03012020

Dangote 

remains 

richest 

man in 

19 Africa 

My mission is to end 

godfatherism in Edo 

—OBASEKI 

•Edo community festival 

brings Obaseki, 

Oshiomhole face to face 

FG spent N55.5bn to subsidise petrol in December 2019 

33 

19 

12 

VOL. 27: NO. 63975 FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 

TENSION IN ILORIN AS... 

Kwara govt demolishes late 

Saraki's ‘Ile Arugbo’ home 

•Urges Kwarans to remain calm as PDP, Sarakis react 

•PDP says action recipe for crisis, insists Kwara govt must respect rule of law 

5 

•Association says demolition of Saraki’s house in llorin ‘not fair’ 

NEW YEAR VISIT... 

$30,000 bribe 

allegation: 

Shehu 

Sani 

meets his 

accuser, 

Daudu 

2 

Naira 

appreciates to 

N364.79/$ in 

I&E window 

41 

Mr & Mrs 

President Muhammadu Buhari (right); National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole(middle) and National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, when members of the APC National 

Working Committee paid the the President a New Year visit, yesterday. 

Free El-Zakzaky to 

prove Buhari’s new 

respect for courts 

8 

—Falana tells Malami 

Labour, EKSUTH 

at war over sack 

of 200 health 

workers 11 

Anti-Open grazing 

law: Fulani 

11 

herders sue 

govt, Assembly 

OWEI LAKEMFA 31 CONVERSATION WITH AZU 32

2—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 

VISIT: From left—Consultant to the governor on agriculture, Oluwayimika Kuye; President, African 

Development Bank, AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, and 

Commissioner for Agric-designate, Dr. Adeola Odedina, when the governor was receiving the AfDB 

President in his office, yesterday. 

$30,000 bribe allegation: 

Sani meets his accuser, Dauda 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region 

Editor 

FORMER 

Kaduna 

Central Senator, 

Shehu Sani, and his 

accuser, Chairman of ASD 

Motors, Alhaji Sani Dauda, 

met face to face at the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, headquarters in 

Abuja, yesterday, to 

confront each other on the 

offer and receipt of the 

alleged bribe. 

Sani was arrested and 

detained by EFCC over 

allegation that he 

demanded and collected 

the sum of $30,000 bribe 

from the Chairman of ASD 

Motors in the guise of 

paying same to the 

Chairman of EFCC, 

Ibrahim Magu, to free him 

and his firm from any probe 

by the agency. 

The cash has been 

allegedly retrieved and 

deposited in EFCC 

custody and to be used as 

exhibit against the 

embattled vocal politician, 

who was taken into custody 

on Tuesday by operatives of 

the anti-graft agency. 

Both men were grilled for 

hours yesterday, by EFCC 

interrogators in a bid to 

establish the veracity of the 

claims of the complainant 

and the accused and to 

prepare the grounds for the 

prosecution of the accused. 

And, to pave the way for 

unfettered questioning of 

the accused, EFCC 

yesterday, secured a court 

order to detain Shehu Sani 

for two weeks. 

A top source in EFCC 

said when the complainant 

appeared before 

interrogators yesterday, he 

also accused Senator Sani 

of dropping the name of the 

Chief Justice of Nigeria in 

order to extort additional N4 

million from him over a 

case he has in court. 

Dauda said Sani 

demanded the money as 

cash to be given out as bribe 

to four judges, who would 

hear a case instituted by 

one Abubakar against his 

firm, ASD Motors. 

A-Ibom alleges oil firm uses cult 

group to harrass community 

By Chioma 

Onuegbu 

UYO —THE Village 

Head of Idung 

Udoette Oniok, Edo group 

of villages in Esit Eket 

Local Government Area of 

Akwa Ibom State, Prince 

Henry Abia, has alleged 

that Frontier Oil Company 

was using a cult group to 

harass and molest innocent 

young men and women 

whenever there are 

contending issues between 

it and host communities. 

Abia, in a statement 

yesterday, in Uyo, 

explained that the 

relationship degenerated 

in 2016, when an oil spill 

was discovered, adding 

that since then there had 

been series of clashes 

between the company and 

its communities. 

He explained that the 

recent clash occurred when 

it acquired land for right of 

way for its gas pipeline and 

failed to pay compensation 

to the people for their farm 

lands, fish ponds and other 

things destroyed. 

He called on the federal 

and state governments to 

declare a state of 

emergency in the area to 

address the insecurity 

posed by the activities of the 

cult group. 

The statement read in 

part: “There was oil spill in 

2016. Frontier Oil denied 

until it was taken to the 

Senate before it accepted 

that it shall pay, which it has 

not paid till this day. 

“Recently, Frontier Oil 

acquired lands for right of 

way for gas pipeline. Many 

people’s had farm lands, 

fish ponds, sanctum, mills 

along the right of way. 

“The company has not 

compensated them and 

sensing that the people 

were not happy, recruited, 

trained and empowered 

cultists to terrorise whoever 

will dare complain.” 

Allegations false 

—Frontier Oil 

Reacting to the 

allegations, Public Affairs 

and Community Relations 

Officer of Frontier Oil, 

Mr. Sam Atara, described 

the allegations as 

unfounded and false and 

urged the public to 

disregard the allegations. 

He said Frontier Oil is a 

corporate organisation 

with a subsisting 

Memorandum of 

Understanding, MOU, 

with its host communities, 

adding that the allegations 

were being spearheaded 

by few members of the 

community. 

Dauda said for that 

reason, Shehu Sani 

demanded and collected 

the equivalent of N5 million 

in dollars with a promise to 

give N1 million from it to 

unnamed EFCC officials. 

He also claimed that the 

senator came back on 

November 29, 2019, saying 

the prosecutor in his case 

could not do anything 

about it, but that he had 

discussed the matter with 

Magu, who asked him to 

bring $20,000 to resolve the 

case. 

Dauda said although he 

argued that Magu was said 

to be incorruptible and 

would not collect the bribe, 

the former lawmaker 

convinced him to part with 

the cash, insisting that the 

EFCC boss is his friend and 

that he would accept the 

cash in dollars. 

According to the 

complainant, Shehu 

collected additional $10,000 

from him on November 29, 

2019 and thereafter, refused 

to pick his calls or reply to 

text messages and only 

grudgingly refunded 

$25,000 of the amount to 

him on December 24, 2019, 

after he had reported the 

scam to the EFCC. 

According to him, Shehu 

had shunned him until he 

was arrested and detained 

on New Year eve by EFCC 

operatives. 

I'm innocent, 

Sani insists 

However, Sani has 

denied the claims by the 

complainant and appeared 

unruffled by the issues 

raised against him. 

The two men were still 

being grilled by EFCC 

operatives as at the time of 

filing the report last night. 

Minimum wage: 

Sanwo-Olu approves 

payment of 3-month arrears 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

G OVERNOR 

Babajide Sanwo- 

Olu of Lagos State has 

assured public servants 

of his administration’s 

readiness to pay the 

three months arrears of 

the new minimum wage, 

the implementation of 

which took off in 

November 2019. 

Speaking yesterday, at 

the 2020 Annual First 

Working Day 

Thanksgiving for public 

servants in the state, 

Sanwo-Olu, through his 

deputy, Dr. Femi 

Hamzat, stated that the 

gesture was in 

recognition of the 

significant contributions 

and commitment of the 

public service to the 

realisation of the goals 

and aspirations of the 

present administration. 

According to him, ”we 

do this because we know 

this is the best public 

service in the country. 

The skill and the 

capability to deliver are 

there.” 

While promising that 

the state government was 

committed to the 

completion of some major 

projects like the Blue 

Line Rail, Red Line and 

the Bus Rapid Transit, 

which will have a 

multiplier effects on 

wellbeing of the citizens, 

he solicited the 

continued support and 

cooperation of the public 

servants to deliver on the 

projects. 

He stressed that in line 

with the present 

administration’s 

commitment to better the 

lots of residents, the state 

government has 

increased budgetary 

provisions to works and 

infrastructure, health 

and education adding 

that “if Lagos gets 

everything right, Nigeria 

will get it right.” 

Noting the importance 

and strategic position of 

Lagos and Nigeria in the 

socio-economic and 

political development in 

Africa, he urged public 

servants to do the right 

thing, work hard and 

pray. 

According to the 

governor, “if Lagos 

doesn’t do well, Nigeria 

will not do well and if 

Lagos does well, Nigeria 

will do. We are the key to 

the success of Nigeria 

and Nigeria is the faith 

of the black race. So, we 

must be upright, do the 

right thing; obey traffic 

rules and other 

regulations.” 

Head of 

Service speaks 

In his remarks, the 

Head of Service, Mr. 

Hakeem Muri- 

Okunola, disclosed that 

in consonance with the 

new Minimum Wage 

Act, Governor Sanwo- 

Olu has approved the 

payment of additional 

three months’ salary 

arrears to state public 

servants. 

He stated that the 

acknowledgement of 

the pivotal role of the 

public servants in the 

implementation of 

T.H.E.M.E.S was 

responsible for the 

payment of the three 

months arrears. 

The Head of Service 

declared that the state 

government had 

prioritised the 

continuous and 

sustained training 

based on robust 

learning and 

development policy, 

budgetary provision 

and staff welfare 

oriented policies. 

He urged workers to 

also improve the 

quality of service 

delivery and uphold the 

long-standing 

traditions of the public 

service, namely the 

ethics and ethos of 

discipline, honesty, 

integrity and 

transparency. 

According to Muru- 

Okunola, “in moving 

ahead towards 

successfully taking 

Lagos State closer to our 

shared vision of a 

cleaner, smarter and 

more habitable city 

through the highest 

standards of quality 

service delivery, it is 

imperative that we all 

recognise the critical 

importance of updating 

our knowledge, skills 

and competences.” 

Clerics 

In their exhortations 

at the service, the 

Islamic and Christian 

clerics charged public 

servants to do 

something good in the 

New Year and be more 

dedicated to their 

duties. 

Highlight of the event 

was the offering of 

prayers for the governor, 

his deputy, the State 

Executive Council, SEC, 

and the state public 

service in general.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 — 3


NBA faults Osun Speaker's 

order on Osogbo South LCDA 

By Shina Abubakar 

O SOGBO—THE 

Osogbo branch of 

the Nigeria Bar 

Association, NBA, 

yesterday, described the 

directive of the Osun 

State House of Assembly, 

suspending Osogbo 

South LCDA 

parliamentarians over 

the impeachment of the 

Chairman, as illegal and 

of no effect. 

The association also 

described the process 

used to impeached the 

council chairman is also 

not proper. 

In a statement, the 

association’s Chairman 

and Legal Adviser, 

Abdulrahman Okunade 

and Maruf Adediran, 

NBA stated that the 

Assembly Speaker erred 

by asking the 

parliamentarians to stop 

parading themselves as 

councillors pending the 

outcome of its 

investigation of the crisis 

for seven days. 

The statement reads: 

“The attention of the 

Osogbo Branch of the 

Nigerian Bar 

Association, NBA, has 

been drawn to the news 

making the rounds that 

the Osun State House of 

Assembly under the 

Speakership of Mr. 

Timothy Owoeye has 

directed the 

parliamentarians of the 

Osogbo South Local 

Council Development 

Area to vacate the local 

government secretariat 

and not to parade 

themselves in that 

capacity, pending when 

the State Assembly would 

investigate the crisis 

rocking the Council. 

“The Assembly is 

reported to have issued 

the directive purportedly 

in line with Section 19 

(c) of the State of Osun 

Local Government Areas 

(Creation and 

Administration) Law, 

2015, hereinafter called 

‘the Law’. But, upon a 

community examination 

of Rule 39 of the 

Standing Orders and 

Rules for Council of the 

Local Government Area 

(LGA)/Local Council 

Development Area 

(LCDA) AND Sections 15 

and 19 of ‘the Law’, it is 

found that the Osun State 

House of Assembly is not 

vested with any power to 

suspend or restrain the 

elected functionaries of 

any local government or 

LCDA (as the case may 

be) in the manner as 

purportedly directed by 

the Assembly. 

“Furthermore, it is 

particularly of interest 

that both the Osogbo 

South LCDA’s 

parliamentarians and 

the Osun State House of 

Assembly have put the 

cart before the horse in the 

processes of seeking to 

remove the LDCA 

Chairman. 

By Section 19 of the 

Law, an allegation of 

gross misconduct 

against a local 

government/LCDA 

Chairman is to be 

referred to the State 

House of Assembly for 

investigation. And upon 

the said investigation, the 

Assembly is to 

communicate its findings 

to the local government/ 

LCDA within seven 

days of its receipt of such 

allegation. It is only after 

the expiration of the 

seven days, whether or 

not the Assembly makes 

a return, that the Council 

can proceed with the 

removal processes. 

“However, what the 

Osogbo South LCDA 

parliamentarians 

purported to transmit to 

the Assembly by a letter 

dated the 24th day of 

December 2019 was 

“Notification of removal 

of Mr. Abdulhakeem 

Olaoye from the position 

of Executive Chairman 

of Osogbo South LCDA” 

rather than “allegation of 

misconduct” as 

commanded by the Law 

enabling them in that 

behalf. 

“It is our conclusion 

that the Council is wrong 

by jumping the gun in 

its removal processes, 

just as the Assembly is 

equally wrong in 

seeking to investigate a 

purportedly concluded, 

even though the faulty 

process, contrary to the 

procedure statutorily 

stipulated for doing so. 

And more wrong is the 

Assembly’s directive 

restraining the elected 

parliamentarians from 

parading themselves as 

such. The directive is 

illegal and, in effect, not 

binding on the office 

holders concerned.” 

Why we suspended 

council excos 

— Speaker 

However, the Speaker, 

in his reaction said the 

Assembly did not order 

the councillors to stop 

being parliamentarians 

but only within the 

precinct of the council. 

The Speaker, in a 

statement by his media 

aide Kunle Alabi, said: 

“There was nowhere in 

all of the orders by the 

Assembly that states 

that 

the 

Parliamentarians are no 

longer councilors 

pending the 

investigation of the 

Assembly. It only asked 

that they should not 

parade themselves 

within the premises of 

the LCDA for peace to 

reign pending the 

resolution of the 

p u r p o r t e d 

impeachment. 

Enugu airport’ll be ready before Easter 

— SIRIKA 

By Dennis Agbo 

E 

N U G U — 

MINISTER for 

Aviation, Senator Hadi 

Sirika, yesterday, assured 

that the rehabilitation of 

Akanu Ibiam International 

airport runway will be 

ready before the Easter 

celebration in April. 

The Minister gave the 

reassurance when he 

inspected the rehabilitation 

work yesterday. 

He also stated that the 

rehabilitation and 

completion of the terminal 

buildings would be done, 

same as perimeter fencing 

of the airport and 

installation of the airfield 

lighting among other 

facilities. 

Sirika said: ”I am very 

satisfied with the level of 

work. According to 

programme of work 

approved by us, we are 

beating the deadline. 

A F BEOKUTA— 

O R M E R 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo, yesterday, said 

that he will continue to 

appreciate God for his 

numerous blessings and 

opportunities given to 

him, which he said made 

him a force to reckon with 

all over the world. 

Obasanjo said this at a 

mega Thanksgiving 

Service in his honour at 

the Chapel of Christ the 

Glorious King located 

within the premises of 

Olusegun Obasanjo 

Presidential Library, 

OOPL, in Abeokuta. 

The former president 

was installed as the 

Asiwaju Onigbagbo of 

the Christians in Ogun 

State at the thanksgiving 

service organized by the 

Easter is indeed feasible, 

we are delivering this work 

before Easter and that is 

sacrosanct by the grace of 

God. 

The contractor is capable 

enough to deliver this 

procurement; it is one of the 

few companies in Nigeria 

with runway experience. 

We take this job seriously 

because we know that 

Enugu is the centre of 

South Eastern part of the 

country. By the time we are 

done with Enugu, you will 

be very proud of this 

airport. 

“On the perimeter 

fencing, we will fortify our 

airports including Enugu to 

deal with the challenge of 

encroachment. The 

terminal building is another 

consideration by the 

government, special 

consideration given to 

Enugu because the loans 

that we got from the 

Chinese were meant for 

Lagos, Abuja, Kano and 

Port Harcourt; but in the 

wisdom of government and 

because of the importance 

of Enugu, government 

decided to fund by itself 

through budget, the 

Enugu terminal building 

and we are progressing 

very well and we will 

deliver the terminal 

building. 

“The runway will come 

with other equipment and 

other systems that will make 

the runway efficient and 

effective. The instrument 

landing system is part of it, 

the airfield lightings, taxi 

lights and others will all be 

part and parcel of what we 

will deliver in the Enugu 

runway. 

“Every equipment 

needed or item of operation 

that this airport will need 

will have it as we deliver 

this airport to you. That will 

take care of 24 hours 

operations in the airport 

and we are in 

partnership with Enugu 

state government to 

deliver water to the 

airport. 

“Part of the consideration 

is that the Ekulu River will 

be utilized to deliver water 

to the airport but before that 

there will be emergency 

water delivery the state 

government has promised. 

We are on course and we 

are happy that we will 

deliver.” 

In her remarks, deputy 

governor of Enugu State, 

Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo said: 

“On the collaboration, you 

know we won’t fail. The 

state will do all it needs to 

do to its work because of its 

importance and we know 

how the closure is affecting 

everybody in Igboland, so 

we will do all we ought to.” 

Also speaking, 

Chairman, House of 

Representatives 

Committee on Aviation, 

Mr. Nnoli Nnaji said that 

the House was at the 

inspection as part of its 

oversight to ascertain how 

the runway reconstruction 

work was going. 

TRAINING: From left: Technical Assistant Enugu State Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) 

Center, Ms Amaka Okonkwo; Facilitator, Mr Nwachukwu Odigbo; Communication Officer Enugu 

SME Centre, Mr Ahimdike Offornabo and Administration Officer, Ms Ogochukwu Ozoagu, during 

a free digital marketing training by Enugu SME Centre in Enugu yesterday. 

I’ll continue to appreciate God — OBASANJO 

By James 

Ogunnaike 

Christian Association of 

Nigeria, CAN. 

Obasanjo said: “I 

believe that thanking God 

and giving testimony 

must go together. 

Thanking God and giving 

testimony of what God 

has done for you, for me 

must go together but 

some people get it wrong, 

they say giving testimony 

the sector would go a long 

way in saving the future 

of the youths in the zone. 

The NANS coordinator 

stated that it was 

important for the southwest 

governors to, as a 

matter of urgency and 

collective interest, convey 

a joint meeting to 

collectively x-ray the state 

of education in the 

region. 

He said: “NANS frowns 

at the state of education 

in the region and calls for 

an immediate collective 

declaration of a state of 

is boasting but here, it 

says “ let the nations 

know, let the world know 

what God has done for 

you”, that is not boosting, 

that is praising God." 

Declare state of emergency on education, 

NANS tasks S’West governors 

THE 

National 

Association of 

Nigerian Students, 

NANS, yesterday, called 

on the governors in the 

South-West to declare a 

state of emergency on 

education in the region. 

The South-west 

Coordinator of NANS, 

Kowe Abiodun, made the 

call in a statement in 

Abeokuta. 

Abiodun noted that 

education remained the 

bedrock of any nation’s 

development, saying that 

a state of emergency in 

emergency by the 

governors of South-west 

states.” 

He commended 

governors in the region 

for their recent joint efforts 

in fighting crimes and 

putting an end to the 

alarming rate of 

kidnapping in the zone, 

through a well-structured 

joint security outfit, 

named: AMOTEKUN. 

He also called on the 

governors to see the need 

to converge for a similar 

brainstorm to rescue the 

education sector in the 

southwest from the 

current situation.

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

TENSION IN ILORIN AS... 

Kwara govt demolishes late 

Saraki's ‘Ile Arugbo’ home 

•Urges Kwarans to remain calm as PDP, Sarakis react 

•PDP says action recipe for crisis, insists Kwara govt must respect 

rule of law 

•Association says demolition of Saraki’s house in llorin ‘not fair’ 

By Demola 

Akinyemi, Dirisu 

Yakubu 

ILORIN —Tension 

has enveloped, 

Ilorin, Kwara State, 

following the demolition 

of a building, tagged “Ile- 

Arugbo,” constructed on 

the controversial land of 

late Dr Olusola Saraki in 

Iloffa GRA, Ilorin by the 

Kwara State Government 

around 3.30a.m., 

yesterday. 

The demolition was in a 

bid to take over the 

controversial land to 

construct Phase II of the 

state secretariat as 

claimed by Governor 

A b d u l r a z a q 

Abdulrahman. 

Meanwhile, immediate 

past Senate President, Dr 

Bukola Saraki, has 

thanked the people of 

Kwara for standing by his 

family and assured them 

that justice will soon be 

done. 

Also, the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

has cautioned Governor 

Abdulrahman to respect 

the rule of law and stop 

all actions that could lead 

to breakdown of law and 

LESSER HAJJ—President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (3rd 

right), with others performing the lesser hajj, Umrah, in Medina in 

the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, yesterday. 

order. 

Similarly, Agbaji 

Development Association 

in Ilorin, described as 

“unfair,” the demolition 

of late Olusola Saraki’s 

political pot in llorin. 

It will be recalled that 

the Kwara State 

government had issued a 

statement on Wednesday 

that there were no records 

of payment for the land by 

the late politician, no 

proper documentation as 

required by law, and that 

no Certificate of 

Occupancy, C of O, was 

issued to anyone in 

respect of the now 

controversial land. 

The expansive land, 

tagged ‘Ile-Arugbo,’ 

meaning house of the 

aged, had a portion on it, 

where a small bungalow 

was constructed for aged 

women to gather and be 

taken care of by the aides 

of the late politician. The 

land was later taken over 

by aides of the former 

Senate president, Dr 

Bukola Saraki. 

Apparently apprised of 

the state government’s 

demolition plan, no fewer 

than 50 aged women 

were mobilised to the area 

late Wednesday 

afternoon, displaying 

their grey hairs in protest 

against the action. 

Vanguard further 

gathered that the aged 

women did not leave the 

scene until they were 

dispersed around 10p.m., 

same day by a team of anti 

riot mobile policemen, 

who had been drafted to 

provide security on the 

controversial plot of land. 

It was further gathered 

that the demolition was 

effected sooner than 

expected because of the 

planned court action by 

Saraki’s family and other 

stakeholders, to stave off 

possible court action 

against the state 

government’s plan to take 

over the land. 

Kwara Govt 

reacts 

Preparatory to taking 

over the controversial 

land, the Kwara State 

government reacted to the 

demolition of a small 

bungalow building, 

saying that it took steps to 

take over what rightly 

belongs to the people of 

Kwara. 

The statement also said 

the state government had 

not been served any court 

papers on the matter, and 

urged the people of 

Kwara State to remain 

calm, peaceful and be 

guided by the facts of the 

matter only. 

A statement by the 

Commissioner for 

Communications, Mr 

Muritala Olanrewaju, 

yesterday, said: "The 

Kwara State Government 

early today (yesterday) 

began the physical 

reclamation of the plot of 

land bordering the civil 

service clinic in Ilorin. 

"The reclamation 

exercise began in the 

early hours of Thursday to 

avoid any needless 

confrontation. Attempts by 

some persons to provoke 

government’s agents on 

lawful duty were resisted 

by the security agents, 

who exercised the highest 

level of restraint and 

professionalism. 

"Contrary to the claim 

that the state government 

was served court papers 

on the matter, we state 

that no court paper has 

been served as at the time 

the government took steps 

to preserve what lawfully 

belongs to the people. 

"Finally, we urge the 

people of the state to 

remain calm, peaceful, 

and be guided only by 

facts of the matter and not 

be drawn into emotional 

Continues on Page 41 

By Bose Adelaja & 

Olayinka Latona 

On expectations from federal, state government in 2020 (3) 

It is quite simple. I 

expect 

the 

government at all level 

to do a proper planning 

and focus on one or two 

sectors to put in 

maximum effort. 

Enough of running 

around and doing 

nothing for a whole year. 

The new wave in local 

rice production should 

be sustained with the 

best technology to make 

it international standard. 

— S o u g h t o u t 

Nkemjika, Psychologist 

The 

federal 

government should 

as a matter of urgency 

begin to implement the 

new minimum wage 

structure for the civil 

servants. This is because 

of its multiplier effects 

on the economy. More 

industries should be 

built to create job for the 

teaming youths that 

graduates every year. 

Ebeze 

Businessman 

Prince, 

My expectation from 

federal government 

is so see to the completion 

of the Lagos Ibadan 

Expressway. I also expect 

Lagos State government to 

oversee the completion of 

the Oshodi- Apapa 

Expressway. Mr. President 

should protect the interest 

of student by setting a 

platform where student of 

tertiary institution can air 

their view in the event of 

mischievous act by lecturers. 

—Ejiogu Uchennna, 

Student 

I 

want a situation 

where both the state 

and federal government 

bring on board policies 

and programmes that 

can promote the 

elements of good 

governance. 

Above all, they should 

put in place a 

mechanism to measure 

the effectiveness and 

efficiency of their 

policies. 

Adesegun, Adesina, 

Social Worker 

I 

look forward to a 

Nigeria that gives 

regard to the rule of law; 

a country where the 

leaders have the love of 

the masses at heart and 

would go the extra mile 

to give the masses good 

standard of living. I crave 

for a Nigeria where 

education is free at all 

levels, where there is a 

totally eradication of 

corruption. 

—Adeleke Mercy, 

Student 

I 

expect to see in the 

y e a r 

2020, a government 

that is proactive and not 

reactive. As a Corp 

member, I look forward 

to the implementation of 

the minimum wage that 

has been approved by 

the Senate. I expect to 

see more employment 

opportunities that’ll also 

be made available to 

graduates with the 

required skills set. 

Fafiolu Samuel. Corp 

member

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 

Foiled bank 

robbery: 

Police arrest 

fleeing gang 

member 

By Joseph Erunke 

ABUJA—THE 

po 

lice, yesterday, 

said it has arrested a 

gang member of the 

armed robbers that attempted 

to rob First Bank 

at Mpape, Abuja, last 

Saturday. 

It gave the name of the 

arrested gang member as 

29-years-old Ernest 

Ewim. 

The Federal Capital Territory, 

FCT Police Command, 

in a statement, by 

its Public Relations Officer, 

Anjuguri Manza, a 

Deputy Superintendent 

of Police, DSP, explained 

that “the suspect who 

played a major role in the 

foiled robbery attempt 

was arrested by the team 

of Police Detectives at his 

hideout in Katampe1 on 

Wednesday 1st January 

2020 at about 1600hrs (4 

pm). 

With his arrest, the police 

said the total number 

of the robbery suspects in 

its custody is now five. 

The statement read in 

full: “Following the ongoing 

investigation in 

the last Saturday’s foiled 

robbery attempt at a bank 

in Mpape, Operatives of 

the FCT Police Command 

Special Anti-Robbery 

Squad have arrested one 

Ernest Ewim ‘m’ 29years 

a member of the notorious 

armed robbery gang 

who has been at large. 

“The suspect, who 

played a major role in the 

foiled robbery attempt, 

was arrested by the team 

of Police Detectives at his 

hideout in Katampe1 on 

Wednesday 1st January 

2020 at about 1600hrs. 

“With this arrest, the 

total number of suspects 

arrested in connection 

with the foiled robbery 

attempt are now five (5):- 

Ernest Ewim ‘m’ 29, Larry 

Ehizo ‘m’ 30 

,Princewill Obinna ‘m’ , 

Timothy Joe 'm' 21 and 

Elijah David ‘m’ 19 . 

“The Command reiterates 

its unwavering commitment 

to ensure the 

protection of lives and 

property and provide 

FCT residents with quality 

service delivery. 

“The suspects will be 

arraigned in court upon 

conclusion of the investigation.” 

Kaduna-Abuja train attacked in Rijanna 

By Ben Agande 

KADUNA — A former mem 

ber of the House of Representatives, 

Abbas Abdullahi 

Machika has insisted that suspected 

hoodlums, yesterday 

morning, attacked an Abuja 

bound train with projectiles, 

shattering one of the windows 

on the train. 

He said the train, which left 

the Rigassa train station 

around 10: 45 am, was attacked 

a few kilometres to Rijanna, 

about 40 kilometres from Kaduna. 

Rijanna is notorious on the 

Abuja Kaduna highway as a 

haven for criminals, especially 

kidnappers who routinely kidnap 

commuters on the highway. 

He told Vanguard that because 

of the “loud bang” that 

accompanied the attack, it must 

have come from a “ballistic projectile.” 

No passenger was hurt in the 

incidence as the windows of the 

coaches, though not bulletproof, 

are believed to have been 

breached. 

Abbass Abdullahi Machika, 

who spoke with Vanguard on the 

incident, said the attack happened 

to “Windows 83 and 84, 

on coach SP 2 of the train that 

left Kaduna at 10:45a.m. for 

Abuja at Rijanna. 

“The impact and the noise 

made us conclude that it was 

something of high velocity. 

There was no casualty but this 

underscores the insecurity situation 

in the country” the passenger, 

a former member of the 

House of Representatives from 

Katsina State told Vanguard. 

Kaduna State police command 

Public Relations Officer, 

Yakubu Sabo, said he had not 

received any report on the attack 

on any train as at the time 

of filing this report. 

He, however, said “the right 

people to speak on the matter 

are the Nigerian Railway Cor- 

poration.” 

A man, who contacted this correspondent 

at about 3:20 pm and 

claimed to be a policeman on duty 

at the train station in Idu, claimed 

that what happened to the train 

was a stone being “hurled at the 

window by hoodlums.” 

The unidentified caller 

whose phone number is being 

withheld claimed that “they 

suspected that someone 

stoned the train with a rock 

around Rijana, Kaduna State, 

which resulted in the cracking 

of the glass.” 

No train was 

attacked—NRC 

However, Managing Director 

of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, 

NRC, Mr Fidet Okhiria, 

denied claims that the train 

conveying passengers to Abuja 

from Kaduna was attacked 

by suspected gunmen. 

Father of two die during sex competition 

with commercial sex worker 

By Evelyn Usman 

LAGOS-A 34-year-old father of 

two, Hygenus Achaeme, 

died during a sex competition 

with a commercial sex worker 

in a brothel in Ejigbo area of 

Lagos. 

A version of the report at Vanguard’s 

disposal claimed that 

the deceased checked into 

Graceland Brothel located at 21, 

Moshalasi Street, Ejigbo Lagos, 

Sunday, after having a bet of 

N50,000 with one of the 

commercial sex workers, 

Amaka, on who would surrender 

first in the sex competition. 

A friend of the deceased who 

spoke on the condition of anonymity, 

disclosed that trouble 

started after the deceased had 

boasted among his friends that 

he could spend two hours on a 

lady without getting tired. He 

added that while the 

conversation was on, one of 

them dared him to challenge 

Amaka, the commercial sex 

worker, who was described as a 

champion in the game. 

Amaka, as gathered, had challenged 

some young men in similar 

competition and won. However, 

during the trial, he reportedly 

slumped while on the ‘seventh-round’. 

Another version said that late 

Achaeme, a spare part dealer 

at Ladipo market, sent his wife 

and children to his home town 

in Umuapu Abosi Izombe 

village, in Oguta Local 

Government Area of Imo State, 

to spend the festive period with 

his parents. 

He reportedly left his abode 

at 5, Ashimiu Asiwaju street, 

Ejigbo, for the brothel, where the 

unexpected happened. 

Amaka as gathered, rushed 

out of her room to contact one of 

her colleagues in the brothel, 

who tried to no avail to 

resuscitate Davy, as he was 

discovered to be stone cold. 

They were said to have taken 

to their heels to avoid arrest. 

When contacted, the Lagos 

State Police Public Relations Officer, 

DSP Elkana Bala, described 

the incident as a Sudden 

and Unnatural Death, adding 

that it occurred at about 12.45 

am on Sunday. 

He said that “ a team of detectives 

was sent to the venue 

where the corpse was found in 

the room while the brothel built 

with planks was deserted. 

“The said deceased was found 

in Amaka’s room with a condom 

worn on his penis. The said 

Amaka is at large, efforts are 

being made to trace her. The 

corpse has been deposited at 

Mainland General Hospital Lagos. 

Meanwhile, the brothel has 

been sealed off”. 

“This news is not correct. 

What happened according to 

the police escorts on the train 

is that a stone was thrown at 

the train by some boys, which 

affected only the window glass 

of coach SP4. 

“Nigerians should not panic 

as the news of the suspected 

attack is false and NRC is 

doing everything possible to 

ensure the safety of passengers,” 

Okhiria said. 

CELEBRATION: Picnnikers celebrating new year at Elegushi Beach, Lagos, 

yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau 

2 die in auto crash in Niger 

THE Federal Road Safety 

Corps (FRSC)Command in 

Niger has confirmed the death of 

two people after an auto crash 

along Bida – Kutigi road in Bida 

Local Government Area (LGA) of 

the state. 

The state FRSC Sector Commander, 

Mr Joel Dagwa disclosed 

this while speaking with 

the News Agency of Nigeria 

(NAN) in Minna , yesterday. 

Dagwa said that the accident 

which occurred on Wednesday 

involved a Toyota Camry with registration 

number BCH 652 QD 

and a motorcycle with registration 

number RBC 102 MJ. 

He said that seven people were 

involved in the accident, but two 

were killed; one female and one 

male. “We have deposited the 

corpses at Federal Medical Centre 

Bida,” Dagwa said. 

He blamed the accident on dangerous 

overtaking. 

Dagwa said the corps would 

continue to monitor road users to 

guard against overloading and 

dangerous driving. 

“We will sustain our ongoing 

aggressive patrols across highways 

to ensure that road users 

adhere strictly to traffic rules and 

regulations to avoid road accidents,” 

he said 

Gunmen abduct 

Taraba Chief 

By Femi Bolaji 

JALINGO — TARABA state 

police command has confirmed 

the abduction of the Tiv Chief of 

Dananacha, Daniel Mbatelen by 

unknown gunmen. 

It was reported that the gunmen 

on motorbikes accosted Chief 

Mbatelen and his younger brother 

at his residence on New year’s 

day. 

The gunmen, however, whisked 

the Chief away leaving his 

younger brother . 

When contacted, spokesman of 

Taraba state Police command, 

DSP David Misal, confirmed the 

incident, adding that efforts are 

being made to rescue the chief 

from his abductors. 

At the time of filing this report, 

the Chief’s abductors are yet to 

contact his family members.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 —7 

Kidnappers exchange fire with 

policemen during operation 

•Five female farmers rescued 


KIDNAPPERS, yesterday, en 

gaged a team of policemen 

in a gun battle in their bid to escape 

with six abducted farmers, 

all women, in a farmland at Mata- 

Mulki village of Batsari Local 

Government Area of Katsina State. 

The women were said to be 

picking groundnuts from their 

farm when the armed kidnappers 

stormed there. They were said to 

have abducted some of the women 

but those who managed to 

escape alerted villagers who contacted 

the police. 

Operatives of Operation Puff 

Adder led by the Divisional Police 

Officer, Batsari, according to 

the Katsina State Police Command 

image-maker, SP Gambo 

Isah, “ swiftly moved to the area. 

The team gave the hoodlums a 

hot chase into the forest and engaged 

them in a gun duel which 

forced them to abandon the victims 

and ran into the forest. And 

By Peter Duru 

MAKURDI — A strange 

fire yesterday afternoon 

reportedly razed part of the 

country home of the former Senate 

President, David Mark in 

Otukpo, Benue State. 

Two ambulance vehicles and 

about 15 motorcycles were also 

completely razed in the incident 

which was said to have been 

caused by fire from a nearby 

bush very close to the perimeter 

fence of his guest house. 

Vanguard gathered from an 

eyewitness in the house that the 

fire engulfed part of the residence 

after spreading to cartoons 

of motorbike that were 

parked within the premises. 

“The whole thing went up in 

flames and that was when those 

in the house including workers 


NINETEEN-YEAR- OLD 

Abdulateef Akinwunmi 

has been arrested for allegedly 

stabbing his friend to death, 

during a fight at a party to celebrate 

the new year, at Shogunle 

area of Lagos State. 

Eyewitnesses said Akinwunmi 

and his friend, Peter Udoh, 

20, had attended a street jam 

at Timilade street, Shogunle, 

yesterday. 

While dancing, one of them 

was said to have stepped on 

the other but failed to apologise. 

the team succeeded in rescuing 

one Zahara’u Abdullahi, aged 

16yrs and four other young women 

all of Mata-Mulki village of 

Batsari LGA of Katsina State”. 

Meanwhile, Vanguard learned 

that villagers in that community 

seldom go to the farm, owing to 

the spate of kidnapping. 

These bandits, majority of who 

are herdsmen as gathered, usually 

come from Niger Republic, 

as the forest links Katsina State 

with Zamfara State and the Niger 

Republic. 

Man, 40, bags 10-year 

jail in Ekiti for burglary 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

ADO-EKITI — AN Ekiti 

State High Court sitting in 

Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 40- 

year-old man, Akeem Bakare 

to ten years imprisonment for 

burglary. 

The presiding judge, Justice 

Lekan Ogunmoye, held that 

the prosecution has proved the 

case of burglary preferred 

against the convict beyond 

reasonable doubt. 

Justice Ogunmoye who sen- 

Fire razes David Mark’s 

Otukpo residence 

noticed what had happened. 

They made frantic effort to put 

out the fire but the effort could 

not stop the fire from spreading 

considering the harmattan 

weather. 

“In no time the fire had reached 

some of the property including 15 

motorbikes and two ambulance 

vehicles that were packed within 

the premises. 

“It was when we noticed that 

we could not stop it and that it 

was fast getting to the guest house 

that we called fire service who 

saved the entire house from being 

razed,” he said. 

Meanwhile, all efforts to get the 

reaction from Senator Mark’s family 

members were unsuccessful as 

none of them was available while 

the Senator was also said to be 

out of town when the incident occurred. 

19-yr old boy allegedly stabs 

friend to death in Lagos 

A heated argument which 

degenerated into a fight ensued. 

In the process, Akinwunmi, 

according to eyewitnesses, 

picked an iron rod 

and stabbed Udoh, popularly 

called Tanko, on the left side 

of the rib. 

An eye witness who gave his 

name simply as Bolaji, said, “ 

Had help come on time, he 

would not have died. Rather 

than rushing him to the hospital, 

people were busy giving 

different suggestions without 

making any step to assist him. 

By the time they decided to 

help, he had lost so much 

tenced Bakare to ten years jail 

term without an option of fine, 

said the sentence was a lenient 

one with the convict being a 

first offender. 

The judge ruled: “I believe 

that I should be lenient with 

the accused in that regard. 

“He is sentenced to ten years 

imprisonment without an option 

of fine.” 

According to the Director of 

Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr 

Gbemiga Adaramola, the offence 

was committed on or 

about 31st of December, 2017 

at Road 6, Ifesowapo Street, 

Better Life area of Ado Ekiti. 

The prosecution told the 

court that the convict unlawfully 

broke into the house of 

one Mulikat Arogunmati. 

The offence was punishable 

under Section 411 of the Criminal 

Code Law, Cap C16, 

Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria 

2012. 

To prove his case Adaramola 

called four witnesses while 

exhibits tendered include cutlass, 

one cap, two big stones, 

victim’s statement made to the 

police, among others. 

The convict who was led in 

evidence by his counsel, Mr 

Adekunle Ojo called no witnesses 

during the trial. 

He pleaded for the court to 

temper justice with mercy as 

the accused is a first offender. 

Bakare was first arraigned in 

court on November 7, 2018 

when the charge was read and 

interpreted to him but he 

pleaded not guilty. 

blood.” 

The Lagos State Police Public 

Relations Officer, DSP Elkana 

Bala, said that Policemen 

from Shogunle division visited 

the scene when the information 

was received. 

He said that the victim was 

confirmed dead at an undisclosed 

hospital where he was 

rushed to. 

Bala said: “The corpse has 

been deposited at the Mainland 

General Hospital mortuary, 

while the suspect was arrested. 

He would be transferred 

to the State Criminal Investigations 

and Intelligence 

Department, Yaba.” 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

Mum, I'm my father's son 

You actually want to argue with 

the Chief Justice-General? 

The two wise women of a toy, Sorry, man


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

INSPECTION: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State (right), Deputy Governor, 

Dr Obafemi Hamzat and other during the inspection of the Ikeja Power Project in Lagos, 

yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

We were right to detain Sowore, Dasuki 

despite court orders —FG 

MINISTER of Justice 

and Attorney- 

General of the Federation, 

Mr Abubakar Malami, 

SAN, has said the Federal 

Government was right in 

detaining Omoyele Sowore 

and Col Sambo Dasuki 

(retd), despite court orders 

for their release. 

Sowore, convener of the 

#RevolutionNow 

Movement, and Dasuki, 

former National Security 

Adviser, NSA, were held by 

the Department of State 

Services, DSS, long after 

several court orders were 

issued for their release. 

Malami later asked the 

DSS to release both men, 

noting that government 

never erred in holding 

them despite the court 

orders. 

But speaking, yesterday, 

on an NTA programme, 

Malami said the 

government has the right to 

still detain Sowore and 

Dasuki until an appeal 

against the orders was 

determined by the Supreme 

Court. 

He said: “If a decision is 

made or a judgement is 

passed, you have an option: 

one, absolute and 

unconditional compliance; 

two, challenge the order by 

way of either an appeal 

against it, or asking that the 

order be reviewed or 

appealing and applying for 

stay of execution. 

“So, in respect of those 

orders, we are not 

comfortable with as a 

government, we go back to 

the court and have them 

challenged. Until that 

matter that your right of 

challenge, is determined up 

to the Supreme Court level, 

the idea of you being 

charged with disobedience 

of court order does not 

arise.” 

Asked if the Federal 

Government applied for 

variation of the court orders 

against Sowore and Dasuki, 

Malami said, there were 

applications to set aside the 

orders. 

“There were appeals for 

stay of execution all 

through. So, until those 

matters reach the Supreme 

Court and the apex court 

takes the final decision, 

relating there, you are still 

operating within the ambit 

and context of rule of law,” 

he added. 

Meanwhile, contrary to 

Malami’s claim, DSS had 

said it did not release 

Sowore because the 

appropriate persons never 

came to secure his release 

after he was granted bail, 

and that it was afraid the 

activist might be knocked 

down by a car if he was 

asked to go. 

Labour, OPS counsel FG on how to 

tackle economy, security in 2020 

•Suggest improved intelligence gathering, use of hi-tech, 

job creation 

By Victor Young 

ORGANISED Labour 

and Organised Private 

Sector, OPS, have 

counselled the Federal 

Government on how to 

address the security and 

economic challenges facing 

the country in the new year. 

Urging the government to 

strengthen the security 

operatives through improved 

intelligence gathering 

system and the use of 

advanced technology for 

fighting crime, they advised 

government to pay prime 

attention to job creation to 

absolve the army of idle 

Nigerians, especially youths. 

Specifically, OPS speaking 

through Nigeria Employers’ 

Consultative Association, 

NECA, urged the Federal 

Government to re-double its 

efforts at ensuring security of 

lives and property as a means 

to improve investors’ 

confidence and enhance 

economic development. 

According to the Director- 

General of NECA, Dr. 

Timothy Olawale, “Security 

is a critical enabler of national 

development. While we 

commend the efforts of our 

gallant soldiers and other 

paramilitary personnel for 

combating the menace of 

Boko Haram, kidnapping, 

armed robbery and other 

vices, we urge that the efforts 

should be redoubled to fasttrack 

economic recovery, 

especially in the North-East 

and national development of 

the nation. 

“A secured environment 

increases the confidence of 

local and foreign investors, 

thereby, enabling the creation 

of jobs for the teeming youths 

of the nation.” 

Olawale called for a change 

in strategy as the current 

security architecture has not 

totally eradicated the 

challenges. 

He said: “Government 

should continue to strengthen 

the security operatives 

through improved 

intelligence gathering 

system and the use of 

advanced technology for 

fighting crime. 

"Institutional synergy 

should be created among all 

security agencies and state 

government should be made 

to account for the huge 

amount allocated for security 

in their states. With the 

collapse of organised 

businesses in some states due 

to high level of insecurity, no 

effort should be spared to deal 

with the menace. 

“It is no gainsaying that an 

idle mind is the devil’s 

workshop. With the recent 

World Bank’s report that 

Nigeria needs to create over 

30 million jobs in the next 

decade, government should 

more than ever before 

collaborate with the private 

sector to create jobs. 

"Regulatory agencies’ 

performance should be 

measured based on how 

many businesses they 

facilitated to create 

employment rather than how 

much revenue they make. 

Greater efforts should be 

made to create an enabling 

environment for businesses 

to thrive as herein lay the 

solution to our 

unemployment quagmire.” 

Similarly, President of Trade 

Union Congress of Nigeria, 

TUC, Quadri Olaleye, said: 

“Job creation is the solution 

to both economic and 

security issues in this country. 

That is what both the federal 

and state governments 

should focus on this time 

around in 2020. 

"An idle mind is the devil's 

workshop. All those youths 

and others involved in crimes 

and other social vices are into 

crimes because they do not 

have any other thing positive 

to do and get busy. 

“The solution is for 

government at all levels, 

private sector and other 

businessmen to create jobs. 

When jobs are created, idle 

hands will be engaged, and 

the economy will be working, 

while at the same time, you 

will be solving the security 

problem.” 

Free El-Zakzaky to prove 

Buhari’s new respect for 

court orders, Falana tells 

Malami 

A 

lawyer and activist, Mr 

Femi Falana, SAN, has 

asked the Federal 

Government to release 

Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, leader 

of the Islamic Movement in 

Nigeria, IMN. 

In a letter, yesterday, 

addressed to Minister of 

Justice and Attorney-General 

of the Federation, Mr 

Abubakar Malami, SAN, 

Falana said he was making 

the request in line with the 

pledge of President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

respect the rule of law. 

In his new year message, 

Wednesday, the president 

had promised that his 

government’s actions at all 

times would be governed by 

the rule of law. 

Restating the court orders 

granting bail to El-Zakzaky, 

Falana said the AGF had 

given contradictory reasons to 

justify the continued 

detention of the IMN leader. 

He said: “In view of the 

recent decision of the Federal 

Government to comply with 

all court orders, we have the 

instructions of our clients to 

request you to ensure 

compliance with the valid and 

subsisting orders of the 

Federal High Court and 

Kaduna State High Court 

concerning them, which are 

set out hereunder. 

“On December 2, 2016, the 

Federal High Court presided 

over by Justice Gabriel 

Kolawole (now of the Court 

of Appeal) declared illegal 

and unconstitutional the 

arrest and detention of Sheikh 

Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his 

wife, Hajia Zeinat El-Zakzaky 

by armed soldiers. 

“Consequently, the court 

awarded them N50 million 

damages for their illegal 

detention, ordered state 

security service to release 

them from custody forthwith 

and provide them with a 

Malabu oil scam: Court 

extends Adoke’s detention 

by 14 days 

By Soni Daniel 

ABUJA —A Federal 

Capital Territory High 

Court has extended the 

detention of the former Justice 

Minister and Attorney- 

General of the Federation, 

Mohammed Adoke, SAN, by 

another 14 days. 

