12012020 - Northern youths disown critics of Amotekun S/W security outfit

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PAGE 2 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020 — PAGE 3

PAGE 4—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 5
From left: Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations
(NIPR), Olusegun McMedal; President and Chairman of Council, NIPR, Malam
Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo; Lagos State Commissioner for Information and
Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso; Publisher of Brand Communicator, Joshua Ajayi;
Editor, Tunji Faleye and Asst. Manager, Business Development, Micheal Efengbe,
both from Brand Communicator, during the presentation of the 2019 PR Magazine
of the Year award to Brand Communicator, at Lagos PR Industry Gala and
Awards (LaPRIGA) held in Lagos
The Arewa Youth
Consultative Forum
(AYCF) has disowned a
northern group, which
condemned the newlyinaugurated
South-West
Security Network
codenamed ‘Operation
Amotekun’, saying the
initiative will go a long way
in promoting community
policing in the zone.
President of the AYCF,
Alhaji Yerima Shettima, in a
statement in Abuja, yesterday,
expressed support for
Amotekun and urged
Nigerians to disregard the
insinuations on the social
media that he and his group
were against the
inauguration of the security
agency in Yorubaland.
According to him, the
inauguration of Amotekun is
commendable, as it will
complement the efforts of the
Federal Government to
secure lives and property in
the country.
From left: Mr. Emeka Onyeagba, Base Manager, Eastern Asset, Seplat Petroleum
Development Company Plc; Mr. Ayodele Olatunde, General Manager, Eastern
Asset; Dr, Chioma Nwachuku, General Manager, External Affairs &
Communication; Emeka Ihedioha, Governor of Imo State; Mr. Effiong Okon,
Operations Director, SEPLAT; and Chief Mrs. Nkeiru Ibekwe, Hon. Commissioner
of Gender and Vulnerable Groups, Imo, during the donation of relief materials
to flood victims in Imo State by SEPLAT in Owerri, Imo State
AMOTEKUN: Arewa youths disown northern critics
By Prince Osuagwu
he Attorney General
Tof the Federation, AGF,
Justice Abubakar Malami
has explained that
withdrawal of the demand for
MTN Nigeria, to refund
N242.24 billion and $1.28
billion allegedly owed by
MTN as revenue to the
federal government of
Nigeria, was to give the
Federal Inland Revenue
Service, FIRS and Nigeria
Customs Service, NCS, the
opportunity to resolve the
issue amicably.
The AGF said the matter
has been referred to the two
government agencies for
resolution.
MTN Nigeria yesterday
reported that its legal counsel
received a letter dated 8
January 2020 from the
Attorney General of the
Federation and Minister of
Justice, AGF, formally
withdrawing his demand for
N242,244,452,215.97 and
USD$1,283,610,357.86
alleged revenue
indebtedness.
The feud began September
10, 2018 when the AGF
alleged that MTN was owing
$2billion in tax arrears. The
demand, according to
Malami, was for a 10-year
period on import duties,
Value Added Tax (VAT) and
withholding taxes on foreign
imports/payments.
However, MTN denied any
wrong doing saying it did not
owe outstanding taxes. It sued
the Nigerian government at
the Federal High Court,
Lagos, seeking damages and
challenging the powers of the
“I am an advocate of
community policing. If I
now come out to condemn
the inauguration of
‘Amotekun’ in the South-
West, that will be counterproductive’’
, the statement
T
he Nigerian Army
yesterday said troops
have cleared Boko Haram
terrorists’ hideouts, rescueing
five captives including an
octogenarian, three women
and a minor across Borno
State in the past few days.
The Nigerian Army
Operations Media
Coordinator, Col. Aminu
Iliyasu, disclosed this in a
statement in Abuja on
Saturday that troops of 121
Battalion deployed at Pulka
in Gwoza Local Government
Area, captured and destroyed
the terrorists’ hideout at
Zeledva Hills along Pulka –
said.
“So, I commend the
initiative and I will
encourage citizens to
cooperate with the system
to ensure effective
operations, which
certainly will bring about
secured society.”
He urged the Northern
Governors’ Forum (NGF)
to come up with a similar
p r o g r a m m e
constitutionallyrecognised
to protect the
Troops clear Boko Haram enclaves, rescue five in Borno
Bokko – Ngoshe Road on
Wednesday.
More elements of the Boko
Haram/ISWAP insurgents,
bandits and other criminal
elements have either been
neutralised or arrested at
their hideouts across the
country and more of their
abductees have been freed.
“On 7 Jan for instance, troops
of 121 Battalion deployed at
Pulka in Gwoza LGA of
Borno State while on
‘Operation RUFE KOFA’
cleared and destroyed Boko
Haram criminals’ hideouts
at Zeledva Hills along Pulka
– Bokko – Ngoshe Road in
Why Attorney General withdrew case against MTN
AGF to deal with tax matters.
The case was to come up for
hearing on January 30 and
31, this year.
MTN said the letter
confirmed that following
careful review and due
consultation with relevant
statutory agencies, the AGF
decided to refer the matter to
the Federal Inland Revenue
Service (FIRS) and Nigeria
Customs Service (NCS) with
a view to resolving
contentious issues.
CEO, MTN Nigeria,
Ferdi Moolman said that
following the new
development, his company
will consequently follow due
court process to withdraw its
legal action against the AGF
and engage with the FIRS
and NCS on the issues. He
promised that MTN Nigeria
will remain committed to
conducting its business in
accordance with applicable
laws in Nigeria.
He said: ‘’we are very
pleased with the decision of
the AGF and we commend
him for his wisdom. We
maintain our dedication to
building and maintaining
cordial relationships with all
regulatory authorities in
Nigeria and remain fully
committed to meeting our
fiscal responsibilities and
contributing to the social and
economic development of
Nigeria.”
IPoB backs S/West security outfit
•Berates Igbo leaders for opposing BSS
By Chimaobi Nwaiwu
he Indigenous People of
TBiafra, IPoB, has backed
the South-West governors,
elders, politicians, and
stakeholders for what it called
their courage to protect their
people and their region with
the launch of Operation
Amotekun.
IPoB also berated South-
East governors, Ohaneze
Ndigbo and Igbo politicians
who kicked against the
formation of Biafra Security
Service, BSS, in 2017.
A statement by its Media
and Publicity Secretary, Mr.
Emma Powerful, expressed
surprise that Igbo leaders
commended South-West
governors for establishing the
security outfit.
The statement reads: “We
believe the time has come for
all those who ignorantly
questioned the modus
operandi of IPoB and the
vision of Biafra liberation as
boldly preached by our leader
to tender an unreserved public
apology.
“History and events have
continued to vindicate IPoB
and its methods. The time has
come for every sensible person
and ethnic group to swallow
their shame and publicly
acknowledge that IPoB is
always right.
“The global family of the
Indigenous People of Biafra,
IPoB, ably led by our leader,
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,
commends the South West
governors, elders, politicians,
and stakeholders for their
the same LGA.”
He added that the combined
troops of 192 Battalion
deployed at Gwoza, Theatre
Strike Force (TSF) and
Cameroonian Defence Force
in conjunction with Civilian
Joint Task Force and Local
Hunters ascended the
Ungwan-Gara-Kwatara
mountain enclave of the
terrorists.
According to him, on sighting
the troops, the criminals fled
the enclave in disarray, while
the resilient troops went
ahead to clear the hideout of
any presence and activities of
the insurgents.
“In the process, the troops
rescue 5 abandoned captives
including
one
septuagenarian, three
women and one minor.
“In a similar operation
conducted by troops of 21
Special Armoured Brigade
deployed at Bama on Jan. 9,
recovered a mutilated body
parts of a neutralized B/
Haram criminal from an
earlier encounter and one AK
47 Rifle magazine.
“On Jan. 8, troops of 112 Task
Force Battalion deployed in
Mafa Local Government
Area, decimated some Boko
Haram criminals and
captured one AK 47 Rifle and
a bandolier of 7.62mm
NATO ammunition.
“Other items recovered are
four AK 47 magazines loaded
with 120 rounds of 7.62mm
doggedness and courage to
protect their people and their
region against herdsmen.
“This is not the first time in
recent weeks that our leader’s
position and approach have
been vindicated by events and
utterances from other ethnic
groups within Nigeria. The
inescapable truth remains that
Bishop Matthew Kukah’s
commendable utterances
about the intent of the present
administration in Nigeria and
formation of a Yoruba
vigilante group, are all lines
of reasoning consistently
canvassed by IPoB in the past.
“IPOB wholeheartedly
welcomes Amotekun and says
good morning to those who
out of ignorance, poor sense
of vision, lack of reasoning
and jealousy fought against
the formation BSS. They
should cover their faces in
shame.
North.
According to him, it is a
good thing that even the
North-West governors are
already thinking along
that direction.
Special ammunition while
others were believed to have
escaped with various degrees
of gunshot wounds.
“In another daring encounter
with some B/Haram
criminals on Jan. 6, troops of
22 Brigade (Main) deployed
in Dikwa area of the state
rescued one Mr Ibrahim who
was earlier abducted by the
criminals,” he said.
Iliyasu further disclosed that
the troops of 17 Brigade
deployed at Tashan Bawa,
Sabuwa Local Government
Area of Katsina State
engaged bandits with
superior fire power and
eliminated many of the
bandits.
He added that other bandits
fled into the nearby Madaci
– Birnin Gwari Forest with
various degrees of gunshot
wounds.
According to him, troops
thereafter intensified the
conduct of robust patrols in
the general area to obviate
further respite for the bandits.
“Furthermore, on Jan. 10,
troops of 8 Division acting on
reliable information
intercepted a group of bandits
moving with rustled cattle
towards Miyanchi in Maru
Local Government Area of
Sokoto State.
“Troops made contact with
the bandits at Kadauri and
Miyanchi Bridge of the same
LGA leading to killing of
three bandits.
“Additionally, 2 AK 47 Rifles,
7 AK 47 Rifle magazines
loaded with 210 rounds of
7.62mm Special
A-Court
upholds Lyon
as Bayelsa
APC
governorship
candidate
By Davies Iheamnachor
A
Court of Appeal
sitting in Port
Harcourt has voided the
ruling of a lower court
which annulled the
candidature of David Lyon
as the governorship
candidate of All
Progressives Congress,
APC, in Bayelsa State.
The court, in three
separate judgements
delivered by Justice Isaiah
Olufemi, Justice Cordelia
Jumbo-Ofo and Justice
Abubakar Lamido, upheld
the nomination and
candidature of Lyon.
Delivering its unanimous
judgment in the first
appeal on FHC/YNG/CS/
100/2019, brought by
Lyon, Olufemi held that
the lower court erred to
have entertained the
matter, knowing that
matters of such nature
were status barred.
He noted that the
position of the law was
that in election matters,
time is of essence, saying
the process of
approaching the court for
redress did not start early.
Olufemi noted that the
aggrieved party, Sen.
Heineken Lokpobiri,
should have approached
the court within 14 days
after the actions that
affected him were carried
out, adding that the filing
of the matter on the 15th
day after the event made it
invalid.

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
176 DEAD: World shocked as Iran admits shooting down Ukrainian plane
By Victor ‘Tunde Oso
(with agencies report)
President Volodymyr Zelensky
of Ukraine said yesterday
that his country expects
a full investigation, a
full admission of guilt and
compensation from Iran after
the downing of a passenger
plane.
Iran had earlier said it mistakenly
shot down a plane
killing all 176 people aboard
and voiced its deep regret,
after initially denying it
brought down the aircraft in
the tense aftermath of Iranian
missile strikes on U.S. targets
in Iraq.
Zelenskiy said: “Iran has
pleaded guilty to crashing the
Ukrainian plane. But we insist
on a full admission of
guilt.”
“We expect from Iran assurances
of their readiness for a
full and open investigation,
bringing those responsible to
justice, the return of the bodies
of the dead, the payment
of compensation, official
apologies through diplomatic
channels,” he added.
Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau yesterday acknowledged
Iran’s admission,
saying his government remained
focused on closure
and justice for the families of
the victims, adding that Canadian
investigators will continue
to cooperate with Iran.
At least 63 of the victims
were Canadian.
“This is a national tragedy,
and all Canadians are
mourning together,” he said.
Swedish Prime Minister
Stefan Lofven spoke out to
condemn the downing of the
plane. 10 Swedish citizens
and a further seven people
who lived in Sweden died in
the crash.
“The fact that a plane was
shot down is terrible and horrifying.
To have a civil aircraft
shot down—whether accidentally
or not—is an act that
By Ikechukwu Odu
Amember of the Na
tional Youth Ser
vice Corps )NYSC)
serving at Girls Secondary
School, Ibagwa-Aka, Igbo-
Eze South Local Government
Area of Enugu State,
Miss Bolufemi Princess Motunrayo,
yesterday, allegedly
committed suicide over a yetto-be
identified matter.
Motunrayo, a graduate of
banking and finance from
Kogi State University, who
was a Batch C Youth Corps
member, drank two bottles of
From left: Rotarian Jide Akeredolu, District 9110 Governor; Mrs Taiwo Fagbola; Rotarian
Olumuyiwa Fagbola – President Rotary Club of Ikeja; Professor Fabamwo – Chief Medical
Director-Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja; Prince Julius Adelusi – Adeluyi
– Past District Governor/Doyen District 9110; Dr Ibrahim Mustafa – Director Clinical Services
& Training (LASUTH) and Mrs Adebola Aina – Assistant Director Nursing Services
(LASUTH), during the donation of medical equipment to the Lagos State University Teaching
Hospital (LASUTH) by Rotary Club of Ikeja on Christmas Day, 2019.
