing on so many levels. 

First, I should say that in the 

video I saw, there was no 

“youth” in the picture. Youth 

ordinarily describes young 

men and women between the 

ages of fifteen to thirty-five. 

Most of the people in that video 

range between their late 

thirties to early fifties. These 

are no youths. 

It is of course true that individuals, 

out of forms of arrested 

development in the society, 

including stalled social development 

that makes them 

perpetually economically dependent 

continue to describe 

themselves as “youth,” and to 

thus occupy spaces ordinarily 

reserved for early social actors. 

The “youth” have become 

an omnibus description 

for jobless, maladjusted folk, 

whose livelihood now depend 

on the “Say-Tokyo-Kid” vocation, 

which anyone who has 

read Wole Soyinka’s play, The 

Road, may immediately recognize. 

Today, there are too many 

“Say-Tokyo-Kids” stuck on 

the road. They are often the 

hired bodies when you need 

to rent a crowd for any occasion. 

The crowd-renting business 

in Nigeria is, I’m told, 

quite profitable these days. 

You can hire a crowd of 

mourners. You can rent a 

crowd for noise-making. You 

can rent a crowd of “youth.” 

You can rent any crowd for 

any occasion. It has become 

a very Nigerian thing, including 

the now, quite spectacular, 

but terrifyingly cheesy pallbearing 

dancers, who carry 

dead bodies in their caskets 

and dance them to their 

graves. Only in Nigeria. And 

only in Nigeria could Mr. 

Anayo Okorocha, defying all 

laws, hire muscles to set upon 

a government agent, and call 

them “youth.” Now, perhaps 

Nigerians do not read their 

laws any more, or have no 

sense of civics. Anybody who 

attacks an agent of government, 

that is a public service 

officer authorized to do the 

business of government – a 

civil servant, a tax collector, a 

bailiff, a police man, a soldier 

on active duty, a sanitary inspector, 

a law officer by any 

description, sworn or otherwise, 

etc, is liable to prosecution 

and a jail term appropriate 

to treasonous felony. Most 

folks ignorant of the status of 

government officers, and of 

the ordinary weight of government, 

may not understand 

that such officers are public 

agents and are therefore under 

the highest protection of 

the law. 

As an authorized agent of 

government, Jasper 

Ndubuaku was presumably 

acting with the full authority 

and protection both by state 

law and by the courts, and 

those who attacked him, and 

who could very easily be identified 

in the video must be 

sought, arrested, and arraigned 

before the courts for 

the full assizes to determine 

their crime. This is imperative 

if the Ihedioha administration 

is to regain the full authority 

of the laws of Imo state 

under which he was elected 

governor to enforce and execute 

all the legislations pertaining 

to the good governance 

of the state. We have 

learned that he has authorized 

the “citizens’ arrest” of Mr. 

Okorocha, the former governor 

of the state whose paid 

agents, or what we now generally 

call “thugs” allegedly 

attacked and beat up Mr. 

Ndubuaku. But the governor 

of Imo state does not have the 

authority of the law to issue 

any such order of arrest. It is 

not in the power allotted to 

the executive branch to order 

arrests. 

The executive authority has 

only the power to enforce the 

laws of the Assembly or Parliament, 

and the orders of the 

court issued by a proper judgment 

of the court. I do not 

know why this simple question 

of the rule of law is difficult 

for even politicians like 

Mr. Ihedioha, who has had a 

long stint in Law making under 

a republican democracy, 

to grasp. There is something 

called shared authority under 

the schedule of the constitution 

that grants the three arms 

of government their powers. 

Only a court can order the 

arrest of a citizen. Mr. Ihedioha’s 

duty is to comply and enforce 

that order of the court. 

He cannot, and should not issue 

any ultra vires orders for 

a so-called “citizens arrest” of 

Mr. Okorocha under any circumstances. 

He may instruct 

his Attorney-General to approach 

the courts, and obtain 

a proper warrant from a 

judge or Magistrate, who 


Only a court can 

order the arrest of a 

citizen. Mr. 

Ihedioha’s duty is to 

comply and enforce 

that order of the 

court 

must look very carefully at the 

merit of the case, with Mr. 

Okorocha’s lawyer(s) present, 

and in whose power it is to 

order the arrest of Okorocha 

over any allegations that 

might connect him to the attack 

on Mr. Ndubuaku. Failure 

to do this violates state 

law. That is one. Secondly, unless 

Mr. Ndubuaku and the 

Imo state government had 

obtained a prior proper order 

of the courts instructing the 

police, and agents of the Imo 

state government to seal off 

and recover Imo state property 

in premises belonging to 

the former Governor, any 

moves without the necessary 

court papers as required by the 

rule of law actually leaves Mr. 

Okorocha with the power to 

treat violations of his property 

as trespass. 

Under the trespass laws, his 

agents could deal with Mr. 

Ndubuaku without consequence. 

And so the question 

simply arises: did Mr. 

Ndubuaku and the Imo state 

government obtain the proper 

court warrants that would 

empower the police to supervise 

the recovery of state property 

as is required by law? Or 

did they just go on a capricious 

limb? The police cannot 

proceed with orders without 

the authority granted by 

the courts. Did the Imo state 

government use the full legal 

tools available to them? If they 

did, where was the police to 

protect Mr. Ndubuaku as an 

authorized agent of the government 

of Imo state? These 

are important questions. Did 

the Attorney General of Imo 

state properly issue a directive 

to the Imo state Police 

Commissioner to seal off and 

accompany agents of the 

state led by Mr. Ndubuaku to 

recover state property based 

on a proper court order? By 

what means were those determinations 

made? Let’s be 

clear, Mr. Okorocha has 

rights protected by law. Those 

rights persist until he is proven 

guilty by a proper court of 

law. It is not just enough to say 

that Anayo Okorocha stole 

from Imo state, and that the 

governor has issued an executive 

order to recover such 

goods allegedly stolen from 

Imo state. 

One’s property rights cannot 

just be abridged by ex-cathedra 

declarations of a functionary 

of the state. The Imo 

state Attorney-General ought 

to have properly advised the 

Governor and his administration 

on how to go about this 

business of recovering socalled 

stolen property. 

If indeed the former Governor 

stole from the state and 

misappropriated the resources 

of the state, and I’m inclined 

to think that he did, but 

my presumptions does not 

prove him guilty, nor does the 

whimsical claims of the current 

administration matter 

except a proper procedure 

carefully and forensically establishes 

Mr. Okorocha’s 

guilt. And here is what citizens 

of the state expect from the 

Ihedioha administration: the 

rule of law. It is not within the 

power of the executive governor 

to declare Okorocha 

guilty. It is the job of the courts. 

But the courts must be provided 

with the clear evidence 

to do this, and in doing that 

both recover stolen state property 

and issue appropriate 

punishment for the crime of 

stealing and embezzlement 

should such be the case, and 

depersonalize this process, 

which is now being seen as a 

playoff of Ihedioha’s personal 

animosity against Okorocha. 

His administration must 

avoid such an image if it is to 

maintain its legitimacy and 

moral high ground. 

In all this, it is power only 

granted by the constitution of 

Nigeria for the Imo state Assembly 

to investigate the 

former administration. Not 

the executive office. The Judicial 

and Public Finance committees 

of the Imo state Assembly 

must be properly constituted 

by the Chief Whip, and 

the Speaker of the House, acting 

upon a note from the Imo 

state Governor to investigate 

finances of the past administration. 

The Imo state Assembly 

must work quickly, and must 

invite all relevant agencies, 

particularly the offices of the 

Accountant-General and the 

Auditor-General of the state, 

subpoena all relevant documents, 

banks, corporations, 

suppliers, and Individuals 

who had dealings with the last 

administration, who must 

provide all relevant documents 

relating to the expenditures 

and financial activities 

of the last administration. 

These Committees of the 

House must be supported by 

the Financial Crimes Directorate 

of the Imo state Ministry 

of Justice to conduct a 

proper investigation, and produce 

a proper report which 

must then form the plank on 

which a government White 

Paper must be produced. If no 

such directorate exists under 

the Ministry of Justice, it is 

now time for the Attorney- 

General to establish and empower 

it by relevant state law. 

Recruit brilliant young lawyers, 

forensic accountants, 

investigators and analysts 

who must prosecute financial 

crimes against the state. 

If there is determination that 

financial crime and looting 

had taken place in the Assembly 

report, it mandates the 

governor to authorize his 

attorney-general to properly 

prosecute Mr. Okorocha and 

any members of his administration 

who may be involved 

in financial crimes and looting 

of the state before the 

courts. Okorocha must be 

brought before a proper court 

of the state. It is the courts that 

must find him liable of a 

crime not the executive Governor 

of the state. And that is 

the rule of law. Anything else 

is political theatre. 

Man in the mirror 

Ihave often wondered 

when we will have one 

Nigeria again, when 

all the hatred and hate 

speech will stop; when ethnics 

and religious jingoism 

will become a thing of the 

past; when we’ll become 

brothers again. It has become 

very scary to go on 

social media and read comments. 

All you read is Igbo, 

Yoruba, and Fulani but never 

about Nigeria. 

When Nigerians were arrested 

for internet scam by 

the FBI, it became an Igbo 

thing on social media and 

then someone had to dig up 

what happened in the past 

about Nigerians hanged in 

Saudi Arabia and projected 

the Yoruba dominance of 

the victims just to remind 

those talking about Igbo 

internet scammers that the 

other ethnic groups are 

equally as guilty. People run 

commentaries on social 

media based on where the 

person who put up a post emanated 

from. But is that 

leading us anywhere? The 

truth is that it is not. 

I was so ashamed to 

watch what they did to Ike 

Ekweremadu in Germany 

and was more ashamed by 

the fact that those who did 

it are not apologetic about 

it. It really becomes so scary 

when a statesman of Ekweremadu’s 

stature is subjected 

to disdain by miscreants 

who managed to find 

their way overseas. You can 

hear from their bad English 

and the pronunciation and 

mixing of R and L that these 

are not quality kind of people. 

It is easy for miscreants 

to blame their shortcomings 

on hardworking Nigerians 

who have nothing to 

do with what have befallen 

them. A man who is successful 

in Germany or Japan, 

who has made his imprints 

in the sand of time will not 

be walking the streets looking 

for whom to disgrace. 

Successful Nigerians overseas 

will not walk the streets 

looking for Nigerians and 

leaders who are visiting to 

strip naked. If they are better 

Nigerians than our leaders, 

let them show same in 

their behaviour. Change 

begins with the man in the 

mirror. If leadership has 

failed in this country, follower 

ship is worse. The led 

have not done anything to 

show they are better than 

the leaders. Rather, they 

compete to equate with the 

bad leadership. 

Indeed, leadership is failing 

and so is follower ship. 

It is not leadership that 

commits all the atrocities 

on the highways. I’m talking 

about militancy, insurgency 

and banditry. I’m 

talking about cattle rustling, 

armed robbery and 

kidnapping for ransom. 

Kidnapping is now targeted 

at individuals and 

groups. Innocent travelers 

in a commercial bus are 

being kidnapped. School 

children have been kidnapped 

in groups in various 

parts of Nigeria. 

Kidnapping used to have 

a political dimension. In 

the past, it was militants 

kidnapping oil company 

employees to advance a 

political agenda. 

In the northeast, Boko 

haram insurgents are kidnapping 

young girls. 

These are follower ship 

problems. If we say leadership 

has failed like it has, 

what about the led. It is the 

led that are kidnapping, 

killing and maiming people 

on the highways to the 

point that as Christmas approaches, 

there is no road 

to your village. 

The current wave of kidnappings 

is no longer confined 

to a particular region. 

These days, there is 

no specification for 

quality of people 

being kidnapped. 

Even the very poor 

get kidnapped. 

Students are not left 

out 

It has become nation-wide 

and the goal is to extract the 

maximum ransom. 

These days, there is no 

specification for quality of 

people being kidnapped. 

Even the very poor get kidnapped. 

Students are not 

left out. The highways in 

Nigeria have become highways 

of terror. It is not the 

leaders kidnapping the led. 

It is the led going bunkers 

and subjecting everybody to 

fear and terror. Victims are 

released on ransom. Some 

still get killed in the process. 

As it is, the government allegedly 

sometimes pays 

ransoms in high-profile 

cases. There is little hard 

evidence about how many 

kidnappings are actually 

taking place. But the fact 

remains that Nigerians are 

living in the midst of a kidnappers 

and the government 

appears powerless to 

stop it. 

Many states across Nigeria 

have adopted death penalty 

for kidnappers. Kidnapping 

is no longer treated 

with kid’s gloves. It is a 

serious crime that in many 

cases, has transformed into 

other felonious offenses, 

such as physical violence, 

financial victimisation, 

and murder. 

Something or someone is 

always blamed for what is 

happening in Nigeria today. 

The high unemployment 

rate in Nigeria has 

forced citizens to find other 

ways to make money and 

some of those ways are illegal. 

Kidnapping a rich person 

can be a lucrative business. 

A cash-strapped unemployed 

person may believe 

that when he kidnaps 

someone who is rich, he 

may be able to become rich 

himself. 

By global standards, any 

person living below $1.25 

a day is living below the 

poverty line. Poverty can 

propel people toward crime 

as a way to make ends meet. 

Sometimes, a person who 

is poor might believe that 

kidnapping or other illegal 

acts could provide the necessary 

money to start a new 

life—a life that will no longer 

involve crime. 

Many kidnappings in Nigeria 

today have their root 

cause in religion. Some 

people love their religion so 

much that even when it 

teaches them something 

that is wrong, they believe 

it is right. There is also the 

issue of greed. Some people 

are not content with 

what they have and wish 

they could have more 

things. A wicked businessman 

can kidnap his business 

rival for a large ransom 

to become richer. 

Many corrupt politicians 

are perceived to have arranged 

for the kidnapping 

of their opponents. Sometimes, 

they do this so that 

their opponents will make 

concessions or change their 

votes on the issues. 

Nigeria being a society 

where corruption is rife is 

experiencing a high level of 

kidnapping. When a government 

is corrupt and embezzling 

public funds, citizens 

are reacting by kidnapping 

those corrupt politicians 

in an attempt to recoup 

some of the stolen 

money. They are also kidnapping 

the very poor and 

the innocent. 

But for how long will Nigeria 

travel this route? Will 

Nigeria ever be a land of 

peaceful co-existence 

again? 

The answer is blowing in 

the wind.


‘BIG MINISTRIES’ FOR NORTHERNERS: 

You had your time 

during Buhari's first 

term, Junaid hits 

southerners 

•Faults President as petroleum minister 

•On 2nd Republic: Why Ekwueme/Dikko presidential permutation failed 

•On 2023: The Tinubu, el-Rufai factors 

By Soni Daniel, Editor, Northern Region 

Junaid Mohammed, Second Republic member of the House of 

Representatives from Kano State, assesses the composition of 

President Muhammadu Buhari’s new cabinet. Junaid, however, 

kicks against Buhari’s assigning to himself the petroleum portfolio. 

What do you make of the cabinet 

just inaugurated by Mr. President? 

Are you impressed with the quality of 

the members? 

They appear as people with competence 

and integrity. But we can only see how far 

they can go when they begin to render 

service to the country, which is in dire need of 

rejuvenation given the fact that we have just 

exited a recession. Nigerians expect nothing 

but the best from these people and their 

integrity really matters since it will reflect in 

their performance and contribution to the 

Buhari era. The performance of the ministers 

also affects you and me and we need to pray 

that they don’t fail the people of Nigeria. I 

don’t think Nigerians will be happy if they 

mess up the country and leave it worse than 

they met it. The President took over the 

country when it was in recession and he 

worked very hard to get us out of recession. 

Nigerians will be worried and very unhappy 

if government and the ministers don’t work 

assiduously to grow the economy and secure 

a better future for Nigerians. I still believe 

it is important to have people in the right 

places, people of competence, people of 

integrity, the kind of people who will 

certainly manage the 

portfolios given to them in 

good conscience; people 

who will make sure that 

this country avoids another 

recession. 

But Buhari’s slogan is 

moving to the ‘Next Level’ 

and it is believed he 

means well this time 

around. 

This idea of ‘Next level’ is 

sheer nonsense. I believe 

that if you have serious 

programmes and policies, 

if you have people who are 

competent and who have 

dignity and integrity to run 

these programmes, things 

will work well for the 

masses. But subsuming 

everything under this 

mantra of ‘next level’ is 

most deceitful because the 

slogan doesn’t explain 

anything. 

Subsuming 

everything 

under this 

mantra of ‘next 

level’ is most 

deceitful 

because the 

slogan doesn’t 

explain 

anything 

Would you therefore 

set an agenda for the 

new ministers; what is 

the minimum 

expectation you have 

from them? 

The minimum expectation I have from the 

ministers in relation to their portfolios is that 

they should know what they are talking 

about. If a minister cannot give you the 

definition of economics as minister of 

finance, national planning, among others, 

which is driven by economic knowledge and 

economic science, if you serve in that 

ministry without that knowledge, then you 

are in a serious trouble. If you are a minister 

of agriculture and you do not know anything 

about agriculture and you are not committed 

to agriculture as one of the means of 

diversifying the economy, then you are in a 

serious trouble. This is why Buhari should 

have deployed the ministers in a way to 

ensure that square pegs are put in square 

holes. The proper deployment of the 

ministers, according to the areas of their 

competence, would have gone a long way to 

strengthen the system and move the country 

forward, and Buhari should not have lost 

sight of that. 

Some Nigerians, having taken a look at 

the list of ministers, are alleging that Buhari 

gave key ministries to the North this time 

apparently because of the way they voted 

for him and his party in the last elections. 

Does this hold water? 

The claim by such Nigerians does not hold 

water and I will tell you why. The last time 

Buhari made similar appointments, he gave 

the South-West most of the senior portfolios; 

for example, he gave them the ministry of 

finance which is very important, he gave 

them communications, he gave them health, 

he gave them solid minerals 

among others. And when Buhari 

was challenged by other parts of 

the country and even the 

international media on why he 

made that kind of skewed 

appointments, he said it was 

deliberate because he wanted to 

favour the South in 

appointments. In the 

appointments he made in his 

first term, the North got mostly 

ministers of state, including the 

one from his state, Katsina. 

Many people from the North 

complained but the President 

kept the cabinet till the end of his 

first four years and he is merely 

trying to make amends this time 

around. When the North was 

denied of key ministerial 

positions, there was no 

complaint from the characters 

who are now complaining about 

it; so you can see that, clearly, it 

is not in good faith some people 

are disappointed in the manner 

some of these portfolios were 

shared. Did you hear any 

complaints against Mr 

Babatunde Fashola holding 

three key ministries in Buhari’s 

first term? 

Do you think it is right for President 

Buhari to make himself the minister 

of petroleum? 

I don’t support the idea of him making 

himself the minister of petroleum and I don’t 

know from what I read whether he has put 

•Junaid 

Mohammed 

his name down as the minister of petroleum 

or not since he has largely remained quiet 

about his own position. He has not said 

whether he is superintending over the NNPC 

or the petroleum ministry. For that reason, I 

don’t know if he wants to remain and reap 

from what this Kachikwu man (minister of 

state (Petroleum) in the first term), who was 

not a member of the party was creating for 

him or whether he wants to take time and 

study the situation in the industry and, 

thereafter, decide whether to return or hand 

it over to somebody who is competent to 

handle the ministry. But I never supported 

him then and I still don’t support him now. 

What do you think the subjugation 

of ministers to the Office of the Chief 

of Staff to the President portend for 

the system? 

Under the nature of the public 

administration system we work with and the 

rules of democracy itself as well as the 

hierarchy in democratic administration, the 

idea that all ministers must pass through the 

Chief of Staff to the President for any official 

matter is unacceptable and, no wonder, 

Nigerians are shouting. Ministers are not 

school boys who cannot have direct access to 

the President except they pass through one 

man. This will certainly create a problem of 

its own because they must have to line up to 

see the man, no matter how urgent and 

serious a matter requiring the President’s 

attention may be. So, I think that it is not a 

good decision. You may end up creating a 

very powerful obstacle in the system. 

Governor El Rufai has been 

speaking seriously about the fact 

that, in 2023, Nigeria should 

abrogate the issue of zoning to pave 

the way for the President to emerge 

strictly on merit and popular choice. 

But given the political history of 

Nigeria, don’t you think this will 

plunge the country into another 

round of avoidable political crisis? 

We are already in a political crisis anyway. 

And it was created by zoning, rotation or the 

irresponsible attitude of the Nigerian elite. 

We have not come out of it. I have been an 

opponent of zoning or rotation since the 

Second Republic. The whole thing was 

brought up by the NPN because they wanted 

to be in power and they had the right to be in 

power because they had the majority but 

they decided, after making a mental 

breakdown as a result of the coup of 1966, to 

now make some concessions to their 

opponents. At that time, some of us who 

were not in the NPN said no and we gave 

them reasons it wasn’t going to work and 

why, in fact, it would create more crisis 

during the tenure of President Shehu 

Shagari. The plan was hatched because the 

NPN thought that they were going to rule 

Nigeria indefinitely but it did not work as 

they planned. Shagari was planning to hand 

over power to Alex Ekwueme and Umaru 

Diko as President and Vice President 

respectively but that did not succeed. It did 

not dawn on them that, no matter the 

political formula a party adopts, the ultimate 

power to choose a government resides with 

the electorate. Now, there have been 

instances where zoning/rotation has been an 

impossible task and it has violated the 

harmony and the very nature of this country 

and, somehow, those who have ambitions 

are prepared to throw the country into 

anarchy in order to achieve their desires. It 

is not the best for any country. 