Trial judge, Justice A. 

Musa, handed down the 

order for further remand of 

the ex-minister to Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, 

following a new ex-parte 

application by the anti-graft 

agency at the expiration of the 

first order made two weeks 

ago. 

“The extension of the 

remand of the respondent for 

another 14 days for the 

purpose of his arraignment in 

court is necessary and 

house since the Nigerian 

Army had burnt down and 

demolished their house in 

Zaria, Kaduna State. 

“Without any legal basis 

whatsoever, the Federal 

Government refused to 

comply with the aforesaid 

court orders. Curiously, the 

contemptuous acts of the 

Federal Government were 

publicly defended by your 

good self and some other high 

ranking officials of the Buhari 

administration.” 

El-Zakzaky and his wife 

have been in detention since 

2015 when some of his 

followers clashed with 

soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna 

State. 

Falana had in December 

demanded the release of El- 

Zakzaky while reacting to the 

release of Omoyele Sowore, 

convener of #Revolution 

Now Movement. 

In his letter, Falana said: 

“Following the release of Mr. 

Omoyele Sowore and Col. 

Sambo Dasuki (retd) from 

illegal custody last week, you 

were reported to have said 

that our clients could only be 

released by the Kaduna State 

government. 

“With respect, your position 

has failed to take cognisance 

of the fact that your office, the 

Presidency and the state 

security service had, up till 

last month, repeatedly given 

contradictory reasons to justify 

the disobedience of the 

aforesaid court orders for the 

release of our clients. 

“In view of the foregoing, 

we urge you to use your good 

offices to review your position 

and ensure the immediate 

and unconditional 

compliance with the valid 

and subsisting orders of the 

Federal High Court and the 

Kaduna State High Court 

concerning our clients. This 

request is in line with the new 

policy of the Buhari 

administration to operate 

under the rule of law.” 

granted as prayed,” Justice 

Musa said while granting the 

EFCC application, yesterday. 

It will be recalled that the 

commission first took custody 

of Adoke on December 19, 

2019, upon his arrival from 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 

The agency had accused 

Adoke of abuse of office and 

money laundering and wants 

to arraign him over the 

alleged offences, which are 

related to the controversial 

Malabu Oil block sale, the 

$9.6 billion Gas Process and 

Supply Contract to Process 

and Industrial Development 

Company and the $26 

million fines paid by some 

foreign companies to Nigeria 

in respect of bribes given by 

Halliburton company, for 

which some of them pleaded 

guilty overseas but opted to 

pay fines in Nigeria.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020—9 


RESUMPTION: Outgoing Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone Limited, Mr Yusuf 

Kazaure (middle); his successor, Prof. Muhammad Abubakar (5th left) and management 

staff of the agency, during the resumption of the new managing director, in Abuja, yesterday. 

Photo: NAN. 

PDP planted Buhari’s purported 

third term bid —Oshiomhole 

•Nigerians need no reminderof Buhari’s intent to leave in 2023—PDP 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru & 

Dirisu Yakubu 

AChairman BUJA—NATIONAL 

of All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

Mr Adams Oshiomhole, 

yesterday, said the speculation 

that President Muhammadu 

Buhari was planning a third 

term bid was the handiwork 

of the opposition Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP. 

The PDP, has, meanwhile, 

fired back, advising 

Oshiomhole to stop pushing 

his party’s third term 

discourse in the public space. 

President Buhari had in his 

new year message reinstated 

his resolve to withdraw from 

political activities at the end of 

his tenure in 2023. 

Speaking to State House 

correspondents after leading 

Falling 

HEALTH TIPS 

By Sola Ogundipe 

Falling can lead to broken 

bones, trouble getting 

around, and other health 

problems, especially if you 

are aged. 

A fracture (broken bone) can 

cause pain and disability. It 

can also make it hard to do 

everyday activities without 

help. Broken hips can cause 

serious health problems – 

and even death. 

About half of all falls happen 

inside the home. Make your 

home safer. 

Have railings put on both 

sides of all stairs inside and 

outside of your home. Have 

grab bars put inside and 

outside your bathtub or 

shower and next to the toilet. 

Use non-slip mats in the 

bathtub or shower. Remove 

small rugs or use doublesided 

tape to keep rugs from 

slipping. 

Use bright lights 

throughout your home, 

especially on the stairs. Keep 

stairs and places where you 

some members of the party’s 

National Working Committee, 

NWC, to a meeting with 

President Buhari, the APC 

chairman said it was necessary 

for Buhari to give the 

assurance to Nigerians 

because of the experience 

with PDP under former 

walk clear of clutter. 

Pick up or move things you 

can trip over, like cords, 

papers, shoes, or books. 

Keep kitchen items you use 

often in easy-to-reach 

cabinets or shelves. Always 

wear shoes with non-slip 

soles, even inside your home. 

Don’t walk barefoot or wear 

slippers or socks instead of 

shoes. When you're getting 

out of a chair, stand up slowly. 

When you're getting out of 

bed, sit up first and then stand 

up slowly. 

Get plenty of sleep. Getting 

enough sleep can help you 

be more alert so you are less 

likely to fall. 

To lower your risk of falling, 

improve your balance and 

leg strength. Get your vision 

checked every 1 to 2 years. 

As you age, poor balance 

and weak muscles can lead 

to falls and fractures. Most 

falls happen when older 

adults are doing everyday 

activities, like walking. 

Staying active can help you 

feel better, improve your 

balance, and make your legs 

stronger. 


Obasanjo. 

He expressed surprise that 

people were questioning the 

president’s reassurance in the 

New Year message. 

According to him, “I think 

that is what the president’s 

new year message sought to 

do. I am surprised to see that 

there are people who begin 

to wonder why should the 

president reassure Nigerians 

that he is not going to do third 

term in office because third 

term was planted by PDP. 

“It is still in the subconsciousness 

of most 

Nigerians that the first 

Nigerian president tried to do 

third term, emptied the 

treasury to bribe members of 

the National Assembly and 

since that president left, thanks 

to the National Assembly, no 

other next president has done 

eight years in office. 

“You can recall that President 

(Umaru Musa) Yar’Adua 

unfortunately has since joined 

his ancestors, and President 

Jonathan did six years and so, 

by the special grace of God, 

this President (Buhari), who 

we pray will do his eight years 

complete in line with the 

provision of the constitution. 

“And because there is a level 

of idleness within a section of 

the political class, people can 

sponsor all kinds of 

publications and to give doubt 

whether or not the president 

is planning to stay longer. 

And I think it is his decision 

that at every interval, he needs 

to remind Nigerians that he 

is not about to do what a PDP 

President did. 

“For me, it is necessary and 

in any case, it costs us nothing 

to reassure us that I am 

leaving.” 

Pressure to resign 

On the pressure on him to 

resign as the party boss, 

Oshiomhole maintained that 

the APC had made good 

progress under his leadership. 

He cited the string of 

victories recorded by the party 

at recent elections and 

challenged those who think 

otherwise to contradict his 

claim. 

He said: “You also know this 

proverb, ‘It’s a tree that bears 

fruits that attracts stone.’ You 

hardly see people throwing 

stone at a dry palm tree. 

“But if you see a mango tree 

when it is in season, people 

throw stones at it when 

passing. I think that is my lot 

but my report card is also very 

clear.” 

He appealed to the media 

to evaluate his performance 

based on the results from 

elections. 

He said, “In my case, and I 

challenge anyone to say that 

any of these things is not true. 

We the executive members of 

the party were sworn in on 

June 3, 2018, at 6 p.m. Two 

weeks later, we went to Ekiti 

to contest election against a 

PDP incumbent governor 

Fayose and we won. And 

Kayode Fayemi today is the 

governor of that state. 

“Few months later, we went 

to Osun State, we contested a 

by-election, we won and we 

had the Osun State governor 

elected for his first term. Then 

we went for the national 

election, you know all the 

tensions in the country at the 

time, the gap between 

President Buhari and the 

former candidate of the PDP, 

Abubakar Atiku was about four 

million voters." 

Nigerians need no 

reminder of 

Buhari’s intent to 

leave in 2023—PDP 

The PDP has, meanwhile, 

warned Oshiomhole to desist 

from going to the Presidential 

Villa to push the impossible 

as such will not save him from 

the axe of suspension 

dangling over his political 

head or his inescapable 

prosecution over allegations 

of corruption and 

mismanagement of Edo State 

resources while he was 

governor. 

The party in a statement by 

its spokesman, Kola 

Ologbondiyan, said: “Mr 

Oshiomhole should stop 

sounding like a broken brass 

in his attempt to launder a 

failed merchandise. 

“Of course, Nigerians need 

not be reminded, of the exit 

date of an administration that 

has caused them so much 

pains, abused our law, 

trampled on their rights and 

undermined our electoral 

process. 

“It will interest Oshiomhole 

to know that if anything, 

Nigerians are already 

counting days for May 29, 

2023, when the APC and the 

Buhari administration will be 

consigned to the dustbin of 

history. 

“Oshiomhole should, 

therefore, accept the fact that 

Nigerians have moved ahead 

towards 2023 and that APC is 

not in their equation.” 

Obaseki derailed when he 

deviated from continuity of 

programmes —APC chieftain 

•He pushed devt to the next level 

—Oteghe 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY —A 

chieftain of All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, in Edo Central 

senatorial district, Edo 

State, Maj.-Gen. Cecil 

Esekhaigbe (retd), 

yesterday, said Governor 

Godwin Obaseki started 

having issues with some 

leaders of the party, 

including National 

Chairman of the party, Mr 

Adams Oshiomhole, 

when he started derailing 

from the campaign slogan 

of continuity. 

Esekhaigbe noted that it 

was the campaign 

promise that convinced 

Edo people to vote for him 

(Obaseki), afterwards, he 

started pursing his 

agenda, which he termed 

Deviation From Target, 

DFT. 

But a chieftain of the 

party in the state, Adams 

Oteghe, denied the 

allegation, as he told 

Vanguard that Obaseki 

actually continued 

Oshiomhole’s 

developmental 

programmes by taking it 

to a higher level than 

where Oshiomhole left it. 

In a statement, 

yesterday, Esekhaigbe 

said the emergence of 

Oshiomhole as governor 

of the state redefined 

governance by 

“embarking on peoplecentric 

governance.” 

He said: “Obaseki 

kicked off with a scientific 

approach to governance 

with clear sectoral 

development strategy. 

Worthy of note is the 

image cleansing of the 

state from the vexatious 

tag of the main exporter 

of prostitution and human 

trafficking. His bold steps 

in this regard and the 

rehabilitation of the 

infamous Libya returnees 

are commendable. 

"Hardly has he settled 

down for governance, 

when the evil wind of 

Deviation From Target, 

DFT, came blowing, 

through attempts at 

building of personal 

political structure and 

contestation for power. 

Crisis of 

confidence 

“Oshiomhole’s attempt 

to arrest the DFT has 

snowballed into a crisis of 

confidence that is now 

threatening the fabric of 

unity of Edo State. This 

crisis of confidence in a 

political family which 

ordinarily should be 

nipped at the bud has 

been exploited by 

political jobbers, who 

have no visible means of 

livelihood aside politics. 

They have continually 

fanned embers of hatred 

and political air 

pollution.” 

He noted that the 

inaction of some 

prominent Edo 

stakeholders propelled by 

ethnic calculations and 

quest for revenge over 

personal animosities 

contributed to the 

escalation of the crisis 

which he said is 

consuming the goodwill 

of APC in the state. 

Way forward 

On the way forward, he 

said: “The solution to this 

imbroglio lies with our 

collective efforts as Edo 

people and not a belated 

call for a presidential 

intervention. 

"The resurgence of 

thuggery, which Obaseki 

had confronted headlong 

when he came onboard, 

has created an 

apocalypse in the minds 

of the citizenry. The 

effrontery of thugs and 

cultists is frightening, not 

only because of the 

trajectory but due to the 

insidious effect.” 

He lamented that there 

is proliferation of small 

arms in the state, which 

has led to the resurgence 

of cult related killings 

and thuggery, adding: “If 

this trend is not checked, 

the state will soon 

descend into anarchy. I 

would have loved to say 

God forbid, but unforced 

error is a human creation. 

What shall it profit a man 

to gain power and lose 

lives and properties of 

innocent people?” 

He pushed devt 

to the next level 

—Oteghe 

Oteghe, disagreeing, 

said: “What do you mean 

he deviated from the 

programme? Oshiomhole 

built red roof for public 

schools, but Obaseki has 

taken it to the next level 

by training the 

manpower for students 

development. 

"Not less than 11,000 

primary school teachers 

have been trained and 

today you have primary 

school pupils in public 

schools who can read 

and write. 

"Oshiomhole tarred 

major roads, all the link 

roads are being tarred so 

what is abandonment? So 

they cannot say Obaseki 

deviated, he has 

developed on what he 

met.”

10 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 

Onitiri cautions FG against 

$29bn Loan 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—A 

sociopolitical 

activist, 

Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, 

yesterday, cautioned the 

Federal Government 

against its plan to secure 

a foreign loan of $29 

billion already presented 

before the National 

Assembly for approval. 

He also lampooned the 

National Assembly for 

earmarking a whooping 

N37billion for the 

renovation of its complex 

when millions of 

Nigerians were dying of 

hunger and deprivation. 

In a statement in 

Lagos, Onitiri said that 

voting such a 

humongous amount of 

money for renovation by 

the legislators showed 

how cruel and 

unsympathetic they 

might be. 

Onitiri said: “This is 

the time to scrutinise all 

actions of politicians and 

be very proactive. Let us 

Burial rites for 

Beko’s wife 

begins next 

Thursday 

THE family of Dr. Beko 

Ransome-Kuti has 

announced burial 

arrangements for the 

recently-deceased wife of 

the late medical doctor and 

rights activist, Mrs Abosede 

Folasade Ransome-Kuti. 

According to a 

programme of events 

released by the family, a 

service of songs in her 

memory will hold at the 

Fountain of Life Church, off 

Town Planning Way, Ilupeju 

in Lagos on Thursday 9th 

January, 2020. 

On Friday 10 January, 

she will lie in state at No 6, 

Imaria Street, Anthony 

Village, Lagos, between 

7.00-8.00a.am. This will be 

followed by a 

commendation service at 

the Fountain of Life Church 

at 10.00a.m. 

Interment, a family affair, 

follows thereafter, while a 

reception will hold at the 

Grandeur Event Centre, 

Billingsway, Oregun, 

Lagos, after the interment, 

at 2.00p.m. 

•Late Ransome-Kuti 

all make politics less 

attractive and subject our 

politicians to 

transparency and 

accountability. Politics is 

about service and not the 

enrichment of oneself. 

Looting has no space in 

politics. 

“We wish to urge you 

to please do more this 

new year 2020. We also 

call on all other 

democratic associations 

like the Nigerian Bar 

Association, NBA, Civil 

Liberties Organisation, 

NLC, Nigeria Labour 

Congress, NLC, Nigeria 

Union of Journalists, 

NUJ, and other wellmeaning 

Nigerians to 

wake up and stand with 

Nigerian oppressed 

masses and defend our 

constitution and 

fledgling democracy. 

“SERAP has done well 

by taking our 

compromised National 

Assembly to court over 

the bogus N37billion 

renovation of the 

National Assembly. They 

should also file an action 

on humongous padding 

of our National budget. 

“This is the time to 

raise our voices on the 

many breaches of our 

constitution and 

disobedience to the rule 

of law by PMB and this 

administration." 

Adetunji for 

burial Jan 9 

M 

RS. Oluwakemi 

Adetunji has passed 

away on December 13, 

2019, at the age of 78. 

In a statement by the 

Adetunji family, the late 

Oluwakemi was born on 

April 15 1941 and will be 

buried January 9, 2020. 

The family, in a statement 

by Abiola Adeyemi 

Adetunji, stated that the 

Service of Songs will come 

up on January 7 by 5pm, 

while the Christian wake 

keep will be on January 8, 

respectively at the All Saints 

Church Yaba. 

She is survived by a 

loving family, children, 

grandchildren and great 

grandchild.. 

•Late Mrs. Adetunji 

Seyi Hunter (above) with some school children after a project 

outreach. 

SHF kicks off 

10,000 laughs, 

Back-to-School 

project 

LAGOS — A nongovernmental 

organization, Seyi Hunter 

Foundation, SHF, has 

concluded plans to kick off 

10,000 Laughs/Back to 

School project for indigent 

children, and skills 

acquisition for women. 

The event will hold on 

Sunday at Adeniji Street 

football field in Surulere, 

Lagos. 

Seyi Hunter Foundation 

is a non-governmental 

organization, with the sole 

aim of catering for the 

education of the less 

privileged, destitutes and 

women. The organization 

also caters for women 

whose rights are being 

trampled upon by relatives 

and members of extended 

families. 

Akeredolu flays influx of unauthorised 

herdsmen in Ondo 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—THE Ondo 

State Government, 

yesterday, stated that the 

regional security 

outfit, Amotekun, which is 

billed to be unveiled in 

Ibadan on January 9th, will 

create an atmosphere that 

will engender peaceful 

coexistence in the South 

West. 

It also said that shanties 

built by suspected Fulani 

herdsmen in an industrial 

layout in Akure without 

authorisation have been 

evacuated by security 

agencies on the orders of 

the State Government. 

The Ondo State 

Information and 

Orientation Commissioner, 

Mr. Donald Ojogo, said 

that “the date was agreed 

upon by the South West 

governors.” 

Ojogo noted that “it does 

not matter which of the 

governors broke the news 

since it was a unanimous 

decision to launch the 

security outfit at an agreed 

date.” 

Meanwhile, he said: “It 

is pertinent to state without 

prejudice to the hospitality 

of our people that, 

unathourised mass 

movement or influx into 

Ondo State will not be 

encouraged by the 

government. In the same 

vein, potential collaboration 

in this regard will not be 

tolerated. 

“The Ondo State 

...says Operation Amotekun 

'll be unveiled Jan 9 

Government frowns 

strongly at any form of selfhelp 

capable of 

jeopardizing cordial 

relationship among 

Nigerians irrespective of 

religion and ethnicity.” 

Speaking on the recent 

influx of Fulani herdsmen 

in Ajowa Akoko, the 

commissioner said: “The 

influx of strangers to Ajowa 

Akoko was indeed reported 

to the Government after the 

community had chased the 

intruders away. “From 

preliminary reports at the 

disposal of Government, 

these people were not 

Fulani of Nigerian descent 

but foreigners. 

“It should also be noted 

that as at the time they were 

prevented from settling at 

Ajowa and subsequently 

chased to the boundary 

between Ondo and Kogi 

States, there were no cattle 

with them. 

“It is to be noted, however, 

that an indigene of Ajowa 

Akoko, who is alleged to be 

responsible for the 

unathourised movement of 

these foreigners to the town, 

has been placed under 

security watch. Mr. 

Governor has 

consequently, ordered his 

immediate arrest and 

interrogation without 

further delay. 

Besides, he said: “The 

suspected collaborator, a 

Fulani butcher, resident in 

Ajowa, is said to have been 

chased out of the town by 

restive youths.” 

2020: Sanwo-Olu to resuscitate Light Up 

Lagos project •Expands capacity of IPP 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

L 

A G O S — 

GOVERNOR 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu of 

Lagos State, yesterday, 

stated plans by his 

administration to expand 

the capacity of the stateowned 

Independent 

Power Plant, IPP, to 

optimise production and 

supply. 

The Alausa IPP, built in 

October 2013, is one of 

the power plants 

developed by the State 

Government. 

Sanwo-Olu said his 

administration would be 

harnessing private 

investment to boost the 

output of the IPP in 

response to the growing 

need to sustain the 

Light-Up Lagos project 

of his predecessor and 

also to absorb more 

public offices in the 

state-owned power grid. 

The governor said this 

during a tour of the IPP 

facility in Alausa, Ikeja. 

Sanwo-Olu was 

accompanied on the 

inspection by the Deputy 

Governor, Dr. Obafemi 

Hamzat; Commissioner 

for Energy and Mineral 

Resources, Mr. Olalere 

Odusote and General 

Manager, Lagos State 

Electricity Board, Mr. 

Mukhtar Tijani. 

He said: “We 

considered embarking on 

this facility inspection of 

the Lagos IPP to see how 

we will optimise the 

current usage of the 

plant early this year, 

given the growing 

demand for electricity to 

power public facilities 

around. 

“Knowing the current 

output of the power plant 

is necessary for us to 

decide what kind of 

investment that is 

required in solving the 

operational issues and 

increasing the output. 

When the IPP was built 

in 2013, it boosted the 

capacity of the 

Government’s offices in 

Alausa and helped us in 

our Light-Up Lagos 

project. But, there is a 

need for us to expand the 

services for more 

coverage.” 

Sanwo-Olu said the 

current output could no 

longer meet the demand 

of the State. 

“What we currently 

have now certainly 

cannot meet up with our 

requirements."


:Vanguard 

News 

ANTI-OPEN GRAZING LAW: Fulani 

herders sue Oyo govt, Assembly 

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

OBSEQUIES: From left, Akin Kola-Akinlade, Managing Editor, Nigeria Transport Hub; his wife, Omolara; 

Mrs Ibukun-Oluwa Akinlade; her husband, Mr Olanrewaju Akinlade; Mr Femi Akinlade, MD, Start Rite 

School, Abuja; Mr. Femi Adegbite, inlaw; Professor Funmi Adegbite, Dept of Finance, University Of Lagos, 

all children and in-laws of the deceased during the funeral service for late Agbeke Elizabeth Akinlade held 

at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Odo-ona, Abimbola, Ibadan, Oyo State. 

By Ola Ajayi & 

Adeola Badru 

I BADAN—FULANI 

herders in Oyo State 

have filed a suit against the 

state government and the 

State House of Assembly 

saying the anti-grazing law 

recently passed is a gross 

violation of their 

fundamental rights. 

The herders, under the 

aegis of Gan Allah Fulani 

Development Association of 

Nigeria, also joined the 

Attorney General and 

Commissioner for Justice 

in the state in the suit. 

The law, which had been 

debated, passed and 

signed into law by the 

executive arm, was aimed 

at checking persistent 

farmers-herders clash in 

the state. 

In the suit marked M/744/ 

2019, the herders want the 

Oyo State High court to 

declare the law illegal, 

unconstitutional, null and 

void. 

They also want the court 

to grant them an order of 

perpetual injunction 

restraining all the 

“respondents, whether by 

themselves, their servants, 

agents, officers or 

otherwise from carrying out 

any acts or omission which 

is likely to aid the 

enactment or even enact or 

pass the purported antigrazing 

bill into law as this 

would amount to a denial 

of their fundamental rights 

guaranteed under the 

constitution of Nigeria.” 

Part of their prayers is that 

the court should declare the 

law as a coordinated 

attempt or strategy at 

curtailing the livelihood of 

the applicants and further 

frustrating their lives in 

breach of constitutional 

provisions particularly 

section 33(1) of the 

constitution of the federal 

republic of Nigeria, 1999 

(as amended) goes to 

naught and same is invalid, 

null and void.” 

For aggravated, punitive 

and general damages, they 

asked the court to grant 

them N100, 000 against the 

respondents jointly and 

severally for the violation of 

their fundamental rights. 

The herders further stated 

that “as a matter of cultural 

heritage, open rearing or 

grazing of livestock having 

been passed onto 

generations to generations 

is the life and economy of 

the Fulani group on which 

the Fulani survives”. 

The idea to pass the bill 

was mooted in October 2019 

and just some weeks after 

that; it was debated and 

passed after allowing 

participation of all 

stakeholders to air their 

views. 

The law has prohibited 

open rearing and grazing 

of livestock in the state and 

establishment of ranches for 

purposes connected to the 

rearing of livestock. 

Oyo govt reacts 

When contacted, the 

Attorney-General and 

Commissioner for Justice 

in Oyo State, Prof. Oyelowo 

Oyewo, said the 

constitution empowers the 

Assembly to make laws. 

Professor Oyewo said: 

“The law was validly 

passed under the 

constitutional powers of the 

Oyo State House of 

Assembly. So, they are free 

to exercise their legal 

right. The court will 

determine the legality of 

their case. That is what 

the rule of law is all about. 

“There is government 

that observes and operates 

under the rule of law. And 

Oyo State is not the only 

state that has passed that 

bill into law. I don’t know 

why that of Oyo State will 

be different. So, we will see 

how it goes. 

“The case will be decided 

on the principle of 

conditionality and I believe 

the constitution gives the 

House of Assembly the 

power to make such a law, 

in terms of security, in 

terms of agricultural 

regulation of activities and 

don’t forget that there are 

already decisions by the 

ECOWAS court on this 

matter that gives the state 

the power to protect 

agrarian community from 

pastural community. So the 

jurisprudence is not 

underdeveloped and the 

jurisprudence is on the side 

of the Oyo State.” 

Ondo 2020: Akeredolu warns civil 

servants against campaigning for him 


AKURE—AHEAD of 

the 2020 

governorship election, 

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu 

of Ondo State, yesterday, 

warned civil servants 

against getting involved in 

partisan politics. 

Akeredolu specifically 

said he was against civil 

servants wearing 

Campaign T-shirts 

adorning his party, the All 


APC. 

The governor, who said 

he had fulfilled his 

promises of regular 

payment of workers’ 

salaries and other 

obligations to the people of 

the State, noted that “I 

always hold the firm belief 

that regular salary 

payment and promotion of 

deserving public servants 

are not achievements but 

purely obligatory.” 

He spoke at special 

prayers to mark the first 

working day in the New 

Year held at the governor’s 

office, Alagbaka in Akure. 

The governor asked the 

workers to allow politicians 

to play politics. 

Akeredolu said: “I don’t 

want any civil servant to 

wear endorsement T-shirt 

for me. Civil servants 

should not be involved in 

politics. 

“I don’t want workers to 

do like they did before I 

came on board. They 

should focus on their jobs 

and let politicians play 

politics. 

“We are all political 

animals, but workers 

should stay away from 

politics. And if they want to 

do, it should be done 

moderately.” 

Akeredolu said he was 

ready to serve more if 

permitted by God. 

On the minimum wage, 

Labour, EKSUTH at war over 

sack of 200 health workers 

•Why we disengaged staff 

— EKSUTH 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

A DO-EKITI—THE 

organised labour, 

yesterday, threatened a 

showdown with the Ekiti 

State University Teaching 

Hospital, EKSUTH, over 

the sack of 200 professional 

staff of the health 

institution. 

The workers were sacked 

from the institution in 

December 2019, through a 

process the management 

called reorganisation but 

which the Nigerian Labour 

Congress, NLC, and other 

allied unions, described as 

“illegality and infringement 

of the civil service rules.” 

Speaking with newsmen, 

the Chairperson, Joint 

Health Sector Unions, 

JOHESU, for EKSUTH, 

Mrs. Omotola Farotimi, 

said the management’s 

indiscretion will affect the 

hospital adversely. 

Farotimi said: “We have 

heard of it as a rumour for 

a long period of time that 

some people will be 

disengaged. Since then, 

we had been meeting with 

the management to find out 

what was going on. Even 

the organised labour in Ekiti 

was with the management 

on December 30, they told 

the management to pass 

through the normal Civil 

Service Rule even if they 

want to disengage any 

staff, and they should not 

do anything that will be 

against the public service 

rule. 

“Unfortunately on 

December 31, when we got 

to work and people were 

given letters, there were 

different errors that were 

made. Some were 

disengaged based on the 

claim that there was an 

embargo on employment 

when they were employed. 

“EKSUTH is 

autonomous. We asked for 

the governor said his 

“administration is ready to 

pay the N30,000 minimum 

wage as soon as the 

ongoing negotiation 

between the Organised 

Labour and the State 

Government is concluded. 

He said: “The state is 

among the very few states 

already discussing the 

implementation of the new 

minimum wage. 

“The Organised Labour 

and government have been 

having discussions and 

negotiations and we are 

fine-tuning our conclusions 

to ensure that we come up 

with the most acceptable 

and sustainable salary 

structure considering the 

financial strength of the 

state. 

“I wish to assure you that 

payment of the new wage 

would commence as soon 

as on-going discussion 

and negotiation are 

concluded.” 

the letter of the embargo that 

time, they could not produce 

any letter to that effect. If 

there is a need for 

employment, hospitals need 

professionals, there was no 

time that former governor 

Ayo Fayose gave any order 

of embargo on employment 

at EKSUTH. 

“We are against the 

purported exercise that they 

have done in the hospital. 

''Another error was that the 

professional groups were 

grossly sacked while the 

administrative area was not 

touched. We, the 

professionals, are not even 

enough. The professionals 

are the ones generating 

revenue, IGR, in the 

hospital, they were grossly 

disengaged.” 

Farotimi, who said “The 

hospital is on the verge of 

collapse, noted that: “It can 

be closed down because 

most of these professionals 

are the ones that help in 

getting accreditation for 

most of the departments in 

the hospital. There is a 

number of doctors we are 

supposed to have from 

officers to consultants, 

number of nurses on 

ground, number of medical 

laboratory scientists, 

number of pharmacists 

including health assistants 

that must be had before 

getting accreditation. 

“The sack affected the 

medical laboratory sciences 

dept, pharmacy 

d e p a r t m e n t , 

Physiotherapists, health 

assistants, a lot of nurses 

and medical doctors. We are 

still gathering our 

information; we will meet 

our extended executive and 

decide the next line of 

action.” 

Why we disengaged 

staff— EKSUTH 

However, in a statement, 

the Hospital’s Public 

Relations Officer, Mrs. 

Rolake Adewumi, said the 

reorganisation was part of 

the implementation of the 

visitation panel’s report on 

EKSUTH. 

Adewumi said: “As a 

result of the report, it has 

become necessary to 

disengage some workers 

who did not show up for the 

Human Resources 

Verification exercise and 

who could not be sighted to 

date, and so were regarded 

as “ghost workers. 

“Others include, those on 

leave of absence with/ 

without pay who had 

exhausted the approved 

period of leave and refused 

to resume. 

“Another category are 

those who were found with 

misconduct and those 

employed after the State 

Government placed an 

embargo on employment. 

“Therefore, the 

Management has urged 

any of the disengaged 

officers, who is not satisfied 

with this development, to 

channel their complaints to 

the Board of Management 

of the Hospital, through the 

office of the Director of 

Administration.”


Bayelsa set up panel for new 

minimum wage 

By Emem Idio 

Y ENAGOA—THE 

Bayelsa State Government 

has set up a 

committee for the implementation 

of the consequential 

adjustment of 

the new minimum wage 

policy. 

In a press statement by 

the Permanent Secretary 

of the Ministry of Information, 

Mr. Mightyman 

Dikiro, the 12th member 

committee is headed by 

the State Head of Service 

as Chairman while 

the Permanent Secretary, 

Establishment Training, 

the Special Adviser on 

Treasury and Accounts 

are members. 

Other members of the 

committee include the 

Chairman and Secretary 

of the Joint Negotiation 

Council, Chairman and 

Secretary of State NLC, 

Chairman and Secretary 

of TUC, Chairman of 

NULGE, NUT and representative 

of Tertiary institutions. 

The committee 

has two weeks to 

submit its report. 

Oguma feasts women, youths, 

elders in Delta 

...donates two trailers of rice, cows, 

wrappers to indegenes 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—A Chief 

tain of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP in 

Delta State, Olorogun 

John Oguma, has hosted 

women, youths and 

elders of Ovwor-Olomu 

Community, Ughelli 

South Local Government 

Area of the state in 

the spirit of the yuletide. 

Oguma, who gave out 

two trailers of rice, two 

trailers of cows and 

wrappers to the people 

of the community, sued 

for unity of purpose 

among the people. He 

told the people to look 

beyond today and work 

for the future of the community. 

Admonishing the people 

to remain steadfast 

and join hands in the 

development of the community, 

he urged them 

to give maximum support 

to the state Governor, 

Ifeanyi Okowa’s led 

government. He added 

that there was no gain in 


A SABA—SPEAKER 

of Delta State House 

of Assembly, Sheriff 

Oborevwori, has described 

the Secretary to 

the State Government, 

SSG, Mr Chiedu Ebie, 

as a tested and trusted 

politician. 

Felicitating with Ebie 

on his 49th birthday, 

Oborevwori described 

the SSG as a very thorough 

person. The 

Speaker in a Press Statement 

by his Chief Press 

Secretary, Mr Dennis 

Otu, prayed God grant 

the SSG good health 

and many fruitful years. 

opposition. 

He said politics is not 

a do or die affair, urging 

the people to shun politics 

of violence and bitterness, 

expressing his 

commitment to the development 

of the community. 

Speaking further, Oguma 

commended the 

community for the show 

of love towards him and 

his family, saying; “I am 

honoured that you came 

together to pay me homage. 

I receive all the 

items that you brought 

for me and family with 

joy.” 

Presenting a pig, 

rams, yams, plantain 

and assorted drinks, on 

behalf of the community, 

Chief Emmanuel Okagbare 

thanked Oguma 

for his good works in the 

community, adding that 

the community appreciates 

his contribution to 

the development of the 

Ovwor-Olomu Community. 

Oborevwori extols Delta SSG, 

Ebie, at 49 

He said;”I join others 

in celebrating you today 

on your 49th birthday. I 

have always known you 

to be very hard working, 

cool and calculated and 

having you as the SSG, 

the engine room of any 

government is a great 

asset to our dear State. 

“As you clock another 

year today, it is my fervent 

prayer that the Almighty 

God will continue 

to guide your steps, 

give you the Wisdom of 

Solomon for you to continue 

to do your best for 

the administration Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa and 

together we will build 

a stronger Delta State of 

our dream”. 

PDP chieftain traces Nigeria’s under 

development to party loyalty 

By Ephraim Oseji 

PEOPLES Democratic 

Party, PDP, Chieftain, 

Chief Sunny Onuesoke, 

has attributed under development 

in Nigeria to party 

loyalty by elected politicians 

and political appointees. 

Onuesoke, who made the 

statement in a New Year 

message to Nigerians, disclosed 

that excessive loyalty 

to a ruling political 

party has been responsible 

for corruption and bad 

leadership because political 

party appointees cannot 

advice the ruling government, 

when it is going 

wrong because of fear of 

losing their appointments 

or fear of offending those 

ALLEGED N16.5BN DEBT: Blackout enters day 10 

over shutdown of PHEDC in Bayelsa 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

Y ENAGOA—THE 

power outage in 

Bayelsa State occasioned 

by the lingering face-off 

between the Ijaw Youths 

Council, IYC, and the Port 

Harcourt Electricity Distribution 

Company, PHEDC, 

has entered its 10th day. 

The IYC had on December 

23, besieged the offices 

of the PHEDC and 

forced the staff to ground 

operations, occupying the 

premises to protest perceived 

poor power supply 

to residents. 

The development, which 

resulted to total power outage 

in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa 

Capital and its environs 

has compelled residents to 

rely solely on generators 

with resultant increase in 

petrol demand. 

Filling stations in Yenagoa 

have been struggling 

to cope with the large 

number of residents who 

thronged the stations to 

buy fuel in jerry cans. 

It was learned that efforts 

and talks to resolve the logjam 

hit a brick wall as the 

power company claimed 

that it was grappling with 

a debt burden of N16.5 billion 

as at November 2019 

which had hampered its 

operations as a commercial 

concern. 

However, the IYC has 

challenged the PHEDC to 

substantiate its claim that 

customers in Bayelsa owed 

N16.5 billion. 

Chairman of the IYC central 

zone, Mr. Kennedy 

Olorogun, who spoke on 

the update of the dialogue 

convened by Bayelsa government 

to resolve the impasse 

said the debt claim 

in charge. 

He stressed that some 

people will rather vote for 

an inanimate object rather 

than vote for an opposition 

candidate because of party 

loyalty. 

“Do I think it is the best 

thing for these states? No; 

because even though most 

politicians are cut from the 

same cloth and are definitely 

the same – whether in 

party A or B . I still strongly 

believe that a healthy 

opposition will keep any 

government on its toes 

working for the betterment 

of her people. This is based 

on the condition that politicians 

are judged strictly 

on their performance and 

not because people are just 

loyal to their party,” he stated. 

The PDP chieftain noted 

that it is unfortunate that 

loyal political appointees 

can not embark on checks 

and balances because his 

appointment came from 

the ruling political party. 

“Every opportunist who 

find themselves in position 

of authority have to embezzle 

billions of naira that 

would have been used to 

build good roads, provide 

good health care system, 

provide good and qualitative 

education, provide infrastructure 

and create 

employment for the unemployed 

youths to service 

and maintain party leaders 

and structures,” he alleged. 

According to him, lack of 

was a ‘fairy tale’ to cover 

up incompetence. 

According to him: “Information 

from the Transmission 

Company of Nigeria 

(TCN) showed that there 

was sufficient power at the 

substation at Gbarain, 

Yenagoa but the PHEDC 

was not taking the power 

to homes. 

"An investigation shows 

that TCN on August 20, 

2019 announced the lifting 

of a Suspension Order 

from the electricity market 

it placed on the PHEDC 

on July 27, for breach of 

‘Market Conditions/participation 

Agreement," Olorogun 

said. 

According to TCN notice 

available on its portal, the 

lifting of the sanction was 

a regulatory measure to 

ensure that distribution 

companies evacuate available 

power. 

DESERTED SECRE- 

TARIAT—Entrance 

gate of Rivers 

State Secretariat 

looking semi-deserted, 

after resumption 

of work, 

following the 

Christmas and 

New Year holidays, 

yesterday, 

in Port Harcourt. 

Photo. Nwankpa 

Chijioke. 

loyalty to the course of a 

brighter Nigeria has continued 

to weaken government 

institutions most especially 

the military in combating 

terrorism and other 

societal vices and the civil 

service in contributing to 

the high rate of corruption 

in “our dear country. "Nigeria, 

due to their disloyalty 

to the country, but by 

being loyal to some set of 

people and their stomach. 

Onuesoke advised that if 

there must be meaningful 

development in Nigeria, 

both elected and political 

appointees must be given 

room to advice the executive 

and legislature on the 

way forward towards development 

of the local, state 

and federal government 

without fear or favour. 

TCN said lifting the sanctions 

followed PHEDC’s 

compliance and took effect 

on August 19, 2019. 

The PHEDC and TCN 

had been shifting blames 

on the poor power supply 

in Bayelsa, with TCN, saying 

that the PHEDC was 

unable to take up available 

power at its substation 

while the PHEDC alleged 

that it was not getting 

enough power from the 

TCN’s grid. 

Olorogun said that the 

N16.5 bn debt had no bearing 

with power supply to 

Bayelsa which was the basis 

of the protest adding 

that the claim was a cheap 

blackmail. 

“The leadership of IYC 

Central Zone is challenging 

the claim made by the 

PHEDC that Bayelsa people 

owe electricity bill of 

N16.5 billion. The people 

of Bayelsa have not been 

enjoying uninterrupted 

power supply over the 

years, which is the reason 

we are protesting."



ALLEGED VERBAL ATTACK ON TOR TIV: 

Royal fathers declare war on minister 

By Peter Duru 

MAKURDI—THE Tiv 

Traditional rulers 

have condemned the 

alleged verbal attack on the 

paramount ruler of the Tiv 

tribe, Tor Tiv, Prof. James 

Ayatse by the Minister of 

Special Duties and Intergovernmental 

Affairs, 

Senator George Akume, 

describing it as sacrilegious 

and unacceptable. 

Senator Akume had 

during a ceremony last 

weekend allegedly 

accused the paramount 

ruler of partisanship 

describing him as “Tor pati” 

which meant king of party 

politics. 

Condemning the 

uncharitable remark 

against their paramount 

ruler, the Ter Ikyor and 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

A BUJA—TAMBUWAL 

Media Centre, TMC, 

has said the emergence of 

Sokoto State Governor, 

Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal as 

the Man of the Year 2019 

awardee, announced 

January 1, 2020, by the 

Silverbird media group is 

an indication of good 

governance in the state. 

The group described the 

development as “a support 

for good governance that 

comes with higher 

expectations and bigger 

responsibilities” 

In a statement in Abuja, 

yesterday, by its Executive 

Director, Victor Ogene, also 

a former member House of 

the Representatives, said 

the award “reinforces our 

belief in Tambuwal’s 

leadership philosophy 

that prioritizes the interest 

of the people,and also 

anchored on integrity, 

transparency and servantleadership. 

...say attack sacrilegious, unacceptable 

Chairman of Second Class 

Traditional Rulers in Tiv 

land, Chief Jam Gbinde, 

who led other royal fathers 

in condemnation of the 

alleged unpleasant 

comment said such outing 

was alien to the Tiv culture. 

Chief Gbinde, who spoke 

yesterday in Agbeede, 

Konshisha Local 

Government Area at this 

year’s Mbator Day 

celebrations said 

castigating the Tor Tiv in the 

public amounted to 

insulting the entire Tiv 

nation and portraying the 

people in bad light. 

He said, “as illustrious 

sons of the Tiv nation, it is 

only proper for anyone who 

has grudges with our 

paramount ruler to go and 

discuss with him in private. 

You cannot go to the pages 

of newspapers to rain 

insults on him because it 

portrays us as people 

without respect for the 

traditional institution.” 

Speaking in similar vein, 

Tyoor Mbatsen, Chief 

Daniel Nder Kuhwa, 

lauded the Tiv Youth 

Organization for promptly 

condemning the act and 

demanding a public 

apology from the Minister 

to the Tor Tiv. 

The royal fathers threw 

their weight behind 

Governor Samuel Ortom on 

his efforts in providing 

security in all parts of the 

state, particularly his recent 

appeal to President 

Muhammadu Buhari not to 

withdraw the ongoing 

military operation from the 

state. 

Highpoint of the event 

was the honour conferred 

on their son and Chief 

Press Secretary to the 

Governor, Mr. Terver Akase 

who assured that his 

principal would continue to 

stand up for the truth and 

defend the course of people 

of Benue at all times. 

Recall that the Media 

Consultant to the Minister, 

Dr. Mkor Aondona had 

claimed that “there is no rift 

between Senator Akume 

and the Tor Tiv. People are 

only trying to create such 

rift where there is none.” 

PROTEST—Members of the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, during a 

peaceful protest against the sale of their land, in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi. 

Tambuwal’s Man of the Year award 

showcases good governance —TMC 

“This important award 

proves once more, that the 

teeming Sokoto state 

electorate, who 

demonstrated their 

invaluable overwhelming 

support to Tambuwal at the 

last governorship election, 

have not made any mistake 

by choosing him, in spite 

of the scorching pressure 

they had to endure to 

ensure that their voices 

were heard, through the 

vital utilization of their 

democratic rights, as 

demonstrated by their 

votes. 

“This national 

endorsement, coming on 

the very first day of the year, 

is essentially significant as 

it symbolizes a fresh hope 

and belief in your abilities 

to continue to translate your 

laudable programmes to 

pleasant realities of 

genuine, positive impact 

that would leave Sokoto 

state better than you met it. 

“We must however add, 

Your Excellency, that 

though you have shown 

exemplary leadership in 

the areas education, 

infrastructure 

development, agriculture, 

security, women/youth 

development, health, job 

creation and social 

investment, this award 

and several others, come 

with higher expectations 

and bigger responsibilities, 

that will leave no room for 

lethargy or excuses. 

“Note that more than ever 

before, all eyes will be on 

you and your government, 

to scrutinize your every 

move -official and personal 

- in order to evaluate your 

blossoming leadership 

profile that transcends your 

current position as the 

governor of Sokoto state. It, 

therefore, behoves on 

you, Your Excellency, to 

ensure that the core 

values of responsible and 

responsive leadership, 

humility, integrity and 

adherence to democratic 

norms, which people see 

and admire in you, are 

continually nurtured, 

upheld and promoted in 

all you do as a public 

servant and in your 

private engagements, as 

providence has 

essentially made you a 

mirror that the society will 

never ignore. 

“We urge you to 

continue to make the good 

people of Sokoto state 

proud, by always 

ensuring that your 

decisions and policy 

thrust of your government 

are fueled by their 

wellbeing, development 

and overall interest of the 

state”, the statement read. 

FG, Kano hold seminar for 

beneficiaries of APPEALS 

K ANO—FEDERAL 

Government, in 

collaboration with Kano 

State Government, has 

organised a sensitisation 

workshop on business 

plans for 600 farmers 

selected to be empowered 

in Kano. 

The beneficiaries were 

selected among the 1,600 

participants for 

empowerment by the 

Federal and Kano State 

governments, through the 

Agro-Processing, 

Productivity Enhancement 

and Livelihood 

Improvement Support, 

APPEALS, project. 

APPEALS is a World 

Bank group with a unique 

global partnership of five 

institutions working for 

sustainable solutions that 

reduce poverty and build 

shared prosperity in 

developing countries. 

Its membership consists of 

189 countries of the world 

with offices in 130 locations 

including Nigeria. 

Declaring the one- day 

workshop open, yesterday, 

12 students bag West African 

Ceramics scholarships 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

L OKOJA—WEST 

African Ceremics 

Limited Ajaokuta yesterday 

said it would, this year 

establish a technical college 

to train youths in vocational 

entrepreneurship skills. 

General Manager of the 

company, Baska Rao 

disclosed this at the award 

of scholarship to 12 

students in higher 

institutions across the 

country as part of the 

organization’s corporate 

social responsibilities. 

The General Manager 

disclosed that when the 

technical college became 

operational, youths would 

be trained on indigenous 

technology and other forms 

of fabrication. 

He described youths as 

the future of any country’s 

technological 

advancement, stressing 

that youths of Ajaokuta 

community were important 

in the attainment of the 

organization’s objectives. 

He lauded the peaceful 

disposition of the Youths of 

Ajaokuta community to the 

success story of the 

industry, saying: "it is 

another way of rewarding 

their loyalty and for 

providing the enabling 

environment for the 

organization’s corporate 

objectives. 

“Well trained and skillful 

students are the backbone 

of the nation. This 

the Nigerian APPEALS 

Coordinator in Kano, Alhaji 

Hassan Ibrahim said that 

the sensitisation was to 

provide the beneficiaries 

with the knowledge of how 

to start and manage their 

businesses. 

He said that the 

sensitisation followed 

three-weeks training for the 

beneficiaries on fisheries, 

poultry farming and rice 

production. 

According to him, the 

APPEALS project, which is 

funded by the World Bank, 

was to support President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

commitment of boosting the 

agricultural sector in the 

country. 

He said that such would 

also contribute in increasing 

the exportation of goods to 

other countries, especially 

with the Federal 

Government initiative of 

Agricultural Promotion 

Policy aimed at boosting the 

sector. 

Ibrahim said: “APPEALS 

is ready to disqualify any 

beneficiary found wanting, 

as the empowerment programme 

is only meant for unemployed 

youths and women.” 

underscore why we in the 

West African Ceramics is 

not sparing any efforts 

towards assisting them in 

achieving their dreams of 

becoming quality 

graduates. We urge the 

students to make honesty, 

sincerity and hard work 

their focus, nation’s like 

China and India depends 

on their young growing 

population in their 

technological 

advancement. We urge the 

students to be problem 

solvers in making the 

country great 

“This scholarship which 

is the first in the series will 

accommodate more 

persons in the coming 

years. We advise the 

beneficiaries to make good 

use of this opportunity in 

order to encourage the 

organization to do more for 

others not captured in the 

first set of scholarship.” 