How I began using Buhari ‘s daughter’s telephone number – Anthony
By Soni Daniel, Abuja
etails of the alleged of
Dfense committed by the
man who reportedly deployed
a phone number with
the name of President’s
daughter on it to undertake
criminal activities have begun
to emerge.
And, Sunday Vanguard investigation
has also shown
that the suspect, who has since
been freed by the Department
of State Service DSS, is not a
fish farm investor as claimed
but a laborer who is paid a
pittance on pay-as-you-work
basis by the owner of the fish
farm.
Documents exclusively
sighted by Sunday Vanguard
showed that the suspect, Okolie
Ifediukwude Anthony, a
native of Umuezei Quarters
of Asaba, Delta State, was
working in a small fish farm
owned by one John Freeman
in Otuogwu and paid a daily
wage by the owner before he
was caught for using the
phone for criminal pursuits.
The document also indicates
that before he ventured
into the fish farm business,
Okolie Anthony was involved
in betting game business,
Wreckage of theUkrainian plane
must be condemned and Iran
must take full responsibility
also in relation to those affected,”
he said.
Germany urges prevention
of future re-occurrence
German Foreign Minister
Heiko Maas called on Iran
to prevent such a “catastrophe”
from happening in the
future.
“It was important that Iran
brought clarity to this issue,”
he told German media on
Saturday.
“Now Tehran needs to draw
the right consequences in the
continued appraisal of this
dreadful catastrophe, and
take measures to ensure that
something like this cannot
happen again.”
Four of the victims, among
them a recognized asylum
seeker from Afghanistan and
her two children, had been
living in Germany, though
they did not hold German citizenship.
Read more: US rolls out
new Iran sanctions after air
strikes.
NYSC member commits suicide
after ‘ parents stopped marriage’
Sniper chemical, saying “life
is not worth living” before she
died.
Eye-witnesses confirmed
that she was rushed to the
Faith Foundation Hospital
at Nsukka Local Government
Area where doctors on
duty confirmed her death on
arrival.
According to a primary
school teacher, Anthonia
Omeje, who lives close to the
corps members lodge at Ibag-
which he later gave up on the
grounds that it was not profitable.
“I did sales of recharge with
my sister now married for a
while before my uncle opened
a Betting shop for me to serve
as an agent from 2016-2018.
I later sold the shop because
the business was not moving
and was not bringing
profit,”Okolie confessed in
the document seen by Sunday
Vanguard.
“I am currently searching
for job but managing a small
fish pond with Mr. John Freeman
in his compound located
at Otuogwu, Asaba, Delta
State and paid a small
amount of money each day I
visit the farm and also help
out in doing some writing for
the owner since his age does
not allow him to hold bird
and write,” Okolie said.
On how he came about the
SIM that bears the name
Hanan Buhari, Okolie said
he bought the Subscribers
Identification Module, SIM,
from a roadside shop in Asaba
having misplaced his previous
number without knowing
that the original owner
had the name registered by
the service provider.
Okolie confessed however
UK Premier wants de-escalation
of tension
British Prime Minister
Boris Johnson described
Iran’s admission as an “important
first step” and that
“this tragic accident only reinforces
the importance of deescalating
tensions in the region.
It is vital that all leaders
now pursue a diplomatic
way forward. We will do everything
we can to support the
families of the four British
victims and ensure they get
the answers and closure they
deserve,” he added in a statement.
wa-Aka, Motunrayo’s death
was as a result of domestic
misunderstanding.
She said that the corps
member’s parents stopped
her from marrying a love of
her life which made her to
take own life.
Confirming the incident,
the spokesman for the Enugu
State Police Command,
Ebere Amaraizu, said men of
the command had commenced
investigation into
her death.
that he was shocked to discover
that each time he made
calls with the number
09035666662, the true caller
would indicate ‘Hanan
Buhari’, a situation that made
him to plan to report to MTN,
the service provider, to ‘rectify
the problem’ but he never
reported until he was arrested
Ṡunday Vanguard found
out that Okolie actually ran
into trouble with security
agencies after he started posing
as a woman and pretending
as if he was the President’s
daughter and original owner
of the SIM all in a bid to curry
favour from unsuspecting
members of the public.
Okolie, records show, began
to make brisk business
once he discovered that the
phone number he was holding
was more of a ‘goldmine’
and consequently began to
solicit financial assistance
from key Nigerians who knew
the first family’s daughter.
Findings show that one of
the personalities Okolie
called with the number and
solicited for cash assistance,
became uncomfortable with
the voice, which he suspected
was not that of a woman even
Ukraine Airlines: ‘These
were our best guys and girls’
The head of Ukraine International
Airlines, the company
that operated the doomed
jet, said Saturday that he
knew from the beginning the
crew and plane weren’t the
cause of the disaster.
“We didn’t doubt for a second
that our crew and our
plane couldn’t be the cause
for this horrible plane crash,”
said company chief Yevhenii
Dykhne in a statement on social
media.
“These were our best guys
and girls. The best.”
Eleven Ukrainians, nine of
them crew members, died in
the crash.
Iran Friday night admitted
it accidentally shot down a
Ukrainian jet-liner that it
mistook for a cruise missile,
a dramatic reversal after days
of denials that’s likely to add
to pressure on an establishment
locked in an economic
and military confrontation
with the United States.
Iran regrets disastrous
mistake
Iran’s Supreme Leader,
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
gave his condolences over the
disaster, while President Hassan
Rouhani said the Islamic
Republic “deeply regrets the
disastrous mistake” and
vowed compensation for the
families of victims.
Ukraine International Airlines
Flight 752 was flying
close to a sensitive Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps
military site when it was
downed because of “human
error,” the army said after
though the true caller showed
the owner to be that of Hanan
Ȯkolie confessed: “I was
arrested on July 21, 2019 after
I had used the phone to
chat with an unknown number
which I asked for financial
assistance and the man
promised to assist me but I
never talked with him again
because I did not know who
the person was”.
A source close to the service
provider, who issued the
controversial SIM to Okolie,
confirmed last night that the
Fire guts shops, classrooms in Ondo
By Dayo Johnson, Akure
n early morning fire
Aoutbreak has wreaked
havoc in ldanre area of Ondo
State, yesterday, destroying
property worth millions of
naira.
According to report, some
of the property destroyed by
the early morning inferno
include a furniture factory
with equipment and some of
its finished products, textile
materials, phone shops and
also classrooms of a nursery
conducting its own investigation.
The “culprits” would be
identified and referred to judicial
authorities, it said.
The commander of the
Guards’ aerospace force,
Amir Ali Hajizadeh, blamed
a failure in communications
. The operative who first mistakenly
identified the plane
as an incoming missile failed
to get a second opinion due
to a “disturbance” and had
only 10 seconds to make a
decision, he said.
Accidental downings
The disaster adds to a list of
accidental shootings of civilian
aircraft.
In 1988, a U.S. Navy missile
cruiser, the U.S.S. Vin-
number was validly issued to
Okolie after it was duly retrieved
from the original user
having been dormant for a
long time in accordance with
industry practice in order to
keep its subscribers base
healthy.
The source said the company
was however not responsible
for the intentions to which
the subscriber deployed the
SIM and should not be held
accountable for such as its
responsibility ends with the
issuance.
and primary school were not
spared.
Sources said that the fire
incident may have been
caused by power surge in one
of the affected shops.
Narrating his ordeal, the
owner of the razed furniture
workshop, Oluwatobi Atere,
said that he had lost property
running into millions of naira.
Residents in the area lamented
that the late arrival
of officials of the state fire service
caused the huge loss.
cennes, downed an Iran Air
Airbus A300 over the Persian
Gulf, killing 290 passengers
and crew. The U.S. military
said it mistook the airliner for
an Iranian fighter jet, an account
disputed by Iran.
In July 2014, a Malaysian
Airlines plane carrying 298
people was shot down by a
Russian-made Buk surfaceto-air
missile fired from rebelcontrolled
territory in eastern
Ukraine. The region was the
site of a conflict between pro-
Russia separatists and Ukrainian
military forces, and two
military aircraft had been
downed just days earlier, an
international team concluded.
Governorship petition: Imo ex-speaker lauds group’s stand
ormer Speaker of Imo
FState House of
Assembly,Hon. Kelechi
Nwagwu,has commended
Imo indigenes in the diaspora
for their courageous
stance in urging the Supreme
Court to insist on merit and
justice, and not technicalities,
in deciding the Imo governorship
election petition.
Nwagwu was reacting to a
well publicised position of
Imolites living in the United
States, United Kingdom and
Asia, lamenting that electoral
corruption and manipulation
had made Imo the laughing
stock and called on the
apex court to correct the
anomaly by letting merit
drive its judgement in the Imo
governorship election petition.
Under the umbrella of Pan
Imo Diaspora Congress, Imo
indigenes abroad had issued
a statement regretting that
Imo had become the nation’s
absurd theater of electoral
corruption and manipulation
and prayed that the Supreme
Court should use the opportunity
of the Ihedioha/
Uzodimma case to determine
the place of electoral
manipulation and corruption
in the electoral process in the
state.
They added: “As we await
the judgement of the supreme
court Nigerians, no doubt,
from the facts of the case
should expect that either merit
or technicality will take the
day. Merit represents the case
presented by Uzodimma
while Ihedioha’s case is clearly
based on technicalities.
Denying a candidate the
addition of credible votes he
scored in an election to give
undue advantage to his opponent
is the worst from of
electoral corruption “
Nwagwu, in a statement in
Abuja at the weekend, said the
diaspora organisation deserved
the commendation of
all God-fearing citizens for
their courage in standing for
the truth and Justice.
“ For your courage to stand
up for the truth and Justice I
commend you with all my
heart. I assure you that your
names and that of your organisation
shall be written in
gold in the annals of Nigerian
history in general and that
of Imo state in particular”,
the former Speaker said.
It will be recalled that certain
groups and individuals
had recently claimed that
Okolie was about to commit
suicide having been forced to
abandon his wife and fish
farm business due to his arrest
and detention for 10
weeks, during which he sad
he was well treated by the
DSS.
Contrary to claims that he
was about to lose his wife, the
suspect submits in the document:
“I am single, Christian
and self-employed and currently
searching for job”.
Speaking on the incident,
one of the residents, Adesoji
Abiodun said that the level of
destruction would have been
minimal had the fire brigade
responded early enough.
Reacting , the Owa of
Idanre, Oba Frederick
Aroloye, has consoled the victims
of the fire incident.
The state police image
maker, Femi Joseph who
confirmed the fire outbreak
said that the fire had been put
off.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020 — PAGE 7

PAGE 8— SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020
Inside Amotekun,
by Gani Adams,
Aare Ona
Kakanfo of
Yorubaland
•Says ‘we are ready for Niger, Chad,
Mali criminals who infiltrated S/West’
•Lashes critics of security outfit as either
sadists or do not value human life’
F
OLLOWING the launch of the Western Nigeria Security Network
codenamed Operation Amotekun (Leopard), Aare Ona Kakanfo of
Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, in this interview, says the Yoruba people are
happy with the outfit. Aare Adams, who flays critics of the outfit, says those playing
politics with Operation Amotekun do not have value for lives. Excerpts:
By Dapo Akinrefon,
Deputy Regional Editor, South-West
How do you see the launch of
Operation Amotekun?
Amotekun Operation is a welcome
development and, at the same time, it
is a belated idea that we had been
expecting for a long time. I am one of
those who gingered them to hold the
South-West security summit that led to
Amotekun. I can say authoritatively that
Yoruba people are very happy with this
initiative. Anybody criticising it is either
a sadist or does not value life. Amotekun
is not the same with state police that we
have been demanding before now.
Amotekun is like someone with fever
that requires first aid treatment otherwise
you may not have the chance to
administer full treatment. We wanted
state police but in the absence of that,
something must be done. State police
is a constitutional issue that would
involve the process of amendment of
the Constitution.
But a security outfit that will be
controlled by governors is necessary
now. We know from the intelligence
report available to us that the Yoruba
nation has been highly infiltrated. We
have been infiltrated all over South-West
by criminals, especially from external
forces from Niger, Chad, Mali and even
our people who are criminals. The issue
of security threat in the South-West goes
beyond herdsmen. We also have it on
good authority that some Yoruba people
are collaborating with these criminals.
As the Aare Onakankanfo, I am
interested in the Amotekun, not because
of what I want to get. We may differ
politically but what our governors are
doing right now with regards to
Amotekun is in the interest of the entire
Yorubaland and we must support them.
There is a limit we must play politics
with our lives. The issue on the ground
now requires that we, Yoruba, should
allow God to use the present governors
to secure our land. The buck stops on
the table of the governors and also on
me as Aare Onakankanfo of Yoruba
land. I am not supporting the idea
because of personal gain but what it will
bring to Yorubaland. I am not even in
government. There is a limit we must
play politics with our lives. My
traditional position requires me to
ensure that Yorubaland
is secure. I may not
know much about the
technicalities but the
DAWN committee is
there to handle that.
There was a committee
set up and controlled by
the DAWN Commission,
it has about 30 people
and they are in charge
of the technicalities. All
the security advisers to
the six state governors
are there in the
committee, there are
retired police and SSS
officers and even there
are strong criminology
lecturers among the
committee members.
State police is a
constitutional
issue that
would involve
the process of
amendment of
the
Constitution.
But a security
outfit that will
be controlled
by governors is
necessary now
Difference
The difference
between Amotekun and
private security outfits is
that government
controls it, therefore, it
is well planned; it will
be legitimized; so we have to encourage
the governors to start first and I think,
with time, it will be upgraded. With time,
they will put their house in order,
because, within just one month,
criminals will relocate, they will know
that South-West is no longer a safe haven
for them. I can tell you authoritatively
that some ugly incidents are happening
in the South-West and the media is
playing down because you don’t want
to create panic in our region.
