29092019 - 2023: Controversy over Pastor Tunde Bakare's prophecy on Buhari's

PAGE 2—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
G<strong>over</strong>nor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (right), welcoming the Apostolic Nuncio to
Nigeria, Most Rev. Antonio Guido Filipazzi (left), during the inauguration of the COVIAM
Theologate building at the Vincentian Community, Maryland, Enugu, yesterday. With
them is the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga (middle),
among others.
From left: Ojomo of Ekpoma, Sir Chief Ezekiel Ainabe, former Deputy Senate President,
Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, former President Goodluck Jonathan and former President
Olusegun Obasanjo at the 85th birthday celebration of the Esama of Benin Kingdom,
Sir Chief Gabriel Igbinedion,.
XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS:
Obasanjo says S/African President admitted mistake
*’Buhari heads to S/A this week’
By Daud Olatunji
Former President Olu
segun Obasanjo said,
yesterday, that the President
of South Africa, Cyril
Ramaphosa, admitted that
his country made mistake
<strong>over</strong> xenophobia attacks on
Nigerians among other foreign
nationals and was prepared
to correct it.
Obasanjo said the South
African president spoke when
he paid a courtesy visit to him.
He further said that he was
aware of a planned meeting
between Ramaphosa and
Nigerian President Muhammadu
Buhari on the xenophobia
in South Africa, urging
them to manage the opportunity
properly.
The former President stated
this at his residence in
Abeokuta while speaking to
journalists on what he discussed
with Ramaphosa during
his visit to South Africa.
Obasanjo said, “One of the
major things we discussed is
this issue of xenophobia or
afrophobia.
“I took the opportunity of
being in South Africa about
three or four days ago to actually
pay a courtesy call on
President Cyril Ramaphosa
and he quickly granted me
the opportunity. One of the
major things we discussed is
this issue of xenophobia or
afrophobia.
“One good thing I disc<strong>over</strong>ed
among many is that the
President said to me that there
are so much at stake and
‘whatever mistake we have
made, we have to correct it’.
And I think that was a very
good statement and I know
that he meant it because, he
immediately, said ‘look
,what can we do or should
we do?’
“I think that is all we must
be doing and be saying and
I said my joy is that President
Cyril Ramaphosa is
ready to do what needs to be
done to stop these incidents
Boy, 8, crushed by truck while hawking
By Dayo Johnson,
Akure
AN 8-year-old boy
identified as Kalid
hawking pap was
yesterday crushed by a truck
at Owena in Ondo State.
Sunday Vanguard gathered
that the primary school
pupil died on the spot.
Eyewitnesses said the truck
suddenly developed break failure
and, in the process of the
driver avoiding crushing people
by the side of the road,
rammed into another vehicle
being towed.
The towed vehicle reportedly
detached from the towing vehicle
and hit the little boy killing
him on the spot.
The boy reportedly rolled under
the truck and was crushed.
His mangled body was reportedly
removed from under
the truck by symphatisers.
But for the timely intervention
of police detectives,
some irate youths mobilised
to lynch the truck driver.
The corpse was later removed
by policemen from
the ldanre divisional police
station and deposited at the
mortuary of the state specialist
hospital in Akure.
VAT: FG should exempt tax on renewable
energy products – ERA
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
S the Federal G<strong>over</strong>n
Ament continues consultations
on the proposed increase
of Valued Added Tax,
VAT, from its present five
percent to 7.5 percent, an
environmental group, Environmental
Rights Action /
Friends of the Earth Nigeria,
ERA/FoEN, has called
on g<strong>over</strong>nment to exempt
APC extols Gov Oyetola at 65
The All Progressives
Congress, APC, in
Osun State has told
G<strong>over</strong>nor Adegboyega Oyetola
that he is on “the threshold
of a distinguished career
in g<strong>over</strong>nance.”
According to the party,
“not only will his performance
astound his friends
and supporters, it will also
confound his political foes.”
In a message to mark the
g<strong>over</strong>nor’s 65th birthday on
Sunday, signed by the party’s
Director of Publicity, Kunle
Oyatomi, the APC said.
“G<strong>over</strong>nor Oyetola has a
unique opportunity to transform
the next decade of his
life to one of exceptional service
to the state and people of
Osun.”
The message read in part:
“Our Chairman, Prince
Gboyega Famodun and the
entire Executive of the party,
including members of the
APC family in the state, wish
our calculated G<strong>over</strong>nor
many happy returns of the day.
“We have no doubts in our
minds that this event which
all renewable energy products
from the new tax regime.
The Executive Director, ERA/
FoEN, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo,
made the appeal at the international
workshop on Comparative
Analysis of Tax Regimes in
Africa in Abuja.
The workshop had participants
who are experts in environmental
issues from
Mozambique, Kenya, Togo and
Nigeria including civil society
comes close to the first anniversary
of your g<strong>over</strong>norship,
brings with it the good
omen that our people desire
“Regardless that protracted
legal challenges
considerably hindered
your ability to devote full
attention to g<strong>over</strong>nance,
you still had time and the
will power to address those
urgent issues that impacted
the lives of our people.
“Your efforts on healthcare
infrastructure since
you assume responsibility
as g<strong>over</strong>nor have been remarkable.
“You have also since then
resurrected that cost efficient
culture, (which predated
our Independence),
of fixing broken and failed
sections of our roads before
they become death
traps.
“You have also refurbished
and opened up roads leading
to towns, villages and
communities that had for
some time now been very
difficult to access.
“You have shown extraordinary
compassion to civil servants,
who might have been in
some discomfort, but also for
their understanding of your position.
“It is also our hope that the
people of Osun will be enthusiastic
in working with the G<strong>over</strong>nor
to achieve optimum success
for our state.”
groups and communities
representatives working in
the renewable energy sector.
Ojo said any VAT increase
on renewable energy would
make it more difficult for the
poor to have access to it.
He said that some African
g<strong>over</strong>nment dependence on
fossil fuels is increasing with
new oil disc<strong>over</strong>ies making
energy mix from non oil
sources unattractive.
“There is the need to focus
attention on the prevailing
tax regimes on solar lighting
gadgets and en efficient
stove. Most countries derive
national revenue from tax
regimes on imports and exports
of goods and services”,
the Executive Director said.
“ In Africa, tax burden
impose obstacles to the promotion
of renewable energy
and this is hampering the
implementation of the Sustainable
Development Goal
7 which is promoting clean
energy access for all”.
Accident, not bandits, killed our
officers —DSS
By Soni Daniel, Abuja
The Department of State
Services (DSS) has said
that two of its personnel
died Friday night due to an accident
at Gidan Busa Katari,
along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.
The service made the confirmation
in a statement by the
DSS Public Relations Officer,
Peter Afunanya.
The statement explained that
the accident occurred while the
team was heading to one of
the states in the North-West
zone for an operation when
the Hilux vehicle in which
they were travelling somersaulted.
“Two persons died in the
accident while another was
injured. He is presently receiving
required attention in
a medical facility.
“This clarification has become
necessary in order to
debunk fake news making
the round that the gallant
officers were attacked by
bandits,” Afunanya said.
and to put the relationship between
Nigeria and South Africa
on the right track.
“One of the things they are
going to do between South Africa
and Nigeria is, they are
going to have what we established
in my term that we called
Bi-lateral Commission.
“During my time, it was at the
second echelon level of Vice-
Presidents, Deputy Presidents,
but, now they have raised it to
the President’s level and I understand
that our own President
would be there within
the first week of October”.
Obasanjo, however, said
his findings showed that Nigerians
are not drug peddlers
or criminals as being
rumoured,saying, most of
them are businessmen and
professionals that have
helped in contributing to the
economic development of
South Africa.
The former President insisted
noted the thinking by
some South Africans that
some foreigners are taking
their jobs should be killed was
wrong because the foreigners
are contributing to the development
of the country.
“I met more than two Nigerians
who are doing legitimate
businesses and their
turn<strong>over</strong> run into millions of
dollars and they employ 50
to 60 South Africans.
“All these must be expressed
and must be shown
that Nigerians in South Africa
are not drug peddlers,
criminals; there are many
of them that are genuine
businessmen and professionals
and who are making
meaningful contributions
to the economy and
the social life of that country.”
The former President also
commended the South African
President for sending
emissaries to the countries
affected by xenophobia attacks.
No rift with Akeredolu – Ondo
deputy g<strong>over</strong>nor
By Dayo Johnson, Akure
AHEAD of 2020 g<strong>over</strong>
norship election in
Ondo State, the deputy
g<strong>over</strong>nor, Hon Agboola
Ajayi, yesterday, denied that
there is a rift between him
and G<strong>over</strong>nor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Ajayi, who spoke during the
celebration of his 51st birthday
in Akure, noted that he
enjoys “a robust and cordial
relationship” with the g<strong>over</strong>nor
unknown to many people
even within the g<strong>over</strong>nor’s
cabinet.
Recall that the social media
have been awash with reports
that the deputy g<strong>over</strong>nor
would defect to the opposition
Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) to contest against
the g<strong>over</strong>nor in next year’s
election following rumour
that he would be dropped.
Clarifying issues, Ajayi described
those peddling the
rumour “as job seekers who
TV drama series, ‘The Village Headmaster,’
marks 50, makes a comeback
By Chris Onuoha
The Nigerian Television
Authority (NTA) and
surviving cast and
crew of the rested TV drama
series, ‘The Village Headmaster,’
under the name The Village
Headmaster Family
(VHMF), has concluded
plans to hold a befitting series
of events in honour of the 50th
anniversary of the popular
television series, which reinforced
traditions, ethics and
values, before it was rested.
In a press conference held
in Lagos to unveil plans for
this occasion, the Deputy
Chairman, VHMF, Dan Imodu
said; “The NTA is partnering
with the surviving
members to celebrate this
landmark attainment of Nigeria’s
first and longest-running
television drama series,
which ruled the nation’s air
waves for more than two decades,
promoting national
unity and through its diverse
characters, proffered many
solutions to educational, social
and political situations.”
Imodu noted that The Village
Headmaster’s ability to
use drama to pass messages
to teeming audiences is one
are trying to create enmity
between me and my boss”.
Stressing that the media
attacks on his person lately
were expected, the deputy
g<strong>over</strong>nor said, “This is because
the state is heading towards
a political period,
particularly with the g<strong>over</strong>norship
election coming up
next year.
“All that is being written
about me is expected. This is
a political period where politicians
get to hear all manner
of cooked up stories.
“Prior to the last g<strong>over</strong>norship
election in the state
where my boss (Akeredolu)
emerged, I told him (Akeredolu)
that I will support him
in any way possible. Initially,
I didn’t have interest until he
picked me as his deputy.
“I have served at the ward,
local g<strong>over</strong>nment, state and
the federal levels . So, there is
nothing that I’m looking for
that God has not done for me.
I’m a fulfilled man”.
of the attributes that will be
examined at a Roundtable
discussion at Freedom Park,
Lagos Island on Tuesday October
8 which will be the kick
off of a weeklong event.
According to him, “Presenters
and discussants at the
Roundtable include Professor
Ahmed Yerima and Duro
Oni; Joke Silva; Zik Zulu;
Kadaria Ahmed; Femi
Odugbemi and Deborah
Ogazuma while Dr. Danladi
Bako will moderate the session.
He also mentioned that
a cross section of various professional
industry guilds will
also make valuable contributions
to the discourse titled;
“Drama – a tool for national
development.”
The event continues on
Wednesday October 9 with a
courtesy call on some members
of the VHM family,
while on October 10, 2 live
stage performances featuring
veteran cast members
and actors will hold at The
Terra Kulture Arena, Victoria
Island, Lagos. “There will
be a matinee for students and
a Command performance
scheduled to hold at 6pm on
the same day,” says Imodu.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 3
From left:Saratu Umar, Father Atta Barkindo of The Kukah Centre, and Kalu
Okoronkwo; and Publisher/CEO, The New Narrative Newspaper, at the signing
of MoU between the Kukah Centre and The New Narrative Newspaper for a
Strategic Partnership in Abuja.
FG sacks Investment Tribunal
Chairman
By Nkiruka Nnorom
THE
Federal
G<strong>over</strong>nment has
sacked the Chairman of
Investment and Securities
Tribunal (IST), Mr. Isaiah
Idoko-Akoh, two years after
assuming office.
This is the second time in
four years g<strong>over</strong>nment has
sacked the head of the
tribunal without adherence
to the Investment and
Securities Act 2007.
Idoko Akoh's predecessor,
Dr. Ngozi Chianakwalam,
had also been removed from
office without notice three
years into her tenure in 2015.
But it was not until two years
later that Idoko Akah was
appointed.
In essence, for the two years,
the tribunal operated without
a Board, leading to
accumulation of cases. The
Board Chairman of the
tribunal, according to IST
Act 2007, is entitled to five
years term in office,
renewable for another five
years.
Mr. Jude Udunni, a Deputy
Director in the Ministry of
Justice, has been appointed
in Idoko Akoh's stead in
Acting capacity.
Therefore, since 2015, the
IST has been headed by the
following, Dr Ngozi
Chianakwalam, Habu
Yerima Saleh, Idoko-Akoh
and now Udunni, thereby
making it a one year one
Chairman tribunal.
By Simon Adewale
FORMER Delta State
Commissioner for
Housing and a stalwart of the
All Progressives Congress,
APC, Engr. Abraham
Bobor, has dismissed reports
that he recently decamped
from the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, to APC, saying, “I
left PDP long time ago and I
have since remained one of
the formidable foundation
members of APC in Delta
State.”Bobor, who holds the
traditional title of Uloho
(tall tree) of Mosogar, said,
“I was in the ceremony about
a forth night ago, where a
good number of PDP faithful
in Sapele LGA dumped PDP
to join APC. I was there on
the invitation as a stalwart of
APC in Delta and to represent
the Chairman of APC in
Delta Central Senatorial
District who was
The sack, according to a
reliable source, may have
been orchestrated by a top
official of the Federal
Ministry of Finance who the
source also fingered in the
sack of Gwarzo, the
embattled Securities and
Exchange Commission, SEC,
Director General.
“The top oficial (names
withheld) acted on the complaint
by the staff union <strong>over</strong>
promotion as reason for the
sack. Since he (Idoko-Akoh)
assumed office in 2017, there
has been protests by the staff
<strong>over</strong> promotion,” the source
said, adding that the staff
want to be promoted without
going for promotion examination”.
Display petrol prices or face sanctions,
PPPRA warns oil marketers
By Michael Eboh
Petroleum Products Pric
ing Regulatory Agen
cy, PPPRA, yesterday,
stated that, henceforth, any
marketer who fails to display
prices of petroleum products
at retail outlets, also called
filling stations, as stipulated
by the law, would be sanctioned.
In a statement in Abuja,
General Manager, Corporate
Services of the PPPRA,
Mr. Apollo Kimchi, said the
PPPRA decided to begin strict
enforcement of this law to
check sharp practices among
petroleum marketers.
According to Kimchi, marketers
of petroleum products
must display prices of products
in their retail outlets even
at night or face sanctions.
The General Manager explained
that the PPPRA had
embarked on a series of monitoring
activities to enable it
gauge the market response to
supply dynamics with a view
to effecting policies that will
improve supply efficiency.
According to him, the monitoring
exercise afforded the
PPPRA the opportunity to ascertain
first-hand the activities
at the end of the value
chain in the petroleum downstream
sub-sector.
He also stated that during
the exercise it observed that
price competition amongst
marketers was intensifying
with some selling at N143 per
litre while others sold for
I am a foundation member of APC — Ex-Delta
Commissioner
unavoidably absent.”
Speaking in his Mosogar
country home, Ethiope West
LGA of the state, he added,
“After the shocking
publication, I was surprised
that those involved didn’t
bother to do make proper
findings, went on to list my
name as one of the
decampees which was not
true.
“I was in PDP where I
ascended the ladder to
become the Commissioner
for Housing in Delta state
under former G<strong>over</strong>nor Chief
James Onanefe Ibori. I spent
a short time in PDP and I left
the party, having seen the light
and the will of the
<strong>over</strong>whelming population of
Nigerians, who believe in the
change slogan of APC, that
is, from bad to good. Since
then I have continued to
remain loyal, reliable
amiable and trustworthy
stalwart of APC in Delta state.
As a matter of fact, I am a
foundation member of the
party in the state.”.
By Gab Ejuwa
THE
Chancellor,
Mountain Top
University, Dr. Daniel Kolawole
Olukoya, has charged youths
to be creative and embrace
entrepreneurship.
Olukoya spoke at the
International Conference on
Entrepreneurship organised
by Mountain Top University,
Prayer City, Ibafo, Ogun State.
He said, “Educating your
brain is not enough, you need
to know how to use your hands
creatively. Hence, the Yoruba
song that says education
without basic farm tools is not
From left: The newly installed President Rotary Club of Lagos, District 9110
Nigeria, Rotary international ROTN, Dr Abiodun Osiyemi; member of Board of
Trustees of the Club, ROTN Hairat Balogun; a former Lagos State Commissioner;
District 9110 Nigeria Welfare Education Fund (DWEF);District 9110
G<strong>over</strong>nor Nigeria, ROTN Jide Akeredolu, and a Board Member of the club,
ROTN John Senaya, during the District 9110 Nigeria G<strong>over</strong>nors official visit
to the Club in Lagos.
Serial killings: Rivers House alarmed
as numbers of victims rise to 17
N145 per litre.
He further explained that
the Agency was focused on
ensuring that the competition
does not lead to under-dispensing
where marketers
would hide under the guise
of low price to under-dispense
products to unsuspecting
customers.
court when its Adhoc Committee
on Serial Killings visited
Rivers Command of Special
Anti-Robbery Squad,
SARS, where the lawmakers
learnt that the suspect had
killed no fewer than 17
women in fresh confessions.
The Chairman of the
Committee, Kelechi Wogu,
said, “The police should
continue its good work <strong>over</strong>
the matter. We want the serial
killers, not just a serial killer.
This young man is not alone.
As police, you have given us
hope. “All we are begging of
you people is that whatever
those murdered girls may
have done, they deserve justice.
Let these miscreants not go
free. You have not only saved
lives of Rivers people, but also
lives of Nigerians. People like
Be creative, embrace entrepreneurship, Olukoya
charges youths
complete”.
The Chancellor advocated
that creativity which he defined
as having a productive mind
should be incorporated
alongside entrepreneurship in
our educational system.
Chairman, Local
Organizing Committee, Dr.
Saidi Adedeji Adelekan, in his
speech, said “Entrepreneurship
aids the attainment of the
United Nations 17 Sustainable
Development goals”.
On his part, the Vice-
Chancellor, Prof. Elijah
Ayolabi, said, “In a nation that
desires rapid growth, the
significance
entrepreneurship
of
and
By Rotimi Ojomoyela
THE All Progressives
Congress (APC) in Ekiti
State has postponed the
local g<strong>over</strong>nment primary
election in Ado and Ikole
Local Councils <strong>over</strong> security
concerns.
sustainable development
cannot be <strong>over</strong>emphasized”.
The Chief Guest Speaker,
Chief Dele Momodu,
Chairman, encouraged youths
never to close their minds to
opportunities outside their
course of study.
By Egufe Yafugborhi
RIVERS State House of
Assembly has urged the
police in the state to look
beyond Gracious David West,
the prime suspect of serial
killing of women, to fish out
probable collaborators at
large. The House made the
appeal weekend in Port Harthis
(Gracious) can’t be in our
midst.
“Having named <strong>over</strong> six to
seven states where he had
committed this crime and escaped
all only be apprehended
through efforts of SARS and
others in Rivers, who knows
the extent he has really gone.
“First he said it was seven,
next he said nine, 15 and today
it is 17. I know it will get to 20
tomorrow by the time we
come back here. There are so
many things this man hasn’t
said. Let him not go free.”
“For him to tell us that he
went to a hotel and a Director
saw him with a knife and
concealed it without coming
to report to the police is
worrisome. That hotel should
be sealed and the Director
arrested.”
BAYELSA POLL: APC crisis deepens as aggrieved members
battle Sylva <strong>over</strong> candidate
By Yinka Ajayi
he crisis in the All
TProgressives Congress
(APC) in Bayelsa State <strong>over</strong>
the party’s candidate in the
November 16 g<strong>over</strong>norship
election, Mr. David Lyon,
appears to be festering as some
members are at logger-heads
with the Minister of State
Petroleum, Chief Timpre Sylva,
<strong>over</strong> the issue.
Lyon had been declared the
winner of the direct primary
election conducted by the party
on September 5.
One of the aggrieved
members, Chief Loveday
Ondekumo, alleged that Sylva
was foisting Lyon on the party
through the primary which,
according to him, violated the
APC Constitution.
Ondekumo said aggrieved
members had lodged a
complaint with the national
executive of the party and
vowed that they would fight the
“injustice.”
With two of the g<strong>over</strong>norship
aspirants, Senator Heineken
Lokpobiri and Engr. Preye
Aganaba, challenging the
outcome of the primary in court,
he warned that the APC could
have another Rivers and
Zamfara situation where the
APC did not field candidates in
the 2019 general elections.
He alleged that Sylva
deliberately presented Lyon,
who, he alleged, is a weak
candidate, to enable the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) win the
g<strong>over</strong>norship contest easily.
“Sylva wants to retain both
the ministerial position and the
leadership of the party in the
state because of his interest in
the g<strong>over</strong>norship in 2024. He is
not committed to ensuring that
the APC wins. He is even not
ready to fund Lyon’s
campaign”, the aggrieved party
member said.
“We heard that he may have
reached out to G<strong>over</strong>nor
Seriake Dickson so that PDP
can have the upper hand in the
election. That is the reason he
deliberately foisted Lyon on the
party because he knows he is a
weak candidate as opposed to
Lokpobiri or Aganaba.”
The APC chieftain further
claimed that Sylva and some
leaders of the party in the state
knew that Lyon does not have
the experience for the office of
g<strong>over</strong>nor.
“Lyon is also avoiding
meeting with APC leaders in
Abuja. They are shielding him
from meeting with g<strong>over</strong>nors
and other stakeholders of the
party. We wonder why he has
rebuffed the national chairman,
Chief Adams Oshiomhole’s
several invitations to meet with
the NWC (national working
committee), g<strong>over</strong>nors and
other leaders of the party,”
Ondekumo said.
Another member of the party,
who preferred not to be quoted,
said there is also the concern
that Lyon appears
<strong>over</strong>whelmed already by the
enormity of the challenges
before him and that he has
told some of his confidants
that he would prefer to have
been left out of the
g<strong>over</strong>norship contest so he
could concentrate on his
business.
Ekiti APC postpones LG primary
<strong>over</strong> alleged security concerns
The party spokesperson,
Ade Ajayi, said that a new date
would be communicated to
stakeholders soon.
However some aspirants,
their supporters and some
delegates have accused the
party of a plot to impose a
particular candidate on the
people.
Two of the aspirants who
spoke to newsmen at the
venue of the primary, Alhaji
Tajudeen Gidado and Tosin
Aluko, accused the leadership
of the party of being
undemocratic, warning that
they would resist any
imposition.

PAGE 4—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
From left: Group Chief Operating Officer of MRS Holdings, Hajiyya Amina
Maina; Chairman of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of
Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and MD/CEO of Nortwest Petroleum Ltd, Dame Winifred
Akpani; Hon. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; GMD-
NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari and MD of Asharami Synergy Plc (former Sahara
Energy, Mrs Moroti Adedoyin Adeyinka; during their courtesy visit to the minister in Abuja
Kaduna ‘slave school’: Buhari shocked
minds, when they are sent to
by abuse of childrenschool.
By
Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
P RESIDENT
Muhammadu is
shocked by the alleged
detention and torture of about
400 men and boys at a school
in Kaduna State.
The President has also
commended the police for the
disc<strong>over</strong>y of the building
where the victims were
detained and the Muslim
authorities for dismissing the
notion of the embarrassing
and horrifying spectacle as
Islamic School.
A statement by the Senior
Special Assistant to the
President on Media and
Publicity, Mallam Garba
Shehu, in Abuja, yesterday,
said, “In commending the
police for their disc<strong>over</strong>y of
this horrific hub and arrest of
suspected operators of the
unedifying, so-called `reform
institution’, the
administration of President
Buhari categorically
condemns rights abuses
whether of adults or of
children.
“We are glad that Muslim
authorities have dismissed
the notion of the
embarrassing and
horrifying spectacle as
Islamic School.
“The place has indeed
been described as a house
of torture and a place of
human slavery.
“The President holds the
view that children will be
safeguarded from roaming
the streets and protected
from all evil influences that
assail idle hands and idle
C
oalition of Northern
Nigerian Youth has
urged President
Muhammadu Buhari to
halt anything that can lead
to the maltreatment or
embarrassment of any kind
to Vice-President Yemi
Osinbajo.
Speaking to journalists in
Kano, the group’s leader,
Mallam Yusuf Lukman A.,
said he believed that reports
suggesting that the
Presidency wanted to reduce
the powers of the Vice-
“When he inaugurated the
National Economic Council for
the year 2019/<strong>2023</strong> at the
Presidential Villa, in Abuja,
President Buhari warned that
keeping children away from
school is a criminal offence”.
Some of the men and boys
were said to have been held
captive for years inside what
could be described as a
‘building of horror’, which was
advertised as an Islamic school.
Some of the victims, as young
as five years old, said they were
President and subsequently
sideline him were untrue.
According to him, however,
the reports, if true, would only
portray Buhari and, by
extension, the North as
ungrateful people, thus creating
a bad image for the region to
the entire world.
He said Osinbajo has
displayed maximum loyalty to
the President both in his presence
and absence, saying the VP is the
face of Christianity and the
strength of the Yoruba and the
South in the Buhari
From left; Mrs Ifeoma Nwosu, Chairman of the Ocassion; Adzira Galadima, Louisville
Girls High School, Ijebu- Itele, first winner, Poetry, Secondary section; Orji Jayden Grange
School, Ikeja, first winner short story writing, Primary; Onyema Onyinye, Grange School,
Ikeja, Lagos, first prize winner, short story writing, Secondary; Mrs Yetunde Abe, Special
Guest of Honour; Mrs Uche Udoji, Coordinator, Rising Star Writing
Competition and Mrs Amaka Nwosisi, Head, Human Resources and Public Relations,
Greenlife Pharmaceutical Ltd during the presentation of awards for winners of the Rising
Star Writing Competition 2019 in Lagos.
From left, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Ridersports Software Nigeria
Limited, Chief Mrs. Kemi Omotosho; Chairman, Ridersports Software Nigeria
Limited, Mr Ola Omotosho and the Osobia of Makun-Omu Community, Ogun
State, Oba Kazeem Adesina Salami , during the launch and maiden draw of Riders Lotto
held in Lagos
tortured , severally abused
and starved and while being
prevented from escaping.
Many of them had metal
chains around their ankles
and visible injuries.
One of those who were
saved by the police alleged
that some victims had died.
The police arrested seven
teachers of the Islamic
centre, including its
proprietor, Mallam
Ismaila Abubakar, who
insisted all they did at the
centre was the teaching of
Islam.
Northern youths warn: World will call us
ingrates if VP Osinbajo is maltreated
Work hard to unite Nigerians, Kaduna Catholic Bishop
tells Buhari
By Ben Agande, Kaduna
he Catholic Bishop of
TKaduna Archdiocese,
Most Reverend Mathew
Man’oso Ndagoso, has called
on President Muhammadu
Buhari to wake up to the
security challenge as well as
the deep division in the country
that ensued after his election
this year.
The Catholic cleric spoke at
the opening session of the 142
National Executive Council
(NEC) meeting of the Catholic
Laity Council of Nigeria
(CLCN) in Kaduna.
The theme of the occasion
was, ‘Unifying Nigeria’s
Divergent Diversity for
National Cohesion and
Greatness’.
According to the bishop,
Buhari must ensure proper
national integration because
Nigerians have been so
divided after the election that
brought the President to office.
“Anybody who cares for this
country must be concerned
about what is happening
today regarding the
insecurity. What is happening
in the north east which has crept
into the north west, south east and
south west is becoming
alarming”, he said.
“I have made this call before
and I will still make it again that
the responsibility of any
g<strong>over</strong>nment either through the
ballot or barrel of the gun or
through whatever means is to
safeguard the life and property
of the citizenry. if you build roads,
build hospitals and other
infrastructure, if there is no peace,
all these things are useless. Any
responsible g<strong>over</strong>nment must
endure that there is peace in the
country”.
administration, hence he
should not be maltreated.
Lukman further noted that
the smooth relationship
between Buhari and
Osinbajo in the last four
years had given more life to
the one Nigeria spirit and
should never be allowed to
be destroyed by selfish
individuals hiding under the
bed to stain the hard earned
integrity of the President.
The leader of the group
recalled how the Vice-
President touched every
nook and cranny of the
country during the reelection
campaign,
preaching the ‘next level’
message of the President.
He described Osinbajo as
an accomplished Professor
of Law and a great servant
of God and urged Buhari to
put a stop to any attempt to
strip him of his
constitutional powers in
favour of anyone within or
outside g<strong>over</strong>nment.
Lukman stressed that a
good relationship between
the President and the Vice-
President is pivotal to the
success of the Buhari
g<strong>over</strong>nment.
Lukman applauded the
Vice-President for keeping
the vultures at bay during the
President’s long absence
when he was ill and for
crediting every success to the
President even in the face of
the political uncertainty that
enveloped the country at that
time.
He described Osinbajo as
a genuine leader with ideas
for solving problems,
stressing that the Vice-
President brought stability to
the nation’s economy
through the implementation
of the Economic Rec<strong>over</strong>y
and Growth Plan (ERGP)
while driving initiatives
targeted at improving the
lives of the poor.
He described the Vice-
President as the architect of
the National Social
Investment Programme
“which has gained
international recognition as
the most successful and
largest social intervention
Church to honour Allen Onyema
he Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has been
Tnominated as ‘Nigeria’s Man of the Year’ by Aladura
Christians all <strong>over</strong> the world.
According to the Aladura Patriarch, Dr Olapade Agoro,
Onyema is also nominated as ‘Grand Commander Order of
Aladura’. Agoro said the airline boss deserved both awards
based on Air Peace’s evacuation of Nigerians from South-
Africa after xenophobic attacks in the South African country.
RESFACASS’ annual Apostolic
programme begins Tuesday
annual one month-long Apostolic and
TProphetic power vigils of the Resurrection Faith
Christian Assembly (RESFACASS),Igbogbo,Lagos
State,will commence on Tuesday.
The programme,according to the General Overseer of the
church,Prophet David Ololade, will feature eminent
men of God including Prophets R.O Oluwalana and Peter
Olowoporuku.
Okpe youths allege marginalisation
by Omo-Agege
By Paul Olayemi
ouths in Sapele Local G<strong>over</strong>nment Area of Delta State,
Yunder the aegis of Sapele Okpe Youth Mandate for
Change, SOYMC, have alleged marginalisation in recent
appointments made by the Deputy Senate President, Senator
Ovie Omo-Agege.“While commending the senator for his
appointments and empowerment programme, the group
described the Deputy Senate President's appointments as
disappointing, arguing that youths in the locality contributed
largely to the Senator's emergence.“"We knew how we
campaigned vigorously for Senator Ovie Omo Agege. Now,
we are being neglected and abandoned," Barrister Owin
Orhomonokpaye, Convener of the group, said.“The group
accused the Vice Chairman of the state’s All Progressive
Congress, APC, Comrade Elvis Ayomanor, of keeping
mum.“Comrade Precious Itoroh, a member of the group and
former National President, National Association of Okpe
Students, NAOS, added that the appointments were lopsided.
Xenophobia: Re-integrate South
Africa returnees, Apostolic Church
leader urges FG
By Olayinka Latona
he National President of the Apostolic Church, Nigeria,
T<strong>Pastor</strong> Sampson Igwe, has said returnees from South
Africa may turn to crime if not properly re-integrated into the
society.
Igwe, who spoke yesterday at an interactive session with
newsmen during his presidential tour of Lagos Area, Western
&Northern Areas, LAWNA, said bringing Nigerians back from
South Africa without looking for ways to effectively re-integrate
them into the society might be detrimental to the already fragile
socio-economic conditions of the nation.
"I want to counsel the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment to empower
these returnees through their various state g<strong>over</strong>nments, so
that they will not regret their decision to return home or turn to
crime for survival”, Igwe said.
“President Muhammadu Buhari should leverage on
Nigeria's cordial bilateral relations with South Africa to seek
an end to the barbaric behaviours of its citizens towards
Nigerians with valid permit in South Africa."
Road network: GOTUG to assist FRSC
remove crashed vehicles on Lagos roads
I
n a bid to eradicate road traffic and create a safe motoring
road for Nigerians, GOTUG has launched a mobile app
for stranded car owners on the streets and highways of Lagos.
The GoTug mobile app connects a wide range of users to the
closest available tow-driver who responds immediately to provide
the needed towing service accurately and appropriately.
With its user-friendly interface and up-to-standard GPS service
that helps users track their proximity to a towing help, the
GoTug app makes towing a readily available service to any
stranded vehicle on the streets and highways of Lagos Metropolis.
In collaboration with transportation bodies in Lagos,
like NTVOA (National Towing Vehicles Owners Association),
FRSC (Federal Road Safety Corps) and LASTMA (Lagos State
Traffic Management Authority), the app will help users find
Tow drivers at an estimated affordable price, as they make,
confirm and complete requests.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 5
SISAN UTIEYONE AND WARAMI UROWAYINO IN HOLY MATRIMONY
The solemnization of the holy matrimony between former Miss Theresa Sisan Utieyone and Jeremiah Warami Urowayino [Vanguard Online Sub Editor] took place at the
Annunciation Catholic Church, Ogunu, Warri, Delta State.
•The groom, Jeremiah Warami Urowayino fixing wedding
band on the finger of his bride, while Rev. Father
Frederick observes.
•Mr. & Mrs. Jeremiah Warami Urowayino during their
traditional marriage.
The new couple flanked by some Vanguard Newspapers
staff members including,Mr. Richard Okotie and
his wife, Mr. Solomon Nwoke (NUJ Chairman), Mr.
Victor Otigbu (Chief Sub-Editor) and Akpokona Omafuaire.
•Chief Nelson A. Utieyone, grand-father of the bride,
among others with the new couple.
•The new couple with groom's men.
The new couple with some members of the bride's family.
•L-r: Comrade Amechi .O. Ogbonna, Deacon Gabriel Meni,
J.B. Urowayino, Mr. Mike Oru, Engr. Mejebi Arubi of
Gazgaru(MD) and Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh.
•Chief E.T. Heymann(left) with Chief Nelson. A.
Utienyone.
•The bride, Theresa Sisan Utieyone, and friends from
Igbinedion University, Benin-City.
THE CHRIS-ASOLUKA, OSUNO WEDDING
•From left: Mrs Chinwe Osuno, mother of the
groom; Mr Kenechukwu Osuno, representing the
groom's father; Ven Ife Okupevi, Vicar &
Archdeacon of Ikoyi; Mr and Mrs Tobechukwu
Osuno the new couple with their marriage certificate;
Dr Chris Asoluka and Mrs Nneka Chris-
Asoluka, bride's parents at the church service
The marriage between
former Miss
Somachi Chidumebi
Chris-Asoluka, duaghter
of Dr Chris
Asoluka and Mrs
Nneka Chris-Asoluka,
and Mr Tobechukwu
Izuchukwu
Osuno, son of the
late Mr. Christian
Uzochukwu Osuno
and Mrs Chinwe Osuno
was held at Our
Saviour's Church,
TBS, Lagos. Photos
by Lamidi Bamidele
•Mr David Ifezulike, Chairman, Nestle Nigeria PLC
and his wife, Ngozi
•Professor Pat Utomi and his wife
•Mrs Cecilia Asianah, Chief Operating Officer, Tresrose
Ltd (left) and Barr (Mrs) Bona Okigbo-Udebiuwa
•Professor Onwuchekwa Jemie and his wife, Nneka
•Senator Ike Nwachukwu and Mrs Chinyere Nwigwe

PAGE 6, SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 7
PROLOGUE
COMMUNITY POLICING:
Face-toface
with
fears and
prospects
By Charles Kumolu, Deputy Editor
When Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police,
IGP, Mohammed Adamu, in April this year,
said President Muhammadu Buhari had
approved community policing, many had
thought that what the President approved
was state police.
The succeeding arguments on whether state police
should come into being via presidential proclamation or
enactment of the National Assembly indicated that only
but a few knew what community policing is all about.
The IGP had, at the Forum of Northern Traditional
Rulers in Kaduna, said Buhari approved the adoption of a
community police system to combat growing security
threats across Nigeria.
He described community policing as a citizen-centered
and community policing approach which would lead to
more sustainable successes in the management of internal
security threats.
Policing model
Also, the IGP said the policing model envisaged for the
country would involve the establishment and usage of
Special Constables.
On the heels of that, the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment
inaugurated a 14-member committee to work out the
framework of strengthening internal security and
community policing.
Since then the police boss has continued with his
advocacies for it, though with less awareness campaign.
Irrespective of that, community policing is still mistaken
for state police by Nigerians.
Wesley G. Skogan and Susan M. Harnett, in their book,
Community Policing, Chicago Style, said community
policing is a model that involves organisational
decentralisation, new channels of communication with the
public, a commitment to responding to what the
community thinks their priorities ought to be, and the
adoption of a broad problem-solving approach to
neighborhood issues.
Excerpts from the book read: “Police departments across
the country are busily ‘reinventing’ themselves, adopting a
new style known as ‘community policing’.
“The concept is so popular with the public and city
councils that scarcely a chief wants his department to be
known for failing to climb on this bandwagon.”
As its name suggests, the model differs from the current
system of policing.
Three strategies
These distinctions were captured by Bello Ibrahim,
Magajo Saleh and Jamilu Mukhtar, in ‘An Overview of
Community Policing in Nigeria’ thus:
“Three strategies make community policing quite
distinct from traditional policing: community partnership,
organisational transformation, and problem-solving.”
Most Nigerians may not know much about the policing
system, but findings by Sunday Vanguard revealed that the
country had long considered the prospects of community
policing long before the Nigeria Police Force, NPF,
embraced it 2002.
Information from the archives of the Nigeria Police
shows that the police had commenced community policing
during the tenure of former IGP Tafa Balogun, precisely in
March 2002.
The force did so in partnership with the British Council
Department for International Development, DFID.
It was learned that a
section, Community
Development, and Strategy
Development, is charged
with the responsibility of
ensuring that community
policing works.
Pilot phase
Information on the
website of the police said
some police officers have
been trained under the
programme in the UK and
USA since its inception.
It said officers in the
section monitor and
evaluate the
implementation and
development of
community policing.
Besides, a Police
Commissioner, Austin
Apart from the Force Public
Relations Officer, PRO, Frank Mba,
who was very optimistic, others
were pessimistic.
The majority said irrespective of
what the model seeks to achieve,
state police remains the answer to
the under-policing of Nigeria
Iwar, who authored ‘Implementing Community Policing in
Nigeria,’ said the police launched the community policing
project in Enugu in 2004.
He stated that following how the pilot phase worked in
Enugu, then IGP, Sunday Ehindero, ordered that it should be
done in Benue, Jigawa, Kano, Ogun, and Ondo states.
Using the pilot states as an example, he explained that the
model “adopts four essential strategies of responding to the
needs and concerns of individuals and communities,
consulting with communities, mobilising communities, and
solving recurring problems.’’
He added that ‘’the strategies are designed to encourage
the community to become partners in controlling and
preventing crime.”
Social and institutional constraints
Whether community policing has been a success story in
Nigeria since 2004 is a question with obvious answers.
Sunday Vanguard believes that had the policing model
worked, Nigeria may not have been this insecure and current
moves at its (re)introduction wouldn’t have appeared novel.
That the IGP has not relented since he commenced the
latest plans could as well be taken to mean that the previous
attempt at having community policing failed.
Several authorities on policing have also argued in that
direction, citing social and institutional constraints.
These problems are not different from the known factors
militating against traditional policing in the country.
They are but not limited to endemic corruption, absence of
trust, and poor funding.
Real danger
Sunday Vanguard believes the effectiveness of community
policing depends on the three factors, especially public
confidence in the force.
Unfortunately, getting a Nigerian who believes in the
police is the most difficult task anyone could undertake. And
that is where the real danger lies for community policing in
the country.
Certainly, the IGP may have to work more on the
perception challenge confronting the force
which Human Rights Watch said has a
long history of engaging in
unprofessional, corrupt and criminal
conduct.
The imperativeness of having a better
public perception can’t be
<strong>over</strong>emphasised since community
policing requires that officers are seen by
communities as unbiased rather than
tools of oppression.
In the conversations our reporters had
with opinion leaders, the poor public
perception of the police was an issue of
concern.
That in itself re-echoes the centrality of
public confidence to the future of
community policing in the country.
Staff strength
Apart from the Force Public Relations
Officer, PRO, Frank Mba, who was very
optimistic, others were pessimistic.
The majority said irrespective of what the model seeks to
achieve, state police remains the answer to the underpolicing
of Nigeria.
Currently, the Nigeria Police Force, which was established
in 1930, has staff strength of about 301,737. Going by
Nigeria’s population, the figure implies that one police
officer presumably protects 662 people.
This is far below the United Nations recommendation of
one police officer to 400 people.
Notwithstanding, the police leadership seems not to be
looking back in its determination to make policing
everyone’s business through community policing.
40,000 CPOs
The plan involves the recruitment of 40,000 Community
Policing Officers, CPOs, in addition to 1,300 CPOs to be
domiciled across the 774 Local G<strong>over</strong>nment Areas, LGAs, in
the country.
Section 50 (1) of the Police Act 2004 was cited as the legal
framework under which the plan is being executed.
The IGP had explained it thus: “The breakdown of the
community policing deployment plan c<strong>over</strong>s the recruitment
of a total of 40,000 CPOs across the country in the interim.
“The CPOs will be recruited from within the communities
where the prospective applicants reside and 50 CPOs are to
be engaged in each of the 774 Local G<strong>over</strong>nment Areas.
“Also, 1,300 CPOs will be drawn from professional bodies
like the academics, road transport unions, artisans, traders
associations, religious bodies, women groups, and youth
organisations among others.”
The optimism of the police and concerns of regional sociopolitical
groups, and opinion leaders converged on our Story
of the Week, producing fresh perspectives to Nigeria’s search
for a better policing system.