He noted that when the 

technical school comes on 

board it would assist others 

who are not in school 

acquire knowledge 

towards ensuring the 

organization and nation’s 

technological 

advancement. 

“Aside the establishment 

of the technical college, the 

organization has plans to 

fix the Ofunene road in 

Ajaokuta. The West African 

Ceramics will continue to 

partner with the host 

community towards 

making live meaningful for 

the host community.”


:Vanguard 

News 

FRSC unveils safety agenda for 2020 

By Chris Ochayi 

A management BUJA—THE 

of 

the Federal Road Safety 

Corps, FRSC, has called 

on Nigerians, 

particularly motorists to 

sustain collective efforts 

against the menace of 

road traffic accidents in 

the country. 

Corps Marshal of 

FRSC, Dr Boboye 

Oyeyemi, who gave the 

charge in his 2020 New 

Year message, submitted 

that joint effort remained 

the panacea for dealing 

with the challenges of 

road traffic crashes. 

Oyeyemi also 

applauded the critical 

road safety stakeholders 

for sustaining the tempo 

of campaigns in the 

outgoing year with call 

on them not to relent in 

the new year. 

Speaking through the 

Corps' Public Education 

Officer, Bisi Kazeem, the 

Corps Marshal 

expressed appreciation to 

the stakeholders for 

joining hands with the 

Corps in the effort to 

create 

safety 

consciousness among 

road users and live up to 

the expectation of making 

road safety a collective 

responsibility of all. This 

he said, remained the 

best guarantee to 

safeguarding public 

safety and creating safer 

road environment in the 

country. 

Oyeyemi called for more 

efforts in the coming year 

to consolidate on the 

gains of the campaigns in 

the outgoing year to 

restore sanity on the 

nation’s roads. He 

reiterated the importance 

of 2020 in ongoing global 

campaign for road safety, 

noting that as the last year 

before the evaluation of 

the success of the decade 

long campaigns for road 

safety set under the 

auspices of the United 

Nations Decade of Action 

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

SARAKI'S ILE ARUGBO DEMOLISHED!: Demolished small bungalow building tagged,''Ile-Arugbo'' 

belonging to the late political leader of the Kwara State, Dr Olusola Saraki yesterday. 

•Urges collective vigilance to tackle road carnage 

for Road Safety: 2011- 

2020, its success was very 

critical. The FRSC boss 

urged every Nigerian to 

remain committed to the 

ideals of the campaign for 

the nation to stand out in 

the evaluation of the 

successes of the 

campaign in the 

subsequent year. 

He said, “Nigeria was 

one of the membernations 

of the UN to 

activate the global road 

safety campaign when it 

was first launched in 2010. 

Since then, the nation has 

remained active in its 

campaigns through 

increased investment in 

road safety management 

and all the pillars of the 

campaign, which must be 

sustained for us to gain 

favourable rating in the 

measurement of our 

success story. 

“I urge all relevant 

stakeholders and 

members of the public not 

to relent their efforts in the 

coming year, for Nigeria 

to stand out among the 

comity of nations that 

participated actively in 

the campaign.” 

NECO dismisses recruitment report 

Social media, a tool directed against etiquettes of Islam — MUSLIM CLERICS 

....Call for regulation of social media use 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

A International 

BUJA—THE 

Organisation of Tijanniyah 

Brotherhood, IOTB, has 

called for the regulation of 

social media use in the 

country, saying they are 

tools directed against 

etiquettes of Islam and 

Muslims. 

Speakers at a one-day 

International conference 

organised in Abuja by IOTB 

and the Tijanniyah Muslim 

Students Association of 

Nigeria (TIMSAN), 

expressed the view that the 

teachings of Islam were 

currently receiving negative 

vibes online. 

Renowned Muslim cleric, 

Khalifa Ali Shaikh 

The FRSC spokesman 

stressed that the Corps 

Marshal reassured road 

travelers of their safety 

and convenience during 

the new year 

celebration, saying the 

FRSC personnel would 

remain in their earlier 

deployed posts 

throughout the period. 

He however enjoined 

them not to treat issues 

of road safety with levity, 

stressing that road traffic 

crashes don’t just 

happen, but are caused 

and can be averted, if 

motorists adhere strictly 

to traffic rules and 

regulations.'' 

He noted that all the 

FRSC rescue facilities as 

well as media platforms 

including the call centre 

would remain open and 

at alert to serve members 

of the public during the 

celebration and beyond. 

“For the avoidance of 

doubt, members of the 

public should not 

hesitate to report road 

traffic crashes, 

obstruction or other 

emergencies to the FRSC 

Toll Free line: 122 and 

Abulfathi, who spoke at the 

event, said: “In these 

precarious times, social 

media, mainstream media, 

and world politics are 

directed against the 

etiquettes of Islam and 

Muslims. 

“What we need in this era 

is mutual support and 

mentorship for our young 

and naive generation which 

we need to guide through 

the murky waters of 

civilisation for them to 

maintain their faith.” 

While speaking on the 

topic: ‘Social media and 

emerging challenges for 

Tijanniyya adherents’, 

Ustaz Awwal Yasin, urged 

Muslim youths to limit their 

use of social media, 

stressing that the 

tune into the National 

Traffic Radio on 107.1FM 

Abuja with the studio 

numbers: 09067000015 

and 08052998090 

respectively,” he 

disclosed. 

Recall that as part of the 

counter measures against 

road traffic crashes 

during Yuletide season 

with heightened traffic 

movements across the 

country, the FRSC 

instituted the yearly 

special end of year 

operations launched at 

the beginning of 

September to cover the 

ember months. This year’s 

campaign codenamed, 

“Operation Zero 

Tolerance for Road Traffic 

Crashes,” heightened 

from December 15 with 

massive deployment of 

personnel and logistics as 

well as monitors from the 

National Headquarters 

Abuja to the identified 

corridors and all parts of 

the roads across the 

country. The operation is 

expected to last till 15 

January, 2020 when the 

Corps Marshal who 

oversees the entire 

operations is expected to 

issue a stand down order. 

consequences of misuse 

outweighed the benefits. 

He said, “Social media 

serves as a militating device 

of high repute against true 

spirituality. Today, contents 

of highly corruptive 

capacities are brought to 

your timeline even without 

your consent. 

“This is truly a setback to 

an average Muslim striving 

to emulate the virtues of the 

Holy Prophet of Islam and 

seek spiritual cleansing.” 

Yasin, however advised 

Muslims not to quit social 

media, but to harness its 

potentials for the 

propagation of the Islamic 

faith. 

“Indulgence in social 

media might be a distracting 

addiction, but neglecting it 

•Warns unsuspecting public against 

falling for dupes 

By Joseph Erunke 

A N BUJA—THE 

a t i o n a l 

Examination Council, 

NECO has dismissed 

report that it is planning to 

recruit new members of 

staff. 

To this end, it warned 

unsuspecting members of 

the public against falling 

prey to the antics of some 

persons wanting to cash in 

on the report to dupe them. 

The council, in a 

statement, yesterday, by its 

Head, Information and 

Public Relations Division, 

Azeez Sani enjoined 

members of the public to 

disregard the online 

publication, saying it had 

“no plan to recruit new 

staff.” 

The statement read:”The 

attention of the National 

Examinations Council 

(NECO) has been drawn 

to an on-line publication 

purporting that the Council 

is planning to recruit new 

members of staff. 

“The Council enjoins 

members of the public to 

disregard the publication as 

it has no plan to recruit new 

Staff. 

“We also wish to state very 

strongly that the publication 

is the product of the 

imagination of fraudsters 

who are out to defraud 

unsuspecting members of 

the public. 

“NECO under the 

present leadership of the 

Acting Registrar/Chief 

Executive, Abubakar 

Mohammed Gana, and the 

Governing Board under Dr. 

Abubakar Mohammed are 

on the same page with the 

next level mantra of the 

Present administration of 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari, which is 

epitomised 

by 

transparency, adherence to 

due process, and zero 

tolerance for impunity.” 

Paradang urges gradual withdrawal 

of military from North East 

J OS—A 

Comptroller-General former 

of 

the Nigeria Immigration 

Service, Chief David 

Paradang has called for a 

gradual withdrawal of the 

military from the North East 

region instead of an abrupt 

demobilisation. 

Paradang, who was the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, senatorial candidate 

for Plateau Central District 

in the 2019 general 

elections, made the call in 

statement yesterday in Jos. 

The former comptrollergeneral 

said that the 

gradual withdrawal would 

allow paramilitary and 

other security agencies 

taking over enough time to 

integrate and familiarise 

themselves with the terrain. 

He said that it was 

imperative for efficient 

strategic operational 

requirements in order to 

sustain grounds covered in 

the fight against 

insurgency in the country. 

“Considering the 

complex and sophisticated 

totally might be a 

catastrophic disaster to the 

legacies of our forbearers 

and the aspirations of the 

Sufi generations to come. 

We should limit our usage 

of social media,” he 

stressed. 

In his remarks, Chairman 

of IOTB, Prof. Abdullahi El- 

Okene, called on the 

government to be proactive 

in protecting the image of 

Islam. 

He said, “The British 

people say a stitch in time 

saves nine, all these 

terrorism that have taken 

over some part of our 

country, the government 

has a lion share of the 

blame. 

“Islam is a religion of 

peace. So, when those who 

nature of these military 

operations in the north east 

region, only a gradual and 

well coordinated 

disengagement process of 

the military will give the 

desired result. 

“Systematic takeover 

strategy of well trained and 

equipped paramilitary 

personnel and other 

security agencies will 

sustain the intensity of the 

ongoing fight against Boko 

Haram in the region.” 

Paradang, however, 

expressed worry over the 

increasing number of 

abductions of aid workers 

in the region. 

“Aid workers are impartial 

support workers taking 

care of victims of the 

insurgency. These 

incidences do not speak 

well of the country. The 

Federal Government must 

network with all 

stakeholders and do 

everything possible to 

ensure their immediate 

release from captivity,” 

he said. 

do not know Islam come 

forward and they are 

teaching people to abuse 

(the religion), and the 

government which is 

supposed to regulate, see 

them and keep quiet and 

even support such people, 

then expect a problem like 

the one we are in.” 

El-Okene also urged the 

Muslim faithful to be 

conscious that Nigeria was 

theirs; adding that they 

must not rest on their oars 

until peace and spirituality 

dominate the nation. 

On his part, Chairman of 

the conference, Prof. Kasim 

Uthman Issa also charged 

Nigerians, particularly the 

members of the 

Tijaniyyah Islamic group 

to start the peace move 

from their doorsteps.


Vigilante member stabs 

man to death in Aba 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

U MUAHIA—A 

member of the Abia 

State Vigilante Service 

a.k.a. Bakassi Boys, has 

been arrested by the 

police for allegedly 

stabbing a man to death 

in Aba over ownership of 

a mobile phone. 

The deceased, 

identified as 

Chinemerem Ifeanyi, 

aged 17, said to be a 

native of Anambra State, 

was reportedly stabbed 

on several parts of his 

body by the suspect, 

Sunday Ukwu Kalu, 

aged 37. 

Vanguard gathered that 

Ifeanyi was returning 

from work at about 8p.m., 

at Agu Road, Ndiegoro 

community when the 

incident occurred. 

A resident, who 

pleaded anonymity, said 

that he saw the late 

Ifeanyi and a man 

arguing over the 

ownership of a phone. 

He said: “They were 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

U MUAHIA— 

M E M B E R 

representing Isuikwuato / 

Umunneochi federal 

constituency in the House 

of Representatives, Hon. 

Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has 

announced free 

registration fee for all West 

African Examination 

Council, WAEC, 

candidates from the 

constituency, in 2020. 

Onyejeocha, who is 

Deputy Chief Whip of the 

House, disclosed this 

yesterday, while handing 

over trophy to winners of 

the Hon. Nkeiru 

Onyejeocha annual 

football competition at 

Peace Comprehension 

School, Amuda Isuochi. 

The lawmaker said 

WAEC candidates in all 

public schools in the 

constituency would benefit 

from the gesture. 

She explained that the 

gesture is to mitigate the 

financial burden of WAEC 

registration on parents. 

She further explained 

that WAEC candidates in 

private schools would not 

benefit from the largesse 

as their parents or 

guardians could cater for 

them. 

The former House 

Committee Chairman on 

arguing over the 

ownership of a 

handset. I never knew 

the person was a 

vigilante. I thought 

they were street boys 

fighting. 

“It was when we 

heard a scream that we 

rushed there only to 

behold Ifeanyi in a pool 

of his own blood, 

stabbed on the neck 

and shoulder. The 

Bakassi man quickly 

abandoned the phone 

and tried to escape.” 

A source disclosed 

that some persons who 

recognised him, 

reported the matter at 

the Ndiegoro Police 

Station, from where 

officers came and 

arrested him. 

Contacted,Commissioner 

of Police, Abia State, 

Mr. Ene Okon, who 

confirmed the incident, 

said the case has been 

transferred to the State 

Criminal Investigation 

and Intelligence 

Department, SCIID, 

Umuahia. 

Onyejeocha announces 

free registration for 

2020 WAEC candidates 

Aviation said she had 

already held meeting 

with principals of public 

secondary schools in the 

constituency, where she 

asked them to make 

available to her office, 

the full list of all WAEC 

candidates in their 

various schools in the 

constituency. 

In her words: “I have 

decided to pay whatever 

is the total WAEC fee of 

all WAEC candidates in 

Isuikwuato/ 

Umunneochi federal 

constituency in 2020. 

“This is the way I want 

to stop our youths from 

leaving secondary 

schools without WAEC 

certificate.” 

She further said that 

after 2020, beneficiaries 

of the gesture would be 

limited to only indigent 

WAEC candidates. 

On the annual football 

competition, the fourterm 

legislator said it was 

intended to hunt new 

talents among teeming 

youths in the constituency, 

who she claimed 

were heavily endowed. 

Onyejeocha, who said 

she had assisted many 

youths in her 

constituency to secure 

employment in federal 

establishments, urged 

them to be focused and 

shun violence. 

Crisis in Anambra over sewage 

dumping site 

By Nwabueze 

Okonkwo 

O NITSHA—AN 

uneasy calm now 

pervades the atmosphere at 

Oba community in Idemili 

South Local Government 

Area of Anambra State, as 

the President of Aboji 

Akanano Union, Nze Dozie 

Nweke and some sewage 

contractors from the area 

are said to be at war over 

faeces dumping site. 

Briefing newsmen 

yesterday at the dumping 

site, Nweke explained that 

“before now, the faeces 

were being dumped at 

Idemili River within Obosi/ 

Oba boundary site before 

the contractors were 

stopped. 

“They now relocated to 

Aboji/Abaime/Isu land in 

Oba and finally diverted to 

Ugbo through Mgbo, 

By Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu 

LEADER of the 

Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, Mazi 

Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday, 

said the British government 

is Nigeria's greatest enemy, 

berating those asking IPOB 

to go through “appropriate 

channel” to secure Biafra, 

accusing them of being 

hypocrites. 

Mazi Kanu also alleged 

that the 12 northern states 

allegedly practicing Sharia 

law have systematically and 

unlawfully removed 

themselves from Nigeria 

and its constitution without 

the Nigerian government 

questioning their action, 

adding that Biafra agitation 

for self-determination 

Aboji, where they currently 

dump the faeces.” 

He warned the 

contractors to vacate the 

present site in their own 

interest, since the faeces 

could lead to an epidemic 

capable of causing THE 

death of scores of people. 

He said they should vacate 

or else, the community 

could take drastic measures 

against the sewage tankers 

and their collaborators. 

According to Nweke, “the 

three contractors, Ejike 

Madunagu who is the 

Chairman of Umuokokpa 

village, Obi Ufondu who is 

the Managing Director of 

Kent Villa/Hotels and Osita 

Agina, their spokesman, 

dump these faeces in a 

residential area and the 

nearby farmlands are being 

threatened by the quantity 

of faeces brought by 

sewage tankers numbering 

should equally not be 

questioned by Nigerian 

government and its people. 

The IPOB leader in the 

last edition of the 2019 

Radio Biafra broadcast and 

New Year message, alleged 

that British government is 

the greatest enemy of 

Nigeria as a country and 

Nigerian people, accusing 

them of supporting all 

manner of evils “in favour 

of the North they allegedly 

easily manipulate.” 

The IPOB leader also 

alleged that all the actions 

and projects of All 


APC, government in 

Nigeria are geared towards 

promotion of Islam, making 

all the Nigeria states 

embrace Sharia law and 

empower a certain ethnic 

over 250. 

“On a daily basis, over 400 

sewage tankers laden with 

faeces will come to this 

place and dump faeces, 

thereby exposing the 

people in this area to 

possible epidemic spread. 

“Both the President 

General of Oba community 

and the Regent have 

equally advised them to 

stop the dumping and look 

for an alternative place. 

Even the Ministry of 

Environment has also 

visited the dumping site 

and warned them to stop 

the dumping immediately. 

“The youths are 

threatening to deal with 

them, but I asked them to 

tarry awhile to first of all 

plead with the contractors 

to vacate the land.” 

Proceeds’ sharing 

formular is the 

issue—Contractors 

However, in a swift 

reaction when contacted, 

group in Nigeria with 

strong and committed 

British government 

support. 

According to Mazi Kanu, 

“when the Jihadists in 

Abuja wanted Sharia law, 

they did not go to the 

National Assembly or call 

for referendum to get it. 

Rather, the 12 northern 

states went outside the 

constitution of Nigeria and 

agreed and introduced 

Sharia law. 

“But they are asking us 

why we are agitating for 

Biafra and telling us to go 

through the appropriate 

channel when they did not 

go through appropriate 

channel to get Sharia they 

are practicing today. 

“Who in Nigeria today 

voted for Sharia law to be 

the spokesman of the 

contractors, Mr. Osita 

Agina, said: “Our 

problem with Nze Nweke 

is the sharing formula of 

the proceeds realised 

from the land and we told 

him that nothing much 

comes out from there. 

“The dumping site has 

been in existence since 

2014, even when I came 

back from South Africa. 

Other administrators 

before them were aware of 

the dumping site and it is 

just in the administration 

of Nweke that this issue 

came up. 

“They brought soldiers, 

police and other 

government officials to 

fight against us. 

“However, after 

explaining to them, they 

all agreed with us that 

what we are doing is 

lawful because we have 

our authority paper from 

the state government to do 

what we are doing.” 

EZIKPE: Governor Okezie Ikpeazu(3rd right); Senator T. A. Orji(middle; retired Commodore Ebitu 

Ukiwe (2nd left); Chief Vincent Ogbulafor(behind in red cap) and others during the 90th birthday celebration 

of Ezeogo Anagha Ezikpe in Abiriba, yesterday. 

British govt is worst enemy of Nigerians—Nnamdi Kanu 

practiced in northern 

states? Is Sharia in 

Nigerian constitution? 

They willingly subverted 

the constitution of Nigeria 

and imposed Sharia on 

Northern Nigerians. 

“If they believe in the 

constitution of Nigeria, they 

would not have introduced 

Sharia law within Nigeria. 

So, when they tell us not to 

agitate for Biafra, what is 

their moral right and 

justification for telling us 

that? 

“We should ask them 

which channel they used to 

introduce and get Sharia 

law being practiced in the 

12 northern states. You 

cannot tell us that one law 

operates for people in the 

North while another 

operates for the South.”

16 — Vanguard FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 

CONVOCATION: 

From left — Dr. 

Gani Gab Abisoye 

Bamgbose; his 

mother, Alhaja 

Sherifat Lawal, and 

his sister and 

sponsor, Mrs 

Safuriat Omodayo 

Taiwo, at Dr. Gani 

Bamgbose’s convocation 

with a Ph.D. 

in English Language; 

specialisation 

in the Language 

of Humour 

as a Tool for Social 

Re-Engineering. 

Social media, a tool directed against etiquettes 

of Islam — Muslim clerics 

...Call for regulation of social media use 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

ABUJA — THE Inter 

national Organisation 

of Tijanniyah Brotherhood, 

IOTB, has called for 

the regulation of social 

media use in the country, 

saying they are tools directed 

against etiquettes of 

Islam and Muslims. 

Speakers at a one-day 

International conference 

organised in Abuja by 

IOTB and the Tijanniyah 

Muslim Students Association 

of Nigeria (TIMSAN), 

expressed the view that the 

teachings of Islam were 

currently receiving negative 

vibes online. 

Renowned Muslim cleric, 

Khalifa Ali Shaikh Abulfathi, 

who spoke at the 

event, said: "In these precarious 

times, social media, 

mainstream media, 

and world politics are directed 

against the etiquettes 

of Islam and Muslims. 

"What we need in this era 

is mutual support and 

mentorship for our young 

and naive generation 

DELSU VC to tackle poor ranking 

By Henry Ojelu 

THE Vice Chancel 

lor of the Delta 

State University, Abraka, 

Professor Andy Egwunyenga, 

has said that adequate 

measures have 

been put in place to tackle 

the drop of the institution 

in a recent ranking 

of Universities in the 

country. 

DELSU in the ranking, 

Delta new CP, Inuwa assumes office 


ASABA — Mr Hafiz 

Mohammed Inuwa, 

yesterday assumed office 

as the new Commissioner 

of Police, Delta State Command. 

Inuwa who is a member 

of the National Institute, 

mni, takes over from Mr 

Adeyinka Adeleke who has 

been nominated to attend 

a course at the National 

Institute of Policy and Strategy 

Studies, NIPSS Kuru, 

near Jos. 

The new Commissioner 

of Police who hails from Jigawa 

state, was born on 

March 21, 1964. He holds 

first degree in Arts, and 

Masters degree in Public 

Policy and Administration, 

MPPA. 

He was enlisted into the 

Nigeria Police Force on 3rd 

March, 1990, after attending 

the elite Police Academy 

Kaduna and promoted 

Commissioner of Police on 

31st October, 2017. He is 

married with children. 

Inuwa has promised to 

sustain the existing security 

architecture that is in 

place aimed at safeguarding 

lives and property of 

Deltans and non Deltans 

alike. 

The new Commissioner 

who spoke while taking 

over from his predecessor, 

urged members of the public 

to always co-operate with 

the Police and other security 

agencies to enhance 

crime fighting and control. 

Handing over to Inuwa, 

Adeleke thanked the government 

and people of the 

State for their co-operation 

and urged them to extend 

same to his successor. 

which we need to guide 

through the murky waters 

of civilisation for them to 

maintain their faith." 

While speaking on the 

topic: 'Social media and 

emerging challenges for 

Tijanniyya adherents', 

Ustaz Awwal Yasin, urged 

Muslim youths to limit 

their use of social media, 

stressing that the consequences 

of misuse outweighed 

the benefits. 

He said, "Social media 

serves as a militating device 

of high repute against 

true spirituality. Today, contents 

of highly corruptive 

capacities are brought to 

your timeline even without 

your consent. 

"This is truly a setback to 

an average Muslim striving 

to emulate the virtues 

of the Holy Prophet of Islam 

and seek spiritual 

cleansing." 

Yasin, however advised 

Muslims not to quit social 

media, but to harness its 

potentials for the propagation 

of the Islamic faith. 

"Indulgence in social 

media might be a distracting 

addiction, but neglecting 

it totally might be a catastrophic 

disaster to the 

legacies of our forbearers 

and the aspirations of the 

Sufi generations to come. 

We should limit our usage 

of social media," he 

stressed. 

In his remarks, Chairman 

of IOTB, Prof. Abdullahi 

El-Okene, called on 

the government to be proactive 

in protecting the 

image of Islam. 

He said, "The British 

people say a stitch in 

time saves nine, all these 

terrorism that have taken 

over some part of our 

country, the government 

has a lion share of the 

blame. 

dropped from the 3rd 

position to the 15th position, 

and was placed 

in the 52nd position 

from the 28th position 

among all federal and 

state universities. 

Addressing newsmen 

in his country home at 

Atuma Iga, Oshimili 

north local government 

area of Delta state, Professor 

Egwunyenga, 

blamed the development 

on the institution's 

ignorance of the competitiveness 

of the university 

system, which 

caused major academic 

standard enhancement 

parameters to be taken 

for granted. 

He said it was unrealistic 

to think that things 

would remain the same 

in DELSU which was the 

only university in the 

state in 1992, now that 

there were eight universities, 

stressing that the 

competition played up 

by the increase in the 

number of universities 

had made investment in 

key areas imperative. 

They include staff welfare, 

provision of working 

tools for effective 

teaching and learning, 

expansion of facilities, 

Information and Communication 

Technology, 

research and publications, 

which he promised 

to prioritize in order 

to make DELSU a 

leading state university 

in the country within the 

next two years. 

Stocks jump in bullish start for 

2020 

Stocks started the year, 2020 on the front foot, 

building on strong gains for many asset classes in 

2019 as investors cheered the latest policy move by 

China’s central bank to support its economy. The dollar and 

Treasuries strengthened. 

The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq 

Composite indexes all climbed to record highs in the wake of one of 

the best years for American stocks in the past decade, and the Stoxx 

Europe 600 Index advanced for the first session in three as every 

sector traded in the green. Gauges in Hong Kong and Shanghai 

jumped more than 1% after the People’s Bank of China said it will 

increase the supply of cheap funding to banks, in line with market 

expectations. The yuan showed little reaction. 

The euro fell as data showed the region’s manufacturing downturn 

deepened in December. The dollar stayed higher as U.S. jobless 

claims dropped to a four-week low, while the pound weakened 

following its best quarter in a decade. After a stellar 2019 across most 

major assets, focus now shifts to the year ahead. Thursday gave 

investors the latest read on Chinese manufacturing, with the Caixin 

PMI dipping slightly from its November level. 

but remaining well in the expansionary zone. On the 

trade front, U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week 

said he expects to sign the first phase of a deal with 

China on Jan. 15, though Beijing has yet to confirm the 

date. 

South Africa’s rand firms slightly 

on trade deal optimism 

South Africa’s rand firmed marginally on 

Thursday, with sentiment towards emerging 

markets broadly boosted by U.S. President Donald 

Trump’s announcement on the signing of a trade 

deal with China, and on higher commodity prices. 

Trump said on Tuesday the Phase 1 trade deal with 

China would be signed on Jan. 15 at the White 

House, spurring demand for currencies of 

economies reliant on exports to the world’s two mega 

economies. 

The Chinese central bank’s decision on Wednesday 

to cut the amount of cash that banks must hold as 

reserves, a move set to boost economic activity, also 

cheered emerging market sentiment. 

Zimbabwe’s Delta lager sales 

hit by power, fuel shortages 

Zimbabwe’s Delta Corporation, the country’s 

largest drinks maker, reported a 48% fall in halfyear 

lager sales compared with the same period last 

year after output and distribution were hit by 

shortages of electricity and fuel. 

The worst economic crisis in a decade in Zimbabwe 

has been compounded by a drought that has 

reduced water levels in dams needed for hydropower, 

leading to 18-hour electricity cuts that are 

roiling industry and mines. 

Delta, which is 40%-owned by Anheuser-Busch 

InBev, the world’s largest brewer, said on Tuesday 

that shortages of foreign currency meant the 

company also struggled to import raw materials 

during the half-year ending September. 

“Our production and distribution operations were 

disrupted by the shortages of electricity and fuel, 

which in themselves are a manifestation of the 

limited availability of foreign currency,” said Delta. 

Egypt has planted nearly 3m 

feddans of wheat — Official 

Egypt will have planted 3 million feddans 

(1.26 million hectares) of wheat within the next 

two to three days and still aims to plant a total of 

3.5 million feddans this season, an Agriculture 

Ministry official said on Wednesday. 

The previously announced target is part of efforts 

by Egypt, the world’s largest wheat importer, to 

increase the area used for growing strategic crops 

and improve food security, said Abbas al-Shennawi, 

head of services and follow-up at the ministry. 

Egypt harvested 8.5 million tonnes of domestic 

wheat from around 3.16 million feddans last season. 

Its current planting season began in mid-November. 

Stories credited to Reuters


Thoughts for 2020 

THE point at which an old 

year draws to a close and 

a new year beckons is always 

a good time to reflect on the 

state of the nation and on the 

way in which we conduct 

ourselves as individuals. 

I have long felt that 

shameless sycophancy is 

worryingly prevalent in our 

society and that the 

widespread penchant for 

relentless arse-licking is one 

of the things that holds 

Nigeria back from the 

greatness it can achieve…in 

the sense that VIPs who are 

capable of being pleasant, 

willing-to-learn and 

professionally effective are 

actively encouraged, by 

obsequious aides/cronies 

(and cringeing citizens in 

general) to be downright 

dictatorial and incompetent. 

Dictatorial and 

incompetent 

I grew up in a family that 

was headed by a VIP (my late 

father was an ambassador, 

bank chairman, minister, etc); 

and I remember daddy telling 

me that he never allowed 

himself to fall into the trap of 

believing the oleaginous 

praise-singers who constantly 

flattered him, even when he 

made mistakes or failed to 

fulfil his potential! 

My father preferred people 

who told him the truth. But he 

was rare. 

Speaking truth to power is 

almost a criminal offence in 

this country, even if the truth 

is uttered deferentially and by 

someone who genuinely 

cares about the VIP in 

question and wants to help 

him or her succeed…or to 

avoid disaster and disgrace. 

Typical Naija VIPs are 

aggressively allergic to 

constructive criticisms and 

honest discussions that 

challenge them to consider 

alternative opinions, 

inconvenient facts and other 

peoples’ feelings. 

And I blame the entire 

society for pampering VIPs to 

the point where they lose the 

ability to think and behave 

optimally…and cannot 

tolerate intelligent debate or 

treat their fellow human 

beings well. 

OK so VIPs are put on 

pedestals all over the world. 

But Nigerians are especially 

prone to overdoing the whole 

pedestal thing. 

When I was a young UKbased 

journalist, we called 

our bosses by their first names, 

were encouraged to share our 

ideas with them, weren’t 

penalised if we disagreed 

with them and sometimes 

socialised with them very 

informally in bars and 

restaurants. 

Speaking truth to 

power is almost a 

criminal offence in 

this country, even if 

the truth is uttered 

deferentially and by 

someone who 

genuinely cares 

about the VIP in 

question and wants 

to help him or her 

succeed 

But we still knew that there 

was a chasm between their 

status and our status. And we 

were careful not to overstep 

boundaries. At the end of the 

day, there was a limit to the 

egalitarianism we enjoyed. 

But I didn’t experience the 

penchant for unconditionally 

deifying folks who are above 

one in the pecking order until 

I moved to Nigeria. And it 

happens in both the private 

and public sectors…and 

extends beyond obvious 

power centres like 

government. 

Anyone who happens to be 

in a position of authority is 

treated like a can-do-nowrong 

genius-monarch-saint 

by those around them. And I 

think it is fair to say that too 

many Nigerians - including 

far too many journalists, by 

the way! - carry on like 

conquered serfs. 

Marriage 

register 

My friend, Ademola Henry 

Adigun, a development 

expert and ex-banker, 

recently posted the following 

ruminations on his Facebook 

page; and I couldn’t agree 

more with his observations or 

conclusion: 

During my brother’s church 

wedding, I noticed with 

dismay an occurrence 

that challenges many in 

leadership. 

Returning from signing the 

marriage register, the 

families left first. Then the 

senior pastor followed. 

Photographers were 

attempting to take pictures of 

the couple…[when] an 

appointed or self-appointed 

aide rudely…in the way you 

see politicians being 

guarded…used his body to 

block all of them. He was 

paving way for a pastor who 

was in no way being impeded 

from passing. 

At Obafemi Awolowo 

University, I used to watch in 

amusement and disdain how 

[students] treated the heads 

of fellowships. 

They would behave like 

slaves. The young pastors 

would often let [the 

adulation] get to their heads 

and would walk with an air 

of authority, commanding, 

intimidating and 

blackmailing their co 

students. Their word was law. 

Many exploited sexually 

many of the “sisters”. 

The same group make it to 

church outside campus and 

demand servitude from their 

followers or do not discourage 

it. They show nothing of the 

humility of the Christ they 

claim they follow… 

That servile attitude is why 

politicians assume they are 

gods…Why many here think 

by demanding leadership 

and accountability, you are 

insulting elected officials. 

Why many confuse a 

president with a king and 

why many governors are 

emperors. 

Servile 

attitude 

I am Yoruba. And if there is 

anything that tribe is known 

for, respect is one of them. So, 

I subscribe to that. But I do 

not subscribe to making gods 

of men or leaders. 

I have only used the church 

as an example. Certainly, 

being subservient is a 

character of the average 

Nigerian [within many other 

contexts]. Some CEOs even 

have designated lifts. 

I recall my first memo to the 

chairman of a bank...I had to 

be taught how to write “my 

prayer is” and all that crap. I 

do not think the man might 

have minded, but…as is the 

case in all work 

environments, there were 

those who thought him a king 

and not a leader that he 

prefers to be. 

Don’t raise your kids to be 

mumus. Teach them to be 

respectful not docile. Nigeria 

will gain! 

OK, so I hope that today’s 

column has been thoughtprovoking; 

and I wish you all 

a very happy new year. 

May you put any mistakes 

you made in 2019 behind you. 

May you become a better 

person and be forgiven by 

anyone you have offended. 

May your dreams come true. 

May you go from strength to 

strength. May you end 2020 

triumphantly. 

Responses 

To 

Donzol2002@Yahoo.co.uk Or 

To 0802 747 6458 Or 0811 675 

9752. Please kindly note that 

unless you specifically request 

anonymity, your email or text 

message may be published 

with your name and contact 

details attached.


UNSUBSTANTIATED claims of 

potency of some medicines, both 

orthodox and traditional, to snare 

gullible buyers, have been proliferating 

in our society. The regulatory 

authorities, since the exit of the late 

Prof. Dora Akunyili, appear to have 

gone to sleep in their duties regarding 

this danger. 

Take a public transport any day in any 

Nigerian metropolis, or look at the 

roadsides. Peddlers of these medicines 

are advertising their products openly, 

and in most instances, with 

loudspeakers. 

They make all sorts of outlandish 

claims, bandying thousands of ailments 

their medicines can cure. As a result of 

those claims desperate and 

unsuspecting members of the public fall 

victim to their antics. 

Around April 20 this year, a video of 

the corpses of a man and his two 

daughters who allegedly died after 

taking herbal medicine in Anambra 

Need to control medicine peddlers 

State went viral on the social media. 

Recently too, a man was reported to 

have died after drinking herbal mixture 

he bought from a peddler who had 

assured him of its efficacy as a 

detoxifier. Many such cases are not 

reported in the mainstream media due 

to lack of medical reports showing 

correlations between those deaths and 

the ingested medicines. 

In Nigeria, causes of deaths are 

seldom investigated through autopsies 

which many people consider as costly 

and emotionally exacting, while a lot 

of others are buried within 24 hours 

for religious reasons. 

But in developed countries, it is 

different. On March 21, 2017, for 

instance, CNN Health showed an 

announcement by public health 

officials, of a woman who died after 

consuming a poisonous herbal tea 

purchased in San Francisco's 

Chinatown. 

They urged people to throw away tea 

purchased from Sun Wing Wo Trading 

Company. The National Agency for 

Food and Drug Administration and 

Control, NAFDAC, health officials, and 

other relevant agencies in Nigeria, must 

work harder and expand the scope of 

the fight against fake drugs. Agreed, 

some of those peddled medicines may 

not be fake drugs, but they are sold by 

unauthorised persons. 

Secondly, there are no 

pharmacological proofs that those 

medicines can cure all the ailments their 

peddlers claim they cure, neither are 

they appropriately prescribed. 

Moreover, many of those medicines are 

not over-the-counter drugs but they are 

indiscriminately dispensed to gullible 

members of the public. 

The failure of our healthcare system 

or outright lack of it in many parts of 

the country is partially responsible for 

this dangerous trend. Another reason 

is the unemployment scourge in the 

country which is mounting pressure on 

many unemployed persons to do 

whatever they can lay their hands on 

for survival. 

This, however, is not the way to go. 

NAFDAC and health officials should 

halt this madness and save our people. 

OPINION 

PMB, Nigeria’s problems and mathematics solution 

By OLUDAYO TADE 

AS usual, uncertainties and tensions 

continue to envelope Nigerians as they 

throng churches and mosques to thank ‘God’ 

for making them cross-over into 2020. Being 

thankful to the Supreme-Being is anchored 

on the fact that only the living can hope to 

enjoy the basic goodness of life even when such 

goodness is perpetually scarce in Nigeria’s 

socio-political space. Surviving a topsy-turvy 

2019 is itself a feat as it was for the majority 

characterised by unemployment, poor 

infrastructure, insecurity and deaths, 

culminating in hopeless docility. In 2019, the 

minority ruling class commenced and devised 

means of narrowing civic spaces. 

Although there have been some movement 

in anti-corruption drive (with recoveries by 

EFCC, ICPC, etc.) and boosting home-grown 

economy, Nigeria’s socio-economic space 

remains murky for the pummelled hoi-polloi. 

We must recall that it is this similar poor and 

uncertain condition that led the philosophic 

Olanrewaju Fasasi, also known as Sound 

Sultan, to construct Nigeria as metaphoric 

Jagbajantis high school. 

While ushering Nigeria into the new 

millennium in 2000, Sound Sultan x-rayed 

Nigeria’s higgledy-piggledy situation drawing 

similarities between our complex problems 

with the problems associated with solving 

mathematical equations. In other words, 

mathematical equations have solutions if the 

formula designed for it is appropriately 

applied. By that, Sound Sultan moved away 

from seeking spiritual solutions to Nigeria’s 

problems but located the solution in observing 

basic ethics governing human conducts. As 

such, a country like Nigeria in 2020 needs a 

‘mathematical’ president who can apply the 

right formula to solve our numerous 

Jagbajantis problems. If we do not believe we 

have problems, then we deny its objective 

existence and no step will be taken towards 

ameliorating that social condition. 

Sound Sultan in the song titled 

“Mathematics”, observed that our problems 

are as numerous as our population. Around 

year 2000, Nigeria’s population was around 

120 million but today we are above 200 million 

peoples with a substantial percentage of this 

population resting in the bosom of poverty. 

This is what places us in the inglorious position 

as home to the poorest people on earth, yet we 

have the richest men on the continent! With 

many people and many sins, it is easy to 

understand why poor people cry while the rich 

man dey mess and leaders dey lie. Sound 

Sultan’s provocative lyrics underscore the fact 

that the misnomer between primitive 

accumulation and looting of common 

patrimony is the condition which dey make 

young boys and girls join bad gangs and the 

answer you get na wetin dey make innocent 

man rot inside jail and dem no fit grant am 

bail.....everybody join jagbajantis solve 

mathematics wey dey dabaru our continent e 

eee. 

Besides, population explosion is a major 

concern in Sound Sultan’s ‘Mathematics’. 

While the world’s population was six billion 

when Nigeria had 120 million people, the 

world population is now 7.8 billion and 

Nigeria now has over 200 million people! With 

poor social services, Sound Sultan attributes 

the desperate move by Nigerians to relocate to 

saner climes where their chances can be well 

sustained as the consequence of over 

population: “Hmmm...the answer you get na 

wetin dey make people dey jah, comot for naija, 

the answer you get na wetin dey make people 

dey travel by hook or crook; the answer you get 

na wetin dey make people dey sleep for embassy 

for visa; the answer you get na wetin dey make 

people dey sell property for 

ticket.....kere....kere....ohhhh”. Unfortunately no 

plan to work on the population of the country 

yet; if we have anything to do in this decade we 

must find solution to geometric progression in 

human population while economy moves at 

arithmetic progression or we continue to face 

the consequences of crime and criminality. 

For every problem, there is a solution. 

BODMAS, which we were taught as Bracket 

of Division, Multiplication, Addition and 

Subtraction is also useful in helping President 

Muhammadu Buhari solve our problems. 

According to Sound Sultan, B-Brotherhood 

The President must not leave 

us with a divided country 

where the poorest of the poor 

on earth domicile in a neocolonial 

contraption 

implies loving our neighbour as ourselves. A 

people at peace with their neighbour will 

engender peace in the land but what can the 

entire nation get when the Aso Rock families 

are antagonistically opposed? ‘O’ stands for 

objectivity in all we do. Primordial sentiment 

and tribal loyalty guide all that we do in the 

country with grievous implication on growth 

and development. 

If we are all objective, mediocrity will be 

silenced and meritocracy will be elevated. D- 

Democracy is observance of the rule of law - 

supremacy of the law, equality before the law 

and respect for fundamental human rights. 

Are we observing these? If what ought to be 

done is executed in line with the tenets of 

democratic tradition, tensions and divisions 

will be minimised and no one will cry for 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

injustice. M-modification of our bad 

behaviours is sacrosanct to having a sane 

country. A-accountability is open governance. 

It is essential in building trust and ensures that 

every part of the country is not short-changed 

because of the greed of those holding the levers 

of power. Finally, Sound Sultan conceives S as 

solidarity. There are many dividing lines and 

the President must ensure that fences of 

negative social relations are pulled down to 

have a strong united country as, according to 

sound Sultan, a divided nation is antithetical 

to peace and development. 

We just entered a new decade and how the 

decade will be is a function on how we work on 

our population and unimpressive economy. 

From followership to leadership, we must be 

committed to working in the interest of the 

country and ensure that the ties that bind us is 

not severed. This can only work where the 

leadership shows signs of applying the 

BODMAS solution to solve our problems. Just 

like a teacher comes with mathematical 

solution to mathematical problems, Mr 

President as the ‘teacher’ must be objectively 

convinced to be doing the right things all the 

time. Preparatory to his standing down in 2023, 

the legacy of a united and prosperous country 

remains the best gift Mr President can 

bequeath to Nigerians. 

The President must ensure that the local 

economy is boosted with quality education and 

health infrastructure good enough to meet the 

needs of the ‘big men and women’ and stop 

capital flight. Above all, the President must 

not leave us with a divided country where the 

poorest of the poor on earth domicile in a neocolonial 

contraption. Nigeria must not be a 

country where the rich oppresses and 

suppresses the poor while the poor show 

displeasure with destructive aggression. 

•Dr Tade, a sociologist, wrote via 

dotad2003@yahoo.com

FG spent N55.5bn to subsidise petrol in 

December 2019 

By Michael Eboh 

THE Federal Government, 

through the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, spent N55.58 billion to 

subsidise Premium Motor Spirit, 

PMS, also known as petrol, in 

December 2019. 

The Petroleum Products Pricing 

Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, the 

Nigerian petroleum downstream 

sector regulator, disclosed this in a 

data obtained yesterday by Vanguard 

According to PPPRA’s pricing 

templates for PMS, between December 

1 and December 31, 2019, 

the Expected Open Market Price 

(EOMP) of petrol stood at an average 

of N176.4 per litre, meaning 

that at a regulated price of N145 

per litre, the Federal Government 

paid an average of N31.4 per litre 

of the commodity as subsidy. 

In addition, the volume of PMS 

supplied across the country, as obtained 

from the PPPRA’s Daily 

Truck-Out Reports for PMS for 

December 2019, revealed that 1.77 

billion litres of PMS was supplied 

across Nigeria in the month under 

review, translating to an average 

daily PMS supply of 57.1 million 

litres. 

Therefore, paying an average of 

N31.4 per litre on 1.77 billion litres, 

means that the federal government 

spent N55.28 billion to subsidise 

PMS for Nigerians in December 

2019 alone. 

The amount expended as 

subsidy on PMS in December 

2019 represented 16.3 per cent of 

the N306 billion budgeted for fuel 

subsidy in the 2019 budget. 

The EOMP of petrol is the price 

the commodity is expected to be 

sold to motorists if the government 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$ 127.45 -2.25 

$2,541.00 1.00 

13.13 - 0.29 

$12.18 -0.04 

$66.12 0.12 

$61.01 -0.05 

306 306.5 307 

403.9812 404.6413 405.3014 

342.414 342.9735 343.533 

315.1715 315.6865 316.2015 

2.8128 2.8174 2.822 

0.5028 0.5128 0.5228 

422.4568 423.1471 423.8374 

43.9387 44.011 44.0832 

81.5652 81.6985 81.8318 

421.5320 422.2192 422.9082 

45.9908 46.066 46.1411 

21.8235 21.8591 21.8948 

CBN Exchange rate as at 02/01/2020 

•From left, Babatunde Abdulqadir, Head, Internal Audit; Adedayo Amzat, Group Managing 

Director; Stella Duru, Non-Executive Director; Idris Bello, Head, Finance, and Ever Obi, Head, 

Risk Management, all of Zedcrest Capital at the company’s End of Year Party recently in Lagos. 

stops paying subsidy on the commodity. 

However, as at today, subsidy 

is borne by the NNPC on behalf 

of the federation. 

The NNPC, which is currently the 

sole importer of PMS into the country, 

bears the cost of subsidizing the 

commodity and deducts the cost 

from earnings from its domestic sale 

of crude oil and gas, before making 

remittances to the Federation Account. 

Giving a breakdown of the EOMP 

and amount incurred as subsidy in 

some selected days in December, 

the PPPRA reports declared that 

from December 2 to December 6, 

EOMP of PMS stood at N166.44 

per litre, N165.98 per litre, N170.36 

… Fuel subsidy averages N31.4/litre 

Aliko Dangote remains richest person in Africa 

…Worth $14.8bn, moves to 96th in the world 

By Peter Egwuatu Dangote, who remains the 

ALHAJI Aliko Dangote has 

remained the richest person 

in African for the eight con- 

secutive year, even as 

he significantly 

moved up in the 

World billionaires’ 

list. 

He emerged 96th 

richest person in the 

world, with an estimated 

worth of $14.8 

billion, as against his 

previous ranking of 

103rd in the world. 

richest man in Africa for the 8th 

year running, was the only Nigerian 

on the list of the top 100 

billionaires, as released by 

Bloomberg in its yearly billionaires 

list. 

Jeff Bezos remains the richest 

in the world with $115 billion 

in his kitty, while Bill Gates and 

Bernard Arnault followed as 

2nd and 3rd respectively with 

$111.3 billion and $105 billion. 

Warren Buffett was the fourth 

with $89.3 billion on the world 

billionaires’ chart. 

Dangote’s estimated worth in 


Zedcrest Capital to unveil asset mgt firm in 2020 

ZEDCREST Capi 

tal Limited has 

announced plans 

set up two business 

lines that would become 

operational this 

year including an asset 

management firm. 

The Group Chief 

Executive Officer of 

Zedcrest Capital Limited 

Adedayo Amzat, 

disclosed this at the 

company’s End of Year 

Party & Awards Night 

per litre and N171.12 per litre respectively, 

translating to subsidy of 

N21.44 per litre, N20.98 per litre, 

N25.36 per litre and N26.12 per litre 

respectively. 