Nigerian politicians have already 

started jostling for the 2023 

presidency. Don’t you think it is too 

early especially when the new 

government is not even up to six 

months? 

I agree with you entirely that it is too early 

to begin to talk about 2023 at this point in 

time of our nation’s political life. Some 

elements are bandying the name of the APC 

Leader, Asiwaju Tinubu, as the candidate 

when the man has not publicly told anyone 

he wants to run as President in 2023 and I 

think that those persons are simply trying 

to force him to speak. Nigeria will be 

better off if we concentrate on doing 

things that can move this country 

forward instead of wasting time and 

resources talking about issues that are 

neither necessary nor permanent in the 

life of this country. I have heard some 

elements talking about the convening of 

another national conference and I am 

surprised that some right thinking 

Nigerians can call for another round of 

conference when we could not agree on 

anything meaningful in all the previous 

conferences. We need to take practical 

steps to solve our multilateral problems 

as a country and stop wasting time and 

scarce resources to organize irrelevant talk 

shops.

It’s a season of fruitfulness 

Congratulations you 

have made it to the 

'ember' months. Rejoice 

in the Lord. For it is not 

by your power or mine that 

we are alive. All thanks be to 

God. 

September is the beginning 

of the 'ember' months. It is a 

special month. Not just because 

it is the ninth month but 

because it is the month that 

symbolizes many things in our 

lives. 

In most cases, it take nine 

months for a woman to take 

in, carry and deliver a baby. 

For many farmers too, it is the 

time to harvest the produce of 

seeds that have been planted. 

Brethren in both cases, often 

times, you put in some 

form of labour to plant the 

seed. During which not many 

people appreciate what you 

are doing but by the time it is 

time to harvest, people rejoice 

with you. The birth of a child 

follows the same pattern. 

When the child is born, people 

from all walks of life begin 

to congratulate the couple. 

Similarly, when you start a 

business on a very small scale, 

people take no notice of you 

but once the Lord blesses the 

Runway Etiquette 

If you have a flair for fashion, 

you consider yourself as 

trendy and you like to be adventurous, 

then an invitation 

to a fashion show would excite 

you. Personally I am always 

fascinated by new creations, 

willing enough to try 

new designs and bold enough 

to flaunt them. I remember the 

very first fashion runway I attended, 

it was one organised 

by my own association. You 

would think that there is nothing 

to it just men and women 

coming out one by one to show 

case something new and 

trendy. Little did I know that a 

lot of coordination skills, timing, 

pacing, rhythm and so 

much more goes into a successful 

fashion show with the 

perks of a standard runway. 

What makes up a good fashion 

show? 

This fashion runway in question 

involved a great collection 

of African designs across 

the nation, for elegant, dainty, 

stylish and everyday outfits. 

It did not stop there we 

had a whole fashion runway 

for jewellery, it was fabulous. 

Some models got their steps 

work of your hands and the 

business expands, you will find 

that those who mocked you 

when you started would not 

but recognize you. 

Why is fruitfulness so important? 

Why is it important 

that whatever we plant must 

bring fruits? It is essentially 

because no one wants to labour 

in vain. It is also because 

fruits either visible or invisible 

bring us joy. This season, 

as the Lord lives every fruitless 

effort you have had will 

produce amazing fruits that 

will give you everlasting joy 

in Jesus name. 

The Lord, the creator of 

heaven and earth commanded 

in Genesis 1 vs. 28 (KJV) 

“And God blessed them, 

and God said unto them, Be 

fruitful and multiply, and replenish 

the earth, and subdue 

it: and have dominion over 

the fish of the sea, and over 

the fowl of the air, and over 

every living thing that moveth 

upon the earth”. 

Brethren, “be fruitful and 

multiply”, is a command of 

God. Therefore, delay in child 

bearing is contrary to the word 

of God. Having a child and 

all efforts to have another 

yields no result is not of God. 

j a n e t . a d e t u 

@jsketiquetteconsortium.com 

janet.adetu@gmail.com 

right others stole the show 

while for other models it was 

the first time for them so 

nerves and anxiety got the best 

of them. Now sitting on the 

other side as an observer what 

are your goals or objectives 

when you attend a fashion 

show? 

i. Are you there to have a 

fun time looking at the latest 

trends? 

ii. Are you there to support 

a designer you know? 

Iii. Are you there to seek the 

opportunity of buying some 

of the clothes? 

iv. Are you one to take loads 

of pictures for your personal 

gallery? 

Recently there was a big 

fashion show held that showcased 

beautiful wears from 

seasoned old and upcoming 

fashion designers. It was the 

place to see what the season 

had to offer. However, as I saw 

the long queue to enter the 

show I could already see quite 

a few etiquette breaches. Let’s 

look at the etiquette of fashion 

runways so that you go 

prepared to your next or first 

fashion show. 

Majemite fulfils pledge to constituents 

A 

Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP) chieftain, 

Olorogun Fred Okiemute 

Majemite had fulfilled his 

N50,000 pledge to party 

members in polling unit in 

Ughelli Ward One, five for 

their loyalty to the PDP. 

He commended them for 

delivering Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa and PDP candidate 

for Delta State House of Assembly 

candidate, Ughelli 

Nirth Constituency 11, Hon . 

(Prince) Eric Oharisi in the last 

Delta State governorship and 

House of Assembly elections. 

Of all the twenty - two polling 

units in Ughelli North 

Ward one, five Otovwodo unit 

one and all the five polling 

units in Olorogun Majemite's 

country-home of Ekiugbo are 

the polling units that deliv- 

Brethren, something is definitely 

working against the 

word of God in your life and 

the earlier you realize it the 

better. 

I pray that God will open 

your eyes to see beyond the 

physical in Jesus name. 

When confronted with this 

type of situation in our marital 

life, in our work life or 

even in business, what do we 

do? 

Ask yourself, why should you 

be so hardworking and others 

are being promoted and 

you are not. Why is the business 

of others booming and 

you are recording losses, instead 

of profit you are getting 

indebted? For a moment reflect 

on your life and ask yourself 

questions but please be 

truthful to yourself. However, 

a lazy worker should not expect 

promotion. 

Having done that, ask the 

Lord to open your spiritual 

eyes. Then ask for the power 

of the Holy Spirit to pray and 

draw yourself closer to God. 

Brethren, you can also make 

a choice as to how you want 

to move close to God. Whichever 

method you choose, meditating 

on the word in the Holy 

Bible and prayer are keys 

Fashion Runway Protocol 

to address: Invited or Not 

You may attend an event 

that includes a fashion runway 

as part of the event highlight. 

It may be that you have 

been given special access tickets 

or invite for an upcoming 

fashion runway or that you 

applied online to be part of a 

fashion show guest. As the 

event host it is important you 

ensure that tickets are accessible 

a day or two or much 

longer before the show. Allow 

your guest to be prepared 

ahead of time, regarding venue, 

seating and runway logistics. 

I once was offered a fashion 

runway invitation but was 

asked to join a long queue just 

to receive my ticket. I was totally 

discouraged so I decided 

to avoid that ordeal and 

forfeit the show. Most fashion 

runways if well planned and 

coordinated will always insist 

that you show your invite upon 

entry, so avoid going if without 

a proper invite. 

Dress Appropriately 

We know it is a fashion show 

so there is a tendency to want 

to express your own fashion 

sense by being more elaborate 

in choice of clothes. Ensure 

you are comfortable first; 

ered Governor Okowa and 

Hon. Oharisi in the said elections. 

Consequently Olorogun 

Majemite, kept to his pledge 

at a party he held for party 

members of Otovwodo unit 

one, Ekiugbo units 8, 

9,11,12,14 and 20 in Ughelli 

North Ward one, five at his 

residence in Ughelli . 

In his speech at the event 

Barrister Majemite commended 

party them for not 

disappointing him, urging 

them to continue to support 

Governor Okowa and the 

PDP and stated that the gesture 

was in line with the governor's 

principle of promise 

keeping. 

While calling on party 

members to support Governor 

Okowa's new agenda of a 

stronger Delta State , he however 

added that Delta Central 

producing the governor of 

Delta State in 2023 is not negotiable. 

Two distinguished PDP 

members , Hon. Talib Tebite 

and Secretary of PDP Ughelli 

North Local Government 

Area, Chief ( Mrs) Meg Atanor 

in their separate speeches 

commended the leadership 

qualities of Barr. Majemite 

and his commitment to the 

growth of the party. 

Comrade Ayoro Akpotu 

who spoke on behalf of PDP 

members of the said polling 

units expressed appreciation 

to Olorogun Majemite for 

keeping to his pledge, vowing 

that they would always be loyal 

to him. " But for Olorogun 

Majemite, majority of us 

would have left PDP," he added. 


As you move closer 

to God, the Lord will 

glorify himself in 

your life and the 

Lord will put your 

enemies to shame 

that unlock God’s favour and 

mercy for us. 

It is also important that we 

sing praises unto the Lord. The 

Holy Bible teaches us that God 

inhabits the praises of his people. 

Psalm 22 vs.3 “ But thou 

art holy, O thou that inhabitest 

the praises of Israel “. The 

tongue that praises the Lord 

at all time cannot have an 

empty womb or labour in 

vain. 

Since God inhabits the 

praises of his people, he shall 

surely visit you. 

Brethren, refuse to be depressed. 

Struggle against demonic 

spirits that make you 

doubt God. Reawaken your 

faith. Help yourself by reading 

the Word. 

While giving the command 

that you shall be fruitful, God 

didn’t stop at that, he gave an 

assurance that your efforts 

shall not be aborted. 

New Living Translation of 

the Holy Bible states in Exodus 

23 vs. 26 “ There will be 

no miscarriages or infertility 

in your land, and I will give 

you long, full lives”. 

In other words, you will not 

only conceive, you will deliver 

safely. It also means that 

as some fashion show can 

drag on for long. Depending 

on the seating arrangement, 

you may be positioned in a 

compromising seating place, 

it is important to wear that 

outfit that caters for all sorts 

of seating arrangement. Be 

aware that others are sitting 

behind you, so avoid wearing 

anything on your head that 

can block the view of others. 

Sitting Well 

To sit well is all about what 

you are wearing then having 

good sitting savvy skills. You 

will need to be very conscious 

of how you sit most especially 

if you are in the front row. 

Something long or trousers at 

times works to avoid the possibility 

of sabotaging your 

image. 

Made for you or the Runway 

The runway gives the opportunity 

to experience the creative 

art of many designers; the 

idea of the runway is to appreciate 

their work. Avoid criticisms 

or negative opinions or 

blurting out rude remarks if 

you see something that does 

not tickle your fancy. Some 

clothes are not made for you 

but strictly for the runway. You 

may not have that physique 

or the body to pull it off but 

appear more encouraging 

than un-encouraging. Again 

remember that runway pricing 

also creeps in plus creative 

designs that clearly cannot 

be worn off the runway. 

They were made for the modelling 

of that day. 

Click Click 

There will always be an 

army of photographers; at any 

fashion runway. The paparazzi 

are not just taking pictures 

of those on the runway but of 

you in the audience too. Be on 

your guard, be in control, do 

not be found wanting. Your 

conduct, behaviour, attitude 

and character are all on 

watching at such public 

whatever seems infertile in 

your life shall be fertilized 

with the word of God. 

Perhaps there is someone 

reading this column that has 

been having miscarriages of 

any kind. I decree in the name 

that is above all names, Jesus, 

you shall no more experience 

fruitless efforts. You shall be 

fruitful. Be confident, your situation 

is not hopeless. Many 

have passed through what you 

are passing through and have 

overcome. Sooner than you 

think, you too will be called 

an overcomer in the name of 

Jesus. 

I like to share with you this 

testimony. A lady was married 

for seven years without a 

biological child. She didn’t 

fold her arms; she and her 

husband went for In Vitro 

Fertilization commonly 

called IVF. She did it three 

times without success. Brethren, 

besides, what the body is 

subjected to, it is also expensive. 

Since these efforts did not 

produce any baby, her husband’s 

relations came and 

sent her packing. They succeeded 

because the husband 

did not put up any resistance. 

In most cases, when this happens, 

it is because the husband 

has been lamenting his wife’s 

inability to have children to 

the hearing of his relations. 

So, for this lady, all hope of 

having a child was lost but she 

ran to the Saviour. She ran to 

Jesus. Within a short time, another 

man asked for her hand 

in marriage. She got married 

in 2016 and the Lord Almighty 

the one who can do 

all things visited her and she 

that was called barren took 

in 2017 and to the glory of 

God, 2018 her Samuel arrived. 

God silenced her enemies. 

He put them to shame. 

Brothers and sisters, I don’t 

know what you are going 

through, just make sure that if 

human beings reject you, you 

should not turn away from 

God. 

Let that challenge you are 

going through draw you closer 

to God. Refuse to be drawn 

away from God. 

Her state of mind after she 

was sent out of her matrimonial 

home is better imagined. 

She must have seen a hopeless 

future. She must have said 

to herself, “ where do I begin? 

but the Holy Spirit, the Comforter 

gave her hope. If she 

hadn’t hope buttressed by 

faith, she would have given up. 

Brethren, this woman has 

taught us a lesson not to give 

up. Today, God has made her 

laugh but those who sent her 

out of her home will cover 

their heads in shame. 

As you move closer to God, 

the Lord will glorify himself 

in your life and the Lord will 

put your enemies to shame. 

Brethren, find time to attend 

church programmes especially 

the ones that you are sure 

the Anointing is genuine. 

On September 6, the Holy 

Ghost Night of RCCG is dedicated 

to couples waiting on 

the Lord for the fruits of the 

womb and for everyone who 

wants an end to fruitless efforts. 

The programme is titled 

“ Lifted into Glory”. 

Other churches also have 

similar programmes, find 

time to attend. 

By the grace of God, the door 

of mercy will open unto you 

in Jesus name. 

Wishing you a fruitful 

month in Jesus name. Amen. 

place. 

Personal Belongings. 

Wow! A fashion runway will 

have people from all works of 

life. The bigger your bag the 

greater the attraction you will 

create for yourself. Your personal 

prized possessions must 

be held close and even closer 

to you. Reduce what you take 

to a fashion runway; especially 

where you know it is not 

needed. You will be accountable 

for everything you bring 

there so watch you glasses, 

your phone, your bag and all. 

Your Phone in Order 

All phones on silent, vibration 

or off while you are at a 

fashion runway. This can create 

backlash from others, being 

a nuisance if repeated and 

disturbance to those who follow 

the rules and regulations. 

Needless to say follow all instructions 

when you attend a 

fashion show have fun at the 

same time. 

Chatting or Watching 

Finally are you too busy 

chatting away at the fashion 

show runway while all the 

activities or are you concentrating 

on the highlights of the 

runway? 

The fashion runway is not 

the time or the place to have a 

conversation unless you are in 

a breakout session for networking. 

While the show is 

going on try to avoid distracting 

others with your back chatting, 

this is a place to respect 

yourself and others around 

too. 

Good luck share your experience. 

From left: Chief Friday Erue, Barrister (Olorogun) Fred Okiemute Majemite and Chief ( 

Mrs) Meg Atanor, during a meeting of members of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in 

some polling units in Ward one, five held by Olorogun Majemite where he fulfilled his 

pledge to party members at his Ughelli residence last weekend.


WORRIES! 

… 48 hours to 

Lagos – Ibadan 

Expressway 

shutdown 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

& Victor Tunde Oso 

With the commencement of 

reconstruction work on some 

portions of the Lagos- 

Ibadan Expressway from Tuesday, 

there’s unanimity of opinion that 

commuters are in for torrid times in 

the four months during which the 

closure would last. 

The failed portion of about 600 

metres beginning from the Berger Bus 

Stop, Lagos, according to the Director 

of Highways, South West Federal 

Ministry of Works, Mr. Funso Adebiyi, 

while conducting newsmen round, 

said the repairs would 

be completed by 

December 15, before 

Christmas when more 

people would be 

travelling. 

Julius Berger Nigeria 

Plc, the construction 

company handling 

Section 1 of the Lagos- 

Ibadan Expressway, had 

earlier given notification 

of its rehabilitation plan 

for August 3, advising 

motorists to use 

alternative routes such 

as the Lagos-Ota-Itori- 

Abeokuta and Ikorodu- 

Sagamu roads during 

the period. The closure 

was however, shifted to 

September 2 for an 

effective traffic 

management plan and 

in reaction to the plea of Nigerians for 

a hitch-free Eid el Kabir celebration 

and religious programmes, scheduled 

close to that period. 

Adebiyi revealed that plans have 

been concluded to ensure smooth 

operation, indicating that traffic 

diversion on that portion would begin 

by September 2 and appealed for 

tolerance from the public, noting that 

inconveniences that may occur during 

the period should be tolerated to 

ensure that the dividends of good 

roads are delivered to the people. 

Lagos State Government has also 

Some analysts 

wondered 

whether 

palliative work 

could have been 

done were 

ministerial 

appointments 

done 

expeditiously 

allayed fears of motorists and 

commuters alike, saying adequate 

measures are in place to effectively 

manage the impending traffic. 

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry 

of Transportation, Musa Olawale, 

assured of seamless traffic within the 

Ogun-Lagos border of the road. 

According to Musa, who was the 

immediate past General 

Manager, Lagos Stare Traffic 

Management Authority, LASTMA, 

"The part of the road being 

rehabilitated falls in Ogun State 

jurisdiction. 

"Albeit, traffic will be diverted from 

one side of the road to 

the other, resulting in 

contraflow and not a 

total closure as being 

spread around. We have 

deployed adequate men 

of LASTMA who will 

complement efforts of 

other sister agencies 

like: FRSC, Vehicle 

Inspection Officers, 

VIO, and the police to 

control traffic and 

ensure safety of lives 

and property. 

"However, there are 

other alternative routes 

that could be accessed by 

motorists, such as : Lagos 

Abeokuta Express Road, 

Ikorodu-Sagamu Express 

Road and Lekki-Epe, 

Ijebu-Ode Expressway." 

"All I only urge our 

teeming motorists to 

exercise patience in the face of the slight 

gridlock die to the diversion, if there is 

orderliness, there won't be any problem at 

all. So, the watchword is patience by 

motorists. The road work is only an 

extension of the road project at the tip of 

Lagos-end. Its just a matter of time, we 

shall smile at the end." 

Musa, therefore, appealed to motorists 

to cooperate with traffic managers by 

complying with directional traffic signs 

and instructions from traffic managers in 

order to ensure unnecessary traffic 

hiccups and confusion on the road. 

Lagos Sector Commander, Federal 

Road Safety Corps, Mr Hygenius Umeje, 

said three 

heavy duty tow vehicles would 

also be provided during the period and 

according to him, Lagos and Ogun 

commands will be on ground to ensure 

good flow of traffic. 

Workers, commuters lament 

impending hardship 

Some workers and commuters who 

spoke to Sunday Vanguard agonise that 

it would be untold hardship for 

commuters and motorists plying the 

expressway. 

A civil servant, Mr. Alaba Joseph, who 

lives in Ojodu, Berger and works at 

Magodo, said he could not imagine the 

suffering for people like him who use the 

road every day. 

Alaba said, “When the expressway had 

not been closed, there used to be gridlock. 

I think it is going to be more serious now 

any time it is closed. It is going to affect 

my work schedule, meaning I now have 

to wake up earlier than before. I think 

employers around the axis might need to 

be compassionate towards their 

employees who might arrive work late 

sometimes owing to gridlock.” 

A self employed worker, Mr. Uche 

Chijindu, said he may not ply the road 

during the closure, stating that. “I may 

have to cancel all my schedules anywhere 

round the expressway while the closure 

lasts,” lamenting that this is particularly 

regrettable coming in the last quarter of 

the year when work peaks before winding 

down in November and December. 

A Lagos State civil servant in Alausa, 

Ikeja, Lagos, Mrs. Rashidat Olubi, who 

lives in Ibafo area of Ogun State said she 

has to relocate because of the expected 

traffic. “From the look of things, we are in 

for a tough time because of the planned 

closure. I am planning to relocate to my 

parents’ home in Agege, Lagos. I will now 

have to visit my family on weekends.” 

Any hope in alternative routes? 

Commuters bemoaned the cost 

implications of the alternative routes and 

even other means of 

transportation. For example, during any 

kind of festivity, Lagos to Ibadan by 

public transport costs N1,500 when the 

traffic flows on both sides of the 

expressway. Now with the partial closure 

of a side of the road, the fare is expected 

to jump, considering that the planned 

diversion would make the usual one hour- 

15-minute-journey longer, since the 

diversion is believed to be Abeokuta, 

Ogun State-bound. 

Sunday Vanguard findings revealed 

that the repair programme was at the 

instance of the returning Minister of 

Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde 

Fashola. Some analysts wondered 

whether palliative work could have been 

done were ministerial appointments done 

expeditiously. 

For John Ogunlela, the Managing 

Director of Thermoclays Nigeria Ltd, “We 

expected that some remedial work have 

been done on the alternative routes of 

Sango-Ota and Epe. The last time I 

went to Epe through Ijebu-Ode, it was a 

bad road, I found out, until you get to 

Epe. 

Ogun State House of Assembly 

candidate in the last 2019 general 

election, Hon Sulayman Keshiro said 

despite the plea of Nigerians for 

government to do palliative works on 

those unmotorable alternative routes 

such as the Lagos - Sango Ota - Itori - 

Abeokuta, Ikorodu -Sagamu and Epe/ 

Ajah-Ijebu-Ode roads, nothing was 

done to ease the impending suffering of 

commuters for the next four months on 

those so-called alternative routes. Are 

they not aware of the dilapidated 

condition of those roads? Government is 

aware. It just doesn’t care about 

peoples’ suffering.”