PAGE 8— SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
CAN COMMUNITY POLICING STEM RISING INSECURITY?
The YES and
NO answer!
•The problem with the police, by Civil
Society Panel On Police Reform In Nigeria
By Chris Onuoha
The Civil Society Panel on Police Reform in Nigeria,
chaired by Ms Ayo M.O. Obe and raised by former
President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012, was not the
first body to look into the challenges of the police as the
agency vested with the duty of providing internal security
for the people of Nigeria.
There were at least three such previous Presidential
Committees on Police Reform established by Jonathan’s
predecessors whose recommendations were neither made
public nor seriously or scrupulously implemented. It was
not that the recommendations of the committees were not
desirable. For instance, one of such previous panels, the
M.D. Yusuf’s Presidential Committee on Police Reform, in
2008, suggested community policing, as has just been
recommended and being implemented, when it, in its
report, said, “There is need to adapt community policing
to suit Nigeria’s peculiarities. G<strong>over</strong>nment should
formulate a community policing Policy and Framework
for the country, taking into account our cultural and
political environment.”
The latest of such committees is the one raised by the
Buhari administration which make a case for community
policing to enhance crime prevention and control,
improve intelligence-gathering capabilities of the police
and deliver quality and people-oriented policing, as
against state police favored in some quarters.
In the unfolding dispensation, 40,000 Special
Constables (50 per LGA) will
be drawn from members of the
community to serve as
voluntary community police
officers under the coordination
of the Nigeria Police.
This new drive is in line with
the expressed desire and
directives of President
Muhammadu Buhari to the
Inspector-General of Police
while announcing approval of
community policing in April
2019.
Meanwhile, there is nothing
on ground to suggest that the
report of the Obe panel, the
last of such committees to be
raised on the police before this
federal administration, was
implemented, otherwise we
should not be beset with the
In the unfolding
dispensation, 40,000
Special Constables (50 per
LGA) will be drawn from
members of the community to
serve as voluntary community
police officers under the
coordination of the Nigeria
Police
security challenges on the scale we have it today in
kidnapping and banditry among other violent crimes. The
Obe panel diagnosed the police problems and offered
solutions. The aspect that concerns community policing is
contained in chapter 6 of the panel’s report as reproduced
hereunder:
“6.4.1 Community Policing
Concerns were repeatedly raised with the CSO Panel
about the divide between the NPF and members of the
public, with contributors identifying this divide as a major
obstacle to the police being positioned as the preferred
and trusted security agency to which citizens could take
their security concerns. Even where police officers were
not seen as being involved in the corrupt activities and
oppressive behaviour that have earned the force the active
dislike and hostility of the public, or where they might
even have earned the trust of local communities,
contributors to the Panel’s work complained that there was
no continuity or certainty in such relationships. Instead of
building on such relationships, the NPF was more apt to
transfer police officers from one end of the country to
another in what appeared to be an arbitrary and even
punitive fashion, with only perceived ‘bad eggs’ seeming to
be able to
pull strings to remain amongst communities who were
praying for their departure!
“6.4.2 One concept identified as a possible answer to this
problem is community policing, which recognises the
importance of involving the public in making the
environment secure. It challenges the police to adopt
strategies that strengthen their relationship with the
community and earn the support of the people for
effective monitoring of individuals and gathering of
intelligence and information. It requires active effort on
the part of the police to endear themselves to the
community and to take supportive actions in order to earn
the people’s trust and friendship.
“6.4.3 A pilot project took off in selected states in 2004,
and there were visible signs such as inscribing some police
vehicles with the words ‘Community Policing’. But in its
memo to the CSO Panel, the CLEEN Foundation noted
that support for community policing had
hardly permeated the higher echelons of the NPF, let
alone its junior officers. It identified
the failure of the NPF to take ownership of the
Community Policing project as a key problem. In other
words, as long as NGOs and other outside agencies were
ready to fund pilot projects or carry out the necessary
training, the NPF was willing to go along, or rather,
to be carried along. But the way that
officers who had received community
policing training were then
transferred from place to place, or
back to general or other duties, not
only meant that the benefit of their
training was lost, it also showed that
those taking decisions about such
postings had completely failed to
imbibe the purpose and importance
of community
policing, and what was necessary to
take it forward.
“6.4.4 Observations
The CSO Panel notes that the NPF
has been open to the idea of
community policing, and that in
Borno and Imo States, which were
selected for initial implementation,
the project has visibility through the
‘Community Policing’ inscribed
vehicles dedicated to the project by
the State Commands.
x The Panel also notes that previous panels on police
reform have recommended that the
NPF should adopt and expand community policing.
“6.4.6 Recommendations
x The g<strong>over</strong>nment and the NPF should take full
ownership of the community policing development
programme and commit Nigeria’s resources to develop it
instead of depending on development partners to shoulder
the entire cost.
x The NPF should revive the Steering Committee it
established in 2004 to drive the implementation of
community policing in Nigeria and to liaise with
development partners in the implementation of other
reform programmes currently supported by them.
x Police officers who undergo training in community
policing should be returned to continue the project and
remain in situ.
x The police should develop a framework where all
divisional commanders sustain periodic meetings with
citizen groups engaged in security activities to elicit
their help in combating crime and as a means of
monitoring their activities in the community.
“6.4.1 Police Accommodation
As mentioned in Chapter 4 of this Report, which
looks at the reasons for the public’s loss of
confidence in the police, the deplorable condition of
police barracks across the country contributes
greatly to negative perceptions about police officers
and the NPF. Members of the public were united in
condemnation of the condition of such living
quarters, which is so notorious that the CSO Panel
was told of architecture students, being given an
exercise to design barracks for the armed forces and
the police, were instructed that “the police are
known to be very dirty”.
“6.4.2 These conditions are clearly due to systemic
failings and neglect, an unrealistic expectation
about the role that others are expected to play in
keeping police property clean and hygienic and an
abandonment of <strong>over</strong>sight and supervision by police
authorities to ensure that acceptable standards are
maintained.
“6.4.3 At the same time, it was clear both from
submissions to the Panel and reports of previous
g<strong>over</strong>nment investigations that only a small
percentage of the total police strength is actually
accommodated in police barracks. A situation where
barracks accommodation was never enough for
police personnel was aggravated with the massive
recruitment of the Obasanjo administration, such
that 80% of police officers have no official
accommodation.
6.4.4 The Panel’s heard disturbing testimony from
participants – some of whom were either
former police officers or the children of police
officers – about the hardship caused by the arbitrary
posting practices of the NPF. The situation was
graphically captured in by the Apo Six Commission
which noted that officers were posted on transfer
with no regard to their need for accommodation.
The Report described how many transferred officers
are forced to find shelter in offices and corridors of
police stations or buildings, in containers or broken
down vehicles in police premises, or to squat with
relatives. The Report noted that as a consequence
many police officers are forced to engage in what is
sociologically described as ‘living-apart-together’.
They are forced to maintain two homes and spread
meagre financial resources thinly to fend for
themselves and their families. The financial
hardship often comes with strain on family life, so
that transferred officers also live with the fear that
unscrupulous colleagues may take advantage of
their absence to seduce their wives.
“While detainees seem to be saddled with the
responsibility of maintaining police stations in their
deplorable condition, police officers wives and
children seem to be the ones expected to carry the
can in the barracks”.
Disagreement
And whereas the police, through Force
Headquarters spokesperson, Mr Frank Mba, believe
community policing, in the form it is being
implemented by the authorities, is the way forward
to secure Nigeria, the influential Yoruba group,
Afenifere, continues to root for state police while the
pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze-Ndigbo, says community
policing is already in operation in the South-East,
explaining that it is the reason there is relative peace
in the region.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 9
How community
policing works
— Frank Mba, Police spokesperson
•Says scheme gradually being implemented
By Kingsley Omonobi, Abuja
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Frank Mba
is Force Public Relations Officer at the Police Headquarters,
Abuja. In this interview, Mba speaks on security challenges in the
country and what the Nigeria Police High Command under the
leadership of IGP Mohammed Adamu is doing to address the situation.
The IGP’s community policing
initiative, what motivated the idea?
Well, the need to constantly evolve new and
effective public safety and security strategies
is a real time challenge as police work
evolves <strong>over</strong> time and continues to evolve
and expand as the population grows in
numbers and complexity. Community
policing is a time-tested strategy that can
serve the dual purpose of helping in the
delivery of police services to communities
and, at the same time, build trust between
the police and the citizens. So, it is natural
to explore and implement it. Unlike other
attempts at community policing in Nigeria,
we are going beyond rhetoric to actually put
this to work.
Who are those involved from the
police side and the community side?
The police, as an institution, implement
community policing strategies. We are
inviting the community to join us this time
with actual numbers. We intend to involve
40,000 citizens nationwide. 50 citizens per
local g<strong>over</strong>nment and it will involve
individuals across different
spectrum of our nation life.
How does it resolve our
security challenges,
especially kidnapping
and banditry?
You are aware that these
crimes have reduced
drastically. We are at the
mop up stage. Operation
Puff Adder and the other
efforts we have put into this,
have made this possible.
Community policing
creates the atmosphere and
operational opportunities
for both the police and the
community to identify
challenges and deal with
these challenges as they
emerge. Because we will
always have our citizens and
communities as well as the
Nigeria Police, we will
always need to create the
best service delivery
strategies to serve our
We do expect
increased
confidence
in our
communities
and trust built
between
officers and
the people
nation. As I said earlier, community policing is
a time-tested tool that will serve our purposes
and that will endure. It’s not a one-off
operational strategy like say Operation Puff
Adder or Operation Fire-for-Fire. It is a
process that integrates the citizenry in the
policing architecture in the states. Citizens join
the police in identifying the policing needs of
the community and in jointly formulating
solutions to these problems. By so doing,
security-related challenges are tackled in a
sustainable manner.
How is this new era different from the
Police Community Relations
Committee (PCRC)?
The PCRC is an interactive committee of
citizens within our communities. It is as the
name connotes a ‘relations committee.’
Community policing is both a philosophy and
operational strategy with a broad range of
operational goals. A community relations
community is just one of the tickers in these
goals. In some states, we have Eminent
Persons Forum, Security Stakeholders Forum,
Grassroots Policing Forum and many others.
These groups have been of tremendous
support to the police at various times. They are
not the same as community policing though
they can serve as conveyors or veritable
platforms for driving the new community
policing program. Community policing as a
strategy is not the same as
‘committee of persons’.
How will the system be
funded?
The Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment is
interested in the project and has
enthusiastically endorsed it. Let
us just say we have a godfather in
the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment. We are
also hoping that state
g<strong>over</strong>nments as well as donor
agencies will, as time goes on,
support the program.
What role will other law
enforcement agencies play?
We have always worked with
other law enforcement agencies.
Technically, we are all members
of the community. So, everyone,
including journalists, have a role
to play in the project. But as to
specific departments, as we
begin to implement the project,
roles will begin to emerge for
every stakeholder.
Any anticipated challenge?
Certainly there will be challenges. Funding
will be a major issue. There could also be
resistance to change by a few persons both
within and outside the law enforcement
community who may not want to alter the
•Mba
status quo. But we believe we have the
capacity to deal with the challenges. We
believe we are all in the public safety
enterprise together. All for one, one for all!
Every Nigerian wants to be safe and we have
vowed to make that a reality for every citizen
of this great country.
What are the gains expected from this?
We do expect increased confidence in our
communities and trust built between officers
and the people. We also expect increased
awareness and communal participation in the
fight against crime. Most importantly, we
expect a further reduction in crime as the
community helps in identifying the areas of
need and the police provide the necessary
service. Naturally, this will lead to increase in
economic activities and a better life for
everyone.
When will the system take-off?
It is already gradually being implemented.
The IGP met South-West and South-
East g<strong>over</strong>nors. What were the
takeaways?
The IGP met with g<strong>over</strong>nors and stakeholders
from the North-West and the South-West geopolitical
zones. More of these meetings will
still take place. Everywhere we go, it’s been
with a message of reassurance. On
assumption of office, we found out that the
greatest challenge was not just the existing
security and safety challenges but the
enormous distrust among citizens and doubts
about the capacity of the law enforcement
community to deliver. We have gone to tell our
people across the country that the police have
always delivered and will continue to deliver.
Thus the takeaways became obvious. There is
a renewed confidence in the police that has
resulted in the reduction of anti-establishment
rhetoric, pro-militia narratives, and selfdefense
arguments, which, in turn, has helped
in mobilizing support for the Police and in
turn helped in the arrest of hardened and
violent criminals and the consequential
reduction in violent crimes. There is renewed
confidence in the police and citizens are now
giving information freely to the Force.
Community groups and leaders have come
out in support of the police and we have made
enormous progress in the delivery of our core
mandate of securing our people.
Police say they will deploy cars with
cameras on highways. Will roads
across the country be c<strong>over</strong>ed?
The goal is to c<strong>over</strong> everywhere in the country.
It is a work in progress starting with strategic
highways and crime prone roads including
our cities, and gradually move to c<strong>over</strong> as
much as possible.
How will the system
operate?
Our templates and
infrastructure are almost
ready. The vehicles have
been acquired. Our first
major deployment will soon
be announced.
What is the capital
outlay and how will the
state g<strong>over</strong>nments be
involved?
Policing involve funds, huge
sums. We cannot begin to
talk about how much for
now. We are deploying
hundreds of operational
vehicles across the country.
So the amount is colossal
but it’s worth the sacrifice of
protecting lives and
property. Every investment is
worth the price! As for the
state g<strong>over</strong>nors, lots of them have been very
supportive of police efforts. We believe we can
count on them when the time comes.
Special Forces are being deployed to
the South-West. Why are they called
Special Forces?
The Special Force Team consists of specially
selected, superbly trained and equipped
police officers tasked with the duty of
handling some of the more challenging
aspects of policing. When the new
Inspector General of Police, IGP, M.A
Adamu came on board, we decided that
reacting to crime was no longer an
option. We have to proactively hunt down
would-be perpetrators wherever they are.
So we developed the Special Forces
specifically to search, hunt and bring very
violent, irredeemable criminals to justice.
They have been deployed elsewhere with
astounding results. We believe deploying
them to the South-West will bring great
results too. Every inch of Nigeria must be
made safe for us, our children, and our
children’s children.
What role are the police playing in
the amnesty program in Zamfara
and Katsina states?
Anything legally done to reduce crime is
welcomed by us. How political leaders
handle that is not for the police to comment
on. But we will continue to work with
stakeholders to return security and safety to
Zamfara, Katsina and everywhere in the
country. We are proud of the enormous
successes so far recorded in Zamfara, and
the restoration of law and order in the
state. As I speak, a total of 375 persons
held hostage by different criminal gangs
in that axis have been released unhurt
and reunited with their families. We are
combining both the use of conventional
and non-conventional law enforcement
strategies, sometimes involving the use of
the core principles of community policing
and communal involvement in solving
the security challenges of violent crimes
in Zamfara and contiguous states.
Critics have questioned the
morality of negotiating with
criminals. What is the police
response to this?
At the risk of repeating myself, anything
legitimately done to reduce crime is
welcomed by us. How political leaders
handle that is not for the police to comment
on. But we will continue to work with
stakeholders to return security and safety to
Zamfara, Katsina and everywhere in the
country.

PAGE 10— SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
Community policing is mere
tokenism, can’t resolve
security challenges
— Odumakin, Afenifere
spokesperson
• ‘We were the ones
tutoring the police on how
to investigate Pa Fasoranti’s
daughter’s murder’
By CHARLES KUMOLU, Deputy Editor
Spokesperson for pan-Yoruba socio-political
organisation, Afenifere, Mr, Yinka
Odumakin, in this interview, reveals the
position of the regional group on the moves for
community policing by the Inspector General of
Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu. He submits that
the peculiarity of Nigeria’s security challenges
demands state police, not community police.
•Odumakin
What is the position of
Afenifere on IGP’s moves for
community policing?
The policing system has failed.
Introducing community policing
may be a good move but it is mere
tokenism that cannot address the
problem of policing in Nigeria. What
we need is state police. If we have
that, the communities would now
bring the police to the grassroots. I
read that the Sharia Police in Kano,
Hisba, destroyed thousands of
bottles of beer. Why didn’t the
Nigeria Police go to Kano to help
the Sharia Police? If those practicing
Sharia have their police, why can’t
g<strong>over</strong>nors with constitutional roles
have their police? Elected g<strong>over</strong>nors
should have the powers to have
police for their states. In America,
the states have their police, even
universities have their police.
Introducing community policing
now shows that we are still running
away from the issues. What we need
is state police. America that you just
mentioned has community policing
apart from the police departments of
the various states.
Also since the country is still
far from having the United
Nations standard of 100
policemen to 400 people, don’t
you think community policing
should be embraced?
I am not saying it is a bad idea but
not good enough for our situation.
In America, even the universities
have their police. Community
policing makes sense in their
situation but our situation is
different. In our situation where one
Inspector General of Police, IGP, is
policing the country from Abuja,
community policing is not good
enough. How can community police
work in a place where the President
would ask the IGP to go to Benue
and he would not do that? It cannot
work in such a situation. We are not
saying they should not do what they
want to do but it cannot address the
situation.
The IGP has explained the
components of community
policing and how the system
would work. What are those
things that Afenifere would
suggest to make it work?
In the South-West, we are a
peculiar people with our internal
security system. For instance, those
who kidnapped people in Osun
State last Sunday have been rescued
and Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC,
played an active role in the search
and rescue operation. When the
police had problems in stopping the
reign of Badoo Boys, it was when
How can
community police
work in a place
where the
President would
ask the IGP to go
to Benue and he
would not do
that? It cannot
work in such a
situation
OPC got involved that they were
able to arrest the boys and those
backing them. That showed the
potentials of state policing. In terms
of CCTV cameras that they want to
install, I hope they have the
infrastructure to make it work.
However, the Nigeria Police of today
that is being supervised in Abuja
cannot do the policing work alone,
we need state police. In most of the
states, the g<strong>over</strong>nors are the ones
funding the police. The equipment
that the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment is
providing is not up to what is
required to run the federal police.
Often, they say that the state cannot
fund state police, are the states not
the ones currently funding the
federal police? Community policing
can tap into the traditional defence
mechanism in the South-West but
what we need is state police. The
issues would still be there even with
community policing.
Have the police reached out
to you people on their plans for
community policing?
We got a letter from the office of
the IGP some weeks back. They said
a team was coming to interface with
us. We gave them a date which they
said was not convenient for them
until they had a security summit in
Ibadan. They invited us to the
summit and we attended. Since then
we have not heard from them. When
we meet, we have inputs that we
would make.
It was recently reported that
the police investigating the
murder of Pa Fasoranti’s
daughter are yet to question
her driver. What can you say
about that in the light of what
the police claim to be doing in
the South-West?
That is why we are holding
everything they are saying with a
pinch of salt. If there can be such a
shoddy investigation into the death
of Funke Olakurin, it shakes our
confidence in the police. Apart from
not questioning her driver till date,
the driver of the second vehicle,
Sienna, who claimed that he was
kidnapped by the killers, came back
without any evidence of payment of
ransom. He was arrested by the
police alongside his friend when
they came back, and they have been
released. Till date, the police have
not briefed the family about the
investigation two months after the
murder. Until I spoke to the Force
Public Relations Officer, PRO, Frank
Mba, they were not ready to do any
forensic investigation on the car.
The car was released to the family in
Ore. I don’t think there is any
equipment for forensic investigation
in Ore. The car was released to the
family a day after she was killed. It
was when I called Mba to ask him
why a forensic investigation had not
been done on the car that they came
to pick the car six days after. At the
time they came, many people had
already touched the car. They have
released the car to the family again
without any report regarding their
findings. They were not ready to do
an autopsy until I spoke to Frank
Mba again. They have released the
report of the autopsy to the family.
Apart from that, they have not
briefed the family about how far they
have gone including those they
have arrested. How can such a
police force say that they are
commencing community policing?
Who would have confidence in
them?
If not for the report stating
that the police had not
questioned the driver, the
Afenifere and other Yoruba
leaders who had spoken loud
when she was murdered
became silent on the matter.
What was responsible for the
silence?
If we had been talking before now,
they would have said that we didn’t
give them time to do their work. We
have given them more than two
months without results. From day
one, we knew they were not serious
about the investigation. Yoruba has
an adage that if a child would die,
let the child die in the hands of the
mother. We gave them a long rope to
see what they would come up with.
We did that not because we are
happy but to allow them carry out
their investigation. 94-year-old Papa
Fasoranti is still grieving every day
<strong>over</strong> the killing of his daughter. It is
very painful to lose a daughter. His
major pain today is the way the
police are handling everything.
When I spoke to him last Friday, he
said he was not happy with the way
the police are handling the murder
of his daughter. I felt the agony in
the voice of that old man. If they can
handle the killing of such a high
profile person in that manner, what
is the hope of the common man?

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 11
COMMUNITY POLICING:
Igbo g<strong>over</strong>nors have
harmonised positions
—Ohanaeze-Ndigbo
By Dennis Agbo
Mr. Uche Achi-Okpaga is the Publicity
Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. He speaks
on community policing as the police say
they have started implementing the scheme aimed
at stemming insecurity across the country.
What do you really understand by community
policing?
Community policing has to do with security and security is
not a one-man job. It is the totality of the collaborative
efforts among security agencies, including the police, DSS,
Civil Defence and the local vigilance because it’s the local
vigilance that knows the terrain very well; they get
information and feed security agencies. As an individual in
the police, when the awareness is created in you, you join to
safeguard the vicinity. So you shop for news, you shop for any
crime that is in the offing; you feed the vigilance which
transit to security agencies. So
everybody is involved and that is the
essence of community policing.
Community policing does not mean
that in every household, you come and
put a policeman, no, it’s to arouse the
consciousness in everybody. It has to do
with everybody getting involved to
combat crime.
What is Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s
position on the commencement of
community policing by the
Inspector General of Police?
You know that in the South-East, all
kinds of crime thrived before now, but
the g<strong>over</strong>nors came together and
harmonised their positions and began
to work seriously with the vigilance in
all the south eastern states, which is why
crime and violence in the region have
been reduced to the barest minimum.
So in the South-East, it has been in long
existence. People are very much aware
People are very much
aware of the community
policing project and
everybody is fully
involved, more especially
in the wake of the
herdsmen/farmers crisis
•Uche Achi-Okpaga
of the community policing project and
everybody is fully involved, more
especially in the wake of the herdsmen/
farmers crisis. It aroused the
consciousness in people and people
began to put security arrangements in
proper shape. So it didn’t start today
and it’s not the IGP that is telling us it
has started, maybe he was just
reminding other geopolitical zones it
has started.
Has Ohanaeze or Ndigbo been
officially informed about it?
We don’t even need to be informed to
secure our place.
How do you think it will
practically work in the South-
East?
It’s already working. You can see that
every part of South-East is peaceful and
well secure; it’s because of this internal
arrangement with security agencies and
vigilance groups here and there. It’s
because of the internal arrangement.
Do you think the community
policing project is a good
response to the insecurity issues
we have in Nigeria?
It is the most proactive response; it’s
just that sometimes they try to put
politics into it. You know that before
now, the immediate past Inspector
General of Police wanted to mop up all
guns from licensed security agents and
how could you do that? When you come
to mop up licensed guns from vigilante
groups, you allow criminals with
sophisticated weapons to wreak havoc
on the people. It would have created the
worst violence in Nigeria.
Do Ndigbo have a traditional defense
system that could make this community
policing a success?
Why not? Like I said earlier, everybody
is getting involved. All the Town Unions
in the South-East have been
strengthened, they work hand-in-hand
in tandem with their traditional rulers
and their cabinet, they work with the
vigilante and they feed the security
agencies. That is a very proactive way
of arresting crime.
Do you subscribe to the central
policing system that is presently
in operation in Nigeria?
If you go to civilized clines, what we
have as local g<strong>over</strong>nments here, they
have their own police. Even district
areas have their own police before you
have the FBI such as in United States of
America which is their own federal
agency. There you have multifaceted
security sources in all the states, regions
and localities. If you come to Nigeria
and you have only one police force, it is
difficult for them to secure Nigeria and
that is the more reason we are now
introducing this community policing
and that the vigilance and other people
could come in and that is the reason a
lot of people are advocating for state
police, it’s very, very necessary.
Do state police and community
policing have correlation?
Yes. When you are a Chief Executive of
a state and you are not in control of the
security apparatus, how would orders
be carried out; when a commissioner of
police in a state is waiting for order
from above, for Abuja to give a signal
before he carried out an assignment
here? That is the problem we are having
and so the synergy is still missing but
when you have a state police, that state
police will be working in tandem with
the Executive G<strong>over</strong>nor, who becomes
the Chief Security Officer and issues
orders. Now when there is a problem
the police wait for signal or approval
from Abuja before they take action to
solve a problem at hand.
By Colonel Hossan
Stan-Labo (ret.)
Community Policing is a 21st
century policing method that
lays emphasis on the allocation of
officers to communities on a
permanent basis so they become
familiar with the local inhabitants in
a mutually beneficial partnership
aimed at crime prevention.
It comes with a strong sense of
community integration and proactive
policing.
Community policing is both
problem oriented and intelligence
led.
Going by the deplorable state of
insecurity we are in today, it would
avail the following advantages:
a. Advisory responsibility to
communities.
b. Encourage the development of
neighbourhood groups.
c. Increased patrol of communities
(foot/vehicular.)
d. Build mutually beneficial
partnership between police and
community.
e. Avail discretion and initiative to
the police officer on ground.
f. Ease the process of investigation
and access to justice.
g. Ease the extraction of loyalty
and cooperation from the public.
h. Enjoy community endorsement.
The introduction of community
policing would go a long way in
ameilorating the issues of
kidnapping and other forms of
COMMUNITY POLICING:
Manpower
remains
an issue
banditry as the police officer on
ground would have to function in a
proactive partnership with host
communities in identifying
criminals and other undesirable
elements.
It should be welcomed not only
because the traditional method of
policing has failed us but also
because it is proactive and gets the
police to identify with the
community by becoming part and
parcel of the community they serve.
The IGP’s enthusiasm to fully
establish community policing in
Nigeria must be commended given
the hitherto resistance which the
entire idea suffered from the police.
If only the guiding principles
could be adhered to, it is the way to
go.
•Stan-Labo
The obstacle which Section 241(1)
of our constitution places on the
emergence of state police makes the
attraction to community policing
rather inevitable.
With the many challenges and
constraints currently facing the
Nigeria Police which has adverse
effects on its image and community
relations, the way to reconnect with
the people is vide community
policing.
Community policing must be seen
as a cardinal initiative in police
reforms, as it involves collaboration
between police and community
members characterised by a problem
solving partnership in enhancement
of public safety.
However, a major constraint to
community policing in Nigeria
remains manpower. While funding
challenges could be reduced
through community benevolence,
manpower remains an issue.
The dearth of manpower
currently suffered by the
police will be a huge
impediment to any
reasonable impact on
ground. The police are
already <strong>over</strong>stretched with
half their work force
engaged in the protection
of less than 1% of our
population.
Massive recruitment
beyond the 10,000 directive
of the President would be
required. Additional police
training colleges should be
established to fill this gap.
Besides manpower and funding,
the following imperatives need be
addressed:
a. Equipment and logistics.
b. Training.
c. Welfare & motivation
d. Corruption & abuse of office.
e. Adherence to the rule of law.
f. Community endorsement.
*Stan-Labo is MD/CEO,
Hakes and Partners Ltd

PAGE12— SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
By Harris Emanuel
XENOPHOBIA attacks on
Nigerians in South Africa
threaten the relationships
between the two African
countries. How do you react to
this?
It is very sad that South Africans
would go to the extent of killing
other Africans and Nigerians in
particular. It is sad in the sense that,
as a young undergraduate of
political science, I studied apartheid
policy in details and I concluded
that the obnoxious system of
g<strong>over</strong>nment may not be stopped in
South Africa because the white
minority had everything—the
economy, the military and so on and
so forth. My thinking was how the
black majority could <strong>over</strong>throw the
powerful and ruthless minority white
who were well equipped. But
Nigeria took the risk and fought
doggedly and, at the end, the
apartheid system crumbled and they
were set free. As they say, one good
turn deserves another. Nigeria spent
money to ensure the freedom our
black South Africans are now
enjoying. I would not expect them to
pay us back in bad coins. Therefore,
I am not happy about the turn of
events in that country. But, I have to
say this also, from the information
coming out of South Africa, most of
our people there are not behaving
well. Many of them are taking part
in crime to the extent that no South
African likes that. They want to live
in peace. I would like to advise our
brothers and sisters in South Africa
to be law abiding and desist from
criminal activities even as I would
also call on South Africans to keep
the peace and stop the xenophobic
attacks on other black Africans,
especially Nigerians.
What do you think the Federal
G<strong>over</strong>nment should do at this
point?
I am happy with what the Federal
G<strong>over</strong>nment has done. The steps the
President has taken are highly
commendable. South Africa is one of
the countries in Africa and you
cannot wage war against it because
of these attacks. War is not an
option. There are diplomatic talks
going on and the Federal
G<strong>over</strong>nment has voiced its
displeasure <strong>over</strong> the attacks. The
President also sent
emissary to South
Africa to let the
g<strong>over</strong>nment there
know that he is not
happy with the
treatment meted out to
our nationals. But
reprisal attacks
against South African
interests in Nigeria
are not the way to go
because Nigerians are
the ones working in
those establishments.
I do not think it
should degenerate to
that level. The biggest
problem we have now
in Nigeria is
unemployment. You
see young graduates
roaming about without
jobs. So closing down South African
And if we
decentralize
and establish
community
policing, crime
wave in the
country would
be cut down
drastically.
•Ekpoudom
COMMUNITY POLICING:
Police officers will be
recruited to work in
their localities – EX-DIG
Mr Udom Ekpoudom is a former Deputy Inspector General
of Police (DIG). In this interview, Ekpoudom speaks on the
wave of insecurity in the country and the xenophobic attacks
on Nigerians in South Africa among other issues in the polity.
interests is not the best thing to do.
To this end, I am
appealing to Nigerians
to be patient and see
what the g<strong>over</strong>nments of
Nigeria and South
Africa will do and the
outcome of their
engagements. They
should not react the way
they are reacting. I
believe the Federal
G<strong>over</strong>nment would
make the best decision
after the on-going
dialogue.
Killings and
kidnappings have
been on the rise
across the country.
As a security expert,
what do you think
g<strong>over</strong>nment should do to stem
the tide?
I have observed the crime trend in
Nigeria. But let me start by saying
that there is no country in the world
that is crime free. Even the
developed countries are not immune
to violent crimes. They even have
high profile crimes. The Federal
G<strong>over</strong>nment is doing its best to
curtail the excesses of bandits. The
police and the military are doing
their best to checkmate the situation.
G<strong>over</strong>nment has not folded its arms
to allow a free reign by the bandits,
no. g<strong>over</strong>nment is working. We are
even lucky that Boko Haram has
been pushed to the periphery. If
they were coming as they did before
2015, Nigeria would be under Boko
Haram. Before this administration
came, most of the local g<strong>over</strong>nment
areas in Borno State were under
Boko Haram. Now, it is not like that.
They are using hit and run tactic
now. Do not forget that before now,
they had come to Force
Headquarters in Abuja and killed
some policemen and injured others,
even the UN office in Abuja was
under attack and so on. But right
now, attacks in major cities have
been curtailed. So, I expect the
g<strong>over</strong>nors to do more and so, I am
advocating for community policing.
Are you in support of state
police?
I am not in support of state police.
I am, however, in support of
community policing. It would be
difficult to have effective state police
because of what g<strong>over</strong>nors are doing
now. They would use the state police
to get at their opponents. We can
have community policing without
having state police.
How do you mean?
This implies that police officers will
be recruited to work in their
localities. For instance, if an Uyo
person is recruited to work in Uyo,
he or she knows the terrain and the
local language and would be able to
interact adequately with the locals
on any crime issue and the criminals
would be apprehended. But, today,
we have people being taken from
one state to another, and when they
get there, they float. They cannot
find their bearing. They do not
understand the local language.
Therefore, we need localized
policing.
Do we need to amend the
Constitution to accommodate
state police?
From my experience in politics, the
g<strong>over</strong>nors would use state police
against perceived political enemies.
I would have called for the review of
the Constitution if I was keen about
state police but community policing
can be done without the review of
the Constitution. Therefore, it is not
workable to centralize crime fighting
in Abuja. We have six geopolitical
zones in Nigeria and DIGs are the
ones in charge of the zones. There
are matters the DIGs can handle and
such matters stop there, but now
everything is sent to Abuja. It makes
the place congested and the IG
cannot do everything. And if we
decentralize and establish
community policing, crime wave in
the country would be cut down
drastically. I cannot say crime will be
eliminated because no society is
crime free.
What actually is the problem
of the police?
The problem of the police is that
they do not have enough manpower
and they are poorly equipped. State
g<strong>over</strong>nments have made series of
mistakes when it comes to security.
And it did not start today. There are
some states where I worked and the
g<strong>over</strong>nors would say “police are not
under us”. But internal security is
primarily the duty of state
g<strong>over</strong>nors. That is why they have
security vote. You cannot say you are
a g<strong>over</strong>nor when your state is on fire
and you refuse to extinguish it. I
remember when I served in Ogun
State, then-G<strong>over</strong>nor Olusegun
Osoba gave me brand new vehicles
and other gadgets that I used to
fight the bad boys. Former G<strong>over</strong>nor
James Ibori of Delta State too
purchased new equipment and
vehicles for the police. And that
encouraged me so much. So I want
to appeal to state g<strong>over</strong>nors not to
wait for the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment. Let
them help the security agencies to
succeed, so that they can have peace
in their various states.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 13

kidnapping, arme
PAGE 14 – SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
INSECURITY:
The South expor
the North – Sani
•Tells IPoB: North not afraid of Nigeria breaking u
•On community policing: Multiplication of securit
•On <strong>2023</strong>: Southern leaders cannot decide zoning
By Ben Agande, Kaduna
The Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani, in this interview, speaks on the
afraid of Nigeria breaking up but prefers a strong, united country. According to him, those who accuse Preside
are not being truthful because if Nigerians had adjudged him as a failure in his first term, they would not have
•Anthony Sani
Let’s start with the issue of security
on which many Nigerians think
g<strong>over</strong>nment hasn’t done much
because kidnapping and banditry
have continued to fester across the
country despite the measures taken
by the authorities. Where do you
stand?
For proper assessment of efforts by
g<strong>over</strong>nment, it is important to do fact
checking on what was inherited and what
obtains now. There was a time when people
feared to gather in churches, in markets and
in any ceremonies out of fear of attacks
which transcended northern states and FCT.
As a result, sense of helplessness and
hopelessness <strong>over</strong>whelmed the people,
including residents of FCT. The security
challenges were so widespread that the
United States made a forecast that Nigeria
was at tipping point and would fall off the
cliff by 2015.That did not happen. Thanks to
the emergence of this regime. Today, the
country is still one because Boko Haram
has been tamed and the activities of the sect
have been limited to the fringes of the
North-East by the current regime.
But because corruption has stolen our
patrimony, our opportunity and our future
for many decades as well as the introduction
of cashless economy which has made armed
robbery to be unattractive, there has been
recent resurgence of banditry, kidnapping
and cattle rustling as business for some
people. The UN Resolution 1966 of 2010 is
specific that affected states must address the
underlying causes, which this regime has
been trying to address by way of fighting
insurgence and corruption in order to create
the enabling environment for the economy
to be diversified away from oil to the
exploitation of natural resources. The
g<strong>over</strong>nment has been trying to deliver on its
promises. And it seems there is
improvement.
For banditry, kidnapping and cattle
rustling to give way, g<strong>over</strong>nment must enlist
the support of citizens not only in the use of
military might but also of the citizens who
should exercise patience and help
g<strong>over</strong>nment <strong>over</strong>come the challenges. The
efforts of g<strong>over</strong>nment alone against the
insecurity posed by insurgents, bandits,
cattle rustlers, herders
and farmers conflicts,
militants activism,
cultism, ritual killings
and even baby factories
are not enough. One
way citizens can
support g<strong>over</strong>nment is
through the community
policing and to avoid
giving ethnic and
religious coloration to
purely criminal
activities lest such
coloration provide
criminals with platform
to hide and perpetrate
crimes, knowing it is
not possible to
prosecute ethnicity and
religion. The fight
against corruption
should not be left to the
Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment
alone. States and local
g<strong>over</strong>nments and the
citizens must join the fight against
corruption and stigmatize it in such a way
as to discourage the practice of cash-forpeerage
in our national life. Those
arraigned for corruption should defend
themselves instead of insisting that all
corrupt people must be arraigned at the
same time. I say so because the fight against
corruption is work in progress that is
expected to outlive the current regime.
Negotiating with bandits and
kidnappers is ongoing in Katsina
The only regret is
the insecurity
posed by
insurgency,
banditry,
kidnapping, armed
robbery, etc, most
of which have
been exported to
the North from the
South but which
we hope to
<strong>over</strong>come
after the exercise proved successful
in Zamfara. But critics say this is
amoral. What does ACF think?
I am not the official spokesman for ACF
which has a spokesman. I only complement
his efforts. Most of your questions should be
directed to the National Publicity Secretary
whose job is to address your concerns
please.
As far as I am concerned, negotiation to
save lives is not out of place. You will recall
that the Israeli g<strong>over</strong>nment released 1, 000
members of Hamas held in custody in
exchange for the release of one Israeli
soldier held captive by Hamas in 2006. Also
in 2014, then-President Obama negotiated
the release of one American soldier held
captive by the Taliban in exchange for five
Taliban soldiers held by America in
Guantanamo. Also note why the UN often
invites warring parties to Geneva for peace
talks. The aim is to avoid further killings in
wars and not because the UN approves
killings in wars. That is why there is an
adage that says if you kill one person, you
would be charged for murder; if you kill ten
persons, you would be examined for
insanity, but if you kill 1,000 people, you
would be invited for peace talks in Geneva
not because the world likes your killings but
because the world wants to stop further
killings. That is the way I see the spirit of the
negotiation by the g<strong>over</strong>nors of Katsina and
Zamfara states, to wit, stop further
killings in their states by bandits.
So those who use Danegeld’s
theory of rewarding bad
behaviours and attack the two
g<strong>over</strong>nors should have realistic
appreciation of the situations.
One of the measures being
taken by the police to stem
insecurity is community
policing under which 40,
000 non-police officers are
to be recruited across the
country (50 per local
g<strong>over</strong>nment area).Is it the
right step in the right
direction?
I understand community
policing to mean the involvement
of communities to police their
precinct. I do not think those
involved have to be recruited
formally to become another
security outfit. While not
condemning community policing,
it is my honest suggestion that the
Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment should recruit
adequate number of trained and well
equipped police personnel. It is only then we
can know whether the Nigeria Police can
deliver on the promise of its mandate or
cannot deliver. Multiplication of security
outfits may not be helpful.
So, being a regional body, you are
not carried along on the initiative.
Right?
I said I do not know the details. But my
take has always been that there should be enough
number of trained and well equipped police
personnel for the nation. A situation where so many
villages do not have police outposts is never
helpful. Therefore, it is unthinking to conclude that
state police will be the magic wand.
Many organisations and individuals,
including state g<strong>over</strong>nors, Afenifere and
Ohanaeze, have canvassed state police as
solution to the issue of insecurity in the
country. Where does community policing
leave state police?
I do not have the details of community policing
which is not one and the same thing with the
police. I am not for state police because I do not
believe in multiplication of security outfits. If the
number of trained and equipped state police
personnel are not adequate, state police would not
be the magic wand. What is more, given the way
state g<strong>over</strong>nors have used State Electoral
Commissions to kill democracy at the local
g<strong>over</strong>nment level, g<strong>over</strong>nors are most likely to
abuse state police for wrong purposes. There is
another challenge that state police personnel can
take sides during conflicts in those states with
diverse citizens.
The question of one monolithic North
has been an issue as the Middle Belt says
they are not part of the North. Are they
right?
The agitations by the Middle Belt was more or
less the response to the Willink Commission which
brought about Mid Western Region. The late
J.S.Tarka wanted Middle Belt Region reminiscent
of the Mid-Western Region. Now that states have
been created to allay the fear of the minorities of
domination by the majority in the country, it stands
to reason to submit that the agitation by the
Middle Belt Forum is rooted in what no longer
exists. If you consider Benue State where the Tiv
have been in power since 1999 to the chagrin of the
Idoma; if you consider what happens in Kogi State
where the Igala hold sway against other
minorities; if you consider Borno State where the
Kanuri would not allow southern Borno to produce
the g<strong>over</strong>nor; and if you consider Plateau State
where Muslims cannot produce a deputy g<strong>over</strong>nor
and get appointed as VC of UNIJOS and JUTH;
and compare same with what happens in Kaduna
and Kebbi states where the Hausa-Fulani hold
sway against other ethnic nationalities, then you
can hardly avoid the conclusion that the challenges
of marginalization is not an exclusive preserve of
the big three. All groups in Nigeria abuse their
advantages. Furthermore, the Chairman of the
Northern States’ G<strong>over</strong>nors Forum is from Plateau
State and a non-Muslim. Generals Gowon,
Babangida and Abubakar who are among the
patrons of ACF are from the North-Central
geopolitical zone.
The <strong>2023</strong> presidency is already
generating contr<strong>over</strong>sy even if it is several
years away. Zoning is especially a
contentious issue as the South fears power
may not go back there after the North
would have done eight years. Do you think
this fear is justified? To be clear, what is
the North’s game plan?
I am of the view that it is too early to start the

ted banditry,
d robbery to
pACF Scribe
y outfits not helpful.
for political parties
state of the nation, saying the North is not
nt Muhammadu Buhari of lack of performance
voted him for second term.
politics of <strong>2023</strong> when the sitting regime is not up to
six months in office. I also do not believe the North
has any game plan in a multiparty democracy.
You will recall that in the first republic, (Alhaji
Ahmadu Bello) Sardauna’s NPC contested not only
with (the late Obafemi) Awolowo’s Action Group
and (the late Nnamdi Azikiwe) Zik’s NCNC from
the South but also with Aminu Kano’s NEPU and
Tarka’s UMBC from the North.
Under the current dispensation when politics of
rotation, power shift and zoning is being bandied
about, Buhari contested against President
Obasanjo from the South in 2003 and President
Jonathan in 2011 and 2015. Also in 2019, 76
presidential candidates came from both the North
and the South. This at once suggests that there has
been no national consensus on rotation or zoning
that is accepted and binding on political parties
which enjoys the exclusive preserve of presenting
candidates for elections.
Southern leaders recently warned against
power remaining in the North in <strong>2023</strong>
against the backdrop of statements
credited to northern leaders like G<strong>over</strong>nor
El-Rufai suggesting that power may not
shift to the South. How do you respond?
That is their personal opinion and not the
position of their political parties. All those who talk
of politics of rotation and zoning are not political
parties which will present candidates for election. It
is only political parties that can present candidates
for elections.
The Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment has replaced
RUGA with the National Livestock
Transformation Programme. But
southerners say they don’t know the
difference between the two concepts and
are therefore opposed to any of them. Can
you enlighten us?
The same groups opposed to open grazing as
panacea to trespasses by nomadic practices are the
ones opposed to any intervention by the Federal
G<strong>over</strong>nment on ranches despite knowing that
nomads are landless and limited by both expertise
and capacity to establish ranches that can improve
security and livestock. They are the same groups
who opposed RUGA and now opposed to the
National Livestock Transformation Programme.
Since the banning of nomads in favour of
sedentary practice can improve not only security
but also the quality and volume of livestock in the
polity and economy, the critics should suggest how
best the management of livestock should be that is
acceptable to majority of stakeholders. It is not
enough to condemn by mere declaration laced
with threats and intimidation without any
suggestions.
The Fulani have been painted as a
difficult race going by the activities of
killer herdsmen. What is ACF doing to
address the issue?
Difficult in what ways? Though landless, I have
not heard the Fulani talking that farmers should
fence their farms. Mind you, there are Fulani
herdsmen and farmers. What ACF does is to appeal
to both herders and farmers not to take the law into
their hands and stifle security which both need for
livestock and farming to flourish.
President Buhari is a northerner. But
there is this perception that his
g<strong>over</strong>nment hasn’t performed <strong>over</strong> the
past four and a half years. Is ACF
worried?
If his regime did not perform in the last tenure
as suggested by you, how come his regime was
not rejected but re-elected in 2019 with larger
margin of 3.9m votes compared to the margin
of 3m votes in 2015?
Nigeria at 59, many southerners
believe northerners are slowing the
country down. How do you respond?
How is the North slowing them down? Does
the North determine how state g<strong>over</strong>nments are
run? Does the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment under
President Buhari determine the usage of
allocations to their states? It may be fact of
history that education arrived in the South a
century earlier than when it reached the North
amid stiff resistance by perhaps Islam, a
resistance which Boko Haram sect still echoes.
But that has not affected the South in any way. A
man from the South once accused the North of
killing agriculture because of oil. But I told him
that Malaysia did not collect the palm oil
seedlings from the North. Yet southerners are the
major importers of palm oil from Malaysia.
How has North fared in 59 years given
the thinking that northern leaders have
ruled for the most part and that section
has been more backward than the
South?
But the South has ruled for more years under
the nascent democracy. The military junta who
ruled did not do so on behalf of the North. And if
we compare the socio-economic status of the
North by way of number of universities, schools,
roads, etc with what obtains today, however, the
pace, majority of northerners count their
blessings one-by-one. The only regret is the
insecurity posed by insurgency, banditry,
kidnapping, armed robbery, etc, most of which
have been exported to the North from the South
but which we hope to <strong>over</strong>come. After all, we
know that <strong>over</strong> the long history of nations and
long lives of individuals, the powerful and the
powerless, the rich and the poor often switch
places. Our situation is not beyond redemption
given purposeful leadership and the best of
every northerner.
What does the North think about the
Igbo separatist group IPoB?
The IPOB has the right to agitate for
separation. Many nations go through such
agitations. Examples include the state of Alaska
where some people want to leave America to
join Russia. We have some people in Xinjiang
Province in China who do not want to be part of
China. Some people in Aceh in Indonesia are
separatists just like in Quebec in Canada. You
heard what happened in Catalonia in Spain
and Scotland in Britain. So there is nothing
exotic or quixotic in hankering for separation by
some groups. After all, the good things of life are
not natural order of things but attained through
ceaseless hard work by not only the leaders but
also by everyone. But majority in the North do
not fear separation, though are of the view that
the certain benefits for one united big Nigeria
are more than the uncertain gains in separation.
More so for the Igbo who settle and invest in
other climes than the reverse.
SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 15
PDP will win Anambra 2021 gov
election – Ambassador Oligbo
By TTony Nwankwo
he 2021 g<strong>over</strong>norship election in Anambra State took a new turn, September
5, when a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart from Umuoji community,
Idemili North Local G<strong>over</strong>nment Area of Anambra State, Hon. Amb. Barrister
Vincent Ike Oligbo, donated party offices to Umuoji, Nkpor Idemili wards, a gesture he
said will strengthen the grassroots mobilisation of the party for his quest to win the
gubernatorial election Oligbo (Ike Edeke), who is angling to be the next elected g<strong>over</strong>nor
of the state on the platform of the party, said, “Nigerians deserve good roads, better
medical facilities, good standard of living. The betterment of the citizens of Anambra
State is my goal as the party in g<strong>over</strong>nment here now has failed the people woefully”.
The event attracted the political elite in Anambra State including the Anambra State
PDP Chairman, Hon. Sir Ndubisi Nwobu, who led the party state executives. Speaking
at the event, Nwobu expressed confidence that the party will win the 2021 g<strong>over</strong>norship
election in the state, seeking massive support for Oligbo. He said this while inaugurating
the new ward offices at Nkpor Ward I, and Nkpor Ward II, Umuoji in Idemili North
Local G<strong>over</strong>nment Areas, asking members to seek new members as the party prepares
for the 2021 gubernatorial election in the state. He implored party members to make
good use of the offices for grassroots mobilisation.
Nwobu said the people were waiting for the PDP to move the state to the next level.
On the event itself, chairman, PDP Umuoji Ward, Cmrd Arinze Nweje, said it was
important that events commenced at Nkpor Ward I offices at Amafor where the state
chairman with his encourage commissioned the new party offices.
At Nkpor Ward II offices at Old Enugu Road, it was another successful grassroots
mobilisation as the commissioning attracted passers-by, motorists and the neighbouring
communities most affected were Nkpor, Ogidi and Umuoji. The train later moved to
Ogidi for a PDP Idemili North Stakeholders meeting.
At Ogidi, the Idemili North PDP chairman, Chief Alex Iremeka, and his exco-members
welcomed Nwobu, Oligbo and others at the Paradise Hotel, venue of the stakeholders
meeting.
Responding, Nwobu (Obaka Awka), expressed appreciation of the party faithful in
Idemili North for working tirelessly for the growth and strengthening of the party in
the area. He implored stakeholders to
ensure that they replicate the goodwill
of Vincent Oligbo (Ike Edeke) by
ensuring that all wards had functional
party offices.
The donor, Oligbo, who was attending
the party's stakeholders meeting for the
first time in Idemili North, expressed joy
to be in the midst of Ndi Idemili. He
expressed his happiness while also
making financial donations for the
running of the party at both local
g<strong>over</strong>nment and ward levels. His action
elicited spontaneous response from the
now energised audience who replied
with donations of their own, even from
those in absentia, all in a spirit to
encourage.and harness resources for the
running of the party at those levels.
Amb. Vincent
Oligbo ( in native
regalia) with
PDP chieftain lauds Okowa for rehabilitating
Warri-Benin road
By Ephraim Oseji
eoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Sunny Onuesoke has commended
PDelta State G<strong>over</strong>nor Ifeanyi Okowa for rehabilitating Benin-Sapele-Warri road
and other federal roads.
Onuesoke, in a statement yesterday said before the rehabilitation of the road, it was a
nightmare to commuters, who spent hours manoeuvring through the bad spots or going
through alternative routes.
The PDP chieftain noted that commuters can now heave a sigh of relief with the
completion of the rehabilitation in compliance with the directive of the state g<strong>over</strong>nor
that the contractor should accelerate the work to alleviate the sufferings of motorists.
He maintained that Delta g<strong>over</strong>nment’s rehabilitation of the road and other federal
roads demonstrates the fact that Mr. G<strong>over</strong>nor is committed to the well-being of the
people.
“For the fact that he did not wait for the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment to fix the road, has shown
he is truly a leader that is deeply touched by the plight of his people. No doubt, the people
of Delta State appreciate his timely intervention in fixing the Warri/Sapele/Benin Road.
Posterity would definitely speak good of him,” Onuesoke stated.
The PDP chieftain, however, appealed to the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment to fast-track the
reimbursement of Delta State on the expenses incurred on the rehabilitation of the road
and other federal roads so as to spur the g<strong>over</strong>nor to do more when the need arises in
future.
Special Foundation trains FCT students in public speaking
S
pecial Foundation has organised special training for students in analytical and
public speaking skills in select schools in the Federal Capital Territory, with
particular focus on LEA Primary School, Kuje, Abuja.
Seyi Akinwale, Founder of Special Foundation said: “When you educate young people,
you are building the pillars of society. I believe in nation building and that citizens must
be catalysts of the positive change they want to see in their communities. True economic
development and good leadership can only be achieved by an inclusive educational
system.
According to Akinwale, the Foundation is actively involved in proffering solutions to
learning gaps in school curriculum in the country by training young students in creative
writing, public speaking, critical thinking, leadership, patriotism and national values.
He explained, “We cannot look to the g<strong>over</strong>nment for solutions to all the social problems.
This is the reason we created this platform to address specific societal ills in education.
It would be noted that the special summer is an annual three-week programme aimed
at improving the quality of education of children and students in Northern Nigeria.
The programme has impacted <strong>over</strong> 300 children in the last 3 years was developed to
address the gaps disc<strong>over</strong>ed in the current public education received by children in
Northern Nigeria.
S’African xenophobic victims: UNIBEN alumni
commends Air Peace boss on evacuation
T
he Lagos Branch of the University of Benin Alumni Association (UBAA) has
commended the show of patriotism by Air Peace Airline by swiftly airlifting stranded
Nigerians back home free of charge in the wake of the xenophobic attacks in South
Africa.
In a communique by its Chairman, Stephen Onojemete and Public Relations Officer,
Julius Ebhodaghe at the end of its general meeting in Lagos, the association said the
selfless and humanitarian contributions by the airline and its chief executive, Allen
Onyema towards the well-being of stranded citizens in the former apartheid colony was
a demonstration of the true Nigerian spirit of love for brotherhood and country.
UBAA urged the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment to do everything within its power to ensure the
safety and well-being of law-abiding Nigerians engaged in legitimate businesses in
different countries of the world. The association stressed the need to initiate good economic
policies that will make the country’s economy favourable for Nigerians.
UBAA similarly commended the maturity with which Nigerians managed the fallout
of the provocative xenophobic attacks which helped in averting reprisals on South
African nationals and businesses in Nigeria.
The alumni association also lauded Nigerians for the peaceful manner in which they
have received the various verdicts of the election tribunals in respect to the 2019 general
elections and urged politicians to always play by the rules and not incite Nigerians into
violence.