For December 9 and 12, EOMP, 

according to the PPPRA templates 

stood at N172.73 per litre and 

N172.92 per litre respectively, 

translating to subsidy of N27.73 per 

litre and N27.92 per litre respectively, 

while for December 16 to December 

20, EOMP stood at 

N177.33, N77.32, N174.81, 

N177.92 and N180.22 per litre respectively, 

translating correspondingly 

to subsidy of N32.33 per litre, 

N32.32 per litre, N29.81 per litre, 

N32.92 and N35.22 per litre. 

saying the company will also 

increase its double digit growth 

of existing businesses. 

Explaining his vision for the 

firm, Amzat said Zedcrest Capital 

has been positioned to be a 

foremost financial services holding 

group in Nigeria, adding that 

the firm is currently executing the 

first stages of its journey. 

“We are executing the stage 

one right now and we are around 

50 per cent on that journey. I hope 

that by this time next year we will 

be around 80 per cent. Stage two 

In addition, for December 23 and 

24, the amount incurred as subsidy 

by the federal government stood at 

N35.78 per litre, N37.53 per litre 

respectively, as EOMP for those 

days respectively, stood at N180.78 

per litre and N182.53 per litre, 

while for December 27, EOMP of 

PMS rose to N184.64 per litre, translating 

to subsidy of N37.53 per litre. 

The federal government expended 

N37.58 as subsidy per litre 

of PMS on 30th December, as 

EOMP stood at N182.58 per litre, 

while December 31, 2019, EOMP 

stood at N181.07 per litre, leaving 

the Federal Government to pay 

N36.07 per litre as subsidy on PMS. 

the latest Bloomberg ranking far 

outstrips an earlier ranking by 

the Forbes Magazine, another 

elite publication which placed 

his fortune at $10.8 billion in the 

2019 Forbes Africa’s Billionaires’ 

list released in January. 

Africa’s richest man, with his 

improved worth of $14.8 billion, 

controls Dangote Industries, a 

closely held conglomerate. The 

Lagos, Nigeria-based company 

owns sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest 

cement producer, Dangote 

Cement, which had revenue of 

N901.2 billion in 2018. It also 

has interests in sugar, salt, flour, 

fertiliser and packaged food. 

will be to rebirth ourselves as a 

proprietary investment firm 

where we will be making strategic 

investment in every sector of 

the economy, especially financial 

services. 

“We recently received FMGQ 

Gold Award as the best brokerage 

services provider in Nigeria. 

Zedvance, our consumer lending 

firm is one of the top three provider 

of non-bank lending services 

in Nigeria. 

“As at today, we have more 

than 100,000 customers. In 2020, 

Equities market off 

to a good start, as 

investors gain 

N13bn 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

THE equities market 

started off the new 

year on a positive footing 

yesterday in consolidation of 

gains recorded on the last trading 

day in December, as investors 

gained N13 billion in 

the first trading day of the year. 

The local bourse had on December 

31, 2019, risen by 0.87 

percent with the benchmark 

index – All Share Index (ASI) 

-rising to 26,842.07 points from 

26,609.34 points the previous 

day, following investors’ interest 

in heavyweight stocks. 

This trend persisted yesterday, 

as the ASI moved up to 

26,867.79 points, following investors’ 

interest in MTN Nigeria 

Communication’s stocks. 

Similarly, market 

capitalisation (total value of 

listed equities) inched up by 

0.10 percent to N12.971 trillion, 

resulting in N13 billion gains 

in investors’ wealth. 

This, however, contradicts 

analysts expectation, which 

suggests that the domestic equities 

market would remain 

challenged through the year 

owing to a combination of factors, 

ranging from weak fiscal 

reforms to global trade wars. 

In their outlook for the year, 

analysts at Cordros Capital. 

Stated, “We are entering a 

more challenging investment 

landscape in 2020. This is because, 

the combination of a 

lack of market-friendly reforms 

locally, a weak sovereign fiscal 

position, lingering global trade 

protectionism and weak global 

growth should result in somewhat 

turbulent domestic capital 

markets. 

“Our base case for equities 

posits muted stock market performance 

for the year, culminating 

in a replay of the 2014 to 

2016 period wherein the market 

declined for three consecutive 

years, losing a cumulative 

39.7 percent. Fundamentals are 

not strong enough to drive a 

natural correction in the equities 

market. 

“However, recent policy directives 

from the Central Bank of 

Nigeria (CBN) might offer 

some respite to the domestic 

bourse in the absence of much 

needed market friendly reforms. 

Broadly, the themes for 

the equities market in 2020 remain 

the same as in 2019, with 

domestic and external factors 

as the major drivers”. 

Meanwhile, sectorial analysis 

showed that with the exception 

of the insurance sector, 

which rose by 0.97 percent, all 

the other sectoral indices 

closed negative. 

we will launch our asset management 

firm. We have the license 

and the team is ready to 

start. We are also starting a business 

that will enable crossover 

payments, and everything is in 

place already. 

“We are playing along all the 

important vertical of financial 

services and that is why I said 

we are in stage one. In the new 

year, you will see us playing in 

four different verticals as compared 

to the two that we already 

do.

20— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY ARY 3, 2020 —21 

Happy New Year to all 

Homemakers out there! No 

doubt, 2019 was a good year for 

homemakers. Lots of things were 

discussed every week to 

improve the lots of women 

whether full time or career 

women. It doesn't matter what 

others say about their 2019, 

always look at the area of your 

strength and thank God for it. 

Your strength is another's 

weakness and your weakness is 

another's strength. 

Christians always say it is what 

you thank God for that always 

appreciate. Your weakness can 

never be permanent when you 

know the right steps to take. So, 

learn to appreciate yourself, your 

strength and your weakness, it 

is the right direction to a 

successful 2020. 

All through 2019 and previous 

years, I have never heard or 

seen any award event organised 

for the best family that wore the 

most expensive clothing or the 

best family that traveled the 

highest or the best family that 

drove the most exotic cars except 

you show me one or it will 

happen tomorrow. Looking good, 

they say, is good business and 

not looking expensive. Eating 

the right diet is good and not 

eating to break your purse. 

Travelling outside the country for 

business or vacation is good but 

it mustn't be a show or 

competition with anyone. You 

are not competing with anyone, 

except with yourself. 

In year 2020, plan to make your 

family better because every 

nation is the extension of its 

family. Everything that happens 

whether corruption, war, crime, 

abused of all forms and 

depression that define a nation, 

emanates from the family. If the 

family is right, the nation will be 

alright. What Africa especially 

our country, Nigeria is still 

enjoying, is the remaining values 

left in the family. Every country 

facing major breakdown or crisis 

is because they have totally lost 

the family values system. 

This year, let Homemakers 

uphold Africa values in their 

homes if truly we want a better 

nation. Our values are honesty, 

integrity, respect for people and 

treating others with hospitality, 

morals, cultural and religion 

values. If every homemaker can 

uphold these in the family, the 

nation will be a better place. 

For thanksgiving for the New 

Year whether Christian or 

Muslim, you need something 

away from the traditional rice 

and chicken. Our recipe for this 

No award yet for women who 

like to outshine other women 

...Know that you are competing with yourself in 2020 

As an African child when we 

were growing up, there were 

poems and songs for every 

The best time 

to plant a tree 

was 20 years 

ago. The 

second best 

time is now. 

week is coming from the kitchen 

of Bellywyse Foods. He is 

proposing that you look into 

having Grilled Suya Fish. You will 

love it! It's so easy and less 

stressful. 

value. There were also folktales 

that taught children. For 

instance, we knew we shouldn't 

take what did not belong to us. 

The poem or song that stocked 

to our memories was, 

" kinni n o fole se laye ti mo 

wa, 

kinni n fole se laye ti mo wa 

Laye ti mo wa, kaka ki n jale 

Ma kuku deru 

kinni n fole se laye ti mo wa". 

This means why must I steal 

in my life. Instead of stealing, I 

prefer to be a slave. 

We knew slavery is the worse 

life to live. Comparing slavery 

with stealing restrained us from 

taken what did not belong to 

us. Though there were still few 

Kitchen Africa 

RECIPE 

1. A medium sized Croaker fish 

2. Some powdered suya pepper. 

If you can get the real concentrated 

one called yaji, that will be better. 

that were stealing then, but 

they had many people to look 

up to change their behaviour. 

Today, who are the children 

looking up to? 

Then, to kill or step on ants 

was like offending God. We 

were taught how to avoid killing 

even ants with our foot that one 

match unknowingly. It was a 

great value that did not allow 

anyone to think of hurting fellow 

human being. There were no 

rampant or serial killings as we 

see nowadays. 

Homemakers! The values you 

got from your parents are still 

there, transfer it to the children. 

The values of honesty, respect, 

integrity must return to every 

3. One small sized lemon 

4. Some groundnut oil 

PROCESS: 

1. Remove the scales from your 

medium sized Croaker fish. Cut 

into desirable sizes and wash 

thoroughly. 

2. Allow the water to drip for 

about 10 minutes 

3. Cut your lemon into equal size 

and rub the juice on the already 

washed fish. The essence of this 

is to allow the fish absorb the 

spices on the suya pepper inside 

the fish. 

4. Now sprinkle your suya 

pepper on the fish and rub it 

thoroughly on them according to 

your taste. Be careful if you are 

using your hand because of the 

bones. 

home and this can only be done 

through you and I. 

There is a popular Chinese 

proverb that says: “The best 

time to plant a tree was 20 years 

ago. The second best time is 

now.” This means that if you 

want a better nation, the best 

time to act is now. 

Let every Homemakers make 

up her mind to start now, it will 

definitely germinate to the 

nation of our desire. 

Remember you are not 

competing with anyone. Don't 

live above your earnings and 

don't budget beyond what you 

have. There is no award for it. 

Focus on how to build your 

family by imputing values that 

will build them and thereafter 

build the nation. 

Have a blessed year 

5. Put the already marinated fish 

into airtight nylon and refrigerate 

over night. On the following day, 

the marinade would have been 

absorbed into the inside of the fish 

so that you are not just tasting the 

deliciousness on the skin of the 

fish alone 

6. Switch on your griller or any 

type you choose to use and have 

it on a temperature of 100 degrees 

minimum. 

8. Rub the fish with some 

groundnut oil. Fish is very fragile 

unlike meat. The oil will not allow 

it to get sticky on the griller which 

eventually messes up the whole 

thing into pieces. 

9. Viola, your grilled fish is ready. 

You can serve with anything of 

your choice. But I prefer to eat 

mine with salad just for a change.

22 — FRIDAY Vanguard, January 3, 2020 

Poultry association seeks establishment of hatcheries across Nigeria 

Poultry Association of 

Nigeria (PAN) has called for 

the establishment of 

hatcheries across the country 

to reduce the risk of conveying 

day old chicks from one 

destination to the other. 

Mr Ezekiel Ibrahim, the 

President of PAN, who made 

the call in Abuja, frowned at 

the concentration of 

hatcheries in a particular zone 

in the country. 

Ibrahim, who noted that 

hatcheries were mostly 

concentrated in the south 

west zone, described it as a 

major contributor to the high 

cost of day old chick and a 

major challenge in poultry 

industry. 

“The major challenge in 

poultry industry is that 

hatcheries in Nigeria are 

concentrated in a particular 

zone to be precise south west. 

So, conveying day old chicks 

to the north, south east takes 

you 36 to 48 hours which put 

the day old under serious 

stress. 

“So as PAN, we are talking 

with the major hatcheries if 

they can now build some 

hatcheries in hinterlands in 

different zones so that they can 

produce eggs in their region. 

“Then when it comes to 

hatching they can hatch 

within that locality and will be 

easier for the birds to move to 

farms within a short period 

and that will greatly reduce 

the losses that could occur as 

a result of long journey. 

“Because when they are 

stressed, you discover farmers 

or some people that are not 

used to managing them lose 

large per cent of day old 

chicks and that will affect 

their profit. 

“Generally, it contributes to 

the cost of purchase of day 

old chick which ranges from 

N300 to N400 as the case 

may be,” he said. 

Ibrahim said that the 

association was liaising with 

hatcheries 

companies to extend the 

industry to other parts of the 

country. 

2019: Agricultural sector in retrospect 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

THE nation’s agricultural 

sector under the second term of 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

had a new Minister of Agriculture 

and Rural Development, 

Muhammad Sabo Nanono, on 

August 21, 2019. 

The expectations by 

stakeholders along various value 

chains in the sector were high 

based on the ‘Next Level’ mantra 

of the Buhari-led administration 

as Nanono took over the helms 

of affair of the sector from the 

former Minister, Chief Audu 

Ogbeh. 

Interestingly, some major 

events happened in the sector for 

the period under review. 

No Hunger in Nigeria, food still 

sold N30 

The Minister of Agriculture 

and Rural Development, 

Mohammed Nanono, during a 

press conference held on 

Monday, October 14, 2019, to 

mark the 2019 World Food Day, 

said there is no hunger in the 

Nigeria, hence enough food is 

being produced by farmers to 

feed Nigerians, and that it was 

erroneous to say there is hunger 

in the land. 

He further stated that there 

were only inconveniences, which 

are being addressed by the 

federal government and relevant 

stakeholders including the Food 

and Agriculture Organisation, 

FAO, and others. 

He said: “From what I am 

seeing in this conference room, 

there is no sign of hunger but 

obesity. Only a few people like 

me are either trying to balance 

their diet or is it fasting that is 

responsible for the way some of 

us look?” 

“I think we are producing 

enough now to feed ourselves 

and I think there is no hunger 

but if you say inconveniences I 

would agree. When people talk 

about hunger I laugh because 

they do not know hunger. If you 

go to other countries you will see 

what hunger is. 

“Food in Nigeria is fairly cheap 

compared to other countries. In 

Kano, for instance, you can eat 

N30 worth of food and be 

satisfied. So, we should be 

thankful that we can feed 

ourselves and we have relatively 

cheap food in this country.” 

Border Closure and Rice 

Production 

In the year 2019, the Federal 

Government closed land 

borders, particularly to stem the 

tide of smuggling activities, 

which rice has been a major 

commodity for smugglers. 

The Minister of Agriculture of 

Agriculture and Rural, 

Mohammed Nanono, said with 

the report received from farmers 

and dealers in rice and other 

commodities there is positive 

impact. 

Nanono also pointed out that 

some people, especially those 

who were into the nefarious act 

of smuggling, were not 

comfortable with the 

development when the 

government made the 

pronouncement. 

He said, “Some of our 

neighbouring countries are 

using Nigeria as dumping 

ground and efforts to let them 

know failed. So we closed the 

borders to sensitise them on the 

implications of that. 

“I think when the government 

came out with the rice policy, 

most people felt uneasy because 

they are used to imported rice, 

which sometimes is expired but 

we are now seeing the benefit. 

“One of the largest producers 

of Nigeria rice was in my office 

after the closure of the borders 

and they had about 600 tonnes 

of rice in the warehouse but 

within the week the borders were 

closed 50 per cent was sold and 

farmers are smiling. 

“So, as long as the countries 

will not respect the protocol, the 

border closure will remain.” 

Following government’s action 

by closing land borders the Rice 

Farmers Association of Nigeria, 

RIFAN, allayed fears of 

Nigerians over the scarcity of the 

commodity. This assurance was 

made by the National President, 

RIFAN, Aminu Goronyo, on the 

alleged price increase of rice 

across markets in the country. 

According to Goronyo rice 

processors and farmers met and 

resolved that border closure 

would not affect the price of the 

commodity, rather will maintain 

normal prices despite closure of 

land borders. 

“Secondly, the farmers who 

produce, grow and cultivate this 

rice did not add a kobo to the 

normal price they use to sell their 

paddy. I see no reason why 

Nigerians should panic and try 

to create unnecessary artificial 

scarcity of this commodity. 

He also appealed to 

Nigerians, “All we need is to 

exercise patience. The border 

closure is not about rice only but 

all the commodities, but rice 

stands to be the most important. 

(From left, Minster of Agriculture, Alh. Sabo Nanono, with the Managing Director of 

Ecobank Nigeria Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan during the visit of Ecobank and Vanguard to the 

Minister in Abuja recentlt. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan) 

“We have rice in abundance in 

the country. All the prices are still 

maintained. The bag of paddy is 

still being sold at N7, 000-N7, 500 

and maximum of N8, 000. We did 

not change it and is still the price 

maintained. 

“It is not healthy rice they bring 

as foreign rice into the country 

because we call it a foreign 

disease. This rice is kept over 

seven years in their silos and 

every quarter they spray 

chemicals on it to preserve it and 

this is the rice they pack from their 

silos and send it to Nigeria and 

people are not eating fresh ones 

rather they are eating disease. 

RUGA Controversy and 

Suspension 

The nation was engulfed with 

controversy over the move by the 

Federal Government to establish 

RUGA settlements with most 

states rejecting the move as 

pressure was mounted on 

Federal Government to drop the 

policy, over Fulani settlement 

policy 

When the heat was on the 

Benue State Government in a 

statement signed by the Chief 

Press Secretary to the Governor, 

Terver Akase, rejected the 

proposed RUGA settlement to be 

established for Fulani herdsmen 

by the Federal Government in 

the State. 

The statement vehemently 

opposed the move by Federal 

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural 

Development to commence the 

project and described the action 

as attempt to subvert the right 

and laws of the State. 

Lagos introduces agripreneur programme, to train 200 

youths, women 

security in the State by year 2023. 

Lagos State Government has 

introduced the Lagos 

Agripreneurship Programme 

(L.A.P.) to train 15,000 youths 

and women in the various 

agricultural value chains by year 

2023. 

The scheme is under the state 

government’s Agriculture-based 

Youth Empowerment Scheme 

(Agric-Yes). 

The State Commissioner for 

Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan 

Lawal, noted that the 

programme which is starting 

with the one-month training of 

no fewer than 200 participants 

is aimed at improving capacity, 

creating wealth and 

employment in the agricultural 

value chains such as poultry, 

piggery, aquaculture and 

vegetables. 

“The current reality and 

exigencies of job creation for the 

teeming youth population and 

attainment of food security 

require that a more aggressive, 

strategic and efficient approach 

be employed in the training and 

empowerment of women and 

youth. 

He said this is necessary if 

Lagos State is to achieve a 

significant reduction of 

unemployment, create more 

jobs and wealth and also 

significantly enhance food 

“Hence the introduction of the 

Lagos Agripreneurship 

Programme (L. A.P) under the 

Agriculture-based Youth 

Empowerment Scheme (Agric- 

Yes) which aims to train 15,000 

women and youths at the 

training facilities across the State 

by the year 2023,” Lawal said. 

According to him, the training 

will take place at the Agricultural 

Training Institute, Araga, Epe 

adding that the introduction of 

L. A. P would efficiently reduce 

unemploy-ment, create jobs and 

alleviate poverty in the State; 

attract and pay more attention to 

the creation of jobs for women 

in agribusiness.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020— 23 

Expert seeks recruitment of extension 

service officers 

An agriculture expert, 

Mr Ismail Olawale, 

has told government to 

recruit extension service 

officers nationwide to tap 

resources in the agriculture 

sector fully. 

Olawale, a fellow of the 

Nigerian Agriculture and 

Extension Liaison Service 

(NAERLS), who made the 

call recently said that 

although there were e- 

extension services 

nationwide and farmers’ 

helpline centres, the need to 

recruit more extension 

officers was paramount to 

boost capacity in agriculture. 

“The fact that we have e- 

extension services and call 

centres for farmers, does not 

mean that we have stopped 

the interpersonal 

communication extension 

system. 

“Where farmers must see 

the extension officers, the 

officers will be on ground. 

But the problem is the lack 

of funds to mobilise these 

officers to rural areas. 

“The few extension officers 

in service are getting old 

and there is no recruitment 

of new extension officers, 

especially by Agricultural 

Development Agencies 

(ADPs), the bodies saddled 

with this responsibility. 

“It is part of the ADPs 

mandate to recruit extension 

officers across the 36 states 

of the country, including the 

FCT, to attend to the needs 

of local farmers. 

“This lack of adequate 

extension officers and nonreplacement 

of the old and 

retired ones are some of the 

issues affecting extension 

services in the Nigerian 

agriculture sector.” 

Olawale commended the 

successes recorded by 

farmers’ helplines run by 

NEARLS but argued that 

traditional extension service 

was still necessary for oneon-one 

demos for farmers. 

“Our e-extension call 

centres record nothing less 

than 40 calls a day from local 

farmers across the country, 

seeking extension services. 

“Based on the data 

collected from the call centre, 

we seem to be reaching local 

farmers as we intended 

originally. 

“We have not abandoned 

the interpersonal extension 

services. Local farmers still 

need the extension officers 

physically to do one-on-one 

demonstration in some cases. 

“Our institution as an 

extension service agency is 

information based. We can 

link local farmers with loan 

Artificial insemination technology will boost quality 

animals — Sheep farmers 

The National President of 

Sheep and Goat Farmers’ 

Association of Nigeria 

(SHEGOFAN), Alhaji Wahabi 

Salami, has re-iterated the 

needs for artificial insemination 

technology in quick production 

and multiplication of quality 

animals. 

He, therefore, appealed to the 

Federal Government to provide 

an artificial insemination 

technology for its members to 

enable them boost quality 

animal production. 

Artificial insemination is the 

process of collecting sperm cells 

from a male animal and 

manually depositing it into the 

reproductive tract of a female 

animal 

Artificial insemination is 

Two women farmers and a male extension worker compare impressive yields from two 

different cassava varieties they grew with help from USAID. 

opportunities through 

accurate and extensive 

information. 

commonly used instead of 

natural mating in many species 

of animals because of its many 

benefits. 

Salami said that the artificial 

insemination technology would 

help in quick production and 

multiplication of quality 

animals. 

“If you have 100 animals or 

more to conceive at once, it’s 

easier to use the artificial 

insemination technology. 

“The animals can give birth at 

same time within the week of 

gestation, which is unlike the 

normal cross breeding of 

animals. 

“The price is too high for most 

farmers to afford; many local 

farmers don’t even know about 

it, let alone having access to it; 

“We have an Agricultural 

Research Reach out Centres 

where some agriculture 

so government should make it 

available for the local farmers,” 

he said. 

He also urged government to 

provide dairy farms in different 

local governments in the 

country where milk would be 

produced for the benefit of the 

people. 

Salami emphasised that 

providing necessary facilities 

such as water, pastures, 

nomadic schools, hospitals and 

markets would keep the animals 

healthy and alleviate the plight 

of farmers. “The federal 

government can do this in Oyo 

state, for instance, where we 

have gracing reserve of about 

13,500 hectares of land. 

“We need fence for our farms 

for security purposes; we also 

videos are done for farmers 

in e-extension services,” 

said Olawale. 

need borehole water throughout 

the year, while soft loans and 

grants will help us a great deal. 

“We also need the 

establishment of veterinary 

clinics in our farms, good 

management of the farms by 

experts as well as training of 

farmers on how to make wealth 

from waste. 

“We have been doing our best 

in our little way such as 

organising trainings and 

workshops for farmers, but we 

need government and 

stakeholders to help tackle 

these challenges,” he said. 

The national president called 

for the replication of livestock 

improvement programmes in 

the South-West zone by the 

federal government. 

Fish farmers hail FG over move to ban fish importation 

…calls for intervention, self-sufficiency 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

FISH farmers under the 

auspices of Fisheries 

Cooperative Federation of 

Nigeria, FCFN, yesterday, hailed 

the Federal Government over the 

move to ban fish importation. 

Expressing optimism over the 

statement made by the Minister 

of Agriculture and Rural 

Development, Mohammed 

Nanono, the National President 

of FCFN, Anthony Asgaye, while 

speaking with Vanguard at the 

2019 World Food Day celebration, 

held on Wednesday, along Km 

28, Abuja -Keffi Expressway, 

Tundun Wada, Nasarawa State, 

said it was a welcomed 

development and positive step to 

boost the nation’s food security. 

Asgaye said it is important for 

the government to decide to stop 

the importation of fish, which has 

negatively impacted the industry 

and economy over the years. 

The theme of World Food Day 

2019 is ‘Our Actions Are Our 

Future. Healthy Diets for A 

#ZeroHunger World’. It focuses 

on tackling global hunger. Due 

to globalisation, urbanisation and 

income growth, our diets and 

eating habits are changed. 

Instead of seasonal, fibre rich 

food and plant-based food we are 

shifted to refined, starches, sugar, 

fats, salt, processed food, meat, 

and others. 

He said: “The move by the 

Federal Government as disclosed 

by the Minister of Agriculture and 

Rural Development, Mohammed 

Nanono, to ban fish importation 

is a highly welcomed 

development. 

“We the fish farmers in Nigeria 

under the auspices of Fisheries 

Cooperative Federation of 

Nigeria, FCFN, have the 

potential and everything to 

produce fish to meet the national 

fish demand. We support the 

move by the Minister 100 per 

cent, and we will do our best to 

do our best for Nigeria to be selfsufficient 

in fish production.” 

However, the fish boss called 

on the government to provide to 

meet local demand and for export 

as well. 

“We appeal to the government 

to provide an enabling 

environment for his members to 

deeply go into fishing activities 

and processing but we need 

enabling environment. 

“Our major problems include 

the cost of fish feed. We want a 

holistic approach on how we can 

access fish feed to return our 

farmers to go back to their 

profession. 

On the side of deep-sea 

fishermen coming to fishing 

equipment, it is very expensive 

to afford. 

“The government is 

subsidizing other areas of 

agriculture it should also 

consider and include the 

fisheries subsector for timely 

interventions such as the Anchor 

Borrowers Scheme for rice 

farmers in the country, which is 

been done by the Central Bank 

of Nigeria, CBN should be 

extended to the fisheries industry 

as well. 

“We assure the government 

that it will see how the 

production of fish will 

dramatically and tremendously 

increase within a short period 

and that will also attract massive 

participation of local and foreign 

investors to the industry, which 

will metamorphose the country 

into a net exporter of fisheries 

products and become a regional 

hub of fisheries. I have 

mentioned this to them already 

and they are convinced”, he 

added.

24 —Vanguard 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, , 2020 

By Imam Murtadha Gusau 

ALL praise is due to Allah, 

Lord of all creation. May 

Allah extol the mention of the 

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be 

upon him) in the highest company 

of Angels and may the peace and 

blessings of Allah be upon him, 

his family, his Companions and all 

those who follow him exactly till 

the Day of Judgement. 

Dear brothers and sisters, 

according to CNN, BBC and CBS 

news reports, ISIS has claimed 

responsibility for one of the 

deadliest attacks on Niger’s 

military, which left 71 soldiers 

dead, 12 wounded and several 

many others missing. 

The attack happened on 

Tuesday, December 10, 2019, 

when several hundred heavily 

armed militants ambushed 

soldiers at an outpost, in the west 

of the country near the Mali 

border. 

Terrorist group, ISIS claimed 

on social media that it managed 

to seize the military base for 

several hours, and that it stole 

weapons and ammunition, 

including several tanks. But the 

terrorist group did not provide 

any evidence to support its claim. 

According to the presidency’s 

official Twitter handle, President 

Mahamadou Issoufou who was in 

Egypt at the time the “tragedy” 

took place had to cut off his trip to 

return home. 

Niger is a member of the G5 Sahel 

force of troops from Mauritania, 

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad set 

up in 2014 to tackle insecurity. 

Military investigation finds 

series of failures led to deadly 

Niger ambush. 

The US and France have 

deployed soldiers to Niger to 

assist local troops with 

intelligence gathering and 

operations as it battles Boko 

Haram and al-Qaeda militants in 

the region. Niger also shares a 

border with Mali, where an al- 

Qaeda affiliate and other terrorist 

groups thrive in the vast desert. 

The region has been beset by 

violence from suspected terrorist 

militant groups over in recent 

months. Thirteen French soldiers 

were killed in a crash involving 

two helicopters during an 

operation against terrorist 

fighters in Mali last month. 

At least 53 soldiers died in a 

terror attack on a military camp 

in the country’s north-east in 

November. 

Now respected brothers and 

sisters, please, what comes to 

your mind when you think of 

Muslims, what is the meaning of 

Islam and who is a true Muslim? 

My beloved people, Islam is the 

religion which was revealed to all 

of the Prophets of Allah. And to 

be a Muslim, a person is required 

to submit to Allah by worshiping 

Him alone without partners, 

to obey His commandments 

and to keep away from all forms 

of evil and idolatry. Muslims refer 

to their Creator as Allah, the One 

who alone deserves to be 

worshiped. 

Now how should Muslims 

behave around non-Muslims? 

Jumada Al-Awwal 8, 1441 A.H. 

ISIS’s attack in Niger: What Islam says 

about 

extremism, terrorism 

Allah and His Prophet (Peace 

be upon him) have instructed 

the believers to treat people 

with kindness, justice, mercy 

and good manners. The Qur’an 

states: 

“Allah does not forbid you to 

deal justly and kindly with those 

who did not fight against you 

on account of religion and did 

not drive you out of your 

homes. Verily, Allah 

loves those who deal with 

equity.” [Qur’an, 60:8] 

Dear servants of Allah, we 

often see Islam and terrorism 

mentioned together by some 

ignoramuses. So what does 

Islam say about terrorism? 

Islam forbids all forms of 

terrorism. There are however 

some extreme groups who, in 

the name of Islam, terrorise 

both Muslims and non- 

Muslims. The most well-known 

of these militant groups are Al- 

Qaeda, ISIS, Boko Haram, 

But what they do 

has nothing to do 

with the Law of Allah 

or the Qur’an and 

Prophetic way (Sunnah). 

These Khawarij 

are just merciless 

killers who have no 

compassion and no 

true religion. They 

kill innocent, unarmed 

civilians 

without regard for 

life or faith 

Taliban, Al-Shabab etc. These 

terrorist groups are called 

Khawarij in Islamic 

terminology. The title refers to 

those who rebel against Islam 

and the Muslim leaders. The 

Prophet (Peace be upon him) 

foretold their appearance and 

instructed the Muslims to stay 

away from them and to defend 

themselves if they attack them. 

They first rebelled against the 

Prophet’s Companions. 

Why do terrorists (or 

Khawarij) groups look upon the 

rest of humanity and view them 

and their lives as worthless? 

That’s because they believe 

they are the only ones left with 

any true faith in Allah, and 

everyone else is an infidel, or 

an apostate whose life has no 

value. They see themselves as 

Allah’s chosen people who 

must punish all the “enemies of 

Allah” and cleanse the earth by 

the mass killing of Muslims and 

non-Muslims alike in order to 

establish the Law of Allah as 

they see it. But what they do has 

nothing to do with the Law of 

Allah or the Qur’an and 

Prophetic way (Sunnah). These 

Khawarij are just merciless killers 

who have no compassion 

and no true religion. They kill 

innocent, unarmed civilians 

without any regard for life or 

faith. The Prophet Muhammad 

(Peace be upon him) said: 

“Whoever does not show mercy 

to people, Allah will not show 

mercy to him.” [Muslim] 

What are the signs of an 

extremist that I can identify? 

1. He will constantly focus on 

the political situation in the 

Muslim lands, 

advocating uprising and 

revolution. 

2. He will vehemently criticise 

the Muslim leaders and 

ignorantly declare them to be 

apostates 

who do not follow Shariah Law. 

3. He will praise the founders 

of the modern-day extreme 

political ideologies such as 

Osama Bin Laden, Sayyid Qutb, 

Hasan Al-Banna, Al-Maududi, 

Anwar Al-Awlaki, etc. 

4. He will declare Muslims who 

contradict his extremist political 

views to be unbelievers (this 

is called takfir). 

5. He will glorify the acts of 

violence perpetrated by 

terrorists and insurgents, such 

as suicide bombings, beheading 

of hostages, killing of non- 

Muslims, kidnappings, etc. You 

will not hear condemnation of 

violent extremism or it’s 

figureheads from him. 

If I see Muslim women in 

Hijab or men with beards 

praying and bowing, 

should I be worried? Will 

they try and hurt me? 

You should not be worried at 

all. Muslims are commanded to 

dress modestly and pray five 

times a day, spend in charity, fast 

in Ramadan and do righteous 

deeds. So when you see Muslim 

women in Hijab, men wearing 

BARKA JUMAH 

2020: Insha Allah 

2020 would move us all through splendid motions, insha 

Allah. 

Our gaits shall be steady with perfect consistency that is 

delicious in love, peace and harmony that yoke our life's 

experiences to the powers and guidance of Almighty Allah. 

May we keep the essence of faith that ruled that the 

doing of good deeds spells, Masha Allah, that the revered 

fear of Allah earns total mercy and His fullest graces. 

Be strong all through 2020! Happy Jumat and Joyous 

2020! — Dr. Adewale Adeeyo, OON 

long shirts and growing beards, do 

not take these as signs of extremism. You should never confuse 

orthodox Islam with extremism. Many learned practising Muslims 

are the most vocal in opposing terrorism. Eating halal meat, praying 

five times a day, growing a beard and wearing a Hijab are not signs of 

extremism! 

What should Muslims do if someone invites them to join 

an extremist group or is planning a terrorist attack? 

They must tell someone in authority, tell a parent, a teacher, the 

police or any security agent. It is a duty in Islam to stamp out 

terrorism from our societies. 

A sincere Muslim cannot stand by and let a criminal act take place. 

Allah and His Prophet have instructed Muslims to help stop 

oppression and the killing of innocent people. 

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: 

“There is not a people amongst whom sins are committed and they 

are stronger than those who commit them yet they do not prevent 

them except that Allah will punish all of them.” 

True Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama’ah are seriously against extremism! 

Imam Ibn Taimiyyah said: 

“The Khawarij (terrorists) are more evil to the Muslims Ummah 

than others – and there is none more wicked to the Muslims than 

them, not the Jews nor the Christians. They strive to kill every Muslim 

who did not agree with them. They made permissible the spilling of 

Muslim blood, and the taking of their wealth and property, and the 

killing of their children, declaring them to be unbelievers. The 

Khawarij (terrorists) took this path as their religion due to their 

extreme ignorance and their misguided innovation…” [See Minhaj 

As-Sunnah, vol.5, page 248] 

What does Islam say about Jihad? 

Jihad in Islam is of various types. It is to strive in Allah’s cause; and 

this begins with striving against one’s soul in obedience to Allah; to 

learn Islam correctly from the right sources; to act upon what you 

have learned; and to teach that to others with patience, even if you 

suffer hardship in that path. So this is Jihad as the great scholar of the 

middle-ages Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim stated. 

And from the types of Jihad is war upon the battlefield in a 

conventional and strictly legitimate war. An example of a legitimate 

declaration of war was the first Gulf War in 1990-91 after Kuwait was 

invaded by the Iraqi army under the leadership of Saddam Hussain. 

So Saudi Arabia defended its borders by the use of its recruited army 

in an alliance with other countries. The following are some of the 

important principles and guidelines of Jihad as agreed upon by the 

Muslim scholars: 

1. War is declared by leaders who have legitimate governments 

and not by individual citizens, organisations, or terrorists, or 

insurgents, or preachers, or through social media! 

2. This war must be for a just cause, in obedience to Allah, and for 

His worship. 

Read further online: www.vanguardngr.com 

From left Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Ayangburen of Ikorodu; Alhaji Yahya Oshoala, 

Chief Imam of Ikorodu; Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Governor, Lagos State; 

His Eminence Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto and Alhaji 

Muhideen Bello, Guest Lecturer during the commissioning of Oriwu Central 

Mosque in Ikorodu on Saturday. Photo Lamidi Bamidele

Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi 

TELL me who your friends 

are, and I’ll tell you who 

you are!” goes an Arab 

proverb. This is also the case 

with those who joined Iran and 

Turkey in the Islamic “mini” 

Summit in Kuala Lumpur, 

Malaysia. 

The whole setup was weird 

and suspicious from the 

outset. According to the 

organizers, a new organization, 

initiated in 2014 by then 

retired Prime Minister 

Mahathir Mohamad decided a 

few months ago to call for a 

conference of Islamic NGOs to 

discuss various political and 

economic issues. 

They included Islamophobia, 

Islamic minorities, world 

peace, facing up to Western 

hegemony and the 

advancement of science and 

technology. None of these 

issues is urgent or new. 

They were all discussed 

during the last Islamic Summit 

in Makkah among 57 Muslim 

states, as well as in various 

meetings and conferences 

under the Organization of 

Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the 

Muslim World League (MWL), 

the Arab League, the Islamic 

Bank and other organizations. 

Still, it was so far acceptable; 

but then the Malaysian Prime 

Minister decided to invite 

heads of states as well. As a 

result, invitations went out to 

NGOs, political parties, Muslim 

scholars, academics and heads 

of OIC member countries. 

When most leaders declined 

the invitation, it was decided 

to call it the Summit of Five 

Muslim Nations — Pakistan, 

Turkey, Qatar, Indonesia and 

Malaysia. Days before the 

summit, Pakistan also opted 

Jumada Al-Awwal 8, 1441 A.H. 

Kuala Lumpur 'Political Islam' Summit 

out. Iran, then, announced 

its participation. 

Hours before the 

convention, the 

Indonesian vice president 

quietly withdrew. Now it 

became the summit of four 

Muslim nations, but still 

claimed to represent the 

whole Muslim world. 

So what connects the 

dots here? What is clear so 

far is that the organizers, 

guests, and sponsoring 

nation are all members of 

the “Political Islam” club. 

Then came the 

contradictions. Take for 

example the Palestinian 

issue. While the summit 

took a hard stand against 

Israel, the dominating 

member, Turkey, 

maintains strong political, 

diplomatic, military, 

security, economic, and 

cultural relationships with 

the supposed enemy. 

Qatar, too, is on good 

terms with Israel. Even 

Iran, with all its show of 

enmity towards the Jewish 

State, has kept a 

functioning relationship 

under the table since the 

Iran Contra scandal in the 

1980s. 

Another contradiction 

was the absence of the 

Palestinian Authority. The 

excuse was that it is not a 

full state. But even less so 

is Hamas, which was 

invited. Besides, isn’t that 

what Israel is claiming and 

we, in the Muslim world 

are refusing to accept? 

Whose side was the 

conference taking? And 

why wasn’t the Palestinian 

Liberation Organization 

(PLO) (regarded by the UN 

as the sole representative of 

Palestinians, for decades) 

invited? And how, on earth, 

could the Palestinian issue be 

discussed without the 

Palestinians? The only viable 

answer is: They are not 

members of the Brotherhood 

while Hamas is! 

The definition of a 

contradiction was discussing 

world peace with Iran, 

Turkey and Qatar — three of 

the biggest sponsors of 

terror, warmongers, and 

troublemakers in the world! 

The invitees excluded not 

just scholars from Makkah, 

Madinah and Azhar, but from 

all the Islamic centers that 

are not members or 

advocates of Daesh (so-called 

IS), Al-Qaeda, Nusra and the 

Brotherhood. 

A report published by Al- 

Arabiya detailed the resumes 

of a long list of these invitees, 

exposing their links to terror 

organizations and a number of 

attacks including Sept. 11. 

Yes, you can judge a person 

by his friends. In this case, we 

can tell that what united those 

who attended the conference 

in Kuala Lumpur was their 

hatred toward the West, 

moderate Arab and Muslim 

states, and, in particular, 

Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the 

United Arab Emirates. 

They are linked to terror 

groups, advocates of Political 

Islam, and affiliated with the 

Brotherhood. They could as 

well have called it: the 

Brotherhood Summit for 

Political Islam! 

— Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi is a 

Saudi writer based in Jeddah. 

He can be reached at 

kbatarfi@gmail.com. Follow 

him at Twitter:@kbatarfi 

From left: Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora 

Commission NIDCOM; Mrs Usamat Yusuf, Hon Commissioner for Home Affairs 

and Culture, Lagos State; Olori Kudirat Shotobi; Chief Mrs D A Ogundeji and 

Olori Kafayat Adeboruwa during the commissioning of Oriwu Central Mosque 

in Ikorodu on Saturday. Photo Lamidi Bamidele 

"Vanguard, 

FRIDAY JANUARY 3, 2020 —25 

Muslim NIKKAH 

SoulMates 

Do you seek a Muslim life partner? 

Are you a Muslim? Are you searching for a soulmate for 

marriage? Send your profile as published below, contact 

telephone, and photo, to isholaism@gmail.com or on 

whatsapp 08036688535. Names and contact numbers will 

not be published. 

Profile 260: A gainfully employed female Muslim, 50, 

divorced, no kid wants a God fearing Muslim. He must be 

God fearing and ready for marriage, preferably from the 

North Central. 

Profile 261: A gainfully employed Muslim widower, 55, 

no kid wants a God fearing Muslimah. She must be from the 

South West and ready for marriage. 

Profile 262: A Muslim male, 50, from based in Lagos 

wants a Muslimah as a second wife. She must be able to read 

the Quran, teach it and ready for marriage. 

Profile 263: A Muslim lady, 38, from Kwara State, based, 

divorced, and based in Lagos wants a God fearing man, 

graduate and ready for marriage 

A cross section of The Belieiving Women at the annual 

Traiuning Forum helkd in Odosengolu, Ogun State. 

Our dressing is our adornment—Al- 

Mu’minaat 

THE Al-Mu’minaat organisation, (The Believing Women) 

has said that dressing in Islam is a form of protection 

and adornment. 

Hajia Kabirat Ajani who stated this during her lecture at the 

just concluded training programme for the Believing women 

held at Vanguard Academy Ijebu Ode-Epe road, Odosengolu, 

Ogun State recently. 

The annual forum which was attended by various religious 

organisations, and dignitaries, from all walks of life was also 

used to commemorate the silver jubilee edition of the training 

forum 

Quoting from Quran 7:26, Hajia Ajani stated that Allah has 

defined the purpose of dressing to all humans. “O sons of 

Adam, We have revealed to you dress that would both hide 

your nakedness and be an adornment, but the raiment of piety 

is best. This is one of the tokens of God; You may haply reflect.” 

And for females (Muslimah), Allah enjoined us the best way 

of dressing and appearing outside in Qur’an 24 vs 31: Tell the 

believing women to lower their gaze(eyes), guard their private 

parts, and not display their charms(adornments), except what 

is apparent outwardly, and cover their bosoms with their 

veils(head cover) and not to show their finery except to their 

husbands or their fathers or father -in-law, their sons or stepsons, 

brothers or their brothers’ and sisters’ son, or their 

women which their hands possess, or male attendants having 

no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the 

private aspects of women. They should not walk stamping 

their feet lest they make know what they hide of their 

ornaments. O believers, turn to God, every one of you, so 

that you may be successful. 

Islam teaches us to be cautious of our dressing and Allah (S 

W T) Has relieved mankind from permanent dressing as He 

made clothing for us as against the animals that are created 

with furs, scales and the likes. 

“As Muslimah, our dressing should not be revealing, as 

dressing performs high form of moral function. Dressing 

should not affect nor cause delay in our acts of worship. Hence 

we should always appear modestly at all time. 

Also speaking at the event, Alhaja Basira Adenowo a Chief 

Lecturer at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education 

(AOCOED), Lagos State who discussed the topic: THE MIRAGE, 

warned parents against negligence, misplaced priority, 

avoidance of their primary responsibilities, seeking illusions 

and lust, adding that all these could lead to chaos and societal 

disorder. 

Earlier, Hajia Fatima Jaji, a counselor and Child Right 

Protection activist, advised mothers to protect their children 

against sexual abuse, warning that an abused child will become 

an abuser or serial abuser if not counseled and shown love.


Seriki Williams Abass Slavery Museums in Badagry 

SERIKI 

Williams 

Abass Slave Museum 

was a slave prison 

used to keep slaves before 

they were transported 

to the point of no 

return. 

The slave was run by an 

ex-slave, who got his 

freedom and became a 

major slave merchant. 

The Brazillian Barracoon 

was established in 1840 

and has been converted 

to a Museum. 

The word baracoon was 

derived from the Brazilian 

vocabulary which 

means prison. This 

prison has a five 19 by 

19 feet rooms which 

serve as a prison room 

which can accommodate 

forty slaves each. The 

slave museum also features 

old relics from the 

slave era. 

Single-story, it is made 

up of 40 rooms built 

around an open interior 

space with a well, still in 

use. Each room, about 

three meters by three 

meters, originally had 

only one small window 

near the ceiling for 

ventilation, and up to 

forty men, women and 

children were reportedly 

locked up there for 

months, awaiting 

purchase by Europeans 

who arrived by ship. 

The museum itself only 

occupies a few of the 

rooms. The first contains 

some of the instruments 

used to control the 

captives: original chains 

and manacles, for 

example. 

The guide pointed out 

that most of the African 

part of the slave trade 

was actually carried out 

by Africans, not 

Europeans. Slavery was 

part of the culture when 

the Europeans first 

arrived in the 1400s. The 

increasing European 

demand was what 

spurred Africans to 

continue capturing and 

selling slaves, which 

didn’t end until well into 

the 1800s. A thriving 

slave auction arose in 

Badagry, where slaves 

were exchanged for 

weapons, alcohol, and 

other products from 

Europe. 

The second room of the 

museum is one of the 

original cells, and it was 

easy to imagine how 

nightmarish this would 

be with only that one 

small window—still 

there—and crowded 

with people for weeks or 

Preserving cultural identities 

for the future of tourism 

THE World Tourism 

Organization 

(UNWTO) and the 

United Nations 

Educational, Scientific 

and Cultural 

Organization’s 

(UNESCO) Fourth World 

Conference on Culture 

and Tourism spotlights 

the added value of 

culture for destinations 

and focuses on the future 

sustainability of cultural 

tourism. 

Over the past two days 

in Japan’s capital of 

culture, delegates 

debated how to keep the 

appreciation of heritage 

and contemporary 

cultural expression at 

the heart of tourism for 

generations to come. 

Intercultural dialogue, 

local communities and 

innovative measurement 

systems are at the core of 

the conference 

conclusions laid down in 

the Kyoto Declaration. 

UNWTO Executive 

Director Manuel Butler 

said: “When managed 

responsibly cultural 

tourism can enrich the 

lives of both travelers and 

residents, promoting 

diversity and 

intercultural dialogue. 

The Kyoto Declaration 

will help us to ensure 

that our world’s rich 

heritage and diverse 

creativity are wonders 

that our children too will 

have the chance to 

discover for themselves” 

UNESCO Deputy 

Director General, Mr. 

Xing Qu, added: “The 

international community 

needs to seize the 

benefits of connecting 

culture and tourism as 

global forces that bring 

people together. 

“UNESCO is pleased 

to be partnering with 

UNWTO in this venture 

as we look to deepen and 

widen 

our 

collaboration.” 

Responsible practices 

were at the forefront of 

the solutions put forward 

months on end, without 

a toilet or other sanitary 

facilities. Many died 

before even getting on 

the ships to be carried 

across the Atlantic. 

Another room gave 

information about Seriki 

Williams Abass, the local 

man who owned this 

business. 

by leading experts in the 

field, such as including 

the local population at 

every level of cultural 

tourism development 

and using new 

technologies to 

sustainably manage 

visitor flows and the 

equal distribution of 

tourism benefits. 

Kyoto’s Mayor, Mr. 