So against all odds, we have to support
this Amotekun initiative.
You have talked about
Amotekun. What exactly
is the solution to
insecurity?
Amotekun is a
temporary way of solving
the problem, even state
police, without
restructuring is not ideal.
State police is a
component of true
federalism. If we want to
solve our problems, we
should solve it once and
for all. Restructuring is
allowing the federating
units to have autonomy.
Let the component units
develop at their pace, let
the federal remain in
Abuja. Abuja should
control the Army, Navy,
Airforce, Department of
State Security Service,
DSS, federal police,
Nigeria Civil Defence
and Security Corps and
other relevant agencies at
the federal level. The region should
have its regional and local government
•Gani Adams
police. We have options for restructuring
in Nigeria but the federating units
should be given autonomy. Assuming
the federating units were given
autonomy, Nigeria would not be as
worse as this. Nigerians would have a
good country if the federating units
were given autonomy to run their units.
If we don’t restructure Nigeria we are
wasting our time.
There are issues surrounding the
recruitment process of personnel. The
Director-General of the DAWN
Commission said illiterates will not be
members of the outfit. How do you
react to this?
The illiterates in OPC are about 20 to
25 percent; the elites are not up to five
percent. It is the grassroots people that
would stay in the sun and be
campaigning for you; the elites are there
for strategy. 95 percent of the followers
of any political party are stack illiterates.
The three groups that we want to use
are very important, psychologically 90
percent are illiterates and if you bring
any other group, it won’t work. It is only
the people who are being deprived that
can lay down their lives, those who
benefit from the system cannot lay down
their lives.
There are fears that the outfit may be
used for the 2023 general elections…
Anybody that wants to contest should
come out in 2021. If I start talking about
2023 now, it would amount to distraction.
Were you carried along during the
process of setting up of the outfit?
I was not deeply carried along.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 9
ublicity Secretary of pan-Yoruba socio-political
P organisation, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, in this
interview, examines issues surrounding the launch of a
security outfit for the South-West region, Operation
Amotekun, saying the birth of the platform does not
foreclose the need for regional autonomy. He dismisses
arguments against the outfit, saying any society facing
threats posed by suspected herdsmen, kidnappers and
others could have done the same.
BY CHARLES KUMOLU,
Deputy Editor
How true is it that Afenifere was not
carried along during the planning of
Operation Amotekun?
We didn’t complain about not being
carried along. What we are saying is that
Amotekun is not the total solution to the
problem of insecurity in the South-West
region. In October last year, the daughter of
the Yoruba leader, Pa Ruben Fasoranti, was
killed in broad daylight in Ore. Till date, the
police have not said whether she was killed
by an armed robber, committed suicide or
the driver skidded off the road. Nothing has
been identified by the police as being
responsible for such a high profile murder.
If someone of prominence in the region could
be killed like that without proper
investigation, what would be the fate of lesser
people in Yorubaland? Our women are
kidnapped and raped on daily basis. All
kinds of atrocious crimes are committed on
daily basis in Yorubaland and we can’t find
succour in the police. The police force is
largely ineffective or indifferent to what is
happening to our people.
Alaafin of Oyo
At a time, the Alaafin of Oyo set up a
vigilante group in Oyo and they arrested
herdsmen with guns and many dangerous
weapons. There was one that removed a
man’s genitals and the police were not even
ready to charge him to court. Within that
context, we welcome any attempt by
governors to put together the security outfit
to put some measures of security for our
people. I said some measures because we
are in a cage today to the extent that we have
no control over our lives. The element of
federalism that allows every tier of
government to make laws and enforce them
is not allowed to work not only in the South-
West but also in entire Nigeria. Everything
about the structure of Nigeria is about
conquest and domination. We have a
situation where a group tells others that they
can’t be in charge of their affairs. No matter
the tokenism the Amotekun represents, we
have to appreciate it. What we are saying is
that this alone cannot put an end to the evil
in the land. The failure of security agencies
to stop those responsible for the insecurity is
what made Gen TY Danjuma ,retd, to say
that former President Obasanjo’s cry about
fulanisation agenda is real. When we are
faced with a situation where the state allows
herdsmen to carry AK47 around as if they
are above the law, what do you do? Instead
of stopping the herdsmen from carrying guns
around, government is opening our borders
for people to come in without visa. When we
are faced with such a situation, we don’t need
anyone to tell us that we are facing
insurgency of great magnitude.
Don’t you think Amotekun would respond
proportionately to the fears you
highlighted?
Amotekun can only do little in the face of
what we have at hand. We need autonomy to
control our internal security and other
internal affairs. Afenifere is not opposed to
Amotekun in any way. We are just saying
that we need more than Amotekun. We
cannot say that because of Amotekun, we
would abandon our quest for regional
autonomy and self-determination.
We know that the Oodua Peoples’
Congress, OPC, made inputs in the
formative stages of Operation Amotekun,
hunters and other participating bodies also
made contributions. What were the
contributions of Afenifere as the prime pan-
Yoruba sociopolitical organisation?
We are not hunters and we are not OPC.
We are a socio-political association of the
Yoruba. Afenifere has been in the vanguard
of the clamour for a regional approach to
the security challenges in the country.
Afenifere has nothing to do with the
recruitment of participating bodies. That is
INSECURITY:
Amotekun is tokenism,
struggle for real
solution continues
— Odumakin, Afenifere spokesman
not our business. Our business is how well
we can secure our land, secure our region
and work with other Nigerians to ensure that
the interests of everyone are protected.
By coming together, irrespective of party
affiliations to have a
common stand, the
current crop of South-
West governors seems to
have done something of
great significance. But
some outside the region
are condemning their
action. What can you say
about this?
The governors have not
gone against President
Buhari or anybody. They
only exercised their
powers in a federal
system. They are supposed
to even have control of the
police in their respective
states. They have the right
in a federal system to set
up their police. As chief
executive officers of their
states, they have the
powers to control the
police in their states but
the abnormal federal
system we operate does
How many
states
introduced
Sharia in the
North? Do
they not have
their Sharia
police in
uniform?
not permit them to do so. Such a situation
makes it impossible for the governors to have
state police. What they are doing now is not
policing but a token step towards addressing
insecurity in their respective states.
Introduced Sharia
Southwest governors have
not gone against any law. In
any case, before now, how
many states introduced Sharia
in the North? Do they not have
their Sharia police in uniform?
Do they not have powers to
arrest people and destroy
cartons of beer being brought
to their state? Who is stopping
them? The Civilian JTF is
helping the military to fight
Boko Haram. What has the
governors of the South-West
states done differently from
what others in the northern
part of the country did? South-
West governors are even more
cautious. We learned that one
of the South-West governors
met the Inspector General of
Police over Operation
Amotekun a day before the
outfit was launched. When they
introduced Sharia in most
states of the North, who did
they discuss with? The South-West governors
have done nothing wrong.
Since political leaders and heads of
bodies like Afenifere hadn’t agreed on
issues affecting the Yoruba for a long time,
what does the unanimity brought about by
Amotekun mean to Afenifere?
It is commendable. In the build-up to the
formal commencement of Amotekun, we
saw the solidarity displayed by the six
governors in the zone. All of them were
attending the meetings leading to the
formation of Amotekun. They all made
inputs. It is, however, surprising that only
three governors attended on the day of the
unveiling. We expected the kind of solidarity
they displayed to have played out on the day
of the official commencement. We expected
that six of them would be present.
Don’t you think the success of Operation
Amotekun presents an opportunity for
Afenifere and other ethnic associations in
the larger South clamouring for
restructuring to go beyond rhetoric?
The call for restructuring is not just
rhetoric. It is a project that we are committed
to and it even influences our choices in
elections. In the Southern and Middle Belt
Leaders Forum, SMBF, we are committed
to it. We said it during the last elections that
Continues on page 10

PAGE 10 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020
Amotekun is tokenism,
struggle for real solution
continues
Continued from page 9
we needed a (presidential) candidate that
would convince us that he would restructure
this country. We are not abandoning our
stand. That is why even initiatives like
Amotekun, as commendable as they are,
cannot be taken as a substitute for the
struggle for autonomy, self-determination,
and a restructured polity. We are committed
to the struggle for a country that would
operate as a true federation. That is far more
important to us than any other issue. We are
not opposed to ad-hoc solutions but,
ultimately, our concern is about a
restructured Nigeria where every region
would have the autonomy to run their
internal affairs without being at the beck
and call of Abuja. It is saddening that
governors would have to take permission
from Abuja before launching Amotekun or
any kind of outfit for their states.
One of the arguments against the
regional security outfit is that it is against
Section 215 of 1999 Constitution...
We are waiting to see how their duties would
clash with the police. Are there clashes
between the police and Hisbah, Sharia
police, in Kano? Hisbah goes about arresting
people drinking and selling alcohol and
prostitutes. In fact, there was a report that
Hisbah arrested a conventional policeman.
We are waiting to see how Amotekun will
clash with the police. Problems can only arise
if Amotekun goes against the law. If the
officers work within the law, there wouldn’t
be any problem.
A few days ago when it was announced
that Amotekun would be launched, the
Yoruba in Kwara and Kogi issued a
statement, stating that they are also
threatened by the type of insecurity in the
South-West. They even said that any measure
being taken to protect Yorubaland should
not exclude any part of Yorubaland…
Of course, there are Yoruba in those states
but the Nigerian state created artificial
boundaries. Unfortunately, lines were drawn
without considering the cultural and ethnic
background of Yoruba in those states. That
is why we are calling for restructuring to
correct these anomalies. There should be a
referendum for such people to determine
whether they want to be with their kith and
kin here or be with those they have no cultural
and ethnic relationships with. At the level of
Afenifere, we appreciate their concerns and
we are deeply concerned about it. That is
why we are saying that we should address
the question of artificial boundaries. The
issue of the Yoruba in Kogi and Kwara are
some of the issues that would be addressed
by a restructured Nigeria.
That Operation Amotekun was launched
does not ignore the fact that there are
questions about Yoruba unity. For instance,
when Afenifere talks some would say it
depends on the Afenifere that is talking…
We have been on the path of unity. For
instance, we had the Yoruba congress in
Ibadan which was held in 2017. All Yoruba
came together to state their position on
national issues. At the meeting, Ohanaeze,
PANDEF and Middle Belt Forum attended.
We have also had other fora just to foster
unity. The bond among us must be sustained
to ensure that we have a restructured Nigeria
because we don’t have a nation yet. What we
have is a group of people on the precipice.
Unfortunately, the kind of exclusive
governance we have had at the centre in the
last four years has further created divisions
across Nigeria to the extent that people no
longer see themselves as Nigerians.
How do you think the aims for creating
Operation Amotekun can be realised?
They should ensure that they perform their
functions professionally. They should
concentrate more on intelligence gathering.
As local people, they understand the terrain
and language. Their greatest strength over
the police is their capacity to gather
intelligence. They should not allow
governors to use them for political purposes.
They should not become an outfit that would
be settling irrelevant issues like land matters.
They should concentrate strictly on security
so that their success would boost the case for
state police. They should show that our
people can handle such responsibilities
responsibly.
•Dojumo
How Amotekun
will operate
— Dojumo, Ondo
Security Adviser
Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor on Security Matters, Alhaji
Jimoh Dojumo, in this interview, talks on the prospects of Operation
Amotekun. Dojumo, whose principal is the Chairman, Western Nigeria
Governors Forum, provides insight into how Amotekun will operate.
By Dayo Johnson,
Regional Editor, South-West
Were fears that Amotekun could amount
to duplication of existing security agencies
considered?
People may see it from that perspective but
it is not so, there is just no way we can dissolve
the power of the police because they are
going to work in tandem with the police. It is
teamwork. Amotekun is not going to work
separately. They are
going to operate
directly with police and
other security agencies
within this concept.
They have job
descriptions. People
should not entertain any
fear. This is a joint patrol
to complement the
efforts of the police.
We need Amotekun
Amotekun came up
from the security
summit held by the six
governors of the
Southwest region as a
result of the security
challenges that the
region was facing. It was
during the technical
session that the need for
regional security came
up to complement the
effort of the national
police. The magnitude
of security challenges
witnessed across the
region last year
Those to be
recruited are those
having deep
knowledge of the
terrain, language,
culture, and history
of the communities
where they would
work
prompted the governors to think outside the
box and this led to the talk about the outfit
which was agreed upon by the six governors
at their meeting last year in Ibadan, Oyo
State. The need to provide security and
welfare of the citizenry of the region led to
the formation of the outfit. We are taking
policing close to our people in their different
communities.
Parallel security outfit
lt is not a parallel security outfit. It is not
state police or regional police. Those
entertaining fears should not
because the outfit was not
intended to divide Nigeria, but
to stem the security challenges
we are facing in the region.
Amotekun would give our
people confidence that they are
being looked after by those they
elected into office. We are
working with other established
security agencies, Police, Army,
and Civil Defence. The outfit
has been endorsed by these
agencies so there should be no
fear. What we are doing is in the
interest of our people in the
region. The governors are
looking for solutions that will
further guarantee the security
of their people. I want to assure
you that other regions in the
country would soon copy this
new method of addressing
insecurity in their states.
Amotekun would not endanger
Nigeria’s sovereignty. The
governors have made that clear
to Nigerians. Nobody should
entertain any fear. If you listened to Governor
Rotimi Akeredolu during the launch, he
promised that the security outfit would not
be deployed for political purposes. The fears
of those thinking otherwise have been
allayed.