PAGE 16, SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
By Josephine Agbonkhese
08054650907
Email: jossynovia@gmail.com
NAOMI: I shared
my story of abuse
on the world stage
From drawing inspiration from her travails as a victim of domestic violence in her first
marriage and later a single mum, Naomi Osemedua became a global sensation, streaming
live videos from the comfort of her home. As a nursing motherand with no tech background,
she would hit the live button on ‘PeriscopeTV’ and simply begin to ‘talk.’ Soon, the world
became her audience and in no time, she was nicknamed‘African Queen of Live Streaming.’
This was at a time when the live button was absent on most social media
platforms. Gradually, the author of Amazon’s bestseller‘Socially Speaking -My Periscope
Miracles’ became a highly sought-after inspirational speaker at conferences and seminars,
a content creator and positive change coach.
The alumna of Ambrose Ali University, Dale Carnegie Institute, Dr. Myles
Munroe Global Leadership Mentoring Programme and University of Cape
Town Graduate School of Business, is today the Creative Director of the firm
Sparkle with Naomi and the Chief Storyteller at Women With Stories
International. Osemedua will be the only African speaking at the 8th edition
of TEDx 2019 in the US next month.
OW did you earn the ‘African Queen
Hof Live Streaming’title?
I started live streaming in October 2015.
Before then, Iwas not a big fan of social media.
I had no tech background and I assumed it
was unnecessary. Everything changed when I
hit the ‘Go Live’ button on the Periscope App. I
was intrigued at how with one touch of a
button, I could connect with the world. This
was at a time when there was no Facebook,
Instagram,Twitter, YouTube or LinkedIn live
platform.
It was so profound because Periscope had a
world map feature that would show you when
people were ‘Live’ around the globe by a red
dot. I would have people come into my live
broadcasts on so many occasions and tell me:
“Right now, you are the only one who is live on
the African continent.” I invested in learning
how to use the platform and soon people
wanted to pay me to teach them. On the 6th
month anniversary of ‘Going Live,’ precisely
October 11, 2016,something amazing
happened. My channel started trending live
on the Periscope.tv app, making me the first
African to trend on the platform with millions
of users. Hence the title ‘African Queen of Live
Streaming’ from my fans across the globe.
...but what inspires issues your talk about?
I love to inspire people. As a people builder
with amission to call out the seeds of greatness
in others, I am obsessed about people living
their best lives ‘now’. I am also on a mission
to ‘die empty’. I do not want to take any of the
gifts and talents that God has blessed me with
to the grave. So, I show up daily online to
‘sparkle’ my world, like only Ican.
What skills helped?
I started with nothing but my smart phone
and internet connection. What kept me in the
game were three things: the right mindset, the
willingness to ‘do it afraid’ because there is no
‘edit’ when you ‘go live’ and that could be scary
for so many as they wonder about the mistakes
they might make, and the constant investment
in personal development.
I’ve heard so much about Women with
Stories. What’s the idea and is it
meeting its objectives?
During one of my live streaming
sessions, I went public about my
personal story of running away from
home and eloping at age 22. People
really couldn’t believe I experienced so
much because I didn’t look like mypast. I
kept getting messages of how my story was
inspiring. The
Women with Stories platform was launched
on March 8, 2017,with a podcast in which I
shared my story as the first episode; we even
got featured on the International
Women’s Day website. Over the
next one year,we featured
many more women from
across the globe and in
August 2018, as Iturned
40, we hosted the first
ever global conference
in Lagos with the
theme:’Your Story is
Your Gift’.
At the Women With
S t o r i e s
International, we
are on a mission to
empower women
to find and ‘own’
their unique
stories, disc<strong>over</strong>
their cure, serve
others and “profit
from it”. I am a
living witness as the ChiefStoryteller. In April,
I received an invitation to the Women
Economic Forum inNew Delhi, India, where
I shared my story in different sessions <strong>over</strong> six
daysand received the ‘Exceptional Woman of
Excellence Award.’ In October, I will be
speaking at TEDx Providence, Rhode Island,
U.S.A and I am the only speaker fromAfrica
in this year’s edition.
You eloped?
That was a major dark season of my life.
Imagine losing your family and everything
dear to you for love and then ending up being
mistreated. My sons were not spared.
No one should ever have to experience abuse
in the hands of someone they love.
How did you survive?
Survival came in various forms in that
season. I was cut off from my family, so, I
needed to survive emotionally. I was a second
year student in the university and therefore
needed to survive academically too. Then there
was the financial, marital and even
motherhood survival struggle with my two
sons. I had to grow up fast and learn new
things as the years went by. I never dropped
out of school. Instead, I started a business to
survive and after school, I got a job.
What key personal decisions helped?
I have always loved reading from my early
years at Living Faith Church International;
Bishop David Oyedepo always talked about
reading books. That prepared me for what
was ahead. My favourite author was Dr.Myles
•Naomi
Osemedua
Munroe. I read so much about purpose,
potential and more. It’s phenomenal that I
actually met Dr Myles personally in 2012
and was privileged to be mentored by him
before his passing. I had a strong knowing
that there was more to my life than my
current situation; and that there was
purpose behind my pain. So, in April
2009, I walked away and never looked
back!
But some remain in an abusive
relationship...
I believe you owe it to yourself to be
alive first of all. Some stay for fear of
how they will survive when they walk
away, but end up getting killed in the
process. Others stay for the kids who are
not just watching, but whose entire adult
life will be defined by decisions which they
(the abused partner) didn’t make earlier. And
the cycle sadly continues.
What is your idea of a peaceful, nonabusive
marriage?
One where there is love and respect. My
story has a happy ending; I found love again
after four years of being a single mum and I
got married for the first time in 2013 in the
presence of my entire family and loved ones.
When my husband Richard met me, he had
never been married and he had no kids. We
recently celebrated our 6th year wedding
anniversary and our union is blessed with
another son and a daughter. Richard has so
much respect for who I am and the work I do
and he really is my biggest supporter
alongside my family.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 17
Nigeria @ 59: Nigerians
deprived of s<strong>over</strong>eignty
for <strong>over</strong> 50 years
By Guy Ikokwu
THE situation in Nigeria today is
egregious and monumental that it
gives a great majority of our people a
feeling of total hopelessness in such a way
that the general belief is that there must be a
catalyst within the system.
It is now clear to the Nigerian masses that
they have been deprived of their s<strong>over</strong>eignty
for more than 50 years by the high ranking
military personnel since January 1966,
which torpedoed the civilian democratic
norms inherited in various discussions with
our British colonialists, who had acted
equivocally in their own self and economic
interest.
We have had nine constitutions in 25 years
to usher in real democracy which our late
heroic musician and artiste, Fela Anikulapo
Kuti, called “Demon – Crazy.” That was a
philosophical thoughtful expose but the
perspective of our past decades show that
our system of g<strong>over</strong>nance has really been
demonic till this day.
Faulty constitution
The last 1999 constitution, which Nigeria
had, was initiated by General Abudulsalami
Abubakar. Today, we know that the 1999
constitution was a fraud as it was not
delivered by the people of Nigeria.
A university teacher, Dr. D. Ononogu
opined recently that “only a people oriented
g<strong>over</strong>nment that is responsive to the needs
of the g<strong>over</strong>ned will survive.” Recently, Chief
Afe Babalola SAN, in his reflection on the
1999 constitution said
that, “the 1999 constitution
is the problem with
the g<strong>over</strong>nance of Nigeria
today being an imposition”
which has left the
regions and states
imp<strong>over</strong>ished and unable
to carry out their economic
and other functions with
fiscal responsibility.
Role of Generals
The truth must be told
that the Generals of the
Nigerian military who
had usurped the g<strong>over</strong>nance
of the country, most
of whom are still living
today are General Yakubu
Gowon, General Olusegun
Obasanjo, General
Ibrahim Babangida,
General Abudulsalami
Abubakar, and General
Muhammadu Buhari
while some of the expired
and dead Generals are
Muritala Muhammed,
and Sani Abacha.
The real issue among
the Generals is the
number of years each of them will preside
<strong>over</strong> the economic resources and destiny of
Nigeria, which no doubt has made all of
them to clamour for at least eight years of
leadership and have accumulated such
domestic and foreign wealth that they
cannot exhaust within their living years and
cannot repatriate to Nigeria from the banks
where they are stashed.
No cause for cheer
The state of the Nigerian nation today as
we celebrate our 59th independence
anniversary was recently reflected upon by
an international scholar, who said that “the
issues now raging are corruption, cronyism,
p<strong>over</strong>ty, cultism, violent crimes, terrorism,
banditry, kidnapping, sectorial violence,
Muslim fundamentalism which has
polarized the religious sects and the
g<strong>over</strong>nment into bloody clashes and loss of
lives and properties.”
The United Nations rapporteur to Nigeria
said recently that the Boko Haram terrorism
has accounted for the loss of more than
30,000 lives and several millions of
internally and externally displaced refugees
in IDP camps.
Schools have been shut down and tertiary
institutions have not opened for months
since our last anniversary due to the
unresolved issues between the g<strong>over</strong>nment
and ASUU. It is the education of our youth
that is hindered and drastically lowered.
In the past year, the unemployment of our
youths who are out of school or who used to
have gainful employment in various
institutions has really reached the 20 per
cent mark. In 2019, Nigeria was said to
have <strong>over</strong>taken India with a population of
<strong>over</strong> one billion people as the p<strong>over</strong>ty
capital of the world. Surely this has been an
agonizing revelation for Nigerians due to
the lack of performance of our present
g<strong>over</strong>nments and particularly due to the
unviable g<strong>over</strong>nance structure of Nigeria.
Even with the present abject p<strong>over</strong>ty,
politics is now the main source of wealth for
economic consumption rather than a
productive sector.
Ex-G<strong>over</strong>nor Balarabe Musa, as leader of
the conference of Nigeria’s Political Parties,
said that “now we have leaders who only
care about themselves and whose primary
objective in life is self.”
But the life expectancy of Nigerians is now
an average of about 45 years with a lot of
suicides currently, as life is not worth living
for many, as the extended family living
system has broken down in most rural
communities and in the urban areas.
Public officials’ humongous
salaries,
allowances
If we review
and compare the
salaries of
members of the
National
Legislature, not
to talk of the
State Legislature
or the Executive,
Ministers,
Commissioners
and their
humongous
infantile aides, it
will be seen why
there is in
Nigeria such
debilitating
unrest and
impatience in
our g<strong>over</strong>nance
system in the last
20 years.
For example,
the salary of a
Nigeria Senator
is said to be
N750,000.00
monthly with a
sitting allowance
of N13.5million plus other numerous
allowances for their wardrobes, vehicles,
offices, multiple retirement and pension
allowances, etc. It is such an amount when
combined with those of the executive that
has made our budget in the last four years of
Buhari administration to be in deficit. It
also resulted in the last recession from
which we have not really come out, as
Nigeria is still borrowing from the World
Bank and the IMF to meet its recurrent
expenditure with an economy that is
growing at 1.95% per annum only till 2019.
The quagmire of this situation led to the
devaluation of Nigeria’s currency which is
now N360 to $1 whereas after independence,
the Nigerian Naira was stronger
than the US Dollar.
Just last week, Nigeria approached the
World Bank for a $2.5billion loan which
will help us meet our deficit budgetary
provisions in which capital expenditure
amounts to not more than 15 per cent.
Nigeria has failed to meet its own responsibilities
as espoused by the United Nations
and the World Financial Communities
unlike some other countries are doing in
We are incapable of
meeting the
expectations prescribed
due to our reliance on
external loans for the
execution of recurrent
expenditure rather than
the productive sectors
of our economy with the
capacity to pay back the
foreign debt
Africa.
Back into debt trap
We are incapable of meeting the expectations
prescribed due to our reliance on
external loans for the execution of recurrent
expenditure rather than the productive
sectors of our economy with the capacity to
pay back the foreign debt. Nigeria’s foreign
debt rose to $25,609.63 billion compared to
the figure in 2016 of President Jonathan’s
administration which was $9.760billion.
It would be remembered that Obasanjo
and Okonjo Iweala were able to get our
external debtors to cancel a large chunk of
our foreign debt due to the World Bank and
IMF. Nigeria’s DMO office has again
reminded the administration that most of
the external borrowings are used for
recurrent expenditures, like salaries and
allowances and also to refinance maturing
obligations which will not grow our
economy.
The United Nations listed the Millennium
Developmental Projects which Nigeria and
other developing nations should urgently
focus on. These are: No P<strong>over</strong>ty, Zero
Hunger, Good Health and Well-being,
Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean
Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean
Energy, Decent Work and Economic
Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure,
Reduced Inequality Sustainable
Cities and Communities, Responsible
Consumption and Production Climate
Action, Life below Water, Life on Land, Peace
and Justice, Strong Institutions, Partnerships
to achieve the Goal.
Holding leaders accountable
An analytical fact check by Nigerian
experts maintained that for democracy to
work properly, public figures need to be held
accountable for what they say or do. Their
claims should be publicly assessed with
skills and evidence from institutions in
economic, finance, technology, science,
banking, universities, corporate institutions,
media and industries in order to distill or
sort out facts from fiction.
The performances of Nigerian institutions
in the past three years and particularly in
2019 are bedevilled by fiction and propaganda
in the statistical realm and nonpatrician
analytical domain. As Nigerians,
we cannot appreciate where we are in order
to improve on g<strong>over</strong>nance situations in the
interest of our own well being. It is known
that at the moment, Nigeria depends on a
mono economic structure which is crude oil
to the extent of about 80 per cent.
The non-oil sector has not yet achieved its
optimal capacity hence the current deficit
budgeting.
In fact the present administration in which
the President is also the Petroleum Minister
and in which the NNPC controls the
production, the refining and the sale of our
crude, has been financially worrisome in
respect of its very poor accountability.
Nigerians are surprised to learn this year
that we spent more money importing
refined petroleum products from abroad
•Ikokwu
than the amount for which our crude oil is
sold to foreign entities. Nigeria’s NNPC is
still employing the crude oil swap for
imported petroleum products due to the
inabilities of our own refineries. Indeed, the
NNPC is spending trillions of naira on oil
subsidy, a situation that is fuelling monumental
corruption and unaccountable
financial applications. Informed experts
and IMF have urged the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment
to scrap the colossal funds involved in
the corrupt subsidies payments so that
Nigeria’s economy can urgently be rejuvenated
and our system of g<strong>over</strong>nance should
be constitutionally restructured through the
urgent devolution of powers to the states or
federating units where s<strong>over</strong>eignty lies.
The Nigerian-Benin border was recently
sealed leading to very high rise in commodity
prices yet there is still a clandestine
smuggling through the borders at night and
with motor cycles in Northern borders. All
these are in breach of the Agencies Free
Trade Agreement just signed. It is hurting
our economy.
In the last two months, President Buhari’s
g<strong>over</strong>nment in a bid to start his first year of
the second tenure, made two proposals to
the National Assembly. One was for the
control of the river sides and water ways in
the country and the other was for the 774
local g<strong>over</strong>nments to be made autonomous
financially and other wise and removed
from the control of state g<strong>over</strong>nments.
These proposals are unconstitutional for a
set up of true federalism, which enunciates
the truism that s<strong>over</strong>eignty belongs to the
people at the grass roots and therefore the
residual and main constitutional powers
should belong to the states, which will cede
some limited powers to the central g<strong>over</strong>nment,
to be able to execute some <strong>over</strong>all
Nigerian factors such as immigration,
defence, foreign affairs, and some infrastructure,
etc.
In the last two years, the Southern and
Middle Belt leaders have been proposing a
restructured polity since President Buhari
rejected the implementation of the detailed
resolutions of the 2014 National Conference
convened by President Goodluck
Jonathan, by consigning the reports to the
archives and turning Nigeria into a so
called ‘unitary federalism’ which is an
unknown contraption in legal jurisprudence.
With the state of the Nation today in such
a deplorable situation, the Southern and
Middle Belt and the Sahelian Upper
Northern areas of Nigeria’s six geopolitical
zones should wake up from their slumber
and make a final push for the realization of
a new g<strong>over</strong>nance structure for Nigeria to
move to greater heights.
An analytical and unapologetic observer
in the social media last week said “All the
Southern but accused slaves and other
useful idiots in their regions should be
recalled and placed on cognitive psychotherapy
for total emancipation, freedom
and redemption despite their height of
Continues on page 9

PAGE 18—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
How to fight p<strong>over</strong>ty in
Nigeria — Kpakol
By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
After 59 years of independence, a large portion of the
Nigerian population lives below the p<strong>over</strong>ty line.
In this interview, former Chief Economic Adviser,
to then President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Magnus
Kpakol, says that only a refocus on human capital development
can help defeat p<strong>over</strong>ty in Nigeria. Kpakol
who also headed the P<strong>over</strong>ty Eradication Programme
(NAPEP) also lamented that without accurate
data, g<strong>over</strong>nment policy decisions are often
based on political and other sentiments. Excerpts:
When you came to g<strong>over</strong>nment
at the beginning of this
current experience of democracy
under Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo, what were your
expectations and what were
your goals, what were you
hoping to achieve returning
from the US to work in the
Nigerian g<strong>over</strong>nment?
I had very high expectations
because you would recall at that
time, we had just come out of
military rule and everybody was
excited that we had democracy,
although I didn’t come right away,
I came a couple of years after that
had happened. Also I never had
any intention of coming back to
work. I probably thought I could
do some consulting down the road
but as things happened, before I
knew it I was in Nigeria as Chief
Economic Adviser to the President.
I had great inspirations from
President Obasanjo because I saw
in him a man that was completely
dedicated to the redemption of
Nigeria after those many years of
military rule and so that gave me
a lot of excitement and there was
this great aspiration as a result to
achieving great things and I was
privileged to go with him round
the world. We travelled quite a
bit, meeting strategic partners. So
I had very high hopes for Nigeria.
And then the President had a very
good team, very solid people, most
of the areas were occupied by the
right kinds of people. So we had
great hopes for Nigeria.
Looking back, you were at
National
Planning,
NAPEP;
what would
you say
were your
experiences
in terms of
planning
and execution
of
g<strong>over</strong>nment
programmes
and
projects?
I think that
people mean
well but we
don’t often
work from
practical
realities.
From the
point of view of having correct
information. So often times you
find a g<strong>over</strong>nment that is making
decisions that are not evidencebased
because the data are not
readily available. I think we
have a little bit more data now
than at that time, some of the data
we had you couldn’t depend on
them.
With all due respect, at that time
it was called The Federal Office of
Statistics I was <strong>over</strong> it, it was more
of my parastatal and I told the
President that we had difficulties
with the data. You may recall I
had a little skirmish trying to
bring it to Abuja because it was
extremely important for me that
we are able to get good data.
So often times we end up
making decisions that are more
emotional and more political than
are practical because they don’t
have the data. I want to be
exact. One of the real big things,
if you really don’t have the data,
then sentiment and emotions can
move decisions because if I have
the data I can tell you this is what
the number shows and this is what
it has to be.
But when the data are not
available then it is a
matter of ‘I believe’,
‘I think’, ‘you
think’. Somebody
said our people are
suffering. Okay
your people are
suffering, I am not
able to prove to you
that they are not
suffering because I
don’t have the data.
Okay, this people
are suffering
more than the
other people.
In my
tenure at
NAPEP
(National
P<strong>over</strong>ty
Eradication
Programme),
I
wanted to
focus more
on the
North, I
wanted to
shift a lot
of the re-
Our problem is that
we have not historically
put a lot of
emphasis into
preparing the type
of human capital
that can create the
economic value
sources
to the North because I felt that
they were poorer but I was told
that you couldn’t because people
are also equally poor elsewhere
and you couldn’t really argue too
much.
In terms of statistical analysis,
not that you wouldn’t give
anything to the other person or
other parts of the country but I felt
that we should bring more focus to
where the problem was but I didn’t
have good enough data.
With all due
respect to the
NBS, sometimes
our p<strong>over</strong>ty data
till today I am not
so sure how
correct they are;
maybe the latest
ones are correct.
But like I used to
tell the President,
this is the data
that you have and
you have to use it
but if you don’t
like this data then
go bring another
one, so that is the
problem. So you
have to work on
the basis of what
we have.
On that issue
of the p<strong>over</strong>ty
data, it appears to be worsening
at least from what is
coming out from the NBS;
why do you think this is so?
I think it is the number one
problem facing Nigeria. It is the
p<strong>over</strong>ty issue because you have the
situation where I would safely say
well <strong>over</strong> 50% of the people are
terribly poor, there are people who
take the number to 70%, that is
why I say I am not sure of the data.
Official data is about 46% but
then you have data from the World
Bank- that is not official data. It
doesn’t mean that because it is
form the World Bank that means
that it is correct, they don’t do
primary research, I depend more
on what the NBS has.
Why is p<strong>over</strong>ty getting
worse in our country?
The reason I think we are poor is
because of serious deficiency in
human capital. If we have to try to
find one reason and pin it down
and say this is what it is, I mean
people can say it is mismanagement,
we don’t have infrastructures,
but as the World Bank has
recently found, two third of the
wealth of nations is really human
capital.
So our problem is that we have
Kpakol
not historically put a lot of
emphasis into preparing the type
of human capital that can create
the economic value. What I mean
by human capital is the body of
knowledge that we have, the skills
that people have, skills for being
creative, innovative and be able to
perform to create economic goods
and services, to create value.
If you have to create a television
or whatever you have to do, you
have to first of all conceive it in
your mind, then you process it,
then giving your skill sets, you
would be able to know where you
can get the necessarily technologies
to use, and knowledge and
information, then you understand
the season, the climate and the
facilities that you can use.
Another very serious problem
that we have is that sometimes we
get so focused on the statistical
numbers and we don’t see the
substantive or practical numbers.
Let’s say you have a country of 10
people and the p<strong>over</strong>ty rate is 40%
that means 4 out of ten are poor
and you say okay that is bad.
Supposed within that same space
where you used to have 10 people
you now have 100 people and the
p<strong>over</strong>ty rate is even 35% that
means you have a large number of
people who are poor, so you see a
lot of it around and it has demoralizing
effect that creates disillusionment,
people then see so much
p<strong>over</strong>ty and they begin to see
defeat and then they get <strong>over</strong>whelmed
and you don’t have the
resources it takes.
So if you don’t grow your
economy from when you had 10
persons to now that you have a
100 people then you are not going
to be able to handle the situation,
just like we have in Nigeria
currently.
The g<strong>over</strong>nment capacity to
handle the economy is significantly
reduced from how it used to be
and you can see it very clearly in
terms of the g<strong>over</strong>nment budget or
g<strong>over</strong>nment revenue as a percent
of GDP that has been going down
and we have one of the poorest
rates in the world. So that means
the g<strong>over</strong>nment does not have the
capacity to be sufficiently catalytic
in the economy.
So what do we do in this
circumstance?
There is really not much magic
you can do because if you really
want to do what you should do,
you should begin to put a lot of
emphasis in human capital
building but it takes a long time,
you have to wait for like 20years
or so. If you invest in a baby born
today, it will take them up to about
16 to 20 years for the child to grow
and be able to make contributions
to the economy. the whole
definition of human capital is the
amount of investment put in for
these people so that by age 18 you
try to measure it. Your ability to
be productive, your work force to
be productive, so you have to wait.
But when you cannot wait or
when you should not wait, you
should begin to have strategic
partnerships and I don’t think that
we have done well in gaining
strategic partners. What we tend to
do is that we tend to have strategic
policy g<strong>over</strong>nmental partners that
speak in New York, or Tokyo or
London but it does not affect the
guy on the ground and how do we
know it is effecting the guy on
ground is when we start to see
these foreign nationals, let’s even
start with the Nigerians in the
Diaspora, when we begin to see
them in our villages doing stuffs.
So the kind of strategic partnership
that we want is the kind of
partnerships that effect our
communities.
I have a programme that I have
in partnership with the University
of Texas, Dallas and what we are
trying to do is to bring professors
and business people and policy
makers to meet with professors,
business people and policy makers
in the US. So we want to see
how we can have partnerships
amongst our professors in
Nigeria and those
outside the country,
likewise with
business people and
policy makers.
In fact in a
couple of
weeks I am
taking
some
g<strong>over</strong>nment
officials
on a
trip
like
this because of what I found, in
Nigeria and much of Africa we
don’t do much research and
development. So we need to create
more attention, we need to
sensitize our policy makers and
stakeholders, so that policy
makers should be more active and
stakeholders should demand more
that we do research.
Many Nigerians are
concerned that Nigeria was
the same level of economic
development with countries
like Singapore, India, Brazil
and Indonesia, at independence
but Nigeria has been
left behind. What basically is
wrong with our country?
The human capital like I said
before is the problem. If you go
and see those countries, in India
for example, you can say they have
p<strong>over</strong>ty too but their p<strong>over</strong>ty rate
is coming down drastically, even
China is coming down to like 3%
from 80% not up to 30years ago
and the reason is because they
invest in their people, they
recognised that is where the issue
is.
If there is one thing I want to be
known for now is the promotion of
human capital development
because I have disc<strong>over</strong>ed that is
where the problem is. People say
teach me how to fish and don’t give me
fish and that is what it is. So give me
human capital. The g<strong>over</strong>nment should
be very serious at the local and state
g<strong>over</strong>nment levels about this, in
addition to the work at the federal level.
So what our organisation really
wants to do is to try to get local
g<strong>over</strong>nment chairmen and state to
understand that. We have met with
ALGON many times because of this
issue to try to cause them to see
that there is something they can
do- then they can demand that the
state and federal g<strong>over</strong>nment have
partnership with them.
The strategic partnership that we
talked about should start from
home then we begin to get people
from outside. The Koreans,
Singaporeans and all those other
countries succeeded from strategic
partnership.
Most of the strong companies in
the United States of America that
are working are American
companies, they are British
companies and they are in China
they are working. Also you have a
lot of American, British companies
in Hong Kong, in mainland
China, so there is a lot of interface
taking place between Hong Kong
and mainland China and of
course in Singapore it is the same
thing.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 19
Gen Akinrinade at 80: Abacha's idea of
stripping me of my rank was laughable
•Asks Buhari to look beyond his team for the truth
By Charles Kumolu,
Deputy Editor
ELDER statesman, Gen Alani
Akinrinade, ret, has called on
President Muhammadu Buhari to
spend time with people outside his
cabinet to get the true picture of the
state of the nation.
He also urged the President not
to ignore those who seem to have
lost hope in the country, saying it is
incumbent on him to spearhead
what he described as the reorganisation
of the country.
The former Chief of Defence
Staff and Minister of Agriculture,
Water Resources and Rural
Development said these in a chat at
his Lagos residence ahead of his
80th birthday.
In the interview which would be
published fully next Thursday,
Akinrinade, who is also a civil war
hero, spoke on his life, stewardship
to the nation, key national issues,
and roles of certain persons at
some critical junctures in Nigeria
among others.
He also corrected some historical
accounts that had been told to
suit individual and group interests,
stating that Nigerians should quit
devoting energy to things that do
not elevate the nation.
The Osun State-born statesman,
who played active roles in the
struggle for the restoration of
democracy during the regime of
the late Gen Sani Abacha, also
provided fresh perspectives on how
to make Nigeria work again.
Unnecessary things
His words: "Things don’t
necessarily have to be the way they
are now. We are wasting too much
energy on unnecessary things. We
are even making unnecessary laws
for ourselves because we don’t see
eye to eye. If you have a house
where people do not see eye to eye,
a lot of resources would be wasted
on inanities. We still don’t hear
each other loud and clear. I
expected that he (President Buhari)
could have spearheaded the idea of
Continued from page 7
delusion and narcissism.” The
above may not be very far-fetched
from our present almost delusional
situation, when as a matter of
fact the end is very much at sight
for Nigeria to end our current
deplorable situation.
A former USA Ambassador to
Nigeria, Princeton Lyman, said a
month ago during a Brown
University Colloquium of Prof
Chinua Achebe that “Nigeria is
becoming a strategic failure to the
world and Africa.”
A recent United States department
analysis on our economic
transparency submitted that “the
defining moments of a clueless,
despotic amalgam called Nigeria
or Nigger-area has by its leadership
truncated any definite
movement of proper g<strong>over</strong>nance
devoid of corruption, lack of
transparency and accountability
and normal developmental strides
as a replica of its movement of
growth from its self g<strong>over</strong>nance
system to independence”. Such
truths are of course, hurtful even
though they can be remedies in
our own interest.
It is known that demographically,
the youths comprise about 50
per cent of Nigeria’s population
which is increasing at the rate of
3.5 per cent per annum in such a
way that in the next 20years
Nigeria will be more populated
than the USA and will be next to
only China and India. Is the
Nigerian g<strong>over</strong>nment thoughtfully
working on this project which will
have a highly debilitating effect
knowing that presently we are the
capital p<strong>over</strong>ty of the world?
Clear conscience which fears no
reorganising the federation
himself.
"If you are in a system that does
not work, it is important to sit back
and see what others are seeing to
know the one that catches your
fancy. But to leave it in abeyance
does not make sense to me. That is
why I would still tell the President
that I thought he was smarter than
what I am seeing. To say that he
didn’t want to hear about the 2014
Confab does not make him
smart.
Get smarter
“His party set up a committee
that came up with a
report. In that report, there
are simple issues which
will not radically change
what is happening in the
country but will help to
restore order. You could
pick that to bring hope
and disabuse the minds
of those who are saying
you don’t want to do
anything. But we seem
to just give up. You
can’t leave people who
have concluded that nothing is
going to change. You can’t just
ignore them but that is what they
are seeing under your watch.
"He could get smarter. I think he
needs to spend a little time with
people who do not belong to his
team to hear more about what is
going on in the country. Those who
you see every time don’t see further
than you do.
Very poorly
"20 years of democratic g<strong>over</strong>nance
is a long time but we have
not found the formula when
compared to the quality of human
lives. Our citizens expected that
they would be better now but we
are still groping around. We are
still arguing about inanities and we
have done very poorly. Those in
g<strong>over</strong>nment may tell you a
different story but I don’t agree.
This country can do much better.
Some of my friends sometimes are
Nigeria @ 59: Nigerians deprived of s<strong>over</strong>eignty for <strong>over</strong> 50 years
accusation, dictates that we have a
monumental task ahead of us in
such a way that we must introduce
an egalitarian system of g<strong>over</strong>nance
which will eliminate the
colossal waste which is in built in
our present g<strong>over</strong>nance retardation.
There are countries like
Sweden, Denmark, Singapore,
China and a few others for us to
emulate in such ways as they did
to reduce the
adverse effects
of their so
called elite
and upper
class which
had caused
the economic
retardation of
the other
classes.
If we
imagine that
a small
country in
Scandinavia,
exports more
agricultural
products than
the totality of
the oil
proceeds
Nigeria gets
at the
moment with
its land space which is less than
one state in Nigeria, then we can
imagine the economic loss factor
that we have today.
It is time for Nigerians
to wake. Let’s
ensure that henceforth
we all abide
by the fundamental
objectives and
directives principles
of state policy
in our constitutions
Criminalising graft, abuse
of office
If Nigeria establishes a code of
conduct which criminalizes
corruption and abuse of offices
with a strict system of enforcement
as some nation have, we will
•Akinrinade
scared of disasters happening to us,
but I tell them that it is good for
some disasters to happen so that we
would wake up. But we remain
careless. How can we still be
arguing <strong>over</strong> the religion and tribe
of those who occupy positions of
leadership?
Tried in absentia
Reflecting on his National
Democratic Coalition, NADECO,
days, he said his only regret is that
what is happening in Nigeria is
rubbishing the efforts of prodemocracy
activists.
He said: “A lot of people lost their
lives and a lot of people suffered so
much. And seeing where we are
today, one begins to question if our
NADECO struggle was worth it.
But if we didn’t get involved in the
struggle, what else could have
happened? Let us keep struggling
because the tunnel is dark.
"Maybe we would see the light
someday. When I was tried in
absentia, I didn’t pay attention.
What I knew was that Abacha's
surely put an end or reduce
drastically the current system of
plutocracy and abuse of public
and developmental institutions in
the country.
If Nigeria recognizes a system
where developmental strategies
are decentralized to the local and
state authorities it will certainly
enable our energy sector from the
sun (solar), wind, water and bio
energy to assist
and reduce our
current dependence
on fossil
energy.
The Head of
IMF, Ms
Christine
Lagarde, just said
that the lack of
adequate
electricity is
costing Nigeria
$26 bilion for
lack of adequate
megawatts.
In the next
decade, Nigeria
will become a
dumping ground
for cars and
vehicles based on
diesel and petrol
engines as other
countries are
already moving into vehicles with
electronic batteries.
Uganda and South African
entrepreneurs are currently
converting thousands of their old
salon cars and transport vehicles
into electric vehicles with batteries.
A Nigerian university department
has already demonstrated
their capacity to produce an
electric power operated vehicle,
which our g<strong>over</strong>nments are doing
Foreign Affairs Minister, Tom
Ikimi, went to Auckland to say that
Soyinka and I were planting
bombs around Lagos.
Planting bombs
"He said I was an accomplished
bomb maker. The Nigerian Army
can testify that I was not part of the
engineering corps. We were taught
how to lay mines but the
making of bombs was never
our business. Saying that I
was an accomplished
bomb maker was
laughable. I didn’t
know the details of the
trial by the Abacha
regime but I got a
letter in London from
Chief Segun Osoba
which stripped me of
my rank. We just
laughed <strong>over</strong> it. I
didn't know how he
brought it to London.
The idea of stripping
me of my rank did
not change my
personality. I was
not born a general’’
Surrounded
Abacha
Asked if he was surprised that
Abacha, who worked under him as
a junior officer, became a despot,
he said: “I am still waiting to read
and hear from people who would
assess those, who surrounded
Abacha when he became the Head
of State. I was not close to him like
I am close to Ibrahim (IBB) and
Aliyu Gusau but he served under
me. He was Brigade Commander
in my division for several years.
“At the time, as a GOC, things
were so hard that I hardly slept in
my house for two days. I was
always on the road to visit the
barracks to keep soldiers in the
barracks. Abacha was like a distant
commander, who I saw periodically.
I want to know those who
surrounded him because, sometimes,
it is the people a leader
defers to that shape who the leader
becomes.''
The birthday lecture, which
promises to be a melting pot, holds
next Thursday in Ibadan.
nothing about until Nigeria
becomes a dumping ground for
diesel and petrol vehicle from
Europe, America and Asia. What
an anathema!
The solution for Nigeria as in
other countries is leadership, ICT
capabilities, technical and
scientific education to elevate our
capacities in the productive
sectors for the sake of our present
children and children unborn.
It is time for Nigerians to wake.
Let’s ensure that henceforth we all
abide by the fundamental
objectives and directives principles
of state policy in our constitutions.
That the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment
Nigeria shall be a state based on
the principles of democracy and
social justice. That s<strong>over</strong>eignty
belongs to the people of Nigeria
from whom g<strong>over</strong>nment derives
all its powers and authority.
That security and welfare of the
people shall be the primary
purpose of g<strong>over</strong>nment and that
accordingly, national integration
shall be actively encouraged while
discrimination on the grounds of
place of origin, sex religion, status,
ethnic or linguistic association or
ties shall be prohibited.
Let it be said again that we,
Nigerians, know what is the right
prescriptions for our national
ailment but lack the will to
implement them just as we are not
doing much about the ill effects of
current climate change. We all
must wake up to our current
debilitating challenges.
• Chief Guy Ike
Ikokwu, senior citizen of the
Nigeria Bar Association,
NBA, and second Republic
politician, wrote from
Lagos.

PAGE 20 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
He blamed his father-in-law for raising a spoilt brat
Patience and her husband
had been married for five
years when they moved
into a posh bungalow on a
better side of Lagos. As they
both showed guests round
during the house-warming
ceremony, they looked the
perfect couple and took in the
ooh and aah gasps of
admirers. The guests thought
that Luke, the husband, must
have made some appreciative
progress in his job for him to
be able to afford a pad like
this. Three years after, Luke
was out of the house, the bitter
feud that’d been brewing for
a couple of years had now
boiled <strong>over</strong>. One day, Luke
came home from an all-night
outing and found his suitcases
neatly packed and waiting for
him by the door. In the rain!
Four fierce looking men stood
guard at the door, menacingly
looking cudgels in their
hands.
“I was shocked and I guess the
shock will never wear off”,
Luke said a few months after
the incident. “That’s what
comes with marrying a rich
man’s daughter. I can’t see my
children now and my wife
thinks I’m dirt, and it’s all
thanks to my money-bag
father-in-law. He wants you to
toll on the floor with gratitude
whenever he shows you the
slightest favour. I mean, there
are other ways of showing
gratitude without licking
someone’s hand like a dog.
Well, he has his daughter now,
let him marry her!” Patience
was at pains to talk about a
marriage she described as a
walking `nightmare’. I sought
her out to ask her side of the
story. That man is an animal”,
she shuddered, remembering
the things she said she had to
go through to stay married to
him. “Despite the good
education he had, he had this
giant complex about my
parents’ wealth. Daddy was
very generous to us when we
got married. I am his first
daughter and he gave us a
brand new car and furnished
flat. Luke was quite happy
letting daddy shoulder his
responsibilities as that gave
him extra cash for his twin
obsessions: wine and women.
I’d seen these traits in him
before we got married and had
naively assumed marriage
would change him. The women
he ran around with were
obviously a deliberate attempt
to belittle me. Very uncouth and
classless, they thought they
were having a stab at the upperclass
by sleeping with the same
man that I was sleeping with. I
felt really inadequate and
humiliated. My friends told me
that I was probably a bit too
straight-laced; that men prefer
firebrands in bed and that I
should be more adventurous in
the bedroom. They gave me a
few pointers. So when next we
made love and I wanted to try
some of the things my friends
advised, my husband just
stopped. `What was all that
for?’, he asked. I felt stupid.
What the hell did he think it was
for? He obviously preferred
to have me subdued and
unadventurous. After a few
more incidents like this, he
started giving me little
lectures about how
unfeminine it was for married
women to become sexually
aggressive. Can you imagine
what I did suddenly being
turned into an aggression? I
felt really angry; especially
when he lectured that wives
shouldn’t be trollops!
“After that, he criticised
everything I did and openly
ran down rich men and their
kids with such vengeance
that it finally dawned on me
that he really resented my
coming from a rich family.
The more Daddy did for us,
the more he sneered at him.
In fairness to my husband,
daddy always had this
impression that Luke was a
lout and he never tried to
hide his disapproval of him.
Unfortunately, my husband
proved my father right in the
end. Our second child was
on the way when daddy gave
us the bungalow but my
husband said we should pass
it off as a furnished
accommodation to the
personnel department of his
office so he could collect the
rent. It was my dad who took
me to the hospital when I was
in labour. My husband was
nowhere to be found. I had a
difficult birth and had to be
operated on. Luke didn’t come
to the hospital for days. On
one of daddy’s visits to the
hospital his face was like
thunder. He said he was just
from our house and Luke was
having this big party to
welcome his new son without
even bothering to find out how
mother and child were!
“The final straw came about
three months later when I
woke up to feed the baby and
heard female giggles in the
sitting room. When I went to
investigate, I found my
husband with two of his
friends and four girls – they
were obviously drunk to the
eyeballs. They grinned
stupidly as I drove them out
of the house. My husband
went with them. I was really
livid. That was when I phoned
dad that I had had enough.
He said I was to do what I
deemed fit. I knew I no longer
had a marriage anyway.
Putting his things in the rain
was a way of having my own
back. He couldn’t take
anything from the flat because
they were all daddy’s and he
wouldn’t take the car. Let’s
see how he likes scrimping
and saving to keep up with his
pet hobbies ...”
Leading a horse to the brook!
(Humour)
A man drove too fast down a
country lane, skidded on some
boulders and ended up in a
ditch. Fortunately, a farmer
appeared moments later,
leading a big black horse.
When he saw the man’s
predicament, he offered to
help. “If we tie a rope round
the car, I think old black Bees
here will be able to help get it
out”. So they tied the rope
from the horse to the car and
the farmer shouted, “come on
Star-light, pull as hard as you
can!” but the horse didn’t
move.
Then the farmer shouted,
“come on Silky, one, two,
three. Pull!” But still the horse
didn’t move. So for a third
time, the farmer yelled, “Ok,
Dublin, pull now!” Nothing
happened. Then he called,
“Go on Black Bess, my beauty,
pull hard. This time, the horse
took the strain and slowly
pulled the car out of the ditch.
The motorist was very grateful
but also a little puzzled. “Don’t
mind me asking”, he said.
But why did you call the horse
by all those different names?”
“Well, it’s like this”, explained
the farmer, Old Black Bess is
blind and if she thought she
was the only one pulling,
she’d never have bothered
trying”.
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"
Goodbye!
Everytime you hurt me, the less that
I cry
And everytime you leave me, the
quicker the tears dry
And everytime you walk out, the less
I love you
Maybe we don't stand a chance,it's
that but it's true.......
Oluchi Eziagbala
eziagbalaoluchi@gmail.com
Be positive in your love!
Life is full of ups and downs and the way you take
life will tell at the end of the day. You have no reason
to be depressed at all and what you think will
surely come back to you in life, you must not react to
his words, you have to be positive again in life and
must not think that you are on the edge of a failed
love relationship. The more you think negatively,
the more you begin to go down in your various endeavours
in life. Work your way out and be positive
in all areas of your love pursuit.
Michael Adedotun Oke
maof2020@gmail.com
08027142077