Daisaku, presented the 

‘Kyoto Model’ to 

representatives from 

over 50 countries across 

the world as a means of 

effectively striking the 

right balance between 

marketing cultural 

heritage and preserving 

it for future generations. 

UNWTO also launched 

the ‘UNWTO 

Recommendations on 

Sustainable Tourism 

Development of 

Indigenous Tourism’ 

during the conference 

that were compiled in 

close consultation with 

i n d i g e n o u s 

entrepreneurs, 

advocates and 

representatives. 

The recommendations 

provide guidance on 

developing sustainable 

and responsible 

operations to indigenous 

communities that want to 

open up to tourism 

development or improve 

the existing tourism 

experiences their 

communities offer. 

Wike appoints new DG for tourism agency 

Some Americans and Nigerians in Diaspora at the Gberufu Island, which 

leads to the original slave route towards the Point-of-No-Return. PHOTO: 

Lamidi Bamidele. 

RIVERS state gover 

nor, Nyesom Wike , 

has approved the appointment 

of Mr. Yibo 

Koko as Director-General 

of the State Tourism 

Development Agency. 

According to a statement 

signed by the Secretary 

to the State Government 

(SSG), Dr. 

Tammy Danagogo, the 

appointment followed 

the swearing-in of 13 

new Commissioners by 

the Governor. 

Danagogo stated that 

Koko’s appointment followed 

Wike’s conviction 

that he would use his experience 

and exposure to 

take the Rivers Tourism 

Development Agency to 

greater height. 

According to Danagogo, 

the Governor also expected 

the new commissioners, 

who were assigned 

portfolios, to work 

for the interest of the State. 

•Two Americans demonstrating how manacles 

were used to chain the ankles of two slaves 

together. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

Refusing to go to Afghanistan in Nigeria 

By BANJI OJEWALE 

IN Nigeria, falling for Afghanistan’s 

sirens simply is when our newspaper 

columnists and writers focus their 

attention on far-flung foreign features 

while ignoring domestic hot-button issues 

beckoning them. When home matters of 

momentous concerns come up asking to 

be sorted out, or to be interrogated for a 

solution, the fatal feminine fellows in the 

form of foreign news upstage the burning 

national discourse and take our writers 

away. 

The age of military rule in Nigeria gave 

birth to the concept of going to 

Afghanistan. The soldiers, upon seizing 

power which didn’t belong to them, would 

abrogate the fundamental rights and 

freedoms of the people, brutishly 

expressed in the suspension of the 

Constitution, with all the operational 

institutions the sacred document created: 

the elected executive, lawmaking 

assembly, political parties, popular 

organizations like labour and student 

unions etc. The martial lords were 

notorious for throwing the baby out with 

the bathwater. 

So if a journalist or newspaper 

commentator stood in their way through 

his critical articles as they tormented the 

land with their jackboots, they were not 

only ready to move the writer out of the 

way; but also they had no compunction 

consigning him to mother earth and 

underneath it for more trampling. The ever 

creative and existential Nigerian journalist 

worked out a system that allowed him to 

stay in business with his profession while 

staying out of business with the armed 

usurpers. 

Why not turn a blind to the excesses of 

the soldiers at home and concentrate on 

the civil war in Afghanistan, the collapse 

of the Soviet Union, the aftermath of the 

Cold War, 

the rising 

influence 

of ‘small’ 

Cuba in 

global 

affairs, the 

challenge 

of the 

Iranian 

Revolution 

under 

Ayatollah 

Ruholla 

Khomeini. 

Remember, 

We can’t bury our 

head in the 

treacherous sand 

of foreign news 

when our 

domestic frame is 

in danger of being 

swept away by 

angry waves of the 

sea 

all these 

global upheavals and developments were 

happening during the different phases of 

Nigeria’s stay in the abyss of military 

dictatorships. Now, the Nigerian 

columnist played the ostrich. He hid his 

head in the low mound, feigning it wasn’t 

seeing the evil around. But tragically, the 

pervasive evil wasn’t as daft. It would 

always locate this creature that sought to 

dodge evil by burying only a small part of 

its whole frame. In that vulnerable state, 

the ostrich would be cheap prey for the 

forces of evil. How do you win a battle 

where from the onset, you’ve exposed your 

weak flanks to the enemy? The predator 

would make short work of the hunted. 

Therefore, going to Afghanistan when we 

should be in Nigeria isn’t helpful. It is 

unpatriotic. It is counterproductive. 

Currently, our leaders our playing the 

Going to Afghanistan music. A Hate 

Speech Bill card has been played. A law to 

control the Social Media has been 

dangled. Journalists are being held for 

exercising their fundamental human 

rights. 

Law courts that have given judgments in 

consonance with the rule of law as 

prescribed by the Constitution are being 

raided. An online newspaper publisher set 

free on bail was forcibly rearrested in 

court by agents of the central government 

in gangster-movie fashion. Stringent and 

nigh-impossible bail conditions are the 

order of the day in the judicial system now. 

These are anathema in a true democracy. 

You get these only in societies where the 

military have purloined power and would 

want to suppress popular dissent. 

Under such a climate, it’s easy to be 

chased into Afghanistan. You would fall 

into the waiting embrace of a host of 

issues: Impeachment of US President 

Donald Trump. Death sentence on 

Pakistan coup leader and former 

president. Unending war in Syria. 

Meeting of 20 Islamic nations in 

Malaysia dramatically boycotted by 

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Internecine 

battle for the soul of Tripoli. The 

quicksand called Brexit. Low-intensity 

war between Israel and the Palestinians. 

Hong Kong and France protests. 

These are enticing global developments 

that would easily compel a writer into 

serious engagement. Everybody speaks of 

a small world, where a sneeze in Australia 

spreads cold and catarrh in Africa. We are 

asked to be global citizens, forgetting the 

home scene for the international. But this 

proximity and mix of nations and cultures 

cannot displace grave national concerns 

in Nigeria. 

Coupled with these seducing elements, 

the Nigerian authorities are also putting 

up draconian laws to prevent newspaper 

columnists from discussing issues that 

would expose their incompetence. That 

returns us to the hated past of military 

rule, when we, the people, couldn’t talk 

about aberrant leaders without risking a 

spell in jail. It’s obvious then, that there’s 

a conspiracy between the ‘Afghan spirit’ 

and the local authorities to disallow a 

robust dialogue on the national question. 

Domestic 

frame 

It is unwise to fall for this silence when 

there is so much loud disrespect for the 

governed. We can’t be like the ostrich 

which exposes its life to more danger when 

it refuses to acknowledge the reality of its 

perilous environment. We can’t bury our 

head in the treacherous sand of foreign 

news when our domestic frame is in 

danger of being swept away by angry 

waves of the sea. 

Why must we be consumed by the 

impeachment of Trump when we have 

graver issues with our own leaders here 

in Nigeria? Why must we feel more at 

home writing on an ex-military leader 

sentenced to death for passing a death 

sentence on his country’s Constitution 

when here in my country there are more 

serious threats to the Constitution and the 

rule of law? 

Why must our editorial writers not talk 

about the misplaced priorities of 

politicians who would set aside a 

whopping N37b for the renovation of a 

structure that cost only N7b years back 

and talk solely about the conflict in Libya? 

Must we not be disturbed about a First 

Family who can’t have time for pillow talk 

to resolve domestic differences? 

Why must we not reflect the views of our 

people on the land that is making their 

country to post some of the planet’s worst 

penurious statistics? Why must we bury 

our head in the problems of other climes 

while pretending we aren’t facing worse 

ones at home? 

Let’s learn from the ostrich; it never got 

away with its wilful alienation from 

reality. 

•Ojewale, a commentator on national 

issues, wrote from Lagos 

ACRUCIAL phase for Lagos State in 

the past year was the change in 

political leadership that ushered in 

Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and Kadiri 

Obafemi Hamzat as governor and deputy 

governor respectively. Central in the 

mission of the duo is the vision to achieve 

a ‘Greater Lagos’. The vehicle to realize 

this is T.H.E.M.E.S, and acronym for six 

strategic development agenda namely, 

Traffic Management and Transportation, 

Health and Environment, Education and 

Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century 

Economy, Entertainment and Tourism as 

well as Security and Governance. 

As it is usual with skilled professionals, 

upon inauguration, the duo spent quality 

time to diagnose the state’s various 

challenges in order to determine what will 

work so as to eliminate what will not work. 

The result, of course, is the several 

landmark attainments that characterized 

various sectors of the state in the previous 

year. For instance, amazing improvement 

was recorded in the health sector with the 

inauguration of the 149-Bed Igando 

Mother and Child Centre, MCC, in the 

Alimosho area. This further affirms the 

determination of the current 

administration to ease access to medical 

care by residents. 

Recall that the 110-Bed Eti-Osa 

Maternal and Child Centre, MCC, was 

also commissioned for public use in the 

preceding year. The Eti-Osa MCC was 

specially designed to provide integrated 

healthcare services for women of child 

bearing age and children. It has modern 

equipment and furniture that would 

enhance the achievement of better 

maternal and child health indices in Eti- 

Osa Local Government Area and 

adjoining environs. Similarly, the state’s 

infrastructure renewal plan received a 

major boost in 2019 as major roads and 

highways were rehabilitated to ensure 

smooth commuting. Work also 

commenced on the long abandoned 

Lagos-Badagry Expressway as well as the 

Pen-Cinema Bridge. Equally, 31 networks 

of roads were commissioned by the 

governor in Ojokoro Local Council 

Development Authority, LCDA. 

The reconstruction and upgrading of 

strategic roads such as the 6.05 kilometre 

Phase 1 Road from Itamaga to Ewu Elepe 

town, the 7.8 kilometres Owutu-Agric- 

Ishawo Road Phase One and Bola Tinubu- 

Igbogbo-Imota Road in Ikorodu also 

began in earnest. Similarly, the Victoria 

Island, Lekki Traffic Circulation project 

on Oniru axis received a major attention. 

Preliminary plans for the construction of 

the 4th Mainland Bridge also got a key 

boost last year, thus raising hope that the 

bold project will at last become a 

possibility. 

Intermodal multimodal 

transport system 

Intermodal multimodal transport 

system was also significantly strengthened 

with the recommencement of work on the 

discarded Lagos light rail project. Also, 

Uber Boat service, a partnership between 

the global ride-hailing company and 

Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, 

commenced operation. The education 

sector was not left out in the ‘Greater 

Lagos’ movement. A committee was set 

up to evaluate the state of public schools 

in the state and come up with plans for 

their rehabilitation. At the first phase, 350 

schools are already slated for total 

overhauling. 

Similarly, towards the end of last year, 

some public school teachers were sent on 

capacity building training to enhance 

their skill. New teachers were also 

recruited to increase the number of 

teaching personnel, especially in some 

core subjects, in our public schools. History 

was also made as a major deal that will 

see the Lagos State University, LASU, 

becoming a residential institution was 

sealed with some private developers. 

In order to actualize its mission of 

‘Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy’, 


Lagos and the defining moments of 2019 

By TAYO OGUNBIYI the state government signed the $629 

million financing facility aimed at 

completing the Lekki Deep Seaport project 

with China Harbour Engineering 

Company, CHEC. 

According to the agreement, in 30 

months, Nigeria's first deep seaport will 

be delivered in Lekki. Upon completion, 

the project has enormous capacity not only 

to stimulate the Lagos economy, but 

equally to push it up in the index of largest 

economies in the world. The Lekki Port 

would become the first deep seaport in 

Nigeria and the container transportation 

hub in Africa. 

In the area of Security and Governance, 

a foundation for the evolvement of critical 

reforms geared at giving the people greater 

access to justice was laid. An integral part 

of this is a holistic plan to clamp down on 

criminals, land grabbers and other trouble 

makers to reduce crime and all forms of 

security threat to the barest minimum. 

In a democratic dispensation, the people 

determine the performance of a 

government partly via the quality of service 

render by the public servants. In realization 

of this reality, concerted efforts were made 

to reposition the state Public Service. Thus, 

training and retraining of staff was 

accorded an utmost priority. Also, the 

resolve of government to improve staff 

welfare was amply demonstrated by the 

swiftness with which it reached agreement 

with the organized labour to ensure the 

payment of the new minimum wage. Lagos, 

thus, remains among the very few states in 

the country that have commenced payment 

of the new wage. This is quite instructive 

because the present administration’s vision 

The Lekki Port 

would become 

the first deep 

seaport in 

Nigeria and the 

container 

transportation 

hub in Africa 

of making 

Lagos a 21st 

C e n t u r y 

Economy 

cannot be 

achieved 

without a well 

motivated 

workforce. 

There was 

also a 

noticeable 

improvement 

in the area of environmental regeneration 

as two major agencies of the state 

government, the Lagos Waste Management 

Authority, LAWMA, and the Lagos State 

Environmental Protection Agency, 

LASEPA, became livelier and more focused 

in the discharge of their statutory 

responsibilities. 

The tourism sector also received a major 

momentum, especially with the success of 

the ‘Greater Lagos Extravaganza’. The 

highly entertaining event held across five 

locations began on Christmas Day and 

ended on New Year day. Without a doubt, it 

clearly lived up to its billing as a major 

entertainment event of the just concluded 

year. The five locations where the event took 

place are Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, 

Badagry Grammar School, Badagry, 

Agege Stadium, Agege, Ikorodu Town 

Hall, Ikorodu and Epe Youth Centre, Epe. 

Perhaps, the crowning moment for Lagos 

in 2019 was the signing of the N1.168 trn 

2020 appropriation bill into law by 

Governor Sanwo-Olu. The budget, 

christened ‘Awakening to a Greater Lagos’, 

is higher than the previous one by 34 

percent and it is expected to be funded by a 

projected total revenue of N1.071 trn and 

a deficit amounting to N97.53 billion. 

That the audacious financial plan has a 

capital expenditure of N723.75 billion and 

a recurrent expenditure of N444.81 billion 

is a reflection of the determination of the 

Sanwo-Olu administration to truly achieve 

a ‘Greater Lagos.’ 

Without a doubt, 2020 offers even better 

prospects for Lagosians, especially in terms 

of infrastructure development, job creation 

and economic development. Possibilities 

such as renewed attempt to develop 

intermodal transportation, the prospect of 

4th Mainland Bridge as well as the Lekki 

Deep Sea Port are some of the schemes that 

are bound to significantly alter the State’s 

landscape in 2020. 

•Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry 

of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.



AKURE — QUESTIONS 

are being asked why the 

Ondo State Police Command 

still holding on to the corpse 

of a 40 year old farmer, Aanu 

Olanusimi, who died 

mysteriously in their custody 

since September 2019 at the 

police station in Idanre area 

of the state after he was 

arrested by detectives for 

allegedly stealing of cocoa 

beans from a farm at Irikose, 

Ago Oni Rice village. 

While the police insisted that 

he developed complications 

and died in the hospital less 

than thirty minutes after his 

arrest and on the way to the 

police station, the family of 

the deceased said that his 

death was not natural as 

claimed by the police. 

The deceased was alleged to 

have stolen cocoa beans from 

one Chief Akinruli’s farm on 

September 4, and he was 

thereafter arrested and 

detained. He was said to have 

been fingered by one of the 

labourers of Chief Akinruli. 

Families of the victim have 

cried out over alleged plan by 

the police in the state to sweep 

the case under the carpet. 

They questioned why the 

command had refused to 

release the corpse of their son 

to them for autopsy and burial 

since he died in the police 

custody in Idanre if he 

actually died naturally and not 

that he was tortured to death 

by police detectives during 

interrogation. 

The 80 year old mother of the 

deceased, Comfort 

Olanusimi, speaking on 

behalf of the family through a 

lawyer Fidolyn Akindiose 

dismissed as “blatant lies the 

submission of the state police 

command that their son died 

on the way to the police 

station. 

The mother of the deceased, 

Mrs. Comfort Olanusimi, 

through her lawyer, Fidolyn 

Akindiose in a petition to the 

Inspector General of Police 

and a copy made available to 

Vanguard in Akure, the state 

capital said that ”news came 

to his mother that her son died 

shortly after his arrest. 

Family petitions IG 

But to their surprise, “the 

police had refused to release 

the corpse of the deceased for 

his family for burial since he 

reportedly died in September 

2019. 

The family said: “On 

November 4, 2019, she (Mrs 

Olanusimi) was with her son 

Aanu at the farmland camp 

when one Chief Akinruli of 

Idanre and a police officer 

from Idanre Divisional Police 

station came to arrest her son. 

“In inquiry for the offence 

•Pic of 80 year old comfort Olanusimi, 

the mother of the deceased farmer 

•Pic of the deceased farmer, Aanu 

Olanusimi 

THREE MONTHS AFTER MYSTERIOUS DEATH IN POLICE CUSTODY: 

Release my son’s corpse, 80 year 

old mother tells Ondo Police 

*Family petitions IG 

*Ex-Police Officer in show of strength 

committed she and her son 

were told that Aanu has been 

stealing Cocoa seeds from 

Akinruli’s farmland as was 

reported by his labourer. 

“Her son then followed 

Akinruli and the police officer 

on a motorcycle to the police 

station. 

While our client was getting 

ready to go to the police 

station, another motorcyclist 

came to tell her that her son 

was vomiting on the road and 

had been taken to the state 

hospital in Idanre. 

“She was later told that her 

son has been transferred to 

the State Specialist Hospital 


AKURE— OVER 5000 

indigent people in the 

four council areas of Akoko in 

Ondo State have benefited 

from a free medical outreach 

programmes initiated by a 

Non-Governmental 

Organisation, NGO, Miteda 

Wellness Initiative. 

The initiator of the 

outreach, Mrs. Adefunmilola 

Williams-Daudu said the 

programme was specially 

designed for people living in 

the rural communities but 

lacked medical facilities. 

Daudu said: “The medical 

initiative by Miteda Wellness 

Initiative has helped in 

reducing deaths among rural 

inhabitants. 

Akure (UNIMEDTH, Annex 

Akure). Very early the next 

It is our appeal to the AIG 

to use his office to take 

over the case from the 

homicide section of the 

state Criminal 

Investigation 

Department, Ondo State 

Police Command for 

further investigation, and 

for the release of Aanu’s 

corpse 

day, when she got to the state 

hospital, Akure she was told 

that her son had died.” 

According to the family, the 

deceased, was hale and 

hearty, without any complaint 

of illness before his arrest. 

“Up to this moment, the body 

of our client’s son has not been 

released to her. ” 

The lawyer alleged that the 

police had perfected a report 

that would indicate that the 

deceased drank poison shortly 

before the arrest. 

Akindiose said: “The 

deceased had no reason to 

take up his own life. 

Over 5000 indigent people in Ondo communities 

benefit from free medical outreach 

“The NGO attended to all 

forms of illness and screening, 

which will include breast 

cancer examination, diabetes, 

Hepatitis, oral health, Blood 

Pressure, eye problems, 

malaria, free eye glasses and 

attending to other health 

challenges.” 

Apart from attending to the 

health of these people in the 

rural communities, she noted 

that the NGO has assisted in 

funding the education of some 

pupils in some schools. 

“This is to assist some 

indigent students within the 

community. Some parents 

cannot afford to provide school 

uniforms, books and sandals 

for their wards. We have 

provided all these for pupils 

in LA Primary School, Ikaram 

Akoko. 

According to her, 

government alone cannot cater 

for the health and education 

of all its citizens adding that 

the initiative was introduced 

by her on the need to give back 

to the society, during her 

birthday some seven years 

ago. 

“The number of people who 

have been coming to the yearly 

event to get treatment for 

various ailments had been 

increasing since then. 

“Over 5,000 people had been 

treated and the programme 

has been expanding year after 

year and it has brought health 

benefits to thousands of people 

in the area. 

Daudu said that medical 

experts including doctors, 

“It is our contention that the 

acts of the said Chief Akinruli, 

his labourer and the 

investigating Police Officer, 

known as Londo constitutes 

criminal acts to wit; false 

accusation, professional 

negligence, criminal 

conspiracy, murder and failure 

to produce corpse . 

“It is our appeal to the AIG 

to use his office to take over 

the case from the homicide 

section of the state Criminal 

Investigation Department, 

Ondo State Police Command 

for further investigation, and 

for the release of Aanu’s 

corpse, so that justice can be 

done. 

We have nothing to hide— 

Ondo Police 

Contacted, the command’s 

spokesperson, Femi Joseph, 

denied complicity in the death 

of the suspect. 

Joseph pointed out that “the 

police had no authority not to 

release the corpse to the 

family. The Commissioner of 

Police, Andie Undie, had 

personally intervened in the 

matter.” 

The Command advised the 

family of the deceased to 

approach the Idanre 

Divisional Police Officer DPO, 

who had been briefed on the 

corpse of the farmer. 

Joseph dismissed the 

allegation that the police held 

on to the corpse purposely to 

cover up their deeds. 

Joseph said: “We have 

nothing to hide, the suspect 

died in the hospital where he 

was rushed to after he 

developed complications on 

the way to the police station 

in Idanre. 

However, reliable source 

informed vanguard that the 

police command in the state 

held on to the corpse because 

a retired police officer has 

interest in the case hence the 

show of strength to oppress 

the family of the deceased 

farmers by not releasing his 

corpse over three months after 

he mysteriously died in their 

custody. 

nurses, laboratory scientists 

and other health workers from 

all parts of the world would be 

visiting the communities for 

the three days medical 

outreach. 

She said the medical 

programme took place at 

Ikaram Akoko in the Akoko 

North West local government 

area of the state. “ 

“Some of the illness treated 

free and if there is any need 

for more medical attention, we 

will arrange for them and 

finance it” 

Speaking on what had been 

expended on the project, 

Daudu said “more than N15 

million has been expended on 

the project by the NGO in the 

last six years.

BLACK CHRISTMAS IN OGUN: 

Man beats wife to death over food 

By James Ogunnaike 

A BEOKUTA— 

WEDNESDAY, 25 

December, 2019 was a day of joy 

and celebration for all people 

irrespective of religious 

affiliation. 

But the day went sour for the 

family of Sonola in Ijeun Titun 

area of Abeokuta South local 

government area of Ogun state, 

as the 37-year old Mutiu Sonola 

reportedly beat his wife Zainab 

to death after a short argument 

over food. 

Late Zainab, 34 years old, was 

a mother of one before her 

untimely death, she was a trader 

in Kuto market; she deals with 

foodstuffs and other things. 

According to an eyewitness, 

Bankole Soluade, a resident of 

the area where the couple 

resided, narrated how Sonola 

Mutiu usually beat Zainab 

repeatedly and how they 

normally intervened to stop him 

from the act. 

Soluade said: “On that fateful 

day, the story changed as 

Sonola Mutiu popularly known 

as Alfa Mutiu was reportedly 

beat Zainab to coma. When he 

discovered that the woman was 

almost dead, he rushed her to 

Ogun State Hospital at Sokenu 

road, Ijaiye, Abeokuta for 

treatment but Zainab could not 

survive the beating as she gave 

up the ghost in the hospital”. 

He added that “the hospital 

management then instructed 

Mutiu to carry the remains of 

his wife when she was finally 

confirmed dead.” 

Mutiu then took the corpse of 

his late wife to his family house 

at Oke-Yeke in Abeokuta, where 

the policemen attached to Ibara 

police station was called upon 

to arrest him with the corpse. 

“Mutiu was habitually beating 

his wife at any slightest 

provocation and that the latest 

assault leading to the woman’s 

death was triggered by a “minor 

disagreement which was on 

food.” 

On her part, an old woman 

who identified herself as Mrs. 

Aileru, said Mutiu has two 

wives. She said Zainab was the 

second wife. 

She said, both Mutiu and 

EDITOR: Dayo Johnson (08033509763) 

Deputy Editor: Dapo Akinrefon 

08023844928 (sms only) 

CORRESPONDENTS: 

Ola Ajayi 

Ibadan 

Dare Fasube 

(Photo) 

Rotimi Ojomoyela 

Ekiti 

Monsuru Olowoopejo Lagos 

Adeola Badru 

Ibadan 

Shina Abubakar 

Osogbo 

James Ogunnaike 

Abeokuta 

•Mutiu Sonola who beat his wife to death in Abeokuta on 

Christmas Day 

Zainab used to have quarrels to 

the extent that whenever there 

was quarrel between them, 

Mutiu will beat Zainab blue 

black. 


ABEOKUTA — 

RECENTLY, men of the 

Ogun State Police Command 

paraded some notorious 

criminals, who were on a 

mission to Ekiti State to rob a 

commercial bank. 

The syndicate, who were 

arrested on 5th of December, 2019 

included Ahmed Abdullahi, 

Adebanjo Bamidele, Johnson 

Ojo and Mathew Olagoke. 

The suspects were paraded at 

the police headquarters in 

Abeokuta, the Ogun State 

Capital recently after their failed 

robbery attempt. It was gathered 

that the suspect were in cohort 

with the bank it question to aid 

a smooth operation. 

The Police boss disclosed that 

after getting an Intel, men of the 

“Family members and 

neighbors had settled issues for 

both of them on several 

occasions. Even there was a time 

Zainab packed her belongings 

•Suspected armed robbery syndicate arrested in Egbeda, Oyo 

State while on their way to Ekiti to rob bank. Pic by James 

Ogunnaike 


and moved out of Mutiu’s house, 

we settled the quarrel then and 

came back”. 

“I was surprised when Mutiu 

called her around 11am that his 

wife has been rushed to the 

hospital after minor disagreement 

between the two of them and he 

later called back around 11:30am 

to tell her that his wife is dead. 

“Mutiu started beating his 

wife in the morning on 

Christmas Day over a minor 

disagreement, despite series of 

warning by neighbours that he 

should desist from further 

assaulting his wife, a furious 

Mutiu kept hitting her with 

blows until Zainab slumped and 

slipped into coma.” 

The spokesperson for the 

Ogun State command, DSP 

Abimbola Oyeyemi, said 

preliminary investigation 

revealed that Mutiu was fond of 

beating the deceased at the 

slightest provocation and that the 

incident, that resulted in her 

death, was a minor 

disagreement. 

Oyeyemi said: “The corpse of 

the deceased has been deposited 

in the General Hospital, Ijaiye 

mortuary for autopsy.” 

Mystery: How bank manager, officials 

collude with robbers in Ekiti 

IGP-STS unit swung into action 

to intercept and arrest the 

robbers who were dressed in 

military uniforms and armed to 

the teeth. Items discovered from 

the robbers include charms, 

locally made short-guns, ATM 

cards, live cartridges, seven 

mobile phones and military 

uniforms. 

Bank manager contacted us— 

Suspects 

One of the suspects Johnson 

Ojo revealed that the bank 

manager contacted the robbers 

and gave them information about 

some amount of money yet-tobe 

deposited into the bank vault. 

The conspiracy to rob the bank 

also involved six other bank 

officials. 

The other major suspect, a 

dismissed soldier identified as 

Emmanuel was given N100,000 

by the bank manager to acquire 

more guns for the operation. 

Speaking with Vanguard, 35 

years old Ojo, an indigene of 

Ekiti in Ekiti State, said his 

brother, Dele who knows a bank 

Manager of one of the banks in 

Ekiti State said his friend called 

him to come to his bank for an 

operation. 

My brother Dele is a farmer 

and driver. 

He said: “The Bank Manager 

told him (his brother) that there 

are some money in his bank. The 

money has been packed in a 

Ghana-Must Go bag; though I 

don’t know the actual amount”. 

“He came to Sango in Ogun 

State to hold meeting with us and 

he promised to give us the 

appropriate time that we will 

come for the operation”. 

Individuals, 

Corporate 

bodies should 

partner Govt on 

qualitative 

health care 

delivery 


A BEOKUTA— 

INDIVIDUALS and 

corporate organisations have 

been called upon to join 

hands with government in 

the delivery of quality health 

services to the masses in the 

country. 

The founder, Otunba 

Adejare Adegbenro 

Foundation, made the call in 

Abeokuta at the flag-off of the 

free eye test for residents of 

Abeokuta held at Olowu 

Palace, Oke Ago Owu, 

Abeokuta. 

Otunba Adejare Adegbenro 

said the health situation in the 

country now requires the 

services of both the 

government and well 

meaning Nigerians in order 

to improve the health status 

of the masses. 

He applauded the Ogun 

State government policy 

known as Adopt a Primary 

Health Centre”, policy which 

encourages organised private 

sector to support the 

rehabilitation of Primary 

Health Centres across the 

State. 

He said Nigeria has gone 

beyond where we will always 

expect government to do 

everything for the people 

without the people 

contributing their quotas to 

move the country forward. 

“Those that have the 

wherewithal to assist the 

government in the provision 

of basic amenities should not 

fold their hands”. 

“In the area of 

education, health and other 

social amenities, we can also 

supplement the efforts of 

government in the 

eradication of poverty in the 

society through various 

empowerment”. 

Speaking on the free eye 

test, Adegbenro said no fewer 

than 5,000 people benefittted 

from the three days Free Eye 

test and medical services. 

The free eye test/medical 

services was for all 

categories of people; 

irrespective of religion, sex 

and ethnic background. 

Adegbenro, one of the 

grandson of the former 

Premier of defunct Western 

region, stated that the 

primary aim of the 

foundation was to reduce 

poverty, give support toward 

community development 

and reduce poverty as well 

as health related problems 

that is rampaging the 

society through the 

provision of social 

infrastructures, 

empowerment programme 

and free medical services.

30— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 

By Theodore Opara 

New Yaris to 

feature 

Toyotas 1st 

E-Four 4W 

System 

TOYOTA 

Motor 

Corporation (Toyota) 

has announced that it will 

launch its new model Yaris in 

February 2020. The new Yaris 

will be available at Netz dealers 

nationwide, as well as Toyota 

Mobility Tokyo Inc. and Toyota 

NishiTokyo Corolla Co., Ltd. 

The new model Yaris was 

developed to combine the 

nimble handling characteristic 

of compact cars with highquality 

ride comfort and the 

latest safety and security 

technologies that significantly 

exceed customer expectations. 

The new Yaris is the first model 

to adopt the TNGA platform 

(GA-B) for compact cars, and 

features a lightweight and 

highly rigid body with a low 

center of gravity. The car's nextgeneration 

hybrid system is 

based around a 1.5-liter inline 

three-cylinder Dynamic Force 

Engine, and fuses powerful, 

seamless driving performance 

with world-leading fuel 

efficiency for a compact car of 

36.0 kilometers per liter, 

according to WLTC test cycles. 

The new Yaris is the first Toyota 

compact car to feature the E- 

Four electric four-wheel-drive 

system. The gasoline-powered 

grades are equipped with a 

newly developed 1.5-liter inline 

three-cylinder Dynamic Force 

Engine, with the option of either 

a six-speed manual 

transmission or a Direct Shift- 

CVT with 2WD or 4WD settings 

that provides smooth, direct 

acceleration. In order to provide 

customers with a greater variety 

of choice, there is also a grade 

that pairs an improved 1.0-liter 

engine with a lighter and more 

compact CVT. 

The new Yaris is expected to 

become a highly popular compact 

car, and for this reason it is 

equipped with a wide range of 

advanced and convenient 

functions: it is the first Toyota car 

to be equipped with Toyota 

Teammate Advanced Park 

(including Panoramic View 

Monitor functions), Toyota's 

advanced parking support 

system; it features the latest 

Toyota Safety Sense, which is now 

capable of detecting oncoming 

cars when turning right at an 

intersection, and of detecting 

pedestrians crossing the street 

when turning right or left; and it 

comes with Turn Tilt Seats, which 

make it easier to enter and exit 

the vehicle. Display Audio, which 

can be connected to smartphones, 

is also fitted to all grades as 

standard. 

Self-driving Prototype Jaguar I-PACE 

hit the roads 

JAGUAR Land Rover 

engineers recently 

tested a self-driving prototype 

Jaguar I-PACE on the streets 

of Dubai demonstrating the 

company’s latest autonomous 

driving research technologies 

and giving a glimpse into the 

future of mobility. 

Jaguar Land Rover’s 

commitment to an 

autonomous, connected, 

electric and shared (ACES) 

future is a cornerstone to 

delivering on its Destination 

Zero mission; the ambition to 

make societies safer and 

healthier, and the 

environment cleaner. 

The all-electric, zero 

emissions Jaguar I-PACE - 

current 2019 World Car of the 

Year and World Green Car of 

the Year - was chosen due to 

its strong sustainability 

credentials. The prototype 

Jaguar I-PACE was modified 

to include enhanced vehicle 

detection and avoidance 

capabilities through a 

combination of radar and 

cameras, alongside a traffic 

light detection system. 

The vehicle’s speed and 

steering, from stationary up to 

highway speed, was also 

controlled autonomously 

during test drives, with the 

system following routes from 

a detailed HD map showing 

route location and a detailed 

bird’s-eye view of junctions. 

Jaguar Land Rover 

continues its drive for 

conscious innovation focusing 

on achieving its vision with 

Destination Zero - a future of 

zero emissions, zero accidents 

and zero congestion – across 

its facilities, and through its 

products and services. 

Autonomous vehicle 

technology plays a major role 

in realising the strategy. To 

date, Jaguar Land Rover has 

successfully completed realworld 

testing of the 

technology on complicated 

inner-city roads in the UK and 

continues to collaborate with 

academia and industry to 

accelerate innovation. 

“Jaguar Land Rover shares 

similar goals to Dubai’s 

government with regards to 

mobility and sustainability. We 

both wish to make driving 

safer, to free up time we 

spend travelling, and to 

reduce the negative impact 

travel has on our 

planet,” commented Bruce 

Robertson, Managing 

Director of Jaguar Land Rover 

MENA. 

“The Dubai World Congress 

for Self-Driving Transport 

tackles these same important 

challenges head-on, and our 

autonomous Jaguar I-PACE 

What's in a colour of automobiles 

THE colour of autombiles 

speak volume of an automobile, 

hence, different colours 

appeal to different people. 

Many give different reasons for 

their choice of colour of an automobile. 

There are are many 

people who would not touch an 

automobile because of certain 

colours. Also there are automobiles 

that wouldn't took good in 

certain colours. But there are, 

for sure two colour that fits any 

automobiles. The colours are 

either white or black. There is 

no car that you can't find in 

these two colours. They are the 

major automobile colours 

across the globe. 

It might surprise you too, that 

wile some colours are popular 

in certain countries, others are 

not. Different countries and 

people have preferred colours. 

Vanguard investigation have 

identified reasons behind dominance 

of certain colours in different 

countries and by various 

individuals. It ranges from environmental 

perception, belief, 

and even legislations. 

In most developed countries, 

for instance, white is usually 

the preferred colour unlike in 

third world countries where 

black reign. In Nigeria black is 

the dominant colour preferred 

by car dealers while white is 

usually the last option. The reason 

as alleged by some people 

is that most roads are not 

paved and as a result white 

cars easily gets noticeable 

when it gets dirty unlike black 

cars that hide dirts/ White cars 

are wading through floods and 

unpaved road would too dirty, 

hence people tend to run away 

from them. There is no way you 

can avoid the unpaved and 

flooded roads, during raining 

season. Also during dry season 

the dust deposit on white car 

gives the impression that the 

car is coming from the most remote 

part of the village. 

In Nigeria, auto dealers usually 

spend a lot of money 

changing the white cars to other 

colours before selling them. 

But where they can not do this, 

they usually sell the cars 

prototype is proof positive of 

the impressive progress our 

company and industry are 

making.” 

Successfully tested on the 

streets of Dubai in 

preparation for its appearance 

at the Congress, the prototype 

model demonstrates the 

progress being made in the 

autonomous driving space 

globally, and Jaguar Land 

Rover’s contribution to the 

Emirate’s Self-Driving 

Transport Strategy. 

cheaper, in most cases at give 

away prices. So generally, 

white is the least preferred colour 

by auto dealers in this part 

of the country. Just as manual 

gearbox is less preferred by car 

buyers. Even in new car market, 

dealers avoid bringing in 

cars with white colours, except 

on demand, mostly by companies 

and government agencies 

are usually their best customers. 

Another reason that influence 

choice of colour is people believe. 

Some people believe that 

white symbolise purity, cleanliness 

and decency. They go for 

white not minding how much 

it cost to keep it clean all the 

time. Some who prefers black 

would tell you that black has a 

presence that you can't explain. 

But no matter how you look at 

it, there is something special in 

colour which makes people to 

have preference for certain colours. 

But safety wise, white is 

ahead of others because it can 

be sighted even in the dark.

Rethinking our world in the 

shadow of the powerful 

MANY parts of the world 

were in festive mood this 

Wednesday marking Christmas, 

but thousands of Australian 

volunteers were at war, fighting 

hundreds of fires ravaging their 

country. 

Men and women left behind 

their families to fight in a war that 

has gone on since September. In 

New South Wales some one 

thousand homes have been 

consumed in raging fires with 

2,500 volunteers battling to stop 

the fires spreading to more homes 

and offices. 

With temperature soaring to a 

record 41.9 degrees Celsius on 

December 18, and only marginally 

reducing to 40.9 in the Christmas 

season, the country and its people 

are witnessing serious climatic 

changes. 

Ironically, Australia is one of the 

countries that has prevented 

humanity from battling climate 

change. Although the country is 

drought-stricken with record 

temperatures triggering wild bush 

fires, yet the government of Prime 

Minister Scott Morrison resists 

the pressure to curb greenhouse 

gas emissions. 

Morrison while apologizing for 

taking a family holiday in Hawai 

when his country is in flames, said 

the disaster Australia is facing will 

not lead to a change of mind on 

tackling climate change because 

as he claims, "There is no 

argument … about the links 

between broader issues of global 

climate change and weather events 

around the world." Australia which 

accounts for 0.3 percent of the 

world's population, releases 1.3 

percent of the world's greenhouse 

gases. 

There are no physical fires 

burning in Bethlehem where Jesus 

was born, but the fires of repression 

and resistance are not far from the 

surface. On Wednesday, some 

faithful who had come from 

various parts of the world gathered 

to celebrate Christmas. But 

Bethlehem is under the guns of the 

Israeli state which has also built a 

physical wall of separation in the 

holy city. 

The irony is that in the birth place 

of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, there 

is no peace. Where Jesus preached 

love, hatred prevails. The powerful 

and their Western allies ensure that 

the people in Bethlehem are under 

siege; that they do not even have 

the right to leave and return to 

their country. 

Queen Elizabeth II and the royal 

family minus the patriarch, Prince 

Philip, attended Christmas service 

at her Sandringham Estate in 

Norfolk. Hundreds who should be 

at church or home for Christmas 

were near the church premises to 

watch the spectacle. The Queen’s 

Christmas message to her subjects 

Debunking misconceptions about Daura 

By LIVINGSTONE WECHIE 

THERE comes a time in the 

life of a nation when citizens are left to 

ponder over the role of leaders and those close 

to the corridors of power. From time 

immemorial, the scrutiny of leaders gives 

citizens the time to guage the direction of the 

nation according to the role of those wielding 

influential positions around the seat of power. 

Much of what we have read about Mamman 

Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari's older 

nephew, in recent times have been unempirical 

records and misconceptions fed by base 

sentiments. This rampant falsehood about the 

astute industrialist necessitates this response. 

For those who are familiar with Daura, he is a 

man of few words but abundant in his 

charming conducts that endear him a private 

entrance into the hearts of many. His ability to 

mobilise men for effective action and smooth 

operation in the Villa, has largely been 

misconstrued as building a cabal around the 

President. Yet, he has maintained his 

unassuming stance and hardly ever responds 

to the unbridled criticisms coming from 

misguided opposition. 

His warmth, peace-loving and pragmatic 

propositions in his politics bring a new 

dimension that has altogether stabilised the 

situation in Aso Villa where he commands 

immense respect. He is also very meticulous 

and methodical in his administrative abilities, 

qualities which have compelled even the most 

ardent critics to concede to him. President 

Muhammadu Buhari and Mamman Daura 

are related by blood. 

Daura is said to be two and half years older 

than the President. The history of the close 

relationship of both men dates back to 

childhood years and they have maintained an 

talked about a bumpy year. It is 

not certain whether that included 

her collusion with Prime Minister 

Boris Johnson to attempt a coup 

on parliament in the guise of a 

pro-rogue which the Supreme 

Court declared illegal. 

Prince Philip had returned from 

hospital on Christmas eve. At 98, 

he really needs to rest, as does the 

Queen who is only five years 

younger. After 68 years on the 

throne, the Queen might be doing 

a lot good to the House of Windsor 

if she steps aside for Prince Charles 

who is already 71. 

This Monday, Saudi Arabia 

turned the murder of journalist, 

Jamal Khashoggi, into circus 

show. It claimed that five men had 

been sentenced to death and three 

given prison terms for the killing. 

If Saudi Arabia has 

any iota of 

seriousness about 

the matter, the first 

thing it should do, is 

produce the 

journalist’s remains 

or tell the world in a 

verifiable way, what 

happened to 

Kashoggi’s corpse 

unbroken bond rarely seen in recent times. 

This type of relationship, which has lasted 

for over 70 years is anchored on mutual trust, 

confidence and a profound sense of duty. It is 

reported that the making of the future President 

Buhari was built from his years of travails after 

he was overthrown in a military coup on August 

25, 1985. It was Daura, in his characteristic 

undaunted spirit, who rebuilt the structures, 

moulded and shaped the personality of 

President Buhari, which eventually assumed 

the cult-like followership the President 

reportedly enjoys across the country. 

The significant role Daura has played 

through all the life of President Buhari, 

according to Buhari's biographer, Paden, has 

been inspirational. In life it is difficult to depart 

from those who have played profound role in 

the lives of leaders, especially if those 

individuals are gifted with vision. With the 

ceaseless motivational impact Daura has 

made on Buhari all through the years, it is not 

out of place that he is having a resourcefully 

dominant role in the life of the President and 

to a greater extent the country. 

Most people who do not know Daura and 

how he emerged on the national scene should 

pay attention to the following: When Buhari 

first came to power on December 31,1983, 

Mamman Daura was among the main people 

selected to give principal advisory role in the 

then short-lived military regime of Buhari. 

However, by late 1980s he took over from 

Ibrahim Dasuki as the head of the African 

International Bank. 

That was where he acquired the technical 

competence in the financial sector as he had 

regular engagements with major international 

financial institutions around the globe and 

helped to formulate some enduring banking 

policies. His legacies in this sector are available 

The alleged convicts were 

nameless, the claimed trial was 

shrouded in secrecy and the big 

fishes including Crown Prince 

Mohammed bin Salman whom 

the United Nations investigations 

revealed, ordered the killing, were 

apparently never on trial. 

If the claimed sentences were 

true, confirmed on appeal and 

executed, there is every indication 

that it is some of the executioners, 


not those who ordered the hit that 

would be affected. Justice will not 

be served, meanwhile supporters 

of the monarchy would have a 

basis to attempt washing it clean 

of the heinous crime of luring a 

journalist to its Istanbul mission, 

murdering and making his corpse 

disappear. 

If Saudi Arabia has any iota of 

seriousness about the matter, the 

first thing it should do, is produce 

the journalist’s remains or tell the 

world in a verifiable way, what 

happened to Kashoggi’s corpse. 

Mr. Donald Trump spent 

Christmas as impeached President 

of the United States. That he 

abused power is a fact, but that he 

would be found guilty by the 

Senate, is quite unlikely. 

The issue is not whether he is 

guilty or not, rather, it is about 

power relations. Trump, even if his 

actions appear criminal, is a very 

powerful politician and it is easier 

to bomb a non-Western city out of 

existence than to find him guilty 

in the Senate. 

Christmas was not possible for 

many in Syria where large 

Christian populations have been 

uprooted by terrorists previously 

supported by the West and the Gulf 

countries. 

The fight for Idlib remains 

ferocious, but the Christians in 

Syria know that their wellbeing 

and return to their ancestral 

homes depend on an outright 

victory by the Syrian armed forces 

and militia. But the powerful 

forces who set the fires in Syria, 

trained, funded and propped 

terrorists to take up arms in that 

ancient country, are not about to 

give up. 

These same forces make peace 

in Yemen impossible. They have 

tried bombing the country into the 

pre-historic age hoping to impose 

their stooges. For countries like 

Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, 

Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, 

for those who care to find out. 

Daura was to become the chairman of the 

board of the Nigerian Television Authority, 

NTA, where he again distinguished himself 

after which he became editor and managing 

director of New Nigeria Newspapers, one of 

the most important publications in Nigeria at 

a point in the history of Nigeria. Today, Daura 

is privileged once again to help President 

Buhari make important decisions to take 

Nigeria to the "Next Level" in the efforts to 

revamp and reorder the Nigerian economy to 

meet the basic needs of the people. He assisted 

the President and stood by him all through the 

He is very meticulous and 

methodical in his administrative 

abilities, qualities which have 

compelled even the most ardent 

critics to concede to him 

turbulent times of the last four years. 

He is again prepared to invest his energy to 

ensure that Nigeria is taken out of the woods. 

He is indeed an unshakable ally, patriot, 

nationalist, a brother by all positive measures 

and an anchor that gives enormous confidence. 

Therefore, he is no less in this sense a strange 

example that should not only inspire the 

emerging generation of Nigerians and indeed 

Africans at large, but should serve as an 

awakener to supposed patriots, cutting across 

his generation to commit themselves to Pan 

Nigeria and Pan African actualisation. 

This turf and track which arguably measures 

this African leader along the likes of other 

celebrated African patriots both living and 

dead, triggers the need for leadership to retrace 

missed steps towards making needed 

contributions for growth, unity and 

development without necessarily waiting for 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

Sudan and Senegal, the continued 

massacre of civilians does not 

matter; they are confident that no 

case of crimes against humanity 

will be brought against them 

whether in the United Nations or 

the International Criminal Court. 

But if one is brought, the powerful 

Western countries backing them 

will ensure that it comes to naught. 

The year is coming to an end with 

Libya in flames. It was a rich, 

prosperous and peaceful country 

before the West decided that the 

patriot and pan-Africanist, 

President Mouamar Ghadaffi 

must be eliminated. They 

succeeded and handed over the 

country to terrorists, Islamic 

fundamentalists and touts. Now, 

there is the joke about an 

“internationally recognized 

government in Tripoli”. 

Was Ghadaffi’s government not 

internationally recognized before 

it was eliminated? Today, the 

beneficiary countries have split 

themselves into various factions 

supplying arms and logistics to the 

factional governments and militia 

groups in the country. 

So they will be in charge of the 

country and its enourmous 

resources regardless of which 

faction wins or even if the country 

splits. 

Nigeria, where the powerful 

rules and tramples on basic rights, 

made a sudden maneuovre on 

Christmas eve releasing two of its 

political prisoners, Colonel 

Sambo Dasuki (retd) and 

journalist, Omoyele Sowore. It is 

still too early to determine whether 

this is a bait, a temporary 

withdrawal, change of tactics or a 

decision to return to 

constitutionalism. 

As we move towards 2020, 

humanity should pray for the rule 

of law, rather than the rule of the 

lawless, and back up such prayers 

with concrete action. 

public office before such impact is made. 