Can you tell us its mode of operation?
The outfit would work as a joint task force
with the mainstream security agencies. Those
to be recruited are those having deep
knowledge of the terrain, language, culture,
and history of the communities where they
would work. The outfit would be set apart
from other agencies they would work with.
ln Ondo State, we have purchased 20
vehicles and 120 motorcycles and we are
planning to buy more. All the vehicles are
fitted with security and communication
gadgets to cover the region under a central
command. The headquarters will be in
lbadan. The operation would be controlled
from Gbongan in Osun State. But the local
level of the security outfit would be handled
by individual states. The two levels will work
in collaboration. The six states each had
procured 20 pickup vehicles and 100 units
of motorcycles for the operations. All these
are efforts to tackle security challenges
across the zone.
Are the members of Amotekun going to
be armed?
l am going to tell you clearly that they are
not going to be armed. It is the police and
other constitutional forces that would be
armed. Their role is to gather information.
How about the recruitment of personnel?
We are recruiting credible people and we
are very careful about this. We don’t want to
recruit undesirable elements. It is a sensitive
matter and we are very careful.
That is why we are involved because they
are locals and while recruiting them, we
would ensure that within the rank and file,
there is no polarisation. For instance, if we
are dealing with a group like Oodua Peoples
Congress ,OPC, it is going to be absolutely
OPC. The same applies to Agbekoya ,hunters.
Anybody interested in this programme
should align with the existing structure of
OPC, Agbekoya or any other group. These
groups when they come up, we would find a
way of recruiting personnel among them.
There are some other concerned citizens
because we don’t want interests to clash.
How do you guide against recruiting
undesirable persons into the outfit?
l have spoken about the involvement of
the OPC, Agbekoya and the local hunters.
They are all involved in this programme. We
are being cautious. We are commencing
recruitment any moment.
How many people are you recruiting?
l cannot say the actual number now. Our
people in the Southwest should just
cooperate with us. Our recruitment drive
would include traditional rulers. We are
going to recruit some opinion leaders. We
will include the people we know that are
honest in their communities. We don’t want
to bring people of questionable character
into this fold because we don’t want
problems from any angle. What we are
saying is that if there is anybody we recruit
and people outside know that the person of
questionable character, they can give us
information to reassess his credibility. We
are going to involve all stakeholders so that
we can recruit people with good character,
not those with questionable characters
How much are you paying those to be
recruited?
That one is still the prerogative of each
state government.
We are going to gain a lot. Ours is to fight
crime and we are fighting crime with this
arrangement. That is why I said it does not
comprise of civilians alone.
Some northern groups spoke against the
outfit, citing national security concerns...
It is a misconception on their part because
they are looking at it from a different angle.
They don’t know that there is no way the
security outfit would clash with the police
since they are working with the police. Police
are going to supervise their operations? They
are only apprehensive unnecessarily. Let
them be law-abiding. They shouldn’t be
scared of anything.
With the launch of this outfit in the zone, l
want to assure our people that they should
sleep with their eyes closed.
People embraced the outfit in Ibadan
yesterday. People trooped out to embrace it.
You needed to see people when we are passing
Ikire, Ile lfe, Ilesha and other towns. People
just trooped out to express their support for
the initiative. In Akure, people embrace it.
They love it and we are praying not to
disappoint them. The security of the lives
and property of the people in the region is of
paramount importance to the six governors.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 11
Any attempt to use Amotekun
for politics ’ll be resisted
— Olajide, YCE scribe
•Says outfit marks beginning of true federalism
By Ola Ajayi
Three state governors were absent at
the launch of Operation Amotekun. Does
it matter?
I don’t see anything wrong in that. They
could have had something that kept them
away. Launching is just to create
awareness. In terms of support and other
logistics, they have been supportive.
What do you make of body language
of the Presidency towards Amotekun?
As far as I’m concerned, the Presidency
is in support. We are not in a dictatorship.
This is a democratic setting and in a
federal system, elected governors
coordinate with the President.
The President is elected and he swore to
the constitution to perform his
responsibilities as listed in the exclusive
list. The governors are elected to perform
their responsibilities as listed in the
residual and concurrent lists. That is true
federalism. The governors are not school
prefects or headmasters that ought to be
summoned at will to Abuja. We had
federalism before. Tafawa Balewa didn’t
summon Ahmadu Bello. He neither
summoned Azikwe nor Awolowo.
Each had a mandate in his prescribed
territory and he had a primary
responsibility to the people who elected
him.
For me, the security outfit aligns with
the ideals of true federalism. I am happy
that we are moving forward.
When we had proper federalism in
Nigeria, we were moving forward. There
was healthy competition between the
states. They explored their resources and
paid taxes and royalty to the centre for a
few essential services. We must get there.
There are a lot of resources lying idle in
Nigeria and nobody is exploring or
exploiting them because of the defective
1999 Nigeria constitution we operate.
Mineral resources in the states belong to
the Federal Government and lands
belong to the states. How do you reconcile
that? The state governments explored
them and paid taxes and royalty to the
Secretary of Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, Dr. Kunle Olajide, in
this interview, speaks on the launch of Operation Amotekun by
Southwest governors. He sees the development as a critical step
towards having true federalism.
centre. That is true federalism.
Dominate others
This is what should have taken Nigeria
far ahead of where we are today. Anybody
in this country who thinks he can
dominate others is living in a fool’s
paradise. This is the age of technology
and knowledge. The world
is a small village. Nobody
can continue to trample
on people’s rights and
thinks it can continue
forever. I addressed a
conference in 2014 when
Boko Haram was very
vicious and kidnapped
Chibok girls. Book Haram
is a product of the clash
between federalism and
globalisation. Due to
globalisation anybody
anywhere holds GSM
and sees everywhere. Yet
some people are saying we
should remain
subordinates forever. It is
not possible.
Amotekun and
Presidency
I don’t see what the
Presidency has to do with
this. We have Inspector
General of Police,IGP, and
his top officers. You can’t
overburden the Presidency. I am happy
and I am sure the President himself is
happy now because the tension in the
Southwest as a result of insecurity would
be no more. This outfit would work in
collaboration with the police. We are not
in bondage and we are not running a
dictatorship. Everybody should be happy
about this initiative.
Use of drones
I think the federal government has
I don’t want
the outfit to
become
another group
that extorts
money from
people on the
highways or
market places
already permitted us because it was
Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi
Akeredolu, who first said they were
going to employ drones. Drones are
very necessary here because we have
thick forests here. We need drones to
effectively monitor our forests and make
sure that criminals not only the herders
are checked. We have
criminals all over the
world. Where we have a
collection of people, you
must have criminals. It is
not only the herders but
criminals who lurk in the
bush and kidnap people.
It is drones that would
pick them up and send
messages to the
headquarters of
Amotekun which would
now flush them out of the
place.
What about fears that
governors may abuse
the outfit?
I don’t entertain such
fears. This is Nigeria of
2020. It is different from
Nigeria of 1955. People
are enlightened and know
their rights, particularly
in the Southwest. Yes,
there is poverty but I can
tell you that our literacy rate is about the
highest in the whole of Nigeria. There is
virtually no family in the Southwest that
doesn’t have a graduate and no
community without a professor. The
governors can’t use the outfit for their
political agenda. It would be fiercely
challenged and people would resist it.
We have launched Amotekun but we
don’t know the organogram and
administrative structure of the outfit. The
•Olajide
public should know who to report to.
I don’t want the outfit to become
another group that extorts money from
people on the highways or market places.
I want it to be an exemplary security outfit
and perform its duties as friends of the
people, not terrors like we have in some
of the members of the police force. That
is very crucial. We must know the
administrative structure and phone
numbers to report whoever misbehaves.
They must have their name tags on. I think
they have been properly trained to be civil
and not have the mentality of dictatorship
harassing people.
The governors should continue to
collaborate in other sectors. For example,
I don’t see why we cannot have rails
connecting the headquarters of the six
western states. They should work together
in the areas of economy and agriculture.
Lagos does not have land as Oyo and
Osun. Lagos can establish big farms in
Oyo and Osun States.
For me, it is the beginning of integration
that we have so much yearned for. All of
us must work together as one.
What about arguments surrounding its
legality?
The police would have to work with
them. They will report cases to the police
and stakeholders and if the police do not
take action, we would report the
Divisional Police Officer ,DPO, or whoever
is responsible to the Commissioner of
Police or IGP. All of us have the right to
report cases to the police. Security is not
the exclusive duty of the police. The police
would prosecutorial aspect.
Why insecurity won’t go yet – Stan-
Labo, ex-Chief of Staff, Nigerian Army
•Cites deficits, gaps in security services
•Says many retired military officers down with lung, heart, liver, kidney
ailments have been left to their fate
•Stan-Labo
By Chris Onuoha
Hassan Stan-Labo, a retired colonel, is
the Chief Executive Officer of Hakes and
Partners. He served as Chief of Staff,
Nigerian Army (Ministry of Defense)
before leaving the military in 2010. The
expert, in this interview, speaks on the
new wave of insecurity in the country
and the Federal Government’s plan to
withdraw troops from volatile regions
later this year.
Security was particularly challenging
for Nigeria in 2019 with Boko Haram
giving birth to a more brutal faction,
ISWAP. The country experienced armed
banditry and kidnapping on a large
scale. Review the year against the
backdrop of government performance.
2019 was a year of mixed performance
on the security score sheet of
government. The claim of having
defeated Boko Haram does not hold
water and cannot be substantiated.
However, it is evidently clear that it has
been substantially degraded. It is no
longer as deadly, virile and vicious as it
was prior to 2014. The seeming return
witnessed of late especially in 2019 has
to do with the influx of displaced
terrorists from the Maghreb region in
Libya, Syria and other areas. This influx
was partly responsible for the internal
wrangling in the Boko Haram, leading
to the factionalisation that gave birth to
ISWAP. The continuous perception of
Nigeria as a fertile ground for violent
extremism by the insurgents and global
terrorist community serve as a major
incentive. Given the level of poverty,
land size, population, religious
gullibility and government’s seeming
indifference to matters of religious
misrepresentation and exploitation,
these insurgents have easy access to the
ignorant and vulnerable man on the
street. Efforts by government to make
impact on ground remain to be fully felt
or appreciated due to deficits emanating
from the long neglect of the military.
These deficits cover the areas of funding,
manpower, logistics, equipment,
training, welfare, etc. These gaps must
be filled through other options outside
budgetary allocations.
Some state governments decided to
negotiate with leaders of bandits to
bring peace to their states and this
generated some controversy. Critics
said negotiating with bandits violated
the rules of morality. What is your
perspective?
Some state governments opted to
Continues on page 12

PAGE 12 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020
Why insecurity won’t go
yet – Stan-Labo, ex-Chief of
Staff, Nigerian Army
Continued from page 11
negotiate with bandits. He who wears
the shoe feels it. It’s easier to criticise such
development from the comfort of our
bedrooms, asking the moral question.
When human lives are involved in
situations as this, you negotiate your way
out and stop playing the hero. Even the
governments of the western world, who
are proponents of non-negotiation,
engage in it. The U.S. negotiated
regularly with the Talibans in
Afghanistan. The British government
negotiated with IRA; nearly every tough
nation in the world has had to negotiate
under difficult times.
The execution of some Christians by
ISWAP in December shows that
terrorism continues to be a big
challenge despite government efforts.
What’s your view?
Due to fear of being criticised, the
Nigerian government shied away from
negotiating the release of the 11
Christians who were executed by ISWAP
terrorists. This has earned government
bad publicity. If Leah Sharibu gets
killed, it would have severe
consequences for the political future of
the ruling party.
Is there really corruption in the
military, and if there is, what
is the cause?
Corruption is gradually
gaining momentum in the
military because of the level
of neglect veterans are going
through in the hands of
politicians. Over 14 months’
backlog of owed pension
arrears, poor NHIS
arrangement that do not
avail them 100 percent
coverage on health care,
leaving out all cases having
to do with internal organs:
Lung, heart, liver and
kidney among others. The
average veteran today
spends nearly half his
pension on drugs.
Meanwhile, these are
ailments sustained while in
service or on operations.
Today, he is abandoned to
his fate. In the U.S, President
Trump just approved in
December 2019 salary and
pension increment in which military
pensioners (veterans) topped the chart.
By January 15th, the routine ritual of
promises and lies would be told to the
world of how Nigerian veterans are
catered for. This is unfortunate.
Arising from government claim that
Boko Haram has been degraded, there
are plans to withdraw troops deployed
in some areas across the nation in 2020,
but some governors are opposed to the
arrangement. Going by what you see,
do you think the time is right to
withdraw troops?
The announcement by government to
withdraw troops from some parts of the
country considered safe is a welcome
development. Such a pull-out exercise
would be a boost to the military
generation effort in meeting with
manpower deficit in the North-East.
Secondly, it would reduce the presence
and visibility of the military in public.
Thirdly, it will position the military
properly to play its role as the second
line security on internal security matters
while the police remain the lead agency.
However, the pull out exercise should
be done with the certainty that these
parts of the country are adequately safe
for citizens. The reactions and
observations so far generated by the
affected communities and state
governments should be looked into
thoroughly. The fears of these affected
communities must be allayed. If the
people affected don’t feel safe enough to
remain in their localities, it could further
aggravate the IDP situation in the
country. We must be certain that the pullout
does not attract the resumption of
kidnapping, cattle rustling and other
forms of banditry hitherto witnessed.
The fear is that the police may not be
able to cope in the volatile areas if troops
are withdrawn…?