AS the world marked this year’s Inter 

national Youth Day at a time of in 

creased international tensions, looming 

climatic deadlines, increasing disparities 

of income and wealth, and great rents in the 

social fabric of our societies the National 

Christian Elders Forum, NCEF and the Christian 

Association of Nigeria, CAN appealed 

the nation’s youth to wake up to their responsibilities. 

August 12 was first designated International 

Youth Day by the UN General Assembly in 

1999, and serves as an annual celebration of 

the role of young women and men as essential 

partners in change, and an opportunity to raise 

awareness of challenges and problems facing 

the world’s youth. The theme of this year’s 

celebration is: “Transforming Education.” 

Speaking in an interview the chairman of 

National Christian Elders Forum, NCEF, Elder 

Solomon Asemota, SAN, lamented the 

plight of the nation’s youth, saying that they 

can take their destiny in their own hands. The 

elder statesman who was the most senior Nigerian 

police officer at the Ikeja Airport during 

independence in 1960, offered a word of 

caution for the nation on behalf of the youths 

of Nigeria to mark this year’s International 

Youth Day. 

According to Elder Asemota who is now in 

his 80s: “From what I have seen and from the 

way they are talking, the Nigerian youths have 

decided to come out and they can be sure that 

they have the support of the elders. We also 

will like to tell those who are not elders yet but 

who are in positions of authority that the world 

is changing. 

“People are talking about Mars, Moon, and 

the last 300 or 400 years, democracy made it 

possible for us to progress more than the period 

of creation. So history for those 400 years, 

we’ve made this progress as a result of democracy 

until they are able to invent anything different, 

I think we should stick to democracy. 

“Also I think they should organize a conference 

immediately to say what is best for Nigeria, 

is it one nation one ideology, or is it one 

nation and two ideologies: Democracy and 

Sharia? They should debate it among themselves 

and arrive at which of them: of course 

I'm for democracy. Then they will know the 

direction, then they can look round what is 

happening to us and then decide to say if we 

agree that democracy is a better place. 

“If yes, then why did you arrest Omoyele 

Sowore; preventing him from demonstrating 

The Voice of the Lord 

Contact Address: 

The Sword of the Spirit Ministries, 

The Garden of Victory,Old Ife Road,P.M.B 60, 

Agodi-Ibadan,Oyo State 

Telephones: 

0813 128 4001, 08186991467 

Email: ootpbsotsm@gmail.com 

& info@sotsm.org 

Website:www.sotsm.org 

facebook.com/franciswaleoke 

Twitter:@franciswaleoke 

Instagram:@franciswaleoke 

Keep on praying: He will answer 

I 

have called upon thee, for thou wilt 

hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto 

me, and hear my speech (Psalm 17:6). 

Prayer is a tremendous privilege. That 

you can talk to God over an issue, presenting 

your needs before His throne of grace, 

and you are sure of a definite answer, is an 

unquantifiable blessing. For all who exercise 

the privilege of prayer, their lives always 

tell the story, and it is always glorious. 

Do not let a day pass by without diligently 

and heartily maximizing that privilege. 

Make sure you pray without ceasing (I 

Thess 5:17). 

Many times we pray over an issue and it 

is like the answer is delaying in coming. 

You must not give up. Keep on praying. 

Our Lord Jesus instructed us to "ask, and it 

shall be given you; to seek, and ye shall 

find; to knock, and it shall be opened unto 

you " (Matthew 7:7). 

Never give up on prayer, no matter the 

situation. Only make sure that: 

1) You are keeping His commandment, 

and you are doing those things that are 

pleasing in God’s sight (1 John 3:22). 

sam.eyoboka@gmail.com 

08023145567 (sms 

International Youth Day: 

NCEF, CAN task youth on challenges 

BISHOP WALE OKE 

•Ayokunle 

From what I have seen and from 

the way they are talking, the 

Nigerian youths have decided to 

come out and they can be sure 

that they have the support of the 

elders 

even before he demonstrated. When it’s an ideology 

of progress and future, this is what I will 

tell them, let them sit down and ask themselves 

one question: do we want one nation 

one system or one nation two systems?” he 

asked. 

Continuing, Elder Asemota argued that the 

nation practiced democracy it was the golden 

age of Nigeria, “but now that we are talking 

about two systems, we are fighting. If the 

youths decide they want one nation two systems, 

fair and good, it is their choice, then 

they know where they are going to but they 

should not take democracy for granted.) 

Also speaking, CAN’s Director of Legal and 

2) What you are asking is according 

to the will of God for your 

life (James 4:3). 

3) You are very definite and 

specific in your prayers (Mark 

11:24). 

4) You take your time to meditate 

in the word of God, so that 

your spirit is well fed to pray with 

strength and vigour (Luke 1:38). 

5) You are praying in the name 

of Jesus Christ (John 14:13). 

6) You are praying in faith, 

being fully persuaded that God 

will do something about your case 

and give you a specific answer 

(James 1:6). 

7) You are full of praises and 

thanksgiving to God for all His 

goodness to you (Psalm 100:4). 

Beloved, keep on praying. 

Prayer changes things. 

And ye shall seek me, and find 

me, when ye shall search for me 

with all your heart (Jeremiah 

29:13). 

The call of God 

•PASTOR IGHODALO 

•Elder Asemota 

Public Affairs, Evangelist Kwamkur Samuel 

Vondip maintained that no nation can go far 

without the youths because youths are the future 

of every generation. 

“Besides being the future of the generation, 

they are also the assets of every generation but 

in Nigeria it appears that the youths seem to 

be the most disadvantaged; disadvantaged in 

the sense that the Nigeria that used to be is not 

what it is today. 

“The government needs to be sincere in their 

programmes. You hear a lot of programmes, 

a lot of plans, a lot of figures being brandished 

as the achievements in respect of the youths, 

yet when you call for unemployed people, you 

will see that there will be no space. 

“I think that either the government has not 

done enough or there's no sincerity of purpose 

in what is claimed to have been done for the 

youths. Let us see that the numbers have truly 

reduced. Let it be that plenty people are celebrating 

that they’ve gotten jobs. It shouldn’t be 

said that you’ve don’t this, it should be seen 

that you have done that so that even your enemies 

will know that you achieved this. 

“But people support based on what is said 

and they want to celebrate and clap. That is 

unfortunate! So we wish that the government 

*Ituah Ighodalo is 

the Senior Pastor, 

Trinity House, Trinity 

Avenue, Off Ligali 

Ayorinde Street, 

Victoria Island, 

Lagos. 

+234-808-895-6162 

info@trinityhouseng.org 

And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this 

great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the 

LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called 

unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. 

And he said, Here am I. Exodus 3: 3-4 KJV 

A lot of us find ourselves in a position or place that we are 

not meant to be. Where we are and the situation, we are in are 

not what we expected, or anticipated. Where we are and what 

is happening in our life is nowhere near what we had dreamed 

about. Our marriage, job or career choice, relationships haven’t 

turned out like we had planned it. So, we find ourselves in a 

position where we are stuck; not able to go forward or backward. 

Why are we stuck? Most of us at one point or the other made 

a life changing mistake or make some choices that changed 

the course of our life. The choices we make growing up can 

change entirely the course of our life and God’s program for 

our life. 

Know this day that God is ready to fight for you and cause a 

change in your life. The solution is not to belabor the past and 

our mistakes but to look forward and seek to reprogram our 

life to the right path in God. 

I tell you today that you are not going to take the wrong 

turn. Therefore, as parents we must be attentive to our chil- 

should be sincere, proactive, practical, focused 

and let the citizens testify that something 

has been done. If it is education, it 

should be seen. If it is employment, it should 

be seen. We pray that God will help us,” the 

CAN spokesman pointed out. 

Continuing, Kwamkur said: “Unlike the 

normal setting, the growth of the citizens of a 

country is supposed to be progressive but in 

Nigeria if you ask the elders, they will tell you 

they used to get jobs before they finished 

school, they used to buy cars immediately 

after service or after finishing school, but today 

the reverse is the case. 

“Maybe some people have not been faithful 

and fair in the nation by neglecting what 

they are supposed to do by developing the 

nation and helping the young people, the first 

thing I want to note is that young people 

should not give up. They should know that 

they are the today and the future of the nation. 

“Secondly, they should be responsible because 

to be a leader too takes a lot of responsibilities. 

Maybe because of the challenges 

today, a lot of youths don’t understand that 

they are the future and a lot is expected of 

them. So the young people need to understand 

that you cannot just remain unprepared 

and unproductive and expect that tomorrow 

will be better,” he stressed. 

Christians are born as solutions, 

says Pastor Aniya 

By Funmi Ajumobi 

ENIOR Pastor of Waterbrooks Ministry, 

SIkorodu, Lagos, Pastor Olaniyi Aniya 

penultimate Sunday revealed that Christians 

are natural solution to every human challenge 

because solution is in their souls. 

Speaking at the yearly Youth Take-over Service 

at the church, Pastor Aniya said if the 

church understands her role as the light of the 

world, Christians will begin to think solution, 

arguing that the light will search out solutions 

God had embedded in them. 

Explaining the theme of the programme, 

“Photizo, The Emergence of Sons”, Pastor 

Aniya said God has set the youths in their various 

professions to become light to the darkness 

of the world and enlighten their minds to 

understand and locate their places in life. 

“They should not be part of the problem but 

rather contribute or profer solutions to economic 

challenges for the benefit of the General 

good of the nation,” he noted. 

Brother Eyike Ephraim said the most advantageous 

position in the heart of God is 

being a son which should also be the most 

important blessing every believer should celebrate. 

In his advice to the youths, one of the guest 

speakers, Mr. Manasseh Christopher Bassey 

said youths must be diligence in whatever they 

set their heart to do and allow the word of 

God to guide every of their steps. 

Mr. Edoka Idoko enjoined the nation’s 

youth not to be complacent with any situation 

they find themselves but take advantage 

of the huge natural endowments in the country 

to establish small scale industries to eke a 

living for themselves. 

dren and the changes in their life. We need to 

pay attention to our children, we need to be 

observant to the changes in their life. 

In our text, Moses realized that his life is on 

the wrong program. The challenge in life is 

that people sometimes do not know they are 

in the wrong program. They believe and accept 

the place where they find themselves. They 

accept the wrong program for their life and 

conclude that that is the best they can do and 

can be. 

A lack of knowledge, Illiteracy in high and 

low places makes people not been able to 

stand on their own nor hold people in authority 

around them and in position of leadership 

accountable. They fail to understand that 

where they are is not where they are supposed 

to be. Hosea 4: 6. 

We must be determined and desperate for 

change in our position. We must not allow our 

life to go into mediocrity. If we accept the 

situation of our life as it is,then we are not 

ready for change. God needs our co-operation; 

He needs our participation to change 

our life and our story. 

We must be determined for change in our 

life and in our position. In Genesis 40: 12-15, 

we read of Joseph working to reprogram his 

life. As we look to God for a change in our life, 

God will put us in remembrance of the person 

who will be used to transform our life. 

The good news is that God is able and willing 

to reprogram your life to be on the right 

track, on the right path. God will enter your 

life (if you allow him and ask Him) and make 

a U-turn that will put you on the path that 

allows your life to be filled with goodness, joy 

and success. 

Like Moses we need to turn aside and see 

why things are the way they are. It is after 

Moses decided to turn aside that He called 

him out of the program that his life was in and 

into the program his life was created to be. 

Turn aside today, God is calling you to a 

greater Glory in Christ Jesus.


Olukoya’s mom goes 

home in blaze of glory 

....Pastors, politicians pay last respects 


EVERY available space in the Onike area of Yaba was 

taken up as close relations, family members, spiritual 

children/members of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles 

Ministry, MFM, from across the globe, religious leaders, 

traditional rulers, politicians struggled for parking space to 

pay their last respects to a fallen vibrant soul, who literarily lit 

up wherever she went while here, late Mama Janet Olukoya 

(nee Kuti). 

Aged 95, the late mother of Founder/General Overseer of the 

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry, Dr. Daniel Kolawole 

Olukoya and Mrs. Funmi Olowaoke, slept in the Lord on March 

31, 2019 and top church leaders from across Nigeria turned up 

at the MFM national headquarters on Thursday to grace the 

final funeral rites of the woman who has affected lives globally 

by virtue of her quiet disposition, her self-effacing nature and as 

a result of the fact that she is a mother in a million: one who 

bequeathed to the world a prodigy by the grace of God, to the 

entire globe. 

The carnival-like celebration of life/service of songs at the 

MFM headquarters in Onike-Yaba preceding her interment, a 

purely family affair, and the city-wide crusade/reception at the 

Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro were a testimony that 

indeed that Mother is Gold especially the one who was a prayer 

warrior, an evangelist and active member of the Elders Council 

Ṫhe MFM headquarters originally an abandoned dumpsite 

near the University of Lagos in Onike-Yaba which was converted 

to a befitting worship centre that played host to its inaugural 

service on April 24, 1994 was filled to capacity with whiteattired 

members of the MFM worldwide family. 

Dignitaries at the event included the Ogun State Governor, 

Prince Dapo Abiodun, Chief Tayo Ayinde represented the Lagos 

State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu who left the Prayer 

City last Sunday to join President Muhammadu Buhari on an 

official trip to Japan, Oyo and Ondo state governors including 

the Senator representing Lagos Central District at the National 

Assembly, Senator Remi Tinubu, the wife of APC stalwart, 

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, were represented. There was a handful of 

traditional chiefs from across the Lagos and Ondo states who 

had come to pay their last respects to the fallen woman of 

substance and torchbearer. 

From the Christian Community was a large number of representation 

including the national administrative secretary, Rev. 

Damilare Akinola who represented the national president of 

the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Rev. Felix 

Omobude and Rev. Michael Adebayo Adeoye of the Christ 

Apostolic Church, CAC, who eventually preached the only sermon 

of thr day, among several others. Former president of the 

Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria, Evangelist (Dr.) Bola 

Are, a Nigerian gospel singer was on hand to motivate the 

large crowd of worshippers to dance heartily to gospel tunes. 

*Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State exchanging pleasantries 

with the wife of his Lagos State counterpart, Dr. Ibijoke 

Sanwo-Olu, at the celebration of life ceremony for the mother 

of MFM General Overseer, Mama Janet Olukoya held at 

Onike, Yaba headquarters of the church. 

Faith in the Redemptive names of God (11) 

Jehovah Rapha (The Lord 

our Healer) Continued 

Text: Exodus 15:26 

Introduction 

s mentioned at the last 

Aepisode, the Israelites 

got to this point through murmuring 

and complaining to 

Moses about the bitter waters 

of Marah. As was readily onfirmed, 

God allowed this to 

test them of their ability to 

trust in Him. All challenges 

of life that we face are known 

by God, and He had already 

made provisions for us to overcome 

such challenges, if only 

we can trust Him. It is at this 

point that the Lord seems to 

have changed the subject for 

the Israelites. He began to talk 

to the Israelites about the diseases 

and plagues that He 

brought upon the Egyptians 

because of their affliction of 

the Hebrews. God is very clear 

with the Hebrew people concerning 

the actions that they 

must take to prevent the same 

kind of diseases and plagues 

from visiting them. If they will 

be obedient to Him, He will 

heal them of disease and be 

their Jehovah Rapha. Hence 

obedience to His word is the 

litmus test of our healing, and 

if we do not want the diseases 

of Egypt to come to us. We can 

call this Divine Healing. 

Prerequisites of Divine healing 

The bitter water at Marah 

was symbolic of what was taking 

place in the hearts of the 

HE race that is set before 

Tall Christians is the heavenly 

race, which, as written in 

Hebrew 12:1, must run this 

race with patience, along the 

narrow path that will lead 

them to heaven, to receive the 

crown of eternal life. 

But unfortunately, in these 

latter times, majority of Christians 

have departed from the 

narrow pathway into the 

broad pathway, which permits 

all lasciviousness, sexual promiscuities 

and every outward 

adorning of gold, or pearls, or 

costly array, or broided hair 

with artificial attachments, 

even the wearing of trousers, 

and the uncovering of the 

head by females, while praying, 

which contradict the word 

of truth. (I Timothy 2:9; Deuteronomy 

22:5; I Corinthians 

11:13). 

In Matthew 4:8, the devil, 

in his craftiness, enticed Jesus 

with the kingdoms of the world 

and the glory of them, so as to 

turn Him away from the heavenly 

race into the earthly race 

but Jesus overcame Satan 

with the word of truth, which 

is the sword of the Spirit. 

• J.K. Akinola. (Senior Pastor) 

Hebrews. They had suffered 

terribly in Egypt and had been 

more than happy to leave the 

bondage that Pharaoh had inflicted 

upon them. However, 

when freedom was not as easy 

or pretty as they had hoped; 

when they had to rely on God 

completely for everything and 

circumstances were not what 

they desired, their hearts began 

to be filled with the diseases 

of bitterness and resentfulness. 

Really, the root of all 

sicknesses is from the heart. 

(Prov 4:23). Even the Bible says 

that the spirit of a man will 

sustain his infirmity. (Prov 

18:14). This is why our hearts 

must be kept with all diligence 

(Prov 4:23), by the Word of 

God, for out of it are the issues 

of life. God knew their need 

for healing from bitterness 

and He longed to bring that 

healing to them, through their 

diligent obedience to His 

Word. This is still the realm of 

faith with which God is dealing 

with us! Hallelujah! 

He is Jehovah Rapha-the 

Lord who heals you — and He 

longs to heal us of resentfulness, 

bitterness, and pride if we 

will but trust Him and walk 

before Him in obedience. Let’s 

allow Him to examine our 

hearts and heal us of the diseases 

that sin inflicts upon us. 

Healing is what I Am 

In Exodus 15, God gives 

Himself a new name: Jehovah 

Rapha. Jehovah wasn’t a 

new name. Jehovah means 

“the Existing One” or “Lord” 

and suggests “to become 

known.” Rapha was the new 

part. Rapha means “to heal.” 

God let the Israelites know 

that he is the God who heals. 

What he actually said is stronger 

than that. It’s not so much, 

“I am the God who heals” as 

it is, “Healing is what I” 

God heals and, at that moment, 

was a good thing because 

the Israelites needed 

healing. I believe the bitter 

taste in the water symbolized 

what was polluting the Israelites 

hearts. They were harboring 

bitterness that needed 

healing. Fortunately, God, 

who is healing, longed to heal 

them. 

It was good news back then, 

and it’s good news today. We’re 

more like the Israelites than 

we’d like to admit. We all have 

bitterness over things that have 

happened to us, and we all 

need healing. 

We need to know this God 

named Jehovah Rapha who 

can heal anything for which 

we need healing. 

Maybe you’re struggling 

with physical pain. God can 

heal that. 


with emotional pain. God can 

heal that. 


with relational pain. God can 

heal that. 


with mental pain. God can 

heal that. 

Conclusion 

The name Jehovah-Rapha 

is a Name that speaks to us 

and our need today. We live in 

a stressful world and society. 

Every day new problems confront 

us and we bend under 

the load of seemingly unsolvable 

problems. How then can 

Jehovah-Rapha bring healing 

to a sick world? Jesus Christ 

our Jehovah-Rapha and 

Great Physician said, Come 

unto Me all ye who labour and 

are heavy laden, and I will 

give you rest. (Matt 11:28). 

Give Him your heart today, 

and He will heal you inside 

out. 

God bless you. 

^The Gospel Faith Mission International, 

Living Word Cathedral, Oluyole Estate, beside 

Total Petrol Station, off Ring Road, Ibadan. 

(Telephone : 08033376660, 08055405095) 

The Heavenly race or the earthly race: It’s the believers’ choice (1) 

But Demas, a co-labourer 

with Apostle Paul, could not 

overcome Satan because of 

the love of this present world, 

that had been planted in him 

by Satan the prince of this 

world. (II Timothy 4:10a). 

Demas, out of his own free will, 

chose to run this earthly race 

by getting himself unequally 

yoked with the people of the 

world. 

And so, in these last days, 

many Christians, and many 

“men of God” who, once zealously 

worked for the Lord, 

have turned aside from this 

heavenly race, into the earthly 

race, because of the love of 

money and the love of the glories 

of this present world, 

which are manifestations of 

pride of life, making them go 

into friendship with the world, 

thereby becoming the enemies 

of God, as written in 

James 4:4, and even, some of 

them, their bellies have become 

their God, thereby becoming 

the enemies of the 

cross of Christ, who now mind 

earthly things, as written in 

Philippians 3:18-19. 

In Matthew 6:20-21, Jesus 

advises all Christians: “But 

lay up for yourselves treasures 

in Heaven, where neither 

moth nor rust doth corrupt, 

and thieves do not break 

through nor steal. For where 

your treasure is, there will your 

heart be also.” 

And the Spirit of God likewise, 

warns all heaven-bound 

Christians, in Colossians 3:5, 

to beware of covetousness, 

which is idolatry. 

But the root of all the evil, 

that is prevalent in some 

churches today, is the love of 

money, which many believers 

in Christ and men of God, covet 

after, thereby erring from the 

faith (this truth) piercing themselves 

through with so many 

sorrows. (I Timothy 6:10; 6:7.) 

Those who are now running 

this earthly race, are always 

hasty to be rich, and then end 

in poverty. (Proverbs 28:22.) 

The mysteries of the kingdom 

of heaven are the true 

spiritual riches, that all heaven-bound 

Christians should 

covet after and lay up for themselves 

treasures in heaven, as 

advised by Jesus Christ, so that 

their hearts will be set on things 

above, where their treasure is. 