To wit, Mamman definitely may not even 

and have never been president and this should 

be the ward for everyone who believes that 

until you hold public office you can not help to 

make Nigeria attain her potentials. Hence, 

Mamman as the strange example is ostensibly 

in the unique class of the few Nigerians and 

indeed Africans who leverage on their little 

space to push for the overall development and 

good governance. 

This can be attested to by key opposition 

and anti-Buhari figures who have often 

defended and celebrated the glowing virtues 

of Baba Mamman Daura as well as priced 

him as most cerebral and the spirit behind the 

success stories of the Buhari administration. 

Contrary to the views canvassed by a section 

of the media, just as very dependable patriot 

and friend Muhammad Auwal Musa (Waban 

Dansadau) aptly put it: “Of the countless 

successful policies of President Buhari, 

Mamman Daura is undeniably credited to 

have made immense contributions thereto, thus 

helping to bring about stability and healthy 

governance to the polity in a way that imprints 

his signature on national growth, unity and 

economic transformation”. That is the mutual 

bond between them. What legacy! What a man! 

What nationalist! What a Pan-Africanist! What 

a Patriot! 

For those with scant knowledge about 

Mamman Daura, especially those 

complaining that his influence in the Villa is 

questionable, it is important to note that 

through his cognate experience, he has been 

described as ‘intensely engaging, extremely 

intelligent and brilliant‘ by many who have 

come in contact with him and have been able 

to do any form of business with him. 

•Wechie, Executive Director, The Integrity 

Friends For Truth and Peace Initiative, wrote 

from Abuja


2020: APC’ll survive Oshiomhole-Obaseki 

war, but it’s beginning of the end 

IN an article entitled “2019: How 

Atiku will lose – and other 

matters”, published this time last 

year, I made six predictions: 1) Atiku 

will lose 2) despite Access Bank 

having Diamond Bank for supper, 

there won’t be a rat race for size 

among banks and liquidity will get 

tighter 3) Super Eagles will reach the 

semi-finals of the Nations cup and 

Gerhot Rohr will still be in charge 4) 

Manchester City will win the premier 

league, despite being third on the 

table and seven points adrift at the 

time 5) the telcos may finally get 

licences to upgrade to status of 

payment service banks. 

It happened 100 percent – every 

single prediction. Google it. Here we 

go again. I’m shooting at a few things 

that I’ve been thinking about and 

shooting straight. If I goof, I goof. A 

betting man can take this to the bank 

– no ifs, no buts, no mays. 

The All Progressives Congress, 

APC, Chairman, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole, will survive as party 

chairman, despite the nasty war with 

his party man and protegee, 

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo. 

It sounds counter-intuitive because 

the odds appear stacked against 

Oshiomhole. His mismanagement of 

the party primaries that cost the APC 

four states with accusations in a 

number of states that the primaries 

were mostly a bazaar; his iron-fist 

style of resolving disputes; and most 

potently, allegations that his resort 

to godfather politics in Edo is making 

former PDP strongman, Tony Anenih, 

look like a saint, should, ordinarily, 

finish him off. 

To top it all, his recent red-carpet 

reception in Edo for a politician he 

once openly described as a thief, while 

at the same time reaching across the 

border to grab a coveted post in the 

Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, as bribe for his 

former deputy who he muscled out of 

a fair contest for the party’s 

governorship ticket in Edo in 2016, 

ought to make Oshiomhole past tense 

in the new year. 

Cat with nine lives 

But that will not happen. It’s not 

because the APC chairman will - or 

can - save himself in the heady days 

to come. Two major incidents will 

conspire to keep him hanging by a 

thread as the party’s chairman this 

year. One, big APC guns interested 

in 2023 will fight tooth and nail to 

keep Oshiomhole beyond 2020, at 

least. And by big guns here, I’m 

thinking specifically of President 

Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju 

Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

Some APC governors will intensify 

efforts to remove Oshiomhole, but 

this cat will have his ninth life, at least, 

till year end. Buhari and Tinubu 

have different interests for wanting 

Oshiomhole to stay on a bit longer, 

and their voices remain the most 

consequential in the party. While 

Buhari’s reluctance is largely as result 

of his legendary lethargy about 

sacking people generally once he has 

appointed them, Tinubu’s case is 

more strategic. 

If indeed he is interested in running 

for the presidency in 2023, as has 

been widely speculated, it would be 

foolish to instigate the removal of the 

party chairman over whom he 

maintains considerable leverage, 

almost three full years to the general 

election. 

The average lifespan of party 

chairmen in Nigeria’s major parties 

in the last two decades is 18 months. 

If Oshiomhole is removed in 2020, 

his successor will be removed before 

his party’s election convention, 

perhaps in 2022. 

With two governorship elections - 

Edo and Ondo - coming up in 2020, 

sacking the party chairman who is 

just in his second year will have 

implications for party cohesion, 

loyalty and electoral math. It’s a risk 

that APC will be very reluctant to 

take. 

Keep in mind, too, that it’s in the 

nature of our politics to retain in 

office the vulnerable, the wounded 

and the blighted for as long as 

possible. Oshiomhole’s weakness and 

shortcomings are a familiar parable 

in the APC household, a parable 

known to him and to those who will 

continue to use it as leverage for 

now. 

Two, the governorship election in 

Edo has been framed as the make-ormar, 

the peak of all events in Edo this 

year, with consequences on the 

national stage. I predict that it will 

Buhari and Tinubu 

have different 

interests for wanting 

Oshiomhole to stay 

on a bit longer, and 

their voices remain 

the most 

consequential in the 

party 

be an anti-climax. The charade of 

Oshiomhole receiving Osagie Ize- 

Iyamu into APC on a red carpet, and 

Obaseki drawing a line in the sand, 

are political gimmicks meant by one 

side to test the endurance limits of 

the other. 

‘MAD’ 

The certainty of mutually assured 

destruction should the APC fail to 

resolve the problem before the end of 

this quarter, will compel the two sides 

to pull back from brinksmanship 

before the primaries likely in April. 

They will then bury the hatchet in the 

back of the PDP and the press, leaving 

only a small redeeming window for 

the hapless state lawmakers who 

have been the cannon fodder in this 

long, dirty war. 

But the scars will linger on. They 

will pile on the mountain of 

grievances against Oshiomhole’s 

continued stay as chairman and feed 

the growing anxiety that APC may 

not survive a post-Buhari era; at least 

not in its present form or shape. 

That anxiety is not misplaced. By 

the last quarter of this year, the cracks 

in APC will be clear as daylight; the 

PDP will also be in a shambles and 

the disruption will pave the way to 

another coalition. 

Border, border and taxman 

The closed land borders will be reopened, 

partially, in the first quarter 

of this year and all the campaigns 

about the billions being saved will end 

abruptly without any concrete 

alternative plan. 

Although the official explanation 

will be that neighbouring countries 

have repented, domestic inflationary 

pressure on top of criticisms that the 

prolonged closure is incompatible 

within Nigeria’s obligation as a 

signatory to the African Continental 

Free Trade Agreement, and the 

introduction of Eco, will force the 

government to budge. 

The year 2020 is when government 

will see only the colour of money. With 

a deficit nearly the size of the 2020 

budgets of Chad, Benin and Togo 

combined or roughly half of Ghana’s 

2020 budget, the Nigerian 

government will be hard pressed to 

find avenues to plug the shortfall of 

nearly N2.2 trillion. The government 

is coming for your wallet. 

In a highly restricted tax digest 

newsletter by Banwo & Ighodalo 

called “Grey Matter,” subscribers 

were informed that the 2020 

appropriation law imposes higher 

rates for certain existing taxes and 

subjects some previously exempted 

incomes like the Petroleum Profit Tax, 

company’s excess profit, dependents’ 

reliefs from personal income to tax. 

Add to that the knock-on effect of 

increasing VAT from 7.5 percent to 10 

percent, and you will begin to get an 

idea just how deep government will 

dig into your wallet. 

Trump bigly 

On the global stage, those who are 

betting that the entry of Michael 

Bloomberg into the presidential race 

will be the saving grace for the 

Democratic Party, will lose their bet. 

Sure, the Democrats need Bloomberg 

to save the party from its selfsabotaging 

swing to the far left, but 

Bloomberg is coming too late in the 

day. 

The US Senate will save Donald 

Trump from removal and he will go 

on to win re-election on November 3 

by a bigger margin than he won in his 

first term. To borrow the Trumpian 

phrase, Trump will win bigly. 

He will be judged not by the serial 

scandals and catastrophic flip-flops 

of his first four years in office because 

his critics have loud voices but weak 

numbers. Trump would win because 

on his watch the economy - which will 

decide the vote - has performed 

remarkably well, in spite of his 

spectacularly dysfunctional 

presidency. 

Year of spectator 

The summer Olympic Games in 

Tokyo will be a truly amazing 

spectacle to usher in the new decade 

for sport lovers. I predict that the US 

would retain its position as all-time 

highest medal winner, but unlike in 

2016, China will topple the UK to 

second place. 

As for Nigeria which has won only 

three gold since 1952, the best 

performance will still be in its past – 

Atlanta 1996. Even bronze, the only 

medal at the last Olympics in Brazil, 

will be a distant dream in Tokyo. 

Our medal-less outing in Doha, 

presaged by a pregnancy of multiple 

catastrophic births, including our 

failure to go beyond the round of 16 

in the U-17 FIFA World Cup in Brazil; 

failure of the Super Eagles to qualify 

for the African Nations 

Championship in Cameroun; and the 

failure of the Falcons and the U-20 to 

qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, only 

mean that this is the year of the 

spectator. 

Millions watching on TV and 

tourists lucky to make the trip to 

Japan, will have a reward more 

valuable than medals: a once-in-alifetime 

experience at the world’s most 

coveted sporting shrine. 

Federal High Court, 2019 

and a promising future 

By ADEKE 

AONDONGU ABEL 

IHAVE been a keen 

observer of 

developments within the 

Judiciary and the 

Federal High Court in 

particular. I have had the 

opportunity of listening 

to speeches of both the 

Chief Judges (past and 

present) specifically from 

Justice I.N. Auta, Justice 

Abdu Kafarati and now 

Justice J.T. Tsoho during 

the legal year and end of 

year programmes 

speeches were made, 

achievements are 

enumerated and 

promises are also made. 

From 2012 to 2019 I 

have had the opportunity 

of listening to the chief 

judges and the chief 

registrar and carefully I 

have also done my 

findings with regards to 

the achievements so far 

attained. From the 

speeches I have observed 

I must 

commend the 

chief judges and 

the chief 

registrars, 

particularly the 

present chief 

registrar who 

has achieved as 

much as his 

predecessors in 

office 

that between 2016 and 

2019 projects like 

Federal High Court 

complex in Damaturu, 

Yenagoa and four Judges 

Quarters that were 

started by the 

administration under 

Justice Auta with Mr Ayo 

Emmanuel as the chief 

registrar were completed 

by the administration 

under Justice Abdu 

Kafarati with the current 

chief registrar. This was 

in addition to what Mrs 

Rosemary Oghoghorie 

did before handing over 

on her appointment as a 

Judge. 

Similarly, under the 

leadership of Justice 

Kafarati and the present 

chief registrar two court 

complexes were 

completed and fully in 

use at Damaturu and 

Yenagoa. Also the houses 

in Lagos were 

completed, furnished 

and in use by the judges 

serving in Lagos. 

The Federal High 

Court headquarters’ 

extension and the 20 

courts complex building 

in Lagos are at finishing 

stages. In fact, from the 

speeches of the legal 

year, Justice 

Olaterogun’s valedictory 

and the end of year 

programme 2019, the 

projects may be handed 

over to the court this 

year 2020. Should this 

fail to materialise, it 

should be attributed to 

the contractors not the 

court since all monies 

allocated to the projects 

have been promptly 

paid. 

In the event, it will be 

a very big relief to the 

Judges and Staff in 

Lagos Division of the 

Court. Judges and staff 

welfare was a promise 

made by both the current 

chief judge and the chief 

registrar during the end 

of year programme. I 

have also watched with 

keen interest the human 

and 

capital 

developments in the 

Federal High Court, 

particularly in the area 

of training and 

retraining of both staff 

and Judges. 

Vehicles are also being 

bought and replaced by 

the administration for 

ease of transportation 

and to assist them do 

their work. 

The staff, based on the 

speech made at the end 

of year programme, are 

being paid overtime and 

are sent on training 

courses, at least once a 

year. Staff, as in other 

g o v e r n m e n t 

departments, enjoy free 

transportation. 

I was privileged to 

check and discovered 

that every outstation has 

at least a Toyota Hilux 

utility vehicle and an 18- 

seater coaster bus, 

depending on the 

population of staff 

working in a particular 

jurisdiction. 

I must commend the 

chief judges and the 

chief registrars, 

particularly the present 

chief registrar who has 

achieved as much as his 

predecessors in office, in 

making sure that 

available resources are 

being utilised properly. 

The enumerated 

achievements were 

possible due to 

harmonious relationship 

within the Court. It is on 

account of this I came to 

the conclusion that the 

chief judges and the 

chief registrars have the 

interest of the court at 

heart and I believe that 

they will take the court 

to a higher level beyond 

the present state. 

•Abel, a private legal 

practitioner, wrote from 

Makurdi, Benue State.



Bayelsa money not my money, 

says governor-elect, Lyon 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

Y ENAGOA—CHIEF 

David Lyon of the All 

Progressives Congress 

(APC) and Bayelsa State 

Governor-elect, has said his 

priority is to develop the 

state, noting that Bayelsa 

money is not his money. 

Lyon, who spoke at an 

annual oil, gas and family 

thanksgiving service at his 

Olugbobiri home town in 

Southern Ijaw Local 

Government Area, said he 

was indebted to the people. 

He called on the people 

to pray for him and to 

embrace forgiveness, unity, 

love and peace. 

His words, “If anybody 

had told me that David 

Lyon, from Olugbobiri 

community, would be an 

elected governor of our 

state, I wouldn’t have 

believed it. But God has 

made it possible. 

“This is the beginning of 

2020 and By February 14, 

by the grace of God, I will 

HOSCON appeals for security, 

surveillance contracts for 

10,000 youths 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

W Communities ARRI—HOST 

of 

Nigeria Producing Oil and 

Gas, HOSCON, has 

enjoined the Minister of 

State for Petroleum, Chief 

Timipre Sylva to prevail on 

the Nigerian National 


NNPC and Pipelines and 

Product Marketing 

Company, PPMC to award 

pipeline security and 

surveillance contracts to 

HOSCON oil and gas 

security limited to enable it 

deploy the 10000 youths it 

had trained on pipeline 

security across pipeline and 

gas infrastructures in the 

country. 

The National Chairman 

of the body, Dr Mike Emuh 

made the appeal in a letter 

made available to 

journalists in Warri, Delta 

State after a courtesy visit 

on the Minister of State for 

Petroleum, Chief Sylva in 

Abuja. 

The address by Dr Emuh 

and the Chairrman Board 

be sworn in as governor. 

“I believe God will use me 

to do something for 

Bayelsa. I started my life 

with prayers and I know 

that God will do something 

for us. 

“We need not be afraid 

because the task to rule 

Bayelsa has been given by 

God, and we must fulfil it; 

not for David Lyon but for 

the people. 

“In my campaigns, I 

specifically maintained that 

Bayelsa money is not David 

Lyon’s money. I owe it as a 

debt. The money for 

Bayelsa will be used for 

Bayelsans. 

“I am wishing Bayelsans 

that 2020 will be one of the 

best years. We will not go 

to the Government House 

to play. 

“When we tackle security, 

investors will come. I am 

also asking youths to come 

together and help in 

building our state; nobody 

will help us to develop the 

state and our communities. 

This is our time.” 

of Trustees, BoT of 

HOSCON, His Royal 

Majesty King Alfred Diete- 

Spiff further urged the 

federal government to pay 

gas flare penalty levy 

directly to host 

communities. 

“We are, as it is with best 

international practice 

asking that gas flare 

penalty levy be paid 

directly to communities that 

are exposed to the hazards 

of gas flare. If anything, it 

will manageably cushion 

the effect of the devastation 

caused by this exercise. 

“10 modular refineries for 

the oil and gas producing 

states was approved by the 

then acting President, Prof 

Yemi Osinbajo and all 

issues of modular refineries 

was discussed with the 

former Minister of State for 

Petroleum Resources, Ibe 

Kachukwu. For effective 

take off of our modular 

refinery projects for which 

our foreign financiers/ 

partners are excitedly on 

the lookout, allocation of 

marginal fields is key to 

its smooth take off,“ the 

group said. 

Abigborodo honours indigenes 

with 10 children above 

By Gab Ejuwa 

THE people of 

Abigborodo 

community in Warri North 

Local Government Area of 

Delta State have honored 

indigenes of the 

community who gave birth 

to ten children and above 

to discourage youths from 

committing abortion. 

Chairman of the 

community, Mr Monday 

Agbeyi, in his speech 

during the ceremony said, 

the honour was to make 

abortion less necessary. 

He stressed that those 

who oppose abortion in all 

or most circumstances 

generally think the best 

way to reduce the number 

of abortions is to make it 

illegal which has not 

yielded positive result for 

campaign against abortion. 

He said: “If every 

community in Nigeria can 

encourage those with 10 

children and above by 

giving some of the children 

scholarship and enrolling 

some in skills acquisition 

centres like what 

Abigborodo is doing, 

abortion will be reduced 

drastically in the society”. 

My mission is to end godfatherism 

in Edo — OBASEKI 

G OVERNOR 

Godwin Obaseki 

of Edo State, has said that 

his pact with the citizens of 

the state is to defend their 

interests and to end 

godfatherism. 

Obaseki, who spoke while 

hosting ward leaders of the 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, in Oredo Local 

Government Area of the 

state, asked the leaders to 

join him to fight 

godfatherism in the state 

which he said threatens the 

democratic rights of the 

people. 

He said he came into 

office with a mission to 

further the fight against 

godfatherism started by 

former Governor Adams 

Oshiomhole, but that it was 

unfortunate the latter is 

“reneging on the 

mandate.” 

He said, “Oshiomhole 

came to me, asked that we 

join forces to fight and bring 

an end to the practice of 

godfatherism in the state. 

The partnership helped us 

in changing the narrative 

of development in the state. 

This led me into politics. I 

am into politics to better the 

lives of Edo people. We 

believed Oshiomhole and 

followed him to fight 

godfatherism. 

“He said godfatherism 

is not good but today he 

is saying godfatherism is 

good. He said let the 

people lead but today he 

wants to lead the people, 

against their interest,” 

noting that with the 

resources available in the 

state, the people have no 

business being poor and 

that the bad leadership 

style adopted in the past 

was responsible for 

poverty. 

“Any politics that doesn’t 

benefit the majority of the 

people is bad politics. The 

Egoh empower constituents in 

Amuwo Odofin 

By Simon Adewale 

THE 

lawmaker 

representing Amuwo 

Odofin Federal 

Constituency in the House 

of Representatives, Hon. 

Oghene Egoh, has 

distributed empowerment 

items to his constituents in 

Amuwo Odofin, to cushion 

the effect of the present 

economic hardship. 

Egoh, a member of the 


PDP, stressed that during 

the course of the 

empowerment program, 

the beneficiaries were 

taught acquisition training 

skills which at the end of 

the training free eye 

Edo community festival brings 

Obaseki, Oshiomhole face-to-face 


BENIN 

CITY— 

AFTER several 

months of altercation, the 

gladiators in the Edo 

State All Progressives 

Congress (APC) crisis; 

Governor Godwin 

Obaseki and the National 

glasses,clothes and cash 

were given to aid their 

businesses. 

While addressing 

newsmen, Oghene Egoh 

added that the people of 

Amumo Odofin has given 

a lot to him by voting him 

to represent them in the 

federal level so it is time for 

him to give back to the 

people that has always 

been supporting him. 

He urged the people to 

put everything that they 

have been taught during 

the programme to practice 

for the betterment of the 

lives and to use the cash 

and other items judiciously; 

as he promises that the 

empowerment is a 

continuous one. 

resources we have in the 

state is to be used for the 

benefits of the people of 

Edo State, not a few 

politicians. Our people 

have no business being 

poor but our leadership 

has brought us here.” 

Further he said, “I am 

in politics to improve the 

life of Edo people. We have 

done more in three years 

with less resources. 

Imagine what will happen 

in eight years. 

“When they say I am a 

mosquito, I was never 

worried, I told them that 

mosquitoes can bite. The 

bite can cause malaria 

and if not well-treated, it 

Chairman of the party, 

Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole would meet in 

public few days time as the 

two have been invited to 

attend the 23rd Edition of 

the annual Auchi Day in 

Auchi, Etsako West Local 

Government Area. 

While Obaseki has been 

invited as Executive Guest 

of Honour, Vanguard 

gathered that Oshiomhole 

has been invited as the 

Special Guest of Honour of 

occasion fixed for next 

week. 

The 2020 event with the 

theme; “Our salvation is in 

the hands of the Almighty 

Allah would also have in 

attendance the first female 

Chief Judge of Edo State, 

Justice Constance 

Momoh (rtd), Hon. 

Miriam Abubakar a 

former 

State 

Commissioner in the 

Obaseki administration 

while the Chief Executive 

Officer of construction 

giant, Setraco Nigeria 

Plc, Alhaji Abu Inu 

Umoru would chair the 

occasion. 

A source in the palace 

of the Otaru of Auchi told 

GET TOGETHER: 

From left — Hon. 

Justice Deinde 

Soremi (retd), 

Former Vanguard 

Editor, Mr. Toye 

Akiyode, Host 

Towulade of 

Akinale, Oba 

Olufemi Ogunleye 

and Chief Niyi 

Adegbenro at the 

get together 

organised by 

Towulade of 

Akinale Oba 

O l u f e m i 

Ogunleye, held at 

Towulade palace 

Akinale along 

Abeokuta - Lagos 

Road. Photo by 

Wumi Akinola. 

can kill someone. Those 

bitten are already on life 

support but we pray they 

don’t die. 

“The last time an 

incumbent ran for 

governorship in our party 

in the state, it was a 

consensus. It will happen 

again, we will all agree on 

consensus. Whether direct 

or indirect primary, you, the 

people, will vote. Our plan 

is on the election, not the 

primaries. 

“God has continued to 

fight for us. All the 

strategies and antics 

against this government 

has failed. We will build this 

party and you will be the 

envy of all others who are 

not in our party but we are 

sure they will join us soon.” 

Vanguard yesterday that 

the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji 

Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III 

believed that the festival 

would create the 

opportunity for the two to 

meet and possibly resolve 

their differences. 

He said; “Wednesday, 

January 8, 2020 will be 

very specific for both the 

sacred kingdom 

celebrants and their 

friends from far and near 

during which His Royal 

Majesty, Oba Ewuare II 

of Benin is expected to be 

the Royal Guest of 

Honour. 

“We are optimistic that 

Almighty Allah will use 

the occasion for the two 

political combatants 

(Obaseki 

and 

Oshiomhole) to make 

them sink their differences. 

Auchi Day is an annual 

event held in the 

community to thank God 

for His protection, 

promote Islam and 

harmonious relationship 

among all those dwelling 

in the community and to 

also showcase the 

peoples various cultural 

dances and plays.”


Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika (middle), inspecting Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, in 

company of FAAN officials; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji; 

Airport Renovation committee of South-East Governors Forum, led by Engr. Chris Okoye, and security 

operatives. PHOTO: Dennis Agbo. 

2019 was traumatic for Nigerians 

— Clerics 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

O WERRI—GENERAL 

Overseer of 

Charismatic Renewal 

Ministries, CRM, Rev. Dr. 

Cosmas Ilechukwu, has 

said 2019 was a very 

traumatic year for 

Nigerians, even as he 

prayed that God should 

save the citizenry from such 

travails in future. 

Similarly, a Catholic 

priest, Rev. Fr. Austin 

Chiagoro Okigbo, has 

lamented that Nigeria’s 

family values were 

declining very fast. 

While Dr. Ilechukwu 

made his stand known in 

his New Year message, Fr. 

Okigbo made the 

lamentation during a 

homily at St. Michael’s 

Catholic Church, 

Umuguma, Owerri West 

Local council area of Imo 

State. 

He said: “2019 was a year 

Nigerians will never forget 

in a hurry. To God be all the 

glory that it has finally 

become history. It was a 

year we can’t easily forget 

in a hurry, having been 

through some life’s 

threatening storms, ruffled 

but unbowed.” 

While saying that 

Nigerians miraculously 

survived the whirlwind of 

economic hardship 

occasioned by 

misgovernance and poor 

management of our 

commonwealth, the 

pentecostal cleric also said: 

“We fought the giants with 

bare hands and in some 

cases, have been down but 

never stayed down. What 

a joy to know we are now 

safe on the other side.” 

He described 2020 as a 

year of promise, adding 

that number 20, in biblical 

symbolism stands for the 

cycles of completeness. 

“It signifies a perfect 

period of waiting, labour or 

suffering that is compared 

to a trial and reward.” 

Dr. Ilechukwu recalled 

with grief that Nigeria and 

Nigerians have been going 

through some difficult 

times of trial in the past 20 

years, pointing out that “our 

time of deliverance and 

redemption has come.” 

Value systems dying 

For Rev. Fr. Okigbo, the 

family value system in 

Nigeria is sadly on the 

decline today. 

He said: “The elders no 

longer teach their children 

the right way of living while 

the younger ones are 

unduly materialistic. 

“Most families are now 

interested in what their 

children will bring back 

home and not necessarily 

interested in how they 

acquired what they brought 

home.” 

While reminding 

Nigerians that civilisation 

was different from 

development, the cleric 

explained that “civilisation 

is a thing of the mind, while 

...as Bishop Okeke tasks 

Christians on peace, love 

By Nwabueze 

Okonkwo 

O NITSHA— 

METROPOLITAN 

Archbishop of Onitsha 

Catholic Archdiocese, Most 

Rev. Valerian Maduka 

Okeke, has charged 

Christians to be lovers of 

peace and institutionalise 

joy to their fellow human 

in all parts of the world. 

He said by so doing, they 

would not only become 

followers of Christ who 

came to the world as the 

prince of peace and 

messenger of peace, but 

also have peace of mind 

both here on earth and in 

heaven. 

In a new year message he 

delivered at the Basilica of 

the Most Holy Trinity, 

Onitsha, the Archbishop 

noted that anyone who is a 

builder of peace, a 

messenger of peace, who 

is a joy to the 

neighbourhood is a follower 

of Christ. 

According to the cleric, 

“beloved friends, as we 

celebrate this particular 

New Year, permit me to 

invite all of you to be a joy 

to the world. Christ came 

to the world as the prince 

of peace. He is the 

messenger of peace. 

“He is peace to the world. 

He is joy and he also has 

made us His disciples, all 

Christians and all men and 

women of goodwill. Anyone 

who loves peace, is a 

follower of Christ. Anyone 

who gives joy to the world 

is a follower of Christ. 

Anyone who is a builder of 

peace, a messenger of 

peace, who is a joy to the 

neighborhood is a follower 

of Christ. 

“I invite you, all men and 

women of goodwill to make 

this our New Year, this 

season, that is, be the joy 

to your neighborhood, be 

the joy to the world, be the 

joy people are yearning for; 

be the part of peace which 

people are yearning for but 

unwilling to give. 

“We have just celebrated 

and are still celebrating the 

birth of Christ who is the 

prince of peace. We are 

being at the same time 

invited to be followers of 

Christ. You don’t have to be 

development is 

infrastructural and 

cosmetic.” 

He advised against what 

he called “the current craze 

among Nigerian youths, to 

travel overseas for the 

illusive greener pastures,” 

stressing that “a good 

percentage of our people, 

who are in most foreign 

countries have completely 

lost touch with the realities 

at home.” 

Fr. Okigbo then reminded 

Nigerians that “God gave 

us life but what we will give 

back to God is what we do 

with our life.” 

a Christian, but be a 

follower of Christ by your 

behaviour, by being a 

source of joy, a source of 

peace, a true agent of 

reconciliation, a true angel 

of peace, a true builder of 

peace and giver of joy. 

“Let me mention some of 

the steps we can take to be 

truly a joy to the world. Be 

great, not by being served 

but by serving others. Be a 

servant to those around 

you, that make you truely 

great. That is what Christ 

did and gave joy to the 

world. 

“Be rich, not by receiving, 

not by grabbing, not by 

destabilizing others but by 

enriching others. Think of 

what you can do to make 

the world a better place, 

what you can do to make 

the society a joyful place, a 

happier place, a peaceful 

place, a better society and 

you become part of Christ's 

message and you become 

His messenger. 

“Be happy, not by doing 

what is popular and 

profitable to yourself, rather 

by doing what is right, 

good, noble and glorious.” 

Ihedioha’s brothers join APC 

By Chinonso Alozie 

O WERRI—THE 

brothers of Governor 

Emeka Ihedioha of Imo 

State, led by former 

Speaker of the state House 

of Assembly, Godfrey 

Dikeocha, from the same 

Aboh Mbaise Local 

Government Area, 

yesterday, joined All 


APC. 

Godfrey, who spoke to 

newsmen when hundreds 

of APC leaders from 

Owerri zone paid him a 

visit at Ndigbo Uvuru, 

Aboh Mbaise, added that 

he loved the anticorruption 

battle of 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari. 

Other factors he said 

made him join APC from 


PDP, was that PDP in the 

state had now shown itself 

as a party for the few in 

the state. 

According to Dikeocha, 

a former commissioner at 

the National Assembly 

Service Commission, 

representing South-East, 

“many things attracted me 

to APC, one which is the 

principles under which 

By Dennis Agbo 

ENUGU—A coalition of 

civil society 

organisations, CSOs, in 

Enugu State have waded 

into the controversies 

surrouding the murder of 

late Mrs. Maria Amadi, 

former Head of Nursing 

Services, Federal 

Neuropsychiatric 

Hospital, Enugu. 

The health officer was 

shot dead late last year, 

after which three of her 

colleagues in the hospital 

were charged to court and 

remanded in prision 

custody. 

Police investigations 

however, led to the arrest 

and arraignment of three 

other suspects, who 

allegedlly confessed to the 

crime. 

The CSOs however, said 

they found it curious that 

despite a memo to the 

Enugu State Attorney- 

General from the police 

hierachy seeking a 

withdrawal of the charge 

against the deceased’s 

colleagues, the state 

government has failed to 

comply with the directive. 

Convener of the 

coalition, Onyebuchi 

Igboke said if the 

government fails to 

withdraw the charges 

against the detained three 

APC was founded and 

Mr. President’s anticorruption 

stand. 

“However, one of the 

projects, among the 

many executed in the 

South-East by this 

government, that I am 

still waiting for is the 

railway. We want it to 

pass through Owerri, 

Awka and other areas. 

“APC’s principles 

really endeared me to 

them. Nobody has ever 

pointed out that Mr. 

President took one naira. 

Let me tell you, we are 

the vibrant young men 

that delivered PDP in this 

state. 

“Then, neither 

Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu 

nor Arthur Nzeribe was 

in PDP among these top 

people you see in PDP 

today. They joined later 

when we defeated them. 

“Mark my words, many 

PDP members will join 

APC in Imo State. PDP 

members can come 

when the food is ready. 

You will see it. 

“Let me say something 

you will remember; PDP 

will die a natural death 

in Imo State. You will see 

it is a party for elites.” 

CSOs wade into 

murder of Enugu nurse 

staff of the hospital, they 

would be left with no 

option than to embark on 

protest. 

Igboke said it was 

confirmed that about 15 

persons were arrested in 

the course of the primary 

investigations but three 

culprits made voluntary 

confessionary 

statements. 

His words: “In view of 

the apprehension of the 

three suspects that 

owned up to killing late 

Maria Amadi, the 

Nigeria Police Legal 

D e p a r t m e n t 

Headquarters and 

investigation 

department of Federal 

Anti-Robbery Squad, 

wrote reports dated 

November 28, 2019, to 

the Enugu State 

government through 

the Office of the 

Attorney-General and 

Commissioner for 

Justice and Office of the 

Chief Judge of the state 

was equally copied. 

“On the other hand, 

neither of them claimed 

to have known or in any 

manner attempted to 

implicate any of the 

defendants already 

standing trial for the 

murder of late Dr. Maria 

Amadi before the High 

Court of Enugu State.”



Oil theft: Reps report indicts service 

chiefs, NNPC, IOCs 

•House to pass PIB in February 

By Tordue Salem 

ABUJA —A House of 

Representatives Ad-hoc 

Committee report has 

indicted the country’s service 

chiefs over continuing theft 

of crude oil in Niger Delta, a 

member of the committee told 

Vanguard, yesterday. 

The source, who pleaded 

anonymity, also revealed that 

the long awaited Petroleum 

Industry Governance Bill, 

PIGB, would be passed by 

the House between February 

and March this year. The 

modified legislation has been 

on the floor of the two 

chambers of the National 

Assembly since 2007. 

“Of course the service 

chiefs, Nigerian National 


NNPC, and International Oil 

Companies, IOCs, are not 

serious enough to stop oil 

theft and our report is very 

clear on that. They have not 

convinced us that they are 

not involved in the illicit oil 

business,” the highly placed 

source said. 

The report of the committee, 

which is yet to be debated, 

would be considered by the 

House when members 

resume from Christmas/new 

year break. 

The committee had quizzed 

the Chief of Naval Staff, 

Inspector General of Police, 

Group Managing Director of 

NNPC and other 

stakeholders in the oil and 

gas industry, over continuing 

and alarming theft of crude 

oil in Niger Delta before the 

House adjourned last year for 

the Christmas recess. 

Chairman of the Ad-hoc 

committee on crude oil theft, 

Peter Akpatason, had earlier 

told journalists that the panel 

would invite service chiefs 

and other stakeholders in the 

sector to explain the 

continuous pilfering of crude 

oil by an alleged cartel in the 

country. 

The committee alleged that 

the theft of crude oil was with 

the assistance of some officers 

of the Nigerian military and 

ex-service men. 

Akpatason, who is also the 

acting Leader of the House, 

decried the alarming rate of 

oil theft recently in the country. 

He recalled that the Federal 

Government, under the 

leadership of former 


Obasanjo, had set up a 

committee to look into oil theft 

in 2001, which reported that 

oil theft by a group of highly 

placed persons posed a 

threat to the oil sector. 

He informed that the 

committee would hinge its 

enquiry on 2001 findings to 

uncover those behind the 

crime. 

It will be recalled that on 

September 26, 2019, the 

House through a motion 

raised the alarm that Nigeria 

was losing about N5 trillion 

annually from oil theft and 

about 22 million barrels of 

crude oil, accounting for 

about N1.3 trillion loss of 

crude stolen in the Niger 

Delta in 2019 alone. 

The committee’s mandate 

was to determine the volume 

of crude oil extracted in the 

country on a daily basis; 

determine the quantity sold 

at the internal markets and 

the quantity consumed 

locally; ascertain the quantity 

2020: Emmanuel thanks God for peace in 

A-Ibom at solemn assembly 

•Appreciates elders, religious/traditional leaders for 

promoting unity 

By Chioma 

Onuegbu 

UYO —GOVERNOR 

Udom Emmanuel of 

Akwa Ibom State has 

expressed special thanks to 

God for the peace that the 

residents of the state are 

enjoying under his 

administration. 

Emmanuel who spoke, 

yesterday, at the Ibom Hall 

ground, Uyo during the oneday 

solemn assembly to usher 

in 2020 and to re-dedicate the 

state to God with the theme, 

“Divine favour,” also 

appreciated the elders, 

religious and traditional 

leaders for promoting the 

unity in the state. 

He stressed that Akwa 

Ibom State people had 

reasons to thank God for 

making it possible for the state 

to hold the 2020 solemn 

assembly with victory and in 

an atmosphere devoid of 

political tension. 

His words: “I want to thank 

God for year 2020. When you 

see me dancing today, I dance 

like a winner man, when you 

see me shout today, I shout 

like a winner man. At this time 

in 2016, people were 

mocking us because the 

Appeal Court had in 

December 18, 2015 annulled 

my election. 

“While other states were 

celebrating Christmas, they 

were unleashing federal 

might threats in Akwa Ibom. 

When we came for solemn 

assembly in January, we were 

waiting for the Supreme God 

to give us supreme 

judgement. 

“Also, last year (2019), there 

was tension because of 

ranting, antic of the detractors. 

But today, year 2020, we are 

doing the solemn assembly 

with supreme victory given 

of crude oil stolen on a daily 

basis and the people 

responsible for the theft. 

Others are further 

determine the quantity of 

crude oil that is reserved 

daily to process into kerosene, 

diesel and to ensure that a 

thorough environmental 

Impact assessment of the 

damage caused to the 

ecology is carried out. 

HEALTHCARE SERVICES: Participants and beneficiaries 

being attended to as Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, 

Region 10 Abuja provides healthcare services, relief materials to 

Abuja community. 

to us by the only God and 

supreme God. So we have 

reasons to thank God for 

today.” 

The governor stressed the 

need for the existing peace 

and unity in the state to be 

sustained, noting that it was 

the first time ever that the 

people have come to 

appreciate that they are one 

people irrespective of where 

one comes from. 

Appreciates elders, 

religious/ 

traditional leaders 

“I really appreciate our 

elders, the church leaders 

and our royal fathers who 

have been preaching unity, 

love, because all of us are 

one. Whereever you come 

from in Akwa Ibom State, all 

of us understand only one 

dialect, so we are one. We 

cannot be seen to be divided, 

united we stand but divided 

we fall,” he said. 

How to grow economy in 

2020 —NECA 

By Victor Young 

THE Nigeria Employers’ 

Consultative of 

Association, NECA, 

yesterday, gave tips to the 

Federal Government on how 

to grow the nation’s economy 

in 2020. 

NECA in a statement in 

Lagos by its Director- 

General, Dr. Timothy 

Olawale, its contended that 

the economy struggled with 

a growth rate average of two 

per cent in the first three 

quarters of 2019; inflation still 

in double digit, orchestrated 

mainly by increasing food 

inflation as a result of the 

closure of land borders in 

order to curb smuggling. 

He noted that though the 

economy had great potential 

for growth, more concerted 

and collaborative efforts with 

the private sector could have 

made significant impact. 

On expectation for 2020, 

Olawale called for synergy 

between the fiscal and 

monetary policies of 

government, as it seemed 

only the monetary authorities 

had been in the driving seat 

of the economy, arguing that 

“for any economy to fulfill its 

full potential, efficiency and 

synergy of the fiscal and 

monetary authorities is critical. 

“Government should 

remain focused on 

implementing the Economic 

Recovery and Growth Plan, 

ERGP, as part of efforts to 

restore economic growth and 

expand the tax net to improve 

revenue generation, rather 

than focusing on tax increases 

that have remain 

burdensome to businesses. 

"Beyond the rhetoric of 

improved Ease of Doing 

Business rating, we expect 

that greater effort would be 

While re-dedicating the 

state to God, Prelate Isaiah 

Isong asked God to grant the 

people and the leadership of 

the state divine favours in 

2020, adding: “We are 

trusting and believing God 

that 2020 will not torment us 

by this rededication. It will 

bring us love, prosperity and 

God favours.” 

Among prominent past and 

present political leaders of the 

state, as well as religious and 

traditional leaders at the 

annual solemn assembly held 

at Ibom Hall ground were 

Obong Victor Attah, Air 

Commodore Idongesit 

Nkanga (retd), Senator 

Anietie Okon, Senator Helen 

Esuene, Onofiok Luke, 

Senator Bassey Akpan, 

Senator Effiong Bob, 

Speaker, state House of 

Assembly, Aniekan Bassey. 

The religious event also 

featured intercessory prayers 

on “repentance for the state 

and nation, for love, unity 

and prosperity of Akwa Ibom 

people; for the leaders in the 

state, said by some officiating 

ministers as well as 

thanksgiving offering. 

made to reign in the excesses 

of some regulatory 

authorities, whose actions 

tend to stifle businesses, 

invariably increasing the 

unemployment rate. The 

Private Sector should be 

aggressively supported to 

create jobs through businessfriendly 

policies and 

regulation.” 

On the Budget 2020, 

Olawale called for “full and 

timely implementation of the 

budget and early release of 

funds in order to stimulate the 

economy. Monitoring 

mechanisms should be 

institutionalised to gauge 

how well the budget is 

“implemented. 

"Special focus should be 

given to infrastructural 

development as enshrined in 

the 2020 budget as this is the 

foundation for national 

development. 

"We expect that for the sake 

of our country and the 

teeming 

populace, 

government at all levels will 

see the private sector as an 

engine of development and 

a worthy partner in the 

realisation of the Nigerian 

dream." 

Pray for leaders 

in authority 

—Kogi 

Speaker 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

LOKOJA—Speaker, Kogi 

State House of Assembly, 

Matthew Kolawole, has 

pleaded with Nigerians to 

always pray and support 

leaders in authority to enable 

them deliver the desired 

dividend of democracy to the 

people. 

Kolawole gave the charge 

in Kabba, headquarters of 

Kabba-Bunu Local 

Government Area of the state 

during the new year social 

gathering organised by the 

Speaker for All Progressives 

Congress, APC, members in 

the area. 

The speaker, who described 

leadership at all level as 

burden, said it was imperative 

and necessary for citizens to 

pray for the leaders to enable 

them fulfill their promises. 

He, however, said in 2020 

he would continue all his 

legacy projects to reduce 

unemployment among 

youths and women and also 

to reduce poverty in the 

constituency,. 

He said: “I will continue my 

legacy programmes such as 

skill acquisition, widow and 

youth empowerment, sinking 

of boreholes, free healthcare 

among others. I promised not 

to disappoint my people that 

gave me the mandate.” 

One of the chieftains of APC 

in the district, Olushola 

Olumoroti, said the 

significance of the occasion 

was to appreciate the people 

for their unalloyed support 

during the last governorship 

election that gave APC victory.


By Clifford Ndujihe 

& Omeiza Ajayi 

WITH 2020 being a minielection 

year, the 

Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, does not 

want the controversies and 

misgivings that trailed past 

polls to recur. 

It is calling for vigilance on 

the part of all stakeholders and 

adequate punishment for 

electoral offenders 

Currently, the electoral 

umpire will conduct at least 30 

elections this year. Based on 

court orders, the INEC has 

scheduled re-run elections to 

hold simultaneously in 28 

constituencies across 12 states 

of the country on January 25, 

2020. And later in the year, it 

will hold the Edo and Ondo 

governorship polls. 

Arising from the 2019 

General Election, 807 postelection 

petitions were filed at 

the tribunals. Out of this figure, 

582 were dismissed, 183 

withdrawn by the petitioners, 

30 for re-run election and 12 for 

issuance of certificates of return. 

This means that the 

Commission is required by 

order of the tribunals to conduct 

re-run elections in 30 

constituencies across 12 States 

of the Federation involving two 

Senatorial Districts out of 109, 

13 Federal Constituencies out 

of 360 and 15 State 

Constituencies out of 991. In a 

majority of cases, elections are 

to be re-run in just a few 

polling units, some of them in 

only one polling unit in the 

entire constituency. 

Elections were held in 1,558 

constituencies nationwide in 

the 2019 General Election. The 

30 constituencies into which rerun 

elections will be conducted 

represent 1.92% (approximately 

2%) of the total number of 

constituencies. The INEC said 

that progress is being made in 

this respect because in the 2015 

General Election held in 1,490 

constituencies (excluding the 

68 constituencies in FCT where 

elections were not due as was 

the case in 2019), re-run 

elections by court order were 

held in 80 constituencies 

(5.37%) made of 10 Senatorial 

Districts, 17 Federal 

Constituencies and 53 State 

Constituencies across 15 States 

of the Federation. 

Two of the 30 court-ordered 

elections have been held. 

To make the remaining 28 

court-ordered polls as well as 

the off-cycle Edo and Ondo 

governorship elections credible 

and peaceful, the INEC 

Chairman, Professor Mahmood 

Yakubu, who blamed politicians 

and political parties for 

undermining process, urged 

stiff sanctions against election 

riggers. 

Essentially, things needed to 

make polls credible are 

adequate security, sanctioning 

of election offenders, 

deployment of modern 

technology like the smart card 

readers, provision of electoral 

materials and logistics, and the 

INEC getting its Acts right. 

Yakubu said the electoral 

umpire will never connive with 

any party to rig polls as alleged 

by some political parties. 

2020: How to make Edo, Ondo, 

other polls credible — INEC 

Lamenting that Attorneys 

General and Commissioners 

of Justice of states were 

freeing electoral offenders, he 

said it is inconceivable that 

INEC would go the whole hog 

to put in place electoral 

safeguards only to turn around 

and act in the breach. 

The main opposition 

People’s Democratic Party 

PDP had after the November 

16, 2019, Kogi and Bayelsa 

governorship elections 

accused the electoral umpire 

of conniving with the ruling 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC to rig elections in favour 

of the ruling party. 

Improve on our processes— 

INEC chairman 

However, Yakubu told 

stakeholders recently that: 

“The Commission will 

continue to improve on our 

processes in spite of the 

extremely challenging 

environment created by the 

action and inaction of actors 

outside our control. 

“The Commission is deeply 

concerned that elections in 

Nigeria, especially for 

executive positions, are 

increasingly characterised by 

brazen acts of impunity. The 

Commission plans for all 

elections to be successfully 

concluded and for the will of 

the people to prevail. 

“It is inconceivable that 

INEC will make elaborate 

arrangements for the 

deployment of personnel and 

materials and then turn 

around to undermine 

ourselves in the field on 

Election Day. Impunity has 

become the bane of our 

elections. The best antidote to 

The 

Commission is 

deeply 

concerned that 

elections in 

Nigeria, 

especially for 

executive 

positions, are 

increasingly 

characterised by 

brazen acts of 

impunity 

impunity is the enforcement of 

sanctions under our laws 

without fear and favour. Where 

offenders are not punished, 

bad behaviour is encouraged. 

“The Commission will 

continue to work with the 

National Assembly and all 

stakeholders for the 

establishment of the Electoral 

Offences Commission and 

Tribunal recommended by the 

Uwais Committee on electoral 

reform (2008), the Lemu 

Committee on post-election 

violence (2011) and, most 

recently, the Ken Nnamani 

Committee on constitutional 

and electoral reform (2017). 

“At the moment, INEC is 

saddled with the responsibility 

of prosecuting electoral 

offenders. We have drawn 

•Yakubu, INEC Chairman 

public attention to our 

constraints in this regard. We 

have no capacity to arrest 

offenders and conduct an 

investigation without which 

successful prosecution is 

impossible. 

“Over the years, we have 

worked closely with the 

Nigeria Police. Since 2015 we 

have received a total of 149 

case files, including 16 cases 

arising from the 2019 General 

Election. The cases are 

prosecuted in the States 

where the alleged offences 

were committed. Unlike preelection 

and post-election 

cases, there is no timeframe 

for the prosecution of electoral 

offenders. A case may go on 

for several years. Some of the 

cases were dismissed for want 

of diligent prosecution while 

in some States the Attorneys- 

General entered nolle 

prosequi to get the alleged 

offenders off the hook. 