The pull-out by the military gives way
for full security control of these areas by
the civil authority, the police. It is,
therefore, hoped that the Nigeria Police
has the required strength to man these
locations. It is also taken for granted that
the planning and preparatory stage for
this exercise did involve the police. To
further deepen the effectiveness of the
police on ground, it is advised that
community policing be put in place in
these areas immediately as they move in.
This is a 21st century policing method
that comes with a high level of
community integration and endorsement.
The FG said Boko Haram has been
degraded, but they still make deadly
attacks and there are reports that the
group’s fighters still
occupy some areas
in the North-East.
Should we believe
Success is
measured by
your ability to
assure and
convince the
locals to remain
in their
localities and
go about their
businesses and
private lives
safely
government claim?
As for withdrawal of
the military from parts
of the North-East
presently considered
safe, I differ with the
authorities or
government
completely. In
conventional warfare,
your effectiveness or
success is partly
measured by the
number of territories
you are able to
reclaim from the
enemy force. To
achieve your aim,
you must strive to
maintain a manpower
ratio of 3 to1 against
the enemy. However,
in asymmetric or nonconventional
warfare which we are
presently engaged in, success is
measured by your ability to assure and
convince the locals to remain in their
localities and go about their businesses
and private lives safely. You can only
achieve this if you have the numerical
strength on ground to infest the location
with troops (both uniformed and plain
clothes embedded component). The
doctrine recommends a density of no less
than 35 to 1, 000 population. The question
is, do we have this density of men on
ground in the North-East? Have we
thoroughly infested the entire North-East
with troops and allayed the fears of the
ordinary man in the village? The answer
can only be measured in the number of
returnees from IDP camps. Citizens can
only feel safe today in this area with the
presence of troops. No amount of talking
or re-assurance of safety can decongest
the IDP camps if boots are not on ground,
not even the presence of the police. The
Nigerian Army has performed so
creditably well under its present
leadership such that enough confidence
is already being reposed on them in the
local communities where they operate.
Our force generation effort in the North-
East should therefore be pushed with
additional vigour.
Wedding Fatiha of Nuhu
Ribadu’s sons
The wedding Fatiha of the sons of a former Chairman
of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), Mr Nuhu Ribadu, took place in Abuja
yesterday. Faces at the occasion as captured by Gbemiga
Olamikan
From left: Alh. Aliko Dangote,President Dangote Group; Mallam Nuhu
Ribadu, groom’s father, and Mr. Kayode Komolafe, Deputy Managing Director
Thisday Newspapers.
From left: Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation;
Aminu Bello Masari, Governor of Katsina State;Senator Ibikunle
Amosun; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria; Vice President
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tiunbu, APC National Leader;
and Alh. Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Buhari among others.
From left: Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, Mr. Kayode Komolafe, Regional Editor
of the Nation Newspapers, Mr. Yusuf Ali; Mr. Yusuf Olaniyonu and EFCC
Secretary, Mr. Ola Olukoye.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020 — PAGE 13

PAGE 14— SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
Men are only nice when
they have not had sex
with you – Yetunde Aderibigbe
Beautiful Yoruba actress, Yetunde
Aderibigbe, who is fast becoming
known for her boldness shook the
social media table some days ago when
she declared in an Instagram post that
men are only nice to women when they
have not tasted their honey pot.
She writes, “ Nobody is nicer than a
guy who hasn’t had sex with you yet.” Of
course not many of her followers
concurred with her but it does appear the
alluring, light-skinned diva was speaking
from experience.
Yetunde is a woman who knows what
she wants out of life and isn’t afraid to go
after it with all the gusto she can muster.
She once pointed out in an interview with
Potpourri that she isn’t totally against
marriage but would only give it a shot if
it won’t be in the way of her dreams and
aspirations to be who she wants to be.
Yetunde Aderibigbe’s journey into the
make-believe world began in 2009 under
a platform owned by Omogoriola Hassan
(Neehas Production) where she was
tutored for two years. She then took a
break to have her child and returned later
to continue her training only this time
under Dele Ogundipe.
Over the years she has distinguished
herself as a star of the future, featuring in
many blockbusters movies. Some of those
are First Blood by Kunle Afod; Sister
Sister by Yemi Terry; My Experience and
I; Ile Oge amongst others. On her own
she has produced three movies, namely;
Ohuntimofe, Omo Jabezzi, Borderline
and her newest project tiled ‘My Love
Story’.
•Yetunde
Aderibigbe
Don’t date guys who have
money but ones who spend
money – Thick Barbie
A
n Instagram extremely busty girl
known as Thick Barbie but born Gbemi Rhema Brownridge has
dished out a rather queer message to girls in relationships. According
to her, girls should open their eyes and recognise men who have money
and men who spend money.
“ I don’t know who needs to hear this but girls date guys who can give
you more not a guy who has plenty money. I know some girls dating a
guy with big gold chains and snaps with iPhone 11 Pro and the girlfriend
is asking for 1k recharge card on Instagram.
Thick Barbie is known for her humongous boobs and her crazy way
of flaunting them. But she’s not all a heap of boobs, she’s a computer
scientist and fashion designer.
BBNaija Uriel Oputa becomes toast of
‘Hello Mr Right’ reality show
Big Brother Naija 2017 contestant, Uriel
Oputa has become the toast of viewers on
Africa’s number one dating reality show, Hello
Mr. Right, Nigeria showing every Saturday
on ST Novela E at 8:30 pm.
Uriel shared highlights of the last episode
via her Instagram page.
Comments from her
fans depict the
excitement around
the show as they
kept asking
questions on how
they could participate
and watch.
This is the first reality
show the soft-spoken
Superstar will be hosting
since her participation in
the Big Brother Naija
house and without any
doubt, she has
demonstrated and
showed vast knowledge
of getting the fans
talking and longing to
see every episode of the
reality show.
The show recently
aired Season 9 with
Patrick and Victoria
emerging winner and
the most voted couple for
the Season. The
intriguing part of the
show is the ability
•Uriel
of the contestants to participate in the open
dating platform, hence being selected by other
participants.
“Hello Mr. Right” produced exclusive to
StarTimes and the first of it’s kind in Nigeria,
see contestants partake in an impartial and open
dating platform where they make a pitch to be
selected by fellow
contestants. The lucky pairs
who emerge winners will
walk away with prizes worth
N2, 000,000.
•Keeny
Ice
•Thick
Barbie
Ghanaian rap star, Keeny Ice
unveils plans for 2020
Ghanaian rap
sensation Keeny Ice
is still hopeful that
his brand would attain even
greater heights this new
year as he rolls out his plans
for the year. Last year was a
good one for the Ghanaian
rapper as he won numerous
awards in his country
including the Volta Music
Awards 2019 Artiste of the
Year Award and Best
C o l l a b o r a t i o n
(International) with his hit
collaboration ‘E be God’s
which featured Nigerian
Artiste Victor AD.
That award also made it
Victor AD’s first international
award. On his plan for the new
year he said “I’m looking to
drop a lot of music this year
because I haven’t done a lot
of releases the previous year
as I envisaged. I’m also going
to drop my Bordervibez EP
debut this year.
And as for collabos, I want
to continue to spread my
tentacles beyond the borders
of Ghana which I started with
Nigeria and hoping to get
joints with few of the artistes
from there. •Naira I’m considering
working with Marley 2baba, Davido,
Zlatan, Teni, Payper Corleone,
Peruzzi among others.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 15
•Cynthia
Okeke
•Mandy
Ujunwa
Instagram sensations who used their
endowment for good effect in 2019
Since the advent of Instagram a lot of people who, ordinarily
would have remained unknown have become stars of sort
overnight. But as much as the social media platform presents
many opportunities, contents have been the major driving force.
And for contents, some Instagram users have been rather
creative to generate followers and traffic to their pages. In
this regard, creativity entails both innate and acquired
and these Instagram slay queens have been able to
deploy both to garner popularity, thus taking their craft
to the next level. Here, are 7 Instagram sensations who
used their God-given gifts to attain some measure of
fame and fortune.
Peacer Olayemi: This Ondo State girl would have had
no claim or stake to fame if Instagram had not come to
her rescue – and all thanks to her humongous twin
towers that have attracted some good fortune her
way. Her dream was to be an actress and that soon
came to fruition when she got a script to appear in
a Yoruba film titled “Oye”. She also did some
adverts for some brands.
•Whykay
Jennifer Emike: Jennifer Emike is a budding
Nollywood actress who is very popular on
Instagram for her luscious looks. She has starred
in movies like ‘White Wash’, ‘Brown’ and many
others. She’s also an interior decorator.
•Pat Ugwu
•Peace
Olayemi
Cynthia Okeke: Cynthia Okeke known as
Officiacici on Instagram is a real estate agent,
model and actress. She got some subtle
endorsements last year with Tevoli Couture and
Jennys Glow Nigeria.
Pat Ugwu: Patience Patrick Ugwu who is known as
Sugar girl is still an undergraduate in University of
Abuja. She’s an actress and video vixen.
“Social media has made things easier for me, I can
now dance and tweak and get paid for it. Anything
I do people appreciate it, they send me money,
messages and even pay my bills, all thanks to
social media platform” she had once said in an
interview with Potpourri
Mandy Ujunwa: Ujunwa Mandy Obi
is a budding actress from Nnewi local
government in Anambra state. She’s a
popular face on Instagram famed for her
endowment. She has featured in movies
like Angry mother, Odida Kingdom, the
little prince, and some Igbo movies like:
Ajondu, Onye-Nna, Dimona etc
D’Banj, DJ Spinall, Praiz, Olisa, others
turn up for MTN’s MusicTime!
D
’Banj, DJ Spinall, Praiz, Olisa and
other celebs decided to shut down
Lagos at an exclusive party hosted by
MTN for the data-bundled music service
MusicTime! Ah! Okay, you thought
you’re the only one that can parte after
parte abi. Stay there!
The party was on fleek, gbedu nonstop,
the who’s who in the music
industry were there. As a host on top of
its game, MusicTime! a digital music
streaming service, was dropping the
hottest jams back to back. Our
celebrities could not stay sitting down,
from Zanku to Azonto to Shaku
Shaku to the evergreen Shoki; they
were definitely sweating it and it was
mad fun!
During the Hangout, industry
stakeholders, including Praise ‘Praiz’
Adejo, Oye Akideinde, Donald ‘Djinee’
Osayamwen, and Funso Finnih were
engaged in a panel session to discuss the
future of music in the advent of
digitalization, while taking cognizance of
current milestones Nigerian artistes have
attained.
Rumour has it that the trending
catchphrase from the “Detty December”
phase is “Party Time, Music Time!”.
Apparently, the digital streaming service
allows users to enjoy local and international
music the way they want it how they want
it and when they want it. If MusicTime! does
not give it to you, how will you take it?
In 2018, MTN acquired Simfy Africa,
which developed MusicTime! for users to
enjoy the best listening experience on the
platform. Enhanced with a music catalogue
from local and international artists,
MusicTime allows users to stream music
instantly with data.
•Jennifer
Emike
•Olisa
Adibua
Whykayy: Ogunjimi Adeyinka, with
the stage name ‘Whykay’ took Instagram
by storm on account of her endowment
and the social media platform embrace her
too wholesale. She’s an actor, a singer and
many other things as far as entertainment
goes. She has done many video skits and
some musicals.
•D'Banj

PAGE 16 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
ADETUTU AUDU
08023849036,
08112662587
Sanwo-Olu celebrates ‘loyal’ wife
All work and no play make
Jack a dull boy, they say.
Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State
penned down a romantic
message to his wife, Joke, on his
social media page as she
•Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and wife, Joke
•Malumi and wife
celebrated her birthday on
January 8 to show that it’s not
all about work and more work,
family is everything.
He described his wife as loyal,
virtuous, patient, humble,
intelligent, smart and gracious.
And he said he is thrilled at the
Dino Melaye spoils
self on birthday
Away from the murky waters of politics, Senator Dino Melaye
hosted friends and associates to a birthday dinner on
January 7 at the Burj Khalifa Hotel in Dubai.
Among those who honoured the former member of the 9th
National Assembly who represented Kogi West were a former
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and a
former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi
Frank. Also Ray Hushpuppi, an Instagram big boy and selfacclaimed
Gucci master, was in attendance.
The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal
Capital Territory Abuja’s lavish party also had Nigeria’s big
babes based in Dubai in attendance. The drama king took to his
official Instagram page to share photos of the event and also
thanked guests for gracing the occasion.
strength and effortlessness with
which she takes on her
responsibilities pertaining to the
affairs of the state and the home
front.
Sanwo-Olu also prayed for
God’s strength, blessing and
peace upon his wife “in whom
he is very well
pleased”.
‘ L o y a l ,
Virtuous,
P a t i e n t ,
H u m b l e ,
Intelligent,
Smart and
Gracious.
These are the
qualities I
would use to
describe you
Ibijoke mi (my
own) on this
your special day
and beyond”,
he wrote
“I salute your
steadfastness in
the Lord, your
support for me
and your love
for our family
on this journey
of governance
Malumi quits
bachelorhood
onday, December 30,
M2019 will linger in the
minds of the Okorie and
Malumi families for a long
time. The two families were
united as one, when their
daughter and son, Anthonia
Chinwendu and Prince Tunde
Nonso, of Ode-Mahin
Kingdom, Ilaje LGA, Ondo
State were joined in holy
matrimony amidst pomp and
garlands.
The well-attended
traditional marriage took
place at Isiakpu, Ogberuru,
Orlu L.G.A of Imo State.