God said to the rich man in 

Luke 12:20: “Thou fool, this 

night thy soul shall be required 

of thee. Then whose 

shall those things be which 

thou hast provided?” Believers 

in Christ who are running 

the earthly race by laying up 

earthly treasures for themselves, 

and are not spiritually 

rich towards God, are fools for 

they will some-day leave all 

these earthly treasures behind, 

to be squandered by their children, 

while they will be in torments 

of hell like the rich man. 

CHRISTIAN GOSPEL CHURCH 

(The Truth Centre) 4, Christian Gospel Avenue, 

Beside Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu, Benin City, Edo State. 

Email: cgc.com.ng@gmail.com 

Telephone: +234 (0) 7052061135, +234 (0) 9030731406. 

Website: www.cgc.com.ng 

Some traditional chiefs at the occasion. 

*Some musical acts in honour of Mama Janet Olukoya. 

*Mrs. Funmi 

Oluwoade, the 

only daughter 

of Mama Janet 

Olukoya, her 

husband and 

family. 

Rejoice: There is hope for you 

TEXT. JOHN 11:1DOWN. 

NOTE: 

ope is an optimistic 

Hstate of mind that is 

based on an expectation of 

positive outcome. 

Why is hope Important? 

There are so many obstacles, 

having gaol is not enough, 

you have to keep getting close 

to the goals amidst all inevitable 

twist and turns of life. 

Hope allows people to approach 

problem with a mindset 

and strategy suitable to 

Succeed. 

Death is the great enemy, 

though many of us live in denial 

of it. Our culture tries to 

hide death. We don’t see bodies 

in the streets, as in some 

parts of the world. Corpses go 

straight to the morgue or the 

funeral home — out of sight 

and out of mind. Many of us 

have never seen a dead body. 

Pastor Olugbenro Tunde Moradeyo 

The Gospel Faith Mission Int'l, 

Gofamint. Kings Assembly 

Ikorodu,Behind Brt Terminus, 

Ikorodu Lagos. Tel: 09095511493. 

Fewer have witnessed a person 

actually die. We would 

rather not think about death, 

we don’t like to talk about it, 

and we’d prefer to pretend it 

won’t happen to us. 

But it will happen to us. In 

fact, in one hundred years 

from now, everyone reading 

this will be dead. Does that 

sound harsh? That’s because 

it is harsh! But it is also true. 

Only as we confront the reality 

of death will we appreciate 

the hope of resurrection. 

There is nothing like death to 

make us desire resurrection. 

John 11 begins with a sick 

Lazarus. His sisters Mary and 

Martha sent word to Jesus to 

come to Bethany (John 11:1– 

3). But Jesus does not go right 

away. He delays. In fact, he 

waits two days — until Lazarus 

is dead (John 11:4–7, 11, 

14) — because he knows exactly 

what he is about to do. 

Grieving with Hope 

As soon as Martha heard 

that Jesus was approaching 

the village, she went to meet 

him, while Mary remained 

seated at the house (John 

11:20). This is a little strange, 

isn’t it? Why does Martha go 

out to meet Jesus while Mary 

stays put? Is it simply that 

Martha is the more active of 

the two? Is it because she is the 

one who gets things done, 

while Mary likes to sit (Luke 

10:38–42)? Maybe. Or maybe 

there is something else going 

on. 

Martha’s words to Jesus 

must have been hard to hear: 

“Lord, if you had been here, 

my brother would not have 

died” (John 11:21). Given his 

great power and the signs he 

has performed already, Martha 

believed that Jesus could 

have prevented Lazarus’s 

death. But what she says next 

is extraordinary: “But even 

now I know that whatever you 

ask from God, God will give 

you” (John 11:22). Martha 

does not know the end of this 

story, as we do. She has no idea 

what Jesus is about to do and 

she does not expect him to 

raise Lazarus from the dead. 

And yet she expresses hope 

even after death has occurred. 

It is as though she is saying, “I 

don’t know what you can do 

now, Jesus, but I have hope that 

you can do something.” 

Jesus immediately comforts 

Martha by saying, “Your 

brother will rise again” (John 

11:23). He tells her exactly 

what he plans to do, but Martha 

misunderstands: “I know 

that he will rise again in the 

resurrection on the last day” 

(John 11:24). While she misses 

Jesus’ direct meaning, her 

response is a good one. She 

expresses hope through theology. 

Martha holds to the Jewish 

belief in the resurrection 

of the dead that will occur on 

the last day (Daniel 12:1–2; 

John 5:28–29). 

The Resurrection and the 

Life 

Jesus takes Martha’s belief 

in resurrection at the last day 

and redirects it toward himself. 

“I am the resurrection and 

the life. Whoever believes in 

me, though he die, yet shall he 

live, and everyone who lives 

and believes in me shall never 

die” (John 11:25–26a). 

I don’t think Martha understood 

at that moment what 

Jesus said. How could Jesus 

be the resurrection? What does 

that mean?


, 

On one occasion, Jesus used 

just five loaves of bread to 

feed 5,000 people. Then on 

another occasion, he used just seven 

loaves to feed 4,000. Nevertheless, 

the Jewish leaders still did not believe 

in him. The Pharisees still 

asked him to do for them “a sign 

from heaven” in order to prove he is 

who he says he is. 

However, Jesus refused to oblige. 

He said to them: “Why does this generation 

seek a sign? Assuredly, I say 

to you, no sign shall be given to this 

generation.” (Mark 8:12). But why 

not? No sign would be given to them 

because, if in spite of all he had already 

done they still did not believe 

in him, more signs would not make 

any difference. They still would not 

believe. 

They would not believe because 

to believe would entail costs they 

were not prepared to pay. At its most 

fundamental, it would require them 

to repent of sin and pursue righteousness. 

But since their hearts were 

hardened against righteousness, 

they were not inclined to believe and 

repent. 

The cliché is true that God helps 

those who help themselves. Paul 

says: “Work out your own salvation 

with fear and trembling; for it is God 

who works in you both to will and to 

do for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 

2:12-13). We are expected to 

work out what God has worked in. 

However, those not inclined to do 

God’s will, receive no help whatsoever 

from God in doing his will. As 

a matter of fact, God “helps” them 

to be even more disobedient. 

Kingdom dynamics 

Therefore, when Jesus’ disciples 

asked him why he spoke only in parables 

to the people instead of speaking 

plainly to them, Jesus told them 

he spoke in parables because he did 

not want them to understand what 

he was saying. 

If God speaks to you in your native 

tongue and you refuse to understand 

him, he will then speak to you 

in a foreign language he knows you 

don’t understand. If he sends a compatriot 

to preach to you at home and 

you refuse to understand, then he will 

send you into exile and send a foreigner 

to preach to you. So doing, 

he will ensure that you understand 

even less. 

Jesus explains this dynamic in the 

following manner: “Whoever has, 

to him more will be given, and he 

will have abundance; but whoever 

does not have, even what he has will 

be taken away from him.” 

“Therefore, I speak to them in parables, 

because seeing they do not see, 

and hearing they do not hear, nor 

do they understand. And in them the 

prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which 

says: ‘Hearing you will hear and 

shall not understand, and seeing you 

will see and not perceive; for the 

hearts of this people have grown 

dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, 

and their eyes they have closed, lest 

they should see with their eyes and 

hear with their ears, lest they should 

understand with their hearts and 

turn, so that I should heal them.’” 

(Matthew 13:12-15). 

This was the predicament of the 

Pharaoh. Since he was determined 

not to let the Israelites leave Egypt, 

God made sure he would not let 

them go. God did no less than nine 

devastating signs in Egypt designed 

to impress on Pharaoh that he had 

Sacrifice attracts blessing (1) 

ENESIS 22:2-18 says: 

G“And he said, Take now 

thy son, thine only son Isaac, 

whom thou lovest, and get thee 

into the land of Moriah; and 

offer him there for a burnt offering 

upon one of the mountains 

which I will tell thee of. 

3 And Abraham rose up early 

in the morning, and saddled 

his ass, and took two of his 

young men with him, and 

Isaac his son, and clave the 

wood for the burnt offering, 

and rose up, and went unto the 

place of which God had told 

him. 4 Then on the third day 

Abraham lifted up his eyes, 

and saw the place afar off. 5 

And Abraham said unto his 

young men, Abide ye here with 

the ass; and I and the lad will 

go yonder and worship, and 

come again to you. 6 And Abraham 

took the wood of the 

burnt offering, and laid it upon 

Isaac his son; and he took the 

fire in his hand, and a knife; 

and they went both of them 

together. 7 And Isaac spake 

unto Abraham his father, and 

said, My father. And he said, 

Here am I, my son. And he said, 

Behold the fire and the wood: 

but where is the lamb for a 

burnt offering? 8 And Abraham 

said, My son, God will 

provide himself a lamb for a 

burnt offering: so they went 

both of them together”. 

Beloved, good and honest 

The hardened heart 

sacrifice is the best and surest 

way of attracting God’s blessings 

for God honours them 

that honour Him and lightly 

esteems they that despise 

Him. Many people have been 

blessed or exalted in this life 

in one area or the other because 

of the sacrificial services 

they rendered to God. The 

quick responses they got from 

the Lord have gone to show 

that sacrificial service is a 

sure way of obtaining God’s 

blessing. Every promise of 

God carries its own condition 

along with it. The beneficiaries 

shall have the blessing, 

provided they faithfully do the 

service. This is a standard 

from which God has never 

departed and every promise 

is made in reference to it. As 

you deal with God, you must 

expect to be dealt with by 

God. So if you wish to be assured 

of a blessing, you must 

follow the examples of those 

whom the Lord has blessed 

in time past. 

Abraham paid the price for 

his honour when he obeyed 

the instruction of God to leave 

his kindred and country to an 

unknown place. He also 

obeyed God when he was instructed 

to sacrifice his only 

son. He actually was prepared 

to offer his only son 

Isaac as sacrifice to the Almighty 

God until the ram 

If God speaks to you 

in your native tongue 

and you refuse to 

understand him, he 

will then speak to you 

in a foreign language 

no choice but to let the Israelites 

leave. 

But with every sign that God did, 

he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, ensuring 

that he would not let the people 

go. This continued until the purpose 

that God had purposed was 

fulfilled: the Egyptian army perished 

with their horses and chariots 

in the Red Sea. 

Hardened heart 

I had an assistant for many years 

called Ernest. He did not believe in 

God and maintained it was foolish 

to say God answers prayers. Therefore, 

one day, I decided to do an experiment 

with him. I said to him: “I 

want you to desire something in your 

heart; without telling me what it is. 

Then I will pray that God will provide 

the thing. When he does, you 

will know that God is real and not 

which the Lord prepared for 

Himself in the place of the 

child manifested. 

God has so designed it that 

before anyone will be exalted 

or honoured in this life and 

hereafter, he or she must offer 

some sacrifices as was the case 

in the Bible days. 

Genesis 12:1-3 says: “Now 

the Lord had said unto Abram, 

Get thee out of thy country, and 

from thy kindred, and from thy 

father’s house, unto a land that 

I will shew thee: 2 and I will 

make of thee a great nation, 

and I will bless thee, and make 

thy name great; and thou shalt 

be a blessing: 3 and I will bless 

them that bless thee, and curse 

him that curseth thee: and in 

thee shall all families of the 

earth be blessed” 

The scriptures are not written 

in vain, everything we read 

therein is supposed to be applied 

in our daily lives; and as 

we do them the blessing which 

the people who ran the race in 

the before us and received rewards 

will be extended to us. 

As we follow the steps of our 

fathers of faith and go on to 

do what they did, we cannot 

be denied God’s blessing and 

honour. 

Abraham was exceedingly 

blessed by the Almighty God 

because he paid the price. And 

so, if today, you desire to be 

honoured, you must pay the 

price in one way or the other, 

by determining to deny yourself 

the pleasure of the world. 

By Pastor 

Oloruntimilehin 

Joshua Daramola 

WHY do people al 

low their problems 

to overwhelm 

them? What they need to 

do is to keep on trying to 

overcome the problems. 

Brethren, I want to know 

that if someone allows 

problems to overwhelm 

him or her, the person 

can never be delivered 

of the problems. How do 

you identify people who 

allow their problems to 

weigh them down? They 

are the people that magnify 

the problem confronting 

them. They carry 

their problems on 

their heads as load. On 

their faces, one can see 

they are immensely troubled; 

and they actually 

want to tell whoever 

cares to know that they 

have problems like joblessness, 

hunger or any 

financial problem. 

When they do not have 

problems and everything 

is working for 

them accordingly, they 

do not put them on their 

heads. But when they are 

in problem it is easily 

noticed. 

Anyone that magnifies 

his or her problems, and 

fails to confront the matter 

with faith might take 

more time than may be 

required to get delivered 

from the problem. More 

times, the person would 

have to live with the 

problem till old age. 

There are three unfortunate 

consequences that 

befall someone who allows 

problems to take 

over control. Firstly, the 

just a figment of our imagination.” 

So, I prayed for Ernest. Immediately 

I finished praying, a lady called 

Mrs. Giwa came in. She was glad 

to see that Ernest was with me because 

she had something for him. 

She reached into her bag and gave 

him a wristwatch. Ernest was flabbergasted. 

He admitted that he had 

asked God for a wrist-watch when I 

offered to pray for him. 

But did Ernest believe in the existence 

of God as a result of this? No! 

After he got the wristwatch, his heart 

was hardened and he still insisted 

that God does not exist. Mrs. Giwa 

giving him a wrist-watch must have 

been a coincidence, he argued. 

That is the problem with miracles. 

Miracles have a limited shelf-life. 

They wow us initially but, soon thereafter, 

we rationalise them out of existence. 

Those who are of the truth 

and are truthful believe the truth. 

Those who are of the lie and are given 

to falsehood believe lies. They 

consider the truth to be one big lie. 

Word of God 

In effect, faith in God does not 

come by miracles. Often, we try to 

bribe God by promising: “Father, if 

only you would do it for me, I will 

know conclusively that you are God.” 

No, you won’t. After he does it, you 

would need another miracle; and 

then another one. 

Let no problem overwhelm you 

•Daramola 

person’s prayer will not be 

answered, his or her mind 

is not properly focused. 

Secondly, the person’s soul 

becomes weak and sick 

and thirdly, the person’s 

mind is disturbed. People 

who have good health are 

those that think positively 

and they always have at 

the back of their minds 

that tomorrow will be better. 

Some people’s minds 

are always in confused 

state in the presence of 

God. They forget that God 

does not have much to do 

for a person having confused 

state of mind. Imagine 

the woman with the issue 

of blood in the Scripture 

she was subjected to 

bleeding for twelve years. 

She became confused 

since the first day of her 

marriage because she 

could not sleep. 

Eventually she made the 

problem a major concern 

to her that she had no time 

for her husband and God. 

She started consulting 

herbalists spending her 

fortune and she had on fetish 

things to got solution 

but to no avail until she 

had about Jesus’ coming. 

Some time people tend to 

forget God and that HE is 

This is what happened to the Israeli 

church in the wilderness: “Yes, 

they spoke against God: They said, 

‘Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? 

Behold, he struck the rock, 

so that the waters gushed out, and 

the streams overflowed. Can he give 

bread also? Can he provide meat for 

his people?’ Therefore, the Lord 

heard this and was furious; so a fire 

was kindled against Jacob, and anger 

also came up against Israel, because 

they did not believe in God, 

and did not trust in his salvation.” 

(Psalm 78:19-22). 

Paul says: “Tongues are for a sign, 

not to those who believe but to unbelievers; 

but prophesying is not for 

unbelievers but for those who believe.” 

(1 Corinthians 14:22). Jesus 

said as much to Thomas: “Blessed 

are those who have not seen and yet 

have believed.” (John 20:29). He berated 

the Jews: “Unless you people 

see signs and wonders, you will by 

no means believe.” (John 4:48). 

True believers don’t need signs and 

wonders, they only need the word of 

God. Jesus performed so many signs 

during his three-year ministry, but 

to no avail. John says: “But although 

he had done so many signs before 

them, they did not believe in him, 

that the word of Isaiah the prophet 

might be fulfilled, which he spoke: 

‘Lord, who has believed our report? 

And to whom has the arm of the Lord 

been revealed?” (John 12:37-38). 

However, in just two days, the Samaritans 

believed in Jesus without 

his having to do any miracles: “Then 

they said to the woman, ‘Now we 

believe, not because of what you said, 

for we ourselves have heard him and 

we know that this is indeed the Christ, 

the Saviour of the world.” (John 

4:42). 

CONTINUED 

an unquestionable God 

who can do everything. 

God said in the Bible that 

is anything difficult for 

him Jeremiah 32 : 27. This 

woman, on this fateful day, 

she made up her mind that 

she will be healed when 

she touches the edge of 

Jesus’ cloak. The Bible 

says in Matthew 9:20 – 21 

“ Just then a woman who 

had been subject to bleeding 

for twelve years came 

up behind him and touched 

the edge of his cloak, She 

said to herself, if I only 

touch his cloak, I will be 

healed, Jesus turned and 

saw her, Take heart my 

daughter, he said, your 

faith has healed you. And 

the woman was healed 

from that moment.” In the 

same vein, Jabez was a person 

born with afflictions 

and pains. He never relented 

in his efforts to overcome 

his affliction and 

challenges. On this fateful 

day he cried on to God in 

his prayers to bless him 

and his coast and God answered 

his prayers. 

Immediately his misfortune 

situation was changed 

to fortune ( 1 Chronicle 4 : 

9-10) Similarly, Joseph 

faced a lot of challenges, 

he was able to overcome 

them as they were coming 

his way. Eventually he rose 

to the highest position in 

the land of Egpty. Brethren, 

I implore you not to 

lose hope when you are 

troubled. Continue to try 

and find solutions to your 

problems with your prayer 

and faith in the Lord, all 

the problems will varnish 

in the name of Jesus. Amen.

PAGE 40– SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 

Under OBJ, Yar’Adua, I was 

the middleman for peace 

in N-Delta – Igali 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

MBASSADOR Godknows Igali, 

Aone of the governorship aspirants of 

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Bayelsa State, in this interview, says he 

will transform the state into an industrial 

and agribusiness hub if elected governor. 

Excerpts: 

What is your economic blueprint 

for Bayelsa if elected governor? 

My economic plan is tied to my social 

development plan, it is tied to my physical 

infrastructure development plan, it is tied 

to my plan for security and it will all be 

benchmarked by the Sustainable 

Development Goals, SDGs, template set 

by the United Nations General Assembly 

in 2015 for the year 2030. What I want to 

do is to surpass Nigerian’s expectations of 

SDGs and go to what are the global 

benchmarks so that by the time we finish 

our first four years, we are already ahead 

of every other state in the country in terms 

of the attainment of SDGs. Fortunately, 

the SDGs cover every area of human 

existence: physical development, security, 

environment, infrastructure, education, 

health and others so the SDGs is our 

benchmark. 

How are you going to attract 

international community to put their 

money in Bayelsa? 

As an ambassador, I have started 

reaching out to other foreign 

ambassadors in this country and also 

some ambassadors who are outside the 

country to change their perception of 

Bayelsa as too rich, having sufficient 

income or revenue. Something comes in 

but they also need to know that we are a 

development zone where there are a lot of 

challenges, so I have created that synergy. 

We have received good responses; about 

four countries have given me solid 

assurance of diverting some of their 

development support and encouraging 

their investors to come into Bayelsa if I 

am elected governor. This morning, an 

ambassador in a very important country 

in Asia said he is sending things for 

support of female maternal health worth 

between $50,000 and $100,000 to us in 

Bayelsa and he also said he has the 

capacity to facilitate a grant of $1 million 

to us to do whatever we want to do and I 

said I want that $1 million to go into 

urban renewal in Yenagoa, opening up 

the town and cleaning up 

the town. He has also 

directed one of the 

biggest companies in his 

country in Nigeria to 

relocate its headquarters 

to Bayelsa and two other 

heavy investments are 

coming from that 

country. 

How will this translate 

into job creation? 

Like the man who said 

he would give me $1 

million, that money will 

not be thrown into the 

sea, it will be used to 

create drainages in 

Yenagoa, we are doing 

foot path. Yenagoa is an 

old town that we have 

adapted into a state 

capital, so you have to 

build pathways where 

people can walk 

comfortably into their 

houses in a marshy 

environment. We have to 

sand-fill some areas and 

all that will involve 

human capital, which is 

labour. This will create 

jobs for people and this 

particular country has 

done a $10 million dollar 

project in 

Abuja: building a school that they will 

soon hand over to the Federal 

Government and it is how you use the $1 

million that will determine what next they 

will do and the discussions are going on 

well. 

Are you saying you are already in 

touch with big countries and big 

companies? 

I believe that when you come in, you 

Don’t forget that 

under President 

Olusegun 

Obasanjo, I was 

the middleman for 

peace in the Niger 

Delta. The same 

thing during Yar’ 

Adua’s time 

announce the people that will 

work with you. Day two, you are 

already going to site and I 

think one of the governors that 

have gone that way is Governor 

Ben Ayade of Cross River and 

people are seeing the impact, a 

state that does not have much money, 

industries are coming up. So, you don’t 

have to wait to see how much money will 

come from Abuja. I have my network, I 

know people and they are excited that I 

am throwing my hat into the ring. They 

are excited that they have a place where 

they can come and work and Nigeria is so 

important to the global community but 

because of insecurity and bad perception; 

because they don’t know the people they 

want to work with, they have been staying 

away from Nigeria. A lot of foreign 

investors and governments are interested 

in our country, but with people like me 

that they know they are now happy to 

come to work with us. 

What do you think these 

partnerships will translate at the 

end of your four-year-tenure in 

office? 