“Even where the 

Commission recorded the 

most successful prosecution of 

electoral offenders following 

the violence witnessed in the 

Minjibir State Assembly byeelection 

in Kano State in 2016, 

it is unclear how many of the 

40 offenders sentenced to 

prison with the option of fine 

actually spent time in jail. The 

fine was paid presumably by 

their sponsors. That is why we 

believe that the Electoral 

Offences Commission and 

Tribunal will dispense justice 

dispassionately and speedily 

in the same way that the 

Electoral Court deals with 

violators in other countries 

such as South Africa. We also 

hope that the security agencies 

will get to the root of all 

violations and support the 

Commission to prosecute not 

just the thugs that terrorise 

voters and INEC officials, 

snatch election materials at 

polling units and collation 

centres but their sponsors as 

well. 

He continued: “One critical 

area that the Commission will 

engage the National 

Assembly is the status of the 

Smart Card Reader (SCR). 

Let me reiterate that the SCR 

has come to stay. It cannot be 

jettisoned or abandoned. 

Rather, the Commission will 

seek ways by which its utility 

in elections can be enhanced 

for the triple objectives of 

verification of the genuineness 

of the Permanent Voters’ 

Cards (PVCs), confirmation of 

ownership and fingerprint 

authentication of voters. 

“The status of the SCR must 

be provided for and protected 

by law. Similarly, accreditation 

data from the SCR should be 

used to determine over-voting 

and the margin of lead 

principle. The judgement of 

the Supreme Court on the 

primacy of the voters’ register 

as the determinant of overvoting 

in law merely draws 

attention to the lacuna in the 

electoral legal framework 

which must be addressed 

through an immediate and 

appropriate amendment to 

the Electoral Act. 

"The Commission will present 

a proposal to the National 

Assembly on this matter as well 

as other areas in which further 

deployment of technology will 

deepen the integrity of our 

electoral process.”


•Oshiomhole 


BENIN CITY — A tumultuous 

crowd that gathered at the 

expansive residence of the 

governorship candidate of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 

the 2016 governorship election in 

Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize- 

Iyamu when he and thousands of 

his supporters were formally 

received into the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, recently. 

They were received by Col 

David Imuse, retd, the acting 

chairman of the faction of the 

party loyal to APC National 

Chairman, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole. 

Anselm Ojezua, who is 

challenging his removal as Edo 

State APC chairman in court is 

loyal to the Governor Godwin 

Obaseki camp of the party. 

The defection ended months 

of speculations and denials that 

Ize-Iyamu was leaving the PDP 

and returning to the APC) he 

helped to form. 

Vanguard first gathered in 

October that Ize-Iyamu was 

considering leaving the PDP after 

he got information among other 

things that some leaders of the 

PDP were working against his 

governorship ambition, even 

then, he denied the rumour 

saying “maybe they think I have 

been quiet or they are looking for 

something to gossip about, I am 

not defecting” until the defection 

event confirmed the rumour. 

The success of the reception 

was beclouded by obstacles 

placed on his path which 

recorded some fatalities as no 

fewer than 15 persons were 

injured in a clash between 

supporters of Obaseki who held 

violent protests against the rally 

and others who came to welcome 

Oshiomhole and members of his 

entourage on arrival at the Benin 

Airport. 

Build up 

An indication that the 

defection was not getting needed 

acceptance from the government 

played out a few days earlier 

when Obaseki said he was not 

aware of any planned rally by the 

APC. 

Speaking shortly after a 

security meeting with heads of 

security agencies in the state, he 

said: “I have checked with the 

state APC secretariat and as far 

as I am concerned, the party has 

not announced officially that it 

will be having a rally.” 

But two days to the rally, the 

Inspector General of Police, 

Muhammed Adamu, in a letter 

addressed to Oshiomhole 

granted permission to Edo State 

•Obaseki 

EDO 2020: Ize-Iyamu’s 

yawning defection to APC 

APC to hold the rally. 

The letter titled: “Re- Request 

for the deployment of police 

officers to provide security for the 

All Progressive Congress, APC 

rally at Garrick” and signed by 

Assistant Commissioner of Police, 

ACP Idowu Owohunwa, Principal 

Staff Officer to the IGP, said the 

IGP had approved the request. 

Apparently reacting to the 

position of the governor that he 

was not aware of any rally, Osagie 

Ize-Iyamu also released an 

invitation letter he wrote to the 

governor informing him of his 

decision to defect to the APC after 

a telephone conversation. 

Banning of rallies and protest 

Barely a few hours after this, 

Benin City was on fire as protest 

greeted the planned rally and not 

less than 15 persons were injured 

as supporters of the two factions 

clashed. The victims were 

hospitalised at the new Central 

Hospital which is an indication 

that they may be supporters of the 

government. 

There was heavy presence of 

suspected thugs and security at 

the state secretariat of the APC 

along Airport Road that night and 

Vanguard gathered that it was to 

prevent the taking over of the 

secretariat by Imuse. 

The state government also 

directed that all private schools 

should be closed down due to a 

“disturbing security situation.” 

A notice signed by the 

Commissioner for Education, 

Jimoh Ejegbai said the state 

government was “in receipt of 

very disturbing security 

information” concerning the use 

by some persons of some school 

premises for a political rally and 

therefore banned the schools from 

allowing such and threatened 

grave sanctions for any contrary 

action by any school. 

Meanwhile, the protesting 

youths said to be members of the 

APC claimed they were from 

various wards across the state and 

alleged that the planned rally was 

to cause insecurity in the state 

which they said Babanguda they 

do not want. 

They marched to Benin Airport 

road where they set bonfires on 

different parts of the road. Two 

vehicles, an Audi car and another 

were burnt. On account of the 

protest, the Inspector General of 

Police issued another letter 

addressed to the deputy governor 

cancelling the rally. 

Oshiomhole, armed with the 

first letter of permission from the 

IG later that day called for calm 

among party faithful while he said 

he would assesses the true 

position of things whether the 

rally would hold or not. 

Meanwhile, determined to go 

ahead with the rally, the 

organizers hurriedly moved the 

location to the private residence 

of Ize-Iyamu, which has a 

standard football pitch. 

D-Day 

On the day of the rally, the 

deputy governor convened a 

strategic meeting with top 

government officials early in the 

We want to also 

use this 

opportunity to tell 

our party 

supporters to close 

ranks, set aside 

our personal 

grievances, for 

unity, and 

cohesion so that 

the party can grow 

from strength to 

strength. 

morning and thereafter issued a 

statement signed by the Secretary 

to State Government (SSG), 

Osarodion Ogie, banning all 

manner of gatherings in any 

private residence and threatened 

to revoke the Certificate of 

Occupancy of any private 

residence used for such. 

However, there was a meeting 

between Ize-Iyamu and the 

police on the planned reception in 

his house where a deal was struck 

that the event should be low-key 

and brief. 

Not less than 15 patrol vehicles 

•Ize-Iyamu 

of the police were stationed in 

front of his residence but that did 

not deter thousands of persons 

who trooped into the compound. 

Ize-Iyamu told his supporters 

that as a grounded politician he 

had already registered in his ward 

in Orhionmwon local government 

area and that the event in his 

house was just a reception. 

He told the crowd that “for 

those of you who are in doubt, the 

moment I made up my mind to 

join the APC, I went to my ward 

and I am proud to say that I have 

registered in my ward. So for 

those who are wondering why 

Pastor wants to declare in Benin, 

let them be informed that I have 

registered in my Ugboko ward in 

Orhionmwon. 

On why Oshiomhole did not 

attend he said: “I thank the 

national leadership led by 

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and 

all those who came yesterday. 

Because of all the tension, we told 

them to relax, we don’t need 

anybody’s permission to join the 

political party of our choice. Those 

who think we are their enemies, 

we want to extend the hands of 

peace, we are not your enemies, 

we have not come to fight 

anybody; even if you slap us, we 

will turn the other cheek. We have 

come to be your brothers, we have 

come to be your friends and we 

beg you in the name of God, let 

peace reign because if there is 

peace in Edo, there will be 

development.” 

Receiving him, Imuse said: 

“They have not only come to add 

value, but they also want to ensure 

we grow from strength to strength 

so that we will begin to win at all 

levels. You can see that APC is a 

party with a very large heart, 

there is nobody who can say he is 

the owner of APC we are all comembers 

and co-joiners. The 

national leadership of the party 

has assured us that in this party, 

there is no discrimination. Those 

who are still sitting on the fence, 

the time to come is now. What we 

are seeing today, is the total 

decapitation of the opposition 

party called PDP. We are not only 

receiving this tumultuous crowd, 

but we are also celebrating the 

obituary of PDP, those who are 

onlookers should come over and 

join us. 

“We want to also use this 

opportunity to tell our party 

supporters to close ranks, set 

aside our personal grievances, for 

unity, and cohesion so that the 

party can grow from strength to 

strength.” 

On his part, former deputy 

governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, said: 

“Pastor Ize-Iyamu is a man we are 

proud of, that is a man that is a 

political tactician. Pastor Ize- 

Iyamu is a foundation member of 

this party so we say, welcome 

home brother. We are looking 

forward to a robust engagement 

with him that will take Edo State 

and indeed our party in Edo to the 

next level. We all know Pastor is 

fearless, despite all obstacles 

today, we still had thousands of 

people here. My brother takes it 

home that from here, it is 

Osadebey Avenue.” 

Receiving Ize-Iyamu in his 

house after the reception, 

Oshiomhole flanked by various 

leaders of the party including the 

Vice-Chairman South-South, Hon 

Hillard Eta; former National 

Legal Adviser of the PDP, Olusola 

Oke, and hundreds of others said 

it was wrong for the police to have 

issued a conflicting letter less 

than 24 hours cancelling the rally 

without even sending him a 

copy. 

He counseled Shaibu to shun 

alleged violent tendencies and 

urged the governor to concentrate 

on winning voters and more 

members to the party rather than 

his second term ticket ambition. 

”I hear that some people are 

panicking that the pastor is 

coming because he wants to pick 

a ticket. I become sick because of 

this suspicion. My former Deputy 

Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu was 

appointed a Director of one of the 

departments of Buhari’s 

Campaign Organisation and the 

governor alleged that that 

appointment means I am 

preparing him to take over from 

him and when he was appointed 

chairman of the NDDC and the 

governor said it is all part of the 

plot. Every APC meeting now, they 

send thugs to attack. 

” We are happy that in spite of 

everything APC had a successful 

rally that was peaceful and 

achieved its purpose. As I stand 

here now, I am taller than I was 

just yesterday because we have 

harvested our people who were 

part of the foundation of APC, 

those who participated in the 

negotiation for the merger not 

only have they returned home, 

they have also used their 

connection in the other party that 

they were in to move people on 

that side to join us.”


IMPEACHMENT OF LG BOSS: 

Oyetola, Aregbesola in supremacy battle 

By Shina Abubakar 

OSOGBO—IN a silent 

supremacy war between 

Governor Adegboyega 

Oyetola of Osun State and 

his predecessor, Rauf 

Aregbesola, the Chairman of 

Osogbo South Local 

Council Development Area, 

Akeem Olaoye and the 

parliamentarians in the 

council have become the 

first casualties. 

Although, the two 

gladiators had on 

v a r i o u s 

occasions openly 

declared that their 

relationship is 

cordial, however, 

the in-fighting 

between their 

supporters 

polarised the 

party itself into 

two factions- Ileri- 

Oluwa and 

Oranmiyan. 

The crisis 

became obvious 

after the party’s 

victory at the 

Supreme Court 

on July 5, 2019, 

when the 

incumbent 

g o v e r n o r 

embarked on a 

street rally to 

commemorate 

the judgement. 

A few days later, 

his predecessor 

came all the way 

from Lagos for 

another victory rally 

organised by his 

supporters. 

During the rally, 

Aregbesola declared that he 

had become a ‘Godfather’, 

in the state political scene. 

This, however, did not 

resonate well among the 

teeming supporters of 

Oyetola, who felt 

Aregbesola cannot 

continue to explore the 

governor’s calmness to 

claim dominance over the 

party in the state. 

However, the silent war 

reached a crescendo when 

Oyetola, rather wait to 

attend the turbaning of 

Aregbesola as the Amiru 

Waziri-l-Muminina of the 

state, embarked on lesser 

Hajj to Saudi Arabia. 

Besides, only three cabinet 

members attended the 

event, and only four out of 

the 62 local government and 

Council Development Area 

bosses elected during 

Aregbesola’s administration 

were present at the 

gathering, including the 

embattled Akeem Olaoye, 

Osogbo South, Temilade 

Olokungboye, Osogbo West 

Local Council Development 

Area, Olalekan Omole, 

Obokun East Local Council 

Development Area and 

Uthman Mukaila of Ede 

Area Council. 

Some days later, the 

council boss was 

confronted with the 

impeachment crisis. 

The lawmakers, in a letter 

to the state Assembly, 

alleged that Olaoye’s 

removal became necessary 

due to his flagrant disrespect 

•Aregbesola: Minister for Interior 

to the law establishing the 

council, as well as financial 

irregularities. 

The parliamentarians after 

impeaching the council 

chairman elected his vice as 

acting chairman, ordered 

the impeached boss to 

handover document in his 

possession to the acting 

chairman or councilmanager, 

pending the 

ratification of the process by 

the state Assembly. 

However, upon getting the 

notice, the Assembly rather 

than embarking on its 

constitutional role of 

investigation and 

ratification of the process or 

otherwise ordered the 

immediate reversal of the 

process and declared that 

the ‘impeached’ chairman 

remains the authentic 

council boss, a move 

vehemently opposed by the 

leader of the 

parliamentarians, Badmus 

Akeem, saying the house 

had no such power. 

Allegations agaisnt me 

frivolous — Olaoye 

However, Olaoye while 

s p e a k i n g 

with Vanguard said the 

allegations against him 

were frivolous, besides, he 

was not given the 

opportunity to defend 

himself. According to him, a 

little misunderstanding 

between colleagues was 

escalated for political 

reasons, saying his travail 

was politically motivated by 

some gladiators in Osogbo. 

Vanguard gathered that 

Olaoye is a loyalist of 

Senator Ajibola Basiru, the 

leader of a political group in 

•Olaoye: Suspended LG chairman 

We have had 

reasons to call 

both parties to a 

round table, 

trying to find an 

amicable solution 

to the crisis, but 

unfortunately, the 

party that 

purportedly 

removed the 

embattled 

chairman failed 

to show up 

Osogbo, who is also a keen 

supporter of the former 

governor. 

Besides, the faction loyal 

to the governor is keen on 

decimating Aregbesola’s 

camp in the town. 

Even after the intervention 

of Oyetola that warring 

parties should sheath their 

swords, a legislative aide to 

the Senator, Yusuf Akeem 

posted on a Facebook page 

that “the governor would be 

saving his government. He 

knows our capacity and 

what we can do. 

This prompted the Ileri- 

Oluwa faction allegedly led 

by a former lawmaker from 

the town to take a stand and 

vowed that no one would be 

allowed access into the 

council, a threat that was 

gentlemen another chance 

to come and state their 

cases next week. 

It is unfortunate that 

some people accused the 

house of taking a side, our 

interest, as lawmakers, is to 

ensure that due process is 

followed and to this extent, 

we would summon both 

parties again.” 

Olaoye remains 

impeached — Assembly 

The Assembly also ordered 

that status quo ante be 

maintained 

pending the 

appearance of 

both parties before 

it, a motion the 

Badmus led group 

vowed to resist, 

saying, “Olaoye 

has been 

impeached and 

remain so, we 

followed due 

process in his 

impeachment. We 

have also made 

available to 

security operatives 

our resolution 

with a view to 

helping ensure 

peace in the 

council area and 

we believe he 

would not go the 

office.” 

Meanwhile, last 

week Monday, 

security operatives 

•Oyetola: Osun State governor 

cordoned off the 

c o u n c i l 

Secretariat denying both 

workers and elected officials 

executed as workers and 

access. 

elected officials were denied 

The state Assembly, in its 

entry by security operatives 

bid to show neutrality and 

on the claim to avoid 

loyalty to the two gladiators, 

breakdown of law and 

convened an emergency 

order. 

session last week Monday, 

Realising the futility of its 

suspended 

the 

stance, the state Assembly 

parliamentarians and 

quickly summoned both 

ordered that the councilmanager 

takes charge of the 

parties last Friday to find a 

common ground to settle the 

administrative duties in the 

crisis. But only the Olaoye 

council, pending the 

group appeared while the 

outcome of it committee on 

Badmus group snubbed the 

Local Government and 

invitation on the ground 

Chieftaincy Affairs within 

that they were not properly 

seven days. 

invited. 

However, Vanguard gathered 

To exonerate itself from 

that a majority of the 

the crisis, the lawmakers 

council chairmen had been 

addressed journalists that 

running the local 

its interest is in ensuring 

governments like sole 

that due process is followed 

administrators, hence, 

and it is not taking sides. 

creating enough enemies for 

The Chairman, House 

such impeachment moves to 

Committee on Information, 

succeed. 

Femi Akande said: “We 

Before Olaoye’s removal, 

have had reasons to call 

his colleagues in Olorunda 

both parties to a round table 

North had been impeached 

today, trying to find an 

in late October, but the 

amicable solution to the 

House of Assembly had not 

crisis, but unfortunately, the 

yet ratified his impeachment 

party that purportedly 

while another that of 

removed the embattled 

Olorunda Local 

chairman failed to show up 

today, however, the house 

has resolved to give the 

Government was also 

impeached barely a week 

after Olaoye over alleged 

financial misappropriation.


BURIAL Widow of the Principal State Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Teachers 

(NUT), Ogun State chapter, Comrade Jacob Adejare Adefemi, Mrs. Eunice 

Olayinka Adefemi flanked by their children from left, Mrs. Lola Omo Adefemi, 

Mrs. Olufemi Sopade, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Fafiolu and Mrs. Bola Erinfolami 

during his burial in Abeokuta 

NEW YEAR SERVICE: From right, Osiele Oke Ona Egba, Oba Dr. Adedapo 

Tejuoso, his Oloris, Omolara, Yetunde and Olabisi during the New Year 

service held at St. James Church, Idi Ape, Ago-Oko, Abeokuta. 

PHOTO: WUMI AKINOLA 

AIR TRANSPORT INDUSTRY AWARDS: From left — Guest, Managing 

Director, the Mavis Cory Limited, Mr. Deola Fadairo; HRH Oba Olufemi 

Adewunmi Ogunleye, Towulade Akinale, Arole Olowu; Managing Director, 

Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Capt Fola Akinkuotu; General 

Manager, Accident Investigation Bureau, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi and Host, Editor 

in Chief Air Transport Magazine, Prince Supo Otobatele, during the Air 

Transport Industry Awards 2019 in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele 

MAIDEN STAKEHOLDERS LUNCHEON: From left — Imo State Governor, 

Emeka Ihedioha, his wife, Ebere, Chairman of the Maiden Stakeholders 

Luncheon and Chairman of the Imo State Elders Advisory Council, Pascal Dozie, 

exchanging views at the Maiden Stakeholders Luncheon at the Government 

House, Owerri, Imo State. 

PRODUCTS CONTRACT SIGNING: Country Lead, d.light Solar, Kenneth 

Esenwah; Ag. Managing Director, 9mobile, Stephane Beuvelet; Head, Business 

Development, d.light Solar, Hilda Lawani and Chief Financial Officer, 9mobile, 

Phillips Oki at the solar power products contract signing between 9mobile and 

d.light Solar in Lagos recently. 

*Picnikers at Hi-Impact Planet Amusement Park at Ibafo Ogun State 

enjoying their New year holidays in Ogun State. PHOTO; AKEEM SALAU 

EMPOWEREMENT: Pastor Lawrence Opene, General Overseer, All Soul 

Transformation Ministry (5th left) flanked by beneficiaries during the widow 

empowerement, an initiative of Pastor Opene held within the church premises 

at Lagoon Estate Ayanre. Badagry Expressway, Lagos State. 

*Picknnikers at Elegushi Beach. Photo Akeem Salau

40 — Vanguard FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 

AGADA 

I, formerly known as Miss 

Miriam Ojonekeche Agada, 

now wish to be known as Mrs. 

Miriam Ojonekeche Idoko. All 

former documents remain 

valid. General public please 

take note. 

OMONGBOHU 


Ehikhamhen Franca 

Omongbohu, now wish to be 

known as Mrs. Arheghan 

Franca Omongbohu henceforth. 

All former documents 

remain valid. General Public 

should please take note. 

NMOR 

I, formerly known as Nmor 

Jennifer Ogechi, now wish to 

be known as Oliseyenum 

Jennifer Ogechi. All former 

documents remain valid. 

General public please take 

note. 

MAGDALENE 

I, formerly known as 

Magdalene Nsenor Okon, now 

wish to be known as Wealth 

Imor Okon. All former 


General public please take note. 

MGBAKOR 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss Mgbakor 

Chinoye, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs. 

Otasowie M. Chinoye. All 



take note. 

ADEWALE 


Adewale Oluwabunmi Kafayat, 

now wish to be known as Mrs 

Nkadi Oluwabunmi Kafayat. 

All former documents remain 


take note. 

NDIDI 

I, formerly Known as Disi 

Charity Ndidi, now wish to be 

known as Disi Erhovwon 

Charity. All former documents 

remain valid. General public 

take note. 

UGWUANYI 

I, formerly known as Ugwuanyi 

Anthonia Ogechi, now wish to 

be known as Egwu Anthonia 

Ogechi. All former documents 


please take note. 

UBABUIKE 


Ubabuike Linda Ogechukwu, 

now wish to be known and 

addressed as Mrs Igbozulike 

Linda Ogechukwu. All former 



note. 

EHINOR 


Ehinor Inegbenoise, now wish 

to be known as Mrs. Ehinor 

Inegbenoise Imona. All former 


General public take note. 

NWAFOR 

I, formerly known as Nwafor 

Philomina, now wish to be 

known as Nwafor Ginika 

Philomina. All former 



note. 

FRANCIS 


Aiyedogbon Francis, now wish 

to be known as Aiyedogbon 

Ilesanmi henceforth. All 


valid. General Public should 


IBEANIA 

I, formerly known as Mrs. 

Chinelo Ibeania, now wish to 

be known as Mrs. Pius-Ibeania 

Chinelo. All former documents 

bearing my former 

name remain valid. Trust fund 

and general public take note. 

OGWOYIBO 


Ogwoyibo Endurance 

Omamuli, now wish to be 

known as Ogunoyibo Prosper 

Omamuli. All former 



note. 

ONUORAH 


addressed as Onuorah Ifeoma 

Roseline, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Rose 

Ify Ude. All former documents 



OMOREGIE 


Omoregie Eghosa Esohe, now 

wish to be known as Mrs Okaka 

Eghosa Esohe Precious. All 


valid. General public take note. 

NWANJI 

I, formerly Known as Miss 

Angela Onyebuchi Nwanji, 


Angela Onyebuchi Oputu. All 



OJO 


Oluwabukola Ojo Bukola 

Victoria James, now wish to be 

known as Oluwabukola 

Victoria Ojo. All former 



note. 

ANUSHIEM 

I, formerly Known as 

Anushiem Elieen Chidinma, 

now wish to be known as 

Chukwu Anushiem Elieen 

Chidinma. All former 



STEVE 


Deborah Otas Steve, now wish 

to be known as Mrs. Deborah 

Ogheneyenrowho Ufio. All 



KENNETH 

I, formerly known as Ndukaife 

Kenneth Chibuzor, now wish 

to be known as Ndukaife James 

Chibuzor. All former 



note. 

OGBOLU 


Naomi Nwabuaku Ogbolu, now 

wish to be known as Mrs Arubi 

Naomi Nwabuaku. All former 



OVIE 

I, formerly known as Alfred 

Ovie Amraidhe, now wish to 

be addressed as Amraidhe Alfred 

Oviemuno. All former 



ORAKWUE 


addressed as Miss Vera Chinelo 

Nnaemeka Orakwue, now wish 

to be known and addressed as 

Mrs. Oliko Vera Chinelo. All 



take note. 

ASIWE 

This is to confirm that Asiwe 

Blessing Ngozi and Asiwe 

Blessing N. refer to one and 

the same person. I now wish 


Asiwe Blessing Ngozi. All 



take note. 

USIAGWU OB 

I, formerly known as Usiagwu 

Onweazu Chiazom, now wish 

to be known as Crown 

Anthony Chiazom. All former 



UGBAJA 


Ugbaja Chidinma Lisa, now 

wish to be known as Mrs 

Ojumude Chidinma Lisa. All 


valid. General public take 

note. 

GEORGE 


addressed as George Paulina 

Taiwo, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Atanda 

Paulina Taiwo. All former 



note. 

AUDU 

This is to confirm that the names, Audu .O. 

Aghayagbonke Hanan ; Audu Hanan; Audu 

Hanan Aghayagbonke; Audu Hanan 

Osakemwen Audu, or Osayekemwen 

Aghayagbonke Hanan refer to the same 

person, now wish to be known as Audu, 

Osayekemwen Aghayagbonke Hanan. All 

documents bearing the above names 

remain valid. The general public take note. 

KOLAWOLE-LATEEF 


Kolawole-Lateef Babatunde, 

now wish to be known as 

Olawole-Lateef Babtunde. 

That I am doing this for the 

purpose of my BVN. All former 

documents remain valid, 

general public take note. 

EJEREJE 


Ejereje Oyibo Eguonor, now 

wish to be known as 

Mrs.Eguonor Ejereje-Amaiko. 



take note. 

AKORODA 

I, formerly known as Mrs. 

Ifeoma Mary Akoroda, now 

wish to be known as Miss 

Ifeoma Mary Effiong-Obot. 



take note. 

IPIDEI 

I, formerly known as Ipidei 

Ochuko, now wish to be 

known as Enaworu Ochuko. 



take note. 

ANAFI OD 


addressed as Miss Anafi 

Omobolanle Fatima, now wish 


Mrs. Olusegun Omobolanle 

Fatima. All former documents 



OGODO 


Sonia Enifome Ogodo, now 


Ulumenfo Clifford Sonia 

Enifome. All documents 

bearing my former names 

remain valid, general public 


ODIBEI 


Christiana Chinye Odibei, now 


Okocha Christiana Chinye. All 


valid. General public take note 

UYEH 


Uyeh Ajiri, now wish to be 

known as Mrs Egbe Ajiri. All 



AMADIKE 

I, formerly known as Amadike 

Uchechi Thecla, now wish to 

be known as Peter Uchechi 

Thecla. Former documents 


take note. 

AKO 

I, formerly known as Miss Ako 

Umoh Bassey, now wish to be 

known as Mrs. Joy Ibanga 

Etim. Former documents 

remain valid. Zenith Bank and 


AGHOMO 

I, formerly known as Aghomo 

Efe Lauretta, now wish to be 

known as Onwuka Efe 

Lauretta. All former 



ADEGBESAN 


Adesile Aderonke Adegbesan, 


Adesile Aderonke Fasipe. All 



take note. 

SONEYE 


Soneye Olufunso Toyin, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. 

Ogunniyi Olufunso Toyin. All 



take note. 

ATAKPEREN 


Atakperen Otite Shadrach and 

William Otite, now wish to be 

known as Omatseye Otite 

Shadrach Paul. All former 



note. 

IGENE 


addressed as Miss Igene 

Evelyn, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs. Ighile 

Igene Evelyn. All former 



note. 

UGWUAKU 


Gloria Nneka Ugwuaku and 

Miss Gloria Nneka Chukwuma, 


Gloria Nneka Umeh. All 


valid. Banks and General public 

take note. 

OKOGBE 


Okogbe Dorcas Oghenevwaire, 


Adaji Mirabel Oghenevwaire. 



OCHUKO 


Omamuyovwi Destiny Ochuko, 


Omamuyovwi Destiny Ideh. All 

former documents remain valid. 

General public, banks and all 

concerned institutions should please 

take note. 

ODUOCHA 

This is to confirm that 

Oduocha Kelechi Dominica and 

Oduocha Andrea Kelechi refer 

to one and the same person. 

Henceforth, I now wish to be 

known as Oduocha Kelechi 

Dominica. All former 



ANYANWU 


Anyanwu Esther Ezinne, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. Obi 

Esther Ezinne. All former 



NWOBODO 

EZEDOM 

I, formerly known as Nwobodo 

Joy Chioma, now wish to be 

known as Nwobodo Joy 

Okonkwo. All former 


NYSC and general public take 

note. 

WILLY 


Willy Taripreye Gift, now wish 

to be known as Mrs. Amaebi 

Taripreye Gift Willy. All 

documents bearing my former 

name remain valid. General 

public and all relevant 

authorities please take note. 

PRINCEWILL 

I, formerly known as Anyanwu 

Princewill Ifeanyi, now wish to 

be known as Anyanwu Prince 

Ifeanyi. All former documents 



APELOKO 

I, formerly known as Miss Apeloko 

Anne Adetayo Kikelomo and Miss 

Apeloko Adetayo Kikelomo, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. Aminu 

Adetayo Kikelomo. All former 

documents remain valid. General 

public please take note. 

DADA 


addressed as Miss Nwaelum 

Lilly Dada, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs. 

Nwaelum Lilly Olanmo. All 



take note. 

MONICA 

I, formerly known as Mrs 

Monica Voke-Ighorodje, now 

wish to known as Ms. Monica 

Omonigho BennyMoore. All 

documents bearing my former 

names remain valid. General 

public take note. 

AKOKO 

I, formerly Known as Akoko 

Glory, now wish to be known 

as Unugba Okoroefe Glory. All 



OKORIE 


Ngozi Blessing Okorie, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. Ngozi 

Blessing Kalu. All former 



note. 

CHUKWUMA 


Victoria Uchenna Chukwuma, 

now wish to be known and 

addressed as Mrs Victoria 

Uchenna Ikwu. All former 



note. 

AGBROKO 

I, formerly known as Agbroko 

Mary Okeoghene, now wish to 

be known as Okuah Mary 

Okeoghene. All former 



note. 

SPACE FOR 

SALE

Kwara govt demolishes 

late Saraki's ‘Ile 

Arugbo’ home 

Continues from Page 5 

outburst that is targeted at 

distracting the public 

from the issues at stake. 

While the administration 

is focused on restoring 

sanity to the state after 

years of bare-faced 

impunity, we will do so 

within the limit of the 

law.” 

Action, recipe for 

crisis —PDP 

The Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, has 

condemned the 

demolition of the property 

by the Kwara State 

government, describing 

the development as 

wicked, cowardly and a 

direct recipe for crisis in 

the state. 

PDP in a statement by its 

spokesman, Kola 

Ologbondiyan, yesterday, 

said action of the ruling 

All Progressives 

Congress, APC-led 

government in Kwara 

State “is borne out of 

hatred and political 

intolerance, in 

furtherance of the larger 

plot by the APC and its 

administration to 

intimidate, suppress, 

hound, crush and silence 

opposition and dissenting 

voices in our country, in 

the bid to foist a siege 

mentality on the citizenry. 

"The PDP dismisses the 

reasons being spewed by 

the APC administration 

for this New Year’ 

dastardly act as baseless, 

false and incongruous, as 

they fail to add up, to 

justify the ferocious 

invasion, harassment of 

citizens and demolition of 

the said property. 

"The demolition is a 

complete subversion of 

rule of law as the matter 

is already in court. The 

APC-led Kwara State 

government could not 

wait for the outcome of the 

court process apparently 

because it knows that it is 

Naira appreciates to 

N364.79/$ in I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE naira yesterday depreciated to N364.79 per 

dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) 

window. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the window rose to N364.79 per 

dollar yesterday from N364.51 per dollar on 

Wednesday, translating to 28 kobo appreciation of 

the naira. 

The volume of dollars (turnover) traded on the 

window yesterday dropped by 60 percent to $19.05 

million from $47.51 million on Wednesday. 

However, the naira, yesterday, was stable at 

N361 per dollar in the parallel market. 

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

pursuing an illegal 

agenda. 

“Nigerians know how 

the APC and its 

government have been 

hounding, harassing and 

dragging Senator Saraki 

around over trumped-up 

charges, for daring to be 

among compatriots at the 

forefront of the quest to 

rescue our nation from 

misrule 

and 

strangleholds of the APC 

and its cabal. 

“The APC and Kwara 

State government should 

perish their idea of trying 

to use false claims and 

propaganda to justify 

their wicked act and take 

over the property, as such 

cannot hoodwink 

Nigerians from the truth. 

“Moreover, the timing of 

the invasion and 

demolition, in the wee 

hours and under the cover 

of darkness, is a direct 

indication that the state 

government was carrying 

out an unwholesome and 

condemnable operation. 

“The PDP invites 

Nigerians to note that 

demolition of property, 

genuinely belonging to 

opposition leaders and 

other Nigerians perceived 

to be opposed to APC’s 

o p p r e s s i v e 

administration, has 

become a policy of the 

APC and its government 

in their bid to subjugate 

Nigerians and exclusively 

appropriate our common 

patrimony for their selfish 

purposes. 

“Nigerians have not 

forgotten how APC 

leaders, including those at 

the Presidency, 

applauded whenever 

property belonging to 

perceived political 

opponents was unjustly 

and viciously pulled down 

in APC-controlled states 

and even in Abuja. 

“The PDP, however, 

cautions the APC, its 

administration, and in 

this particular case, the 

Kwara State Government, 

against crossing the 

boundaries and stretching 

the forbearance of the 

people, which is already 

causing a tension that 

could trigger serious 

unrest in our country. 

“It is also instructive to 

note that in the years the 

PDP governed Kwara 

State, there was no case of 

government demolishing 

the property of opposition 

members or supporters 

under any guise 

whatsoever. 

“Our party, therefore, 

stands with Senator Saraki 

and cautions the Kwara 

State Government to 

henceforth steer clear of 

the property.” 

Also, the PDP in the 

state, in a statement 

cautioned Governor 

Abdulrahman to respect 

the rule of law and stop all 

actions that could lead to 

breakdown of law and 

order. 

In a statement by its 

Publicity Secretary, Tunde 

Ashaolu, it called on the 

Inspector-General of 

Police, Mr. Mohammed 

Adamu, to ensure that the 

police were not used to 

foment crisis in the state 

or subvert the on-going 

court process on the 

property. 

It said: “We noticed that 

early in the morning 

today (yesterday), 

policemen from the 

Kwara State Police 

Command were 

deployed to take over 

Plots 1, 3 and 5 Ilofa 

Road property of late 

Oloye Olusola Saraki, 

apparently on the orders 

of Governor Abdulrazaq. 

“This action was taken 

in violation of the rights 

of the Late Saraki and his 

heirs to own property and 

in subversion of the rule 

of law as we are aware of 

a court process that has 

been filed by the Saraki 

family at the state High 

Court, Ilorin. 

“The process with Suit 

No KWS / 463 / 2019 

between Asa Investments 

Limited as claimant vs 

Governor of Kwara State, 

Kwara State House of 

Assembly, Attorney 

General of Kwara State, 

Director General of the 

Kwara State Bureau of 

Lands and the Inspector 

General of Police had 

been served on the IGP 

through the Kwara State 

Police Command and also 

the Attorney General of the 

State. 

“In the suit, the claimant 

is seeking for a declaration 

that the revocation/ 

recovery of Plots 1, 3 and 

5 TOS/ MISC 139A situate 

at Ilofa Road belonging to 

the Claimant without a 

proper notice of revocation 

is unconstitutional and 

void and that the 

purported notice of 

revocation is equally null 

and void and of no effect 

in that the said purported 

Notice was not personally 

served on the claimant. 

“With the matter now 

before the courts, the 

governor should stay all 

actions on it and wait for 


NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

WORKERS RESUME—Workers resume after the New Year holidays, in 

Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez. 

the final adjudication on 

the matter, instead of 

taking actions that will 

pre-empt the court 

decision and render the 

judicial verdict useless. 

“The PDP noted that if 

not for the grace of God 

and the maturity of all 

concerned, there would 

have been a clash 

between the old women 

who usually congregate 

on the property for their 

welfare package and the 

policemen. The Police 

withdrew after the women 

held the ground and 

refused to be 

intimidated. 

“We call on the IGP to 

prevent any action that 

would lead to break 

down of law and order 

by insisting that 

policemen are not used 

to intimidate innocent 

people and help in the 

plot to present the court 

with a fait accompli. 

Land matters are civil 

cases and therefore 

should not involve the 

use of armed policemen 

to intimidate people. 

“The state governor is 

equally advised to shun 

actions that amount to 

abuse of powers, 

illegality and seek to 

create tension in the 

state. The governor 

knows that he has not 

served the necessary 

statutory notices on the 

owners of the property 

and also have to respect 

the fact that with the 

filing of the case, the 

issue of the said land is 

now sub-judice. All 

parties should respect 

the institution of the 

courts and wait for the 

resolution of the case. 

“Kwara people are 

peace loving people. 

They are appreciative 

and supportive of all the 

contributions of Oloye 

Saraki, whose property 

is now being threatened 

by the revocation order 

to the development of 

the state. They do not 

want anything that will 

threaten the existing 

peace in the state. We do 

not want a repeat of the 

pre-2003 situation in 

Kwara State. 

“The governor should 

promote peace and not 

take any action that will 

threaten peace. We in PDP 

will hold the Governor 

responsible if any 

violence is wreaked on 

any Kwaran,” the party 

added. 

Bukola Saraki 

reacts 

Saraki, reacting to the 

development, in a tweet 

on his twitter handle, 

said: “Following the 

development this 

morning (yesterday) in 

Ile Arugbo, I want to 

commend the women and 

men, old and young, who 

displayed their affection, 

love and staunch support 

for my late father and the 

family. I appreciate the 

genuine support of the 

women and youths who 

stood firmly in the face of 

aggression and naked 

show of force. 

“Your action throughout 

the night gave full 

expression to my belief 

that what Ile Arugbo 

represents to all of us is 

etched in our hearts. It 

goes beyond the physical 

structure. I am happy that 

you were not intimidated 

as you stood your 

ground. This day will go 

down as the day you 

reciprocated the love and 

affection my father and 

family have for you. You 

have displayed a gesture 

of goodwill and 

passionate love. We 

assure you that justice 

shall prevail in a not too 

distant future.” 

Demolition of 

Saraki’s house 

in llorin ‘not fair’ 

— Kinsmen 

Also, President of Agbaji 

Development Association 

in Ilorin, Alhaji Yusuf 

Olanrewaju, has 

described as “unfair,” the 

demolition of late second 

republic Senate Leader 

Olusola Saraki’s political 

plot in llorin. 

Reacting to the incident, 

Olanrewaju described the 

demolition as “cruel,” 

adding that the 

demolition of the structure 

was in contempt of court 

since the matter was still 

before the state high 

court. 

Olanrewaju, spokesman 

of Saraki’s kinsmen at 

home and in the Diaspora, 

said that the demolition 

was improper and “a 

calculated action to chase 

away the Saraki family 

from the plot. 

“It is not fair to try to 

rubbish the late Saraki’s 

contributions to the socioeconomic 

development of 

the llorin emirate. The 

demolition of the structure 

is not right since the 

matter is before the court,” 

Olanrewaju said. 

The President of the 

association, however, 

appealed to Saraki’s 

kinsmen at home and in 

the Diaspora to remain 

calm and continue be law 

abiding. 

Demolition carried 

out to pre-empt the 

court case —SLF 

Also, Chairman, Saraki 

Legacy Forum, SLF, Bibire 

Ajape, in a statement 

said, what happened was 

“an obviously desperate 

attempt to pre-empt the 

court case, hence the state 

governor directed one of 

his aides to lead a 

demolition team to the 

property on Tuesday 

morning accompanied by 

some policemen. 

“The pre-emptive 

move by the state government 

to demolish 

the property was made 

to undermine and frustrate 

the judicial process 

and it represents another 

act of disrespect 

for the judiciary and the 

rule of law which the 

current government of 

Kwara State is known 

for. 

“While we praise the 

security agencies in the 

state for refusing to supply 

their men from the 

respective commands to 

participate in the Midnight 

Demolition Exercise, 

we call on them to 

also caution their men 

attached to the Government 

House to stop being 

used to settle political 

scores and avoid participating 

in illegal actions 

of the state government. 

It is also important 

for them to caution 

the Governor to stop escalating 

tension in the 

state."

42 —VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 

Orthodox Jews take part in the 13th Siyum HaShas, a celebration marking the completion of the Daf 

Yomi, a seven-and-a-half-year cycle of studying texts from the Talmud, the canon of Jewish religious 

law, at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon 

Hillary Clinton named Chancellor Of 

Queen’s University 

Former US secretary 

of state and presidential 

candidate 

Hillary Clinton was appointed 

Thursday as the 

new chancellor of 

Queen’s University Belfast. 

Clinton will serve for 

five years in the largely 

ceremonial role, the 

Northern Irish institution 

announced. 

“It is a great privilege 

to become the chancellor 

of Queen’s University, a 

place I have great fondness 

for and have grown 

a strong relationship 

with over the years,” 

Clinton said in a statement. 

“The university is making 

waves internationally 

for its research and 

impact and I am proud 

to be an ambassador and 

help grow its reputation 

for excellence.” 

The Democratic presidential 

nominee lost the 

2016 US election to Republican 

candidate 

Donald Trump. Clinton 

received an honorary 

doctorate from Queen’s 

in October 2018. 

“Secretary Clinton has 

made a considerable 

Indonesia’s disaster 

agency warned 

Thursday of more deaths 

after torrential rains 

pounded the Jakarta region, 

triggering floods 

and landslides that killed 

at least 29 and left vast 

swaths of the 

megalopolis underwater. 

Tens of thousands fled 

to temporary shelters 

across the capital region 

— home to some 30 million 

— with scores of 

houses damaged in the 

deadliest flooding in 

years, after torrential 

rains on New Year’s Eve. 

Images showed waterlogged 

homes and cars 

covered in muddy 

floodwaters, while some 

people took to paddling 

in small rubber lifeboats 

or tyre inner-tubes to get 

around. 

contribution to Northern 

Ireland and as an internationally-recognised 

leader will be an incredible 

advocate for 

Queen’s and an inspirational 

role model for the 

Queen’s community,” 

said Stephen Prenter, 

who chairs the university’s 

governing body. 

The chancellor’s duties 

involve presiding at degree 

awarding ceremonies, 

representing 

Queen’s in an ambassadorial 

role and advising 

the university’s executive. 

Queen’s is one of 

the oldest universities in 

the United Kingdom 

Indonesia floods leave nearly 30 dead, 

several missing 

In Bekasi, on the outskirts 

of the city, receding 

waters revealed swampy 

streets littered with debris 

and crushed cars lying on 

top of each other — with 

waterline marks reaching 

as high as buildings’ second 

floors. 

“I saw the water coming 

and it just kept getting 

higher and higher,” said 

Deddy Supriadi, after a 

local river overflowed on 

the first day of 2020. It 

swept away 40 or 50 cars 

that were parked right 

here,” he told AFP. 

Rescuers used inflatable 

boats to evacuate residents 

trapped in their 

homes, including children 

and seniors. 

TV images showed the 

dramatic rescue of a baby 

saved by disaster personnel 

who waded through 

chin-deep water to the 

family’s home and carried 

the infant away to 

safety in a small plastic 

tub. 

“We’ve been rescuing 

newborns, mothers who 

just gave birth and babies 

trapped in houses without 

food,” said Yusuf 

Latif, spokesman for the 

National Search and Rescue 

agency. 

“In some places, the 

rescue operation was 

quite challenging and 

difficult. The water was 

deep with a strong current. 

Some alleyways 

were so narrow that it 

was hard for our inflatable 

boats to pass 

through,” he added. 

Across the city, kids 

took the opportunity to 

swim in the floodwaters 

while some people 

grabbed fishing rods. 

Asia’s richest man takes on retail giant Amazon 

A 

conglomerate run by 

Asia’s richest man 

has started a service that 

aims to compete with 

Amazon in India. 

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance 

Industries said it 

had been inviting people 

to sign up to its grocery 

delivery service. 

The company is aiming 

to use its massive mobile 

phone customer base as 

a springboard for the 

business. 

The new e-commerce 

venture could become a 

major challenger to India’s 

existing online retail 

giants. 

Two subsidiaries of Mr 

Ambani’s business empire, 

Reliance Retail and 

Reliance Jio, said they 

had soft-launched the venture, 

called JioMart. 

JioMart says it offers 

“free and express delivery” 

for a list of grocery 

goods, which currently 

numbers some 50,000 

items. 

Unlike its rivals, JioMart 

will connect local stores to 

customers via an app 

rather than providing and 

delivering the goods itself. 

India’s online grocery 

market is in its infancy - 

currently estimated to be 

worth around $870m a 

year, with just 0.15% of the 

population using such 

services. 

However, analysts predict 

the sector could see 

annual sales of around 

$14.5bn by 2023. 

Libya conflict: Turkish MPs 

approve bill to send troops 

Turkey’s parliament has passed a bill that will 

allow the government to deploy troops to Libya 

to intervene in the civil conflict. 

Turkish lawmakers passed the bill on Thursday, 

with 325 in favour to 184 against. 

Turkey is allied with Libya’s UN-backed government, 

which is based in the capital, Tripoli. 

The Libyan government has been fighting an insurgency 

by forces under Gen Khalifa Haftar, based 

in eastern Libya. 

Egypt, which backs Gen Haftar, condemned Turkey’s 

vote, saying it would “negatively affect the 

stability of the Mediterranean region”. 

Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 

said he would seek parliamentary approval to provide 

military assistance following a request by the 

Tripoli government. 

The bill allows for the deployment of non-combatant 

troops, to act as advisers and trainers for the 

Tripoli government forces against Gen Haftar. 

The forces of Gen Haftar have been trying to capture 

the capital city. Turkey argues the Libyan conflict 

could threaten its interests in the country. 

Interpol issues ‘red notice’ 

for Nissan ex-boss’s arrest 

Lebanon has received a “red notice” from Inter 

pol for the arrest of fugitive ex-Nissan boss 

Carlos Ghosn. 

The request was received by Lebanon’s internal 

security forces on Thursday and is yet to be referred 

to the judiciary, Reuters news agency reports. 

Mr Ghosn, who was facing trial in Japan for alleged 

financial misconduct, arrived in Beirut on New 

Year’s Eve. 

The private jet on which he escaped reportedly 

landed in Istanbul first, prompting an investigation 

by Turkey. 

According to Turkish media, seven arrests have 

been made in connection with the case - four pilots, 

a cargo company manager and two airport workers. 

An Interpol “red notice” is a request to police 

across the world to provisionally arrest a person 

pending extradition, surrender or other similar legal 

action. 

However, Lebanon has no extradition treaty with 

Japan. 

The businessman holds French, Lebanese and Brazilian 

citizenship, and has made extensive investments 

in banking and real estate in Lebanon. 

France has said it will not extradite him if he arrives 

in the country. 

Castro drops out of 2020 US 

Democratic presidential race 

Former housing secretary Julian Castro on Thurs 

day ended his run for US president that 

pushed the 2020 field on immigration and swung 

hard at rivals on the debate stage but never found a 

foothold to climb from the back of the pack. 

“I’m so proud of the campaign we’ve run together. 