Pastor Ademola Malumi,
who attended the wedding in groom never to raise his
his capacity as the father of hands on his wife.
the day and ‘groom’s father’, “The worst thing any man
advised young couples on can do is to beat his wife,
what it takes to survive please don’t do it,” he told the
marital squabbles.
groom.
He also shared the secrets The event was a creamy
of marital bliss to the bride. affair as friends, family,
His words: “You have to business associates and
make sure you submit all to guests were dressed in white,
your husband, total while the couple regaled their
submission and respect are visitors in their stunning
some of the basic rules to a fuchsia pink and white
lasting marriage”.
attires.
The cleric advised the
•Dino flanked by Dogara (right) and
Timi Frank
which we have embarked on
together.
“As we trudge along on this
leadership duty, I am thrilled at
the strength and effortlessness
with which you take on your
responsibilities pertaining to the
affairs of the state and the home
front.
“I must say you have been a
very reassuring prayer partner,
confidant, cheerleader, my joyful
place and, above all, my peace.
Thank you for everything you
have been to our children and I.
“It is my prayer on this special
day that the Lord will continue
to keep you, bless you and
strengthen you to continue to
excel in the task that we have
taken on.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY my dear
wife in whom I am very well
pleased. I love you
unconditionally, and may the
peace of the Lord continue to
abide with you and grant you all
your heart’s desires, Amen”.
•Precious
Stamp of honour
for Nigerian born
British Popoola
T
here is something
electrifying and instructive
about Joel Popoola, the
Nigerian born British man who
pioneered the first abuse proof
digital democracy platform
application in the United
Kingdom. He exudes the lustre
of the proverbial leading lights
thus distinguishing himself in
the midst of average folks.
He honed his skills as a
banker in the United Bank for
Africa (UBA) under the direct
tutelage of Mr Tony Elumelu,
Hakeem Bello-Osagie and the
Chief of Staff to the President,
Mallam Abba Kyari.
The UK-based professional
software testing consultant
digitalized the workings of
democracy on the global stage
to suit its real essence.
The Rate Your Leader App,
which he conceptualized, has a
five-star rating on the Google
market and has been certified
as the new level of politics in
the new decade.
The App simply reconnects
electors and the elected, and
also uses abuse proof
technology to combat online
harassment and fake news.
Popoola, who holds a
master’s degree from
University of Ibadan, cuts a
brilliant portrait of a genius.
With success and the
acceptance in the UK, he is
making moves to launch the
App in Nigeria.
Described by Sunderland
Echo as the ‘City man’, he is
happily married with kids.
The Gbongan, Osun Stateborn
technoprenur, who shies
away from publicity as much
as possible, has, certainly,
carved a niche for himself on
the global stage, all thanks to
his penchant for
thoroughness,
diligence,
•Joel Popoola
due
and
commitment to
g o o d
governance.
Precious Fani-
Kayode in
mourning mood
recious, a former beauty queen
Pand wife of former Aviation
Minister, Chief Femi Fani
Kayode, is bereaved. She lost
her father, Hillary Chikwendu,
last Tuesday, after a brief
illness in a hospital in Abuja
two years after the death
of her mother.
The mother of four
announced the demise
of her late father on her
instagram page.
“Rest on dad, you
made up for all those
years. We forgave you
and you made all us
smile in the end. You
were ours and we will
always love daddy.
Give mom a kiss for
me”, she wrote.
Fondly called
Snowhite, the exbeauty
queen-cumactress
married the
Osun State born
politician in 2014.
All roads leads
to Nanka,
Anambra
State to
give the
deceased
final rites
of passage.

Terrorists are not dividing
us, you are sir
“We should under no circumstances
let terrorists divide us
by turning Christians against
Muslims because those barbaric
killers don’t represent Islam
and millions of other lawabiding
Muslims around the
world” - President Buhari after
Muslims slaughtered Christians
on December 25, 2019.
“A leader is best
When people barely know
he exists
Not so good when people
obey and acclaim him
Worst when they despise
him…” - Lao-tsy, Chinese philosopher,
6th century AD,
VANGUARD BOOK OF
QUOTATIONS,
B
VBQ, p 124.
uhari quite frequently
reminds me of some
one who says great
things and does the opposite
virtually all the time. I am still
willing to give him the benefit
of doubt that he dissembles inadvertently
and not deliberately
– out of respect for his
position as our national leader.
His statement quoted
above is one example of falsehood
easily disproved. If governments
represent the wishes
of their people on religion,
then there is no country in the
Middle East which represents
its “law-abiding Muslims”
which is not at the same time
a promoter of terrorism
worldwide. Saudi Arabia and
Iran are the recognised headquarters
of the two factions of
Islam – Sunnis and Shi’ites.
Both actively sponsor terrorism
throughout the Arabian
Peninsula and abroad. ISIS,
Al Qaeda, the Taliban, etc
have never denied that they are
Muslims. Those who primarily
destroyed a good part of
Syria, e.g. Aleppo, were Islamic
sects and nothing else. Buhari
knows the truth but appears
he won’t say it.
Here in Nigeria, from the
Maitatsine sect in the 1980s
till Christmas Day 2019, the
religious terrorist groups who
have shed other peoples’ innocent
blood have been Islamic.
Not even idol worshippers
or believers in traditional
religions have been as “godless”
(to use Buhari’s word) as
his Muslim brothers. I challenge
anybody to point to one
instance in which Christians
and so-called non-believers
have steadily and, without remorse,
slaughtered other Nigerians
as Boko Haram and
ISWAP have done. It is no
longer an accidental occurrence
but planned and executed
genocide by numerous Islamic
groups. Again, Buhari
knows the truth, but he it appears
he won’t say it. Admitting
the truth will destroy his
false sense of protecting ALL
Nigerians. He isn’t. Obviously,
the President who fails or is
unwilling to protect all Nigerians,
irrespective of religion,
is the person dividing Nigerians
along religious lines. Let
me explain.
Buhari, at 77, is my senior
brother but, with me, at 75, in
demographics, we would be
classified in the same generation.
I can state authoritatively
that Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims
had existed side-by-side
before we were born in 1942
and 1944 respectively. No
government, colonial, elected
or military, had taken sides in
the age-long dispute between
the two sects of Islam; none
had adopted one as the Nigerian
Muslim sect until Buhari,
a Sunni. When Abubakar
Malami, Buhari’s Minister of
Justice, a Sunni, filed an exparte
case before a judge and,
most probably a Sunni, asking
that Shi’ites be declared a
terrorist group, it was the first
time any Muslim Head of
State – Abubakar Tafawa
Balewa, Murtala Muhammed,
Shehu Shagari, Babangida,
Abacha, Abubakar
and Yar’Adua – would use his
position to divide Muslims
and to deprive millions of fellow
Nigerians of their right to
worship the way they want. Incidentally,
all the other leaders
mentioned were/are Sunnis.
But, they never allowed
their bigotry to get the better
of them as Buhari has done.
Furthermore, Buhari and his
Attorney General and their biased
judge of the Federal High
Court labour in vain. They
must be self-deluded to imagine
that a religion to which
millions of people subscribe
can be wiped out by a court
decision. Long after they have
all died, Shi’ites will still be
worshipping in Nigeria. Buhari
has created millions of
sworn enemies against himself.
To them, his government,
by depriving them of their constitutional
rights, is the terrorist.
Two young ladies
“Must one be called Abubakar
or Mohammed to get an
appointment with Buhari...?” -
Dele Sobowale, DAILY INDE-
PENDENT, January 2, 2020,
back page.
It is not only along religious
lines that Buhari is dividing us.
I recently wrote that next time
he attends a meeting of world
leaders, Buhari might find
himself sitting between two
young ladies – young enough
to be his grand-daughters.
They are Heads of Government
in advanced countries.
In actual fact, Donald Trump,
President of the US, and Buhari,
at over 75, are vestiges of
a bye-gone era. The Stone Age
idea that “Father knows best”
has long ago given way to
whoever takes the trouble to
read widely, be technologycompliant
and have the energy
for back-breaking work.
Such people, irrespective of
age, are probably the best for
the job. That description, however,
is gender neutral. But, unfortunately,
Buhari’s own
mind-set has already divided
Nigerians into male and female.
The females are only
good for services “in the other
room”. Thus, half of the Nigerian
population has already
been consigned to the bedroom
– while more progressive
societies are making use
of their enormous talents. Let
me again explain why I am
annoyed at the obvious penchant
for dividing us along
gender lines.
First, I was privileged to
have been drafted into a group
which drafted Nigeria’s protocol
on Gender Equality during
the Abacha regime. The
documents that Mrs Abacha
delivered in China to a global
audience included a segment
on how to implement various
proposals to alleviate poverty
among women – especially in
the North-East zone; which
was and is still the worst. Even
Abacha, not to talk of Babangida
and Abubakar, were committed
to achieving the goals
It was the tenacity
of the Yoruba
people and Sango
striking cattle dead
with thunder
which has kept the
invaders at bay
established at Cairo, Copenhagen
and Beijing. It was another
misguided woman-hater,
Olusegun Obasanjo, who
halted the march towards
more gender equity.
Second, I am the proud father
of six children – all girls
and all graduates. They have
brought home certificates in
all the respected disciplines –
Computer, Medicine, Engineering,
Law, etc. My daughters
are so responsible none
of them will drive a N100 million
BMW motorcycle at
breakneck speed in Abuja and
almost get themselves killed.
Yet, it is the irresponsible males
who Buhari prefers to employ
instead of more serious girls
and women. Do he really wish
Nigeria well? It certainly does
not show.
Third, I wrote that article after
reading in one day and in
various papers announcements
about appointments
made recently. Quite apart
from dividing Nigerians into
Abubakar/Mohammed and
the rest, I counted fifteen (15)
appointments and no single
female among them. To me,
it is inconceivable that any
modern leader at any level
can in 2019 make such lopsided
appointments. Obviously,
women don’t exist in Buhari’s
mind. To be quite candid,
it was not surprising. His
prejudices are usually so deeply
ingrained the man is not
even conscious of exhibiting
them. I once confronted an
APC Woman Leader during
the campaigns last year by
asking her if she believed Buhari
will appreciate their efforts
and be more equitable
when distributing the dividends
of victory. She thought
I was being pessimistic. She
called me after reading the
article last week sobbing on
the phone. In the end, she got
the words out, “Uncle Dele,
SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 17
how could you have known had to send a condolence
that this is what Buhari would message to Muslim families
do to us?” Well, UniJankara for any premeditated genocide
committed by a minori-
is not a place for fools. We
don’t trade sex for marks. You ty of “godless Christians”.
must be very good to work with That already points to a difference.
But, imagine, if you
us. We work all the time and
we don’t even pay anything. can, what would happen if a
group of Christian Avengers
Nnamdi Kanu and
should start killing Muslims
in any of the SE and SS states
Sowore
and openly claiming responsibility
for it? What do you
“I disapprove of what you think Buhari, Buratai, Bichi
say, but I will defend to the and Idris would do about it?
death your right to say it” - Would they stop at sending
Francois Voltaire, French philosopher.
And, there is a precedent to
condolences? Definitely not.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of support that statement.
IPOB, and Sowore have a few After herdsmen had slaughtered
over 400 people in Benue
attributes in common. They
are young, they are southerners,
they hold annoyingly rad-
well as uncountable others
and Enugu States alone, as
ical views about how to restructure
Nigeria and they mour. Five (5) herdsmen had
nationwide, there was a ru-
probably come from Christian
homes. None of them has states. Within days, the com-
been killed in one of the SE
murdered a single soul with munity was over-run by Daura’s
DSS officials in search of
their words. Incidentally, I
happen to consider their proposals
puerile and impracti-
The officials of Buhari ad-
evidence and possible arrests.
cal. But, they are entitled to ministration who were offering
excuses for undisputed
them. But, the two have been
treated like terrorists by the mass killing were actively in
combination of Buhari, Buratai,
Bichi and Idris (IGP). for a mere rumour!!! So, who
search of people to prosecute
The President of Nigeria, the is dividing us?
Chief of Army Staff and the “Your land or your life” - FG
Director General of the Department
of States Services About two years ago, one of
loudspeaker.
did nothing when Muslim Buhari’s loudspeakers from
bandits invited the Governor the South-West advised his
of Katsina State to a meeting own family (certainly not
to discuss what was in effect mine) that they had no choice
power sharing in Katsina. about giving up their land for
Masari went to attend to terrorists
without the Army in-
summarised above. It is on
grazing. His submission is
vading the meeting venue to record that no such offer that
arrest those who have seized cannot be refused was made
half of the power in the President’s
own state. Kanu’s com-
North-West. That the Yoruba
to people in any state in the
munity was invaded and parts have not surrendered their
of it destroyed in the search ancestral lands to marauding
for a man armed only with his herdsmen is not a victory
mouth. DSS in full view of the which our leaders in the All
world sent armed men into a Progressives Congress, APC,
court room to wrestle and brutalise
Sowore who did not of Yoruba people, there would
can claim. Left to the traitors
even have a pen-knife for selfdefence.
But, they kept away established a RUGA at Isale-
probably, by now, have been
while a northern Muslim Eko, Oja Oba, Osun Shrine
governor negotiated power and Oba Adeshida Road – to
sharing arrangement with declared
and armed enemies of nacity of the Yoruba people
mention a few. It was the te-
the state. So, who is dividing and Sango striking cattle
Nigerians into untouchables dead with thunder which has
and expendables?
kept the invaders at bay.
All the states of the South- Who is dividing us? Please
East and South-South are predominantly
Christian states. NEXT WEEK: FOR ONCE
let’s change the subject.
Yet, there are mosques in every
state. Muslims gather eve-
AGREE WITH LAI MO-
I WHOLE HEARTEDLY
ry Friday for Jumat Prayers HAMMED.
and celebrate Sallah annually.