Government is expected to make life 

better for the people. If I tackle the issue 

of the poor environment in Yenagoa, if I 

tackle access to housing, even many 

houses in Yenagoa do not have good 

toilets; people are still using pit toilets; if 

I tackle those things and open up the 

whole place, people’s lives will be better. 

So, I think that the ultimate at the end of 

four years if investments come, people 

will get the work to do and capital 

formation will take place. 

How are you going to unlock the 

potentials of the various sectors of the 

Bayelsa economy? 

The most important thing in any 

process of governance is to make life 

better for the people, provide solution to 

human existential problems. What we will 

do is to look at the major areas of the 

economy, where the outgoing governor 

has reached; we will now look at certain 

areas that are critical where the state has 

comparative advantage and work on 

them. One and most importantly is 

agriculture. We sometimes look at the 

narrative of Niger Delta from only the 

point of view of oil and gas endowment, 

no. The Niger Delta provides the best 

agriculture lands in this country because 

the Niger Delta 

technically is on a flood 

plain and flood plains 

are areas where 

typically civilization has 

always started all over 

the world. Niger Delta, 

particularly Bayelsa, 

which is the most 

riverine and coastal 

state, has land that is 

prepared by God 

already for agriculture. 

So… 

What we need to do is 

for government to first 

acquire as much land as 

possible, not acquired in 

terms of owning it but in 

terms of leasing it on 

long term because small 

land owners don’t want 

to give up their lands 

permanently. After 

government long lease 

of the land, we will now 

further make this land 

available to young 

people who want to go 

into agriculture. 

Secondly, we are already 

in discussion with 

original equipment 

manufacturers around 

the world; I have been to Spain, Denmark 

where we have spoken to people that have 

tractors and farm equipment and they are 

ready to partner us. Some to give us the 

arrangement where equipment will be 

made available and they get payment in 

products. So, we are in discussions for the 

funding of agriculture, we are not going 

to rely only on what comes from 

federation account, we are already 

(emmaamaize@yahoo.co.uk) 

•Ambassador 

Igali 

talking with partners, it will be PPP, it will 

be innovative, rigorous in different 

formulas. There are some crops that we 

have comparative advantage. Sugar cane 

grow naturally in the Niger Delta. We 

have been talking about Peremabri for 

almost 50 years now the actuality will be 

seen. We will go beyond that and make 

Peremabri an industrial hub for rice. Go 

to Sampo, which is at the border with 

Delta State and into all the Ijaw 

communities in those areas; Kolo axis 

right up to Otuoke is a big rice axis which 

has already been identified by the Niger 

Delta River Basin Authority. We will give 

the people real education and our young 

people will be very active. 

How are you going to harness the 

marine resources optimally? 

I have been talking about blue economy 

for the past four years; the marine 

ecology and marine resources, resources 

in terms of the fact that we cannot be 

fishing off the shores, we have to go deep 

into the ocean. The Ministry of 

Agriculture has a department that gives 

out fish quota when the Ijaw man’s life is 

in the water, we are going to get these 

things in order and we are going to get 

our boys into deep sea fishing. When I 

was the ambassador in Scandinavia, 

Governor Timipre Silva came to me and 

we went to some fishing communities in 

Denmark and we signed agreement with 

them for them to give us vessels and we 

sent some of our boys for training, we are 

going to improve on that. Another area of 

marine resources is the aspect of sea 

transportation. The Cabotage Act in 

Nigeria says that vessels that come to 

Nigeria must have a particular 

percentage that must be manned by 

Nigerians. Local Content Act says that 

even in the oil sector and related sector, 

local content must be there. When I was 

the secretary to the government under my 

initiative, the state government sent of our 

young people to Norway to be trained in 

seamanship. When I was the ambassador 

in Sweden, where you have the world 

maritime academy, they brought 

hundreds of our boys and girls to be 

trained. So these are things we have done 

before, we are going to train them and 

make sure we put them on vessels. The 

third area still on marine is the 

exploitation of the sea. We are a coastal 

state, 1,800 km of Nigeria coast line is in 

Bayelsa and with that kind of large coast 

line; we are already talking with partners. 

The laws allows for Nigerians to apply 

for permit to exploit solid minerals, so we 

are going to apply. Finally, the aspect of 

oil and gas; Oloibiri is in Bayelsa where 

oil exportation started in 1958, there is no 

presence, no inclusiveness as far as the oil 

industry is concerned. We must take part 

in oil and gas; we will focus on the 

midstream gas in particular, there are so 

many small things that we can do with 

gas. 

Does Bayelsa have any tourism 

potential? 

We have some of the best beaches in 

Nigeria in Bayelsa; we will develop the 

tourism potentials so that Nigerians can 

sail there. While we are starting new 

businesses, we are also going to help 

existing businesses. I did it when I was 

Secretary to Government of Bayelsa 

State. I said to the governor: we have 

hotels that are two stars and one star, let 

us give them cash so that they would be 

able to upgrade to three stars and four 

stars so that we don’t have people coming 

to Bayelsa State for programmes and 

activities and going to sleep in Port 

Harcourt or Warri and we did. The same 

thing with entertainment industry 

because in entertainment, the big 

challenge is equipment, so we gave cash 

to various artists who are in creative art 

and they did very well and they are still 

doing very well in the country. 

Read more on 

www.vanguardngr.com 

‘Sorry, mosque 

demolition in Rivers 

is fake news’ 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

BEFORE Rivers State governor, 

Nyesom Wike, embarked on a fact-finding 

visit to Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, where 

officials of the state government demolished 

a foundation for alleged non-compliance with 

urban development laws, the impression was 

that a mosque had been demolished. 

The rumour had spread like wildfire, especially 

on the social media, with many accusing 

Wike of ordering the alleged demolition. 

Even the Muslim community in Rivers was 

among those who accused the state government. 

However, checks at the demolition site and 

inquiries from residents revealed that no 

mosque was demolished but a foundation. 

It was learned at the site that a similar exercise 

had been carried out during the administration 

of former ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi. 

Chairman of the Muslim community, Alhaji 

Abdullahi Tabaco, told Sunday Vanguard 

that what was demolished was a building 

under construction. 

He said the exercise was carried out on August 

20, 2019. 

“We bought four plots of land from one Chief 

Amadi in 2008 and approval was given for 

the construction in 2009. In 2010, we started 

putting up pillars and fencing of the land,'' he 

added. 

Continuing, he said: “While the foundation 

of the mosque was laid in 2010, the first demolition 

was carried out by former Governor 

Amaechi on February 5, 2010, and this resulted 

in litigation between Chief Amadi and 

Rivers State Government.” 

The Muslim leader claimed that, on November 

2, 2017, a judgement was delivered 

in favour of Amadi, adding that the state government 

did not file an appeal. 

He noted that the failure to appeal the ruling 

necessitated the resumed construction of 

the building in 2018. 

However, when the governor visited the site 

at Biambo Street, off School Road by Mami 

Market Junction, he explained that approval 

was not given for the construction of any structure 

at the place. 

He said: “I received calls from several prominent 

Nigerians on the fake news being circulated 

online. You can see there was no mosque 

here. It is most unfortunate that fickle-minded 

persons claimed that a mosque was demolished 

when no mosque existed here. 

“The story was concocted by mischief makers 

to score cheap points. They came to erect 

an illegal structure. There was no approval 

from the state for any structure to be erected 

here. Persons who started the foundation had 

already dragged the state to court over the 

disputed land. 

"The government gave them notice not to 

do anything on the land. But they went ahead 

with the illegal foundation and the relevant 

agency stopped them. Why would we want to 

bring down any mosque, when there are other 

mosques across the state? What is the special 

interest in this one?'' 

While dismissing claims by the property 

owners that there was a court judgment in 

favour of Amadi, Wike said the state government 

won the case. 

“Rivers State government won the case. 

What they attempted to do was to start the 

illegal construction to tie the hands of the 

state government," he added. 

Coffeerum: 

Calabar 

celebrates spirit of 

togetherness 

By Emma Una 

HE Calabar culture of pouring libation 

Tand celebrating the spirit of togetherness 

got a boost with the introduction of a 90cl 

rum which has coffee flavour. 

The launch of the brand by Grand Oak 

attracted stakeholders including traditional 

rulers, businessmen, politicians, traders and 

students. 

Speaking at the event, Mr Fode Otibe Ovre, 

manager of the brand, who said the product 

was introduced into Africa in 2015 and was 

well received by the public, however, said 

people started marketing the product which 

made the company to introduce café flavour 

and other ingredients into the drink to make 

it distinct. 

“It is a brand that represents the Nigerian 

pride because we are a happy and proud 

people who are always different anywhere we 

find ourselves”, Ovre said. 

The manager said the company was 

working with those who assisted it while the 

product was struggling and taht Calabar 

people had really embraced the product, saying 

that is why the company decided to launch 

the product in the city. 

According to him, the people who taste it 

will know that it is a good drink. 

“We offer this drink at a very affordable price 

and our offer beats any other and this is to 

appreciate Calabar residents and a bonanza 

comes along with it”.

Isaac Oladipipo: Forging the 

frontiers of digital marketing, PR 

By Benjamin Njoku 

he tale of grass to grace, they 

Tsay reflects hardwork, 

diligence, perseverance and staunch 

determination. Such is the story of 

Isaac Oladipupo, the CEO of 

MediaWise Digital Agency, an 

innovative media and 

communications outfit with over 

eight years of practical experience 

in Digital Marketing and Public 

Relations. 

Oladipupo’s foray into the media 

dates back to 2009 when the 

Publisher of Genevieve Magazine, 

Betty Irabor gave him his first break 

in the industry. “It was a rare 

privilege I’ll forever be grateful to 

her because she gave me that chance 

despite being an undergraduate and 

the youngest in the team,” he said 

with nostalgia. 

He continued: “I remember 

writing the popular inspiration 

column for Genevieve Magazine 

then, and giving my best to always 

deliver my tasks before deadline. I 

had to grow quickly into the role and 

went on to interview top celebrities, 

bank CEOs and also covered major 

events across the country. 

“It was a strict, creative and 

excellence-driven environment that 

helped me cultivate a deeper level 

of discipline which I have found 

incredibly helpful till date.’’ 

Oladipupo left the Genevieve 

Magazine in 2012, to set up his 

brainchild, Mediawise Digital 

Agency. A decision that was borne 

out of the increasing demands for 

Public Relations services from 

popular brands and celebrities. 

However, eight years after he took 

that bold step, Oladipupo can tell 

better. He is not only living his dream 

Infrastructure 

Deficit 

icit: AMAC 

Chair harps on 

self-effor 

ort 

By Paschaline Nwakudo 

hairman, Abuja Municipal 

CArea Council AMAC, 

Abdullahi Candido has called on 

communities in the Federal Capital 

Territory FCT to assist government 

in its efforts at bridging 

infrastructure deficit, urging them 

to see themselves as partners in 

development. 

The Chairman, who was 

represented by the Vice-Chairman 

Lawrence Onuchukwu, made the 

appeal in Abuja when he 

commissioned a culvert built by 

residents of the CRD community in 

Lugbe. 

He lauded the huge cooperation 

among the residents which had 

enabled them to come up with such 

a project and see it through to 

completion without any input from 

the government. 

He said: “The government 

cannot do everything for citizens at 

all times. That is why they are always 

impressed when residents come up 

with such huge projects”. 

In his remarks, Chairman of the 

community association, Aminu 

Mohammed explained that the 

reason for the collective sacrifice was 

born out of the many challenges 

encountered by residents who ply the 

road daily. 

He also appealed to AMAC 

Chairman to help resolve other 

pending issues that cannot be handled 

by the community. 

Also reacting, Secretary of the 

association, Kamen Ogbonna, who 

explained that the execution of the 

project was not without challenges, said 

the community had in the past seen 

themselves as mini local government 

always ready to put up infrastructures 

on their own. 

He said: “Having seen this project 

today we hope that the government 

appreciates our efforts and in turn 

helps us to open that road shown to 

them that will enable thousands of 

people in the community to connect 

the major expressway.” 

as a PR expert but forging a frontier 

capable of reshaping the global 

practice. He believes in digital 

marketing and the possibilities of 

the internet for the African 

continent. It seems former British 

Olympic champion, Bob Richards 

had him in mind when said ‘’today’’s 

youngsters will change the world 

tomorrow.’ 

‘’Though we started small, we are 

indeed grateful for the great brands 

we are privileged to have worked 

with and the ideas we have been able 

to execute across different sectors. 

We look forward to adding more 

value and deploying even more 

disruptive ideas to shape the Public 

Relations and Digital space across 

Africa and beyond,” he said. 

Aside from using the media to 

uplift brands, Oladipupo also 

believes the media can transform 

lives, communities, 

and nations. 

‘’Making 

this happen 

on a global 

scale has 

been my 

dream 

f r o m 

childhood. 

Specifically, 

I am 

working 

towards 

building a 

global 

media platform 

•Isaac 

Oladipupo 

that deploys 

ingenious 

empowerment for young people to 

take responsibility for their lives and 

communities towards a 

transformed world,’’ he added. 

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1 , 2019, PAGE 41 

On his vision, Oladipupo said ‘ 

I’m very passionate about 

financial empowerment for 

young people so they can focus 

on changing the world with their 

ingenuity. Though our nation 

doesn’t provide the kind of 

environment that supports 

this, I believe we can 

find creative ways to 

make this happen.’ 

Isaac has served 

a 

s 

Communications 

and Strategy 

Consultant for 

Nigeria’s Federal 

Ministry of 

Industry, Trade & 

Investment, AD 

Consulting, 

Awesome Treasures 

Foundation, This 

Present House and 

Arise Monalisa 

Foundation among 

others. He has also 

served as a columnist for 

Punch Newspapers, founding 

faculty of the RISE Group and 

Advisory Council member of The 

Future Africa Awards. 

Sitting From left: Tinu Adeyemi,Group Head, Human Resources & Admin; Francis 

Okechukwu, Head, Software Development; Iretioluwa Owolabi - Software Developer, 

all of CWG. Standing from left: Taiwo Lapite- Head, Creative; Josiah Adetayo-Senior 

Software Specialist and Developer, CWG and participants of the CWG D-Coder 

Initiative; August 2019 Special Edition. 

FLOOD: Delta taking proactive measures to reduce danger— — Pirah 

By Festus Ahon 

DELTA State Commissioner 

Bureau for Special Duties, 

Mr Mofe Pirah, has said 

the government had undertaken 

proactive measures to ameliorate 

dangers of the impending floods. 

Speaking during a stakeholders 

workshop in Asaba, Pirah said 

Flood Management Committee 

has been constituted to ensure that 

probable displaced persons were 

relocated to camps. 

The Commissioner who was represented 

by Mr Godwin Omadoye, 

Firm launches innovative logistics platform 

digital platform on logistics, 

A Jhaki has berthed in Nigeria 

to help shippers, importers and 

manufacturers track movement of 

their goods within the country. 

Similar to advanced technologies 

for taxi hailing, the Jhaki platform 

features include advanced booking, 

real time tracking, proof of delivery, 

automated receipts and a fair 

pricing structure. It is safe to say that, 

“Jhaki.com is re-inventing freight 

transportation in Nigeria and sub- 

Saharan Africa.” 

The platform, which was 

launched in June 2019 has already 

From left: Angela Omo - Dare, Head, Country Legal Services, 

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC; Hon. Alamu Airat Mojirade, 

Education Secretary, Alimosho LGA; Mrs. Oluwabunmi 

Morenikeji Oteju, Director, State Universal Basic Education 

Board, Lagos State and Mrs. Elizabeth Adebola Ogunmola, 

Head Teacher, Abaranje Primary School, Abaranje, Lagos State; 

at the handover ceremony of modern toilets, septic tank, 

borehole and water head tank, at Abaranje Primary School II, 

Abaranje, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State 

08023542350 

said the stakeholders' workshop was 

aimed at addressing predicted effects 

of the 2019 floods in the state. 

In the meeting where participants 

were drawn form various ministries, 

departments and agencies of both 

the federal and state governments, 

representatives of the military, police 

and other security organizations 

as well as the Nigerian Red Cross, 

NRC, international organizations 

nongovernmental organizations 

and multinational companies, he 

commended NEMA (Edo Operational 

Office)for the intervention and 

collaboration with the state government 

to reduce the effects of the perennial 

flood challenges. 

He affirmed the commitment of 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to the protection 

of the lives and properties of 

Deltans as embedded in his vision 

for a stronger Delta. 

Also speaking, the functioning 

head of NEMA (Edo Operation Office), 

Mr. Ifeanyi Omeje, said disaster 

management was a multifaceted 

discipline that touched every aspect 

of human endeavor, emphasizing 

the need for stakeholders to collaborate 

to foster effective and efficient 

response to disaster case when 

they arose. 

served several customers connecting 

them to pre-qualified and verified 

carriers registered on the Jhaki.com 

platform. 

According to Brainerd Odiete, 

Director of Strategy and Growth 

Initiatives of CRS Intermodal 

Group and promoters of Jhaki.com, 

the platform seeks to empower 

carriers and intelligently moving 

freight will create unprecedented 

economic opportunities in the 

logistics space while allowing 

shippers to book reliable, affordable 

and high-quality loads. 

Mr. Odiete goes further to 

iCreate Africa has participated at 

the world’s biggest technical and 

vocational skills competition, the 

World Skills 2019 in Kazan, Russia. 

icreate Africa’s involvement is 

coming after successfully organizing 

three technical skill competitions in 

Nigeria. 

Established in 1950, World Skills is 

the collective voice for skills excellence 

in technical and service-oriented 

careers around the globe. 

The competition, the world Cup of 

vocational professions, took place for 

the first time in Russia and featured 

an industrial exhibition and 

Conference while youth between 18- 

23 years from over 60 member 

countries competed against each 

Okere Urhobo youths 

hail NDDC MD's 

appointment 

Y 

ouths under the aegis of Okere 

Urhobo Development Movement, 

have felicitated with Olorogun 

Benard Okumagba on his appointment 

as the Managing Director 

of Niger Delta Development 

Commission (NDDC) . 

They made this known in a statement 

signed by the President, Comrade 

Cyril Eboh and Assistant Secretary 

of the group ,Comrade Niyi 

Edema Olasehinde in Warri and 

made available the newsmen. 

The youths described the appointment 

of Olorogun Okumagba as a 

square peg in a square hole, " judging 

by his pedigree as an experienced 

administrator and former Delta 

State Commissioner for Finance 

and Economic Planning " 

The group in statement therefore 

expressed optimism that Niger Delta 

region would experience tremendous 

positive transformation in the 

tenure of Olorogun Okumagba as 

MD of NDDC. 

The Okere Urhobo youths expressed 

their gratitude to President 

Muhammadu Buhari for considering 

their kinsman worthy for appointment 

into the exalted position 

of MD of NDDC. 

They also congratulated the duo 

of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and 

Barrister Festus Egwarewa Keyamo 

on their appointments as Deputy 

Senate President (DSP) and Minister 

of State Niger Delta respectively. 

'Buhari, Omo-Agege 

are blessings to 

Urhobo nation' 

A 

n Urhobo youth leader, Com 

rade Ufuoma Eugene Ohwevwo, 

has described the duo of President 

Muhammadu Buhari and the 

Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie 

Omo-Agege as blessings to the 

Urhobo nation, averring that the 

Urhobo have never had it so good 

in terms of federal appointments 

and patronage. 

His words: "The latest appointment 

of Chief Bernard Okumagba 

as Managing Director of the Niger 

Delta Development Commission, 

NDDC, inevitably demonstrates 

President Buhari's goodwill towards 

the Urhobo people, having a few 

months ago appointed an Urhobo 

in the Person Chief Barr. Festus Keyamo 

(SAN) as a minister of the federal 

republic, even when a good number 

of Urhobos who have been appointed 

into sensitive federal boards 

and agencies. 

‘’No Nigerian government in recent 

times or in the near or far past 

has patronised the Urhobo nation 

the way President Buhari has done, 

and as such, his administration deserves 

the support and goodwill of 

the Urhobo people. It is also expedient 

to commend Sen. Ovie Omo- 

Agege for bringing the Urhobo nation 

into national political limelight 

and also ensuring that the Urhobo 

nation is given due consideration in 

terms of federal appointments. He 

is indeed God-sent and I can effectively 

describe him as Urhobo 

liberator’’,he said. 

explain that customers changing 

behaviour and expectations will 

have the greatest impact on logistics 

going forward and Jhaki seeks to 

evolve a customer-centric logistics 

business enabled by the latest and 

most reliable technologies. In his 

own words, he explains that 

“Customer expectations are 

increasing greatly. 

iCreate Africa participates in world skills 

competition 

other in Carpentry, Automobile 

Technology, fashion technology, water 

technology, etc, for 4 days 

Since inception, iCreate Africa has 

transformed the face of skills and 

led the discourse of Nigeria 

becoming the leading force in skills 

development in Africa through 

successful competitions, up skilling 

and training programs, promotions 

of the winning entrepreneurs 

through media campaigns, iCreate 

Magazine launch with iCreate App 

and Skill Hub in the pipeline. 

Part of iCreate delegation was, 

Malissa Onojo, known by her 

fashion brand: Oh! Tailor, who was 

the winner of the first iCreate Skill 

Fest 2018 in the category of 

garment making and Tiza Nega, 

winner of the website category.

Page 42 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 

Viewpoint 

By Sufuyan Ojeifo 

Ihave never known the former 

Edo State Governor and National 

Chair of the All Progressives 

Congress (APC), Comrade 

Adams Oshiomhole, to be a Moslem. 