We’ve shaped the conversation on so many important 

issues in this race, stood up for the most vulnerable 

people, and given a voice to those who are 

often forgotten,” Castro said in a video posted 

online. 

“But with only a month until the Iowa caucuses, 

and given the circumstances of this campaign season, 

I have determined that it simply isn’t our time,” 

he added. “So today it’s with a heavy heart and 

with profound gratitude, that I will suspend my campaign 

for president. To all who have been inspired 

by our campaign, especially our young people, keep 

reaching for your dreams - and keep fighting for 

what you believe in.” 

He concluded with, “¡Ganaremos un dia!” - which 

translates to “We will win one day!” 

Taiwan’s military chief among 

eight dead in helicopter crash 

Taiwan’s top military official was among eight peo 

ple killed on Thursday, after a helicopter carrying 

them to visit soldiers crashed in a mountainous 

area near the capital Taipei, the defense ministry 

said. 

The main portion of the helicopter lay in a northern 

forest wreathed in mist, its blades shattered, as 

dozens of rescuers combed the wreck for survivors, 

pictures released by emergency authorities showed. 

The reasons for the crash, in the wake of a forced 

landing, were unknown, the military said in a statement, 

adding that the chief of general staff, Air Force 

General Shen Yi-ming, had died, while five of the 

13 aboard survived. 

Shen, who took up his post in July, was Taiwan’s 

highest-ranking general to die in the line of duty, 

President Tsai Ing-wen said, adding that she had 

asked the defense minister to launch an investigation.

Accelerating Poverty Reduction in Nigeria 

BY LADIPO ADAMOLEKUN 

The number of extremely poor people 

continues to rise in Sub-Saharan 

Africa, while falling rapidly in all other 

regions. By 2030, forecasts indicate that 

nearly 9 in 10 of the extreme poor will 

live in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

— D. Wadhwa, World Bank Blogs, 

September 19th 2018 

Preamble 

ON Democracy Day 2019, President 

Muhammadu Buhari announced 

the ambitious goal of lifting one hundred 

million Nigerians out of poverty within 

a decade. This was an apparent riposte 

to the country’s recent emergence as the 

world’s poverty capital. He asserted 

that the goal was attainable and cited 

some success stories: “China has done 

it. India has done it. Indonesia has done 

it. Nigeria can do it. These are all countries 

characterised by huge burdens of 

population. We can do it”. 

However, given the progressive increase 

in the number of Nigerians living 

in extreme poverty (on less than 

USD1.90, about 700 naira a day) under 

successive governments since 1999, it 

makes eminent sense to turn “Nigeria 

can do it” into a question: Can Nigeria 

do it? Can Nigeria successfully lift 100 

million out of poverty by 2030? According 

to the forecasts of international development 

organisations (notably the 

African Development Bank, the World 

Bank and the UNDP)the answer to the 

question is an emphatic “No”. This negative 

answer is reflected in the quotation 

atop this essay and has been underscored 

by the World Bank’s latest 

forecast that 30 million more Nigerians 

will live in extreme poverty by 2030 (see 

Punch, editorial, December 9th 2019). In 

these circumstances, the obvious challenge 

for Nigeria is to focus sharply on 

making significant progress towards 

achieving some measure of poverty reduction 

by 2030.In other words,there is 

an urgent need to accelerate poverty 

reduction in the country. 

Drawing on insights in a recent publication, 

Accelerating Poverty Reduction 

in Africa (2019) by Kathleen Beegle and 

Luc Christiaensen, economists at the 

World Bank, I will highlight lessons that 

Nigeria can learn with respect to poverty 

reduction during the next 

decade.First, the bad news. According 

to the authors, poverty in Africa declined 

from 54 percent in 1990 to 41 percent in 

2015 but the number of poor persons 

increased from 278 million in 1990 to 413 

million in 2015. The forecast for 2030 is 

equally depressing: whilst poverty rate 

is expected to decline to 23 percent, Africa’s 

share of global poverty would increase 

to 90 percent! 

Against this backdrop, the authors 

focus on four “principles of engagement” 

and four “primary areas for policy action”. 

The principles of engagement are: 

“put the poor in the driver’s seat of poverty 

reduction”; “strive for integration of 

interventions to overcome complementarity 

of constraints and exploit synergies”; 

“leverage and leapfrog with technology”; 

and “address gender inequalities”. 

And the primary areas for policy 

action are:“accelerate the fertility transition”; 

“leverage the food system”; “mitigate 

fragility”; and “address the poverty 

financing gap”. I will highlight the 

authors’ main points with respect to two 

of the principles of engagement and two 

of the policy action areas and provide 

brief comments on their implications for 

Nigeria. As a Last Word, I draw attention 

to the emphasis in the book on the 

link between political leadership and 

poverty reduction. 

Principles of Engagement 

Leverage and leapfrog with 

technology:According to the authors, 

rapidly spreading digital technologies 

*Professor Adamolekun 

and solar power provide opportunities 

for tackling the poverty challenge in Africa. 

However, they correctly stress that 

lack of access to reliable information, 

communication technology (ICT), electricity 

and transport infrastructure and 

services will limit the impact of these 

technologies. They recommend public 

policies in three areas: (i) removing regulatory 

barriers to the technologies’ adaptation 

and diffusion to rural areas 

Without question, Nigeria 

currently lags behind 

some African 

countries that are actively 

seeking to leverage 

and leapfrog with 

technology ... 

where a majority of the poor live and 

work; (ii) investing in both foundational 

and digital skills formation; and (iii) creating 

an appropriate environment to run 

and maintain the technologies. 

Without question, Nigeria currently 

lags behind some African countries that 

are actively seeking to leverage and 

leapfrog with technology (for example, 

Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa). Two 

major explanatory factors are epileptic 

electricity (huge budgetary allocations 

from early 2000s to date have been largely 

wasted) and grossly inadequate funding 

of education and skills acquisition. 

There is need for serious attention to all 

the three recommendations in the book 

at both the federal and state levels. 

Address gender inequalities: 

The authors provide a list of disadvantages 

encountered by women in Africa: 

significantly lower human capital endowments; 

less access to labour markets; lower 

wages; more limited access or title to 

productive assets (for example, land and 

credit); and fewer political and legal 

rights. And they highlight the serious 

negative consequence: gender inequality 

can trap women in poverty and generate 

a vicious cycle for their children. 

Notwithstanding some differences 

across Nigeria’s different cultural 

groups, the overall verdict that women 

face serious disadvantages compared to 

men would be valid across the states of 

the federation. I strongly commend the 

advice of the Nigerian head of the African 

Development Bank (Akinwumi Adesina) 

to Nigerian governments at all levels: 

“Smart nations invest in women, 

girls…”, Vanguard, December 5th 2019. 

Nigerian governments that would like to 

qualify as “smart” a la Adesinashould, without 

delay, formulate and implement policies 

focused on removing the gender inequalities 

highlighted here. 

Policy Action Areas 

Accelerate the fertility transition: The 

authors stress the need for a decline in fertility. 

They make the point that this can be 

achieved through the promotion of female 

education and adoption of family planning. 

They link decline in fertility to demographic 

changes that can increase both the share 

of working-age population and female labour 

force participation. 

I would confidently assert that awareness 

of all the points made by the authors is high 

or very high in Nigeria but policy champions 

in the centre of government (CoG) – 

apex of the executive arm of government – 

at both the federal and state levels have 

been lacking. For example, president 

Buhari correctly mentioned China and Indonesia 

as countries that have achieved significant 

poverty reduction in spite of “huge 

burdens of population” in the citation in 

the opening paragraph of this essay. However, 

he is yet to articulate and push the 

implementation of Nigerian variations onany 

of the specific policy actions highlighted 

in this book. In contrast, China, India 

and Indonesia that he cited as role models 

have adopted and implemented varying 

versions of the policy actions and this has 

contributed to their poverty reduction 

achievements. 

Leverage the food system: 

The authors focus on various aspects of 

agricultural development that can contribute 

to poverty reduction: raising both smallholder 

crop productivity and labour productivity 

of smallholders that would result 

in increased income of rural poor and reduced 

price of staple food for the urban 

poor. They also highlight the critical importance 

of access to cash to purchase inputs 

and the need for public investment in 

agricultural research and extension, irrigation, 

and rural infrastructure. 

I would argue that Buhari administration 

has prioritized agricultural development 

more than any of his predecessors during 

the post-1999 period with some positive 

results to show (for example, increased rice 

production and access to cash for middle 

to large-scale farmers via the Central Bank 

of Nigeria).However, to date, agricultural 

development in rural areas where the majority 

of the farming population reside has 

not received adequate attention: rural population 

lack access to cash; agricultural 

extension is largely ineffective and above 

all, rural infrastructure is in a very poor 

condition, especially poor roads and lack 

of electricity. Overall, then, there is need 

for increased attention by Nigerian governments 

to how best agricultural development 

policies and programmes can contribute to 

poverty reduction. 

Last Word 

My last word is the link pointed up in 

the bookbetween political leadership and 

poverty reduction:“Overlaying persistent 

poverty in Africa is a story of political leadership 

– the incentives and will of elites at 

both the local [sub-national] and national 

levels to pursue pro-poor policies” (bold 

and italics added). Political leadership that 

leads to improved rules, institutions and 

processes is contrasted with political leadership 

in countries with weak institutions, 

high levels of corruption and poor public 

services. While the former would tend to 

embrace pro-poor spending and policies 

including attention to improved public services 

(notably education and health), the 

latter is characterized by adverse political 

incentives that favour the elites and discriminate 

against the poor. 

•Professor Ladipo Adamolekun writes 

from Iju, Akure North, Ondo State 


My take on 

Francophone 

countries' Eco 

— Moghalu 

BY KINGSLEY MOGHALU 

GOOD thing the 

Francophone countries of 

the CFA currency zone have ended 

the colonial arrangement in 

which 50% of their reserves had 

to be deposited with the French 

Treasury (nearly 60 years after 

independence!) and renamed 

their currency the Eco. 

The problem is that this makes 

the ECOWAS plan for a regional 

currency named the Eco by 2020 

dead in the water. That plan was 

always problematic as several 

countries in the region have still 

not met the criteria to form a common 

currency, and Nigeria’s 

economy which would have had 

to carry a heavy burden of backing 

up that currency with its reserves, 

is simply not strong 

enough. 

Some will criticize the Francophones 

in West Africa for the decision 

to still peg their currency 

to the Euro but I will not. It ensures 

currency stability even if 

monetary policy will not be fully 

independent. I once proposed as 

Deputy Governor of the Central 

Bank of Nigeria that Nigeria 

should look at the option of pegging 

the naira to the dollar as a 

matter of strategic national interest. 

Else, we must reposition away 

to float the naira and use trade 

and other policy to promote a competitive 

export led economy that 

brings in forex from exports and 

foreign investment rather than our 

current stance of artificial valuation 

of the naira which feeds an 

importation culture, and then 

“banning” forex for food imports. 

This is a contradictory, shortsighted 

approach that lacks long 

term strategy and creates an artificial 

naira stability in the short 

term because WHEN (not IF) 

the oil price sneezes again, the 

naira will catch pneumonia and 

will have to be devalued. Our economic 

policy simply lacks strategy 

and the political will to transform 

Nigeria’s economy and 

bring about real development. 

Instead, we are servicing vested 

special interests, and increasing 

debts to foreign creditors. With 

a strange “plan” to borrow another 

$29 billion with very little domestic 

revenues, our revenue to 

debt-service ratios will head north 

of 70% ! This will be nothing short 

of slavery! Nothing will be left for 

real development spending when 

we combine this reality with our humongous 

recurrent expenditures. 

Our weak policy thinking is really 

good at creating and redistributing 

poverty. 

Massive foreign borrowing has 

never been beneficial to Nigeria. A 

$29 billion loan package will not be 

different. And please don’t tell me 

about $500 million to “digitalize” the 

Nigerian Television Authority, anymore 

than you will tell me about N37 

billion to “renovate” the National 

Assembly. Cry, the beloved country!

44 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) If your priority is financial 

success, then you will need to prepare to operate under pressure. 

The more cooperative you are the better for your prospects. 

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Loving Venus in Aquarius 

will influence many of you to become relatively desperate for 

weekend romantic interlude : some of you will travel for love. 

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 19) If you cant keep your financial 

plans, it may lead to lost opportunities to make money, and it 

will be very painful. Your creativity quotient may entice secret 

admirers. 

ARIES ( Mar 21 – Apr 19) You’ll force many to surrender to 

you with superior arguments. Your reliable friends will prove 

reliable : and they may link you with positive loving interest. 

TAURUS ( Apr 20 – May 20) You can make it your day with 

positive actions on your part, especially if you give priority 

attention to your career/business advancement. 

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Better opportunities to walk 

away from yesterday’s tight corner many find themselves 

and reap good fruits of their immediate past efforts. Be more 

loving. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

“You must take personal responsibility. You 

cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, 

or the wind, but you can change yourself. That 

is something you have charge of.” —Jim Rohn- 

When we choose to rise above our circumstances 

or our environment, we find the ultimate freedom 

in personal growth and development. 

—Ella Randle - 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

He who 

refuses to 

obey cannot 

command 

~ Kenyan 

proverb 

By Kola Fayemi 

CANCER (June 21 – July 22) Those of you who ignore good 

advice and force their ways will be made to pay back in a 

relative painful way. Protect your image and interest of your 

spouse. 

LEO (Jul23 – Aug 22) Influential subordinates within your 

working arena may need to be persuaded in a subtly way. 

Serious minded lovers will have reason to smile. Plan for the 

future. 

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22) Better than yesterday. You’ll 

need to go back to your analytical way of life and come up 

with good ideas meant to produce good results. Gamble not 

with love. 

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 22) At initial stage, it looks as if others 

are in command and/or control, but you will eventually be 

given opportunity to prove your mettle. Love and money’ll 

come. 

SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21) Happenings within your base 

of operation will put smiles on your face : veterans and junior 

colleagues will go out of their ways and support your cause. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec21) Good ideas about the 

best way to enhance your working pattern will be your. And 

this is a fantastic day for lovers of many types. Protect your 

money. 

ASTROLOGICAL ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

COUNSELLING 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” 

“HOT” 

By A.O.OLAIDE 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

What does first ¼ quarter 

have for me? 

Dear Joshua, 

I am ardent reader of your column. I want you to please tell 

me what does first quarter of the year 2020 have for me and 

my wife. 

Engr. Laro, Ilorin. 

Dear Engr Laro, 

Not the failure to include Madam’s birth data (you gave 

yours only) prevented your wife to get her own periodic, but 

it will be unfair to get the two while many others are on 

awaiting treatment . What you will find here will prove helpful 

VIRGINIA 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

JANUARY 2020 

During this period major emphasis will be on domestic 

related issues and financial affairs. Certainly there will be 

pressure from both your personal and extended family, luckily 

for you however there will be light after the tunnel in 

terms of financial SUCCESS. Although you will need to take 

good care of your health (as minor feverish attack is possible, 

your being enterprising and consistent throughout the whole 

four weeks will yield good result to the betterment of many of 

your cause (affairs cum activities). Once again financial SUC- 

CESS INDICATED FOR YOU. 

Ironically, the last two weeks will prove more loving for you 

both at home and within your base of operation. Your home 

and CHILDREN will make you happier. 

FEBRUARY 2020 

Very similar to the immediate past period. However, the 

heavenly influences are much more positive on you. Career 

and/or work related affairs are favoured. Your intellectual dept 

will be greatly enhanced during this period. This is a particular 

period you will need to be as push full and/or positively 

aggressive as you can be just to advance according to the 

dictate of heaven positive influence on your Star. Wake up 

and assert yourself positively. Although the last two weeks 

will shake you vigorously through madam and initial refusal 

of others to be as co operative as necessary, you will have 

your way eventually. But it is important you cajole and/or 

persuade madam the best way you can possibly do. 

MARCH 2020 

Caution should be your watch word here. This period is full 

of challenges you will need to handle with great deal of maturity. 

Total support of madam (and important partners in 

the business world) is needed here so that avoidable trouble 

would be averted. This is not the time to become unusually 

heady. Protect money and movable possessions. 

HOME & ABROAD 

By Lawrence Akapa

Quadri begins 2020 as 

18th world best 

•Attributes feat to Baba Ijebu Bet support 

•Adebutu hails African star 

Having ended 2019 as 20th ranked player in the world, Aruna 

Quadri has started the New Year as the 18th world best player 

following the release of the January 2020 ranking by the International 

Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). 

In the rating, Quadri moved up by two steps to remain the 

undisputed Africa best ranked player being his best ranking in his 

career. 

Also in the Olympic ranking released alongside the world rating 

on Thursday January 2, 2020, Quadri maintains his status as 18th 

best as well. 

An excited Quadri said the ranking means more hardwork in 

the New Year. 

“As long as I am happy I am starting this year with this 

ranking; this also means I need to continue to work harder 

because remaining on top is more work. So having achieved 

quarterfinal feat in Rio, I think medal is possible in Tokyo. But 

I am hoping to qualify soon as the qualifiers is more competitive 

this year. But in all this would not have been possible without 

the singular support from Baba Ijebu Bet, a company that 

kept faith with me and I have been able to attend 

more tournaments with the hope that I will continue 

to improve,” he said. 

For the Chairman, Baba Ijebu Bet, Sir Kesington 

Adebutu, the company is excited about the feat 

achieved by Aruna Quadri on the global stage, 

having attained his highest ranking under the 

support of the company. 

“We are happy and want to congratulate him as our 

sports ambassador; we hope he will continue to act 

as a role model for the youth as we remain steadfast in 

our support towards his Olympic medal dream in Tokyo” , 

Adebutu said. 

Omar Assar of Egypt dropped to 29 from 28 while the success 

story of Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw continues. He has again 

moved from a previous best of no.82 to no.76. This makes it 

the second month running, that he sets the highest world 

ranking ever achieved by a player from Senegal. 

Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo also slide to 86 to 85 in the 

world rating. 

China’s Fan Zhendong reclaims the summit, as Japan’s 

Mima Ito moves up to world no.3. 

Chambers out for up to nine months 

Arsenal defender Calum 

will be out for between 

six and nine months after 

rupturing the anterior 

cruciate ligament of his left 

knee against Chelsea. 

An Arsenal statement 

said: “Further to the injury 

sustained during the match 

against Chelsea on Sunday, 

we can confirm that Calum 

ruptured the anterior 

cruciate ligament of his left 

knee. 

“Calum has had 

successful surgery in 

Pogba to have 

operation on ankle 

•Pogba 

Manchester United’s 

Paul Pogba needs 

an operation on an ankle 

injury and is set to be out 

for “three or four weeks”, 

says manager Ole 

Gunnar Solskjaer. 

Pogba was not in the 

United squad for the 

New Year’s Day defeat at 

Arsenal. 

The France midfielder, 

26, only made his 

comeback last month from 

London on Thursday 

morning. 

The 

rehabilitation process is 

expected to take between 

six to nine months. 

“Everyone at the club will 

be supporting Calum to 

ensure he is back on the 

pitch as soon as possible.” 

Arsenal head coach 

Mikel Arteta admitted the 

club could be more active 

than expected in the 

January transfer window 

after Chambers had 

surgery. 

an ankle problem 

that had kept him out 

since the end of 

September. 

“We’ve had scans 

and it’s nothing major, 

but it’s something that 

has to be dealt with,” 

said Solskjaer. 

“He’s been advised 

to do it [the operation] 

as soon as and we 

will probably do it as 

soon as, so he will be 

out for three or four 

weeks. 

“It’s a big blow 

because Paul is out 

now and Scott 

[McTominay] is also 

injured - he is out for 

a few months. 

“We just hope that 

Paul can come back in 

a month-ish. But if 

Fred and Nemanja 

[Matic] played like 

they did today I will 

be happy.” 

It leaves new boss Arteta 

short of options in defence 

and he will meet with 

technical director Edu and 

head of football Raul 

Sanllehi this week to 

mull over plans for the 

month. 

Asked what fans can 

expect from Arsenal in 

the winter window, 

the Spaniard said: 

“That we will try to 

be in the market to 

see options that 

can strengthen 

the team, that’s 

for sure and our 

obligation and we 

will be working on 

that.’’ 

Stoke loan Etebo 

to Getafe 

Super Eagles midfielder 

Oghenekaro Etebo, is leaving 

English Championship side, Stoke 

City on loan to Spanish La Liga side 

Getafe. 

Etebo who had been down with 

injury is expected to get ample 

playing time at the La Liga. He last 

played for the team in October when 

he limped out of a defeat against 

Sheffield Wednesday 

The loan deal will give Getafe the 

option of making the deal permanent 

in the summer and the club are doing 

their best to ensure that the move 

goes through before their Cup game 

against Barcelona last weekend. 

Visa issues means he will miss this 

weekend game against Real Madrid 

despite the fact that the deal is as 

good as done and Etebo who was 

voted Stoke City player of the season 

last year will now have his second 

spell in Spain after playing on loan 

to Las Palmas from CD Feirense two 

seasons ago. 

•Chambers 

Ronaldo set for Juve 

contract extension 

uventus are preparing to 

Joffer Cristiano Ronaldo a 

contract extension which 

would keep him at the club 

until he is 38. 

Ronaldo joined the Italian 

champions in 2018 and was 

named the Serie A player of 

the year in his debut campaign 

with the club, having scored 


Inter in talks with Eriksen 

Inter Milan are one of 

several clubs to have 

contacted Christian 

Eriksen’s representatives 

about his future, according 

to Sky in Italy. 

The 27-year-old’s 

Tottenham contract is 

expiring in the summer and 

he is free to speak to foreign 

clubs this month. 

Spurs would prefer to sell 

Eriksen in January if he will 

not sign a new contract, but 

there are expected to be 

more suitors for him on a 

free transfer at the end of the 

season 

Sky in Italy are reporting 

Juventus would be another 

club keen on Eriksen and 

Inter would also prefer to 

sign him on a free, but they 

are currently prioritising the 

pursuit of Barcelona’s 

28 goals in 43 appearances 

across all competitions. 

The five-time Ballon d’Or 

winner has 10 goals in 14 

league games so far this term 

too, and Corriere dello Sport 

reports that Juve are now 

ready to extend his current 

£30m-a-year terms to 2023. 

The report claims that 

Ronaldo is confident he will be 

able to carry on performing at 

the highest level at the age of 

38 and that Juve sporting 

director Fabio Paratici is aware 

of his willingness to sign a new 

deal. 

The three-year contract 

could also have the option of 

an additional 12 months on 

top of that, although any 

agreement is not expected to 

be finalised until spring. 

Ronaldo has 40 goals in 64 

games for Juventus overall, 

helping them to an eighth 

consecutive Serie A title last 

season. 

•Eriksen 

Arturo Vidal. 

However, Inter are also 

wary of Juventus’ interest 

in Eriksen for the summer, 

while they maintain 

contact with his agents. 

Joshua could see 14 or 

15 fights left in career 

BF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua 

I(23-1, 21 KOs) is not planning to retire any time soon. 

The 30-year-old boxer is planning to continue his career for 

years to come. 

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Joshua revealed that 

he believes his career has at least 14 to 15 fights left. 

“14, 15. That would take me to 35, 40 fights maybe,” Joshua 

told Sky Sports. 

Joshua returned to the ring last month and reclaimed his 

four titles with a dominant twelve round unanimous decision 

over Andy Ruiz in Saudi Arabia. The bout was a rematch of 

their June 2019 showdown, which saw Joshua get dropped 

four times and finally stopped in the seventh. 

Next up for Joshua is a mandatory defense - likely against 

the IBF’s top rated challenger, Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria. 

The main goal for the British superstar is to secure a 

unification against the winner of next month’s rematch between 

WBC world champion Deontay Wilder and challenger Tyson 

Fury. They initially fought in December 2018, with the contest 

ending in a controversial twelve round split draw. 

Ndidi: Win over Newcastle is 

New Year’s gift to our fans 

Wilfred Ndidi has praised 

Leicester City following 

their 3-0 triumph over 

Newcastle United on 

Wednesday and described the 

win as a New Year’s gift to their 

fans. 

The Nigeria international 

returned to the starting XI at St 

James’ Park after coming off the 

bench to make a cameo 

appearance against West Ham 

United last Saturday. 

Ndidi delivered a solid 

defensive performance in the 

encounter, making two tackles 

in an impressive display to 

ensure his side kept a clean 

sheet and claimed their first win 

of the year. 

Besides his defensive duty, the 

23-year-old also added bite to 

the Foxes’ attack, surging 

forward to set up Hamza 

Choudhury for his side’s third 

goal after Ayoze Perez and 

James Maddison had given 

them a comfortable first-half 

lead. 

Following the five-star 

performance from Brendan 

Rodgers’ men, the combative 

midfielder has taken to the social 

media to express his feelings. 

“New Year gift - three points 

and an assist away from home, 

congrats to Hamza Choudhury. 

Happy New Year Foxes,” he 

posted on Instagram. 

The result ensured Leicester 

maintain their second spot on 

the Premier League table, 

behind Liverpool, after gathering 

45 points from 21 games. 

Ndidi, who has featured in all 

but one of the Foxes’ league 

games this season, will hope to 

help his side continue their fine 

form when they take on Wigan 

Athletic in FA Cup tie on 

Saturday.


THE RICH LIST 

Ronaldo, Messi earned more 

than £1B in last decade 

•Top 10 highest paid athletes 

CRISTIANO RONALDO and Lionel Messi 

earned more than £1BILLION in the last 

decade, it has been revealed. 

The two biggest names in football combined 

to earn a ten-figure sum in the decade just 

1. Floyd Mayweather - £667m 

Two huge paydays helped land Mayweather top spot, the first 

being his £230m takings from his 2015 bout with Manny 

Pacquiao. 

The second blockbuster payday arrived when he defeated 

UFC star Conor McGregor two years later, pocketing him 

£217.5m. 

Eight other fights across the decade kept the income flowing 

before he retired unbeaten at 50-0 after the McGregor bout. 

When your nickname is ‘money’ is it any wonder he ended the 

decade as the best paid athlete? 

3. LeBron James - £517.8m 

Along with Federer, James 

is the only athlete to appear 

inside the top 10 highest 

paid stars every single year 

of the decade. 

Although he ends the 

period with his lowest 

placing of eighth, it’s been 

a sensational 10 years for the 

LA Lakers star who, in spells 

with Miami Heat and 

Cleveland Cavaliers, has 

won three NBA 

championships and also 

been named the NBA’s most 

valuable player three times 

over the same period. 

Even at 34 years old, his 

pay days are still set to 

increase at the Lakers and 

he will go down as one of 

basketball’s best ever 

players. 

7. Phil Mickelson - 

£365.6m 

A constant feature on the list 

of highest paid athletes 

throughout the decade 

underline not just 

Mickelson’s consistency, 

but also his staying power 

in golf. 

From 2010 to 2016 he was 

a comfortable regular in the 

top 10 highest paid athletes 

before he eventually slipped 

to 12th in 2017. 

Since then he has been 

hanging in and around the 

top 20 and still earns around 

£37m each year. 

4. Lionel Messi - £517m 

One of the biggest surprises 

is that for a player who was 

already considered a global 

star in 2010, he only 

cemented a constant run 

inside the top 10 earners 

from as late as 2013, by 

which point he had already 

won La Liga six times and 

the Champions League 

three times with Barcelona. 

Since 2016, though, he 

has never been outside the 

top three highest paid sport 

stars and ends the decade 

the best paid of them all, 

earning £97m a year. 

That figure includes £70m 

from salary and bonuses, 

with the remainder in 

endorsements. 

8. Neymar - £305.6m 

It’s been a rapid trajectory 

for Neymar in this decade, 

and he already had a solid 

foundation for it when he 

was identified as the next 

big star to emerge from South 

America while at Santos. But 

his pay at the Brazilian side 

hardly dented the world’s 

best paid stars until he 

earned a money-spinning 

move to Barcelona in 2013. 

While at the Nou Camp he 

often featured around the 

top 20 but it was not until 

his sensational move to Paris 

Saint-Germain in 2017 that 

he started commanding 

some of the biggest wages 

and endorsements. 

His income for 2019 saw 

him collect over £76m, 

putting him third for the 

year. 

gone, according to Forbes. 

But, incredibly, neither were crowned 

richest sportsperson of the 2010s. 

In fact, it wasn’t even a footballer who took 

home the crown. 

5. Roger Federer - £488.2m 

For years many have 

predicted the ‘beginning of 

the end’ for Federer, and time 

after time he proves the 

doubters wrong. 

It is remarkable that in a 

sport as physically 

demanding as tennis, the 38- 

year-old will end the decade 

pretty much where he started 

it - as one of the top three 

players in the world. 

The trophies and prize 

money may not have been as 

regular as they were but 

ditching Nike for a 

sportswear deal with Uniqlo 

certainly helped ensure the 

Swiss star stayed among the 

big earners. 

9. Manny Pacquiao - 

£298.2m 

Pacquiao started the decade 

as boxing’s biggest draw but 

despite featuring as high as 

the second best paid athlete 

in 2012 and 2015, he can 

only just about make the cut 

for the top 10. 

A key pay day towards him 

making this list was the 

£122m he bagged from 

facing Floyd Mayweather in 

the middle of the decade. 

With plans to retire in 2021, 

he will go down as one of the 

greatest boxers ever - even 

if his current day job is being 

Senator of the Philippines. 

2. Cristiano Ronaldo 

- £547.8m 

Ronaldo started the 

decade as the 13th 

highest paid athlete 

with an annual salary 

of £35.8m following 

his blockbuster move 

from Manchester 

United to Real 

Madrid. 

But after breaking 

the top 10 a year later 

he has not left it since. 

While at Madrid he 

was the top paid 

athlete in 2016 and 

2017 before taking his 

annual earnings past 

£76m-a-year when he 

joined Juventus in the 

summer of 2018. 

6. Tiger Woods - £472.3m 

Ending an 11-year major 

drought to win the Masters 

this year was one of the 

greatest sporting comebacks 

of all time from Woods, 

following a decade of 

injuries and personal 

matters that left many 

wondering if he could ever 

get back to his best. 

Looking at his annual 

salary throughout the last 10 

years though and you could 

be forgiven for wondering 

what the fuss was all about. 

The 43-year-old was a 

constant in the top 10, 

topping 2010, 2011 and 

2013, until 2015 and even 

since then he has been 

comfortably in the top 20, 

placing 11th this year. 

10. Lewis Hamilton - 

£292.6m 

For a man whose day job over 

the past half-decade has 

seen him rarely spend time 

outside the top three, it is 

unfamiliar territory for 

Britain’s greatest racing 

driver to only be squeezing 

into a top 10. 

Five world championships 

for Mercedes have made 

Hamilton the greatest racing 

driver on the planet but 

throughout the last 10 years 

he has always been 

recognised as one of the best 

talents in Formula One. 

It is consistency that sees 

him end the decade on the 

rich list as he only reached 

the annual top 10 once in 

2017, again placing 10th. 

Mourinho: Yellow card was fair 

because I was rude to an idiot 

Jose Mourinho has said 

the yellow card he 

received during 

Tottenham’s 1-0 Premier 

League defeat at 

Southampton was “fair,” 

because he was “rude to an 

idiot.” 

Spurs coach Mourinho 

was booked by referee Mike 

Dean on 77 minutes after 

the Portuguese approached 

the Southampton bench. 

Mourinho seemed to 

cause an argument by 

making a comment to 

members 

of 

Southampton’s coaching 

staff, leading Dean to 

present the yellow card to 

the former Manchester 

United boss, who nodded 

in agreement. 

P Aubameyang 

ierre-Emerick 

has 

responded to speculation 

suggesting that he could soon 

head out of Arsenal by stating 

that he is “100 per cent here”. 

Rumours regarding the 

Gabonese striker’s future have 

built steadily over recent 

weeks. The January transfer 

window is now open, with it 

possible that official 

approaches could be made 

before the end of the month. 

It is easy to see why the 30- 

year-old frontman would be 

attracting admiring glances 

from afar. 

Since moving to England 

in the winter of 2018, a prolific 

presence has recorded 56 

•Mourinho 

“I clearly deserved the yellow 

card as I was rude,” Mourinho 

said after the game. 

“But I was rude to an idiot. 

Because I was rude I deserved the 

yellow card.” 

Djokovic, Federer absent as 

Nadal weds 

World number one 

Rafael Nadal 

released a new wedding 

photo along with a farewell 

message for his fans as we 

all leave 2019 behind and 

welcome the brand new 

2020. “To say goodbye to 

all of you, I leave this last 

great memory of 2019 and 

wish you all the best for 

2020!” was Nadal’s 

comment 

that 

accompanied the novel 

picture. 

Rafa and his wife, Maria 

Francisca “Xisca” Perello, 

appear holding hands and 

smiling while petals are 

flying gently all around 

them at “La Fortaleza”, the 

Mallorcan fortress where 

the wedding took place. 

Over 350 guests have 

attended the wedding that 

attracted a lot of stars as 

well. Juan Carlos, who was 

the king of Spain from 

•Nadal 

1975 to 2014, Uncle Toni — 

Nadal’s ex-coach —, Carlos 

Moya and Francisco Roig were 

all present during the wedding. 

It’s worth remembering that 

neither one of his biggest rivals 

in the past decade was on the 

guestlist. The reason why 

Djokovic and Federer were not 

invited is unknown, but Nadal 

had other ATP colleagues near 

him. Fernando Verdasco and 

Feliciano Lopez are just two of 

the ones who attended. 

Two Egyptian weightlifting 

coaches jailed 

The top two coaches in Egypt’s national weightlifting team have 

been sent to jail during a Government inquiry into widespread 

doping and misappropriation of public funds. 

A number of elite weightlifters complained to the Ministry of 

Sport that technical director Mohamed Moussa and national coach 

Mohamed Hosni had been involved in the supply of illegal 

performance-enhancing drugs to team members. 

The coaches are facing charges of embezzlement, wasting public 

money and forging official documents, according to news reports 

in Cairo, and have been accused by athletes of forging their 

signatures. 

Moussa and Hosni were first sent to jail for four days on Sunday 

(December 29). 

The Public Prosecutor has since ordered that they be detained 

for a further 15 days while the inquiry continues. 

Arteta’s signature was all over 

Arsenal in Man Utd victory – Oliseh 

Former Nigeria coach 

Sunday Oliseh has 

praised Mikel Arteta’s 

Arsenal for their technical 

and tactical prowess in their 

comfortable 2-0 win over 

Manchester United on 

Wednesday. 

First-half goals from 

Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis 

Papastathopoulos gave the 

Gunners maximum points 

at the Emirates Stadium as 

they climbed to 10th in the 

Premier League table. 

The North London outfit 

put in a commanding 

performance to give Arteta 

his first win since he took 

over with a clean sheet. 

After praising the team’s 

collective hard work in the 

victory, Oliseh singled out 

Arteta’s impact on Pepe, who was 

a threat to the Red Devils’ 

defence in the opening 45 

minutes. 

“Impressed by the tactical, 

technical and organised manner 

Arsenal went about their match 

today against Manchester 

United,” Oliseh tweeted. 

“Victory well deserved in my 

opinion and kudos to coach 

Arteta! His signature was all 

over his team. Especially on 

Nicolas Pepe.” 

Aubameyang dismisses Arsenal exit talk 

•Aubameyang 

goals in 90 appearances. 

Quizzed on the exit talk which 

has built around him after figuring 

in a 2-0 victory over Manchester 

United on Wednesday, 

Aubameyang told RMC Sport: 

“The English press likes to talk a 

lot.

End of Year Stat Awards: 

Ndidi beats 

Wan-Bissaka 

to best EPL 

tackler award 

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi 

was named the tackle merchant of the 

English top-flight, with 96 tackles won 

in the first half of the 2019-2020 season. 

The Foxes number 25 beat Manchester 

United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka (92 

tackles) to the accolade, while Ricardo Pereira 

was in third place with 71 tackles. 

In other categories, Ilkay Gundogan had 

the most successful passes in the opposition 

half, Mohamed Salah most left footed 

goals, Wilfried Zaha most dribbles 

completed, James Tarkowski most headed 

clearances, Virgil van Dijk most touches 

of the ball, Kevin De Bruyne most big 

chances created and Sergio Aguero hit 

the woodwork the most. 

James Maddison, Riyah Mahrez 

and James Ward-Prowse scored the 

most goals from outside the box, 

Marcus Rashford and Jamie Vardy 

tied for the most fast break goals, 

while David Silva and Riyad 

Mahrez were the best when it 

came to most second assists. 

Ndidi produced an exquisite 

assist, his first of the season, as 

Leicester City thrashed 

Newcastle United 3-0 on New 

Year’s Day. 

The former Racing Genk 

starlet has been named top 

tackler in the Premier League 

for two consecutive seasons. 

CAF Awards: Oshoala 

hails rival nominees 

Asisat Oshoala has hailed the international influence of 

South Africa star Thembi Kgatlana and Cameroon striker 

Ajara Nchout, ahead of the 2019 Caf Awards in Egpyt. 

On Tuesday, the African trio made the final for the African 

Women’s Player of the Year shortlist and they will aim to claim 

the accolade at the expense of Oshoala’s bid for a fourth prize. 

Kgatlana scored South Africa’s maiden Women’s World Cup 

goal in France, while Nchout struck twice to help Cameroon to 

a back-to-back Round of 16 finish and earned a Puskas Award 

nomination. 

And the Barcelona star, who scored the winner against South 

Korea to power Nigeria to the Women’s World Cup knockout 

stage for the first time in 20 years, is gladdened by her rivals’ 

exploits. 

“They [Kgatlana and Nchout] are great players no doubt 

and doing very well for their various clubs which is very 

interesting,” Oshoala told Goal. 

“For me, it is about how African players have grown and 

how much awareness 

and impact they have 

made on the 

international scene. 

“Before we don’t 

hear much about 

African players but 

only the Europeans. I 

am happy that during 

the last Women’s 

World Cup, a lot of 

African talents were 

discovered which 

was really good.” 

The FC Robo 

product made history 

as the first African 

woman to play and 

score in a Champions 

League final with 

Tottenham Hotspur’s 

interest to sign Queens 

Park Rangers midfielder, 

Eberechi Eze, is cooling off 

following the £20 million 

price-tag slammed on the 

player, as the January 

window opened on 

Wednesday. 

Tottenham have been on 

the look out for Eze since the 

tenure of Mauricio 

Pochettino, he is a likely 

Barcelona and 

scored 17 goals in 19 

leagues matches for 

Cortes’ side in 2019. 

Eze’s £20m price-tag scares off Tottenham 

replacement for Eriken who 

is leaving the club this month 

or wait till summer to be a 

free agent. QPR, however, 

are not backing down from 

their demand for highly 

rated midfielder, who the 

Nigeria Football 

Federation are wooing to 

play for the Super Eagles. 

Eze plays primarily as a 

No. 10, but he can also 

operate out wide or as a No. 


NPFL: Musa worries over Pillars 

Kano Pillars’ weak position in the Nigeria 

Professional Football League is worrisome, 

coach Ibrahim Musa has lamented. 

As Pillars prepare to host Warri Wolves this 

weekend in Kano, coach Musa is hopeful that 

there will be a turn around in their fortunes in the 

chase for the title and continental ticket. Pillars 

are 13th on the table. 

They have a game in hand against Rangers and 

according to Musa, their next games will be 

crucial as they desire to return to top of the table. 

After their big win over Kwara United, Pillars have 

dropped points against league leaders Plateau 

United and Heartland, before posting a 1-0 win 

over Ifeanyi Ubah. 

“We are worried. The people of Kano as well as 

the government, they are worried about our present 

condition and state on the log,” Ibrahim told 

www.brila.net. 

“So there’s need to go all out and fight to 

improve our position in the standings. We are 

targeting the top of the league, and it’s not the end 

yet, We are just starting,” the Coach said. 

Vidal bonus row set to 

hurt Barcelona 

La Liga leaders 

Barcelona will be 

looking to preserve 

their two-point lead 

over Real Madrid 

when they visit local 

rivals Espanyol on 

Saturday but their 

preparations have 

been hit by a legal 

battle with their own 

midfielder, Arturo 

Vidal. 

The Chilean’s 

lawyers filed a 

complaint to Spain’s 

player’s union (AFE) 

last month citing an 

unpaid bonus of 2.4 

million euros (2.04 

million pounds), news 

of which emerged 

while the player was 

back in his homeland 

during the league’s 

winter break. 

Barca have declined 

to comment on the 

complaint, while 

Vidal has said its an 

issue for his 

representatives but 

has declared it is 

“unfair” he has not 

received all of the 4.1 

million euros his 

people believe he is 

owed in total in 

appearance bonuses. 

But his dispute with 

8, and his versatility will come 

handy for a team like Spurs. 

He has 10 league goals and 

six assists to his name in 26 

Championship appearances 

this term, and it’s not a surprise 

that top-flight clubs are 

keeping an eye on him. 

The youngster won’t be short 

of options, though, and his 

price could skyrocket in the 

summer and in the coming 

seasons if he keeps improving. 

the club comes at a time 

when the team is light in 

midfield, with Brazilian 

Arthur Melo ruled out for 

three weeks with a groin 

problem while Carles Alena 

has joined Real Betis on loan. 

The Catalans are also 

without first choice keeper 

Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 

meaning Brazilian Neto will 

make his league debut in the 

derby against Espanyol, 

who are bottom of La Liga 

and have appointed their 

third coach of the season in 

Abelardo Fernandez. 

Real Madrid slipped two 

points behind the champions 

by drawing their final game 

of 2019 at home to Athletic 

Bilbao and begin the new 

year with a gruelling match 

at neighbours Getafe, who 

are sixth in the standings. 

Essien targets Youth 

Olympic golf gold for 

Nigeria 

Young and upcoming Nigerian lady golfer, 

Iyene Essien said her aim is to win a gold 

medal in the 2022 Youth Olympic Games. 

Abuja-based Essien’s golf medals already 

outnumber her 13 years age, and she has 

competed on three continents. She is the top 

junior player in Nigeria, and now wants to 

deliver her country’s first gold medal for golf 

at the 2022 Summer Youth Olympics. 

Her journey began when she saw a young 

white boy playing at the IBB International 

Golf and Country Club in Abuja. Her father 

saw her excitement and quickly arranged to 

get her on the course. 

“He asked me if I wanted to play and I said 

yes, so he bought me clubs and got me a golf 

professional to train me,” she said. 

Her first medal came quickly, at the age of 

five. She now has 17 medals and has 

represented Nigeria 11 times at tournaments 

in Africa, Europe and the United States. 

Poised and precocious, Essien was the only 

teenager among 177 golfers at the 2019 

Nigeria Ladies Golf Open Championship. She 

took 10th place, shyly high-fiving the other 

competitors as the crowd cheered. 

FA Cup: Ancelotti plots Liverpool upset 

hen Carlo Ancelotti 

Wtook over at Everton 

last month, the Italian 

already had an eye on 

Sunday’s FA Cup third 

round Merseyside derby 

against runaway Premier 

League leaders, Liverpool. 

Ancelotti, at his previous 

club Napoli, managed to do 

what no other manager in 

Ibrahimovic happy to return to Milan 

After arriving in Italy to 

undergo a medical ahead 

of his return to AC Milan, 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic said he 

is delighted to be “home”. 

Ibrahimovic will sign a 

six-month contract, with an 

option for another year, 

with the Rossoneri after 

touching down at Linate 

Airport in Milan yesterday. 

The 38-year-old striker 

was available on a free 

transfer after deciding to 

end a two-year stint with 

England has achieved this 

season — beat Juergen 

Klopp’s side. 

Liverpool lost 2-0 in 

Naples in the Champions 

League in September and 

followed that up with a 1-1 

draw in the return game at 

Anfield — the only time the 

Reds have not won at home 

this season. 

The only other defeat for 

Liverpool this season came 

in the EFL Cup when the 

club were forced to play a 

youth team against Aston 

Villa due to their first team 

being on duty at the Club 

World Cup in Qatar. 

“The Evertonians know 

my record against 

Liverpool, they will be 

happy with this,” Ancelotti 

said when he was unveiled 

as manager. 

“It’s a big rivalry here and 

a big motivation for us. I 

have a really good 

MLS side LA Galaxy 

Ibrahimovic represented 

Milan from 2010 until 2012, 

winning the Scudetto and 

Supercoppa Italiana, and 

expressed his pleasure at 

securing a second stint. 

“I remember arriving in 

this same spot many years 

ago. What matters now is 

that I’m back and I’m 

happy,” Ibrahimovic told 

Milan TV. 

“I’ve always said this is 

my home and I’m finally 

back. I’ve played for other 

teams in my years, but 

finally I’m back and that’s 

all that matters. 

Asked if he had a 

message for the fans, who 

gathered in their hundreds 

at the airport to catch a 

glimpse of the star striker, 

Ibrahimovic added: “I’m 

back, finally. 

relationship with Juergen 

Klopp. It is always exciting 

playing against them. 

“Of course, I have beat 

them but they are not used 

to losing. It was a good day 

for me. I know how much 

Evertonians want to beat 

Liverpool. 

“It’s not mission 

impossible, nothing is 

impossible in football,” he 

added.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

ACROSS 

1. Bully 

6. Remote 

10. Sheltered spot 

14. Try 

15. Not a single one 

16. Smell 

17. French for "Queen" 

18. Snare 

19. Balcony section 

20. Apparent 

22. Relating to urine 

23. Pot 

24. View 

26. Gave money 

30. Genus of macaws 

31. A parcel of land 

32. Citrus fruit 

33. Unadulterated 

35. Type of drill 

39. A female monarch 

41. Paint the town red 

43. Test, as ore 

44. Stepped 

46. Forearm bone 

47. Tin 

49. Terminate 

50. Sleigh 

51. Foolish 

54. Tiger Wood's sport 

56. Ripped 

57. Graniteware 

63. Bright thought 

64. Sandwich shop 

65. Moses' brother 

66. Gave temporarily 

67. Nonclerical 

68. Homeric epic 

69. To be, in old Rome 

70. Historical periods 

71. Inclines 

DOWN 

1. Tropical tuber 

2. 1 1 1 1 

3. Module 

4. Departed 

5. Doglike nocturnal 

mammal 

6. Antimonopoly 

7. Refrain 

8. Rectal 

9. Cancel officially 

10. Buxom 

11. Worship 

12. Reasonable 

judgment 

13. Construct 

21. Breaks 

25. Fly high 

26. Entreaty 

27. Purposes 

28. Rapscallions 

29. Displace 

34. A social science 

36. White aquatic bird 

37. Feudal worker 

38. Absorb written 

material 

40. Nestling hawk 

42. Befuddle 

45. Fine or decorative 

clothing 

48. Sewing tool 

51. Practical 

52. Connecting points 

53. Small songbirds 

55. Thrash 

58. Close 

59. Welt 

60. Operatic solo 

61. A soft sheepskin 

leather 

62. Terminates 

How to Play Sudoku 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the 

same number). 

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from 

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

contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can 

appear twice in any block, column or row. 

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

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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

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

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

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

03012020

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?