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 21
S p o n s o r s h i p /
Networking
•Joyce a student, needs
financial sponsorship,
from well meaning
Nigerian, acct
0778365631, access
bank Joyce Igbarase.
08151806548
•Taiwo a widow, has a
shop, but no capital to
start a business, needs
financial assistance, of
N100,000, from well
meaning Nigerians, to
enable her start up a
business, acct no.
2063757442, UBA
Bank, Akinmade
Taiwo.
08080868491
Friends
Searching Male
•Chizzo, 37, employed,
and resides in Awka,
Anambra State, needs an
Igbo lady, aged 37-40, for
friendship.09018243181,
08096567873
L<strong>over</strong>s
Searching Female
•Juliet 26, 5.6ft tall, a
graduate and resides in
Lagos, needs a man, who
is very nice, caring ,that
will take care of her
financially or help her to
secure a good job, aged 45-
55, for a relationship.
07084145324
•Joy good looking,
homely, faithful, learned,
a Christian and from the
East, needs a rich, healthy
widower, aged 40-50, who
is trustworthy, Christian,
handsome, caring and
educated, for marriage.
07065658063
•Bola 36, resides in Abuja,
needs a nice, God fearing,
caring, understanding,
responsible,
knowledgeable and
employed man, for a
serious relationship.
08106685905
•Chizitere 25, busty, hot in
DISCLAIMER!
bed and from Anambra
state, needs a man, for a
serious relationship, that
can lead to marriage.
09032065720
•Jane tall, fair in
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and resides in Lagos,
needs a good man, aged
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08076708662
Searching Male
•Charles in Anambra, tall,
fair in complexion and
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•Joshua resides in Warri,
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relationship, that will lead
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08057053801,08162065737
•Godson 32, from Akwa
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computer science, hard
working and searching for
a job, needs a loving, tall
and understanding lady,
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
for a relationship.
09012965629
•Tom from Benin needs a
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•Williams 40, tall, huge,
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Sugar Cares
Searching Female
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COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVEL
VELTY BASED SOLUTION (ADVER
VERTORIAL)
My wife and I are trying to
have a baby. So far, we have
not been lucky so we have
started taking the fertility
medicine Fertil Aid. But I
also want my semen quantity
increased because it flows
out – Ekeh
It is normal for semen to flow out
from the woman after sex because
it is not magnetic. Women who are
trying to have children are
advised to lie on their backs and
lift their legs after sex for 10 to 15
minutes to ensure that the semen
gets to the egg during ovulation.
So your wife should do that and
in time, you will conceive – Uche
Please how effective is
Spanish Fly and how is it
taken? I have used it before
but I am not sure of the
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PAGE 22— SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
<strong>2023</strong>: <strong>Contr<strong>over</strong>sy</strong>
<strong>over</strong> <strong>Pastor</strong> <strong>Tunde</strong>
<strong>Bakare's</strong> <strong>prophecy</strong>
on Buhari's
successor
By Sam Eyoboka
THERE are mixed reactions following
the claim by the contr<strong>over</strong>sial convener
of Save Nigeria Group, SNG, and
General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly,
Ogba, Lagos, <strong>Pastor</strong> Babatunde Gbolahan
Bakare, who declared himself the successor to
President Muhammadu Buhari.
Born on November 11, 1954 in Abeokuta,
Ogun State as a Muslim who later converted
to Christianity in 1974, the vocal 64-year old
Prophetic-Apostolic pastor, in a viral video,
stirred his church members into frenzy when
he said: “I will succeed Buhari as President of
Nigeria, nothing can change it. I am number
16, Buhari is number 15. I never said it to you
before. I am saying it now and nothing can
change it.
“In the name of Jesus, he (Buhari) is number
15. I am number 16. To this end was I born and
for this purpose came I into the world. I have
prepared you for this for more
than 30 years”.
Bakare is not new to
contr<strong>over</strong>sy.
In a ‘<strong>prophecy</strong>’ ahead of the
1999 elections, he had said of
then-candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP)
candidate, former President
Except for a
miracle, I
don’t see
what Bakare
will present to
the nation to
sell his
candidacy
Olusegun Obasanjo:
“Obasanjo is not your messiah,
he is king Agag and the
prophetic axe will come upon
his head before May 29,
1999.”
Reflecting on this statement,
a public affairs commentator,
Ikechuckwu Amaechi, said,
“Simply put, these religious
shenanigans thrive because
there is no backlash. Because
of Bakare’s false <strong>prophecy</strong>,
many feared that Obasanjo
would never live to be sworn in
as president.
“But the opposite was the
case. Obasanjo g<strong>over</strong>ned for
eight years. He even tried,
unsuccessfully, to secure an
illegal third term. And 20 years after, the man
is still alive”.
Amaechi added, “However, Bakare is not
alone in this business of politically-tainted
prophecies. During Obasanjo’s first term in
office, another ‘god of man’, <strong>Pastor</strong> Chris
Okotie of Household of God, claimed that God
promised him that he would be Nigeria’s
President in 2003. He contested the election
but made no impact whatsoever, and none of
his followers ever asked him what happened,
whether God had become a liar. He simply
moved on. And they too. Okotie’s false
<strong>prophecy</strong> was exposed in 2003 when Obasanjo
was returned for second term”.
He then insinuated political scheming into
the Bakare video saying it is curious,
particularly as there are rumours that Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo has run into troubled
political waters.
Amaechi said, “The coincidence is too
uncanny. Could it be that Bakare deliberately
threw his 18-month-old <strong>prophecy</strong> into the
troubling political mix hoping to profiteer
from Osinbajo’s misery in Nigeria’s
debilitating power calculus?
“Is it a plan to put Bakare in pole position to
reap bountifully from Osinbajo’s political
travails – particularly given the perception that
the all-powerful and unforgiving Presidency
cabal, the real powers behind Buhari’s throne,
may engineer Osinbajo’s impeachment?
“It will be sad if Bakare is plotting and
conniving with those who want to disgrace
Osinbajo out of power considering that the two
ought to be kindred spirits. They are both
Yoruba and Pentecostal pastors. But it will not
be a surprise. The South-West political history
is replete with such betrayals.
“It is possible that God actually signed an
irrevocable deal with Bakare that will see him
enthroned as Nigeria’s president in <strong>2023</strong> willynilly,
though we are not in a theocracy. Those
who claim to have a direct line to God and are,
therefore, versed in His inimitable ways and
idiosyncrasies insist that since all power comes
from God, He gives it to whoever He likes.
“So, it is possible that He has
actually signed a pact with
Bakare.
“But since God does not lie and
his covenants are immutable, if
He has promised to lift Nigeria’s
political diadem – the Presidency
– to Bakare in <strong>2023</strong>, then the idea
of President <strong>Tunde</strong> Bakare is a
done deal, a fait accompli
whatever the people say. So, why
would anybody vote in <strong>2023</strong> if
God has already decided who
will succeed Buhari and that
person is Bakare? In which case,
casting a ballot against Bakare
would be an affront on the
supreme authority of God”.
Reacting to the rebroadcasting
of the Bakare video made from a
Sunday sermon on February 18,
2018, the umbrella body of
Christians in the country, the
Christian Association of Nigeria,
CAN, would rather ignore such
dreams and face much more
salient challenges currently
confronting Christendom and the nation at
large.
The Director of Legal and Public Affairs of
CAN, Evangelist (Barrister) Kwamkur Samuel
Vondip, said CAN is currently working on more
important national issues than to speak on
personal ambitions of certain individuals.
“I recall the role Bakare’s Save Nigeria
Group played in the intervening years of
President Goodluck Jonathan,” the CAN
spokesman, however, stated, noting that if he
desires the office of President, he has a whole
of restitution to do on many fronts.
Speaking in similar vein, the Secretary of
CAN in the 17 Southern states of the country,
Rev. Joseph Ajujungwa, queried the credentials
of Bakare to dare to aspire to the office of
president. “No matter what anybody thinks
about the nation, anyone aspiring to be
President must have certain basic credentials
besides educational qualifications. Does he
have the political clout to run for the office of
President, even if he intends to use the two
dominant political platforms of APC or PDP?
“We have heard similar prophecies in the
•<strong>Tunde</strong> Bakare
country and at the end they have all ended up the obvious gauging the feeling of millions of
being vapour. Constitutionally, he ought to Nigerians. Except for a miracle, I don’t see
have verifiable offices in the 36 states of the what Bakare will present to the nation to sell
country and Abuja and financial muscle to his candidacy. He relishes in rubbishing other
nurse such an ambition. He should have a faint people’s doctrines including those who should
idea of what it takes because he had contested be his mentors and has forgotten to do the
as running mate to the incumbent President in needful”.
2011.
From the Methodist Church Nigeria came
“Secondly, what the credentials he is bringing what looked like an endorsement but also with
to the table to convince Nigerians to vote for much skepticism. Spokesman for the
him. Nigerians today know his antecedents worldwide mission, newly promoted Venerable
and will be wary of entrusting the nation’s Dapo Daramola, is of the opinion that if Bakare
fortunes on him after he has rubbished several claimed to have heard from God, nobody has
others in the past including his colleagues on the right to fault his claim, noting that, in
the pulpit,” Ajujungwa further argued, stressing Christendom, revelations are personal to
that in serious countries of the world, a individuals which nobody can question.
presidential material can be spotted from a According to the new venerable, Bakare, like
distance.
hundreds of other Nigerians, is qualified to
A church growth expert, Rev. Francis Akin- aspire to any office in the land “for as long as
John, who has since 1994 devoted quality time he is a citizen of the country who meets the
to the development of churches and pastors, constitutional provisions to contest for the
was not impressed by the news of Bakare office”.
nursing a presidential ambition.
He went on: “My only grouse with the
According to him, Bakare would be better candidacy of Bakare would be his
staying behind to nurture his one parish church temperament.
to uplift the spiritual standard of his adherents In Christendom, it’s unethical for Christian
rather than delving into the murky waters of leaders to attack one another but <strong>Pastor</strong> Bakare
politics in the nation. After some unfulfilled has virtually run down virtually every other
prophecies, Akin-John argued, how does he Christian ministry in the country——
want people to believe his latest one? Pentecostal as well as orthodox ministries. I
“Nigerians have not forgotten that he am not sure if he is an affiliate of the Pentecostal
prophesied that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, which is supposed
not messiah and would not be President but to be his bloc in CAN.
the man ruled for eight years and even “But if it’s the will of God for him to be
attempted an extension. Neither have President, nobody can stop him though he has
Nigerians forgotten how he shot down the offended several groups of people and there is
nation with his Save Nigeria Group protesting the need for him reconcile with those he had
an increase in fuel prices, saying there will be wronged in the course of his political voyage”.
no increase in petrol prices”, the President of Avid critics of Bakare are also not quick to
International Church Growth Ministry further forget a statement credited to him in an
argued.
interview on October 2, 2006 where he said:
“Are Nigerians paying less now? They told “Let me tell you the truth by the spirit of God,
us that power can be fixed in six months. They neither OBJ, Atiku, IBB and this tall one,
promised to make the nation’s currency at par Buhari, are part of the new. They are part of the
with the dollar. How many protests has old that is decaying. That old one is passing
Bakare’s SNG organized since then? Or does away. The new is emerging and these ones are
he find the current situation better than the not part of that new.”
one he continually lampooned and forced out As a pastor who had learnt the ropes under
of office? People like President Obasanjo, Prof. the Deeper Life Christian Ministry and the
Wole Soyinka and others who campaigned for Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG,
the election of Buhari in 2015 have since seen before founding the Latter Rain Assembly on
their folly and have openly told Nigerians they April 1, 1989, his critics allege he had lied
made a mistake. What’s <strong>Pastor</strong> Bakare waiting against the Holy Spirit of God because his so
for?
called word “by the spirit of God” did not come
“I am not campaigning. I am only stating to pass.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 23
When the wife gets her pound of flesh!
Iwas pleasantly surprised when
I recently had a phone call
from Akin, a happy-go-lucky
‘senior boy’ friend, quite early on
Monday morning. “Wots up?”, I
shouted excitedly down the phone. I
was on my way to a book launch
and was already running late. This
had better be good, I muttered. Akin
has always loved a good gossip and
I expected him to top up on current
gossips when he asked an unexpected
question.
“Is anything wrong with your
friend? You don’t think she’s flipped,
do you?” I knew who he was referring
to. He’d once had a torrid affair
with Joke, a long term friend.
Fresh from a bitter divorce from her
irresponsible husband, she’d seen
the trappings of wealth around Akin
and decided the gods wanted to
compensate her for the rough experience
she just came out of. Humph!
I warned her that if all she wanted
was a regular shag until she found
a more grounded suitor, then Akin
was it. A committed l<strong>over</strong> he certainly
wasn’t. The man was already
married and wasn’t actually on the
prowl for a second wife. But Joke,
ever the one to want to tame the
most recalcitrant of men, went into
the affair with the greatest determination
– a typical female conceit
believing the wildest of men could
be tamed if you played your cards
right.
Akin, a typical man quick to spot
a woman’s ‘reformatory’ schemes,
played along with her for a while –
up to the point of going public with
the relationship until Akin’s wife got
a whiff of it and brought out her
fangs. Akin beat a quick retreat and
it took Joke months and a lot of
counselling on my part to be civil to
the man. “I saw her at an engagement
party on Saturday, greeted her
warmly but she just blanked me”, Akin
who was visibly miffed continued with
his moaning.
“When I called out to her, thinking
she hadn’t seen me, she was rude and
obnoxious. It was embarrassing to say
the least. What’s with her? Is she alright?
Could she be on drugs?” I assured
him she was ok the last time I
saw her but promise to find out from
|Joke what the matter was. What with
work and everything else on my plate,
I didn’t have the opportunity until the
following day. Joke hooted with
laughter when I recounted what Akin
said. `He felt slighted, did he?”, she
asked elated. “Now he knows how
painful it is to be snubbed.
“I ran into him at a funeral reception
about a month before and greeted
Nigeria @ 59: No Joy For Majority of The Citizens
In a few days, Nigeria
would be marking her
59th independence
anniversary. It is indeed a
time for celebrations as fiftynine
years in the life of a
human being is not an easy
feat, talk less of a country.
This is symbolic, especially
for a country that has been
through many events that
could have undermined
her existence. We have examples
of countries that are
in turmoil since gaining independence
from the colonial
masters. Let us not forget
the fact that Nigeria is
a unique country, with various
nations, put together by
the British colonialists, for
their own benefit.
Against many odds, the
country is surviving,
though some analysts have
said it is progressing at an
epileptic rate. Who cares?
The Independence Day is
therefore supposed to be a
time of reflection on the
journey so far. This is the
thinking of rational citizens,
but the political leaders, are
most times not rational.
They have reconstructed
the annual event into the
celebration of their achievements
in office. The incumbent
g<strong>over</strong>nment usually
rolls out the drums, the red
carpets, with trailer loads of
choice champagne and
fizzy drinks to celebrate. As
may be expected, public
funds must go into the
preparations and the pockets
of some.
Let us make no mistake
that it is the patriotic fervour
that burns in these leaders
forcing them to remember
the labour of heroes past.
No. The leaders see the celebrations
as avenues to
praise themselves, "commission"
a few rundowns or
reconstructed projects, and
pretend to relay their visions
for the country to the
citizens. In most cases, programmes
are organised to
run for one week, culminating
with a lengthy address
by the President and the
g<strong>over</strong>nors of the various
states.
The political bosses of the
local g<strong>over</strong>nment councils
are not left out of the charade.
The unique difference
is that they do not
have direct access to the
radio or the television stations
to air their addresses.
But they have a way around
this - take up newspaper
adverts to "praise" themselves.
The celebration in
Abuja is on the federal level,
as the President and his
team toast to a country on
bended knees. The sizes of
the cakes for the occasions
do not typically reflect the
extent of the woes of the
country. Smile! Camera
him warmly only for him to grunt
an answer, with guests around him
looking at me as if I were some nuisance
embarrassing the poor man.
It was then I saw this <strong>over</strong>-made-up
woman scowling at me and sitting
next to him – his wife. I quickly left
the scene but vowed on revenge. My
chance came when I saw him at the
engagement party on his own. He
had a huge welcoming grin n his
face but I simply walked past him.
The shock on his face was a pleasant
sight. He thought, I didn’t see
him, and called after me. I turned
and gave him one of my if-lookscould-kill
glare, and he skulked off.
Let him have a taste of the medicine
he earlier dished out to me!” Reminds
me of another wedding party
flashes! The g<strong>over</strong>nors replicate
this in their respective
states.
These festive celebrations
mask the woes and failures
of the country that was once
touted as the giant of Africa.
The programmes, parties,
conferences and symposia
are selectively arranged
to deaden the pain
of the citizens to harbour a
vague hope of a better tomorrow.
It is sad, that even
the speeches by the political
leaders have become
monotonous to the ears of
the citizens. They are used
to the independence celebration
routines. It is easy
to guess what would be the
focal point of the President’s
address to the nation on
Tuesday.
Hope is never in short
supply in the country. But
at no time is the currency
of hope alive than around
these Independence Day
celebrations. To be fair to
these leaders, they have
nothing else to sell to the
citizenry than hope. In the
past, they have offered
change, but the citizens
struggle to identify any.
They ask how long it would
take for the promised
change to happen as they
struggle to perceive any
benefits. The leaders must,
therefore, sell something
extraordinary. This is the
time of the year they subscribe
to the words of Martin
Luther King: “If you lose
hope, somehow you lose the
vitality that keeps life moving,
you lose that courage
to be, that quality that helps
you go in spite of it all.”
The political leaders are
smart. They know how to
"play the citizens" especially
during elections. But they
know, no general election is
coming up presently, so the
These festive
celebrations mask
the woes and
failures of the
country that was
once touted as the
giant of Africa
hope of a better tomorrow
must be kept alive in the
hearts of the citizens. The
independence day celebration
and the new June 12
(May 29) Democracy Day
represent ideal opportunities
for them to throw down
big grammar and advise
citizens that tomorrow will
be better than today. They
do not have to disclose their
master plans on how to sustain
these hopes. The "sermons"
must be delivered to
the people.
You can see through the
leaders’ insincerity. They
do not genuinely care as
they know this is just an
annual ritual to appease the
citizens. The citizens appreciate
the game, and
they will not let this demoralise
them. They know they
I attended with Bopo a close friend.
One of her boyfriends, whose daughter
was getting married had insisted
she came in spite of the fact his wife
knew of their relationship.
He assured her nothing untoward
would happen to her, afterall, the
mother-of-the-bride was one of three
wives. As carefree as Bopo is, she
makes it a policy not to cause contr<strong>over</strong>sy
and she would be the last
one to dare a lion in his den. But her
l<strong>over</strong> wanted her around and she
begged me to come with her for
moral support. The man was a generous
and considerate gentleman
and, knowing me to like little intrigues
no matter how complicated,
I went with her.
08112662589
The wife spotted us as soon as we
came in dressed to kill, but her husband
beat her to where we stood,
greeted us warmly and sat us on a
table where members of his social
club were. The wife later came along
and greeted everybody, thanking us
as she introduced the newly wedded
couple. As she happily collected
some stuffed envelopes from guests,
I hurried rummaged in my bag and
gave her some money. She was
sweetness itself as she collected
Bopo’s too, thanking us and praying
we would one day have the same
ceremony for our own children. She
was really nice considering Bopo’s
relationship with her husband.
About an hour later, she showed
up to tell us some new caterers just
brought in amala and fresh fish stew,
did anybody want any? Most of us
did and she came back with two
waiters, their trays laden with plateful
of the stuff. She personally
handed each guest a plate but ‘accidentally’
tripped when she got to
Bopo’s side, expectedly dropping a
whole plate of hot amala and stew
on her lap! She shrieked as the hot
stuff soaked into her expensive
clothes and she quickly jumped up
in pain. We all gaped at her lovely
clothes with rivulets of ewedu running
down the front, she looked as if
she would burst into tears. Her rival
was very apologetic as she tried to
wipe away the mess but succeeded
in making a greater mess of everything.
Bopo’s boyfriend couldn’t believe
the spectacle that greeted him when
he rushed to where the commotion
was. We all knew it was a wellplanned
‘coup” by his wife but it
would be foolish to create a scene –
so we beat a hasty retreat. Bopo raved
and ranted on the way home and
had to stop <strong>over</strong> at mine to have a
good bath and a change of clothing
before the soup had the chance to
seep into her bits and wreak another
havoc.
have nothing to lose. They
have a day off work, and
this is massive to them. The
religious ones spend the
day in churches and
mosques while the others
attend the numerous parties
and shows that have
been carefully planned for
the holiday.
A friend suggested last
week that going by the
number of churches and
mosques in the country, the
g<strong>over</strong>nment could legislate
that October 1 is a National
Prayers Day. I almost
laughed in the face of this
eminent Nigerian in Diaspora.
But on second
thought, I see reason in his
idea. It could be an opportunity
to gather and pray
ourselves hoarsely for the
country to be delivered out
of the myriad of problems.
Maybe it is more divine to
leave the "prayer" business
to the numerous "warriors"
that abound in every street
of towns in the country.
No surprises as you recognize
that the celebrations
are more or less the same
format in the diaspora. The
citizens, with nostalgia for
home, gather to honour the
motherland. Fee-paying
events are organised by
smart executives of various
cultural organisations. From
London to New York, to
Addis Ababa and Johannesburg,
we have adverts
for "Independence Day
Celebrations." It is all about
merriment and no forward
planning on how to move
the motherland forward.
The country is on bended
knees, struggling to stand
straight. This is not the result
of old age; rather it is
the misuse of the resources
- natural and human. The
reality of today does not
reflect the dream of Nigeria’s
forefathers. They had
dreams of a country with
opportunities, jobs, housing
facilities, better infrastructures,
etc. None of
them would have had a
nightmare of a broken
country that is bled by leaders
with no visions. None
of the founding fathers who
fought day and night to liberate
the country from the
British colonial rule could
have imagined their beloved
Nigeria in the position
it is now.
These leaders had
dreams of a country that
would become the giant of
Africa and the world. To be
fair, the country started off
as a giant, living up to expectations
for a short time.
The leaders wined, dined,
partied and forgot about
tomorrow and eventually
lost their consciences as
they dipped their fingers in
the commonwealth. This
signalled the start of the
woes of the country as individuals
become comfortable
diverting riches of the
country to private pockets.
This was the beginning of
the end of a great nation.
This was not helped by the
khaki boys who took <strong>over</strong>
and had no respect for either
human right or the rule
of law. Regrettably, they
became laws on their own,
as they launched the beginning
of the conquest of
a great nation.
All we do presently is
pray for divine intervention.
These political leaders are
incapable of accomplishing
anything. Individuals
touted severally as messiahs
and given mandates
have become liabilities. The
citizens worship the “messiahs"
as "gods" and loudly
chant “round and round"
we go.
Happy independence anniversary,
Motherland.

PAGE 24, SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
I can never forgive a
l<strong>over</strong> who hates my
kids — Iyabo Ojo
Nollywood superstar actress,
Iyabo Ojo has made a declaration
that she can never forgive a l<strong>over</strong>
who hates her kids. The actress
cum producer made the statement
in reaction to a quiz by Potpourri
on what could make her never to
forgive a l<strong>over</strong> or a spouse. Without
any hesitation, she spilled the
beans.
“The only thing I can never
forgive a spouse or l<strong>over</strong> is, if he
hates my kids,” she said. It is easy
to empathise with the actress given
her story as her mother. Iyabo had
single-handedly raised her two
children, Festus and Priscilla,
without the love and support of
their father who, according to the
actress never showed her love or
support, and later abandoned them
to their fate. She made the
revelation in a viral video she
recently dedicated to single
mothers for their courage and
strength.
In tears the Fespris World boss
had said, “I remember when I got
married and on my wedding day I
disc<strong>over</strong>ed my husband did not
love me. On my wedding night he
said, “ I did not love you, I only
married you because you are
pregnant.” I gave my life to Christ
again and healed him because I
could not just walk out of a
marriage I just got into, and I
decided to have my son in church
and the first time my boy popped
out, every pain I felt, every sadness,
every guilt, every blame,
everything just melted away
because I put all the love in that boy
(Festus) and I loved him with all
my heart and I never extended any
hate to him nor did I ever make him
see these tears I shed. today. And I
made a vow that I would give him
all the love because he did not beg
to come into this world, I brought
him into this world I would take
care of him and today I am so happy
that God has answered my prayers
and in the process of trying to make
my marriage work, I disc<strong>over</strong>ed I
was pregnant again and this time
the situation was even worse, it was
worse because my husband was
gone even while we were
together. And I tried, I tried to
love him with every bit of me, I tried
to give him everything but he
wasn’t understanding my kind of
love, and I did’t blame him because
we were two people worlds apart.
We come from different parts,
different families and our thinking
and beliefs were so different. And
when I was about to have my baby
girl, there was no money, and all I
had was N300. I didn’t want the
baby but Priscilla just wanted to
come, and so I had to beg a nurse
to help me deliver my baby in her
room because she lived few
blocks away from me. With no
medication, with no attention I
had my baby in a room.”
Iyabo further revealed what
she went through trying to raise
the two children on her own,
without money and without a
husband to show love. She
gave reasons she finally
decided to walk away
from the marriage.
“You don’t want to
know what I have
gone through every
day. I had to let go of
the marriage. I
needed my sanity to
move on and to take
care of these kids, I
needed to focus on
my children and you
may call me selfish but
these kids didn’t beg to
come into this world, I
brought them
and I just
have to
raise
them
on my
own.
But my
tears
a n d
tears of
j o y
today
i s
because
I didn’t
only
raise
m y
children,
trust
me, I
have
raised
s o
many
other
people’s
children,
people I do not
even know and those that I know, family and
those that are not family and every one
became family. We all have a story to tell and
I have forgiven my husband and I have
prayed that wherever he is he should move
on just like I have moved on. God bless all
mothers, I love all mothers, all good mothers,
all strong mothers God will do it for you,”
she added.
By TOLULOPE ABEREOJE
•Iyabo Ojo
and children
Khafi announced as co-host
of the Future Awards Africa
The organisers of The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) has announced
recently evicted Big Brother Naija contestant, Khafi Kareem, as season
host for the 14th edition of the event scheduled to hold in Lagos.
The contr<strong>over</strong>sial Metropolitan Police officer will be joined by media
personality, Temisan Emmanuel.
Leading up to the main event, the hosts will embark on a media tour in
selected cities across Nigeria starting from Friday, September 27.
Speaking on the announcement, Temisan expressed excitement as he
explained that having followed TFAA for many years; he is especially looking
forward to this year’s edition.
On her part, Khafi said: “Over the years, I have respected the vision of The
Future Awards Africa, and I think it is a remarkable thing to celebrate young
Nigerians who are excelling and making a difference. The initiative is
brilliant and I’m honoured to be a part of it.”
Temisan and Khafi are billed to pay special visits to G<strong>over</strong>nor Seyi Makinde
of Oyo State; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and Vice-Chancellor,
University of Ibadan, Prof, Idowu Olayinka, amongst others.
In addition to the season hosts, two surprise hosts will be unveiled on the
awards night which is scheduled to hold in November.
•Khafi
Knowledge, hard work
secrets to success in
music —Omawunmi
By TOLULOPE ABEREOJE
Considering the competitiveness of the Nigerian music
industry and the struggles upcoming artistes face in the
industry, soul music songstress, Omawunmi Megbele,
popularly known as Omawunmi has released some success
nuggets to them.
In a chat with Potpourri, the Bottom Belle crooner
revealed that being knowledgeable and hardworking is
key to having a successful music career.
“Music is not one direction and you cannot use this
yardstick to judge that direction. But what I’m going to
say is that the common denominator in all of this is
knowledge and hard work. You have to know what you
are doing; if it’s street you want to do,
know the street very well and then work
hard. Opportunities will come but
they will not fly in through your
window in the middle of the
night. You have to go out there,
you have to be gingered, and
you have to shove your
music down people’s
throats. A lot
of people
will say
‘but we
don’t have
money’.
Money is an
important
tool but money is
not a hindrance.
•Omawunmi
When you go to the point
when you’re ready to work
hard, shame will leave your
body system. It’s that hunger
that will drive you. What I
always say to artistes that are
coming up is that
irrespective of the genre of
music you find yourself
doing, just continue to make
sure that you are the best
version of yourself and you
work hard,” she said.
Performing at
PANAFEST-USA,
another big step
for my career
— MC Chido
US-based recording and
performing artiste, Idam
Chidozie Okoro, better
known as MC Chido is
currently excited about the
•MC Chido
dimension his music career
is assuming. The singer,
who was the cynosure of all
eyes at the just concluded
Pan African Festival USA
(PANAFEST-USA) where he
thrilled the audience with
electrifying performance,
described the move as a step in the
right direction.
Speaking on how he felt performing
at such festival that had <strong>over</strong> a thousand
audience, the Afikpo, Ebonyi State-born
star described the experience as mindblowing,
adding that getting on the stage
to thrill and entertain his audience was
something he would not take for granted.
“Performing at such gathering and being recognised as
one of the hottest Nigerian music stars in the US was no
doubt in recognition of many years of hard work in the
entertainment industry. The event also provided a unique
opportunity to educate attendees previously not exposed
or familiar with the African culture. I love African
heritage and unity,” he said.
The festival, which is designed to showcase the rich
and diverse cultures of African countries through live
performances, arts, crafts, African cuisine, African
fashion and African music has become one of the
biggest platforms for many African rising music stars
in the US.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 25
By Juliet Ebirim
Mary Onyinye Okeke is an
entrepreneur and humanitarian
married with four children. A 2008
graduate of Biochemistry from the
Lagos State University, the 33-
year-old real estate mogul is the
Managing Director Akwa-Amaka
Productions – an offshoot of the
Light Givers Humanitarian
Foundation.
In 2019, Mary became a member
of the Board of trustees of The
Light Givers Humanitarian
Foundation. She pursued a
number of philanthropic
endeavors, donating to various
charitable organizations. She has
also championed several
community projects through
The Light Givers
Humanitarian
Foundation
where she
holds the
position of
Secretary
General. In
this interview, she
talks about Akwa-Amaka
Production - her new movie/TV
production outfit and distribution
channel among other issues; Read
on...
How and when did you launch
Akwa-Amaka Production?
Akwa-Amaka Production is
about four months old. It was
launched in June 2019. It is a
company aimed at promoting
entertainment – music, movies, as
well as disc<strong>over</strong>, mentor, support
and promote young talents. It’s a
brain-child of the Light Givers
Humanitarian Foundation. We
want to use this channel to promote
talent hunts, promote youths who
need support to make a headway
in the entertainment industry.
Since your launch, what has
Akwa-Amaka Production been
able to achieve?
Right now, we have two movies
to our credit, titled “Ezeudo” and
“The Bishop” starring Zack Orji,
Ngozi Ezeonu and other top
Nollywood stars. It’s still a work
in progress. I also made my acting
debut in “The Bishop”. It was
really exciting and interesting.
What’s your take on Nollywood
generally?
I think there are a lot of untapped
opportunities in the industry. Due
to the increased demand for
African content and which there
isn’t adequate supply for, we want
to make sure we bridge that gap
within and outside Africa.
Production houses abound in
Nigeria, what’s going to be unique
about this particular brand?
We aim to improve on what’s
already in existence. We want to
create a niche in the entertainment
world. There’s a level of
humanitarian service attached to
what we are doing. A lot of people
are talented but they lack the
financial capacity to push and
promote themselves. We want to
help in this area. We’ll also be
improving on production quality.
We’ll be producing movies of
international standards. We’ll also
be doing a lot of premiering as
most of our movies will be going
to the cinemas. We also intend to
own an online TV and distribution
channel. Akwa Amaka is targeted
at pushing Africa to the world via
cinemas, TV, internet and so on.
We are going to be telling the
untold story of Africa.
Do we hope to see you going to
the rural areas and villages in
Nigeria for your productions?
Definitely, we will be projecting
the hidden, unique things about
Africa to the world. We’ll be going
from one African country to the
other. As a humanitarian platform,
we will be disc<strong>over</strong>ing and
promoting new talents. If you have
the dream to become an
entertainer, this platform will help
you achieve that dream.
When was your humanitarian
platform - the Light Givers
Humanitarian Foundation
launched?
We kicked off officially this year.
But before now, we’ve been doing
•Mary Onyinye
•Tacha
Problem of Nollywood
is not movie production
but distribution
a lot of
humanitarian
services, but we needed to
have a platform, because
just a few of us will not be
able to impact the world the
way we want to. It’s a
movement aimed at touching
lives around the world. Light
Givers is all about building a
global community of like minds
who are making impacts
wherever they are, in the little way
they can. We want to help change
the standard of living for the
down-trodden, as well as spread
love and light.
In what ways have the
platform been able to touch
and impact lives so far?
Our major priority is on
those at the bottom of the
There’s a level of
humanitarian
service attached to
what we are doing.
A lot of people are
talented but they
lack the financial
capacity to push
and promote
themselves. We
want to help in this
area. We’ll also be
improving on
production quality
— Mary Onyinye Okeke
•Says, “ We are going to be telling
the untold story of Africa”
pyramid - the very poor
people. We are also
looking at community
development and human
capital development.
We’ve done medical
outreaches, provided
shelter... We’ve also
given out
scholarships to
<strong>over</strong> twenty
people to
university
level in
t h e
east.
We’re
a l s o
commencing a
building project in
Katsina – a hostel
where we intend to
keep the homeless
picked from the
streets. In April, we
organised a free
health workshop in
Akwa-Ihiala,
Anambra state. We
gave out free drugs to
<strong>over</strong> 2,500 people and
provided free
diagnosis for the sick.
In June 2019, we
gave scholarships to ten
primary school pupils in
Sokoto and Katsina to
university level, under the
supervision of the Arch-
Bishop of Sokoto Arch-
Diocese. This month, we paid
the medical bills of some
surgery patients in Okija,
Anambra State.
How is this funded? Do you
have any form of external
support?
Everything is solely funded by
High Chief Stanley Chukwudi
Obodoagwu. He is the chairman
of the foundation.
What’s the major
challenge you have
encountered so far?
There’s no venture
without sacrifice.
It’s a new
business
and we
a r e
trying to get the
best way to
distribute our
contents. In
Nollywood, the
problem is not
production,
b u t
distribution –
selling your
content. There
is also the
issue of time
management
d u r i n g
production. The
“African Time”
thing...
How are you
able to juggle
your roles as a
s e r i a l
entrepreneur,
humanitarian,
mother and wife?
It’s the passion and
love for what I do
that keeps me going.
I’m able to do all
these by God’s grace.
I also try to be the best
I can be. Passion
makes everything
easy. Whatever you set
your heart to do, do it
passionately. It also
helps when you love
what you do. It’s been
fun all the way.
How Tacha was disqualified
from Big Brother House
Sequel to breaking one of the house
rules regarding violence on Friday, 27
September, Tacha, a Big Brother Naija
housemate was Friday night
disqualified from the show, while
Mercy, a fellow housemate on whom
the violence was perpetrated, received
a double strike for provocation.
During their altercation earlier in the
day, Big Brother had invited both
housemates to the Diary Room, where
he cautioned them.
However in spite of his caution, the
duo continued to exhibit violent
behavior, with Tacha acting out
violently against Mercy, while Mercy
visibly restrained herself and was also
prevented from being physically
violent.
•Mary
Onyinye
A statement from the show organisers
said MultiChoice and the show
producers, are committed to ensuring
the safety and wellbeing of all
housemates in the Big Brother house
at all times.
“We view incidents such as occurred
with Tacha and Mercy in a very serious
light and will continue to take
necessary action against housemates
who break the strict rules of Big
Brother,” part of the statement reads.
Tacha becomes the first housemate to
be disqualified from the Big Brother
Naija Pepper Dem House.
BBNaija season four is sponsored by
Bet9ja.
This year’s edition will run into
October 9th when a winner will be
announced.

PAGE 26— SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
UTERINE FIBRODS:
I suffered painful
menstrual bleeding
for five years
– Beneficiary of Lulu-Briggs Foundation outreach
BY KOLAWOLE IGANDAN
The atmosphere at La Sien Pavilion, a
high end event centre in Port Harcourt,
penultimate Saturday (September 21)
was electrifying. Indeed the whole of the Rivers
State capital was agog with the news that 100
patients of uterine fibroids would enjoy free
surgery, courtesy of OB Lulu-Briggs
Foundation (OBLBF) in commemoration of
its 18th anniversary. It was a clear
manifestation of the Biblical saying that many
are called but few are chosen as <strong>over</strong> 500
women turned up asking to benefit from the
medical largesse.
With the average medical bill
of removing uterine fibroids
running up to N350, 000,
depending on the size of this
unwanted growth, and with the
medical condition afflicting at
least 50 per cent of women of
reproductive age, according to Dr.
Rosemary Ogu, a consultant
pediatrician/gynecologist with the
University of Port Harcourt
Teaching Hospital, there is no
doubt that this procedure is out of
the reach of the average Nigerian
woman. It was therefore expected
that most of these women who had
been suffering in silence would turn
out for the screening to benefit from
this opportunity of a life time.
The focus of this year’s
anniversary, uterine fibroids
awareness and sensitization
campaign, took its root from the
Foundation’s Medical Mission
outreach which took place during
the second quarter of this year.
Speaking during the seminar, the
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, <strong>Pastor</strong> (Dr.)
Mrs. Seinye OB Lulu-Briggs, explained why
the focus was on uterine fibroids.
“Earlier this year, at the Medical Mission
which we hosted from May 20 – 24, 2019 in
Bakana, ultrasound scanning services were
among the diagnostics set up,” Mrs. Lulu-
Briggs, who was represented by her
spokesman, Barrister Oraye St. Franklyn, said.
“We were surprised by the number of women
who found out that they required urgent
fibroids surgery. However, due to the nature
of the surgery and after care requirements, we
were unable to provide fibroids surgery during
the mission.”
According to her, the Foundation promised
the women that it would c<strong>over</strong> the cost of their
fibroid surgery, adding that in the course of
planning for their treatment, OBLBF found
out that “about 80 per cent of women <strong>over</strong> 50
have fibroids while about 30 per cent of this
group will develop such symptoms as undue
discomfort of heavy and painful menstrual
bleeding, premature labour, miscarriage and
even loss of fertility.”
Promptly, the
Foundation secured the
partnership of the Rivers
State University Teaching
Hospital and the
When you are
operated for
fibroids and the
womb is left
empty by not
getting pregnant,
the fibroids can
come back after
three years
University of Port Harcourt
Teaching Hospital, as well
as the collaboration of the
Medical Women
Association of Nigeria
(MWAN), Rivers State
chapter, for the project.
In keeping with its word,
the Foundation launched
a month-long fibroids
awareness-raising
campaign, having
previously handled some
other diseases such as
Parkinson’s disease (2010),
prostate cancer (2016),
kidney disease and
diabetes (2018).
Saturday’s seminar, with
the theme, “Raising
Awareness about Uterine
Fibroids: Get Informed; Take Action,”
was the grand finale of the event, where the
guest speaker, Dr. (Mrs.) Ogu, declared that
the cause of the unwanted growth was yet
unknown.
“Concerning the causes of fibroids,” the
consultant pediatrician/gynecologist said, “we
don’t know. So many researches and studies
have been carried out, but no one knows the
causes,” adding, however, “But we know there
are genetic and hormonal factors.”
The physician, who is a former president of
MWAN in Rivers State, said uterine fibroids
are more common among Africans and
counseled women that it is better to have
fibroids surgery here “because more of the
surgeries are done here.”
She confirmed the fear that fibroids could
grow again in a woman’s womb after it has
been removed surgically. “When you are
operated for fibroids and the womb is left
empty by not getting pregnant, the fibroids
can come back after three years”, Dr. Ogu
said.
She also said a virgin womb, that is, a womb
that has never carried a baby, can play host to
fibroids growth.
The coordinator of programmes of the
Foundation, Mrs. Mrs. Ineba Tongkam,
speaking at a press conference to herald the
event, said OBLBF started its extensive giving
out in September 2001 with the Care for Life
programme’s health which provides
healthcare, shelter, food, monthly stipends and
social support to elderly citizens in Rivers State.
For the prospective beneficiaries who were
being registered before the event, OBLBF was
God-sent. Mrs. Tumini Greene said she
disc<strong>over</strong>ed she had fibroids last year
September when she went for scan on the
advice of a friend after bleeding non-stop for
two weeks against her normal menstrual days
of five to seven. She heard of the OBLBF
largesse and decided to go for it. “I got to hear
about this O.B Lulu Briggs Foundation project,
so I decided to attend since it is free so I can be
able to undergo the surgery because the pain
is becoming unbearable.”
A grandmother, Mrs. Beatrice Evans,
accompanied her daughter to the programme.
According to her, her daughter had been
suffering from fibroids for <strong>over</strong> five years until
they heard the announcement and decided to
give it a shot. “I heard the announcement, and
we came to see if God will, through this
foundation help us, because we do not have
money for the surgery,” she said. “If God uses
them to bless my daughter, I will forever be
grateful to them.”
A man who accompanied his wife to the
programme and simply identified himself as
Fred, said, “We got the information about this
programme, so we decided to come. There
was a test run on my wife when she was
pregnant and we found out she had fibroid.
So getting here today, we found out that the
information was true that the O.B Lulu Briggs
Foundation wants to help the less-privileged.
We are less-privileged because we do not have
money for surgery.
“That is why we decided to come here, we
have done scan and the fibroid is still there.
So I am praying and hoping that her name
will be amongst the 100 people that the O.B
Lulu Briggs foundation wants to take care of.
So we appreciate their effort and God will
continue to bless them.”
Commending the Foundation while giving
a goodwill message during the seminar, the
national chairman of the South-South Chiefs
and Elders Forum, High Chief (Dr.) Onigbi
Atuboinoba Harry, said with more of the likes
of the late High Chief Olu Benson Lulu Briggs
in Africa, the continent will be rid of
xenophobic attacks, adding that if other
wealthy Africans would be kind-hearted like
the founder of MoniPulo Limited, more jobs
would be created and frustration will be
reduced in the land.
Said High Chief Harry: “The program is
fantastic, it is divine, it is what Nigerians need.
It is not about stacking money, saving it
abroad and killing our children elsewhere like
the xenophobia attack in South Africa where
lives have been lost. If we have more of people
like O.B Lulu Briggs, there will be job
opportunities and frustration will be reduced
in the land.”
The OB Lulu-Briggs Foundation was
founded in 2001 to consolidate the informal
corporate social responsibility efforts of the
founder of MoniPulo, High Chief OB Lulu-
Briggs, who passed on last December and was
being <strong>over</strong>seen by his wife, <strong>Pastor</strong> (Mrs.) Seinye
OB Lulu-Briggs.
The Foundation’s Medical Missions
Programme started out as the Care for Life
Quarterly Free Medical Week in Abonnema,
Rivers State, in 2005. Since then, 124,826 men,
women and children in rural and semi-urban
areas of Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and
Rivers states have received access to quality
health care services and health awareness
education free of charge.
The Foundation has also responded to huge
un-met demand for ophthalmic care across
the Niger Delta by taking vision care clinics
to communities to promote good vision for
all and help prevent conditions that routinely
impair sight. The Foundation also promotes
preventive health through awareness raising
campaigns and c<strong>over</strong>s the costs of specialized
medical treatments for individuals from
indigent families.
Speaking at the thanksgiving service to
round off the anniversary on Sunday, which
also doubled as the 11th anniversary of Chapel
of God International Worship Centre, the guest
minister, Venerable Duben Okwaosa said <strong>over</strong>
the years, God had used the worship centre to
give voice to the voiceless.
In his sermon, “God of Eleventh Hour,” he
likened the patriarch of the Lulu-Briggs family,
the late High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs, and his
wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Seinye Lulu-Briggs, who is the
senior pastor of the church, to the Biblical
Abraham and Sarah, prophesying that she
would laugh last like Sarah.
The church’s cup ran <strong>over</strong> in attendance,
with <strong>over</strong> 1,100 worshippers who came to
rejoice with the family.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019—PAGE 27
•Judith flanked by her children
TRAVAILS OF OBEN GAS PLANT WORKER’ S WIDOW:
How kidnappers killed
my husband after
collecting ransom
...alleges in-laws using police
to harass her <strong>over</strong> hubby’s assets
By Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu,
Benin-City
WHEN on May 11, 2016, Mr Stephen
Igbayak Adimora, a staff member
of the Nigerian Gas Company, was
reportedly kidnapped at his place of work in
Oben in Orhionmown local g<strong>over</strong>nment area
of Edo State, his wife, Judith, and other
members of the family thought, as is the case
oftentimes, that the kidnappers would ask for
ransom and, if the family could raise the
ransom, her husband would be
released.
The kidnappers indeed
asked for ransom.
But two months after when
the ransom could not be raised
in full, Adimora was killed
leaving behind the wife, 45, and
nine children made up of six
from Judith and three others
from other women.
The widow claimed some
persons are bent on seeing her
lose what is left of her husband’s
assets after selling most of them
to raise the ransom money
before her husband was killed.
Her six children are between
the ages of 6 and 15.
Curiously, those she accused
of trying to take her husband’s
remaining assets are the
husband’s family members.
“When the kidnappers
established contact with me,
they said that my husband gave
them my telephone number. They demanded
a very huge ransom from me before they would
release him. I told his family what the
kidnappers told me but they did nothing to
save my husband. For a month, I went
everywhere in search of money. I was able to
pay part of what they demanded but I could
not complete all, and they killed him”, Judith
said as she began to narrate her story.
“The kidnappers were calling me from
Those
fighting me
only want my
husband’s
properties.
They have
caused me to
be arrested
several times
different directions along Boboroku road in
Ethiope West Local G<strong>over</strong>nment Area of Delta
State. Nobody was ready to help. I was sending
borrowed money to them in bits sometimes
around 1am.
“I would charter commercial motorcycle. I
would not tell the motorcyclist that I was
going to meet kidnappers. I had to risk my life
on several occasions because of the love I had
for my husband. I was able to send up to 30
percent of what they demanded within one
month.
“I asked for more time but
the kidnappers refused. After
a little time I could no longer
raise money anywhere again.
About month of waiting to get
more money from me and they
did not get anything anymore,
they called me one morning
to say they had shot my
husband dead. That was the
last time they called me”
In between sobs, she said;
“My husband left home for
work on May 11, 2016, and
never returned. He was
kidnapped at his place of work
that day and later killed by his
captors because I could not pay
in full the ransom the captors
demanded.
“He was working with
Nigeria Gas Company Nig
Ltd, an arm of NNPC, Oben
Gas Plant. That is how I have
been suffering with my six
children since that time.
Sometimes the children go out
to scavenge in waste sites and sell them. At
other times, they hawk sachet water on the
streets. And sometimes I join them to hawk.
And I borrow money and go to bush market
to buy food items and sell before we can feed.
It has been very tough for us since we lost our
bread winner.
“I contemplated suicide many times
because I and my children can no longer sleep
with our two eyes closed as my in-laws and
creditors keep threatening us every now and
then.
“Trouble comes every day from creditors
who loaned me large sums of money which I
handed to my husband’s captors, yet they
killed him. I don’t know what to do now. I
don’t have anywhere to go. I need help. I cry
day and night. Good spirited members of the
public and g<strong>over</strong>nment should come to our
help and save us from these people.
“Those fighting me only want my
husband’s properties. They have caused me to
be arrested several times. On one occasion, I
was returning from the village market when
policemen surrounded me, shouting ‘this is
the criminal’.
“I almost passed out at the sight of their
guns as I thought another set of kidnappers
were after me. They took me to Sapele Police
Station and dumped me in the cell without
telling me why I was arrested.
“The following day, they drove me to Zone
5, Benin City where I thought I would receive
humane treatment but that did not happen. I
was held for two days in the open passage and
exposed to the hash whether condition of rain
and cold before I was bailed.
“Respite came to me when I was finally
brought before the AIG in whom I met a perfect
gentleman in police uniform. There was
nothing to suggest to me that the AIG had any
interest in the matter except the performance
of his official duties. He asked me to sit down
when I stood up to address him and told me
that in their culture they have great respect for
women.
“Each time they arrest me, I would be
•Adimora... murdered
detained for a day or two leaving my children
alone in the house to fend for themselves.
“When I sold one of my husband’s
properties to pay for debt, I heard that they
wrote a petition against me but I have not
seen the petition. We have to sell some of our
belongings. That is how we were able to pay
something from the money I borrowed and
gave to the kidnappers.
“Now, a larger part of the money is left
unpaid, and the creditors are troubling me
every day”.
She said she met her late husband in 2002
in Sapele and they were officially married.
The identified the children as Joy, 15, in SS2;
Happiness, 13, in SS1; Peace, 12, in SS1;
Chukwuma, 11, in JSS1; Ikechukwu, 8, in
Primary 4, and Victory, 7.
Judith claimed she is also taking care of her
three step-children who she claimed the
husband introduced to her as his children after
their marriage.
The widow alleges: “My husband’s
family has done nothing to come to our
aid, they don’t even ask after me or the
children. Instead of playing a role in the
upkeep of the children, they are fighting
me and threatening my life. I hear that
they have sold some of our properties.
“To make matters worse, some of them
said it was me who kidnapped my
husband and caused the police to arrest
me in 2017”.
She called on the g<strong>over</strong>nments of Edo
and Delta states to come to her aid so
that she could take care of the nine
children her late husband left behind.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
You can rec<strong>over</strong> all
n the next couple of days,
Iwe should be moving to
the end of September, while
many are singing new songs
of joy, others are waiting to
celebrate and be celebrated.
Life is a mixed bag of ups
and downs but as Christians
we have a redeemer in our
Lord Jesus and we are confident
that because He lives, we
shall <strong>over</strong>come.
As human beings we are
sometimes confronted with
challenges that are beyond
our capacity to resolve. These
challenges are either physical
or spiritual. At other times, a
combination of both.
Some are opportunities
missed, others opportunities
that never came our way.
The good news for us as
Christians is that we can rec<strong>over</strong>
all.
I don’t know what you may
have lost in the course of the
year but with God on your side,
you shall rec<strong>over</strong> all.
For someone in business,
who has had to contend with
low patronage, such a person
is not likely to record any
boom. Indeed, she may be recording
losses.
Joyfulhomes2015@gmail.com
For a young graduate
whose school mates have secured
good jobs but he still
goes about seeking a job, that
person is likely to have sense
of loss.
For the woman who has not
been able to raise her biological
marriage, she is likely to
have a sense of loss. Especially
when she is in the company
of her friends who got married
about the same time and
has raised children.
Or the case of a woman that
gets pregnant but has been unable
to carry her baby in her
hands as a result of continuous
miscarriages or still birth.
The point here is that we
sometimes have a sense of
loss not just for what we posses
and lost but also those
things that we desire to have
but have not been able to obtain.
Whatever it is that we are
going through, we must always
bear in mind that the level
of our faith is a factor that
keeps us going. Hardly will a
person whose faith level is
high contemplate suicide as
a solution to any challenge.
Truly, there are situations in
life that could make one wonder
if indeed God answers
prayers.
Indeed God answers prayers
but faith is crucial.
A person who decides to abstain
from church activities
or any gathering of fellow
Christians may be dropping
in his or her level of faith.
The Holy Bible tells us in
Romans 10 vs. 17 ( GNB) “
So then, faith comes from
hearing the message, and the
message comes through
preaching Christ”.
For those who have faith in
God, any loss is seen as temporary
because they have faith
that they can rec<strong>over</strong>.
Once we are still alive, we
can rec<strong>over</strong>. It is only the dead
that cannot rec<strong>over</strong>.
A good example of someone
who lost all but never lost
his faith is Job
Job 1 vs. 13- 22 tells us how
Job lost his children, his
wealth, property etc.
See how Job reacted in verses
20-22 ( Good News Bible) “
Then Job stood up and tore
his clothes in grief. He shaved
his head and threw himself
downwards on the ground.
He said, I was born with nothing,
and I will die with nothing.
The Lord gave , and now
he has taken away. May his
name be praised. In spite of
everything that had happened,
Job did not sin by blaming
God”.
Brethren, how many of us
can behave like Job? Do you
Our God is able to
deliver us from all
challenges; physical
or spiritual. We have
a duty to remain
strong in faith
not say to yourself, that you
have nothing to do with Christianity
because of your inability
to achieve your goals ? Did
you also note that Job refused
to blame God as many of us
do today?,
Whereas, Job who owned
the children, property and
other things didn’t blame
God, the reaction of his wife
was different. Job 2 vs. 9
(GNB) “ His wife said to him
, “ You are still as faithful as
ever, aren’t you? Why don’t you
curse God and die?”.
Many of us today have the
attitude of Job’s wife , which
is that of low level or faith or
lack of faith.
This is one reason why we
must be careful with the kind
of advice we adhere to when
we are faced with challenges.
When we are <strong>over</strong>whelmed
with challenges, it takes the
grace of God to remain faithful
.
Verse 10 of the same chapter
tells us how Job reacted to
his wife’s suggestion. “ Job answered,
“ You are talking nonsense!
When God sends us
something good, we welcome
it . How can we complain
when he sends us trouble?. In
spite of everything he suffered,
Job said nothing against
God”.
With Job’s response, it is
clear that he didn’t know that
what befell him was not from
God but he kept his faith by
saying nothing against God.
In the same way, many of
the challenges we experience
today are not from God. They
are mainly from human beings
who are in alliance with
demonic forces.
After all that Job went
through, God rose for him.
For someone reading this
column today, God will arise
for you in the name of Jesus.
Job 42 vs. 12 & 13 (GNB) “
The LORD blessed the last
part of Job’s life even more
than he had blessed the first.
Job owned 14,000 sheep,
6,000 camels, 2.000 head of
cattle, and 1,000 donkeys. He
was the father of seven sons
and three daughters “.
That was not all, it was stated
in verses 16 &17 “ Job lived
140 years after this, long
enough to see his grandchildren
and great- grand children.
And then he died at a
very great age”.
Brethren, the Holy Bible
gives many of such examples.
The key message here is that
we should never give up on
the Almighty God.
I’ll share with you the story
of two young ladies who got
married about the same time.
One was fruitful immediately
but the other waited on Lord
for years. The one who started
bearing early had three
children but once the Lord
opened the womb of the one
who was waiting, she had a
set of twins twice. She had
more children than her friend
who didn’t have to wait.
We must also remember like
Job did that we came into the
world with nothing and will
depart with nothing including
children.
This is the reason why we
must not use any method especially
the ones that are not
in line with the word of God
to seek solutions to our challenges.
As we move into the last three
months of the year, let’s intensify
our cries to God for his
mercy so that we end this year
better than we started it.
Our God is able to deliver
us from all challenges; physical
or spiritual.
We have a duty to remain
strong in faith . Whatever you
may be going through, please
don’t stop going to a church
where the word of God is truly
being preached.
The word of God is enough
to change that unpleasant situation.
Trust God, worship
him, serve him, give him
thanks and you will see the
hand of the Almighty God in
your life.
At this time, let’s spare some
time to pray for our country
Nigeria as we mark our 59th
independence anniversary on
October 1st.
May the Lord have mercy
on us all.
Peace of the Lord be with us
all in Jesus name. Amen.
Too Good to Cut
j a n e t . a d e t u
janet.adetu@gmail.com
'Cake Etiquette'(Part 1)
hat’s the mystery be
Whind the wedding
cake? Your wedding day celebration
is incomplete without
that famous wedding delight.
Some brides go simple and
settle for a two tier cake, others
go the whole nine yards
and do as many as a 5-7 tier
cake or better still a cake with
individual layers garnished
with elaborate sugar craft
flowers and embellishments.
Today we are seeing even the
simplest of wedding cakes by
way of multiple cupcakes arranged
in tiers, how times are
changing. The wedding cake
is one of the most eye catching
themes of the wedding,
usually strategically placed
for all to see. The ceremonial
nature of the couple getting
up to cut the cake sends paparazzi
on a frenzy and you
too at times.
Did you know that the wedding
cake has a tradition and
customary role in weddings,
starting as far back as the days
of the Roman Empire?
THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE WEDDING CAKE
AND IT’S SYMBOLISM
(i)Traditionally the wedding
cake is to symbolize the couple
having a prosperous life
together
(ii) The original symbol of
the cake was for the groom to
show his dominance in the
marriage.
(iii)Most cakes are white as
a symbol of purity.
(iv) The cutting of the cake
symbolizes the first joint task
in married life.
(v)The Bride feeding the
groom is a commitment to
vow to help her groom wherever
possible.
(vi) The freezing of the first
layer symbolizes the portion
of the cake to be used during
Flood: Akpabio donates relief materials to
affected communities in Delta, Bayelsa
T
he people of Kpakiama
Community, Bomadi
Local G<strong>over</strong>nment, Delta
State and Ebedebiri Community
in Sagbama Local
G<strong>over</strong>nment, Bayelsa State,
have commended the Minister
of Niger Delta, Senator
Godswill Akpabio for the donation
of relief materials to
flood affected communities.
It was learnt that the minister,
who was touched by the
devastating situation and
damages caused by the flood,
immediately sent relief materials
distributed to the affected
communities.
Prominent Niger Delta activist
and leader from the affected
community, Mr. Tamuno
George confirmed to
newsmen that Senator Akpabio
donated relief materials
to the communities and
thanked him for showing love
to the people.
Meanwhile, youth leaders
in the communities have appreciated
Akpabio for his
kind gestures and also
thanked President Muhammadu
Buhari for appointing
him as minister of Niger Delta.
George said: “ the Minister
of Niger Delta, Senator Akpabio,
on his personal capacity
has demonstrated love to
the people and communities
ravaged by flood, the people
were very happy to receive the
relief materials. We have always
known that the Minister
has good plans for the Niger
Delta region”.
He called on Niger Deltans
to support the minister as he
has outlines laudable programmes
aimed at empowering
youths of the region positively,
adding that Niger Deltans
should expect the best
from the present NDDC under
his supervision . It has been
reported that lives were lost
and several household properties
worth millions of naira
have been destroyed by the
ravaging flood.
the christening of the first
child or in celebration of the
1st wedding anniversary.
Now that you have a fair
idea of what the wedding cake
stands for, it is paramount for
all brides to follow a few basic
rules when choosing their
cake. Remember that your
cake will form one of the center
pieces of attraction as I
mentioned earlier. Everybody
looks forward to that moment,
another time to shine
after all it is your unique day.
Whether you are the bride or
the groom, planning now or
later, I have come up with a
few Etiquette Tips for you
when it comes to settling for a
wedding cake, take note:
10 WEDDING CAKE ETI-
QUETTE TIPS
Today’s wedding cakes
come in all shapes and sizes,
models as well as themes, it is
truly a case of how artistic
your cake designer is.
#1 CHOOSE A CAKE
DESIGNER
In choosing a designer research
into it at least three,
who have either been recommended
or have proven to do
beautiful cakes by reputation.
The designer should be able
to recommend and advise
you on styles according to
your pocket. The cake designer
should be seasoned enough
to tell you the latest trends and
be willing to show off recent
works plus offer cakes to taste.
#2 HAVE A BUDGET
Even if you have the most
ambitious, designers remember
that the average wedding
cake is not cheap. It is a good
idea to set yourself a budget
to work with according to
your entire wedding budget.
Try to stay within it as much
as possible. Your budget will
also determine how durable
the cake may be highly influenced
by the ingredients used.
Some cakes use a dash of alcohol
for preservation so
Aviation infrastructure: Minister calls for
private partnership initiative
The Minister of Avia
tion, Hadi Sirika has
called for private partnership
collaboration in upgrading
infrastructure across
the airports in Nigeria, in order
to promote safety of air
travellers.
He said this through his
chief of staff, Dr Ibrahim Idris,
at a summit organised by
Association of Foreign Airlines
and Representatives in
Nigeria (AFARN), at Sheraton
hotel, Lagos.
According to him, the Federal
G<strong>over</strong>nment is putting
measures in place to upgrade
infrastructure at airports
across the country. This, he
said, requires private partnership
synergy to ensure safety
at all times.
He said, “Nigeria has been
recognised by the international
community as the most improved
country in Aviation
safety. The g<strong>over</strong>nment is still
working tirelessly to contin-
ue improving on safety measures
in the industry because
this is very crucial”.
Also speaking, the president
of AFARN, Mr Kingsley
Nwokoma said, “The theme
of this year’s summit is ‘Unlocking
potentials in Aviation
through safety’. This topic was
carefully chosen as safety remains
the bedrock of Aviation
practice the world <strong>over</strong>, without
which those who ply their
trade in the industry may seem
to be paying lip service.
“There are remarkable improvements
and growth in the
system given that the number
of flying public has not
dropped. We can do better by
upgrading infrastructure
across board to give room for
more investment opportunities”.
The summit ended with
awards presentation to outstanding
stakeholders in Aviation
business, as well as journalists
c<strong>over</strong>ing the industry.
think carefully when deciding
your budget.
#3 CHOOSE YOUR DE-
SIGN
It is your wedding and your
theme, most times the designer
will run with your thoughts
and imagination. However
the view of an expert is always
welcoming so it is a good idea
to solicit advice when choosing
a cake maker. Research
into various designs and have
your own creative idea. Ensure
your cake maker is also creative
enough and experienced
to do what you asked for and
possibly more. Why not search
the internet or use your social
media platforms to see a
world of beautifully designed
wedding cakes. I once attended
a wedding when the cake
was in the design of a sleek
car because the couple were
both engineers, it was so original.
#4 IDENTIFY YOUR
THEME/COLOUR
SCHEME
Your theme can include floral
designs like sugar flowers,
ribbons or drapes. You may
decide to choose round,
square, hexagon or heart
shapes for your cakes.
It is important that the colours
of your cake match the
decor of the reception and the
colour theme of your wedding
including dresses. Be careful
when choosing colours because
not all colours work
well with cakes and the icing,
The prettier the cake the more
inclined your guests would be
to eat it.
CAKE TASTING
It is important to make an
appointment with different
cake designers to taste their
different cakes and flavours.
You should be looking out for:-
·Texture: - Moist, Firm.
·Flavour: - Vanilla, Chocolate,
Almond lemon, orange,
coffee or chocolate and many
more.
·Type/Texture: - Fruit, Carrot,
Sponge
·Fillings: - Cream, Jam, Butter
cream
·Decor: - Flowers, edible/
non-edible
·Design: - Tiers or Cupcakes
Watch out for Part 2
Experts make case for Biogas as
alternative to energy resource
By Perez Brisibe
NERGY experts in the
Ecountry have met at
Abuja to brainstorm on
measures for a sustainable
Biogas technology adaptation
and utilization in Nigeria as
an alternative energy source
for economic development
capable of unlocking foreign
direct investment in the country
Ṫhe experts at the 3rd Federal
University of Petroleum/
University of Abuja Higher
Education Partnership for
Sub-Saharan Africa (HEP-
SSA) project: Biogas for Sustainable
Energy and Offgrid
project sharing workshop,
focused on the need for
Nigeria to have a policy
framework for implementation
as an urgent and necessary
way forward to obtaining
energy through Biogas
production.
In a communique at the end
of the workshop which had
paper presentations from the
academia in the energy sector,
the experts who spoke lamented
the energy deficit in
the country, lack of biogas
standards, its prospects and
challenges, lack of adequate
public awareness among others
challenges bedeviling the
country.
In a resolution signed by the
FUPRE-HEP-SSA project coordinator
and local organizing
committee chairman,
Engr. Omonigho Otanocha
and Dr. Musa Zarmai at the
end of the event, the experts
resolved that policy formation
and implementation is a necessity
at the current stage of
biogas development construction
and utilization in Nigeria
Ȯther resolutions reached
include: The need to adhere
to standards which must be
developed and adhered to,
research, development and
retraining; among others