As far as I know him, he is a 

Catholic of the Christian faith. I 

can, therefore, confidently attack 

the premise on which the Governor 

of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, 

visited him on the occasion of 

the recent Eid-el-Kabir. The visit, 

to put it unambiguously, was 

not fundamentally religious. It 

was just an opportunity to create 

a locus for political benefit. 

The over-the-top action of “invading” 

the Iyamho country 

home of Oshiomhole with an entourage 

of his new commissioners, 

whose appointment had 

spawned political animus, actually 

defined the shape and texture 

of the “surprise” visit as described 

by most of the syndicated 

media reports. But there was 

no reinforcing content in the 

meeting. 

A statement by the Governor’s 

Special Adviser on Media and 

Tributes as Anonyei ‘Mummy Nurse’ is buried at Issele Azagba 

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 

○ 

By Dr. Cordelia Etuk 

Issele-Azagba community in 

Aniocha North Council of Delta 

State, was a Mecca of sorts on 

Friday, August 30, 2019, as dignitaries 

from all walks of life 

thronged the town to pay their last 

respects to the late Mrs. Caroline 

Ebidomnwa Anonyei, aka Mummy 

Nurse, as she was laid to rest at 

her family compound in OgbeAkpu. 

Mrs. Anonyei, who passed on at 

the age of 75 on July 16, 2019, was 

a role model and a humanist to 

the core, and undoubtedly an epitomy 

of humility, compassion and 

godliness in her daily conduct. It 

was therefore, not surprising that 

all who spoke about her earthly 

sojourn at her burial,described her 

in glowing terms. 

In her tribute, Mrs. Anonyei’s 

Between folly and the “Awada Kerikeri” at Iyamho 

was our nurturer, teacher, mentor 

and role model. As a Nurse, she 

was truly gifted. She handled every 

patient with care and compassion. 

Mummy was an exemplary 

Christian, serving God with dedication 

and zeal both publicly and 

privately. Mummy was a visionary 

achiever. She was always forward 

thinking and was focused. 

We will miss her dearly, but we are 

proud of her life. She left us the 

legacy of her good name.” 

Mrs. Anonyei’s nursing career 

spanned over 30 years with the 

Hospital Management Board of 

the then Midwest State, and later 

Delta State, serving in Specialist 

Hospital Benin, General Hospital, 

Abudu, Ogwashi-Uku, Akwukwu-Igbo 

and Onicha-Ukwu. She 

later retired as Chief Nursing Officer. 

Communications, Crusoe Osagie, 

had provided the peg for 

the media reports of the visit, 

which failed to maximize the 

opportunity to prove beyond 

doubt that the governor was not 

just play-acting. Obaseki did not 

seek private audience with Oshiomhole 

to discuss the elephant 

in the room: the political crisis 

occasioned by the divisive inauguration 

of the State House of 

Assembly and subsequent dissolution 

of the cabinet. 

When I saw the “breaking 

news” on one of the online news 

portals on Monday, August 12, 

2019, I had expected Obaseki to 

request that his retinue of officials 

should step out so that he 

could have a one-on-one meeting 

with Oshiomhole on the way 

forward. He never did that. Instead, 

according to grapevines, 

he was exchanging banter with 

Oshiomhole in the presence of 

everyone that came with him. 

But because he failed to do so, 

two things readily came to mind: 

one, he possibly was unconsciously 

exhibiting folly and/or, 

two, it was possibly part of his 

deliberate script to create the impression 

that all was well between 

them even when it was evident 

that there was crisis in the 

APC political family in Edo. 

The statement by Osagie, 

which was extensively quoted by 

the various media organs, reinforced 

the second possibility by 

creating a veneer of bogus peace 

in the political family. He merely 

communicated the hollowness 

in the razzmatazz that the governor 

created by the so-called 

“surprise” visit. His claim that 

the visit had punctured the notion 

that Obaseki and Oshiomhole 

were quarreling was laughable. 

Don’t enemies live together 

under the same roof and pretend 

that all is well? 

It is thus pathetic that Obaseki 

and his group tried to hide behind 

a finger in dismissing the 

notion of adversarial relationship 

between him and his predecessor. 

And, that Oshiomhole 

would lay the blame at the doorsteps 

of the media was, understandably, 

a red herring. Osagie 

had pointed the finger at those 

who allegedly profit from the 

challenges (crisis) as those working 

so hard to foment or stoke 

the fire. He said they were the 

ones who were creating tension 

and driving division in the State. 

Since, according to him, his 

imagined trouble makers would 

twist the purpose of Obaseki’s 

visit to Oshiomhole, I ask: what 

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 

○ 

By Isaac Aina 

NSA and our security 

When President Muhammadu 

Buhari hinted during a meeting 

he had with some monarchs from the 

South West that there is the need to tinker 

with the security arrangement in the 

country, it was safe to conclude that there 

will be speculations on the shape of 

things to come. 

The Office of the National Security 

Adviser is a high profile one just like the 

Service Chiefs, and the President's statement 

may have inevitably triggered a 

controversy on who the cap fits. The incumbent 

NSA, Major General Babagana 

Monguno (ret.), is naturally in contention. 

Those whose names are also 

being mentioned include a former Interior 

Minister, Lt. General Abdulrahman 

Dambazau (ret.), Major General SD 

Aliyu (ret.), and Ambassador Ahmed 

Rufai. 

Some other names are being mentioned 

by analysts say the essence may 

be to remain relevant in politics. 

Buhari has not spoken about the reappointment 

of Monguno notwithstanding 

that nearly everyone in security 

circles agrees that he remains the right 

man for the job. 

Appointed in July 2015 after Buhari 

began his first term to replace Colonel 

By Femi SALAKO 

Ask any man or woman in any 

part of Ondo State about Eyitayo 

Jegede, SAN. You are likely 

going to get a deluge of darling 

descriptions about an accomplished 

citizen. 

Jegede, star candidate of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in the 

2016 gubernatorial election in 

Ondo State, is the most popular 

political personality in the poll. 

He is incontrovertibly popular 

and loved, anywhere. 

I believe that whatever 

third parties are trying to 

propagate, I am sure we 

can talk over it. I assure 

you that very soon 

things will return to 

normalcy in Edo State 

Dasuki Sambo, Monguno, before his 

retirement from the army in 2013, was 

Chief of Nigeria’s Defence Intelligence 

Agency (DIA). His last assignment in 

the army was Commander, Training 

and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). 

As NSA, Monguno has witnessed the 

worst of terrorist battles including when 

his village in Borno State was captured 

by Boko Haram and he led troops 

that retook that territory in coordinated 

air and ground attacks. 

At a time when the fragile unity of 

Nigeria was on the brink, the ability of 

Monguno to speak the three major languages 

fluently including Idoma could 

pass as an asset. Indeed, this asset was 

extensively deployed to good use as he 

was at home with all military chiefs 

and speaking their local dialects. A 

clear example of this asset: At the war 

fronts, according to an impeccable 

source, some of the soldiers were said 

to have approached Monguno, speaking 

in their dialect and explaining challenges 

being faced. His understanding 

of Yoruba language makes even an 

easier communication with the Ekiti 

State born Chief of Defence Staff, Major 

General Abayomi Olonisakin, the 

• Late Mrs. Caroline Anonyei 

first daughter, Dr. Cordelia Etuk, 

said: “My mother lived a truly accomplished 

life. She excelled in 

every dimension. As a mother, she 

same with Buratai, the chief of army 

staff, who is of northern extraction, like 

himself. 

Unlike other military chiefs, Monguno 

work is unseen because it is strategic. 

It is far more important than all the 

military chiefs. His office is the coordinating 

room between the office of the 

President and all security related matters 

in the country. These include all the 

military formations, purchase of all 

military hardware, security and safety 

of Nigerians both within and outside 

the shores of the country, and curtailing 

smuggling within the country’s borders. 

The work of the office is enormous. 

In one of his proactive moves to foster 

national security and economy, when it 

was discovered that fertilizer was being 

used to manufacture Improvised Explosive 

Device (IED) by terrorists, he 

immediately put a stop to it. 

Without discountenancing the credibility 

of other speculated contenders, 

Monguno's efforts in helping Buhari to 

stabilize the country cannot go unnoticed. 

He might not be often seen or 

talking on the pages of newspapers, just 

like Buhari, but the military, especially 

within its hierarchy, will give thumbs 

*Aliyu 

up for his professionalism, understanding 

and detribalized nature. 

In the case of Dambazau, he was Chief 

of Army Staff between 2008 and 2010. 

Whereas he was investigated for alleged 

corruption during his tenure as COAS, 

he was not indicted. Some Arab leaders 

from Middle East whose views Buhari 

greatly respects are said to be lobbying 

for him. 

Marwa, a former military administrator 

of Lagos and incumbent Chairman, 

Committee on Drug Abuse, is also 

tipped as a potential NSA. Marwa is 

reported to be relying on his relationship 

with a close associate of the President 

to get the top security job. 

Aliyu, alleged to be an ally of former 

Vice President Abubakar Atiku, is also 

in the race for the NSA office, while 

On retirement, Mrs. Caroline 

Anonyei set up a Maternity and 

Nursing Home at Issele-Azagba, 

where she continued to render invaluable 

medical services in her 

community and other neighbouring 

villages. 

In her Christian life, Mrs. 

Anonyei was a devout Catholic, 

who was very passionate and 

committed to the development of 

the Catholic Church in Issele-Azagba. 

It was in recognition of her exemplary 

service to the Church that 

the Catholic community conferred 

on her the exalted title of 

Ezinne (Good Mother). She also 

served as President of the Catholic 

Women Organisation (CWO), 

IsseleAzagba, and received an 

award of recognition from the 

then was the essential purpose 

of the surprise visit? Osagie 

failed to state what the reasonable 

and essential purpose of the 

visit was. But the governor was 

quoted to have said that he had 

met with Oshiomhole and that 

efforts were being made to resolve 

the issues between them. 

Read what the governor reportedly 

said at St. Paul Catholic 

Church, Benin, during a mass 

organised to mark the 80th 

birthday of former National 

Chair of the APC, Chief John 

Odigie-Oyegun: “We have metme 

and my predecessor in officeand 

fortunately, we do not have 

any fundamental issues. And 

because we do not have fundamental 

issues, I believe that 

whatever third parties are trying 

to propagate, I am sure we can 

talk over it. I assure you that 

very soon things will return to 

normalcy in Edo State.” 

•*Ojeifo is a public affairs 

analyst 

Read more on 


*Monguno 

Buratai, the incumbent Chief of Army 

Staff, is equally said jostling for the security 

top job especially since he may 

soon leave his current job. 

Usman, the current Chief of Defence 

Intelligence (CDI), is also believed to 

be eyeing the NSA office. 

Rufa’I, another contender, was Secretary 

to Babagana Kingibe’s Committee 

which reviewed the findings of the 

Vice President's committee on the $43 

million found by the EFCC in an apartment 

in Lagos. 

On Lawal Daura, the immediate past 

Director of State Security Service, it 

remains to be seen how a man under 

whose SSS dramatically invaded the 

National Assembly will be appointed 

the NSA. 

*Aina, a public affairs analyst, is resident 

in Lagos. 

Ondo 2020: Eyitayo Jegede on the mark 

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 

○ 

Despite politically-motivated 

ordeals hatched by certain antidemocratic 

elements, he remains 

a force to be reckoned with. 

This extra-ordinary leadership 

material, who had a good case 

particularly against the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, for irregularities in 

the said election, chose not to contest 

the election in order not to 

distract the winner whom he had 

heartily congratulated. He gave 

peace and progress a chance in 

the interest of the state. 

He is no doubt the unifying force 

in Ondo State chapter of the Peoples 

Democratic Party. He has 

held the parts of the party together 

and given his gifts and guts to 

make the party the sturdy assemblage 

that it is today. Little wonder, 

he is being repeatedly described 

as the pillar of the party. 

*Dambazau 

Jegede’s resolve to revive the 

economy of the state distinguishes 

him as a different man with a 

profound mission. 

Since it is no news that the nation’s 

economy is stressed, it is only 

desirable that Ondo State chooses 

a man who is fit for the job. 

His shrewd handling of matters 

of governance assures one of 

his courage to prove some points. 

He is well known and very well 

*Rufai 

accessible. 

Jegede was Ondo State’s Attorney 

General and Commissioner 

for Justice for over seven years. 

His stewardship in that office remains 

a reference point. Courageous 

but calm, he possesses fine 

traits and good leadership qualities. 

Not of the loquacity that usually 

adorns political conveyors 

and conversations. He makes the 

least promise. 

He identifies with all, lacking 

little pomposity, irrespective of 

social or economic factor. But he’s 

unusually loved. 

His resolve to improve the state 

economy reverberates. The ubiquity 

of the nation’s economic ailment 

that beats its fragments hard 

didn’t spear Ondo State. The people 

are concerned about panacea. 

They want a hand that can handle 

and heal. Since good and a 

well-managed economy will 

bring remedies close, his words 

found a good audience. 

He believes that when the state 

gets its economy right, the good 

legacies of the present administration 

will be preserved. 

He said investors will be encouraged 

with policies to do their businesses, 

up government purse and 

absorb employable youths. He 

assured the working population 

of good welfare once the economy 

receives healing, and his words 

seem to be winning minds. 

*Salako lives in Akure 

Read more on 

www.vanguardngr.com

Viewpoint 

By Goodluck Edafe 

HE Vanguard of August 1, 

T2019 published the story: 

“NDDC: N-Delta group recommends 

Utomi”. I totally agree with 

the sponsors on the points raised in 

the publication. First, the recommendation 

of Professor Pat Utomi 

to President Muhammadu Buhari 

for appointment into the Niger Delta 


(NDDC), secondly, the call for the 

establishment of the office of Special 

Assistant (SA) to the President 

on NDDC matters. The group cited 

inherent corruption, infighting and 

tradition of quarrels among the Executive 

Directors as the basis for its 

call. Anyone familiar with the notorious 

administrative lifestyle in the 

NDDC would praise the youth group 

for its thoughtfulness and patriotic 

concern. 

No. 167, Aba Road, Port Harcourt 

is the NDDC corporate headquarters. 

Pitiably, this gigantic eight story 

building is a borrowed apartment. 

Written on top of it is,“Harold 

Dappa Biriye House (HDBH). The 

inscription, “HDBH” is not an acronym 

for the NDDC but the name 

of its owner. The HDBH was initially 

meant to be a temporary accommodation. 

From its inception in 

2000, the NDDC inherited the permanent 

site of the Oil Mineral Producing 

Area Development 

Commission(OMPADEC) at the 

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019,Page 43 

When will NDDC complete its permanent headquarters? 

Apart from the issue of 

huge payment in rent, 

every new management 

takes special interest in 

the renovation and 

upgrade of the property 

Marine Base in Port Harcourt. Disappointingly, 

that property till today 

remains uncompleted after 19 

years. 

Every new management board 

ignores the fact that the NDDC is 

tenant at the Aba road. They come 

in with a zeal to renew the tenancy 

agreement, spend huge sum of 

money intermittently to give facelift 

to an accommodation that was 

supposed to be temporary, whereas 

its permanent site suffers minimal 

attention and a deliberate delay. 

Every new management tries to rebrand 

the HDBH yet they themselves 

live in ostentation, executive 

profligacy and moral decadence. 

This is where I agreed with the Joint 

Association of Niger Delta Youth 

Forum on the recommendation of 

Professor Pat Utomi, who is widely 

believed to be morally decent and 

will promote moral sanity if appointed 

a Managing Director. 

The history of NDDC’s love for the 

Aba road tenancy is a sorry one. It’s 

partly why its foremost Managing 

Director, Chief (Engr.) Godwin 

Omene was humiliated out of office. 

Chief Omene, according to findings 

within the NDDC, was not comfortable 

with the huge amount of 

money that was required to rent the 

HDBH. The facts are that, as at the 

time the NDDC was established, the 

HDBH was an empty frame requiring 

hundreds of millions of Naira 

to put in a habitable state. 

The rental deal had both internal 

and external stakeholders, who 

wanted it signed with urgency. But 

Chief Omene, it was gathered, was 

worried about the colossal amount 

of money that was required to put 

into a building that ought to be a 

temporary accommodation. He 

simply wanted all that money 

ploughed straight into developing 

the NDDC permanent site. His position 

did not go down well with the 

champions of plunder, thus, while 

the issue rages on, Chief Omene was 

thrown out over an allegation of 

signing a phantom contract. Chief 

Omene is long gone but till today, 

the burden of rental payment still 

torment the NDDC. The question is: 

What is the excitement in living in a 

borrowed house when the ability to 

own your own house is within your 

reach? What emotional fulfillment 

does the NDDC enjoy in paying a 

yearly rent when its permanent site 

is deliberately abandoned? Is there 

any NDDC executive member that 

is a tenant in Port Harcourt? Or is 

the issue of rent in the NDDC a gold 

mine? For sure, it seems to NDDC 

management boards that the 

HDBH has become an NDDC property. 

Apart from the issue of huge 

payment in rent, every new management 

takes special interest in the 

renovation and upgrade of the property. 

Thus, the NDDC epitomizes a 

foolish man who dresses another 

man’s wife in satin and gold yet his 

own wife dresses in sack clothes and 

worn out shoes. It is a narrative that 

defines a people with a lack of good 

spirit to put limited resources into 

optimum use. Interestingly, while 

the NDDC regales the public with 

non-durable projects and struggles 

unsuccessfully to complete its own 

office, which perhaps have a subhead 

in its yearly budget, its individuals 

have built several private 

estates, palatial edifices, expensive 

hotels and schools that fetch profits 

in quantum. 

Proudly written on its web-page 

is the following: “The NDDC was 

established with the mission of facilitating 

the rapid, even and sustainable 

development of the Niger 

Delta…” Good as it is, yet for 19 

years the NDDC is not able to complete 

its own administrative headquarters. 

I mean for 19 years, the 

NDDC is not able to define its priorities 

in relations with issues of basic 

development in the Niger Delta. 

Whoever comes in clads himself in 

the toga of a peacock yet they end 

up in moral emptiness. They say, 

“When a mad man is not ashamed, 

the same cannot be said of his family 

members”. 

Apparently, agitation in the Niger 

Delta for increased allocation, 

which is okay by every sense of it, 

has somewhat eroded a sense of 

commitment to good values and judicious 

management of available 

funds. Over 2, 000 years ago, Jesus 

admonished, “He that is faithful in 

little is faithful in much, he that is 

unjust in little is unjust in much.” By 

the thinking of Jesus, a budget of 

$20 billion every year will not make 

any significant difference in the 

NDDC if the prevailing operational 

philosophy and moral disposition 

are not deliberately altered. 

*Edafe is President, Niger Delta 

Ideological Forum for Peace and 

Development 

Read more on 


By Olanrewaju Julius 

What was supposed to be an 

investigation into petition 

on alleged rape that happened 

about 18 years ago, or a time we 

are not even sure of, has now 

turned into persecution.“Is there 

more to it than meets the eye going 

on inside the Nigeria Police? A 

source at the FCID alleged that the 

original petition written by Busola 

Dakolo against Pastor Biodun 

Fatoyinbo of COZA stated that the 

alleged rape happened on a 

Wednesday in September 2001, 

and the second time within the 

same period when she claimed that 

she went to the pastor' s house to 

assist in babysitting their baby 

daughter. Her petition was dated 

26th June 2019 and stamped received 

by the AIG, FCID on the 

27th of June 2019.“However when 

Busola gave her statement to sup- 

By Rafiu Ajakaye 

t is exactly 100 days since Abdul 

IRahman AbdulRazaq was inaugurated 

as the seventh democratically 

elected Governor of Kwara State. On 

his first day in office, AbdulRazaq gave 

a clear signal that his administration 

would be a departure from the past. 

He had insisted on a lean inauguration 

ceremony on the grounds that 

Kwara didn’t have the resources to 

waste. No partying. No merriments. 

He backed that up with a no-privatejet 

policy and has kept a very lean entourage 

that often comprises himself, 

with his signature backpack, and a few 

aides. Three months on, he continues 

to ride his personal vehicle as a mark 

of discipline. 

At a post-inauguration meeting with 

Kwara thought leaders, he told them 

he wouldn’t be a ‘Government House’ 

By Rafiu Ajakaye 

ation-building is a work for men 

Nand not for boys. The reason is 

simple only transformed men transform 

a nation. To build any nation requires 

men. The reason is simple, men works 

vision. Boys pursue provision. A nation 

of boys is a nation of looters, shortsighted 

politicians and followers who are 

educated illiterates. The rise of a nation 

can never be better than the quality of 

the minds of its men. National 

transformation begins and ends with 

men. Show me a nation that is 

transformed and I will ask you; who are 

the men behind the nation? 

So the question is where are the men? 

My thesis is simple boys are many, men 

are few. The fact that a politician 

occupies a position does not make a 

man. The CEO of that big conglomerate 

has all the trappings of a man but never 

seems to know that good businesses 

outlive the owners. Being a husband is 

Fatoyinbo and Police: Between investigation and intimidation 

port the petition to the police, she 

allegedly attempted to correct 

these inconsistencies by changing 

the timeline. She then claimed 

that the alleged rape now happened 

in September 2002. 

This is crucial because the pastor’s 

daughter was not born until 

2002 which was a year after the 

date she stated in her petition. This 

among other alleged inconsistent 

statements in the rape allegation 

should have been what the police 

investigator should have reviewed 

before taking the investigation 

further.“Rather than confront the 

complainant with inconsistencies, 

the police appear to be dancing 

to a suspicious and strange 

drumbeat. As many observers of 

this case have variously feared, it 

seems there is a scheme to help 

100 days of hope, prudence and restoration in Kwara 

Governor. At the parley with civil servants, 

he made it clear they were free 

to air their views as the engine room of 

government without fear of witch-hunt. 