No single case of Christian NOTE: The books are
fundamentalist attacking available at CSS Bookshops,
Muslims has ever been recorded.
No Christian Presi-
and MM2 as well as GATT
VANGUARD Abuja Office
dent – Ironsi, Gowon, Obasanjo
and Jonathan -- has ever
in
Lagos.
www.delesobowale.com
20/20 Vision (2)
My archive-
We have no shame
So you already know
you are an outsider, as
far as you are concerned
you know there is
somewhere, someplace that
we call home had been divided
up along the lines of faith
and ruled by terror on the
basis of your religion. It is a
tragic recklessness and a slap
in the face of every wellmeaning
and sane Nigerian.
The Nigerians I meet here are
my fellow Nigerians; we
share a country and have
more in common than what
separate us regardless of their
state or their religion. If we
could get along abroad why
can’t we get along in Nigeria?
So in a place where I can-
not call home, I get treated
with some respect and I can
attend and go out without
fear or intimidation to a place
of worship of my faith. Over
here mosques, churches, temples
are built barely a stone
throw from one another. Over
here in schools, children are
taught religious education,
given an education where
they learn about other religions,
history and facts, this
does help foster tolerance as
well as educate the young
people on other religion other
than the one they ascribe
to
Ṅow that is what I call tolerance
but in all I do believe
that there has to be more emphasis
in educating our young
in Nigeria. Not only that, education
will also ensure that
they are out of the clutches of
those that want to brain
wash them into terror.
The poverty and disparity
is disgraceful so the resentments
is palpable and we cannot
afford to breed young,
impressionable, poor, uneducated,
unemployed and unemployable
minds with no
prospect for the future. What
we are doing is inadvertently
moulding them for an alternative
occupation such as terror,
kidnapping and major
crimes.
Tolerance can only exist if
we address the level of poverty,
unemployment, corruption,
inequality of opportunities
and standard of living.
We have got to reduce the
senseless hatred that divides
our people and our leaders
should be leading the way. It
heartens me when I read
that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji
Sa’ad Abubakar and
Osun State governor, Rauf
Aregbesola have addressed
Muslims at a public event to
Tolerance can only
exist if we address
the level of poverty,
unemployment,
corruption, inequality
of opportunities and
standard of living
openly beseech Muslims to
unite, stay tolerant and be at
peace with all fellow Nigerians
regardless of their faith.
The Sultan was resolute in his
address that Islam will, and
always will remain a religion
of peace. He said: “Those who
claim to be doing what they
are doing in terms of terrorism
in the name of Islam are
on their own. They are not
doing anything for Islam or
Muslims but for themselves.
Nothing more, nothing less!
And that is why when I hear
people refer to these terrorists
as Islamic terrorists, I always
feel bad. I have said it so many
times that Islam does not approve
terrorism or the taking
of anybody’s life.” and Aregbesola
said “a Muslim, who
promotes chaos and disharmony
has deviated from the
teachings of Islam and a good
Muslim is required to exemplify
the best in conduct
through accommodation,
tolerance and forbearance for
him to be called a good Muslim”.
CAN the mischief
The transparent discourteous
open letter to the Sultan
Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar,
in which the Christian
group accused the Sultan of
being economical with the
truth and that he was silent
over the decimation of Christian
communities in the
North by Islamic fundamentalists.
This is so disingenuous and
uncharitable. The writers did
not hide their hatred as the
content of the diatribe moved
from thinly veiled courtesy to
utter disprect and deep seated
hatred . We have been here
before and it is so apparent
that someone is stoking the
fire of hatred, divide and conquer.
It is not going to work,
we can see through your message.
The Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC) need not have responded.
But they did.
According to them, they
laid the finger of blame at the
door of the president of CAN,
Dr. Samson Ayokunle, who
blamed the Sultan for not
waiting for the next NIREC
meeting before disagreeing
with him in public.
This was not true according
to the director, Prof. Ishaq
Akintola, and accused Ayokunle
of lying, deception
and incitement; “MURIC
takes serious objection to the
response of CAN to the Sultan.
Imagine CAN president,
Dr. Samson Ayokunle, arguing
that the Sultan should
have waited for the next meeting
of NIREC to fault his (Ayokunle’s)
claim instead of debunking
it publicly. How reasonable
is that?
“How can the Sultan wait
for a private forum to fault a
lie that was told in public? Are
the discussions in NIREC in
the public domain? How can
you remove a woman’s
clothes in the market place
and expect her friends to wait
until she arrives home naked
before they cover her up? Isn’t
that warped logic?
“The Sultan is a notable
bridge-builder primus inter
pareil and a peace-maker
nulli seconds. If some religious
leaders specialize in creating
tension, the Sultan’s vocation
is dousing tension. If
some leaders are adept at inciting
their followers, the Sultan
is always there to calm
nerves”
This 2020, we should not be
careless with dog whistle and
sabre rattling we have a nation
to build, feed and unite.
“The whole purpose of religion
is to facilitate love and
compassion, patience, tolerance,
humility, and forgiveness.”
— Dalai Lama XIV”

PAGE 18, SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
‘You’re either a
royal or you’re
not a royal’
•Trouble in the palace over Prince Harry and Meghan
The Duke and Duchess
of Sussex hope talks
over their future roles
in the Royal Family can be
concluded “sooner rather
than later”, a source has
told PA news agency.
Meetings are said to be
“progressing well”, with the
UK and Canadian
governments consulted.
The couple have said they
plan to step back as senior
royals and split their time
between the UK and North
America.
Meghan has returned to
Canada to join her son
Archie amid the ongoing
talks.
The family spent
Christmas there, before
returning to the UK on
Tuesday after a six-week
break from royal duties.
The Queen, the Prince of
Wales and the Duke of
Cambridge have asked
senior staff to work with the
Sussex household and
government to find a
solution within days,
according to BBC royal
correspondent Nicholas
Witchell.
Speaking about the duke
and duchess, a source told
PA news agency: “They, like
everyone, are hopeful this
can all be worked out,
sooner rather than later.
US President
Donald
Trump told Fox
News he
thought the
announcement
from Harry and
Meghan was
“sad”
“It is in everyone’s interest
for this to be figured out,
and figured out quickly, but
not at the expense of the
outcome.”
Meanwhile, the couple’s
official Instagram account
returned to publicising their
appearances.
Pictures were posted
showing the couple during a
private visit on Tuesday to a
community kitchen in north
Kensington, west London,
which cooked meals for
families displaced by the
Grenfell Tower fire and
contributed to a recipe book
backed by Meghan.
In their statement on
Wednesday, the duke and
duchess also said they would be
adopting a “revised media
approach”, engaging with
“grassroots media
organisations” and using their
Instagram account, which has
more than 10 million followers,
to “personally share moments in
their lives directly with members
of the public”.
The Royal Family was said to
be “hurt” at the couple’s
announcement about their plans
to step back as senior royals.
Palace sources have told BBC
royal correspondent Jonny
Dymond that Prince Harry and
Meghan did not consult any
other royal about making their
personal statement.
There had been talks within
the Royal Family about the
Sussexes’ future - but they were
at an early stage, he said.
In their announcement on
Wednesday evening, Prince
Harry and Meghan revealed
they intend “to step back as
‘senior’ members of the Royal
Family, and work to become
financially independent”.
They plan to split their time
between the UK and North
America, while “continuing to
honour our duty to the Queen,
the Commonwealth, and our
patronages”.
The decision came “after many
months of reflection and internal
discussions”, they added.
Despite the couple’s decision,
Harry will remain sixth in line to
the throne.
Former royal press secretary
Dickie Arbiter said attempting to
be “half in and half out” of the
Royal Family had been tried
•Harry and Meghan in Canada
before 30 years ago by the Earl
and Countess of Wessex and “it
didn’t work”.
The pair both experienced
difficulties pursuing careers in the
private sector and are now fulltime
“working royals”.
“You’re either a royal or you’re
not a royal - you can’t have one
leg in one camp and another leg
in another camp,” Mr Arbiter
said, adding that Prince Harry
had a number of senior roles
which could not be done in a
“half-hearted way”.
US President Donald
Trump told Fox News he
thought the announcement from
Harry and Meghan was “sad”.
He said: “I don’t want to get into
the whole thing, I just have such
respect for the Queen, it shouldn’t
be happening to her.”
Last October, Prince Harry and
Meghan publicly revealed their
struggles under the media
spotlight .
After returning to the UK after
their six-week break in Canada
on Tuesday, Harry, 35, and
Meghan, 38, visited Canada’s
High Commission in London to
thank the country for hosting
them and said the warmth and
hospitality they had received was
“unbelievable”.
Former actress Meghan, who is
American, lived and worked in
Toronto during her time starring
in the popular US drama Suits,
and she has several Canadian
friends.
The pair were already
preparing to launch their own
Sussex Royal charity, which they
set up after splitting from the
Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge’s foundation in June
last year.
It was revealed in December the
couple had made an application
to trademark their Sussex Royal
brand across a string of items
including books, calendars,
clothing, charitable fundraising,
education and social care services.
•Source: BBC

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 19
Rebuild Ile-Arugbo
for us, aged
women beg
Gov Abdulrazaq
*Say ’It’s our symbol of hope’
BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI
The last may not have been heard
of Ile-Arugbo, aged peoples
home, a building belonging to
the late elder statesman, Chief Olusola
Saraki, which was demolished by
Kwara State government.
Last Friday, hundreds of aged women
converged on an expansive land
opposite the GRA, Iloffa residence of
the late politician in Ilorin.
The women who are not just
supporters of the senior Saraki, but
also followers of his
son, former Senate
President, Bukola
Saraki, gathered to
demand that Ile-
Arugbo be rebuilt.
The new place of
convergence is a stone
throw from the
demolished Ile-Arugbo
where they usually
assembled to be taken
care of.
Sunday Vanguard
recalls that the
property was
demolished in the wee
hours of last week
Wednesday by the state
government.
The place, for many
years, had served as
the home of the charity
gestures the Saraki
extend to elderly
women weekly.
I have been
following
Baba Saraki
for more than
40 years.
After his
death, Bukola
took over the
responsibility
of taking care
of us
The practice which outlived the late
senior Saraki is being sustained by
former Senate President.
Sunday Vanguard learned that some
beneficiaries of the charity do not have
children to care for them.
In Ile-Arugbo, where they converge
weekly, they found hope and succour.
At the new place where they gathered
last Friday, the women, pleaded with
Kwara State governor, Abdulrahaman
Abdulrazaq, who they said ordered the
demolition, to rebuild the structure.
Coordinator of the women, Razaq
Aladie, pleaded that another Ile-
Arugbo be erected, adding that the
demolished bungalow was a symbol
of hope to them.
Symbol of hope
He said: “Senator Bukola Saraki has
made taking care of the aged women
easy for us. We need to be careful with
them. We are also patient
in the course of taking
care of them. Most of
them don’t have sound
health again. We are
always careful. The
demolition of Ile- Arugbo
is a development. They
slept there for more than
a week because they see
the Ile-Arugbo as their
own house, not that
of Baba Saraki.’’
One of the women,
Abeebat Suleiman, who
is in her 70s, urged the
state governor to
consider Saraki as his
brother, not a political
opponent.
Abandoned us
According to her:”I am
not literate but I have
native intelligence and
common sense. I have
been following Baba
Saraki for more than 40 years and he
assisted us until he died. That was
when money had value. .He never
forsook us in his lifetime. He used to
give us clothes and food. When Baba
was aged he called Bukola and handed
us over to him.
“Since then he has been taking care
*The late Chief Olusola Saraki
of us even more than his father. If it
were to be another son, he would have
abandoned us since his father is no
more but Bukola never did that. I took
care of my children and sent them to
school from the proceeds of the things
given to me by the Saraki. He sent me
to Saudi Arabia on a holy pilgrimage.
“I was here when Ile -Arugbo was
demolished. They tear-gassed us. I
have not been feeling fine till date.
Governor Abdulrazaq should leave
Ile-Augbo for us. He should join
hands with Bukola and work for the
progress of Kwara. Both of them are
from Ilorin. They should come
together and work for the progress of
Kwara State.’’
Very painful
Another woman, Rachael Adebayo,
who claimed to hail from Iyin Ekiti,
the town of the late Gen Adeyinka
Adebayo, made a similar plea.
She said: “I am from Iyin Ekiti, the
town of Adeyinka Adebayo. I have
been following him from the time of
Adamu Attah. What Baba Saraki has
done for Ilorin, is huge. Bukola sent
me to Jerusalem on a holy pilgrimage
in 2009. Since I returned from the
pilgrimage he hasn’t stopped taking
care of us. The demolition was painful
*Sen Bukola Saraki
for me. The government should help
us reconstruct Ile-Arugbo.’’
Governor Muhammed Lawal
An octogenarian, Saratu Raheem,
said: “I have been following Baba
Saraki for more than 40 years. After
his death, Bukola took over the
responsibility of taking care of us. He
has been giving us clothes, food and
money like his father. Every week, he
gives us money, food, and clothes. All
his aides whom he sent are also taking
very good care of us. Governor
Abdulrazaq should leave Ile Arugbo
alone. As tough as it was during the
era of the late Governor Muhammed
Lawal, nobody demolished Ile-
Arugbo.’’
N2000 monthly
Mrs.Sarah Adebayo, said: “Saraki sent
me to Israel on a holy pilgrimage.
There was no political trip that Baba
embarked upon that I did not make.
After his death, his son, Bukola Saraki
continued taking care of us. He gives
us N2000 monthly. When I heard
about the demolition on radio, I wept.