We refused
to give up!
•Infertile women who, against
all odds, became mothers
In Nigeria, marriage should, at all costs,
produce children but when it turns out
the other way, it does not only breed
hatred but also shatters homes. Such is the
case with thousands. Chioma Obinna writes:
“The first 10 years of my married life was
filled with bitterness and pain”, said Mrs.
Ngozi Eguatu, 54-year-old housewife in
Lagos, who passed through the lonely road of
infertility from age 20 before God blessed her
with a child at the age of 40.
Ngozi is an ideal housewife by all standards;
although she is not a university graduate, her
humility, care and love for her family kept her
going.
One thing she, however, regretted is not
furthering her education after she lost her
father a week after writing her West African
School Certificate Examination.
Ngozi subsequently got a salesgirl job two
streets away from her home to assist her
mother in the training of her siblings.
When her fiance eventually came to ask for
her hands in marriage, she gladly obliged.
She settled into her matrimonial home with
the hope that it would relieve the burden on
the family.
Everything worked as she dreamt.
But as years rolled by, there was no sign of
pregnancy.
At first, the delay was nothing of concern to
her and her husband.
Even when Ngozi tried to show a sign of
worry, her husband would console her.
But this soon became a problem as Ngozi
knew that without a child, her being a good
wife may amount to nothing.
And fear naturally set in.
Days turned into months and months into
years and pregnancy still did not come.
Ngozi would spend nights wondering why
God had not remembered her even her
younger sister who just got married had given
birth to a child.
“The frustration of a childless couple is better
imagined. I cannot recount the number of
times I questioned God. The pressures from
both families sometimes can depress
anybody”, she narrated.
“I almost had a heart attack when my
husband who used to cherish me became my
worst tormentor. Our love turned sour.
“When we got married, my husband used to
give me monthly stipend of N20,000 because
he stopped me from working, back then in
1999/2003.
“You can imagine what that amount was
then, but he stopped on the grounds that there
was no need giving me money on monthly
basis since I didn’t have a responsibility”.
The stoppage of the allowance aggravated
Ngozi’s search for solution.
“When my monthly allowance was stopped,
I no longer had enough money to visit many
of the churches for a miracle”, she said.
“I was always angry and bitter. I suffered
mood swing, and the girls who lived with me
suffered at the slightest provocation. I would
<strong>over</strong>react <strong>over</strong> minor mistakes.”
At a point, Ngozi began to accuse everybody
in her house. “Everybody was a suspect. Some
pastors would tell me what they thought the
problem was, collect money from me, yet there
was no solution.”
Search
She knew it was time to try medical
treatment.
“For a woman to be childless is slow death
but I needed a child of my own. I refused to
give up”, Ngozi said.
One morning, she woke up to find her
husband’s family in their living room.
She knew there was fire on the mountain.
A few minutes later, her husband joined the
SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019 PAGE 29
infertility and patients with such disorder have
multiple small cysts in their ovaries that occur
when the regular changes of a normal
menstrual cycle are disrupted.
Experts say this disruption leads to
enlargement of the ovary and production of
an excessive amount of estrogenic and
androgen hormones.
Ngozi, however, went through treatment,
including the correction of hormonal
imbalance. The clinic did egg retrieval
alongside other processes.
Ngozi was certified okay to conceive within
14 days. Within the 14 days, she went back to
the clinic and was pronounced pregnant.
Just like Ngozi, many couples, particularly
the women, are going through hell.
Theresa Emenike is one of them.
Theresa, a university degree holder, who got
married in 2012 at the age of 27 to a wealthy
businessman, had almost given up hope of
having a child after six years of trying to
conceive.
She was subjected to dehumanising
treatments by her in-laws.
The mother-in-law, in particular, became a
thorn in her flesh as she called her all sorts of
names including being a witch that ate up the
babies in her womb.
Theresa was also accused of ruining her
womb while she was in school.
She and her husband became enemies to
other family members.
When Theresa and her husband could no
longer bear these assaults, they sought medical
attention.
It was disc<strong>over</strong>ed that it had not all been
Theresa’s fault but her husband’s, as he was
diagnosed to have zero sperm count also
known as azoospermia.
According to a Consultant Gynaecologist,
Dr Ogunirron Babatunde, so many factors are
responsible for infertility.
While about 30 per cent of cases are actually
due to the male factor, 30 per cent is from the
female factor, and another 30 per cent is male
and female combined while five to 10 per cent
is due to unexplained infertility.
Today, there are millions of women suffering
due to their inability to conceive and, in most
cases, the fault is usually laid on their
doorsteps, without the slightest knowledge that
the men could be the cause of the problem.
meeting.
“I felt like disappearing from the house but
I couldn’t. My husband’s elder sister
announced the reason for their coming”, she
said.
The sister-in-law made it clear to her that it
was time for the husband to take another wife
to continue their family lineage.
A few days later, she decided to visit a
member of her church who had a similar case
in the past.
According to Ngozi, the church member
lived with infertility for 11 years. But through
in-vitro fertilization, IVF, she gave birth to a
set of twins after a failed first cycle of IVF.
“Her story brought back hope to my
hopelessness”, Ngozi said.
IVF, according to Dr Abayomi Ajayi of
Nordica Fertility Clinic, is a complex series
of procedures used to treat fertility or genetic
problems and assist
with conception.
It is also the most
popular Assisted
Reproductive
Technology, ART.
During the process of
IVF, mature eggs are
retrieved from a
woman’s ovaries and
fertilised by sperm in a
laboratory and the
fertilised eggs are
implanted in the uterus.
Sadly, the culture of
silence surrounding
infertility, coupled with
ignorance and a
negative perception of
assisted reproductive
technologies, had left
many couples like
Ngozi and husband
vulnerable to seeking
spiritual solutions from
pastors and native doctors.
I almost had a
heart attack when
my husband who
used to cherish
me became my
worst tormentor.
Our love turned
sour
Despite the fact that IVF has gained
recognition, many couples are being swindled
every day in the form of sacrifices while some
of the women are assaulted sexually all in the
hope
of making them conceive.
While Ngozi and her husband were busy
agonising, the solution to their problem was
just a step away.
Like a miracle, Ngozi’s prayers that her
husband would accept the option of IVF
treatment became a reality.
The church member took them to one of the
fertility clinics in Lagos and, after series of
tests and basic hormonal screenings, it was
disc<strong>over</strong>ed that she had Polycystic Ovarian
Syndrome, PCOS. Fortunately, her husband
was found fit.
PCOS is one of the common causes of
Life jackets
Theresa and her husband were presented
with different options, either to go for sperm
donation or take Intracytoplasmic Sperm
Injection, ICSC, among others.
In the end, they settled for ICSC.
According to fertility experts, ICSC is the
most successful form of treatment for men
who are infertile and is used in nearly half of
all IVF treatments.
The procedure requires just one sperm,
which is injected directly into the egg; the
fertilised egg is then transferred to the woman’s
uterus. In ICSI, as with standard IVF
treatment, the woman is given fertility drugs
to stimulate her ovaries to develop several
mature eggs for fertilization.
When the eggs are ready for collection, the
woman and her spouse will undergo separate
procedures. The husband may produce a
sperm sample himself on the same day as the
wife’s eggs are collected. If there is no sperm
in his semen, doctors can extract sperm from
him under local anaesthetic.
The embryologist then isolates individual
sperm in the lab and injects it into the woman’s
individual eggs.
Two days later, the fertilised eggs become
embryos.
Experts react
According to Dry Ogunirron
Babatunde, IVF success rate has
improved worldwide and in
Nigeria, the rate is between 40
and 52 per cent.
In a report, Ajayi, who is also a
Consultant Obstetrician and
Gynaecologist, said couples
trying to have children should
be encouraged to weigh the
option of ART.
He said there is hope for men
without sperm in IVF treatment.
“The more couples understand
how IVF works, the easier it
would be for them to understand
what to do when a cycle fails”,
he said.
“The role of the fertility centres
and experts is to lay the
foundation for a successful
pregnancy, but when the sperm
and egg have been fused, what
happens within the next two
weeks remains a mystery”.
Ajayi, who said infertility was the inability
to conceive or produce offspring despite
having regular unprotected sex, said
technology has made it possible for men with
as low as 40,000 sperm count to have children
instead of the average sperm count of 15
million.
He admitted that sperm has become a big
issue all <strong>over</strong> the world, pointing out that one
out of every four Nigerian couples will
experience a delay in getting pregnancy.
Male infertility, according to him, is usually
caused by problems that affect either sperm
production or sperm transport. “Sperm
transport problems are found in about one in
every five infertile men, including men who
have had a vasectomy but now wish to have
more children”, Ajayi added.
He stressed the need to always evaluate both
parties in cases of infertility.

PAGE 30— SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
Furore <strong>over</strong> CBN’s new cashless policy
By Victor ‘<strong>Tunde</strong> Oso
THE Central Bank of Nigeria’s direc
tive that, from Wednesday, September
18, 2019, Deposit Money Banks would impose
three per cent processing fees for
withdrawals and two per cent processing
fees for lodgments of amounts above
N500,000 for individual accounts has
stirred some contr<strong>over</strong>sies among members
of the public.
The apex bank’s circular to DMBs stated that
for corporate accounts, banks would charge five
per cent processing fees for withdrawals and
three per cent processing fee for lodgments of
amounts above N3 million. The statement said
charges were introduced to drive development
and modernisation of the country’s payment system
in line with the Vision 2020 Goal of being
amongst the top 20 economies by the year 2020.
This directive, coming so soon after Federal
G<strong>over</strong>nment announced plan to increase Value
Added Tax (VAT) from 5% to 7.5% has generated
some criticisms and reactions in the polity.
Firing the first salvo, Country Director of Development
Alternatives, Inc., Dr. Joe Abah, tweeted
that the CBN had acted as if the nation is still
under military rule, criticising the arbitrary
manner the apex bank made the announcement
and its implementation.
In other reactions monitored by Sunday Vanguard
on the social media, Dr. Dipo Awojide,
Senior Lecturer in Strategy, Nottingham Business
School said: “Why do I need to pay an extra
2% when I deposit <strong>over</strong> N500,000 or pay 3%
when I withdraw same? After paying Account
Maintenance Charges monthly, ATM maintenance
Charge, Stamp Duty Charges and Transaction
Charges when I transfer to other banks?
This cashless policy is confusing.
For Ayobami Oyalowo, no matter what anyone
says, this new CBN policy is punitive and
Group Managing Director, Sona Group of Industries,
Ajai Musaddi, says import restrictions
task local producers to improve and increase
capacity Musaddi maintains if g<strong>over</strong>nment
will not ban those items, which the economy
has capacity to produce, Nigeria will continue
to be dumping ground for foreign products. Excerpts:
TFederal G<strong>over</strong>nment’s agric policy
he agricultural sector of Nigeria, which
remains a major employer in the past,
has suffered years of neglect as Nigeria
has spent decades relying on oil to provide
much-needed foreign exchange and g<strong>over</strong>nment
revenue. There may be lots of people
working on farms but a lack of investment
has led to low productivity. In addition, not all
available agricultural land is being used. It is
estimated that just <strong>over</strong> a third of available
land is being cultivated. Following a big drop
in the oil price in recent years, the country has
renewed its interest in agriculture. If this enthusiasm
can be converted into greater investment
then the country should be able to produce
more food. Therefore, the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment
is on the right track to be encouraging
everyone—young or old—to take up farming
as an occupation so that the Nigerian
economy can be less dependent on crude oil
proceeds. G<strong>over</strong>nment should in fact allocate
a higher percentage of the annual budget to
agriculture in order to boost agricultural production.
A country that can feed itself has
solved more than half of its problems. That
there are no immediate results should actually
challenge g<strong>over</strong>nment more because it is a
long-term investment and if it is sustained, it
would lead to real growth for the economy.
The Federal g<strong>over</strong>nment should also revamp
the agricultural institutes by privatizing them
since it has been proved in business that privatization
of companies is the best way to efficiency
and effectiveness in management.
Apart from funding, the local farmers that
presently constitutes the largest mass of agricultural
production in the country should be
encourage through direct supply of fertilizers,
improved seedlings et-cetera. The farmers
should equally be educated on the advantages
of improved seedlings and how to use
them by the agricultural extension workers.
Good that state g<strong>over</strong>nments are also joining
the agric revolution train. G<strong>over</strong>nment should
equally grant the local farmers agricultural
credit facilities through the agricultural banks
located across the country by making the various
traditional leaders to stand as surety for
the loans to make the rec<strong>over</strong>y easy. To ensure
long sustainability, agricultural marketing
board can also be resuscitated to determine
price of agricultural products in order to boost
agriculture and encourage more people, par-
•Ahmed, Finance, Budget & National
Planning
exploitative, with banks already stealing from
us and making huge kill with all forms of spurious
accounts maintenance charges, ATM Withdrawal
Charges, SMS charges et cetera. This is
pure wickedness and should not stand.
Ola Ranger said: “The charge should be on
withdrawal, why charge for deposit? This will
surely discourage people from taking such monies
to the bank. I foresee a spike in the sale of
vaults and fire proof cabinets.
According to Martina Onomiwu, “expect robberies
of all sorts, as I trust my Alaba brothers
that they will rather keep their millions at home
than allow 5% of it to go.”
Alexander Phillip said, for clarity, there are
reasons why people make large withdrawals,
•Emefiele, CBN G<strong>over</strong>nor
This new CBN policy is punitive and
exploitative, with banks already
stealing from us and making huge
kill with all forms of spurious
accounts maintenance charges, ATM
Withdrawal Charges, SMS charges,
et cetera. This is pure wickedness
and should not stand
it comes at a cost. I have led bank branches. If
there is no cash or it's not much, some folks will
be alive today. Cash demand leads to excess
vault limits. You don't want to witness such robbery.
Cash pilferages have killed some small
businesses. I believe we need to reduce our cash
handling.
For Ogunmekan Seun, g<strong>over</strong>nment is just finding
a way to limit our dependence on physical
cash. If it was for money making, they won't
even make the charges high so that everybody
will fall into the trap. It is welcome and long
<strong>over</strong>due.
Rhynos Consult said: If it is for N500, 000 and
above lodgments, it will not affect the poor, seeing
that poor people don't make such lodgments.
I think it is a type of tax against the rich.
The CBN, however, responding to the outcry,
said on its Twitter handle that the Cashless Policy
deposit/withdrawal charge is only on the
amount in excess of the limit. “For instance, if
you deposit a cash of N501, 000.00. N1, 000.00
is in excess of the limit. The bank will charge you
2% of N1, 000.00, which is N20.00.”
IMPORT RESTRICTIONS: Local industries can cope — Musaddi, Sona Group MD
By Victor <strong>Tunde</strong> Oso
ticularly the private sector to go into large
scale farming. This administration has always
held that Nigeria must be able to produce
what it consumes and consume what it produces.
In other words, this administration says
it wants Nigeria to attain what is called food
security or food sufficiency. The way to go is
wholesale support for the agric and agro-allied
sector.
G<strong>over</strong>nment had in recent
years embarked on an
advocacy campaign that
emphasised the ‘made-in-
Nigeria’ brand. I wonder
why this campaign
stopped
Import restrictions on food items
There are still some basic food items, which
are wholly Nigerian that the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment
needs to completely ban. One of these is
biscuits and confectionery products. There are
competent local manufacturers in the country
who can meet consumers’ demands. G<strong>over</strong>nment
should look at the production and
consumption. Continued importation of biscuits
and confectioneries are undermining the
production capacity of local companies. This
has not enabled these companies to produce
at full capacity. In fact they are producing at
below 50% capacity because of continued
importation of biscuits and confectionery
products, which local industries have capacity
to produce.
Furthermore, the ban on products like rice
and others is good. If g<strong>over</strong>nment will not ban
such items, which our local economy has capacity
to produce, Nigeria will continue to be
dumping ground for foreign products. The ban
too would challenge the local producers to
improve and increase capacity. For instance,
a Biscuits producer can look at his production
at 100 tons per day and if he’s able to sell
it, he would be encouraged to push up his capacity
to 150 tons or 200 tons per day. This is
what has been affecting us (Sona) too in the
biscuits production. We have had to delay the
extension of our 7 biscuit lines to 12-16 lines,
which we are however, going to embark upon
in the next two-three years, especially as we
have implicit confidence in the Nigerian econ-
and the most is buying of goods. If the man who
sells plumbing materials has a PoS, and you are
buying goods worth N600,000, the time you use
to go to the bank for withdrawals is automatically
saved because you'll pay via his machine
at no extra cost and same thing to the seller. If the
seller has no PoS machine, and you pay charges
for on-the-counter withdrawal, he also will pay
charges for on-the-counter deposit.
Sola Akinbo however, provides a different perspective,
maintaining it is a good policy. Cash
driven economy is expensive for the CBN as well.
We need record of transactions which cash does
not offer us. Cash handling is expensive for banks.
And it doesn't mean people can't pay, it's just that
• Musaddi
omy. Note that local products are fresh, new
and healthier also its improves the body immune
system because they hit the market immediately
they are out of production line,
whereas imported products, especially Biscuits
or any other food items, which have short
lifespan, could even expire before they reach
our shores. These, apparently are reasons why
g<strong>over</strong>nment may be restricting importation
of food items.
Local products competitive in quality with
imported ones
Nigeria has been an import dependent nation
for as long as anyone can remember. We
import milk, rice, stock fish, vegetable oil, slippers,
canned fish, tomato paste, refined petrol
and even toothpick! I understand this has left
President Muhammadu Buhari very upset and
displeased; and rightly so. Come to think of it,
Nigerian companies have come of age.
There’s no justification for our lack of confidence
in local items produced in this country.
With tenacity of purpose, appropriate technology,
including smart technology and ruggedness,
local companies can compete with
their counterparts in Europe and advanced
countries. Many, like Sona, have invested a
lot of resources in our workers through training
and retraining, many, who have been
trained in Europe, Asia and in the United
States, to ensure they compete favourably with
their counterparts anywhere in the world. Added
to these are investment in acquisition of
the latest technologies in equipment, design
and production. All these are translated in
products, which can compete with their European
counterparts. As we speak, Sona biscuits
are stocked by big supermarkets all <strong>over</strong> the
country. Nigerians should be proud of goods
manufactured locally. G<strong>over</strong>nment had in
recent years embarked on an advocacy campaign
that emphasised the ‘made-in-Nigeria’
brand. I wonder why this campaign stopped.
G<strong>over</strong>nment needs to discourage people from
always looking for imported goods, as some
of the imported items are actually of low quality.
A product that is made in Nigeria to the
highest standard should make us proud, as
opposed to longing for a made in China product.
Sona Group’s staying power in <strong>over</strong> 30
years of operation
The key is in our diversified and deliberate
corporate policies of our well-trained manpower,
local sourcing of our raw materials
and deliberate recycled policy. The only way
for us at Sona to <strong>over</strong>come the menace of low
capacity utilisation is to ensure that we stick
to usage of local raw materials and inputs for
producing our products. For instance we are
using 100% sorghum, which we source locally
and g<strong>over</strong>nment has to be more supportive
for enhancing the tariff rates for the other Raw
materials like malted Barley being imported
against Sorghum usages. Again, we are guided
by the principle that the employee who receives
the necessary training is more able to
perform in their job, because the training will
avail the employees a greater understanding
of their responsibilities within their role, and
in turn build their confidence. This confidence
will enhance their <strong>over</strong>all performance and
this can only benefit the company. This has
ensured that our workers are competent and
on top of changing industry standards to help
us remain as a leader and strong competitor
within our industry.
As a foremost conglomerate in Nigeria with
up to 10 subsidiaries, cutting across diverse
sectors and making significant investments
in each, one of Sona’s subsidiaries, Shongai
Packaging Industries Ltd is a major player in
plastic packaging manufacturing; producing
several domestic and industrial products including
injection moulded plastic furniture,
storage crates, basins and buckets, rugged
crates for beer & beverage, cosmetic jars, plastic
pallets, among others.
Owing to these extensive ranges of plastic
products and the desire to facilitate a healthy
environment in Nigeria, we actively engage
in plastics recycling. The plastic wastes are
processed into raw materials, which are then
used to manufacture various plastic products.
One of the pivotal reasons for the company’s
investment in multiple recycling plants is to
enable the efficacious eradication of plastic
waste pollution in Nigeria.
We maintain that a clean and safe environment
for the citizens should be the priority of
every manufacturing company in the country.
Our goal is to promote public health
through our recycling, which goes beyond
production as we see it as an avenue to add
considerable value to Nigeria as a nation.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 31
Alake, Dangote GMD hinges survival of
indigenous firms on sound corporate g<strong>over</strong>nance
Group Managing Director of
Dangote Industries Limit
ed, Mr. Olakunle Alake
has identified absence ofsound Corporate
G<strong>over</strong>nance structures and
proper succession planning as reasons
indigenous companies hardly
outlive their founders.
Delivering a paper titled “Corporate
G<strong>over</strong>nance and Succession
Planning” at the 35th Omolayole
Management Lecture series in Lagos,
Alake said many great indigenous
businesses collapsed partly
because effective corporate g<strong>over</strong>nance
structures and succession
processes were not put in place to
ensure that these businesses were
sustained.
According to him “for businesses
with poor corporate g<strong>over</strong>nance
structures, the founder was often the
chairman and the chief executive
and made all decisions. They believe
in owning all without a thought
for tomorrow. He alone had the vision,
energy, strategy and ran the
business. When the man died, the
business died.”
However, the Dangote Group
helmsman pointed out that with a
good board, sound Corporate G<strong>over</strong>nance
structures and proper succession
planning, the founder can
retire without looking back and the
company will continue to thrive because
there would be transferred vision
and goals. “There would be effective
Corporate G<strong>over</strong>nance and
shared operational sustainability.
These are fundamental reasons why
a business must have a proper and
effective board.”
Alake recalled that in the period
of the early 70s and late 90s, several
Nigerians held sway at the top of
many blue chips and they adopted
L-R: President of AIESEC Alumni Association, Brenda Nwagwu: Mr
Olakunle Alake, Group Managing Director, Dangote Industries Limited:
Prof Olukunle Iyanda, President of Nigeria Institute of Management and
Dr. Michael Omolayole, first Nigerian Chairman/Managing Director of
Lever Brothers Nigeria Plc (now Unilever Nigeria Plc) at the lecture.
sound corporate g<strong>over</strong>nance practices
and implemented credible succession
plans, which was why many
of them are still existing till date.
Drawing inference, Alake cited Dr.
Omolayole and Mr. Felix Ohiwere
among others who <strong>over</strong>saw board
with sound corporate g<strong>over</strong>nance
saying “Dr. Michael Olawole Omolayole
joined Lever Brothers Nigeria
Limited (now Unilever Nig. Plc)
as a Training Manager. Dr. Omolayole
proved his outstanding qualities
and within seven years, he rose
to the post of a Personnel Director in
Unilever. He became Vice Chairman
of the Company in 1971, a post
he held until 1975 when he was appointed
the first Nigerian Chairman
and Managing Director.
“As Chairman/Managing Director
of Unilever plc, he initiated a
succession system that groomed and
trained Nigerians for top positions.
He was a stickler for sound and
strong Corporate G<strong>over</strong>nance,
which to him is of more importance
than immediate gratification. Today,
he is rewarded for his tenacity
with the longest annual running lecture
series in management being
held in his honour.
“Mr. Felix Ohiwerei stands out as
a promoter of Corporate G<strong>over</strong>nance.
He was appointed to the
Board of Nigerian Breweries Plc in
1977 as Marketing Director. Mr.
Ohiwerei was appointed Deputy
Chairman/Managing Director of
Nigerian Breweries Plc in 1987, be-
To build an organization for
the future and one which
outlives it owner, you must
have the right structure and
system in place and resource
your organization with
people with the right skills,
capabilities and experience
and not based on nepotism
came Chairman/Managing Director
in June 1989 and Chairman/
Chief Executive Officer of the company
in 1997. He retired from the
service of Nigerian Breweries in
June 1999, was appointed Non-Executive
Chairman of the company
in July 1999 before retiring from
the Board in December 2007.”
Giving an instance of Dangote
group as a multi-national with corporate
g<strong>over</strong>nance and succession
plan in place, the Group managing
Director said a lot of people assumed
and wrongly so that the
Dangote Group business is a family
business and therefore operates
completely as such.
Contrary to such view, however,
Alake explained that Dangote
group is a well- structured business
with a lot of professionals responsible
and accountable for key aspects
of the business and who have no
family relationship with the founder.
“This is pertinent given that there
are several family businesses who
have failed to go beyond the second
generation. To build an organization
for the future and one which
outlives it owner, you must have the
right structure and system in place
and resource your organization with
people with the right skills, capabilities
and experience and not based
on nepotism.
“As an ambitious business, good
corporate g<strong>over</strong>nance system as
well as succession planning has remained
at the heart of our strategy
in our journey to deliver our longterm
and business transformation
plans.”
To underscore, the premium
placed on corporate g<strong>over</strong>nance
and succession plan, he disclosed
thatthe company embarked on a
Business Continuity Management
(BCM) Certification audit with British
Standards Institute (BSI)to promote
corporate g<strong>over</strong>nance and
ensure seamless transition and continuous
operations in the case of disruptions.
“Business Continuity Management
(BCM) is a holistic process that
identifies threats to an organisation
and the impact to business operations
that those threats, if realised,
might cause. It provides a framework
for building resilience with the
capability for an effective response
that safeguards the interests of key
stakeholders, reputation, brand and
value-creating activities.”
“A major plank of the BCM is succession
planning where reporting
lines were defined and successors to
Group Heads identified and appropriate
technical leadership and technical
interventions are made to ensure
the readiness of potential replacements
in the system.”
Earlier, both Dr. Michael Omolayole,
in whose honour the lecture
was instituted and Sir. Remi Omotosho,
Chairman of Standard Chartered
Bank in Nigeria adduced reason
why multinationals of the 70s
survived even with Nigerians at the
helms of affairs.
They also spoke on the choice of
Alake as the lecturer on the occasion
because he is shouldering the
responsibility of directing one the
larges pan-Africa conglomerates
with diverse interest in many sectors.
Music and ecotourism take center stage on Glo-sponsored African Voices
Music and ecotourism is
the focus of this
week’s edition of African
Voices Changemakers, a
30-minute magazine programme
on Cable News Network,
with the guests showcasing their
commitment to youth development.
African Voices Changemakers
comes up on DSTV on Friday at
8.30 a.m. and on Saturday at 11.30
p.m., 4.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Other
repeat broadcasts will be aired on
Sunday at 4.00 a.m., 8.30 a.m. and
7.30 p.m., with more repeats on
Monday and Tuesday at 4.30 a.m.
and 5.30 p.m. respectively.
The programme parades three
guests including Albert Ndereki, a
Motswana, who deals with ecotourism
under the aegis of Chobe Game
Lodge, Zambia-born Mwila ‘Slapdee’
Musonda, generally regarded
as one of the pioneers of Hip-hop
in Zambia and the Vice Chairperson
of Sea The Bigger Picture,
Mogamat Shamier Magmoet
from South Africa.
Ndereki was one of the builders of
the Botswana game lodge in 1971
and remains one of the longest-serving
members of the Botswana tourism
industry. He is responsible for
the management of the lodge and
its massive facilities including a recycling
plant where cans and glass
bottles are crushed processed and
transformed to building bricks and
massive water-treatment plants
amongst others.
Ndereki has a vast knowledge of
his country’s tourism and this has
earned the sobriquet ‘encyclopedia
of Botswana Tourism’. Through his
effort, young Motswana and others
from the local communities have
been successfully sensitized on the
act of nurturing the environment.
Popularly known as Slapdee,
Mwila Musonda was born in 1987
in Zambia. An orphan, he lived with
his Auntie while growing up and attended
schools in Zambia, Botswana,
and South Africa. On returning
to Zambia, he joined the high school
from where his career in hip hop
began.
With time his career blossomed
and he released his debut album
“Asembe Isebenza” in 2006, followed
by four other studio albums,
So Che, Black na White,
True Story and The Business, in
addition to several awards including
the 2009 Ngoma Music
Award for best hip-hop artist and
the AFRIMM Award nomination(s)
for Best Male (artiste) Southern Africa.
He has also clinched nine
Zambian Music awards for best
male and hip-hop artiste and six Sun
FM Kwacha Music Awards.
He later founded XYZ Entertainment,
though which he has been promoting
the growth of local talents
in Zambia and also producing his
albums.
Magmoet’s incursion into sea diving
four years ago provided him
with vital knwoledge about the
threat that human beings pose to
the ocean and its inhabitants.
Speaking to African voices, he said,
“I found out that billions of tons of
waste and garbage end up in the
oceans every year, and kill the marine
and plant life,”
He subsequently developed the
hobby of educating children in his
locality on the beauty of underwater
and how to take care of the
African Women storm 7th UNGA with gender based issues
By Chris Onuoha
Beyond a celebration of jour
neys and discussion of their
contributions to the advancement
of global affairs, African
Women on Board (AWB) a non-profit
organisation, run by African
women including those in the diaspora,
has embarked on series of
programmes built to advance and
improve women in Africa. Through
their expanding network of allies,
experts and partners, AWB is dedicated
to reshaping the future for African
women and girls.
In a recent media parley held in
Lagos, the group disclosed that AWB
will be attending the 7th session of
the United Nation General Assembly
UNGA holding in New York to
make known to the global community,
plight of women in Africa
among other issues.
The chair of African Women on
Board, Dr. Nkiru Balonwu stated;
“In the lead up to the United Nation
General Assembly (UNGA) 7th Annual
High level Dialogue on Financing
for Development, AWB announce
our global launch and the
ground-breaking campaign we are
spearheading on behalf of women
of African heritage globally.”
She further stated that the organisation
founded in 2017, made up
L-R: Gbemi Abudu, Fellow African Women on Board (AWB), Dr. Nkiru
Balonwu (l), founder AWB, Prof Chioma Agomo, Trustee AWB and Olu
Arowolo Verhejien at AWB's media briefing to announce their programmes
and activities in the lead up to AWB's global launch on the 26th
of September tagged African Women on Board at the UN General Assembly
(AWB@UNGA.
ocean by fighting pollution.
According to Magmoet, “This
way, these kids also get to see there
is something better out there than
gangs and crime. The aim is to
spread awareness and love to protect
our dying oceans and give many
kids an opportunity for better future”.
Through his effort, many
South Africans have been successfully
trained and enlightened on Sea
diving.
of female and male change-makers
has an unfailing commitment to fast
track the trajectory of African females
into the leadership roles of
the future. “With an approach that
focuses on two key areas of change;
‘Advancing Narratives and Improving
Realities’, AWB has a framework
designed to disrupt outdated stereotypes
of what it means to be an African
woman and girl today,” says
Balonwu.
“We want to expand these opportunities
for African women. We
choose to advance narratives because
how we are perceived as African
women effects how the world
interacts with us. It affects our access
to resources such as education,
healthcare, and financing for businesses.
Women around the world are
having a “moment” in history where
their stories and experiences are
being brought to the global consciousness,
but unfortunately, these
have been left out of this conversation
almost entirely.
“As we speak, some women under
our platform are receiving IT training
through our Girls in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) education initiative.
And to bolster our local programming,
AWB announces global
launch during the 7th UNGA that
holds in New York. We know that no
discussion on finance in developing
nations is complete without an examination
of the gendered disparities
experienced at the societal level.
Most notably, AWB will also
launch ‘Project 100,000 Remarkable
African Women’ (RAW) which
will be a database of the extraordinary
women of African heritage and
their stories about how they are
making a difference globally,” Balonwu
conclude.
Other speakers at the event include
Prof Chioma Agomo, Law professor
at the University of Lagos and
AWB Trustee; Gbemi Abudu, Managing
Partner at BMGA Enterprise
Limited and AWB Fellow and Olu
Arowolo Verheijen, AWB Fellow and
CEO BFA Foundation among oth