He has kept both promises. 

AbdulRazaq has repeatedly been 

sleeping in some villages in the state, 

visiting schools, hospitals, and moribund 

institutions and industries — 

dozens of kilometres away from the 

comfort of Government House or his 

own home. The reason is to better assess 

the endemic rot and determine 

government redemptive initiatives. 

The last time a Kwara Governor slept 

outside of the state capital while on 

state duty was in the 1980s under Cornelius 

Adebayo. AbdulRazaq recently 

summoned the permanent secretaries 

and directors to join him for a meeting 

at a decrepit school in Patigi, many 

kilometres away from their Ilorin base, 

NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION: Separating the men from the boys 

far easier than being the man of the 

house. Just like we have dearth of men 

in the home front, so also we have 

shortage of men committed to building 

nations around this clime. 

National transformation with a clear 

call agenda by men and for men to 

redefine the social, the political, the 

media, the entertainment and economic 

landscape of the nation. Where do we 

begin the national transformation? 

It starts with men and ends with men. 

This sounds upbeat and chauvinistic in 

an age of gender equality. In countries 

where men are men, women don’t even 

clamor for rights for they know that 

real men don’t lord it over women. Great 

husbands allow their wives purpose to 

soar. Secured men are not afraid to 

pursue an agenda that makes women 

become fulfilled. When men tramples 

on women, women agitates for what 

they are being deprived of. National 

Busola modify the facts of her allegations 

in order to nail that the 

accused at all costs.“The question 

is pertinent: Is this a professional 

and unbiased investigation by the 

Nigeria Police or blatant act of 

persecution, harassment and intimidation 

bolstered by some 

powerful elements behind the 

scenes who want Fatoyinbo 

pulled down by all means? What 

is the rationale or logic of an attempted 

detention of the pastor in 

police custody until late hours for 

what is a bailable offence? What 

explanation can the police give to 

justify the search of the pastor’s 

residence and his Church Office 

in the course of investigation of 

an allegation of 18 years ago that 

was claimed to have transpired in 

Ilorin, Kwara State?“There are 

*Abdulrasaq 

so they could have firsthand experience 

of the extent of the pains of the people 

and the rot to be fixed. 

In July, he directed that the 2019 

transformation starts with men who 

partners with women to build. How can 

a nation subject the issues of girl child to 

advocacy? A nation with men don’t get 

their girls abducted. Where men are 

men, 270 girls don’t go missing and 

can’t remain missing. Real men protect 

their daughters. Girl child right issues 

are no issues when men are standing. 

How many of you would fold your arms 

and see your daughter being trampled 

upon. Where men are men, women 

becomes partners in progress. Wives 

become equal half. A nation where 

violence on women, battery at home, 

unbridled rape and violation of female 

gender is rife cannot be transformed. 

Women play key roles. Men in nation 

building recognize this and 

wholeheartedly pursue an agenda to 

make women flourish. In America 

today, law, advocacy and sentencing 

may seem to protect women, but never 

From all intents and 

purposes, the police 

appear to have 

succumbed to the 

pressure of the 

unconditional strategy of 

the cacophony of the 

court of social media 

strong suspicions that the police 

might have compromised in the 

investigation of this matter and, 

rather than conduct a proper investigation 

into the facts, are on a 

desperate and ill-conceited factfinding 

expedition even though 

there is no evidence of the basic 

budget review sessions be held at the 

Special Needs School at Apata Yakuba, 

away from the air-conditioned conference 

rooms at Government Secretariat. 

The Governor said holding budget 

review sessions in an environment 

as deprived as that school was his way 

of redirecting the focus of the technocrats 

to the plights of the poor. 

The main talking point after inauguration 

was the fate of the so-called 

sunset workers whose employments 

were almost surreptitiously effected by 

the departing administration. After 

initially suspending their pay to allow 

for some checks, AbdulRazaq restored 

their salary, in what was a clear departure 

from the past. AbdulRazaq inherited 

a state with abysmal records on 

all fronts. Everything was retrogressing. 

Investors stayed away. Public trust 

in government was at its lowest. The 

prevent violence against womenfolk. 

Until the boys are made out of men, 

nothing would change the culture of 

impunity against women even in 

America. Filling up prison spaces will 

never solve the problem, transformation 

begins by a deliberate re-education and 

re-awakening of what it is to be a man. 

The journey to nationhood begins with 

manhood. 

National transformation begins and 

ends with fathers. No matter how mums 

try, a mother cannot be a father. A 

father is a man who is driven by values. 

I have seen fathers who are poor, 

honestly very poor, but are epitomes of 

integrity. I have met fathers who have 

no university degrees but are committed 

to purpose. National transformation 

requires fathers to be honest, fair and 

purposeful. How a father on a federal 

Government Salary scale seven afford 

to send four children to highbrow 

elements of the allegation of 

rape. “From all intents and purposes, 

the police appear to have 

succumbed to the pressure of the 

unconditional strategy of the cacophony 

of the court of social media. 

At the beginning when this 

rape allegations fire was being 

stoked by the complainant and her 

retinue of supporters who took to 

the social media, and the illegal 

occupation of COZA during a 

church service, this fear was expressed 

by concerned Nigerians.“ 

There was a cautionary warning 

that if the case was not handled 

with utmost care and discretion, 

justice would not only be wrongly 

served on the accused. 

**Julius is resident in Wuse 2, 

Abuja Read more on 


state-owned media houses, including 

the popular Radio Kwara, were down. 

And the state was indebted to the tune 

of N80bn with nothing meaningful to 

show for it. 

That was enough to overwhelm the 

faint-hearted. Not for the clear-eyed and 

sure-footed AbdulRazaq. He started 

where it matters: offering empathetic 

leadership and building public confidence 

in the new administration. His 

first few meetings did the magic, followed 

by visits to various public facilities 

and his love for staying low-key. No 

sirens. No long convoys. No prior information 

about a visit to warrant official 

niceties. 

*Ajakaye is the Chief Press Secretary 

to the Governor 

Read more on 


schools where the fees run to millions. 

Sons know their fathers. Sons know that 

the four SUVs in the garage and the 

duplex cannot be from the father’s 

income. Sons know that mummy is not 

earning much income and daddy is not 

doing any other business. The lifestyle 

doesn’t match up. The voice of the sons 

may be silenced but their eyes are 

certainly not blind. When men steal to 

sustain their lifestyles, they raise sons 

who kill the nation ahead of time. 

Fathers must be value mines. Every 

interaction and detonation must be 

value driven. Where fathers live without 

values, we have sons who rule without 

vision. 

•Adeyemi is Convener, The 

Catalyst Men Network Int’l, Lagos 

Read more on 

www.vanguardngr.com


Changing arche 

hetypal medical education 

system for transf 

ansformational health care 

• Case for Specialised Medical Universities 

Contines from last week 

Professor Friday Okonofua 

To my knowledge, the establishment of 

UNIMED was fortuitous rather than 

purposefully designed. The journey 

began in June 2014 when I paid a courtesy 

call on the then Governor of Ondo State, His 

Excellency, Dr. Segun Mimiko. In the usual 

manner of showcasing his achievements as 

Governor of the State, he drove in his car with 

me in the owner’s seat, and the then 

Commissioner of Justice and Attorney 

General of the State, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN in 

the front seat. 

Without telling me, he drove incognito to 

the Medical Village in Ondo City, an edifice 

that he had completed two years previously 

and which was then functioning very well. The 

Medical Village, as it was then called, 

consisted of state-of-the-art facilities in 

trauma care, general and specialized surgical 

care, kidney specialist care, obstetrics and 

gynecology, and child health. On inspection 

of the facilities, I immediately divulged to Mr. 

Governor that those were the most ultramodern 

and well equipped comprehensive 

medical facilities that I had seen anywhere in 

the country at that time. I then spontaneously 

recommended that based on the vast expanse 

•Okonofua 

of adjoining land, and the comprehensiveness 

of the services available, the Village could form 

the nucleus of a Medical University. I 

reminded him that Ondo State was the only 

State in South-West that did not have a medical 

school in any of its existing Universities. 

Indeed, Ondo State despite being an oilproducing 

zone was then the only State in 

Southern Nigeria that did not have a Medical 

School. 

This is despite the fact that Ondo State had 

one of the highest numbers of professors in 

medicine, some of the most accomplished 

professors of medicine (such as Professor 

Oladipo O. Akinkugbe), and indeed about five 

professors that had been honored with the 

National Order of Merit in the Medical 

Sciences (NNOM) in the country. I decided 

to push his ego further by telling him that as a 

medically qualified Executive Governor, he 

will be making a grave mistake if he did not 

consider establishing a medical school in his 

State during his tenure as Governor. I further 

quipped that the medical village facilities were 

excellent points of reference where a 

comprehensive Medical University could be 

established. 

As usual, when I ramble on like that, Dr. 

Mimiko listened to me attentively and did not 

alter a word, but quietly padded me on the 

back signifying his recognition and 

appreciation of the points I had made. About 

two weeks after this meeting, Dr. Mimiko 

called me on the phone to ask whether I was 

familiar with the NUC criteria for establishing 

new Universities and then asked me to help 

him identify someone who could advise on how 

a Medical University could be developed in 

Ondo State. My colleague, Professor Eugene 

Okpere was then on sabbatical leave working 

as an adviser to the Executive Secretary of the 

NUC, Professor Julius Okojie. I immediately 

recommended Professor Okpere as the ideal 

person to contact. 

Subsequent events led to the presentation of 

a bill for the establishment of the University to 

the Ondo State House of Assembly and the 

passage of the bill into law in October 2014. 

In March 2015, I was appointed the Vice- 

Chancellor of the University while the Dr. (Mrs.) 

EF Oyebade, mni, of blessed memory was 

appointed the Registrar. 

I accepted this appointment for two main 

reasons. First, the encouragement and goodwill 

that I received from principal 

stakeholders in the Ondo 

Kingdom at the time were 

gargantuan. Specifically, 

these were 1) the Osemawe of 

Ondo Kingdom, himself a 

medical doctor with whom I 

attended the Obafemi Awolowo 

University Medical School 

(then the University of Ife), 

HRM Oba (Dr.) Victor 

Adesimbo Ademefun Kiladejo, 

Jilo III; and 2) Emeritus 

Professor Oladipo O. 

Akinkugbe, the doyen of 

Medicine in Nigeria. I spoke to 

both of them about the Vice- 

Chancellorship appointment, 

and they gave encouraging 

words of advice and urged me 

to accept the offer. I later found 

out that the Osemawe and the 

Governor had tremendous 

respect for me. The three of us 

were both at the University of 

Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo 

University) in the ‘70s as a 

medical student. They were 

familiar with my propensity for 

hard work and ethical values; 

traits that make up my core till 

today. Indeed, the Osemawe assured me at the 

time that he knew me more than I know myself, 

and that he will give me stupendous support in 

administering the University. I can confirm 

without hesitation that he has not departed 

from this promise till this day. 

The second reason that I accepted the 

appointment as Vice-Chancellor was the 

consideration of the unique opportunity and 

high confidence that Ondo State was offering 

me to develop the first Specialized Medical 

University in the country. A task that I 

considered monumental and will forever go 

into the history books. My not being a citizen 

of Ondo State propelled me to prove the point 

that high profile academic appointments 

should never be based on ethnicity or other 

primordial factors, but on competence, and 

the ability to deliver standard outcomes. I 

immediately conducted a SWOT (strengths, 

weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) 

analysis of the prevailing situation and 

convinced myself that I had the temerity, depth 

of knowledge, and connections to take on the 

big task with positive outcomes. The analysis 

also helped me early to identify the barriers 

that impact the training of healthcare 

professionals. 

The University commenced with seven 

Faculties: Natural Sciences, Basic Medical 

Sciences, Basic Clinical Sciences, Clinical 

Sciences, Dental Sciences, Nursing Sciences, 

and Allied Health and added a School of 

Postgraduate Studies in October 2017. A 

Department of Herbal Medicine designed to 

train Nigeria’s first set of professional herbal 

medicine practitioners, and an international 

School of Public Health named after a 

Nigerian Health visionary and former 

Minister of Health – the Professor 

Mohammed Pate School of Public Health – 

will commence in the 2018/2019 academic 

session. The pioneer 

Departments of the 

University (Anatomy, 

Indeed, the 

Osemawe 

assured me at 

the time that he 

knew me more 

than I know 

myself, and that 

he will give me 

stupendous 

support in 

administering 

the University 

Biochemistry, and 

Physiology) currently offers 

a Master of Science (MSc), 

Master of Philosophy 

(MPhil), and Doctor of 

Philosophy (Ph.D). Also, the 

Department of Anatomy 

offers the Doctor of Medicine 

(MD) degree program. 

UNIMED already has an 

approved national and 

regional clinical fellowship 

program in trauma and 

emergency medicine which 

started in December 2015. 

Presently, 15 students are 

enrolled in the fellowship 

program. 

UNIMED now offer 

degree programs in 

Medicine, Dentistry, 

Nursing, Medical 

Laboratory Sciences, 

Physiotherapy, the Basic 

Medical Sciences (Anatomy, 

Physiology, and 

Biochemistry), and the 

Natural Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, 

and Mathematics). We are now set to offer 

academic programs in Occupational Therapy, 

Medical Radiography, Pharmacy, 

Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering, and 

Herbal Medicine. It is anticipated that our 

efforts will significantly increase the number 

of medical and allied health professionals 

produced to serve in the nations’ health care 

system. I have so far served four years as Vice- 

Chancellor and our other accomplishments 

will be discussed later in this presentation. 

The Specialized Place of Medical 

Universities to Address Developmental 

Challenges in the Health Sector 

Since the establishment of UNIMED, the 

passion for Specialized Medical Universities 

has gained popularity in the country. 

Continues next week 

•The couples: Mr. & Mrs. Mayomikun Oladirin 

It was a blissful 

moment as the 

families of Reverend 

& Mrs Stephen 

Oladirin of Baptist 

Church Festac Town 

and Pastor & Mrs 

Gabriel Ogbechie of 

Redeemed Christian 

Church of God, 

RCCG, Festac Town 

celebrated their 

children, Yvonne 

Duoseke and 

Mayokun Ademola 

held at the RCCG, 

Province 3, Victory 

House Parish, Festac 

on August 17, 2019. 

•From left: Pastor Gabriel Ogbechie, Mrs .Oladirin, the couples; Mrs. V. Ogbechie and 

Rev. Stephen Oladirin. 

•Ezi Women Association Lagos branch 

•From left: Mrs. Stella Nweke; Mrs. Nkoly Okorafo; the couples; Mrs. Miriam 

Uwakwe-Obi and Mr. Idowu Elumogo

Iwobi must score 

more goals, Everton 

boss demands 

Formula 2 driver 

Hubert killed in 

Belgium crash 

FORMULA 2 driver 

Anthoine Hubert has 

been killed in a crash at the 

Belgian Grand Prix, motorsport’s 

governing body 

the FIA has said. 

The Frenchman, who 

was 22, suffered a huge 

impact from the car of 

American Juan Manuel 

Correa at about 170mph 

at the Raidillon swerves. 

An FIA statement said 

that Hubert was taken to 

the medical centre after the 

incident, and died at 18:35 

local time. 

Correa was taken to 

Liege hospital and is in a 

stable condition, the FIA 

said. 

The race was stopped after 

the crash and cancelled 

within a few minutes when 

the potential seriousness of 

the accident became clear. 

Hubert, who drove for the 

BWT Arden team, was lying 

eighth in the championship 

and had scored two 

wins this season, in Monaco 

and France. 

He was also was part of 

Renault F1’s young driver 

programme. Renault said 

in a statement: “Anthoine 

was a member of the 

Renault Sport Academy 

and raced in the FIA Formula 

2 Championship, the 

final ladder to F1. 

*Hubert 

AS Everton enter 

tain Wolverhampton 

Wanderers in today’s 

English Premier League 

tie, coach Marco Silva 

has demanded more 

goals from new signing 

Alex Iwobi. 

Iwobi scored his first 

Everton goal in the Toffes 

4-2 win over Lincon 

City in Carabo Cup tie 

last week, but according 

to Silva, Iwobi needs to 

improve in front of goal. 

The 23-year-old scored 

just 15 goals in 149 appearances 

for Arsenal, 

and speaking ahead of 

the weekend’s clash with 

Wolverhampton Wanderers, 

Silva has backed his 

new signing to make the 

most of his goalscoring 

potential. 

“I’m demanding from 

him to score more goals 

and he knows about scoring 

more goals. 

“A player with his qualities 

has to score more 

goals than he normally 

has in the previous seasons, 

he will give quality 

in our attack and in 

the last moment of our 

attack. 

“It is up to him to keep 

working hard, in some 

things he has to improve 

to play within my philosophy 

as well, some moments 

he has to improve 

on our defensive process. 

It is new to him. 

“One thing I’m sure is 

he has all the capacities 

to do that. He really, really 

can raise the level of 

our team.” 

Ndidi shows up strong in Leicester’s 

defeat of Bournemouth 

*Ndidi 

SUPER Eagles and 

Leicester City midfielder, 

Wilfred Ndidi return 

from injury to help the 

Foxes win over 

Bournemouth at the Kings 

Power Stadium. 

Jamie Vardy scored twice 

and made the other as an 

impressive Leicester maintained 

their unbeaten Premier 

League. Ndidi who 

missed a League Cup 

game due to injury was at 

his destructive best once 

more with an all-action performance, 

while the evermaturing 

James Maddison, 

called up to the England 

squad this week, 

showed his defensive capabilities 

by gaining possession 

eight times. 

Brendan Rodgers’ side 

have won two and drawn 

two of their opening four 

games, showcasing their 

early ambitions of breaking 

into the top six at the 

end of the season with 

another excellent showing. 

Vardy’s opener was 

simple, yet stunning. He 

latched on to Ben Chilwell’s 

punt into the left 

channel, took a touch before 

lobbing a perfectlyexecuted 

finish over 

Aaron Ramsdale. 

His hard work for Youri 

Tielemans’ goal for 2-1 

epitomised his display, 

rolling the ball across the 

six-yard box for the Belgium 

international to tuck 

home from a yard out. 

Bournemouth were 

lacklustre at best with 

Callum Wilson equalising 

for 1-1 with their only 

real chance of note. 

Danjuma happy to break African Games jinx 

NIGERIA women 

football coach at 

the Africa Games, Chris 

Danjuma said he was 

happy that the Falconnets 

ended the 12-year 

jinx of Nigeria not winning 

the gold. 

Danjuma, who led the 

Super Falcons to a 

fruitless chase at the 

2015 Africa Games in 

Congo-Brazzaville, 

guided the U20 women 

team to a hard earned 

3-2 shoot-out win over 

Cameroon in the final. 

“It makes me feel 

awesomely great to be 

a jinx breaker,” Danjuma 

told Goal. 

“Nigeria has not been 

in the final for the past 

12 years and for me and 

my team, it was a great 

feeling we reclaimed 

the title. 

“Thank God for the 

*Iwobi 

Nigeria Women’s Premier 

League, when you play in 

the NWPL, there is no 

amount of pressure that 

you see outside at this level 

that you won’t be able 

to cope with. 

“I was just calm and not 

moved by what was happening 

to keep my players 

fully concentrated. I knew 

nothing was over until it’s 

over because I had a 

group of players that 

wanted to write their 

name in gold. 

Having won the African 

Games with 12 fresh players, 

Danjuma attributed 

the success to the huge 

talent in the country’s domestic 

league. 

“The players’ performance 

here showed that 

we have a lot of talent 

and all we need is patience 

to harness them 

and focus our attention 

*Nnadozie 

on developing players 

for the senior team,” 

he continued. 

“Out of the players 

that played the Fifa 

U20 Women’s World 

Cup in France last 

year, about seven were 

not here and they could 

still put up this feat. I 

think that is really encouraging. 

Vanguard, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 — 45 

US Open: Federer sick of 

preferential treatment 

complaints 

ROGER Federer has 

said he is sick and 

tired of complaints that 

he receives a favourable 

playing schedule after 

his latest U.S. Open victim 

suggested the fivetimes 

champion gets 

preferential treatment. 

Federer began the 

day’s session on Arthur 

Ashe Stadium against 

Briton Dan Evans, who 

because of rain earlier in 

the week, did not finish 

his second-round match 

until Thursday afternoon. 

Evans looked tired from 

the outset of his thirdround 

loss to Federer, 

who completed his previous 

match under a 

closed roof on Wednesday, 

but the Swiss great 

said his team did not demand 

an early start time 

but were asked if they 

had a preference. 

“That doesn’t mean 

like, ‘Roger asks, Roger 

gets.’ Just remember 

that, because I have 

heard this shit too often 

now,” said Federer. “I’m 

sick and tired of it, that 

apparently I call the 

shots. The tournament 

and the TV stations do. 

“We can give our opinion. 

That’s what we do. 

But I’m still going to walk 

out even if they schedule 

me at 4:00 in the morning.” 

Federer, who is seeking 

a record-extending 21st 

Grand Slam title, also 

pointed out that whatever 

time Evans finished 

his second-round match 

he was always going to 

be at a disadvantage. 

Still, the 38-year-old 

Swiss said he understood 

Evans’ frustration at the 

quick turnaround but was 

not about to apologise for 

something that was out of 

his control. 

Basketball World Cup: Poland 

nick first victory in 52 years 

POLAND collected 

their first victory on 

the world stage in 52 

years as they defeated 

Venezuela 80-69 for an 

ideal start to their Group 

A campaign at the FIBA 

Basketball World Cup 

*Ponitka 

Wilder wants to 

fight Joshua or 

Ruiz 

DEONTAY Wilder 

has suggested that 

Tyson Fury get out of the 

way while he fights the 

winner of the December 

7 Anthony Joshua vs. 

Andy Ruiz Jr. rematch. 