PAGE 32, SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
EDITED BY
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08070524223
McPhilips: His dirge at twilight Mcphilips Nwachukwu (1966-2013)
By Osa Amadi, Arts Editor
Inever met him, but the good
works and name he left behind
speak for him, even till this day.
Wherever I go, immediately I
introduce myself as Arts Editor of
Vanguard the discussion always centre
around McPhilips. Those who have
not read me would admonish me to
endeavor to be as good and brilliant as
McPhilips. What more could the dead
wish for besides the welfare of the family
one left behind?
On January 14, 2019, after reading
my part essay, part review of Emma
Okocha’s “Blood on the Niger” which
I titled Telling our children the truth on
Armed Forces Day, a certain man who
concealed his identity but impressed
me as a Very Important Person called
me on phone just to ask me where Sam
Amuka (the publisher of Vanguard
Newspaper) gets Arts Editors like Obi
Nwakanmma, McPhilips
Nwachukwu, and myself.
Back ‘home’ at Vanguard, the story is
the same: Those who knew him would
not stop talking to me about McPhilips;
what a brilliant and creative person he
was, and I believe it’s the best epitaph
for the dead. It is rare for dead people
to be remembered for their money
which often vanishes as soon as they
are gone.
Whoever missed the opportunity of
having a firsthand experience of
McPhilips Nwachukwu’s brilliance
So long a Night: A premonition of his death
By Chukwuma Ajakah
IN this anthology of introspective
poems, Mcphilips Nwachukwu
explores the vicissitudes of life as a
personal voyage fraught with thrills
and frills. The poet navigates
through the varying experiences he
has had in life, capturing the defining
moments in fine lines of poetry crafted
under divers titles and broadly divided
into three parts: Memory Space,
Moon Songs and Journeying.
The collection of poems published
in 2014 by Bookdoctors Press, Nigeria,
encapsulates earlier works of the now
late Mcphilips including those
featured in the literary journals of his
alma mater, the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka and University of Lagos as
well as the popular, Okike founded
annotated by the renowned African
novelist, Chinua Achebe. Some of the
poems have also spiced the art pages
of notable Nigerian daily newspapers
such as The Guardian, The
Champion and Vanguard where the
journalist cum poet worked as the Art
Editor before he died in 2013. As if the
poet had a premonition of his demise,
most of the poems in the anthology
depict the <strong>over</strong>riding theme
of death as an inevitable end for all
mortals while a few celebrate the
sunny side of a transient life fraught
with uncertainties and
disappointments.
The poems crafted in the similitude
of Kofi Awoonor-Williams ‘Songs of
Sorrow” contain predominantly lyrics
of lamentation as elegies mourn the
premature demise of members of the
family with the pervading mood of
intense loneliness and dejection. The
elegies in Memory Space which
forms the first part of So Long a
Night include: “Garlands for the
Serial Killer”, “Badge of Honour”, “Is
This the Way of the Faithful?”, “Easter
Ash”, “Disconnections”, “Laughter in
a Season of Agony”, “Son of My
Father”, “The Jungle Carnival” and
“Reincarnating at the Carnal”.
The second part of the anthology
subtitled, Moon Songs provides a
sublime-albeit temporal comic relief
from the avalanche of misfortunes with
titles like: “Timeless Dream”, “Return
of Early Risers”, “New Song of Life”,
“The Moon, My First Love”, “Rain
Song’ and “Time of Reckoning”. But,
•Late McPhilips Nwachukwu
and deep mind, his book, “So Long
A Night” (which is one of the
published, out of his many
unpublished works) is there, both as
a testimony and a historical record.
Although McPhilips died young
at age 47, he did not die suddenly.
He saw death approaching and
had time to reflect upon it and write
about his life and its imminent end.
“So Long A Night” is the product
of those grim reflections by
McPhilips the intellectual and artist
at the twilight of his earthly
existence.
As we – his friends, colleagues
even in this segment, there are
poems alluding to certain calamities
experienced within the nuclear and
extended family setting. These
include the following: “Evening
Benediction”, “My Exiled Hero”, “In
Search of Udengalasi”, “Unfilled
Earth”, “Betrayal”, “Angelus” and
“Ismail, My Brother”.
In the last part, Journeying, the poet
presents five poems, namely:
“Pretorika”, “Homage”, “Different
Strokes”, “Out of Place” and
“Remembering the Jazz of Azania”.
In Journeying, the poet recounts
experiences garnered from his
travels especially within Africa
where the people seem to share a
common heritage of
underdevelopment and
backwardness. Journeying-as the
title implies, is a travelogue that
chronicles the poet’s observations on
the state of cities in African countries
like Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan,
Kenya, Sierra Leone, Congo and
Cote d’Ivoire. While the allure of
cities like Durban makes them
tourists’ delight and haven for
immigrants, the poet decries the
deplorable living conditions of the
natives as well as the spate of
violence, criminality, indolence
and flagrant disregard for
traditional value system prevalent
in these supposed prime cities.
The verses presented in Memory
Space and Moon Songs are
largely traditional while
Journeying, the concluding
segment can be categorized as
contemporary poetry dealing with
topical current socio-economic and
political issues like the exploitation
of the masses depicted in the
following lines of Remembering
the Jazz of Azania:
But the mistakes of many decades
Are still fresh
Populating the cities of Pretoria,
Durban, Cape Town
And all the streets of Azania
In these born again provinces
Old wounds still fester in the air
Brilliance, exhibition of works of splendor
By Osa Amadi, Arts Editor
Most prolific exhibiting art gallery,
mentor of artists and most
charitable, Alexis Galleries, is at it again.
This time, it is with a group exhibition of
paintings, sculptures, and mixed
media titled Brilliance which opened
yesterday, the 28 of September, and runs
till October 5, 2019.
Brilliance will parade the works of
seven brilliant artists: Patrick Agose, Ato
Arinze, Paul Ayokhai, Chukz
Okonkwo, Busayo Lawal, Luke Osaro
and Moses Ibanga. Six out of the seven
exhibiting artists who spoke to
Vanguard about their works exuded
confidence that the show will be a huge
success.
Popular sculptor, Ato Arinze is
showing 4 major (Pregnant Teenager,
Homage to mother earth, Motherhood,
Couple Resting) and 3 miniatures
(Meditation 1, 2, 3), while Chukz
Okonkwo, a painter who uses sawdust
as his primary material before applying
the paint is showcasing Mother’s Love,
Fisherman’s Invocation, Someday My
Prince Will Come, and Black is Beautiful.
Chukz’s innovative idea of creatively
repurposing sawdust came from the
and family – mourn McPhilips afresh
today on the 6th anniversary of his
death, we must not lose sight of the
fact that soon, and very soon, we will
all go to the place he had gone since
2013. We must also learn that what
really matters in this world is not how
long we lived on earth but what we
left behind.
Jesus lived for only 33 years on
earth (without money or property),
while Methuselah lived for 969 years
(certainly with money and property).
Today, Methuselah is only
remembered for his long years on
earth by those who bother to read the
Bible. But concerning Jesus, the
Scripture says: “Of the increase of his
g<strong>over</strong>nment and peace there shall
be no end…” And we (including
those who don’t read the Bible) are
all witnesses to the fulfillment of that
Scripture penned by Prophet Isaiah
(9:7) more than 800 years before
Jesus was born!
McPhilips Nwachukwu
remarkably played his role and
quitted the stage. We pray to God
never to leave alone the family he left
behind. To all g<strong>over</strong>nments in
Nigeria and across our borders, one
of the ways McPhilips children can
be assisted is to put in the school
curriculum his heart-rending poetry
book, “So Long A Night”. It is a book
of limitless resource for learning and
for life.
Rest in peace, McPhilips.
Standing from left: Exhibiting Artists Chukz Okonkwo, Patrick Agose, Luke
Osaro; Mrs. Patty Chidiac Mastrogiannis, Founder & Director of Alexis Galleries;
Artists Busayo Lawal, Paul Ayokhai and Ato Arinze. Sitting from left: James
Amedu and Samuel Gift, social workers at Sought After Women & Children
Foundation.
sawmill owned by his father.
Luke Osaro, another sculptor brings to
the exhibition, On My Wedding Day,
Desert Princess, Adam’s Heart, Daring,
Emancipated, and Perseverance. But
painter, Paul Ayokhai, perhaps hauls the
largest number of works at the exhibition
which include Man in Blue, Passage,
By Kennedy Onyema
If Mcphilips Nwachukwu was alive
today he would have celebrated
his 53 years birthday. But he died at
47, six years ago, precisely, on
Sunday, 29 September, 2013, at
Golden Cross hospital, FESTAC
Town, Lagos. He left behind his dear
wife Tina, their children and
numerous relations.
Born on January 7,1966, at Ezuhu,
Umuhu Okwuato in Aboh Mbaise
local g<strong>over</strong>nment area of Imo State.
Mcphilips attended St. Gregory’s
primary school and Mbutu
Secondary School Aboh Mbaise.
His passion for literature, even
though science inclined, took him
to study English and Literary studies
in the prestigious University of
Nigeria Nsukka. He graduated in
1995 with a bachelor of Arts degree,
upper credit. While in Nsukka he
was an editor of the Muse Journal
and a beneficiary of the Pius Okigbo
prize on Poetry.
Mcphilips later went to the
University of Lagos and obtained a
Master’s degree in English. But for
his untimely death in 2013,
Mcphilips would have completed
a PhD in Oral literature, a program
he has advanced reasonably well
before he died.
Nwachukwu was a consummate
journalist and a diligent scholar. He
published books, especially on
Whistle Blowing, L<strong>over</strong>s, Royalty, Pepper,
Music and Cow & Cake.
Busayo Lawal brings 4 major works
(including The Dreamer’s Paradise, Hero
Yester-Years, The Revealer, To Live Again)
and Portrait of Mrs. Flamboyant 1-4,
while another sculptor, Patrick Agose,
showcases Masks 1-3 (made of ebony
poetry, and by dint of hard work,
Mcphilips rose to become the Arts
Editor of Vanguard Newspapers,a
position he held till death came
knocking.
As Vanguard’s Arts editor, “The Arts
Column” became a must read for arts
enthusiasts. His masterful exposition
of literature, Arts and Culture drew
many intellectuals to the page. His
devotion to his profession also took
him to different countries of the world
and endeared him to the high and
mighty.
Mcphilips Nwachukwu will be
remembered for many reasons
including “So long a Night”, a poetic
recollection of his harrowing
experiences when he was first
diagnosed of a kidney malfunction.
Mcphilips also has some
unpublished works of poetry to his
credit. His family is optimistic that
some good spirited Nigerians will
help bring the dream of publishing
the book to fruition soon.
Most importantly, Mcphilips
chose to be remembered by the lucid
poetic narrative of his last moments
on earth. The poem collection “So
Long a Night,” a 71 page book
personally scripted by late
Mcphilips, was published and later
presented to the public during his
one year memorial program.
Below is one of the poems titled
“Laughter in a Season of Agony”,
an excerpt from late Mcphilips book
“So Long a Night” P.25:
Putrid smell of man’s wickedness to
man
A legacy of violence…
The language of the poem is
relatively simple as the messages
are presented in a narrative style with
easy to understand words. The
poem has a dominant melancholic
tone intermingled with sarcasm-as
in Garlands for the Serial
Killer which sarcastically derides
the household enemy that derives
pervasive pleasure in the deaths of
members of the personae’s family.
The poet reveals an attitude of
pessimism to life in most of the
poems. Except for the later part that
portrays a tinge of optimism, So
Long a Night can safely be
described as a localized adaptation
of George Kofi Awoonor-Williams’
“Songs of Sorrow 1 and 11”
especially with regards to its
message laden with wailings and
style of presentation.
woods), Fulani Maiden (stone cast), and
Against All Odds (made of bronze).
As usual, Alexis Galleries will donate
part of the proceeds from the Brilliance
exhibition to another charitable NGO,
Sought After Women & Children
Foundation. James Amedu social worker
at Sought After, told Vanguard that the
foundation which presently caters for 42
kids in its Orphanage and 15 girls at its
Rehabilitation Centre, has funding as its
greatest challenge.
Sought After takes care of lost but found
kids, abandoned kids, and those that need
shelter. Eight of the children under their
care have presently written the Joint
Matriculations Examination waiting for
money to proceed to the universities.
Brilliance is sponsored by Tiger, Pepsi,
Indomie, Mikano, Delta Airline,
Amarula, Nederburg, Cobranet Internet
Service Provider, Cool FM, Wazobia TV,
Art Caf and The Homestores Limited.
According to Mrs. Patty Chidiac
Mastrogiannis, Founder & Director of
Alexis Galleries, “Alexis, in nine years,
has engaged in the presentation and
dissemination of contemporary art in the
media of painting, drawing, mixed media
and sculpture. We have established
ourselves rapidly as one of the best
galleries in Nigeria, a meeting place for
artists, collectors and enthusiasts of art.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 33
ADETUTU AUDU
08023849036,
08112662587
Five years stronger,
Sujimoto boss pops
champagne
•Sijibomi Ogundele
Sijibomi Ogundele
took the social scene
by storm. At 35, the
founder and lead partner of
Sujimoto Group of
Companies, which deals in
real estate, finance and
energy with offices in Paris,
Accra, Madrid, Dubai,
Riyadh and recently Lagos,
has garnered so much for
himself within a short time.
With five years of
resilience, perseverance
and growth, it is time to
celebrate the milestone for
the suave young man. As
you are reading this,
culinary experience meets
luxury living as he hosts
the crème de la crème of
the society to a night of
glitz and glamour, where
exotic dancers, comedians,
special performances by
Cobhams, Bovi, Darey and
Timi Dakolo, international
acts and breathtaking
acrobats will suspend all
imaginations.
Ogundele launched the
brand to bridge the gap in
the provision of exceptional
luxury structures in Nigeria
and other parts of West
Africa with Lagos as a
starting point.
Raised in Agege, a Lagos
suburb, today, Sijibomi is a
member of Ikoyi Landlords
Association with several
properties listed as his.
•Hon Femi Gbajabiamila
Gbajabiamila, others
storm Ondo for BTO
The sleepy community of
Okeagbe in Akoko Northeast/
West Federal Constituency of
Ondo State is about to witness an
unprecedented influx of visitors as
the lawmaker representing the
constituency, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-
Ojo, is set to be hosted to a reception
organized by his constituents.
Hon.Tunji-Ojo, fondly called BTO,
will roll out the drums in appreciation
to God after crossing the hurdles of
campaigns and eventual success in
the 2019 elections. It is not a mean
feat to defeat several gladiators in a
keenly contested election and come
Saturday, October 26, 2019 and
Sunday, October 27 at Okeagbe, the
people are awaiting the celebration of
their great son.
The two-day event will climax with a
thanksgiving service which is
expected to have in attendance the
Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Rt. Hon Femi
Gbajabiamila, who will be leading the
creme de la creme of the Green
Chamber to Okeagbe to celebrate with
the Chairman of the House
Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.
It won’t be all about the political
class, community and religious
leaders, captains of industry as well
as friends and families of BTO will
also be celebrating with him. Feelers
say A-list musicians have been
shortlisted to thrill guests and spice
up the event.
Linda Ayade’s style
Since assuming
office as First
Lady of Cross
River State in 2015, the
unassuming personality
of Dr. Linda Ayade has
consistently avoided
interfering with the act
of g<strong>over</strong>nance in Cross
River State, thereby
setting the pace for others
to follow.
Instead of interfering in
the affairs of g<strong>over</strong>nance,
Dr. Ayade decided to
demystify the mysteries
behind the position of the
office of the First Lady.
This, insiders revealed,
has helped to stabilize
the administration of her
husband, Prof. Ben
Ayade. Described as
humane and a
disciplinarian, Linda
contributes to the
administration of her
husband through her pet
project, Mediatrix
Development Foundation,
which offers free medical
outreaches and
interventions as it
touches the lives of the
vulnerable people in the
society.
•Linda Ayade
•Shirley
•Shirley
Alero
Aghotse
Shirley, a former beauty
queen’s latest move
Apart from former beauty queen, Shirley Alero Aghotse, finding
new faith through her Grace Riches Army Ministry, the former
Miss Tourism Nigeria is not resting on her oars.
Last weekend she drew friends, families and associates to the launch
of her book ‘MARO’ at the upscale Foodies Hot and Spicy Hall/Lounge,
Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
Her first attempt at writing a book was after her graduation from Senior
Secondary School, and she wrote a piece titled ‘Akpomena’ which she
gave to a friend who later misplaced the manuscript after reading.
Upon her return from United Kingdom in 2013, she was inspired to
write again. Maro is a fiction; the story line resonates with the average
Nigerian, because it expresses the undue hardship brought about by
many years of bad leadership and mismanagement of the national
wealth.
One of the reasons she birthed Rebirth Renaissance and Advancement
Initiative of Nigeria to cater to the needs of stranded undergraduates
without bureaucracy. TheNGO has been in operation since 2009 and has
touched a lot of lives. RebirthRAIN (an acronym of Rebirth Renaissance
and Advancement Initiative of Nigeria) now operates under the
umbrella of Grace Riches Army Ministry.

terminal date – Dokubo, Co-ordinator
PAGE 34– SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
(emmaamaize@yahoo.co.uk)
AMNESTY PROGRAMME
I will not subject myself to speculative
terminal date – Dokubo, Co-ordinator
Faced with renewed pressure to engage
more Niger Delta repentant youths and
determine how long the programme will
continue in view of the benefits it has
brought to the region and its people, the
Special Adviser to the President on Niger
Delta Affairs and Co-ordinator of the
Presidential Amnesty Programme,
Charles Dokubo, a professor of
international affairs, says only the
federal g<strong>over</strong>nment has appropriate
answers to the two crucial questions.
Dokubo spoke in an interview with Soni
Daniel, Northern Region Editor, in Abuja.
Excerpts:
HAT have you done differently
Wsince you took <strong>over</strong> the mantle
of leadership at PAP?
What I have done differently is quite
clear. Before now, delegates were just
trained and allowed to go but since I
came into office, I have tried to ensure
that delegates are given jobs after their
training. Also, the nature of training has
also changed in the sense that we are
now providing a lot f vocational
training centres in the Niger Delta so
that our people can easily go and
acquire basic skills that can make them
to be self-sustaining and stop depending
on anyone else or even the g<strong>over</strong>nment
and be able to live a decent life.
How many people in the Niger Delta
have you been able to train since your
appointment?
I have trained no fewer than 3500 out
of which 800 have been placed on
relevant jobs. It is not easy to get jobs
these days but because of the nature of
the training we have given to them, the
trainees were able to get jobs after their
vocational training.
Is it the training of Niger Delta
delegates that took you to the US
recently?
The fact is that this office has a lot of
delegates in the United States of
America and many other parts of the
world and we need to cater for them and
keep in touch with them to know how
they are faring and coping with their
studies so that they are monitored and
mentored to finish well. And for me, a
place like the U.S, where there has been
some uproar about their stay there and
those who have finished or have not
finished their courses, we needed to go
there to verify, clarify and authenticate
those who are still students under our
care and those who are not. We need to
know how the Nigerian Embassy is
helping and working with them to excel.
We pay a lot of money to these students
and we need to ensure that they end well
and not just waste the g<strong>over</strong>nment
resources. I went there to see if they are
still in school and if indeed they are
justifying the resources that Nigeria is
expending on them monthly. There were
reports that some of them had finished
and were doing their own business but
they still do not want to leave the
programme so that they can continue to
enjoy g<strong>over</strong>nment money. So, we had to
go there to ascertain many of these
things.
When you talk about training and
reintegration of delegates, does it
mean that it is therefore compulsory
that all the people you train must be
employed?
There are some trainees we need to
give starter-packs once they complete
their training. This is because no
g<strong>over</strong>nment can provide employment for
all its citizens. What the g<strong>over</strong>nment
does at best is to provide an enabling
environment so that business can thrive
and allow the trainees to work for
themselves. That is why is why we are
giving those we train starter-packs and
even rent shops for them at the end of
their training. We want to see them to
have functional business that can give
them a lee way in life.
When Amnesty was declared by the
Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment on June 25, 2009,
it was to run for three years. However,
•Prof. Charles Dokubo
since g<strong>over</strong>nment started paying
stipends to <strong>over</strong> 30,000 Niger Delta
youths under the scheme, the
programme has come under immense
pressure for new intake and it appears
to have become a permanent job for
the boys. So, if I may ask, when will
the programme come to an end?
I want to say categorically that I will
not subject myself to any speculative
terminal date for the amnesty
programme. It is within the purview of
the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment to decide when
it will end. They started the programme
and they are the ones who will decide
when it will end. I only continue to do
the work I was given to do.
You seem to be in a fix not being able
to develop a database to truly capture
the accurate number of delegates but
merely paying N65,000 monthly to
30,000 delegates and as it now
appears, the number does not reduce
despite deaths and those who gain
employment through training and
provision of starter-packs by the PAP?
Just like you have noted, my concern
has been that the number of delegates
has remained static at 30,000 since the
inception of the programme. The
question to ask is what has happened to
those who have died and those who have
been given employment and starter-pack
to start their own business? And, if
somebody has been given employment
can’t that person be removed from
receiving monthly stipends? These are
the questions I asked when I arrived and
I went into the data to see those who
have been trained. If tell you what I
disc<strong>over</strong>ed it would shock you that some
people have been trained up to five times
by the PAP and on the other hand, those
who have been given the contract to
train the delegates have also done some
harm to the system. Most time, you give
the trainers people to train and the
people will rather want to negotiate
with the trainers and collect the money
rather being trained for them to have a
means of livelihood.
So, there is a certain culture that has
affected the Niger Delta and disturbed
any rational thinking Niger Delta
person. So, what we have done is that
we have tried into the database to see
whether it is truly reliable or if it has
been tampered with. If not, we should
not still be catering for 30,000 by today.
We need to take a closer look at the data
because nobody can continuously pay
such money to people in perpetuity. Look
at what happened just because I came
into office: more than 500 students who
were not part of the programme and not
captured by our database, were sent out
to universities across the world but as
Niger Delta indigenes I had to absorb
them and continue to cater for their
school fees while their parents pay for
their upkeep so that they don’t suffer.
But what in specific terms are you
doing to truly reintegrate the excombatants
into the society?
If you have truly followed this
programme, it is a three-pronged
programme- Demobilization,
Demilitarization and free
Reintegration. We are now at the third
phase of reintegration, creating jobs and
building back collapsed society so that
we can bring back our people and give
them jobs, which is even the most critical
No other country
in the world has
run an amnesty
programme of the
length that
Nigeria has so far
run. It is always a
fixed term, short
in nature and with
expressive goals
aspect of the programme. No other
country in the world has run an amnesty
programme of the length that Nigeria
has so far run. It is always a fixed term,
short in nature and with expressive
goals. This programme was designed as
home support and home grown and that
was why it was initially set up for three
years and when the g<strong>over</strong>nment was
about to wind it up and even reduced its
budget they realized there were some
unfinished business and they had to keep
it running.
You recently raised a panel to probe
the looting and vandalisation of the
Kaiama Skill Acquisition Centre,
which was a multi-million
warehousing centre with vital
empowerment tools. What has come
out of the probe and where is the
report?
The report is out and already
submitted to the office of the Inspector
General of Police. Anybody who wants
to find answer to that should go there.
The report has clearly identified those
who have cases to answer in relation to
the incident and those who are to be
prosecuted for the offence. I will not
want to say more than that on that
matter.
When you went to the U.S, there was
a report in the social media that you
ran away with N32 billion to stash
away. The report also claimed the
NSA is the one protecting you and
teleguiding you on what to do? How
do you respond to these allegations?
I am surprised that you asked such a
question. Look, let me tell you that I
have never seen N32 billion in my eyes
not to talk of carrying it since I was
born. In any case, if someone was to
carry such money, where would the
person put it and by what means would
the person carry such amount of money?
Who in his right mind would carry such
amount of money and what would the
carrier of such money explain to the
country of destination and for what
purpose? These are mere mischievous
concoctions and fabrications by those
who want to destroy the Amnesty
programme because they have failed to
achieve what they wanted to use it for.
They are also desperately trying to drag
the name of the NSA into the
programme. The truth remains that the
NSA does not dictate to me or teleguide
me in the running of the PAP. They are
all liars and trying to create needless
conflict for their selfish gains. I run this
office on laid down principles. Let me
tell you, I know how much I get monthly
to run this programme and pay school
fees and stipends. So, I don’t know how
the amount of money can ever accrue to
this office within the one year that I have
stayed here.
Let me say that I did not appoint myself
but the federal g<strong>over</strong>nment did.
Whatever the Federal g<strong>over</strong>nment
decide to do with me is not anybody’s
business. My concern is that let the
truth be told to power. We must speak
with truth at all times and I am doing
the job with the best of my ability. I will
continue to do my work for the country
and not listen to gossips that add no
value to Nigeria and the Niger Delta
people.
There have been renewed agitations
for new persons to be captured under
the PAP? Is there any other window
open for such new repentant militants?
Like I have said, it is the duty of the
President to order any new inclusion
into the programme because that would
also come with budgetary expansion. It
is the g<strong>over</strong>nment directive that I follow
in running the programme. As you can
see some states that have carried out
state-based amnesty programme, want
their people to be captured under the
programme but I have always told them
that my hands are open to train but the
Presidency must order that. Some of
those who did not initially believe in the
programme are now seeing its success
and are now coming to enroll in it. I am
a Niger Deltan but I don’t belong to this
programme. Many other Niger Deltans
who are not captured on the database
can benefit from it.
There are claims that some amnesty
students are stranded abroad due to
non-payment of stipends and school
fees. Why is this so?
That is not true at all. If you look at it
very well, nobody who is under the PAP
sponsorship can be stranded. This is
because we pay this money to them as
and when due. The federal g<strong>over</strong>nment
has been very religious in releasing
allocations for their payment of the
school fees and stipends to the youths
and there is no reason whatsoever to
delay or withhold the payment to the
beneficiaries.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 35
NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE:
Why we have not done
consequential adjustment
for GL 7-17 workers– Ngige
BY Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja
enator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, in this interview, speaks on
Sthe misunderstanding he had with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
He also promises that Nigerian workers will smile soon on the national minimum wage.
Excerpts:
What do we expect on your re-appointment as Labour Minister?
I wish to consolidate on what we achieved under the ‘Change’ era but, this time, pay
more attention on job creation. So far, we have achieved stable and peaceful
industrial milieu suitable for national productivity. We have also engaged
dialogue as a major tool for tripartite conflict resolution, we have tackled
and still tackling unfair labour practices such as casualization,
unilateral declaration of redundancy and non-commensurate
remunerations among others. Here in the Ministry, we have
strengthened our core directorates of Inspectorate, Occupational Safety,
Skills and Cooperative, to effectively play their statutorily roles. We
have also buoyed our international labour diplomacy, winning back
positions which Nigeria lost about 10 years ago in the G<strong>over</strong>ning Board of
the ILO. On g<strong>over</strong>nment side, we are now a titular member, and also elected as
chair of the g<strong>over</strong>nment side of the G<strong>over</strong>ning Board of the 187-member
countries. For the first time in decades, two other legs of the Nigerian tripartite
– Labour and NECA (organized private sector) - are on the G<strong>over</strong>ning Board
too with our support, with the NLC President being a titular member on the
employee side. So, while consolidating on these, there will be renewed
emphasis on job creation. Remember that our mandate is not
necessarily to collective CVs and fill up
vacancies; it is also to protect existing
jobs, making sure they are within decent
job conditions and, besides, promote
conducive environment for job creation.
1-6. It is
So, in the next few years, we see us
unfortunate that
stretching the ambit of job creation. It is
negotiations were
a responsibility that the tripartite We are trying deadlocked as a
community would all participate in. If
result of
you recall, when the NLC leadership
paid a courtesy visit, I charged them to
to balance disagreements on
the percentage
move beyond the traditional role of
unionism – strikes and picketing - to issues so that
of consequential
increment but the
liaising with the organized private sector
good thing is that
towards creation of employment. The we don’t run we are back to
abundant opportunities in the blue collar
tackle it head on.
world are yet to be exploited up to 10% in afoul of the We are going to
Nigeria. I will therefore liaise more with
discuss and
other Ministries and agencies of
g<strong>over</strong>nment to bolster job creation in
Fiscal
negotiate in the
spirit of
terms of skill acquisition, so as to
unleash the creativity and the ingenuity of Responsibility
Collective
Bargaining
our people. There is a move by the
Arrangement
Ministry to seek for special fund from Law
(CBA) because
g<strong>over</strong>nment, in order to bring into a
that is what
common basket all skills centres
consequential
scattered all <strong>over</strong> the federation so that
adjustment
the National Directorate of Employment
means. However,
(NDE) will manage these. A lot of them
let’s be mindful of
were done from the constituency project
the fact that if
fund in the last eight years without
we talk strictly
equipment and management or
about minimum
instructors. So we need to synchronize the
wage, one is safe
activities of even state owned skills centre
to assert that it is
to get our youths out of the streets into blue
collar jobs training. I envisage
comparative models that worked in
neighboring West African countries where
skill acquisition forms the base of secondary
education. We shall also look at India and
China to see how their models are
revolutionizing job creation and copy the
ones relevant to our environment.
Remember also the cardinal promise of
President Muhammadu Buhari to lift
100million Nigerians from p<strong>over</strong>ty in ten
years. So, beyond the traditional skills like
carpentry, tiling, paint making, furniture
making, POP production and laying, paint
production and painting, mechanics and
mechatronics, plumbing and others, we will
take advantage of the opportunities in
modern information and technology. The
world is now about ideas. The world of work
is changing and we must be fully prepared.
There is somewhat an abstract creativity
through the use of internet that is creating
wealth in the developed economies. So, we
shall teach our youth modern skills in web
and computer technology as well as in
business and allied informatics. We shall
also broaden participation and greater
opportunities in agriculture. But it requires
a lot inter-agency synergy.
Why the delay in the consequential
adjustment of the new minimum
wage?
The payment of the new minimum wage
has started with the FG leading with GL1-6.
The national minimum wage for Grade
Levels 7 -17, I am very hopeful, will be done
as soon as possible, just as we settled levels
already being implemented because the
minimum wage is for the person on the
lowest rung of the ladder, i.e. GL-1 in the
public service and the private sector. Recall
that the immediate past Head of Service,
who was leading the g<strong>over</strong>nment side, is no
more on her seat; so it is logical that we
reconstitute our own representation to bring in
the relevant Ministers, receive adequate
briefing as to what the former committee did
and where they stopped since we left office on
May 29 and just came back. Luckily, the
President has also put in place a new
committee, called the Presidential Committee
on Salaries (PCS) and which is now the apex
committee on issues of salaries and
allowances in the public service; it is cochaired
by the Hon. Minister of Finance and
I. The former Head of Service reported to us
on progress. But, more importantly, we
advised that if we keep piling on debts, the
Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment might go into problem
of payment and the situation worse for the
state g<strong>over</strong>nments which have always not
been regular with salary payments. My friend
and brother in Kaduna (Gov El-Rufai)
harkened to this warning and has taken the
lead, using our 1-6 template and is even doing
better than the consequential adjustment for
GL 7-17. I have also advised for it to be sent
down to the states while we show the example
by paying. The state g<strong>over</strong>nments, as of today,
are duty bound, as they now have a template
to pay levels 1-6 for a start and then CBA for 7-
17. When we reconstitute our committee,
therefore, I do not see us not agreeing. We can
disagree initially but we will eventually
agree. So, we will soon sort things out. I
am one of those who believe that a
•Ngige
workman is due his wages. If you work in a
vineyard, you will eat from that vineyard. So
it is unfortunate that the consequential
adjustment negotiation was deadlocked
<strong>over</strong> the issue of what percentage to pay the
higher cadre, but the important thing, as I
said earlier, is that we will reconvene and
negotiate and come to an agreement. But
I can tell you, there must be a consequential
movement and g<strong>over</strong>nment is not averse to
doing that. However, what we are saying is
that all parties should understand that the
economy has some challenges and,
therefore, we have to cut our coat according
to our cloth. We are trying to balance issues
so that we don’t run afoul of the Fiscal
Responsibility Law. So many things are
involved as far as the consequential
increment is concerned; for example taking
loan and diverting it to recurrent
expenditures is against the law.
Does that mean there is going to
be a new Minimum Wage
Committee?
A. Not at all. What we are talking about
now is the committee handling
consequential adjustment. You know that the
former Head of Service who was leading the
g<strong>over</strong>nment side on the negotiation and then-
Minister of Budget and National Planning are
out of office. And you also recall that the
Minister of Finance and I just returned after
about three months that the former Federal
Executive Council was dissolved, hence the
need to re-constitute the committee.
You had issues with the leadership of
the NLC shortly before the end of the
last tenure. What do we expect this
time?
I have said in several fora that what
happened towards the end of the last
administration was a misunderstanding
which could have easily been resolved if the
NLC had shown understanding for the
decision I took on the appointment of the
Chairman of the Board of the NSITF.
Unfortunately it tried to <strong>over</strong>reach its powers,
tried to usurp, through agitations and
picketing, the power inherent in my office as
the Minister of Labour and Employment as
well as that of the President. I stood for the rule
of law and due process in the entire matter
and I am happy that, at the end of the day, they
realized I was guided by the law. I defended
the Constitution because I am a Minister of
g<strong>over</strong>nment created by Sections 146, 147, 148
of the Constitution and the NSITF Act 2004
gave me the power to recommend to Mr.
President who should be appointed to be the
Chairman, a function I discharged
appropriately. We have put all that behind us
and are united as one family. I have been very
vigorous in fighting the cause of the Labour
both as a g<strong>over</strong>nor and senator before I
became a Minister. You are aware that
when the NLC leadership came on courtesy
call to me, they conferred the honorary
fellowship of the NLC on me which signifies
friendship and desire to work together as
one. So, expect smooth relationship.
Dialogue is the answer. I shall insist, as I
have always done in the spirit of tripartite
arrangement, to ventilate all issues and
smoothen all grey areas in our relationship
as a labour community. The National
Labour Advisory Council, which has not sat
for <strong>over</strong> five years due to budgetary
constraint, will be convened before the end
of the year as we have been able to push it
through in the 2019 budget. So everything
being equal this important forum for
tripartite dialogue will soon meet. I expect
greater synergy, more so as I have stated
that all the tripartite members must work
together to assist Mr. President realize his
promise to lift 100 million Nigerians from
p<strong>over</strong>ty in the next ten years. The effort starts
now.
There are complaints about your
refusal to register new unions.
It is within the constitutional powers of the
Ministry and part of its statutory function to
register unions or regroup <strong>over</strong> bloated
unions. Once an intending union meets the
requirement of the law, we shall register it.
This is democracy. We are not oblivious of
that fact that the laws of the land permit this
ministry to exercise some elastic powers <strong>over</strong>
this function because nothing is static in life.
You can’t prevent new unions from coming up.
They must come. It means there is going to be
new unionization in some places, especially
those who didn’t want to unionize before. So
once those people unionize and they are not in
a trade or cadre that are already unionized, we
register them. It is our function to do so, it is
within our powers. It is also within our powers
to regroup if a union is amorphous or even deregister
unions if they don’t comply with extant
labour laws. The labour Act in Section 7, Sub
(1) (a) – (d) gives the Registrar of Trade Union
powers to withdraw certificate of registration
especially as stated in Section 37 if annual
returns and audited account reports are not
complied with and there is evidence of the use
of check-off dues for unlawful purposes. We
have not as a Ministry exercised the powers but
the workers check-off dues should be accounted
for in the spirit of accountability and
transparency as part of our ‘Next Level’ and
‘Change’ agenda. Before I left in May, we wrote
those in default, especially the federations. As
of today, we have not registered the United
Labour Congress that applied since 2016
mainly because of the provisions of Section
35 Subsection (1) (b) which provides: “A
federation of trade unions may be registered
by the Registrar if it is made up of 12 or
more trade unions NONE of which SHALL
have been a member of another already
registered federation of trade unions.” That
is the law and, as you know the law, is an
ass. So my hands are tied on this matter
because whereas they have five brand new
unions, the law stipulates 12.

PAGE 36 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
PhD,Department of
Philosophy,
University of Lagos
08116759758
The toxic alchemy of jealousy
and resentment (3)
n concluding this series, it is
Ipertinent to remind
discontented South Africans
asking foreigners to leave and
blaming fellow Africans for
their socio-economic
problems that they should
look inwards and critically
examine their own unrealistic
expectations, attitudes, and
behaviours which prevent
them from making
maximum use of available
opportunities. This is because
the toxic blend of resentment
and jealousy has beclouded
their sense of reasoning and
commonsense. For instance,
a colleague that had been to
South Africa severally told me
that a typical South African
man tends to be lazy and
enjoys frolicking a lot. He also
said that some local shop
owners sell their shops to the
same foreigners they were
antagonising, only to turn
around and accuse the latter
of taking what belongs to
them. In addition, South
African students sometimes
abandon their post-graduate
programmes after receiving
stipends from the g<strong>over</strong>nment.
I have already noted claims
that South African women
tend to prefer Nigerian men
because, according to them,
they are more generous,
caring, hardworking, and
enterprising than South
African men. Therefore, in
spite of the condemnable bad
behaviour of some Nigerians
and other foreigners in South
Africa, the people themselves
must change their laid back
attitude and embrace the
virtues of hard work, tolerance
and focused lifestyles. The
world is a dynamic ocean of
possibilities. Only those
equipped with the appropriate
knowledge, drive,
perseverance and selfconfidence
can navigate
through it successfully.
Therefore, any society that
tolerates indolence and
entitlement mentality among
its youth will stagnate. On the
other hand, South African
leaders should stop using
migrants as scapegoats or as
a c<strong>over</strong> for their own failures
and inadequacies. Blaming
foreigners without doing
anything concrete to stop
corruption and poor
management of resources
responsible for South Africa’s
weakening economy and
unemployment crisis is like
treating cancer with malaria
tablets – it cannot work. In
Nigeria, the current
administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari has
been making the same
mistake since 2015: it has
continued the vile practice of
blaming previous
administrations for every bad
thing in the country presently.
Clearly, South Africa and
Nigeria are in the same boat:
bad leadership is spoiling
everything. That said, the
world economic system is
more integrated now than in
previous years due to the
globalising effects of
contemporary science and
technology. Smart countries
are encouraging migrants
with specialised skills and
experience that can boost their
economies, which suggests
that any country whose
citizens are forcing foreigners
to leave is taking two steps
forward, ten steps backwards.
Admittedly, some Nigerians
are doing bad things in South
Africa. Yet, many more are
highly trained professionals
and business people engaged
in productive activities. If
South Africans are wise, they
would not throw away the
baby with the dirty bath water
because of envy and
resentment.
Some people have praised the
actions taken by the Nigerian
g<strong>over</strong>nment to address the
Afrophobic attacks on
Nigerians. However,
diplomacy alone cannot
achieve lasting results since
the issue is fundamentally a
socio-economic and cultural
problem that requires
innovative social engineering
at the grassroots level in South
Africa. I recommend that the
South African g<strong>over</strong>nment
should invest heavily in
effective job-creating social
intervention programmes to
more and more people out of
p<strong>over</strong>ty, and make the
teaching of history
compulsory in schools, with
special emphasis on the role
played by other African
countries to end the Apartheid
regime. This would enable
South African youths
appreciate the important role
African countries played to
actualise the freedom they are
enjoying today. Second, the
g<strong>over</strong>nment can mobilise
prominent South Africans,
especially politicians,
sportspersons, artistes,
celebrities and academics to
raise the consciousness of the
masses regarding the practice
of African brotherhood
embedded in the philosophy
Nigerians abroad must
learn to invest at home as
preparation for the
uncertainties of living in a
foreign land
of ubuntu. Non-g<strong>over</strong>nmental
organisations such as
religious bodies and civil
society groups can contribute
by working together with
relevant g<strong>over</strong>nment
agencies to promote
tolerance
and
accommodation of other
Africans. In this connection,
the exemplary reconciliatory
leadership of Nelson
Mandela should be used as a
model. Changing ingrained
habits cannot happen
<strong>over</strong>night. Still, if all the
relevant stakeholders are
determined, with the support
of g<strong>over</strong>nment a lot can be
achieved in a relatively short
time.
Back to Nigeria, while Air
Peace
deserves
commendation for bringing
some of the victims home for
free, I do not see any good
reason why President Buhari
wasted public funds sending
a so-called special envoy to
South Africa when Nigeria
has an ambassador there who
could present details of what
happened to the g<strong>over</strong>nment.
On the surface, Abike Dabiri-
Erewa’s announcement that
the federal g<strong>over</strong>nment will
encourage returnees to enrol
in small scale entrepreneurial
programmes with the Bank of
Industry under the social
intervention programme is
encouraging. Nevertheless,
considering the tardiness and
lack of transparency and
professionalism in the
manner this administration
has been handling such
programmes, it would be a
mistake for the eventual
beneficiaries of the
programme, if it takes off at
all, to rely solely on promises
by g<strong>over</strong>nment officials.
More<strong>over</strong>, it is very likely that
corruption and preferential
treatment based on ethnicity,
religion, and political
affiliation will cripple the
programme as time goes on.
I predict that some returnees
will regret coming back to
Nigeria because of failed
promises by this g<strong>over</strong>nment.
Nigerians abroad must learn
to invest at home as
preparation for the
uncertainties of living in a
foreign land. The xenophobic
attacks should be an eyeopener.
Now, the increasing
rate at which Nigerians are
leaving the country is
disturbing. Most times, top
g<strong>over</strong>nment officials blame it
on greed and unrealistic
expectations, which is partly
true. However, the strongest
reason for migrating is the
suffocating existential
condition here due to decades
of incompetent and
irresponsible leadership. In
the seventies and early
eighties when the oil boom
cushioned the ugly effects of
bad leadership, only a small
percentage of Nigerians left
the country for good. From
the mid-eighties onwards, a
succession of wicked and
selfish individuals hijacked
political and economic power
which they used to serve vested
interests. In my view, it is a
disgrace that a country with
huge potentials in terms of
human and material
resources is still stuck in the
abyss of arrested development,
to the extent that she is now the
p<strong>over</strong>ty capital of the world
having <strong>over</strong>taken India with
about six times her population.
Because of deterioration in the
quality of leadership, coupled
with the get-rich-syndrome
that dominates the mind-set of
Nigerians, the urge to relocate
will continue to grow in the
foreseeable future.
Consequently, there is need
for radical reforms in the
system through non-violent
approach to force the kind of
change the country needs
desperately. First on the list of
changes required is
restructuring of the political
architectonic in line with
mature federalism that was
practiced from 1954 to the first
military coup of January 15,
1966. Now, although President
Buhari and a handful of
individuals especially from
northern Nigeria and some in
the south have argued that
Nigeria’s problems have more
to do with processes than with
structure, a neophyte in
political economy knows that
that argument is fallacious. In
every political system,
structure supervenes <strong>over</strong>
processes because the latter
gives expression to the inbuilt
values of the former. To say it
as it really is: anyone who
thinks that Nigeria will
progress on the present geopolitical
and fiscal
arrangement is hallucinating.
The system is deliberately
designed to favour the less
productive northern Nigeria
(especially the feudal elite) at
the expense of the better
endowed south.
It is a matter for serious
disquiet that Nigeria and
South Africa, countries with
the biggest economies in
Africa, have not evolved a
tradition of top quality
political leadership, and there
is nothing to show that they are
moving in the right direction.
As long as bad leadership
persists in both countries,
factors which encourage many
Nigerians to migrate to South
Africa, on the one hand, and
disgruntled South Africans to
attack them, on the other, will
even get worse with time.
So, the number one solution
is: replacement of bad leaders
with better ones, to be followed
by sustained re-orientation
programmes in both
TAYO Fatunla draws HIS-story - 30 years on
I am not African because I
was born in Africa but because
Africa was born in me —
Kwame Nkrumah
The first time,I met Tayo
was in Punch many
moons ago. As part of
a new wave of cartoonists in
Nigeria, he created a buzz and
it was infectious. He has a way
of looking at the world that
we always anticipate what he
will draw next. He never disappoints.
I can proudly say that we
have been friends ever since
and bonded <strong>over</strong> our love of
history and the arts.
Without a history, there is no
future. So, when TAYO Fatunla
began publishing his OUR
ROOTS cartoon feature on
Black History, little did he
know that 30 years on, he will
still be drawing the series that
has evolved into various formats
through the years.
OUR ROOTS was first published
in the UK’s Voice newspaper
based in London in
1989. TAYO Fatunla has been
drawing the history of the
Black race through his journalistic
drawings after disc<strong>over</strong>ing
the need to educate
Black History to children of
African heritage internationally.
OUR ROOTS is a historic
journey which originally began
as a school project whilst
Tayo was a student at the Kubert
school in New Jersey, US.
TAYO first created the series
which he initially titled AFRI-
CAN SKETCHBOOK. A few
of his tutors helped with the
project including the legendary
US comic artist Joe Kubert.
TAYO began his cartooning
career in Nigeria drawing for
several newspapers and magazines
including the Punch
newspapers, where he drew
editorial cartoons and the
well read "Omoba" back page
cartoon column and he went
on to draw for Nduka Ogbaigbena’s
then THISWEEK
magazine. TAYO credits Vanguard's
Publisher Sam Amuka
Pemu (Uncle Sam) who cofounded
PUNCH Newspapers
for giving him the break
as a career cartoonist. "I had
to leave the OMOBA cartoon
to go to the US to study Cartoon
Art".
In London, Steve Pope, the
then editor of the Voice newspaper
(1984-1989) in 1989,
invited TAYO who was residing
in Hackney in East London
to visit the Voice premises
on Coldharbour Lane with
keen interest in his idea, hoping
for it to be featured in the
paper. TAYO’s initial challenge
was to research about
Black history makers and
achievers from the UK and
from all walks of life internationally.
His idea was not to
focus on one particular black
race but all black races in the
diaspora, things, places and
events. It worked and the interest
in OUR ROOTS began
to take shape for the future.
OUR ROOTS also has featured
in Nigeria’s Sunday
Times newspaper under the
editorship of Mr. Dapo Aderinola
and at the inception of
THISDAY newspaper and
was titled OUR NIGERIA.
OUR ROOTS brings to life
the accomplishments of men
and women, sung and unsung
in a vivid and accessible way.
How many know that the inventor
of the traffic light was
black? How many know the
military achievements of the
great Zulu leader Chaka?
Few know of our great political
leaders, scientists, inventors,
thinkers or artists in
Nigeria as well as beyond.
TAYO set out to do this and
educate beautifully with his
OUR ROOTS drawings.
Tayo recollects when Jerry
Robinson the creator of Robin
and the Joker who ran a
US based syndicate called
Cartoonists and Writers Syndicate,
now Cartoon Arts International
called him. He
showed interest in OUR
ROOTS and asked TAYO to
have his series syndicate in US
newspapers and so it did in
such newspapers as News
Sentinel, a Fort Wayne Indiana
newspaper. OUR
ROOTS has since featured in
New York Amsterdam News,
Chicago Defender, Sacramento
Observer and the Atlanta
Voice.
TAYO’s deep interest in
Black history has
inspired his work and
has always wanted to
and continues to share
his knowledge and
creativity with many
centivize people to take pride
in identifying with inspiring
role models.”
The British Museum so
much loved OUR ROOTS series
and asked TAYO if he
could visually create ten AF-
RICAN KINGDOM illustrations
for its THE WEALTH OF
AFRICA online educational
resource. TAYO produced the
Benin Kingdom and the Swahili
coast to mention a few of
the ten he drew. Commissioned
formats such as Spirit
of Lagos Comic for the Lagos
state G<strong>over</strong>nment is also as a
result of OUR ROOTS. And
there are OUR ROOTS comic
and books. He has since
launched his OUR ROOTS
book in London and in New
York.
At the Kubert school, TAYO’s
tutor, Hy Eisman (Popeye cartoonist)
helped with the logo
and David Cuccia his class-
Nigerian-American painter
and art historian and tutor,
Professor Dele Jegede (himself
a famous cartoonist with
Nigeria’s Daily Times in the
70s and 80s) says “Tayo Fatunla
embarked on a graphic
journey with the creation of
his trailblazing and imaginative
series, OUR ROOTS. His
visual snippets extraordinary
works that roll history, art, and
journalism into a ball park
highlight the criticalness of
acknowledging our ancestry
at the same time that they inmate
helped with the lettering.
TAYO wanted to give the illustrations
a comic book look to
it and also educate with it. In
1987 it would then be published
first anywhere in the
world, in FLIGHT AFRICA
magazine a Nigerian aviation
magazine which was published
by journalist Mr Femi
Ogunleye, now Kabiyesi Femi
Ogunleye, Towulade of Akinale
in Abeokuta local g<strong>over</strong>nment.
The first four feature
illustrations TAYO produced
at school were the initial AF-
RICAN SKETCHBOOK
drawings in the magazine.
TAYO first researched OUR
ROOTS at D<strong>over</strong> library in
New Jersey. Apart from drawing,
TAYO also reads to research
information for his series
and bring to awareness
sung and unsung heroes and
heroines.
Through the years of drawings,
the ignorant and the less
informed have been well educated.
In addition to Black
people in diaspora, children
and adults have got to know
and learn about, heroes and
heroines, sung and unsung,
people, places and things in
Africa and from Nigeria as
well. His feature extends to
The Caribbean, New Zealand,
Australia, South America, the
US and Europe. TAYO has
since done and continues to
have done, OUR ROOTS
presentations in schools, libraries,
Museums and Universities
internationally.
Tayo has won countless
awards including one in
May 2018 when he was
presented with the EC-
BACC Pioneer Lifetime
Achievement Award (PLA)
for OUR ROOTS – Famous
Black People in History.
Receiving the award has
been a journey of being appreciated
and honoured for
what one does and the impact
OUR ROOTS has
made in lives through visual
and historical education.
TAYO is also the recipient
of the Lagos Baptist Academy
Award (BAOSA) for
professional excellence. He
has held OUR ROOTS exhibitions
(one at the Studio
Harlem Museum, New
York) and lectures in Universities
in the US, France
and the UK.
What is next ? TAYO plans
to produce another book
compilation of OUR
ROOTS but unlike the first
two books with c<strong>over</strong>s published
in colour and contents
in black and white, he
plans to publish the next
book all in colour. OUR
ROOTS was first published
in black and white
but with the advent of
Computer technology and
with the advancement of
cartoons to digital art,
TAYO began producing his
historical drawings in colour.
It has been 30 years of
insight into the historical
lives of many black people
and TAYO hopes that his
work and research <strong>over</strong> the
years will stand the test of
time and will be a starting
point for researchers, enthusiasts
and teachers as
well. He wants his work to
inspire black youths, to
have goals and set them for
a better future for themselves.
He continues to do
Black History cartoon
workshop sessions to inspire.
TAYO’s deep interest
in Black history has inspired
his work and has always
wanted to and continues
to share his knowledge
and creativity with many.
He says “Again, I thank
Uncle Sam, my parents and
fans as well for this awesome
journey.”
Many congratulations
Tayo, you are a visionary
and a patriotic African. You
have motivated and inspired
millions all <strong>over</strong> the world by
your work and long may it
continue.

By Sam Eyoboka with Agency reports
CHRISTIAN Financial Accountability Association
(CFAA); a self-regulatory association
of churches and Christian organizations concerned
about financial accountability and
g<strong>over</strong>nance, recently held its inaugural seminar
with the theme "Finance and G<strong>over</strong>nance
Accountability".
CFAA Nigeria, a platform for Christian leaders
and financial stakeholders to explore how
churches can be structured to achieve proper
g<strong>over</strong>nance standards, has embarked upon a
series of g<strong>over</strong>nance activities designed to improve
transparency of church administration.
At the event, Mrs. Ibikun Awosika, Chairman
First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), described
the seminar as timely and valuable to churches,
to avert future ethical and administrative
crisis.
According to her: "The biggest model of influence
in our nation is the Church, which
shapes the mind of societies in many ways,
hence the church needs to be pragmatic in its
activities".
Awosika argued that the Church was a pacesetter,
as it was a standard bearer for congregations,
meaning it can influence territories
and segments of the market and economy.
She was of the opinion that churches should
be structured by providing leadership portfolios
and filling them up with individuals of the
right character.
Awosika emphasized that the Church is a
place to breed citizens that are upright and
have integrity, stating they must be compliant
The Voice of the Lord
BISHOP WALE OKE
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
Harvesting a glorious tomorrow
sam.eyoboka@gmail.com
08023145567 (sms
Financial accountability : Christian
group moves to save Nigerian Church
By Sam Eyoboka
ENERAL Superintendent of Deeper
GChristian Life Ministry (DCLM), <strong>Pastor</strong>
William Kumuyi, has called for renewed
hope in God, saying the Lord will rewrite the
history of the Nigerian Church, following the
wave of divine visitation, spiritual awakening
and unprecedented revival currently
moving across the church in Lagos to break
all denominational barriers and empower
the Body of Christ.
Kumuyi stated this at the Ministers’ Development
and Networking Summit, held at the
African Bethel Cathedral, Ikorodu in conjunction
with the Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN), tagged ‘Growing your Church.’
According to him, the Nigerian Church is
being weakened by denominational barriers
L-R: Legal Practitioner, Christian Financial Accountability Association, Dayo Adebayo;
Legal Advisor, Tomi Vincent; and <strong>Pastor</strong>/Leadership Consuitant, Dr. Sam Adeyemi, at a press
conference on Fostering Accountability and G<strong>over</strong>nance Among Churches and Christian
Faith-based Organisations in Lagos.
with the rules corporate and national rules, as
being Christians does not exempt them from
existing national laws.
"By possessing the right structure and working
right, the church will serve as a model of
integrity such that when the g<strong>over</strong>nment
comes there is courage to address challenges.
The nation is in troubled times as there is prev-
•PASTOR IGHODALO
SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 37
alent moral decadence. The <strong>over</strong>all essence of
structure is that it allows for appropriate response,"
she stated.
She added that "church leaders should be
accountable through employing independent
service companies to audit their church financial
statements," stressing that such professionals
are present in the Church and can offer to
God'll rewrite history of the Nigerian Church – Kumuyi
e not deceived; God is not mocked:
Bfor whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7).
You can become great in life, it is a possibility
at your fingertips. You can become
whatsoever you dream to become, there is
no limit. You can reverse any negative
thing that you ever experienced in the past
because there is a law that g<strong>over</strong>ns it. God
does not run the universe on sentiments.
He runs it based on definite principles. If
you disc<strong>over</strong> the principle and you operate
it; you get the result. That is how God
works. Today, you are the product of the
principle you sowed yesterday. You are the
product of the principle you operated on
or you refused to operate on yesterday. That
is how God g<strong>over</strong>ns the universe. Follow
the law and you get the results. Sow and
you reap.
This principle c<strong>over</strong>s every aspect of life.
It is way beyond money. Money is just an
aspect; it c<strong>over</strong>s knowledge, career,
achievements, marriage, success, wealth,
happiness, longevity, and every aspect of
life.
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy”
(Psalm 126:5).
Sowing is not an easy process, it may be
that have rendered it unproductive to deliver
the divine purpose of winning the world to
Christ.
“Instead of fighting a common enemy, the
devil; we are fighting each other. We are looking
down on each other; we are pushing each
other away until the Church is not even sure
on which ground do I stand,” he said.
According to the convener of the ‘ministers’
networking summit’, the vision of the summit
is to make the Nigerian Church strong by injecting
power into the local churches.
Kumuyi noted that the Body of Christ in
Nigeria is losing relevance, hence the need to
develop the ministers especially at the grassroots.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Undeniable power
of united faith in the Saviour’, the cleric said
the Nigerian Church must be united in faith
with tears but it is very certain
you will reap. The Bible did not
say you ‘may’ or ‘might’ reap; it
says you ‘shall’ reap with joy. That
is how God operates the universe.
He is the Lord of the harvest. If
you want a great harvest, you can
have it: but a great harvest is a
blessing that flows with a great
responsibility. Take responsibility
for your life now. Take responsibility
for what you want to
achieve tomorrow, now. Begin
to live in such a way that you are
planting your good seed for a
glorious tomorrow. Sow, and
keep on sowing, non-stop money.
Prayer. The word. Kindness.
Good works. Holiness. Integrity.
Diligence. Tithing. Giving. Investments.
Good seed of various
kinds. Don’t ever stop sowing. If
your season for sowing is not broken,
then your season for reaping
shall not cease. It takes determination
to sow. DON’T
STOP SOWING
AND YOU WON’T STOP
REAPING!
to lead sinners to the Saviour (Jesus Christ).
According to him, rec<strong>over</strong>y will come by leading
the people to their Saviour, stating that
“the pursuit is to make the Body of Christ strong
in Nigeria”.
Drawing inspiration from Mark 2:1-12,
Kumuyi urged the Church to manifest the
same faith the friends of the man who was sick
of the palsy manifested that got the man
healed. They lowered through the roof the bed
on which the sick man laid for Christ to heal
him.
According to him, to cause the desired revival
in Nigeria and win souls for the kingdom of
God, the Church must manifest “united unwavering
purpose, unselfish pursuit, unrepentant
perseverance, unbreakable partnership,
unabated passion and unusual procedure.”
*Ituah Ighodalo is
the Senior <strong>Pastor</strong>,
Trinity House, Trinity
Avenue, Off Ligali
Ayorinde Street,
Victoria Island,
Lagos.
+234-808-895-6162
info@trinityhouseng.org
God is faithful to save
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you
from evil. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you,
that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
2 Thess. 3:3 KJV
Let it be known, whether you believe it or not, there is
nothing we can do without God. Our life can never be
on track without that quotient called God. Faithful is
He who will do what he says He will do. There are some areas
where God insists on being faithful and one of them is in the
fulfillment of His promises. He is also faithful in ensuring that
we get solutions to problems as they come so long as we wait
on Him and are patient in letting Him lead the way.
God’s desire is not to make things unbearable for you and
He is always looking for how He can make a way out of the
challenges that you are faced with. Eventually somehow or the
other God will open the door of opportunities for you. He will
lead you on that path that leads to fulfillment of destinies.
When God decides to not make a way out of a situation, it is
not because He does not love you but because He knows that it
is not the right time or He is preventing you from one situation
or another.
God can save. Save you from difficulty and eventually save
your soul. Isaiah 59: 1-2. The only way God does not save is if
there is iniquity in your life. The Lord is not slack concerning
his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering
to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should
help balance the books.
Awosika maintained that "lawyers in the
Church can help the church follow due legal
procedures/processes", stressing that the CFAA
once introduced can be a positive influence
for national good.
Founder of Alder Consulting, Mr. Leke Alder
highlighted the underlying problems that
several church bodies face as it relates to g<strong>over</strong>nment,
promising that CFAA Nigeria will
reposition the Church as an island of best practices.
Alder noted that the CFAA Nigeria was the
commencement of a new era in the administration
of churches which hope to achieve not
only financial accountability, but also spiritual
development.
Also speaking at the event, Head of Tax and
Regulatory, PriceWaterHouse Coopers, West
Africa, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele highlighted the key
areas of g<strong>over</strong>nance code for not-for-profits
organizations and the importance of accountability
as regards performance and perception.
He raised the following key issues that
should be considered in the Church, which
include: The importance of tax planning and
compliance; Proper financial statements and
record keeping for g<strong>over</strong>nance; Building robust
internal control procedures and processes
and; Inclusion of standard templates for
reporting.
The event featured a Question-and-Answer
session which addressed issues of Tax Identification
Number, TIN, and the importance of
registering with relevant tax regulatory bodies
to ensure inclusion of all organizations.
Stakeholders at the inaugural CFAA Nigeria
seminar were advised to contact professionals
to ensure compliance with the tax laws.
Also, the issue of financial accountability
was discussed and the need to separate an
individual financial statements from church
revenue.
Chairman of the CFAA Nigeria inaugural
seminar and Senior <strong>Pastor</strong> of Daystar Christian
Centre, Rev. Samuel Adeyemi called for
the sensitization of the Church in Nigeria on
the need to drive corporate g<strong>over</strong>nance and
financial accountability.
He cited Rwanda and Angola that have regulatory
processes c<strong>over</strong>ing g<strong>over</strong>nance and
financial accountability for churches in their
respective territories.
He said that the manifestation of the above
would open heaven’s door for “uncommon
possibilities, miracles and breakthroughs”
through the Church.
Rt. Rev. Akin Ajayi, of the African Bethel
Cathedral, Ikorodu, said the summit provides
an opportunity for ministers to train themselves,
stressing that it is a divine blessing for
the ministers to develop and grow their local
church.
Ajayi, who is the bishop of the Lagos West
missionary diocese of the African Church,
urged ministers to humble themselves before
God.
“For <strong>Pastor</strong> Kumuyi to have come to Ikorodu;
that means he has humbled himself and
we should all learn from him. I believe there
is nobody God cannot use. If you allow God
to take charge of your life, he will definitely
deliver you and grant you whatever you think
is impossible in your life,” he said.
come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 KJV
It is God’s desire that everyone of us should
make it to heaven, that we all live a good,
wonderful and peaceable life. Some people
have foundation problems, some have committed
so much sins, and some are embroiled
in the snare of the enemy, but is always there
ready to accept us and shower us in His love
and promises of grace.
I want to tell you today; God will be faithful
to you this day as you look to Him.
God is faithful to save you from trials and
tribulations, from circumstances that are
seemingly unbearable. I want to encourage
you and reassure you that God is faithful to
save you. He will bring you out of that situation
that you are going through, so long as
you are alive and breathing, that situation
shall become history.
Let nothing frighten you, do not be afraid of
whom you shouldn’t be afraid of, these gives
you the peace to think and do things right.
God is faithful to establish. 2 Tess 3:3; But
the God of all grace, who hath called us unto
his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye
have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,
strengthen, settle you. 1 Pet 5:10. KJV.
God takes us through a period of suffering to
make us perfect. God made Joseph perfect
through the suffering he went through. In these
trials, we get experience, strength, immovable,
tolerant and powerful with a deep understanding
and knowledge that you will use to fulfil
your destiny. One of the great things of life is
to learn the “experience of pain”. He expects
that we settle into the pain, learn from it, pray
our way out of it. There are certain things
that we must learn, experience and retain while
we go through our hard times. Until we learn
the experience of pain we will keep going back
into that trial or challenge until we have
learned that which we want to learn.
Our prayer is that God brings us out of the
trials better, stronger and after it all, that He
will settle us.

PAGE 38 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
The miracle of a new creation(2)
By <strong>Pastor</strong> William Kumuyi
Since the day Adam lost his nobil
ity, his assertiveness and s<strong>over</strong>eign
right to dominate the rest of the
pack was gone; and his first son Cain
had to exhibit one of the newly inherited
seed of evil, and because his father
was unable to control him, Abel,
who happens to be the better of the
children, had to suffer for it as he was •Kumuyi
brutally murdered.
Genesis 4:9: "And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel
thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?"
The naughtiness of Cain had no bounds and his audacious
response to God, having committed such an evil deed, is a stuff
of legends.
The same thing would happen to anyone who sins today. If
your life have been working normally, the moment you open
the door of your life to sin, things will become abnormal. If
your business have been moving forward, when you give in to
sin, it will become crooked and the foundation would collapse.
Now man is suffering and this is not the original plan God
has intended for him, and that initial programme of God for
man has not changed. Jesus reinvented it for you and me when
He forfeited His life at Calvary as punishment for our sins. If
you would retrace your steps back to the Creator and accept
His offer of salvation, a recreational miracle will take place in
your life and all that you must have lost shall be rec<strong>over</strong>ed.
Hebrews 12:10: "For they verily for a few days chastened us
after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be
partakers of his holiness."
Haven looked at the condition of man and his kind, the
Almighty God yearned and resolved to reposition man in the
exalted place of honour, dominion, health and happiness, where
we once were. That is why He sent Jesus Christ to restore our
lost humanity. And today, you will rec<strong>over</strong> your lost honour in
Jesus name! Amen!
God wants to bring you into the original honour, which our
first parents lost in the garden of Eden, where He originally
created us.
Genesis 1:26-28: "And God said, Let us make man in our
image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion <strong>over</strong> the
fish of the sea, and <strong>over</strong> the fowl of the air, and <strong>over</strong> the cattle,
and <strong>over</strong> all the earth, and <strong>over</strong> every creeping thing that
creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God created he him; male and female
created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto
them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and
subdue it: and have dominion <strong>over</strong> the fish of the sea, and <strong>over</strong>
the fowl of the air, and <strong>over</strong> every living thing that moveth upon
the earth."
If you know the degree and the extent which God desires for
you, and you know your worth, you would not fall and or accept
anything lower than what He has planned for you and
your family. That is why I want to say that, if you would consistently
obey the voice of God, before your life comes to an end
on this earth, everything that He has ordained and earmarked
for you, will surely come to pass!
If you do not stop yourself, nothing will stop you. If you have
the right perception and you do a proper preparation by recognizing
your portion, I am telling you that from today onwards
your life will be totally different because you will obtain honour
through the help of God, and dishonour will not have a
place in your life any more.
Psalms 8:3-6: "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy
fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man,
that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower
than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Thou madest him to have dominion <strong>over</strong> the works of thy
hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:"
Above is the confession of the Psalmist written thousands of
years ago after the events of the creation. David saw man in his
own era based on the original plan of God and this could be
seen as one of the building blocks that heralded his achievements
and greatness in life.
You too can experience the glorious honour David the king,
the man after the heart of God, underwent. This can only take
place in your life, if you would give God first place in your
heart. In fact, the truth be told: that is the sole reason Jesus
Christ came. He came so that man kind could obtain their lost
glory and the creature restored to the Creator.
Jesus did not pay the ultimate price so you could go to church.
Actually, you could still have been involved in religious practices,
even without the arrival of Christ, because people were
deep-rooted in religious worship before the advent of the Saviour.
And you could easily have been one of them, except that
divine intervention placed you in this period of time so that you
would take full advantage of the mercies of God.
He came so that you would be taken out of that filthy place of
dishonour and be placed on the platform of honour. This means
that the instant you allow Jesus Christ into your life you would
resemble the Creator. That is, the offspring resembling the
parent. The essence is so that we would retain the very nature
and mind of God we lost as a result of the fall of Adam and Eve.
When our confidence is restored back to us, we would begin
to do extraordinary exploits like Adam and Eve did at the initial
time in the garden of Eden. That is exactly what the Almighty
God expects.
Daniel 11:32: "...but the people that do know their God shall
be strong, and do exploits. "
Doing the incredible comes with possessing the innate supernatural
abilities whose genetic source code is God Himself.
And man became the representative of heaven and the only sub
headquarters of God on earth. This made him to become the
control switch for all happenings on earth. And as the administrator
of God, he was given the supernatural power and authority
to carry out the plan programme of heaven on earth.
Faith in the Redemptive names of God (14)
Jehovah-Tsidkenu (The
Lord our righteousness)
Text: Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16
JIntroduction
ehovah-Tsidkenu is an
other of the revealed
names of God. This is
one of His names that should
bring utmost peace and comfort
to believers; for we do not
have to rely on our own righteousness,
which is as filthy
rags to God, God Himself became
our Righteousness.
Praise the Lord!
Therefore, anytime we are
being accused, or being reminded
of our sin, either by
other humans, Satan, ourselves,
etc…all we really have
to do is return to this covenant
name of God. He is our righteousness,
and no one can ever
take away or put down a righteousness
like that.
The name comes from Jeremiah
23:6 as seen in the text
above. “In his days Judah
shall be saved, and Israel shall
dwell safely: and this is His
name whereby he shall be
called, the LORD our righteousness.”
This great <strong>prophecy</strong> stated
that the days were coming
when the people would live in
safety and would recognise
that the Lord is our righteousness.
In its context it is speaking
of a day when the Lord
reigns <strong>over</strong> the nation of Israel.
But their revelation then,
should be ours today. In this
age there is a hardening upon
the nation of Israel but not
Message preached by
<strong>Pastor</strong> E. A. Odeyemi at the
RCCG Central Parish.
Jonah a man running
against God;
hen Jonah began to
Wrun away from God,
we can ask the question that
such a great man should
know that he cannot run from
the presence of God. My
brother, my sister, don’t you
understand by now that there
is no place God is not present.
Why do you think you can run
away from him? Why do you
think when you have closed
all the doors and windows, he
is not there? Why do you think
when you have run out of Abuja
to do something he has not
asked you to do in a typical
N Luke 16:19, it is writ
Iten: “There was a certain
rich man which was clothed
in purple and fine linen and
fared sumptuously every day.”
And in verses 22-23, Jesus said
the rich man died and was buried.
And in hell, the rich man
lifted up his eyes, being in torments.
While in torments of
hell, he remembered his five
brothers, and pleaded with
Abraham, who was in Paradise
with Lazarus, to send Lazarus
to his father’s house, that
he might testify unto them,
about the reality of hell, so that
they would not come into the
place of the torments of hell.
Abraham made the rich man
to know that, it was an impossible
thing to do.
In Luke 16:26, Abraham
told this rich man in hell, that
between Paradise and hell,
there is a great gulf, fixed,
hence the souls of those in hell,
cannot cross <strong>over</strong> into Paradise.
Therefore there is no
scriptural proof of Purgatory.
The soul of Lazarus had been
and shall, throughout eternity,
be in perfect peace in heaven,
while the soul of the rich man
shall forever be in torments of
hell. Hell was originally prepared
for the devil and his fallen
angels. (Matthew 25:41),
but as written in Isaiah 5:14,
hell has enlarged itself and
opened her mouth without
measure, to accommodate the
wicked, the worldly and carnal-minded
believers in Christ,
who are enemies of God.
As written in Jeremiah 5:26,
and in Matthew 7:22,
amongst the people of God,
are found the wicked and
workers of iniquity, who profess
to prophesy in the name of
• J.K. Akinola. (Senior <strong>Pastor</strong>)
upon believers. We are the ones
that should realise that He is
our righteousness. But what
does that actually mean? And
what are some of the benefits
of having the Lord as our righteousness?
How can a man be just
(righteous) before God? (Job
25:4)
This is the last speech of Job's
'comforters' and Bildad, it
seems, as taken from Job 25:1-
6. In fact he really only wants
to state two things.
• Verses 1-3 sum up the
greatness of God
• Verses 4-6 sum up the nothingness
of man
Therefore, based on God's
greatness and man's nothingness,
Bildad's speech pivots
around this ancient but still
relevant question: "How can
man be righteous before
God?" That is the big question.
Even the moon doesn’t shine
of its own Bildad states, which
is of course true. So how can
we be pure in His sight when
we are like a worm? Let's examine
this question in relation
Handling life Interruptions (Part 2)
village far away that He is not
there? Why do you think that
when your pastor is not
present God is also not
present? The Bible tells me
from Psalm 139:7-12.
How can somebody say he
wants to run from the presence
of God? How can you say you
want to run from His presence
when you’re in the office?
Some of us establish a dichotomy
and a division between
our spiritual lives and secular
lives. When we’re in the church,
we are saints, but when we are
outside, we are something else.
When in our places of work,
we are different. When in the
church, we are great people.
We believe God for everything.
We want to God’s will, but
when we are in business we
to the name of God that we
are studying—-Jehovah Tsidkenu!
The two problems
There are two simple problems
in regards to man approaching
God: 1. God alone
is righteous (Isaiah 45:22-25)
and 2. Mankind's own righteousness
is actually like a
filthy rag to God (Isaiah 64:6).
So how can man be righteous
before God if God alone
is righteous and our very best
is filthy rags? If God’s very
righteousness condemns us
because we don’t measure up,
how can we be righteous in
His sight?
Then, He would have to be
our righteousness. Somehow!
The meeting at the Cross
At the cross the different aspects
of God's nature came
together! Mercy and truth met
together. Righteousness and
peace kissed! The old saying
is that God's love and mercy
would have forgiven the sinner
but God's righteousness
and justice prevented the forgiveness.
God's justice and
righteousness would have
judged the sinner but God's
love and mercy prevents the
judgment. So what is God to
do? The only answer is for
Him to become a man and
take the judgment upon Himself
so that the sinner could go
free. Due to the work of the
Lord Jesus on our behalf, a new
righteousness, His righteousness,
is credited to our account.
In other words, a believer today
has no standing in himself
- His entire standing is in
Jehovah Tsidkenu - the Lord
our righteousness. This can be
seen in Psalms 85:9-13, Romans
3:21-24, Romans 10:2-
4.
Jesus Christ, our Jehovah
Tsidkenu!
The following quote is helpful
to us in understanding the
above transaction done by our
Lord Jesus Christ in imputing
righteousness on us.
“Righteousness and peace
have kissed. Believers enjoy
peace with God because all
the claims of divine justice
were met by the substitutionary
work of the Saviour."
-—William MacDonald
What are you still waiting
for?
Do not miss this great opportunity
which God has graciously
opened for you
through the efficacious sacrifice
of His only Son Jesus
Christ. Open your heart now
to Him and let Him come in
as your Lord and Saviour. He
will wash away your sins and
input the righteousness of
God to you right now.
God bless you as you do so.
We shall conclude on this
great name next episode.
^The Gospel Faith Mission International, Living
Word Cathedral, Oluyole Estate, beside Total Petrol
Station, off Ring Road, Ibadan. (Telephone :
08033376660, 08055405095)
say, my brother this is business.
I’ve seen that several times as
a pastor. People enter into
business deals with some
members of the church, the
pastor was not aware, but all
of a sudden, the business had
gone sour. They started by saying
this is business but when it
has gone sour, they remember
that they should go to the pastor
to tell him they entered into
a business they didn’t inform
pastor about initially. Why do
you want to bring the pastor
into it? If you think it is just
business as usual, go ahead
and do it. But may I tell you,
there is no division in our lives.
Life is one. Some people want
to get married, they don’t
bring God into the marriage
Life, after death
the Lord and to have cast out
devils, and done many wonderful
works, in the name of
Jesus. There is no peace or rest
to these wicked and to these
workers of iniquity, either here
on earth, or in hell. (Isaiah
57:20-21).
Jesus said in Luke 6:46: “And
why call me, Lord, Lord, and
do not the things which I say?”
And the most important of all
the things that Jesus is saying
to the people of God, is that
they should not love the world
and the things that are in the
world, because He has chosen
them out of the world. (I
John 2:15-16; John 17:16).
Those who love this present
world, have not the love of God
in them, hence they are enemies
of God. (James 4:4). It is
certain that the souls of the
enemies of God, shall forever
be in torments of hell, after
death. And so, the common
prayer that says: May his/her
soul rest in perfect peace, is
useless. The souls of the dead
do not need such prayer, especially
the souls of the dead that
were fearful, unbelieving,
abominable, murderers,
whoremongers, sorcerers,
idolaters, dogs, and all liars,
because they would have their
part in the lake of fire and
brimstone, which is the second
death. (Revelation 21:8). And
murderers are those who hate
their fellow brethren. (I John
3:15).
Sorcerers are those who
traffic with evil spirits. Idolaters
are those who partake in
worldly ceremonies, where
they eat, drink and dance. (I
Corinthians 10:7). Liars are
those who say they love God,
yet they hate their brethren (I
John 4:20), and those who say
they know Jesus but do not
keep His commandments, are
also liars. (I John 2:4). Dogs
are those who have gone back
and problems happen along
the line. The begin to say God,
can’t you see what I am suffering.
If I were God what do you
think I will say, I didn’t know.
I don’t know you are suffering
because I didn’t know about
your marriage. Several times
that has happened. That’s why
I used to tell young people
anytime they come around for
counsel. They’ll say sir, we
want to get married. I used to
ask them time again, are you
sure God is the one leading
you into this marriage? I ask
that question every time because
I know very well that when you
meet with brick wall, will you
be able to tell God, you led me
into this marriage. I’m married
for <strong>over</strong> thirty six years and I
know what I am talking about.
It doesn’t matter who you are, it
doesn’t matter who joined you.
to their vomit, having escaped
the pollutions of the world,
through the knowledge of the
truth. (II Peter 2:20-22).
Death comes like a thief in
the night, therefore repent
now, so that you do not spend
your life in eternal torments
of the lake of fire and brimstone,
when you leave this
world.
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
Sammie Okposo, Chioma Jesus,
others s dazzle at ‘Switch with Tosin Bee’
ollowing the success of his maiden concert tagged “Switch
Fwith Tosin Bee”, which has become talk of the town, gospel
music rave, Adejumobi Oluwatosin, a.k.a Tosin Bee has expressed
satisfaction <strong>over</strong> the outcome of the event, just as he revealed that
his best is yet to come in the gospel circle.
Tosin, who is one of the gospel ministers under the One Hallelujah
Record label of the Redeemed Christian Church of God
(RCCG), attracted fans and stakeholders in the industry and
dignitaries from all walks of life at the MUSON Centre, Onikan,
Lagos..
Some of the notable gospel artistes that performed at the event
include Sammie Okposo, Tim Godfrey, Chioma Jesus, Prospa,
Efe Nathan, Beejay Sax, Big Bolaji, Laolu Gbenjo, among others.
According to Tosin Bee, the concert was an experience one
can’t forget in a hurry. “God really surprised us, surpassed my
imagination. The turnout was amazing, the hall
was filled up that people had to stand due to insufficient
space. I couldn’t believe when I saw how a
lot of people were standing because there was no
space again. Till date, people are still talking about
how impactful the event was”, he said.
He added; “Switch with Tosin Bee, is a platform
created for people to come and drop every burden
on their mind and just give God praise, a lot of
times our miracle is a praise away. So, it’s an avenue
to switch from whatever you are going through,
to praise.”
•Tosin
Bee

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 39
How can you tell if
you are an obedi
ent child of God?
If you are, then you are. If
you have to be, then you
are not. If you have to
obey rules in order to be
obedient, then you are not.
“The law is not made for a
righteous person, but for
the lawless and insubordinate.”
(1 Timothy 1:9).
(God) made (Jesus) who
knew no sin to be sin for
us, that we might become
the righteousness of God in
him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
If you are an obedient
child, recognise the new
you. Identify with it.
How can a girl tell if she
is a woman? If she has to
prove she is a woman then
the devil is at work. For
example, the devil says she
can wear a very short dress
that shows off her curves.
By the time she walks down
the street and heads are
turning or she receives catcalls
from men working on
the building site, will she
then know she is a woman?
Or he tells her if she succeeds
in seducing her boss,
that should really tell her
she is a woman. But even
more conclusively, he says
if she gets pregnant and
has a baby, everybody will
surely know by then that
she is indeed a woman.
This kind of thinking is
not only designed to shipwreck
faiths but also to
destroy souls: “Then the
devil took (Jesus) up into
the holy city, set him on the
pinnacle of the temple,
and said to him, ‘If you are
the Son of God, throw
yourself down. For it is
Obedient children and children
of disobedience (2)
written: ‘He shall give his
angels charge <strong>over</strong> you,’
and, ‘in their hands they
shall bear you up, lest you
dash your foot against a
stone.’” (Matthew 4:5-6).
But if you have to jump
from the pinnacle of the
temple in order to prove
you are the son of God, all
that will happen is that
you will become a dead
son of God.
Fight of faith
The modern church has
identified one enemy and
has virtually ignored the
other, even more potent,
one. Paul says: “We do not
wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against principalities,
against powers,
against the rulers of the
darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly
places.” (Ephesians
6:12).
Therefore, we put on the
whole armour of God. We
put on the belt of truth, the
breastplate of righteousness,
the shoes of evangelism,
the shield of faith,
the helmet of salvation, the
sword of the Spirit (which
is the word of God), and
we watch and pray with all
If we don’t live a
fasted life, we
cannot mortify the
deeds of the body
manner of prayers.
But fighting the devil is only
half the battle. There is an even
more difficult and more ferocious
battle raging. That is the
battle of Armageddon. That
battle is not against an external
enemy. It is a battle against
our own bodies. It is a battle
against the flesh; and in that
battle, the enemy “is in me.”
Again, Paul identifies the dilemma
inherent in this:
“I know that in me (that is, in
my flesh) nothing good dwells;
for to will is present with me,
but how to perform what is
good I do not find. For the
good that I will to do, I do not
do; but the evil I will not to do,
that I practice. Now if I do
what I will not to do, it is no
longer I who do it, but sin that
dwells in me. I find then a law,
that evil is present with me, the
one who wills to do good. For I
delight in the law of God according
to the inward man. But
I see another law in my
members, warring
against the law of my
mind, and bringing
me into captivity to the
law of sin which is in
my members. (Romans
7:18-23).
New wine:
old bottles
The redeemed man
is made subject to vanity.
He is a new man
in an old body. Jesus
says: “No one puts a
piece of unshrunk
cloth on an old garment;
for the patch
pulls away from the
garment, and the tear
is made worse. Nor do
they put new wine into
old wineskins, or else
the wineskins break,
the wine is spilled, and
the wineskins are ruined.
But they put new
wine into new wineskins,
and both are
preserved.” (Matthew
9:16-17).
So why did God put
the new creation in an
old body? Since the
redeemed belong to
another kingdom,
why are we still living
in this world? Paul
says: “If anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have
passed away; behold, all
things have become new.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17).
If all things have become
new, why am I still in this
old body?
Paul answers his own
question: “For the earnest
expectation of the creation
eagerly waits for the revealing
of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjected
to futility, not willingly,
but because of him
who subjected it in hope;
because the creation itself
also will be delivered from
the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of
the children of God.” (Romans
8:19-21).
Fasted life
That is the reason why we
fast. If we don’t live a fasted
life, we cannot mortify
the deeds of the body. If
we don’t live a fasted life,
we will walk according to
the flesh. If we don’t live a
fasted life, we will be carnally
minded.
“The carnal mind is enmity
against God; for it is
not subject to the law of
God, nor indeed can be. So
then, those who are in the
flesh cannot please God.”
(Romans 8:7-8). “If you
live according to the flesh
you will die; but if by the
Spirit you put to death the
deeds of the body, you will
live.” (Romans 8:13).
Therefore, it is incumbent
on us to put to death
the deeds of the body. The
body must be seen as an
enemy and not as a friend.
From today, recognize
this: Your body is your enemy.
Don’t take any nonsense
from it. Treat it very
harshly. If it asks you for a
soft drink, tell him: “No!”
If it asks you for snacks,
don’t oblige it. If it asks
you for illicit sex, deny it.
Remember this: “We are
debtors - not to the flesh,
to live according to the
flesh.” (Romans 8:12).
God is spirit and he despises
the flesh and everything
that is flesh. He did
not even redeem sin in the
flesh. He condemned sin
in the flesh. Since God
hates the flesh, you can be
sure he hates the desires of
the flesh and of the mind.
“And you he made alive,
who were dead in trespasses
and sins, in which you
once walked according to
the course of this world, according
to the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit
who now works in the sons
of disobedience, among
whom also we all once
conducted ourselves in the
lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and
of the mind, and were by
nature children of wrath,
just as the others. (Ephesians
2:1-3).
CONTINUED
God has no contender
GOD has a purpose for
everything He creat
ed or allowed to exist
whether in the physical or
spiritual realm. And one incontr<strong>over</strong>tible
fact is that
nothing can stop Him from
achieving His purpose. There
is no human or spirit that can
frustrate what God has determined.
He has His ways in
all things and none of the devices
of those that hate Him
can put a stop to His will. The
open or secret agenda of man
cannot weaken His power to
fulfill His purposes.
Isaiah 45: 5a says, “I am
the LORD, and there is none
else, there is no God beside
me…”
God is s<strong>over</strong>eign and supreme,
thus there is no power
alongside His power that can
scuttle His determination or
challenge Him. The people
of the world may have agenda
to enslave, steal, kill, destroy,
dominate or remain in
power, but the counsel of the
Lord that shall stand. It is
what He says that comes to
pass. His counsel prevails
<strong>over</strong> men devices.
Psalm 24: 1 -2 says, “The
earth is the LORD'S, and the
fulness thereof; the world, and
they that dwell therein 2 For
he hath founded it upon the
seas, and established it upon
the floods.” I want the world
to know that the Lord is the
S<strong>over</strong>eign Ruler of the universe,
He is the Creator and
G<strong>over</strong>nor of it. Men may lay
claim on districts, domains
and kingdoms, but God is the
Lord of the earth. Every tree,
plant, shrub, animal, silver
and gold are His and it is His
will that is done in all of the
above.
Men have various desires
according as their inclination
or interest leads them,
but it is God’s determination
that prevails. Any person or
spirits that tries to hinder the
program of God does so as a
result of lack of knowledge
and it goes to advertise God’s
name, power and might. And
when such situation is allowed,
it is to give God the
glory.
Brethren, if God has no
contender, we, the Children
of God should therefore refrain
ourselves from panicking
anytime situation seems
to be hostile, for our Father
knows what that is good for
us and nobody can thwart His
good thought for us.
Any time there is economic,
political, health or social
challenges, we should know
that it is that God wants to be
glorified. Whenever persecution
or affliction arises, we
should understand that God
is not ignorant of the situation
but that His supremacy
should be recognized
among the
people of the
world. Problems
may arise in the
life of believers but
it arises to advertise
God’s power
and not to challenge
His power.
Exodus 9:16-17
states, “And in very
deed for this cause
have I raised thee up, for to
shew in thee my power; and
that my name may be declared
throughout all the earth. As yet
exaltest thou thyself against
my people, that thou wilt not
let them go”
God brought up Pharaoh to
demonstrate His power and
proved that nobody can challenge
Him. He raised him to
the throne at that time, promoted
him to honour and dignity,
preserved him, and did not
cut him off but strengthened
and hardened his heart. He
provoked, and stirred him up
against His people Israel, and
suffered him to go all the
lengths he went in his obstinacy
and rebellion. All that was
done to show in him His power
in destroying him in the Red
Sea. The sum of which is, that
this man was raised up by God
in every sense for God to show
His power in his destruction.
So also anybody that rises up
against God’s institution or
people is for God to demonstrate
His power.
So, never worry, that ugly
situation in your life asking
where your God is, shall be
crushed for God to prove His
power. That man oppressing
you is for God to prove His
power. That sickness that has
defied known medication is
not challenging you but God
and must be crushed. Just be
assured that God has no contender.
By <strong>Pastor</strong>
Oloruntimilehin
Joshua Daramola
VIL is a thing that lives
Ewith people. It does not
run away but it can be cast
away. I will endeavour to let
people know how this can be
done. But it will be living with
the person for life without
hurting him or her. Evil is
always with people, it is like
a vein on the neck of a person.
There is a saying that”
you shall give birth to placenta
(evil) and goodness”
After delivery of baby, the
placenta and the baby are
separated by people. A woman
told me that she winked
to the black polythene bag
containing the placenta of
her grand child and silently
altered a statement that the
child will be a problematic
child. She did it because her
son and the wife prevented
her seeing the child because
of their belief that the woman
is devilish. As at this moment
the child grew up to
adulthood as an imbecile.
This shows that as evil is in
person’s life, it come in goodness
and evil. People should
not expect anybody to take
away evil from them. Nobody
can take away evil even
prophets, herbalists, pastors,
native doctors and God; this
is because the world was created
with evil and goodness.
The world is full of calamities
and disasters. A happy
and peaceful family of five
went to the farm to get some
maize and it was raining and
thunder struck, then a tree fell
and killed the husband and
two of the children. Every
time the wife always says that
evil came into her home and
destroyed a happy home. It
is my fervent prayer that evil
will not befall anybody.
Amen. Brethren where goodness
exist there is also in existence
evil. A day will come
when evil will befall a family,
that evil day may be when
the husband will not see the
The power in the Word
•Daramola
wife again verse versa by way
of death. Everybody will encounter
this evil day. It is inevitable.
There is evil every
time wherever people are
hungry, sick, feel pains or
whatever thing that bring
unpleasant situation to people
are evil. People desire
good things of life but a day
will come when these things
will bring about evil on their
users or owners e.g. cars and
aircrafts. A pregnant woman
that wants to deliver will realize
that the day of delivery
is evil. Evil is always in people’s
life, nobody can cast it
away unless Almighty God
says people should not die
again. I want to teach people
what they should do to suppress
evil or make it inactive.
It is the non recognition and
disregard of evil as an irrelevant
thing. But this can be
achieved when he or she has
authority. Somebody told me
that he always sees masquerade
in dream and whenever
it occur all his things are destroyed.
Then I told him that
the masquerade will not go
because he has recognized
and accepted that the masquerade
is the evil in his life
by his negative pronouncement.
Thereafter I made him
understand that whenever the
dream comes again, he
should wake up make pronouncement
that disregard
and condemn the masquerade
as nothing with no importance.
For he has used the
authority in his mouth to suppress
evil. Some people will
say they had sexual intercourse
with a man or woman
in a dream. Because of this
they become worried, disturbed
and troubled instead
of disregarding and condemning
the dream by making
positive pronouncement
with the authority they possess.
Brethren, evil will not
cease to come but when it
comes what is required of people
is to command using the
authority he or she has to condemn
and disregard it attaching
no importance to it. If people
dream that they eat food
in the dream, wake up and
thank God, the people that
brought the food will realize
that you have condemned the
food by your positive pronouncement.
When things
are not working the way it is
been expected, it is not to be
accepted, condemn it and
command the misfortune
(evil) to be suppressed. The
fact remain that there is authority
in tongue and whatever
one say become authorized.
Abraham, the day of evil
came to him when God told
him to sacrifice his son as
burnt offering to HIM. Abraham
was able to change the
bad situation when he told his
son that God will provide the
lamb for the sacrifice on the
inquiry by his son. What was
expected of Abraham was to
tell his son that he was the
lamb for the sacrifice.
Abraham used the authority
in his mouth to tell his son
that God will provide the
lamb for the sacrifice. Genesis
22 verse 7- 14 So Abraham
called that place The
Lord Will Provide (JEHO-
VAH JIIRE)…. “
Children of God, you can
use your mouth to amend
your life with the authority of
tongue. There is no need for
people to be proclaiming the
evil that befall them.

PAGE 40–SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
Viewpoint
Why local g<strong>over</strong>nment autonomy is non-negotiable
By Busari Faiza Taiye and
Busari Hamidah Kehinde
Local g<strong>over</strong>nmentadministration
in Nigeria has undergone several
reforms, for various reasons,to achieve
certain objectives since 1954 when this
tier of g<strong>over</strong>nment receivedstatutory
approval by virtue of the Native Law
Ordinance of that year.
For instance, the 1967 reform arose
from the need to effectboundary
adjustments after the creation of new
states by the then militaryg<strong>over</strong>nment
which set up an Advisory Committee
to look into the boundaries ofthe then
Native Authorities (NA) and to advise
on the devolution of power tothem from
the provincial system of
administration.
The committee recommended the
replacement of the term
‘NativeAuthority’ with that of ‘Local
G<strong>over</strong>nment.’ Additionally, it
recommended thesplitting and
regrouping of former Native
Authorities.
One major effect of the 1967 reform
was that it substantiallywhittled down
the influence and power of traditional
rulers who hitherto hadoperated as
highest authorities at that level of
administration.
The 1967 reform could not take effect
due to the civil war whichbroke out that
year.
Another round of reform was
initiated in 1976. The basic ideabehind
The Dasuki Committee
had identified one of
the primary
responsibilities of the
local g<strong>over</strong>nments as
the exercise of
democratic
self-g<strong>over</strong>nment close
to the local level of our
society
the 1976 reform was the need to
democratize administration at
thegrassroots. This led to the setting
up of a technical committee,
popularlyknown as the ‘Dasuki
Committee’ to look into how best the
proposed reform couldbe carried
out.
The Report of the Dasuki Committee
marked a conscious attempt
tovisualize the structure and functions
of local g<strong>over</strong>nments in the country.
Thecommittee recommended that the
following functions, among others,
should begiven priority by the local
g<strong>over</strong>nments:
a. Basic environmental sanitation
and other aspects of
preventivehealthcare;
b. Maternity centres, dispensaries,
leprosy clinics and healthcentres;
c. Roads and drain, excluding
Federal and State roads;
d. Construction and maintenance of
primary schools; and
e. Maintenance of law and order.
The committee also identified the
primary responsibilities oflocal
g<strong>over</strong>nments to include the following:
a. Making appropriate services and
development activitiesresponsive to
local wishes and initiatives by
devolving or delegating them tolocal
representative bodies;
b. Facilitating the exercise of
democratic self-g<strong>over</strong>nment closeto
the local level of our society and
encouraging initiatives and
leadershippotentials; and
c. Mobilizing human and material
resources through the involvementof
members of the public in their local
development.
One of the striking
recommendations of the Committee
was that the independentexistence of
the system of Local G<strong>over</strong>nment should
be guaranteed by theConstitution.
G<strong>over</strong>nment accepted these
recommendations and anchored
the1976reform substantially on them.
Accordingly, the establishment,
structure,composition, finance and
functions of the local g<strong>over</strong>nment
councils wereembodied in the 1979
Constitution. Thus, for the first time the
autonomygranted to the
administration of Local G<strong>over</strong>nments
in Nigeria was addressed in1976.
The Dasuki Committee had
identified one of the
primaryresponsibilities of the local
g<strong>over</strong>nments as ‘the exercise of
democraticself-g<strong>over</strong>nment close to
the local level of our society.’ In
accepting therecommendations of the
panel, the military g<strong>over</strong>nment
approved theestablishment, structure,
composition, finance and functions of
the localg<strong>over</strong>nment councils as a
separate tier of g<strong>over</strong>nment. This was
reflected insection 7 (1) of the 1979
Constitution. The same provision is in
section 7 (1)of the 1999 Constitution.
In some countries that operate a
federal system, local
g<strong>over</strong>nmentcouncils are granted
enough powers by the federating units
to establish andmaintain their own
local courts, fire service and even police.
The generalpractice in federal systems
all <strong>over</strong> the world is that the councils
are oftengranted enough autonomy,
especially financial, which enables
them to managetheir affairs, establish
schools, build roads, clean the
environment, build andmaintain
parks, and provide necessary
developmental projects, just as
theamended 1999 constitution of
Nigeria provides
This is in line with the general
recognition of the role of
localg<strong>over</strong>nments as engines of
grassroots development.
In line with its tradition of talking to
the heart of federalism,the Federal
G<strong>over</strong>nment taking development to
the grass root the g<strong>over</strong>nment
ofPresident Muhammadu Buhari
recently re-emphasised the
constitutional financialautonomy to
local g<strong>over</strong>nments in Nigeria.
This was contained in a media
release by the Nigerian
FinancialIntelligence Unit (NFIU) to
the effect that from June 1st, 2019,
disbursementfrom the joint state/local
g<strong>over</strong>nment accounts in relation to
local g<strong>over</strong>nmentallocations would be
exclusively done by local g<strong>over</strong>nments
and that stateswould cease to
participate in the disbursement.
•Taiye and Kehinde can be
reached via faizataiye@gmail.com
Read more on
www.vanguardngr.com
By Bolu Adeosun
It is the dawn of a new era in Ogun
State where efforts are in top gear to
achieve self-sufficiency in food production.
Under the three and a half months old
administration of G<strong>over</strong>nor Dapo
Abiodun, the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme
is also targeted at easing the problem of
youth unemployment in the sense that the
initiative has the capacity to take thousands
of idle persons off the streets.
For a start, 2, 000 persons have been
enlisted under the scheme which signals
the commencement of what can aptly be
described as agricultural revolution in
Ogun.
The icing on the cake for the beneficiaries
of the scheme, called Agro-preneurs, is that
each of them will get a hectare of land free
from the state g<strong>over</strong>nment.
There cannot be a better way to encourage
our youths to go into farming.
While flagging off the scheme at the June
12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Abiodun
said his g<strong>over</strong>nment plans to turn the state
into an agricultural hub capable of feeding
itself and other states across the country.
According to him, the Anchor Borrowers’
Scheme is another avenue to boost the
nation’s self-sufficiency in agricultural
production in line with the Federal
G<strong>over</strong>nment’s agenda on food security, and
to save foreign exchange spent annually on
importation of food items that could be
produced locally. The 2, 000 beneficiaries,
he announced, would be given Certificates
Ogun Agro-preneurs: Inside Dapo Abiodun’s scheme to feed nation
of Acceptance and Leasehold.
This is not a new scheme altogether in
the country as it was started by the Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) some years ago as
a tripartite scheme with state g<strong>over</strong>nments
and beneficiaries.
What is new, however, is that the previous
Ogun administration failed to take full
advantage of it while several other states
keyed into it with the benefits now glaring
for everyone to see.
The g<strong>over</strong>nor expressed surprise that
his predecessor shunned the funds
available under the scheme to help
farmers improve their production.
The g<strong>over</strong>nor called on the recipients to
be committed and responsible in their
repayment plan.
“Outside of the one hectare of land that
we are giving out free to each of the
beneficiaries, we will also provide clearing,
seedlings, fertilizers, extension services and
we will pay upkeep allowances until the
first harvest,” Abiodun added.
The g<strong>over</strong>nor disclosed that the Africa
Development Bank (AfDB) is set to site the
largest Agro-Processing Zone on the
continent in Ogun.
According to him, the development was
the result of several engagements by his
administration with officials of the AfDB
who had been in his office twice in the last
two and a half months.
AfDB is headed by a former Minister of
Agriculture and an indigene of Ogun, Prof.
Now imagine the
multiplier effect as
youths who otherwise
would have taken into
social vices like
robbery, cyber crime or
even prostitution will
have prospects of
employment
Akinwumi Adesina.
“The bank decided that they were going
to have two Agro-Processing Zones in
Nigeria and Prof. Adesina decided that the
biggest must be sited in Ogun State. This is
the result of our constructive engagements
with the Bank <strong>over</strong> the last 70 days or so,”
the g<strong>over</strong>nor said.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent
Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of
Agriculture, Mrs. Abosede Ogunleye,
described agriculture as a viable sector that
could absorb the teeming unemployed
youths, expressing delight that the state has
signed its counterpart fund and keyed into
the scheme. Head of Developing Finance,
Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluyemisi
Olukoya, said Ogun had not done well in
accessing the scheme as only 5,249 farmers
in the state were in the scheme as against
20,000 from Kebbi State.
Chairman, Ogun State Anchors
Borrowers’ Scheme, Prof. Bola Okuneye,
said the programme was designed to link
off-takers of agricultural products with
producers so that farmers would know that
there was demand for their products at an
agreed and beneficial price to improve
production so as to guarantee abundant
agricultural products in the nation.
“Ogun State is leveraging on its
advantages in cassava, rice and maize value
chain. There is a guarantee of off-takers,
which means it is profitable from Day One,”
Okuneye said.
The Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme is a winwin
development for not only the
beneficiaries, but also for the state that is
hungry for economic development and
residents. For the 2, 000 beneficiaries, many
of whom may have been graduates of
many years standing but without job, it is a
chance to make a decent living in line with
the welfare agenda of the Abiodun
administration. And they are only the first
batch of the scheme as other batches will
come in quick succession. This is a well
thought-out scheme that recognises the fact
that the beneficiaries are farmers and will
ultimately require the market to dispose of
their produce. Whereas there is already a
market for those among them that may
choose to go into cassava production, as a
factory has said it can buy off their entire
produce, the state g<strong>over</strong>nment is said to be
setting up a board for others as an avenue
to prevent the selling of their produce at a
loss. There is no doubt that the Anchor
Borrowers’ Scheme will ultimately boost
food production in Ogun but when that
happens and there is excess, it is incumbent
on the authorities to put in a place a system
to ensure that beneficiaries don’t sell their
produce at a loss.
Meanwhile the scheme has the potential
to create more job opportunities. The
current beneficiaries and successive ones
will sooner or later break even and this will
pave the way for employment in their
different businesses.
Now imagine the multiplier effect as
youths who otherwise would have taken
into social vices like robbery, cyber crime
or even prostitution will have prospects of
employment.
G<strong>over</strong>nment also benefits as successful
beneficiaries inevitably will have to pay
tax to its coffers for the developmental
agenda of the state administration.
In the end, G<strong>over</strong>nor Dapo Abiodun not
only realises his dream of ensuring food
security, but also solving the problem of
youth unemployment and growing Ogun
economy.
•Adeosun is resident in Abeokuta
By Kenny Okotie
nly recently, when the first batch
Oof 187 Nigerian returnees from
South Africa, as a result of the
Xenophobic attacks in that country
returned to their fatherland – Nigeria,
there was something spectacular about
the unity and oneness of this country
that I carefully observed which also
drew tears from my eyes.
The Chairman of Air Peace Airline,
Allen Onyema, out of Patriotism,
extreme loyalty and dedication to this
country put Air Peace Aircraft on motion
to evacuate those willing Nigerians in
South African homewards. This “big
hearted” Nigerian must be highly
commended and appreciated for this
magnanimous stride. He did it for free
and nobody paid him a dime. He said
he put together <strong>over</strong> N280 million in
order to bring these people back. What
a sacrifice! what a love for our
fatherland!!.
What touched me most was this
paragraph culled from Vanguard
Newspaper, Friday September 13, page
41 Onyema said, “When I Stepped
inside the aircraft to welcome them, they
mobbed me and started singing the
Nigerian National Anthem, there was
nobody there singing about Separation,
they felt proud to be Nigerians, they rose
There’s strength and unity in diversity…
in unison, that drew tears from me”.
There is strength and unity in
diversity. The Supreme God that put
us together with diverse cultural
heritage, tribes, tongues and religion
is not an ordinary god. He is infact, a
master planner who sees the end from
the very beginning. He calls forth those
things that were as though they be not.
Imagine another scenario, when our
National team, the Super Eagles are
engaged in a football tourney with
another country, moreso, probably
when we are winning, you will see
palpable joy in the atmosphere and
the utmost feelings of being proud to
be a Nigerian.
Those who have money at that
moment in time and are in a bar would
declare “booze” for everybody. That
is the Nigerian spirit. It’s so amazing.
So what has suddenly come <strong>over</strong> us
that we are no longer our brother’s
keepers. Why don’t and can’t we seek
means to strengthen this unique bond
that binds us all as Nigerians
irrespective of being in the North,
South, East or West. I have often said
without times and number that no
human being is completely useless.
There is always the good and the
bad sides of every individual no matter
how thorough that person might seem.
What is important is to know the
weakness of such an individual.
Whether PDP or APC or any other party
for that matter is totally irrelevant and
inconsequential. We should work with
any person. Be it any tribe and religion,
it doesn’t really matter.
The euphoria that more ministers at
the federal level or commissioners at
the state level all come from a
particular geo political zone or Local
G<strong>over</strong>nment shouldn’t be “a big deal
after all”. It’s myopic in thinking to
suggest otherwise. As long as those
appointed serve the common good of
the people/ masses should be okay. For
example, when Ex-President Goodluck
Jonathan was in the saddle of the
rulership of this country, his
programmes tilted to favour the
Northern parts of the country more
than the south.
So what happened? Did he win the
2015 general election? When late
Abiola contested for the most allegedly
acclaimed free and fair elections in
1993, he picked his running mate from
the Muslim North. He being a Muslim
was voted for throughout the nooks
and crannies of this Nation. At that
time, nobody thought of his Muslim/
Muslim ticket. So in effect, what I am
trying to lay credence to is that no
matter the political party in power be it
at the Federal, State or Local
G<strong>over</strong>nment level, the occupier of that
office must be supported by all, bearing
in mind his or her strength and
weaknesses. If this advice is in sync with
the majority of our elites, then Nigeria
and her future would be a better place
to live in.
Who can categorically say the major
difference(s) between one political
party or the other? Because there is no
or minimal difference, that is probably
why our politicians cross carpet from
one political party to the other
effortlessly. The Minister of Niger Delta
Affairs to mention but a few in this
dispensation, Senator Godswill
Akpabio did remarkably well during
his tenure in Akwa Ibom State as a
PDP G<strong>over</strong>nor. So many
transformational initiatives were
introduced and completed. Today, he
is in the APC. Do you have a problem
with that? It will be foolhardy to have
one because what obtains in advanced
countries of the world might be
different from what obtains here in
Nigeria. We must at all times
understand the peculiarities of our
diverse cultural backgrounds and
religion as Nigerians and must be
careful and mindful of the things we
import from abroad.
Nigeria is a great country irrespective
of who is in the helm or saddle of affairs
both Federal, State or Local
G<strong>over</strong>nment levels. God in His infinite
mercies has blessed this country
tremendously. Is God a liar? and made
a mistake? NEVER AND NEVER!!
Our leaders at these various state
should indulge mostly in those things
that inevitably bind us as a people
rather than divide us.
This holistic truth should be passed
on to their followers who inevitably
look up to them for direction and
guidance. We are one big indivisible
country. Let us eulogize in our diversity
and have utmost respect for one
another’s religion.
The gentry of patriotic Nigerians like
the Allen Onyema, Dangote, Femi
Otedola, Tony Elumelu, Jim Ovia,
Mike Adenuga and so, so many others
performing one form of philanthropy
or the other need the prayers and
encouragement of every right thinking
Nigerians.
•Okotie is Founder/Chairman
Abadingo Abadango Foundation
(AAF) kenneyokotie@yahoo.com
08062193311