WBC heavyweight 

champion Wilder, with 

41-0-1, 40 Kos record, is 

supposed to fight Fury in 

a rematch on February 22 

in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

However, there’s a lot 

more for Wilder to gain 

in facing the Joshua-Ruiz 

2 winner than there is in 

facing Fury again. 

The U.S boxing fans 

aren’t all that excited at 

seeing Wilder and Fury 

fight again. 

*Federer 

2019. 

Michal Sokolowski 

paced five Polish players 

in double figures with 

16 points to go with 9 rebounds 

while Mateusz 

Ponitka had 15 points 

and Adam Hrycaniuk 

picked up a double-double 

with 10 points and 10 

rebounds for Poland, 

whose last World Cup 

win came on June 10, 

1967 against Uruguay. 

Venezuela, who played 

their first World Cup 

contest since 2006, were 

paced by Pedro Chourio’s 

15 points. 

The Polish side had led 

by 8 points at halftime 

but Venezuela trimmed 

the gap to 2 points, 44- 

42. The Europeans answered 

however, with a 

16-2 run as Aaron Cel 

and Karol Gruszecki both 

nailed three-pointers to 

open a 14-point lead. 

Venezuela were able to 

get within 9 points after 

three quarters but that 

was the closest they 

would get the rest of the 

way. 

Player of the Game for 

Poland was Mateusz 

Ponitka who scored 15 

points - including 9 of 11 

from the foul line. He 

also chipped in 5 rebounds, 

1 assist and 1 

block. 

Poland used their 

tough defense and held 

Venezuela to just 39 percent 

from the field, including 

26 percent from 

long range. The Europeans 

also converted 18 of 

25 free throws compared 

to just 7 of 11 for Venezuel

46 — Vanguard, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 

FIBA World Cup: Gallant D’Tigers lose 

opening game to Russia 

NIGERIA’s D’ Ti 

gers have lost their 

opening game of the 

FIBA World Cup. They 

fell to Russia 82-77 a in 

Group B match up at the 

Wuhan Arena. 

Despite catching up 

with the Russians at 58- 

58 in the third quarter 

and leading by eight 

points in the fourth, 

D’Tigers failed to find a 

cutting edge as they were 

punished by the Russians 

from turn overs. Point 

Guard Josh Okogie garnered 

18 points high 

scores, and six players fininshed 

with double figure 

points, the the efforts 

were not enough to lift the 

team. 

They need to push 

harder when they meet 

Argentina in their next 

game tomorrow. Argentina 

beat South Korea by 26 

points at 95-69. Spain 

also beat Tunisia 101-62 

points while Cote 

d’Ivoire lost to China 55- 

Racing...Raymond Ekevwo, Paul Joseph Amoah and 

Arthur Cisse 

African Games: Nesiama 

urges Ekevwo to gear up 

for better performances 

Retreating... Nigeria coach Alex Nwora discussing strategy with D'Tigers 

players during thir group B FIBA World Cup match against Russia. Photo 

AFP 

FORMER Athletics Fed 

eration of Nigeria, 

AFN, technical director, 

Omatseye Nesiama has 

urged African Games 100m 

champion, Raymond Ekevwo 

to be focused and make 

an improvement to his 

9.96seconds personal best. 

Ekevwo turned the form 

chart upside down after he 

beat race favourtie Arthur 

Cisse of Cote d’ Iovire to 

clinch his first ever Africa 

Games title on his debut. 

Ekevwo was the second Nigerian 

after Divine Oduduru 

to go under 10.00 seconds 

in 13 years. 

Nesiama, a retired Nigeria 

Navy Commodore and 

member of the Confederation 

of African Athletics (CAA) 

Technical and Competitions 

Commission, said the athlete 

has the potential to do more. 

“It is exciting, these were 

athletes discovered during 

my time as the Technical Director 

at the youth level maturing 

over time now. It 

goes to show they were 

discovered in their true 

ages and have been followed 

up appropriately 

over time. 

“I hope we can continue 

to make our sprinters podium 

finishers at the World 

Championships this year 

and at the Olympics scheduled 

for next year,” he said. 

He however, advised the 

athletes to continue to remain 

focused and determined. 

70. 

Speaking after the 

game, Okogie talked 

about losing the 8- 

point lead in the final 

quarter thus: “We 

wanted to make them 

take contested two 

pointers, and we’ve 

been doing that successfully. 

Then, we allowed 

them three easy 

threes. When you allow a 

team like Russia three 

threes straight, they will 

punish you.” 

Russia’s head coach, 

Sergey Bazarevich, said, 

“”For this kind of a game, 

(8-point lead) really was 

a big lead. But we went 

with the small lineup, we 

made two quick threepointers 

and that helped 

us to endure over the last 

two minutes. And in the 

last two minutes we were 

better, more concentrated, 

smarter and had a little 

(bit of) luck, too.” 

National Sports Festival: 

Edo 2020 will be a 

yardstick — Alli 

FORMER African long 

jump champion, 

Yusuf Alli has said that the 

Edo 2020 National Sports 

Festival would be a bench 

mark for future sports fiesta 

in the country. 

Alli who remains the national 

record holder with 

8.27m was appointed the 

director of organisation for 

the festival billed for 

March 20-April 20, 2020, 

by Edo State governor, 

Godwin Obaseki in his 

quest to deliver a perfectly 

organised Sports Festival. 

“The NSF is key to our 

national sports development 

and we must attach 

much importance to it. Almost 

all Nigerian international 

athletes passed 

through it. 

“This is why we are going 

to work very hard to 

deliver a sports festival 

that should be a benchmark 

for future festivals. 

“It will be open to all Nigerians 

and we are using 

the best international practices 

to run all the events. 

For instance in track and 

field, we are having the 

mandatory three entrance 

per State and with this, we 

expect that competition 

would be keen and we expect 

world standard performances,” 

said Alli 

Governor Obaseki, while 

accepting to host the festival, 

promised to fight 

against any militating factor 

that could cause a shift 

in date for the Sports festival 

and so far there are indications 

that Edo 2020 is 

on course. Work is in 

progress at all the facilities 

and would be ready for use. 

Don’t leave home-based players out of 

Eagles, Erico tells Rohr 

FORMER Super Eagles 

assistant coach, Joe 

Erico has said that coach Gernot 

Rohr’s policy of ignoring 

home-based players out of the 

national was counter productive. 

Erico, who coached many 

Nigerian clubsides and discovered 

great players who 

made their mark with the Super 

Eagles, argued that the 

national team is one sided and 

this may result in the coaches 

relying on a regular set of players 

rather than discover new 

talents every passing month. 

“There is the chance of discovering 

new players now and 

then because they are everywhere. 

One million and one of 

them so you cannot just depend 

on the old ones regularly”. 

“If the young ones come in 

*Alli...Edo 2020 calling 

and fight for a shirt, there is 

nothing wrong with that, but 

that is how it is supposed to be 

anyway,” the former goalkeeper 

coach told Brila FM. 

“A reasonable coach should 

be able to try as much as possible 

to infuse the home-based 

players to encourage them to 

work harder and to do more 

and giving them an opportunity. 

I think it’s very important 

the coach should look inwards 

too,” he concluded. 

Congrats Team Nigeria 

ANY father who refuses to pay his children’s school fees 

but turns around to claim the credit for their excellent 

performance has no pint of shame running in his blood. That 

is the situation with Team Nigeria and the immediate past 

minister of Youth and Sports Development minister, Solomon 

Dalung. 

We were all in this country when Nigerian athletes complained 

that they were not being prepared for the continental 

sports festival which comes every four years. 

When the camping of athletes finally started, they were asked 

to report to the various camps scattered around the country 

with a directive that they should pay their way there. There 

was a proviso, and it was that those who eventually make the 

cut would have their expenses refunded by the sports ministry. 

This provision angered some of the athletes in some particular 

sports camped somewhere in the north eastern part of 

the country who also complained of the poor feeding regimen 

provided for them. They even threatened to withdraw 

from camp. 

I remember many times when the Wrestling Federation 

president, Dr Daniel Igali complained that the sports ministry 

was not proactive in athletes’ participation at international 

competitions by making funds available early enough or 

not available at all which could serve as preparatory events to 

toughen the athletes for the Games. 

Igali, himself a victim of lack of support from the government 

during preparations for major competitions in the past, 

has always cautioned athletes against waiting for the government 

before they prepare themselves for events. 

He believes that every athlete owes him or herself the duty 

to keep fit always and train, hoping that the government will 

eventually call them to camp. “If you say because the government 

has not called for camping and you don’t train, when 

the camping eventually starts, you will not be fit to make the 

list and you end up being the loser”, was his admonition to 

them always. 

That was why he took extra efforts to source funds, most 

times with the support of his state government in Bayelsa to 

keep his wrestlers in top shape with constant camping as well 

as participation in national international competitions. 

With the African Games which ended in Morocco yesterday, 

the excitement among Nigerians that Team Nigeria was 

going for the Games was near zero because of the seeming 

lack of preparation for the athletes. 

It even showed in the manner they departed the country for 

Morocco. Unlike in the past when their departure for the 

Games, after a well planned training tour, was with fanfare 

and by a charter flight, this time around they went in batches 

with coat of many colours as their kits were either not ready 

or adequate. 

Ordinarily athletes who went through this condition were 

supposed to be in very low spirit. But, like Igali always told 

them, “think first about your career and put in your best. If 

you excel, you would have done yourself a whole lot of good. 

And then the government will eventually come to appreciate 

your effort”. 

Anyone who follows the former Commonwealth, continental, 

world and Olympic wrestling champion on social media 

would remember his lamentation during the Africa Nations 

Cup in Egypt when, in reacting to the Super Eagles earning 

$10,000 as bonus for winning a match, he wrote that he was 

looking up to the day athletes from other sports would amass 

up to the same amount for emerging champions from a competition. 

Mind you the allowances and bonuses approved for every 

sports man and woman is got from the sports ministry, the 

parent body for all the federations, including the super Nigeria 

Football Federation, NFF. 

So you can imagine how athletes from other sports who 

won gold medals from their events would feel being paid 

$3,000 (or $6,000 for athletes in team events) after winning 

all stages of their events while each Super Eagles player got 

$50,000 for getting a bronze. They got $10,000 for each of 

the five matches they won, including the bronze medal match 

against Tunisia. 

What it means is that a gold medal in say a team event like 

basketball or handball is worth $6,000 while a bronze medal 

in football at the Africa Nations Cup is worth $50,000. 

It is bad enough that these athletes from other sports are 

treated as second class citizens. It is however, rubbing salt 

on an open wound when despite this glaring discrimination 

against them coupled by neglect by the sports ministry headed 

by the former sports minister, Solomon Dalung, he comes 

round to claim credit for their feat at the African Games. Or 

so his hatchet writers told us a couple of days ago. 

Dalung forgot that he once said that athletes don’t need to 

train for long to win medals but just need a “winning mentality”. 

He said this shortly after the country’s special sports 

athletes did well at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio to 

justify the lack of adequate training which the able bodied 

athletes blamed for their poor performance at the 2016 Rio 

Olympics. 

Despite the distraction from irrelevant quarters, Nigerians 

appreciate the performance of Team Nigeria athletes 

and their officials for flying the country’s flag high in Egypt. 

They have shown that they have the quality to match Egypt 

medal for medal if the right things are done by the government, 

individuals and corporate bodies. 

This is the time to tell the new sports minister, Sunday 

Dare, that Nigeria must explore areas of strength of Egypt 

like swimming which has a lot of medals while building to 

retain our areas of strength like table tennis and athletics 

(sprints and field events) which the Egyptians and South 

Africans have encroached into. Congrats to our heroes and 

heroines.

Vanguard, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 — 47 

Zaha too much for 

Palace, says Parish 

CRYSTAL Palace chairman Steve Parish 

says Ivory Coast winger Wilfried Zaha 

“deserves” to play for a “top club”. 

Palace rejected bids from Arsenal and 

Everton in the transfer window as they value 

the 26-year-old at around £80m. 

Parish told the Daily Mail it will be 

“difficult” to keep Zaha, but the club need 

to find a replacement first. 

“I’m sure it has a happy ending for 

everybody,” said Parish. “That’s what I want 

to generate and I’m sure we’ll make that 

happen.” Zaha, who is in his second spell 

with Palace having coming through the 

youth ranks at the club before moving to 

Manchester United in 2013, signed a 

contract extension last summer that runs 

until 2023. 

“The situation was not right for anybody 

this summer,” added Parish. ‘We didn’t have 

a bid of the value we place on the player. 

“I’ve watched him every week for 10 years 

- he scored the first goal in the first game 

after we bought the club when he was 16. 

So there’s even a bit of me that wants to see 

what he can do at a top club, and I certainly 

wouldn’t want to be the person who stopped 

that. “I feel he deserves to get there. I hope 

it happens and sometimes it mystifies me 

he’s not up there already.” 

* Hazard 

Abraham’s brace too 

little to lift Chelsea 

CHELSEA threw away a twogoal 

lead to draw 2-2 with 

newly promoted Sheffield United 

yesterday, leaving manager Frank 

Lampard still looking for his first 

home win. 

Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham 

got his name on the score-sheet at 

Stamford Bridge for the first time 

with two first-half goals. 

Abraham, one of several players 

from Chelsea’s youth academy 

given a chance by Lampard, slotted 

home in the 19th minute when 

Sheffield keeper Dean Henderson 

failed to gather the ball under 

pressure from Christian Pulisic. 

Abraham doubled Chelsea’s lead 

in the 43rd minute when he 

capitalised on a defensive mix-up. 

But the visitors pulled a goal back 

immediately after half-time when 

Callum Robinson converted a cross 

from Enda Stevens and equalised in 

the 89th minute when Chelsea 

defender Kurt Zouma netted past 

Kepa Arrizabalaga. 

•Zaha 

Don’t play for Belgium, 

Zidane warns Hazard 

REAL Madrid coach 

Zinedine Zidane has said 

the club will not prevent injured 

forward Eden Hazard from 

travelling to the Belgium team’s 

camp next week but urged him 

not to play in their upcoming 

Euro 2020 qualifiers. 

Hazard, who Madrid signed 

from Chelsea for a joint-club 

record fee of 100 million euros 

($111.44 million) in June, has 

yet to play a competitive game 

for his new side after injuring his 

thigh the day before the La Liga 

season started. 

He has been named in the 

Belgium squad for the 

qualifiers away to San Marino 

and Scotland but was absent 

from Madrid’s final training 

session before Sunday’s trip to 

Villarreal, with Zidane 

reiterating that the forward is not 

yet fit. 

• Abraham 

•Neymar 

“Legally he can 

travel with Belgium 

but at the moment he 

cannot play,” Zidane 

told a news conference 

yesterday. 

“He knows that, we do 

too and I hope he doesn’t 

play, for the good of 

everyone, including Belgium.” 

Hazard is one of six Madrid 

forwards who are currently out, 

with Spain international Isco 

and Colombian James 

Rodriguez the latest players to 

fall injured this week after the 

team’s disappointing 1-1 draw 

at home to Real Valladolid last 

week. 

Zidane, however, dismissed 

suggestions that Madrid’s 

injury woes were down to 

problems with player 

conditioning. 

Barca edging closer to 

getting Neymar back 

BARCELONA have made a breakthrough in their pursuit of 

Paris St-Germain superstar Neymar - and Thomas Tuchel 

has convinced Ousmane Dembele to be part of a sensational threeplayer-plus-cash 

deal. 

Neymar is reportedly desperate to leave France this summer 

a mere two years after joining PSG for a world-record 

£198m fee. Yet he is running out of time to secure his 

Parc Des Princes exit, with just 24 hours remaining in 

the transfer window. 

According to L’Equipe, though, Barca are edging 

closer to bringing the Brazilian back to the Nou 

Camp. Ernesto Valverde’s side have reportedly 

offered Ivan Rakitic, Jean-Clair Tobido and Dembele 

on a season-long loan, as well as a £120m fee. 

Talks looked to have hit a stumbling block when 

Dembele informed the club he didn’t want to be 

part of the deal. 

And reports suggest Tuchel has now 

persuaded Dembele to reverse his decision, 

holding a long discussion with the player he 

signed from Rennes in 2016 during his time 

at Borussia Dortmund. 

The 46-year-old manager’s influence, 

then, seems to have given Barca the green 

light to go ahead and secure Neymar’s 

return. 

Solskjaer 

Ayew breaks Palace’s 

home goal drought 

CRYSTAL Palace finally scored in front of 

their own fans at Selhurst Park as Jordan 

Ayew secured a 1-0 win in the Premier League 

on Saturday against an Aston Villa side 

hampered by the 54th-minute dismissal of 

Trezeguet. 

But Villa were denied an equaliser in the final 

seconds when Henri Lansbury bundled the ball 

into the net but referee Kevin Friend disallowed 

the goal for an earlier dive by Jack Grealish, who 

was booked. After two successive goalless draws, 

Palace looked in danger of further frustration 

until Ayew finally found a way to beat Tom 

Heaton on 73 minutes, getting on the 

end of a James McArthur cross to 

fire home. 

“I’d still be heaping praise on 

him if he hadn’t scored,” 

Palace boss Roy Hodgson 

said on Ayew. 

“The number of times he 

does the tactical work for us, 

not just attacking but 

Ayew 

defending too. When he puts 

icing on that cake but scoring 

last week and this week, then it’s 

happy days. For him in particular. 

Solskjaer laments as 10-man 

Saints hold Man United 

MANCHESTER 

United’s 

patchy start to the Premier 

League season continued with a 1-1 

draw at 10-man Southampton after 

a Jannik Vestergaard header 

cancelled out a brilliant Daniel 

James goal for the visitors yesterday. 

The result left United on five points 

from four games after last weekend’s 

shock 2-1 home defeat by Crystal 

Palace while Southampton, who 

stretched their winless league streak 

at home against United to nine 

games, have four points. 

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 

conceded his team lacked the killer 

instinct in the opposition half but 

showed no signs of frustration after 

a third successive lacklustre 

performance following the opening 

4-0 home win over Chelsea. 

“We started well, got the game 

where we wanted it and that’s where 

you have to score the second and the 

third and finish it off,” Solskjaer told BT Sport. 

“We weren’t clinical enough. We had loads of chances, and 

the last bit is missing. It’s getting there though. 

Fati scores as Osasuna, 

Barca share points 

• Fati 

BARCELONA were held by 

promoted Osasuna as 16- 

year-old Ansu Fati became the 

champions’ youngest La Liga 

goalscorer. 

Roberto Torres gave Osasuna 

the lead early on with a sweet 

volley from Brandon’s cross. 

Fati came on at half-time for his 

second Barca appearance and 

headed in Carles Perez’s cross 

six minutes later to equalise. 

Perez then set up Arthur to put 

Barca ahead with a 16-yard shot 

but Torres equalised with a late 

penalty. That kick was awarded 

after Gerard Pique handled 

Oier’s cross. 

Winger Fati has been with 

Barcelona’s youth academy 

since 2012. He was born in 

Guinea-Bissau but moved to 

Spain at the age of six with his 

family. He has not played for the 

country of his birth at any level, 

and Spanish media claim that 

Spain want to call him up to their 

youth teams.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 

SEE SOLUTION PAGE 5 

ACROSS 

1)English Village & Civil Parish (7) 

4)L.G.A in Kebbi State (5) 

7)Commercial Town in Abia State (2) 

8)Namibian President, Mr. Hage – (7) 

9)Gabon “Panthers” Midfielder, 

Franck – (7) 

10)Greek Alphabet (7) 

13)L.G.A. in Kano State (4) 

15)France “League 1” Club-Side (6) 

18)Former Cross-River State 

Governor, Mr. Idongesit – (6) 

21)Former Chief Judge of the 

Federal High Court of Nigeria, 

Rtd. Justice Ibrahim – (4) 

23)Former Super Eagles Right-Back, 

Efe – (7) 

25)Country in Africa (7) 

26)Former Wolverhampton Warriors 

Coach, Paul – (7) 

27)Venomous Snake (3) 

28)Director-General, National 

Orientation Agency (NDA), 

Dr. Garba – (5) 

29)This Number is Twice the value of 

Eight? (7) 

DOWN 

1)Mali “Eagles”Full-Back, Molla – (5) 

2)Director of Press, Federal 

Ministry of Transport, 

Mrs. Yetunde – (7) 

3)National Publicity Secretary, 

All Progressives Congress (APC), 

Mr. Yekini – (6) 

4)Thailand’s Capital City (7) 

5)England “League 1”Club-Side (7) 

6)Former Ogun State Governor, 

Mr. Harris – (7) 

11)Judge of the Federal High Court 

of Nigeria, Justice Stephen – (3) 

12)L.G.A. in Imo State (4) 

14)Former Warri Wolves Striker, 

John – (4) 

15)Canadian Province (7) 

16)American State (7) 

17)Kenyan Capital City (7) 

19)Morocco “Atlas Lions” Attacking 

Midfielder, Noureddine – (7) 

20)Vapour (3) 

22)Secretary-General, World 

Meterological Organisation 

(WMO), Mr. Petteri – (6) 

24)American Country (3) 

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Advert Dept: 01- 7924470; Hotline: 01-4544821; Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. 

E-mail website: sundayvanguard@yahoo.com, editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com. Advert:advert@vanguardngr.com. Internet: www.vanguardngr.com 

(ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: WALE AKINOLA 08023145556. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

01092019

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?