Viewpoint
By Paul Odili
s PMB constitutes his ‘five-star’
Aeconomic advisory economic
council, a look at content and not form;
is this not more of the same. Has PMB
finally abandoned autarky?
Since the return of civil rule in 1999
the political party system has shown
terrible dysfunctionality, lack of
ideological clarity. If you bother to
review events you would find that
Nigerians live and lament about the
same issue <strong>over</strong> again ad infinitum;
evidence in my view of zero progress
on critical issues of importance, such
as g<strong>over</strong>nance, national integration,
education, healthcare, high
unemployment, high population
growth, economic crisis, poor
infrastructure, intractable anticorruption
fight, insecurity etc. If you
pick a typical Nigerian newspaper
today, you will feel a sense of de’juv, a
sense that I have seen this story before.
Because in reality an editor needs only
to replace a few minor details in a given
story from the past and he would be
publishing the same event as if it has
just happened. The subject matter
remains fixated even if the cast of
characters might have changed. That
is how sterile politics and public
discourse is in Nigeria.
The more Nigerians bemoan the
fate of the country, the more it appears
we arewalking backwards, yet the rich
are becoming richer, the income
inequality continues to widen, wage
levels in private and public stagnate,
insecurity grows. We see increasing
privatization of profits for the
corporate sector and growing debt in
the public sector. Nigeria
LabourCongress only recently
By John Mayaki
imes are no longer the same, the
Tchange stirring political discourse
to the direction of unnecessary
comparisons, instead of the material
substance of achievements. It is for this
reason that even in the face of blatant
incompetence and underachievement,
politicians who their underperformance
should drive to the political guillotine,
find themselves supported and defended
by an encouraging number of people.
In a long list of those who have benefited
from this collapsing strength of political
criticism, if anyone should top the list in
regards to the current situation, the
g<strong>over</strong>nor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki
will certainly be the prime candidate.
Simply, what the changing times have
achieved is the banalization of evil, and
instead of condemning it rather canceling
it with historical precedents.
And this way, we arrive at the ugly
situation where learned men and women
rationalize, justify and theorise political
crimes, scavenging history looking for
particles of happenstance to apply in the
validation of evil. Godwin Obaseki defies
the state legislative house and process,
compelling a fraction of the legislatorselect
to the House of Assembly as late as
9pm, and in the place of outright
condemnation, he finds support in the
minds of people.
This notwithstanding, the crescendo of
By Ferdinand Ekeoma
he article with the above caption,
Twritten by the Abia State
Commissioner for Information, John
Okiyi Kalu, was yet another ill-timed,
ill-motivated and hilarious hogwash
from the state g<strong>over</strong>nment to celebrate
the “tribunal victory” of Okezie
Ikpeazu.
We would have ignored the
numerous official insults and
defamatory attacks from the jesters in
G<strong>over</strong>nment House Umuahia since
after the judgment, and considered the
content of the said article as another
afterthought. Unfortunately, the
Ikpeazu g<strong>over</strong>nment went <strong>over</strong>board
with their usual disinformation,
distortion and demagogic
adumbrations aimed at deceiving the
victims of their poor leadership, while
trying to destroy the character, and propeople
disposition of Dr. Alex Otti, OFR,
with falsehood.
The puerile piece started with a
biblical quotation, John Chapter 10
verse 10: “The thief (Satan) comes only
to steal and kill and destroy; I have
come that they may have life, and have
it to the full”.
How does one explain a situation
whereby those who have subdued Abia
and suffocated the economy of the state
turn back to mock their victims with
biblical quotation. Anyway, it is a
Neoliberalism is the bane of Nigeria
Tribalism is one
bogeyman driven by
tribal champions; the
Igbo/Yoruba rivalry,
Hausa/Fulani
oligarchic
dominationof power
EDO: The futility of defence
this heartbreaking development is not
that laymen support such sophisticated
gerrymandering and abuse of political
process. That is just a fraction of it. The
zenith of the malaise is that supposed
intellectuals, people with academic
sophistication and pedigree to
understand the long term consequences
of today’s happenings, rather than kick
against these things, unfortunately, for
one or two reasons not unconnected to
mindless partisanship, rationalise them,
forgetting that those who ride the tiger
today, cheering its cannibal charge, will
one day end up in its stomach.
Sworn to stand in defense for the
mortally incompetent, these defenders
yet lack comprehensive analysis and
defense skills, their arguments filled with
holes and laughably indicting premises
that end up disqualifying their
arguments. To their scheme of work, it is
right for a man to pay for the sins of
another and that is why instead of
pressing charges and questions begging
to be asked of this administration, they
excuse the sins of Obaseki on
Oshiomhole.
But by the argument of a man, it is
ascertained if they merit a response, and
for these, arising from many reasons,
they don’t. First of all, for a supposed
intellectual who go about, perhaps
insecure and unsure of his own salt,
flashing the badge of his doctorate
qualification, but who fails to understand
that as prescribed by the constitution, it is
only the Supreme court that has
jurisdiction <strong>over</strong> matters between the
National Assembly and State
g<strong>over</strong>nments, how best should he be
engaged?
The severity of the matter tightens as
the selective interrogation of these
supporters failed to arrest unspoken
offenses and therefore, warranting that
the abundance of their slight, be made
up by our foresight. For this reason, we
may be forced to ask on their behalf,
questions any objective observer should
have asked. The first emanates from a
seemingly trivial matter but which when
critically looked at, carries weightier
significance and implications. Fond of
levying and excusing the sins of Obaseki
on Oshiomhole, will Dr. Tonnie Iredia
who has a link to the Isi clan, blame
Oshiomhole too for Obaseki’s terminal
refusal to occasionally visit home? The
traditional philosophy for the Isi people,
like in most African clans, is that a man’s
root, always deep at home, should bring
him to visit his people, poor or rich, failure
or success. This disconnection from
home points to a very fundamental flaw
of the g<strong>over</strong>nor which only him alone
can answer to. It is said that family is the
first port of socialisation, from which a
Re: What does Alex Otti really want?
known fact that Satan himself is an
expert in quoting the scriptures.
Among the laughable allegations
raised by Ikpeazu and his boys in the
article include that Otti wants to
punish Abians for refusing to vote for
him on two occasions, that Otti is
distracting Ikpeazu, that he is
disrupting g<strong>over</strong>nance in Abia, and that
he stopped them from taking a
contr<strong>over</strong>sial loan of $200 million
from AfDB.
The question is, if Abians didn’t vote
for Otti, how come they still repose so
much hope, confidence and trust in
him, while they regard Ikpeazu as a
usurper in G<strong>over</strong>nment House? If
Ikpeazu can win elections, why would
he resort to rigging and falsification of
results of both elections with the active
connivance of INEC in Umuahia?
How can Otti be distracting Ikpeazu
when he himself is distraction
personified? Which distraction is worse
than assembling sycophants to praise
you for doing nothing, and insult and
attack your opponents and critics for
reminding you about what your job
should be? Who distracted him from
paying salaries to Abia workers for
close to one year now? Who distracted
him from paying pensioners for the
past 32 months? Who distracted him
from ridding Aba and Umuahia of
squeezed out a thirty thousand naira
minimum wage, which converted to
dollars, is no more than 83.5 dollars a
month. Who lives on that?
Bereft of clear perspective on the
fundamental source of this national
disequilibrium, we seem preoccupied
with nativist issues. Tribalism is one
bogeyman driven by tribal
champions.The Igbo/Yoruba rivalry,
Hausa/Fulani oligarchic
dominationof power;others lament
marginalsiation and exclusion from
commanding heights of Nigerian
political and economic sector. These
are the focal topics of our national
discourse. And not to be outdone in the
race to the bottom, religion and its
polarizing influence is not left out. The
religious zealots and their adherents
take away all the oxygen in the public
space. Yet when you look at it no part of
the country has been such outstanding
success in terms of important index of
development. Nigeria across geopolitical
zones is riven by p<strong>over</strong>ty and
underdevelopment. So what is
happening? Why should the index of
development be so low if someone or
a group of people have such great
monopoly <strong>over</strong> allocation of national
resources?
Why is it that since 1985 following
the wholesome adoption of neoliberal
policies of the Westernmetropolitan
powers directedby World Bank and
IMF, Nigeria has become even
moredeeply enmeshed in misery and
underdevelopment? How comeaccess
to national resources has remained in
the hands of very few business elite and
their political allies in civilian and
military garb, but excluding the rest of
the people? State support and subsidies
have been given out generously to these
business oligarchs. Social
programmes are poorly funded,
employment opportunities remains
anemic, clearly the more money
Nigeria makes from its crude oil
mono-product export, the more
imp<strong>over</strong>ish it becomes.
The concept of neoliberalism in its
simplest form is private sector led
economy, less regulation, less
g<strong>over</strong>nment intervention, free market
and less public ownership. By
definition this is exaltation of unbridled
capitalism, which promotes the
survival of the fittest.In theory neoliberalism
exalts the supremacy of
market, because market will always
self-correct—which is complete
nonsense by the way. The god of market
is the god of profit, monopolistic profit
in the hands of very few people: business
and corporate interest. Neo-liberalism
is about individual interest <strong>over</strong>
refuse dumps, such that the horrible
pictures we see everyday will be a thing
of the past? Did Otti distract him from
appointing commissioners, 6 clear
months after he rigged elections and
pronounced himself winner in
collaboration with his heavily
compromised accomplices? Is it Otti
that stopped him from putting up
infrastructure in the state? Who
distracted him from building and
modernizing hospitals in Abia. Was it
Otti that stopped him from paying
attention to g<strong>over</strong>nment schools in the
state while he takes credit for the
performance of Abia students in WAEC
and NECO which is as a result of self
efforts, private and missionary schools?
Ikpeazu is complaining that Otti
stopped him from taking $200 million
loan from AfDB. Yes, Otti boldly admits
that he took the patriotic step to stop
the loan because the loan was tainted.
The action was not done in secret like
Ikpeazu would want people to believe.
Otti organized a well attended press
conference and challenged the
National Assembly and the former
Minister of Finance for approving the
loan for Ikpeazu. It is not true that Otti
visited anyone to stop the loan. He never
went to AfDB and had no need to. In
fact he had never been to AfDB
headquarters as against the claim by
SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, Page 41
community interest, it is about open
market, financial capitalism that
strengthens the banking cartel. It is a
known fact that CBN has bailed out
Nigerian banks <strong>over</strong> and <strong>over</strong> again
with taxpayers money and revenue
receipt from g<strong>over</strong>nment coffers. How
Nigerians can be tolerant of this is
hard to understand. Ignorance and
foolishness combined, perhaps.
Interestingly, Femi Falana the human
rights lawyer is challenging CBN to
explain the right it has to give out $ 7
billion to Nigerian banks under Prof
Charles Soludo. This is one example;
there are several other financial giveaway
by CBN.
How did we get into this trap? The
eight years rule of President
Babaginda is perhaps the most
consequential era in the recent history
of Nigeria. IBB regimetotally altered
the economic, social, political
landscape of the country. No other
regime has had the same effect in
Nigeria. The coming of IBB into power
ended the welfare state and the
beginning of the neo-liberal era, which
we are still grappling with. The welfare
state left behind the British when they
departed in 1960 allowed for
g<strong>over</strong>nment participation in economic
sectors of the country.
In 1985 President Babangida
<strong>over</strong>threw President Buhari, whose
economic policy was autarky.
Notionally Babangida was right. The
regime of Buhari spurned IMF/World
Bank offer of assistance because it did
not want to compromise Nigeria’s
economic s<strong>over</strong>eignty. PMB has
always been an economic nationalist
and has never changed. In his first
man’s character and personality are
baked and formed; this sociological fact
also develops in a man, a very deep
affinity for the family. For any man,
therefore, to enter very deep malice with
his family, a big problem lurks within.
Preferably for an analyst of dialectical
sequence, whose proficiency lies in
harvesting anecdotes from the past, to
prove and disprove the current situation,
why did the good Dr. Tonnie failed to
review how all the leaders of the past,
from the very first administration in this
Fourth Republic, made their home a
place of frequent reference, and in that
way, attracting enormous
development?
As if Obaseki has a problem with the
convention of society’s gradual
progression, his failure with family, the
first institution of society, graduated and
entered second-degree malice with the
second institution of society—schools.
Historically, Edo state has been known
for their high affinity for education,
providing the country with countless of
learned men and women who
contributed immensely to the
development of Nigeria.
Such a record was not built on the
back of luck or incompetence, but the
concerted efforts of past leaders towards
promoting education, towards
enlightening the mind of its citizens,
empowering the youth and establishing
women. But Edo state entrusted in the
hands of Obaseki, education in Edo state
Ikpeazu. He simply alleged that the
documents presented by Ikpeazu for
the approval of the loan were
manipulated. The documents were
originally prepared by the regime
before Ikpeazu’s for a different facility
of $100m. Besides, Otti challenged
Ikpeazu to show evidence of the State
House of Assembly approval, and until
now, he has failed to present it. With
such weighty disclosures, AfDB had no
choice but to refuse to release the fund.
Alex Otti made that very altruistic
and people-oriented intervention to
save the present Abians and our future
generations from suffering the pains
of a questionable debt.
After all, there is no record of the
judicious use of the bailout funds and
the Paris Club refunds not to talk of the
federal allocations, ecology funds and
IGR.
Ikpeazu once again tried to
misrepresent Otti and his record in the
bank but sadly he doesn’t know that
the world has gone digital, and that
Otti’s record is known, recognised and
respected in international financial
circles.
Since the headline of the said article
is ‘What Does Alex Otti Really Want?’,
we are happy to inform Ikpeazu and
his partners that what Otti wants is the
same thing millions of Abians want;
good g<strong>over</strong>nance.
interregnum, PMB preferred
countertrade and other economic
policies that emphasized self-help, local
content and discipline. Pretty much the
sort of policy he implements today.
With the <strong>over</strong>throw of Gen. Buhari, IBB
with his technocratic team decided to
embrace the Washington Consensus in
pursuit of economic model fashioned
on neo-liberal ideology. At this time, in
the west US President, Ronald Regan’s
trickle-down economics was in full
force. Regan’s economic theory was
that a reduction of taxes on the rich and
corporate players would lead to more
investment and job creation—today we
know better.
In the UK, Margret Thatcher had
launched her war on the welfare state.
She was cutting taxes for the rich and
the corporate players,
privatizatingpublic utilities, cutting
welfare programmes, and
dismantlinglabour unions. Both leaders
were the leading lights of neo-liberal
economic ideas. Not surprising Nigeria
and much of Africa and third world
became guinea pigs for this experiment.
Correctly sensing what was about to
be introduced by IBB, there was
resistance to his neo-liberal ideas at the
outset. The left ideologues warned
about the implication of his economic
policy for Nigeria (In those days the
left were very strong and vocal and had
robust platforms to mobilise public
opinion, not anymore, sadly).
IBB feinted by giving the impression
that if he were to take the IMF loan he
would need to build a national
consensus on this.
•Paul Odili lives in Asaba
Read more on
www.vanguardngr.com
began trekking backward, losing the
capacity and respect it once had.
Today in Edo, education is decaying as
schools are under lock, the students and
workers fermenting in an indefinite strike.
Primary schools are rendered roofless,
secondary school abandoned with
antiquated facilities and tertiary
institutions, practically terrorized into
oblivion. Perhaps Obaseki should explain
to Edo people why he arbitrarily sacked
Dr. Obasagie, the Provost of the College
of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi.
He should answer also, since he
celebrates the Port Harcourt court
decision, marking himself an obedient
student of the judiciary, why he refused to
heed to the ruling of the Industrial Court
that rescinded such dishonorable and
massive dismissal of workers without
sufficient reason. Obaseki, aided by his
loquacious praise singers, should answer
also, why the College of Education,
Ekiadolor, is still left without academic
activities. The tales of Godwin Obaseki
and his fantastic ineptitude is well known,
critically acclaimed and popularly
established. The attempts of sycophants
to swindle public memory, bleaching the
image of a man whose darkness and
wickedness starts from the heart and
dominating his deeds, are futile. They
should rest.
•Mayaki, a former Chief Press
Secretary to G<strong>over</strong>nor Godwin
Obaseki, is resident in United
Kingdom
Otti wants responsible and people
oriented leadership in Abia.
Otti wants Abians, especially the less
informed to realise that the issue at stake
goes beyond Otti and Ikpeazu as
individuals, but borders on g<strong>over</strong>nance
and welfare of suffering Abia masses,
whose expectations of good
g<strong>over</strong>nance are being drastically
reduced on a daily basis.
Gone are the days when it is only the
g<strong>over</strong>nment that tells its story. There
are different media for information
dissemination. While the g<strong>over</strong>nment
and its hirelings tell us that Aba has
been fixed, Faulks Road/Ariaria and
Port Harcourt Road have benefitted
from “rigid pavement technology” and
“caterpillar revolution”, we know that
those places are an eyesore and remain
impassable with heaps of refuse. So,
Otti wants Ikpeazu to stop disrespecting
Abia people by lying to them.
He will continue his advocacy in the
most civilized and responsible manner,
and we hope that Ikpeazu would grow
up to listen, reflect, show remorse, and
begin the process of repentance, and
once he does this, he would be sure of
forgiveness and support from Abians.
However, if he chooses to continue
in the same path of bitterness, insults,
defamation bullying, impunity and
manufacturing of his own facts, he will
have no reprieve.
*Ekeoma is an Umuahia based
public affairs commentator

PAGE 42, SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
08023542350
Onwah Isaac flanked by the school principal and
other old boys during the commissioning of the
renovated classroom block.
GCUOBA rehabilitat
ates classrooms, donates
3.5kva solar power to alma mater
By Perez Brisibe
G OVERNMENT
College Old
Ughelli
Boys
Association, GCUOBA, Class
of 1974, has rehabilitated a
block of three classrooms
while also donating a 3.5KVA
solar panel to the college as
parts of activities to mark its
40 th graduation anniversary.
It also bought a piano for the
school.
Chairman of the
association, Larry
Ovwromoh, at the
inauguration, bemoaned the
declining quality of
education and explained that
the gesture is their own way
of giving back to the school.
According to Ovwromoh,
GCUOBA will ensure that the
institution remains relevant
among colleges in the
country. He said: “GCUOBA
will partner with g<strong>over</strong>nment
to ensure that the school
remains topnotch among
colleges in the country.
“We are all here as
classmates to celebrate our
40th graduation because of
what the GCU did for us. We
are here to give back. That is
why we renovated this block
of classrooms and bought a
piano for the school. Music
is a major part of the school
idea, and we also provided
solar system for the school
hospital.”
“On the aesthetics, the
school authorities have tried
to maintain the beauty of the
place but as to quality of
studies, I think there is a
general decline, not just with
GCU, but all <strong>over</strong> the country.
There had been a steady
decline. The attitude of
students to learning has also
changed drastically. We are
now in the digital age where
methods of learning involve
audiovisuals than actual
reading and writing.”
He said: “The old boys as a
body have identified that issue
and we are trying to pick up
the teaching method and
Samsung Heavy Industries wins
sub-continental maritime awards
SIndustries
amsung
Nigeria
Heavy
(SHIN), the leading operator
of the SHI-MCI fabrication
and integration yard, has
won award for contributing
to the development of the
regional maritime cluster at
the Seatrade Maritime
Awards Middle East, Indian
Subcontinent & Africa held
in Dubai on September 22,
2019.
Samsung was the only
nominee from Africa to be
listed for four individual
awards: Contribution to
Development of the Regional
Maritime Cluster, Shipyard
of the Year, Africa Maritime
and Education & Training.
In its award citation for
contribution to development
of the regional maritime
cluster, SHIN was
commended for its
commitment to empowering
the African oil and gas
industry through local
content leadership.
Prior to the construction of
its fabrication and
integration yard in Lagos,
customers in the regional oil
and gas industry had to work
outside of Africa.
In order to complete the
Egina FPSO project,
significant investment was
needed to develop a local
workforce and facilities.
These have become the core
of a world-class marine
construction capability that
benefits all shipping &
marine construction and
maintenance companies in
the region with greater access
to opportunities as well as
providing economic stimulus
to the whole West African
region.
Commenting on the
meritorious award, the
Managing Director of
Samsung Heavy Industries
Nigeria, Mr. Jejin Jeon, said
“It is a great honour to be
recognised for our
Contribution to the
Development of the Regional
Maritime Cluster in Africa.
This award validates SHIN
and SHI MCI’s efforts in
developing Nigeria as the
next global fabrication
destination. I thank the people
of Nigeria and the Nigerian
g<strong>over</strong>nment for their faith in
us. Our journey will not stop
here. We will continue to
empower the African oil &
gas and maritime industry by
developing local capacity to
deliver world class work
locally, stimulating more
opportunities for the benefit
of Nigeria.”
The Seatrade Maritime
Awards are recognised
internationally as the most
influential in the industry with
a very robust selection
process led by independent
judging panels consisting of
CEOs from maritime
companies around the world.
An impressive list of
nominees was shortlisted,
from <strong>over</strong> 120 entries across
20 countries, made it to 2019’s
I
t was an unforgettable
night of glitz, glamour
and razzmatazz at the
Hardley Apartments, venue
of Vibezzz Pool Party
organized by Ravup5 and
House of Mafix in
conjunction with Vibezzz and
Belaire took place.
The Hardley Apartments,
Victoria Island, Lagos, touted
as a one-stop destination
where the best of hospitality
is offered to customers who
are seeking the best kind of
treatment, played host to
celebrities from all walks of
life, which include actor and
TV personality, Uti
Nwachukwu, cross dresser,
actor and TV presenter,
Denrele Edun, General
facilities by even providing
extra teachers for lessons for
the students to assist them in
their final exams.”
Commissioning the
projects, an old student,
Onwah Isaac said they were
happy to return to where they
started life, adding that the
items donated were to make
studies more comfortable for
the students and staff of the
school.
Onwah, while advising
students to take their studies
seriously, assured that
GCUOBA Class of 1974
would continue to support the
school to maintain its revered
standard among colleges in
the country.
Principal of the GCU, Mr.
Ezekiel Akpeti, in his
remarks, commended the old
students for the donations,
assuring that he would
continue to ensure that the
school maintains its
academic excellence for
producing great men for the
society.
shortlist. The award
ceremony was attended by
<strong>over</strong> 700 industry and
g o v e r n m e n t a l
representatives from across
Africa, the Middle East and
the Indian sub-continent.
After successfully
delivering the Egina, the
world’s largest FPSO,
SHIN’s next focus is to widen
its integration and
fabrication work for the onand
off-shore oil & gas
industry as well as power and
infrastructure projects. The
high profile generated from
this award will also drive
increased interest among the
maritime industry into the
immense potential and
capability of Nigeria and
indeed the whole West African
region, showing what they
have to offer to international
customers. This will continue
to stimulate local
employment, ongoing talent
development and vocational
training to continue
performing at international
standards.
Uti, Denrele, others dazzle
at Vibezzz Pool Party
Maleek, ex-Big Brother Naija
house mate, Melvin Oduah,
Nigerian singer, Djinee, Timi
Rogers, sultry Nollywood
actress, Nazor Ekezie, actor,
Bryan Okwara, DJ Point
Zero, among many others.
It was fun, meet and greet,
as guests who trooped in to
savour the varieties Hardley
Apartments had to offer, could
not get enough of their
expectations.
•Denrele

Liverpool hit 7th straight victory, Spurs, Man
City, Chelsea also win
THERE was more than
a touch of fortune about
Liverpool’s seventh
successive Premier League
victory of the season as an
embarrassing howler by
Sheffield United goalkeeper
Dean Henderson gifted the
leaders a 1-0 win at Bramall
Lane.
With second-placed
champions Manchester City
hitting Everton 3-1 away
yesterday, Liverpool’s eight
points temporary lead at the
top was cut to five again on a
day when Tottenham
Hotspur, Chelsea, Crystal
Palace and Wolverhampton
Wanderers all won at home.
Liverpool manager
Juergen
Klopp
acknowledged that luck was
on their side when
Henderson allowed
Georginio Wijnaldum’s shot
from the edge of the area to
squeeze through his arms
and between his legs at a
critical point in the second
half.
“One team deserved to
win, which was us, but all
respect to Sheffield United,
they were tough,” said
Klopp.
For the Blades, the
challenge was always to
hold on to their
concentration for the entire
90 minutes against the
European champions who
have confidence coursing
through their veins.
*Henderson, Sheffield United goalkeeper
Liverpool, who have now one more victory to equal
won 16 league games in their best start to a Premier
succession across two League season in 1990 and
seasons, have not dropped a two to match Chelsea’s
point since March and need 2005-06 record.
Showdown with Fury at Wembley’ll be massive,
says Joshua
ANTHONY Joshua
has revealed that
taking on Tyson Fury in
a ‘best of Britain’ showdown
would be his dream
fight.
The British heavyweight
is currently gearing
up for his rematch
with Andy Ruiz Jnr, having
lost his world titles
to the Mexican underdog
in June.
But if he were to <strong>over</strong>come
Ruiz in Saudi Arabia,
Joshua would then
set his sights on a highly-anticipated
bout with
Fury.
Asked by Sky Sports
what his preferred fight
would be, Joshua said:
‘I always change it, but
right now, I’d say Fury at
Wembley.
‘The best of Britain. It
is a massive fight. You
will [see it].’
Fellow former world
VCN Cup final
holds in Lagos
Friday
THE stage is set for the
3rd final of the VCN U-
17 Football Cup at the legacy
pitch of the National Stadium,
Surulere, Lagos on Friday
with N200,000 at stake
as top prize money.
It would feature two promising
sides, Dominio Hotspur
of Surulere and Atiko Football
Academy of Ikosi Isheri
that brushed aside 18 other
teams in earlier games decided
before now.
Beside the golden VCN Cup
and medals at stake, both
teams would jostle for the accompanying
N200,000 for
the new champions while the
sum of N100,000 would go
to the runner up at Friday’s
cliffhanger inside the legacy
pitch of the National Stadium.
MD/CEO of VCN, Chief
Victor Nwaribeaku said that
the N200,000 largesse for the
winner and N100,000 for
runner up are part of motivational
packages for the finalists.
champion Fury is hoping
to rematch Deontay
Wilder in February, having
shared a contr<strong>over</strong>sial
split draw in Los Angeles.
The Gypsy King rec<strong>over</strong>ed
from a gruesome
cut to remain unbeaten
against Otto Wallin earlier
this month.
And Joshua confirmed
that he was confident he
would eventually fight
both heavyweight opponents.
He added: ‘Yes, 100 per
cent. That’s like asking if
a certain football team
Tottenham players furious with
Pochettino was surprisingly
A
NUMBER of Tot
tenham Hotspur
players have been left
infuriated with Mauricio
Pochettino in the aftermath
of the EFL Cup defeat
at Colchester United.
In the hours after the
Premier League giants
succumbed on penalties,
Pochettino put
down their latest belowpar
performance to some
of his first-team squad
‘having different agendas’.
However, there are
those behind the scenes
who feel that it is Pochettino
who is working with
that particular mindset.
A source is quoted as
saying: “They feel Poch
is the one with an agenda.
They are not impressed
with him at all
and what he said has not
helped at all.”
Spurs had been allegedly
willing to part ways
with the likes of Danny
Rose and Christian Eriksenduring
the summer,
only for the pair to fail
to secure transfers away
from the North London
outfit.
Jan Vertonghen also
made the headlines during
the opening weeks
of the season after he
*Joshua
dropped from the squad
for the opening fixture
against Aston Villa.
Spurs have won just
two of their eight matches
in all competitions
since the beginning of
the season.
will play another football
team. Of course.
‘We’re in the same division,
in the same era.
We have to fight each
other.
‘We’re all big draws in
the heavyweight division
so it would be massive.
‘I’d love to fight Wilder,
I’d love to fight Fury.
I’m fighting Ruiz Jr
next. The list goes on -
there’s so many out
there that I’d love to
compete with.’
*Pochettino
... Takes blame for Lloris’ error, hails
Tottenham’s spirit
MAURICIO Pochet
tino took the blame
for Hugo Lloris’ clanger
against Southampton and
praised the return of Tottenham’s
spirit after their
gritty win.
Spurs <strong>over</strong>came Serge
Aurier’s first-half red card
and Lloris’ error to grind
out a brave 2-1 win <strong>over</strong>
Saints following straight
defeats against Leicester
and Colchester.
With Pochettino’s men 1-
0 up but down to 10 men,
Lloris gifted Danny Ings an
equaliser when trying to
dribble past him inside his
*Lloris
own six-yard box. It
proved to be a costly decision
as the striker easily
dispossessed him before
tapping into an empty net.
Harry Kane finished off a
flowing team move to spare
his teammate’s blushes and
put the 10 men in front before
Lloris responded after
half-time with a very assured
performance that included
two brilliant saves to
repel the visitors.
“Don’t blame Hugo,
blame me, I demand him
to play in this way,” Pochettino
said.
“He showed great mentality
[in the second half]
and that is why he is one of
the best in the world.”
After the embarrassing
midweek Carabao Cup defeat
to Colchester, Pochettino
called in his programme
notes for everyone associated
with the club to “remain
calm” while they navigate
through a tricky spell.
Vanguard, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019—43
Messi-less Barca win at
Getafe
*Messi
B ARCELONA
shrugged off the absence
of Lionel Messi to win
2-0 at Getafe and claim
their second straight win in
LaLiga.
Goals from Luis Suarez
and Junior Firpo proved
enough for the visitors but
Clement Lenglet was sent
off late for a second bookable
offence.
The loss of Lenglet is another
blow for under-pressure
Barca boss Ernesto
Valverde, who saw his side
make hard work of the trip
to opponents who had started
without a win in four.
Messi was missing after
an aborted comeback attempt
from a thigh strain in
the midweek win <strong>over</strong> Villarreal,
which came to an
end at half-time.
The hosts dug in early
with Angel Rodriguez firing
the first real chance high
and wide of the target as
Valverde’s men struggled to
get into their stride.
Carles Perez saw the visitors’
first chance comfortably
saved by Getafe goalkeeper
David Soria, then
Suarez missed a golden opportunity
when he burst
through one-on-one but
dragged his shot wide.
The tension was evident in
Barcelona’s game and they
were almost made to pay in
the 21st minute when Marc-
Andre Ter Stegen had to
make an unorthodox save to
deny Angel with his feet.
Suarez missed again just
before the half-hour mark as
the hosts continued to hassle
and frustrate their opponents,
whose average start to
the campaign has caused
some degree of discontent.
Athletes feeling the heat at
Doha World Championships
*Ruth
THE World Champi
onships in Doha were
brought to the brink of
farce in the early hours of
Saturday morning as almost
half the field failed
to complete the women’s
marathon in brutal conditions.
Despite starting the race
at midnight to deal with
the climate, only 40 of the
68 starters were able to finish
as one-by-one runners
gave up or collapsed in
temperatures in excess of
30 degrees and 80 per cent
humidity.
Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich
took the gold medal in
two hours, 32 minutes and
43 seconds - the slowest
winning time in the history
of the Championships.
No fewer than 16 of the
athletes failed to even
make it to the hallway
point of the 26.2mile race,
including Britain’s Charlotte
Purdue, who was running
in a hat that had been
stored in ice.
placed Volha Mazuronak
of Belarus, who was
one of only seven athletes
to go under two hours, 40
minutes, said: ‘The humidity
kills you. There is nothing
to breathe. I thought I
wouldn’t finish.
‘It’s disrespect towards
the athletes. A bunch of
high-ranked officials gathered
and decided that it
would take (the championships)
here but they are sitting
in the cool and they
are probably sleeping right
now.’ Ethiopia’s marathon
coach Haji Adillo Roba,
whose three runners did
not finish, said: ‘We never
would have run a marathon
in these conditions in
our own country. ’
Tennis: Djokovic Faces
Dangerous Draw In Tokyo
WORLD No. 1 Novak
Djokovic is making
his debut at the Rakuten
Open Tennis Championships,
and he is being welcomed
with a slew of potentially
dangerous
matches.
The top seed, who has
won titles at the Australian
Open, Madrid and Wimbledon
this year, will play
a qualifier in the opening
round. Then the Serbian
could face big-hitting Jan-
Lennard Struff in the second
round if the German
*Djokovic
ousts home favourite Go
Soeda, a wild card, in his
own opener.
Djokovic owns a 2-0 lead
in his FedEx ATP
Head2Head series with
Struff, but the World No. 38
has enjoyed his most successful
year yet, earning four
of his six victories against
players inside the Top 10 of
the ATP Rankings in 2019.
Struff upset Marin Cilic en
route to the quarter-finals in
Tokyo one year ago.
Japanese No. 2 Yoshihito
Nishioka is in Djokovic’s
section of the draw, and the
first seed the World No. 1 can
face is fifth seed Lucas Pouille,
who made this year’s Australian
Open semi-finals.
2017 Tokyo champion David
Goffin — who opens
against Spaniard Pablo
Carreno Busta — and twotime
semi-finalist and sixth
seed Marin Cilic — who
begins his run against Japanese
wild card Yuichi Sugita
— are in Djokovic’s half.

44—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 29 , 2019
IAAF disqualifies Oduduru as Ekevwo falters
HIGHLY rated Ni
gerian sprinter,
Divine Oduduru may
have been banished from
the IAAF World Championships
on going in
Doha, Qatar.
The athlete was entered
for the men’s
100m, but he failed to
show up at the starting
blocks. And according to
IAAF rules, any athlete
duly registered for a
race, but made a noshow
without medically
explainable reason,
stands to be disqualified
from the championships.
Oduduru based on his
season’s best performance
of 9.86seconds
was a candidate for the
100m gold. The race will
be decided this evening.
And there will be no
Nigerian in the line up.
Raymond Ekevwo finished
10.20 seconds in
the semi final yesterday.
He couldn’t replicate a
shadow of the 9.96 he did
to win the African Games
100m in August.
Going into the final, US
athlete, Chris Coleman
established himself as
the man to beat. His 9.88
seconds run in the semi
final seems like a warmup
and it remains to be
seen how the likes of Justin
Gatlin, Johan Blake,
Andre de Grasse and
Akani Simbine can <strong>over</strong>haul
Coleman for the gold.
“It is a pity Oduduru is
not in the final. His situation
has been badly managed
by the AFN officials,”
said veteran coach Seigha
Porbeni.
“We have good chances
of winning a medal in the
sprints and relay, but that
may not happen now.”
Emmanuel Arowolo will
be running the 200m
heats today.
WAFU Cup: Imama hopeful as Eagles tackle Togo again
SUPER Eagles B are
primed to face the
Sparrow Hawks of Togo
today in both teams’ first
match at the WAFU Cup of
Nations in Thies, Senegal
and Nigeria’s Head Coach,
Imama Amapakabo is upbeat
about the opportunity
provided by a second meet
within one week.
Amapakabo, who spoke
to thenff.com at the team’s
Le Saly Hotel base in Saly-
Mbour, said the opportunity
to meet the Togolese is
cherished as it gives the
opportunity to properly
test his team’s level of improvement.
He said: “There’s nothing
like revenge in football. My
belief is that there are no
two games that can be the
same; once one game is
<strong>over</strong>, it is gone. And so meeting
Togo again is not really
a case of getting the opportunity
to revenge but an
opportunity to check what
lessons learnt from the previous
encounter with that
team.
“I can confidently say
that we have learnt our lesson
from what happened in
Lome and that will definitely
reflect in how we handle
tomorrow’s (Sunday)
game.
“Now we know them a lot
better and they equally
know us better than they
did. The good thing is that
we are meeting on a neutral
ground and this gives
both teams opportunity to
play without any inhibition.”
Nigeria’s home-based senior
players arrived in Saly
via Dakar on Thursday for
the 2nd WAFU-FOX Cup
of Nations which began in
the Senegalese city of
Thies on Saturday.
IAAF World Championships: AFN
pledges US$10,000 for gold medallists
THE Athletics Federa
tion of Nigeria, AFN at
the weekend assured the 25
athletes representing the
country at the on-going International
Association of
Athletics Federations, IAAF
World Championships in
Doha, Qatar that those who
win medals will be rewarded
Ȧccording to the Federation,
the Sponsorship
deal signed with PUMA,
provides that the Sports
Manufacturing Company
will pay US$10,000 to those
that win gold and US$3,000
silver medallists.
President of the federation,
Ibrahim Shehu Gusau
also revealed that bronze
medal winners will not be
left out as they are also
guaranteed US$2,000.
He therefore encouraged
the Technical Crew and
athletes to do their best and
bring glory to Nigeria and
honour to their names adding
that the monetary rewards
from PUMA is not the
end as more could come
from other sources.
President of the Nigeria
Olympic Committee, Habu
Gumel equally encouraged
the Athletes who won 10
Gold, 7 Silver and 6 Bronze
Medals at the 12th African
Games in Morocco in August
to re-enact that performance
and win especially
the gold medals that have
eluded Nigeria since the
IAAF World Championships
began in 1981 in Helsinki,
Gumel, Gusau congratulate Wophil on IAAF award
PRESIDENTS of the
Nigeria Olympic
Committee, NOC, Habu
Gumel and that of the
Athletics Federation of
Nigeria, AFN, Ibrahim
Shehu Gusau have congratulated
former AFN
Secretary General, Maria
Wophil on her award
from the International
Association of Athletics
Federations, IAAF, during
its 52nd Congress in
Doha, Qatar.
Wophil, who is the
longest serving Secretary
General of the AFN,
from 1999 to 2012
was the second in Africa
and 13th in the World
that received the Pin of
honour from IAAF President,
Sebastian Coe at
the Doha International
Convention Centre for
her long years of service
to Athletics.
Wophil thanked the
IAAF and members of the
*Oduduru
*Gusau
IAAF Family who contributed
to her achievements
in Athletics <strong>over</strong>
the years for the award
while praising God for
taking her to the podium
of honour.
Wophil is now a Deputy
Director with the
Ministry of Youth and
Sports Development,
Abuja, Nigeria and a
Board Member of the
Athletics Federation of
Nigeria.
*Amapakabo
*Gumel
2nd Amuwo Games hold in November, says Ayeni
By Tolulope Abereoje
AFTER the maiden
edition held in 2017,
Amuwo Odofin Local G<strong>over</strong>nment
is set to hold the
2nd edition of the Amuwo
Games from November 2 to
24, 2019 at designated centres
within the local g<strong>over</strong>nment.
Speaking on the organization
of the Games festival,
the Youth Coordinator of the
Amuwo Games, Seun Ayeni
revealed that the games
will be run every weekend
in November for residents of
the community, and that cycling
and video games were
added to further engage the
youths.
“Amuwo Games is a festival
that will run throughout
the month of November and
we carefully selected weekends
so that we will have
people from all works of life
participating, so long as
you’re a resident. Amuwo
Games is for residents of
Amuwo Odofin LGA. The
games we’d be having are
the common ones like football,
basketball, volleyball,
tennis and table tennis. For
athletics we have 100m men
and women, and the marathon,”
he said.
He continued: “For the
board games, we have
chess, scrabble and draft was
brought in this year so that
the aged can participate.
Another sport we introduced
this year is cycling
because we were approached
last year by the
Cyclofest team who promised
to help us organize it.
We will also have video
games as part of the games
this year.. The <strong>over</strong>all objective
of this festival is youth
development.”
Minister Dare please
rescue Basketball
IGERIA's senior men's national basketball team,
ND'Tigers put up a superb performance at the recently
concluded FIBA World Cup in China. They lost their first
game to Russia despite leading at a time by eight points.
They also lost their second game to Argentina but beat
South Korea in the last group game to keep their hope of
picking an automatic Olympic ticket alive.
They turned out as the best African team and placed 17
on the table to pick the automatic African ticket for the
2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The basketball fraternity was happy with the feat which
was coming a few weeks after their female counterparts,
the D'Tigress retained their African title at the 2019
Afrobasketball deceided in Senegal.
The good news about the FIBA World Cup performance
of the Ike Diogu inspired D'Tigers was their new rating by
FIBA which put them on the 23rd position in the world
while retaining their number one position in Africa. And
the celebration by the Musa Kida faction of the NBBF has
not ceased since then.
They have been flaunting the new ranking together with
the commendation of D'Tigers by FIBA as if it was the best
thing ever to have happened to Nigeria's basketball.
While I commend the players who made Nigeria proud, I
must state here that the new sports minister Sunday Dare
should not be deceived by the self adulation of Kida and
his co-travelers in the factional NBBF.
It must be put on record that before now, there was a set
of administrators of the NBBF who took Nigeria's basketball
to a new height in 2012 when they qualified the men's
national team for their first Olympics. And this happened
through a much tougher OQT, Olympic Qualifying Tournament
in Venezuela where they defeated tougher opponents.
Drawn alongside Lithuania and Venezuela in group B,
D'Tigers lost their first game 69-71 to host Venezuela and
won the second against Lithuania 86-80. In the quarter
finals, they raised their game once again and beat Greece
80-79 before losing the semi final 77-85 to Russia.
In the third place match, they won against Dominican
Republic 88-73 and thus qualified for the London Olympics
that year. By that performance, Nigeria's rating soared
and FIBA ranked the country 16 in the world at the time.
And this was achieved under a Nigerian coach, Ayo Bakare.
Following the feat, FIBA Africa was expecting D'Tigers to
step in as the new kings of African basketball. But injury
didn't allow them achieve their dream at the 2013 Afrobasket
which was hosted by Cote d'Ivoire. The players were
disappointed though but vowed to bounce back and take
what belonged to them during the next edition.
And this was eventually achieved in 2015 in Tunisia,
though under a new coach, an American William Voigt.
And this happened under an NBBF led by Tijjani Umar.
Yet he didn't role out the drums in self adulation like it is
being done now.
Instead, he and his team sat down to build on the success.
In fact the D'Tigers who were treated by sports wear
manufacturing company, Nike, as second rate became the
new bride in Africa. Nike which was not interested in raising
the value of the kit contract it had with the NBBF came
begging after D'Tigers conquered their favoured team, Angola.
But it was too late as a more proactive Chinese firm, PEAK
had started discussing with the NBBF on the matter, even
before the semi final clash with Senegal at the 2015 Afrobasket
in Tunisia,
NBBF struck a better kit deal with PEAK which included
funding the D'Tigers participation in international tournaments
in any competition year. They also promised to assist
the NBBF in building a befitting secretariat.
The benefit of the new image of Nigeria's basketball did
not end with the national team, which one of the pretenders
running the factional NBBF today described cynically
as “foreigners”. It rubbed off on the domestic league as an
international organisation, Kwese Sports, signed a 5-year
sponsorship deal with the NBBF for the Premier Basketball
League which was titled Kwese Premier League.
The deal was worth US$12 million and was already eliciting
so much excitement from the stakeholders who prepared
to put in their best to make the league second to none
in Africa. In the first year of the sponsorship, NBBF announced
a mouth-watering N20million as prize money for
the winner of the league while the first and second runersup
got N15million and N10million respectaively. This shook
the entire country as it had never happened before. It even
pushed football to hike its prize money to N25million in
order not to be 'disgraced', as it were, by basketball.
Before the deal was even struck, following the success of
D'Tigers at the Afrobasket, FIBA had sent one of its supervisors,
Lubomir Kotleba to visit the NBBF to see how they can
support the federation to ensure they continued with the
development of the game in the country which they saw as
having so much potentials.
Kotleba, in one of his meetings with the basketball stakeholders,
affirmed that with the quality of talents Nigeria
has, no country in Africa was supposed to contest leadership
of the sport with her. He advised that all the stakeholders
of the sport should come together to run the sport more
professionally to harness the enormous potentials the country
was endowed with. His parting shot was that what Nigeria
lacked and which the Angolans are cashing in on to
retain leadership of the sport in Africa was administration.
It was as if the seasoned FIBA official was a seer and knew
that before lomg, some desperate people will throw spanners
into the wheel of progress the NBBF was making in
administration. The confusion they created with the support
of someone in whose care the g<strong>over</strong>nment put the supervision
of all sports in the country has not abated. And the
country has not rec<strong>over</strong>ed from it till date as the domestic
programmes of basketball is in a comatose state. Forget the
seeming stride the women's league is making. It is all a
ruse. And the impostors know it.
The way it is now, only the new sports minister, Sunday
Akin Dare could rescue basketball, and all other sports being
mismanged today, from total destruction.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 45

PAGE 46, SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019, PAGE 47

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
SEE SOLUTION PAGE 5
ACROSS
1)Croatian Town (9)
5)Ivory Coast “Elephants” Striker,
Giovanni – (3)
7)Greek Alphabet (3)
8)L.G.A in Kogi State (9)
10)Former Director-General, Bureau of
Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin
– (5)
11)Tunisian Premier League Club (9)
14)American Mountain Range (6)
15)Former Director-General, News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Ima – (6)
17)Quadrilateral (9)
20)Delta State Capital (5)
21)Chairman, Independent Corrupt
Practices & other related offences
Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji –
(9)
23)L.G.A in Delta State (3)
24)Prosecute (3)
25)Head of Online Banking, Zenith Bank
Nigeria Plc, Mr. Augustine – (9)
DOWN
1)Public Relations Officer, Lagos State
Police Command, Mr. Chike – (3)
2)German Association Football Club (5)
3)National Commissioner, Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC),
Professor Okechukwu – (6)
4)Portuguese Second Division Club-
Side (9)
5)Denmark Super-League Club (9)
6)National Chairman, All Progressives
Congress (APC), Mr. Adams – (9)
9)Vapour
11)Planet Saturn’s Satellite 99)
12)Philippines City (9)
13)Algerian City (9)
16)Former Cameroon “Indomitable
Lions” Full-Back, Bill – (6)
18)Brazilians Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr.
Aloysio – (5)
19)Ordinary (3)
22)State in Nigeria known as “The
Heartbeat of the Nation”? (3)
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