When my children asked me what
happened, I told them that
government has demolished our
father’s house. We are the ones using
it, not Saraki.’’

PAGE 20 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020
Does your foreplay turn your wife off?
Ike was feeling damned
pleased with himself. As he
parked the car, he whistled
a cheerful tune, gathered the
‘treat’ he’d bought for his family
and trotted to his flat. Amidst
squeals of welcome from his kids,
he dolled out his presents, meat
pies and doughnuts for the kids,
a peppered quarter chicken for
his wife, Remi, and of course, the
same piece of chicken for himself
too. Remi sighed. She knew what
would follow. She would be expected
to fry chips to go along
with the ‘treats’so that she would
spend less time on the family dinner.
Her husband would then
wash his chicken and chips down
with a big bottle of stout and she
would be expected to do the same
with a small stout of her own.
The next stage would be the
bedroom. Naturally, Ike would
have had a shower and as soon
as Remi got into bed he would
pounce on her. “It is nice to feel
wanted by your husnand but sex
should not be a routine,”Remi
sighed. “Ike would deftly put out
the light, reach for my nipples and
kneed them in turn and expect
me to be instantly aroused. But it
is always irritating. I hate my nipples
to be twiddled and if my
husband wants sex, I want to be
flattered by being asked.
“On days when I’m not in the
mood and I tell him so, he looks
so wounded that I feel guilty. Unfortunately,
I seldom initiate sex.
When I do, it is the same hasty
preamble before he goes into the
real thing. After doing it the predictable
way all these years, sex
with my husband has become a
necessary evil. I have to grimace
and bear it.”
Unfortunately, a lot of men believe
that as long as you can make
a go of love-making for sway 10
to 15 minutes non-stop, you are
a super stud. Recounting a recent
experience when he met a married
legal practitioner, at a conference,
Bernard, another lawyer
who delivered a paper said.
“Don’t let me bore you with details.
The chemistry when we met,
was right and we both found ourselves
in bed in her hotel room
on her own turf so to speak. She
was the most liberated woman I’d
ever seen. I switched off the bed
side light so that only the TV light
was on and we made what I
thought was beautiful love.”
“You make love beautifully,”she
said and I glowed only for her to
crash my ego by adding “for yourself.
Now make love for me. “I
looked at her a bit puzzled. “You
did not say a word about how beautiful
you thought my body was or
how tantalising you found parts of
my body. Do you read the Bible
often? You’ve read the Songs of
Solomon and the bit about ‘How
beautiful are thy breasts, like twin
doves?”If a man could be as romantic
as that all those centuries
back, then why are you making
love mechanically? Is that how you
make love to your wife?” ”Leave
my wife out of this,”I spat at her. I
was enraged. But she assured me
she meant no harm. She was happily
married to a sexually adventurous
man but their works kept
them apart for long periods and
she was sure her husband too took
his pleasures wherever he could
find them. “And he doesn’t mind
the possibility of your sleeping
around, “ I was a bit curious but
she flarred up: ‘So it is alright for
him and not for me?
“That’s what all husbands want
to believe. Even so, I act with discretion
and I have never endangered
his good name. In public, I
am a loving and devoted wife.
Take the two of us as being together
now, for instance. It is no
more than a diversion as far as I
am concerned. You live in Lagos,
I am based in Benin, we
might never meet again. So
you’d better make the most of
this opportunity so you could go
back to your wife and show her
what real love-making is all
about. I mean if your performance
now is what you’d been offering
her all your married life,
I bet she must be feeling sexually
frustrated by now.”
“I was far from feeling humiliated.
I wanted to learn if she was
willing to teach me. For the remaining
days of the conference,
we were almost inseparable.
Every time we tried anything
new, I would think how my wife
would feel if I tried it on her. The
last night of the conference, on
our way to the end of conference
banquet, she dragged me to one
of the hotel shops and asked me
to buy a present for my wife. I
looked around the shop, lost.
The items were ridiculously expensive,
I made to pick a nice
looking inexpensive scarf but she
steered me away from that and
picked a bottle of perfume that cost
over N10,000. I looked alarmed
but she said I should trust her, it
would be worth it. Women like to
be surprised by very feminine
gifts. Our last night was a memorable
experience and as she left
my room, she said I shouldn’t
bother to see her in the morning
as her husband would be sending
a driver. So that was it. But
she was worth my meeting her.
To me, it was an honour.
“My wife’s eyes nearly dropped
off when I gave her the present
when I got back home. She
thanked me with my favourite
meal and when we got to the bedroom,
I didn’t switch off the lights
or anything of the sort. Of course,
I wasn’t as crazy as to put her
through all the things I had learnt
about sex from my trip, but over
the next few weeks I did. In the
end, she told me she was sure I
had a bit on the side when I went
away for the conference but that
she didn’t mind. It was a small
price to pay for the sexual pleasures
we now enjoy. A small miracle
don’t you think? What married
couples should realize, however,
is that erotic life of people
who have been married for years
is bound to be a bit humdrum.
“After all,” said a “happily married”
lady, “it’s been sealed off
from outside influence for too
long.”
Sometimes it seems to me that
a long-standing sexual relationship
becomes like a diplomatic
treaty between two hostile countries,
the boundaries get frought
over and marked out – no French
kissing in the morning, no nudity
except in semi-darkness, no
excessive fondling of breasts and
once these terms have been laid
down, it’s impossible to renegotiate
them. At least, not without a
violent struggle. Happily, a lot of
couples make the effort of bringing
romance back to their marriage,
an almost impossible feat
after the trauma of raising kids
and holding down jobs. But if you
don’t make time for love, come
retirement age when you finally
have time, the magic would have
been gone.
Love Conquers All?!
(Humour)
One cold evening, an elderly
couple wander into a fast-food restaurant.
As the young families
look on, the old gent walks up to
the counter, orders a meal and
then pays. Taking a seat next to
his wife, he slowly unwraps the
plain burger and cuts it into two
– placing one half in front of his
beloved. Then he carefully divides
the fries into two piles – one
for him, one for her. As the man
takes a few bites of hamburger,
the crowd began to get restless –
this is obviously a couple who’ve
been together for decades, and
all they can afford is a single
meal.
Eventually, a young on-looker
walks over and offers to buy another
meal.’’ We’re just fine,
thanks’’ says the pensioenr. ‘’ After
50 years, we’re used to sharing
everything.’’ Then the young
man notices that the little old lady
hasn’t eaten a bite of her portion.
Instead, while her husband wolfs
down his half, she sits and occasionally
sips the drink. ‘’Ma’am,’’
says the young chap,. ‘’Why
aren’t you eating? Your husband
says you share everything. What
are you waiting for?’’ Over hornrimmed
glasses, she looks back
at him. ‘’ The teeth,’’ she says.
Y
OUR column to express your loving
thoughts in words to your
sweetheart. Don’t be shy. Let it flow
and let him or her know how dearly you feel.
Write now in not more than 75 words to: The
Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007,
Apapa, Lagos. E.mail:
sundaylovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark
your envelope: “LOVE NOTES"
Butterflies
He assaults my senses all day long,
Sometimes i feel like I'm insane,
I can no longer keep control of me,
My restless soul can no longer keep
calm,
My nervous heart is almost breaking
down,
Feelings for you summersaults in me all
day long,
My body longs for your touch,
I no longer feel like myself,
I'm screaming in my head i Want out,
I want control of myself,
I want out from these crazy feelings,
I want out from these crazy feelings of
you.
Omokeni Gold
mizjin.samson@gmail.com
Resolutions
I wonder if time moves like you move
I move in you and see all days and seasons
How young and old and same I have become
Many pleasant times in depressing times
In incontinences, in memories, in nostalgia…
I live through you till I go to my sober place
And I will meet you again and again
In the same day and season and time
What has changed? What have I become?
Kingsley Alumona
kingsley.alumona@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 21
S p o n s o r s h i p /
Networking
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DISCLAIMER!
Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in
or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does
so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.
Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of
requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore
request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to
enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For
enquiries, text or call 08026651636, or 08054700825
widower who has a good heart,
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healthy, tall, handsome,
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COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVEL
VELTY BASED SOLUTION (ADVER
VERTORIAL)
Hello. Should I be worried
when I experience painful
urination? It comes and
goes sometimes but the
one I am feeling today has
persisted – Paul
It could be anything from
urinary tract infection to a
more serious form of STD. In
any case, there is no need for
guess work. Go and see a doctor.
If necessary, he will
recommend that you run some
tests to find out exactly what is
going on with you – Uche
I was at your website
yesterday and saw that
vibrator that looks like
corn. I like it and I want it
delivered to Kano. Is it
possible? – Sarah
Of course. We deliver all over
Nigeria to any destination of
your choosing – Uche
I find that whenever I
have intercourse with my
wife and I climax, it takes
a long time for me to get
the energy and erection to
have sex again. I don’t like
that it takes this long. Why
does that happened and
how can I put an end to it?
- Kunle
I understand. This happens to
some people. After the first
round of sex, sometimes it
takes the body a while to get
energy and a firm erection for
subsequent intercourse
sessions. But there are
supplements that can help you
with that. FX 75000 and
African Superman pills for
instance do just that. They give
the energy and instant
erections for multiple rounds
of intercourse. They also enable
you last longer and enlarge the
penis. So you can try that – Uche
My rabbit vibrator fell
down some time ago and
stopped working. I need
another really good rabbit
vibrator – Ify
Okay. You have lots of options.
You can take the new Ridged
Beige Rabbit or the Classic
Rabbit Vibrator, amongst
others - Uche
Hello sir, I am sorry that I
didn’t call to thank you
after you helped me in
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mind. Apologies. The Max
Man Delay Cream has
helped me last longer
during intercourse. I am
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Madame – Simon
You are welcome – Uche
At 54 years of age, I no
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My husband is 52 and is
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know what I mean. I need
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As we age, our sexual hunger
diminishes but it can be revived.
Get G Female Tablets
supplement and an arousal gel
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I am diabetic and I never
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supplement Rhino 7 until I
tried it. I am so hard that I
can satisfy five women at
the same time – Adebayo
Rhino 7 is very good and the
demand for it keeps rising. I am
happy you got to experience
how good it is – Uche
Ever since I was young, I
have always thought my
penis will grow as I grew
but it has not grown much.
I want it enlarged. The size
is embarrassing – Emeka
Sure. A combination of the Max
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Use as directed and use regularly.
Within four to ix months, you will
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Please I need a realistic
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Ask for the Veined Realistic
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I find it hard to act like I enjoy
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Sometimes sex is dry and
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Vaginal dryness typically holds
women back from wanting sex
and enjoying it. But it can be
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Ask for Warm Thermal
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That is all for today. Adults in need
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- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual
Media.

PAGE 22— SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
By Josephine Agbonkhese
08054650907
Email: jossynovia@gmail.com
OBASI, NIGERIA’S
2ND FEMALE VC:
Proving her
mettle
The Vice-Chancellor, VC, Imo State
University, Professor Victoria Adaobi
Obasi, is the first woman to
superintend over a state university in
Nigeria and the second woman to ever hold
the position of VC in Nigeria after Prof
Grace Alele Williams of the University of
Benin broke that jinx in 1985.
A go-getter, Obasi had served at different
times as Commissioner for Education and
then Commissioner for Local Government
and Rural Development in Imo State. In
2012, she was adjudged ‘Best
Commissioner of the Year’ in the state.
The passionate educationist who began
her higher education at the prestigious
Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri,
where she bagged a Certificate in
Education, proceeded to the University Of
Hull, England, where she obtained a
Bachelor’s degree in education in 1984,
Master’s in 1985 and a PhD in 1989.
While at the University of Hull, her sterling
performance earned her the Bursary Award
for three consecutive times.
A prolific writer, Obasi has authored
several books and articles in different
national and international journals.
She is a member of various professional
organisations including the Nigeria
Academy of Education, NAE; Fellow of the
Curriculum Organisation of Nigeria,
FCON, and Fellow of the Gender Studies
Association of Nigeria, FGSAN. She shares
her experiences with AMAZON.
et us start from the beginning of
Lyour tenure as VC up till now. How
has it been as a woman superintending
over a university?
I came in as Acting Vice-Chancellor
and, by the grace of God, was elevated as
substantive Vice-Chancellor. I would not
be fair to myself if I say I have not
encountered challenges. We are living in
a man’s world, so, no matter how hard a
woman tries to showcase herself in
whatever position she occupies, it may
seem as if she is not proving her mettle. I
have had my ups and downs, but stood as
the Rock of Gibraltar because the
position I occupy is built on God. So, it
can only be God who has seen me through
all the achievements I have accomplished
thus far. I have moved the university to an
enviable level since I came on board.
Cultism has abated on campus. The
university is a beehive of construction
activities. Staff members receive their
salaries as and when due. Promotions are
released. There is job satisfaction among
staff members. Students’ complaints are
given prompt attention. There is harmony
between management, staff members and
labour unions on campus while we give
our best on corporate social
responsibility regardless of our lean
resources. To crown it all, we have enjoyed
academic and administrative tranquility
since I assumed office. If there are
challenges, they are minimal as we have
individual differences and being human,
we will always disagree to agree.
In what other ways will you say your
administration has made a major
difference in Imo State University?
Management, in conjunction with the
Senate of the university, has prepared a
new Code of Conduct for staff members
of the university to engender maximum
input into the system. I am tackling the
issue of sorting and sexual harassment
and other matters that are detrimental to
the goals and objectives the university
stands for. Anyone found guilty shall be
shown the way out. New faculty
complexes are completed while some are
nearing completion. When all the
complexes are completed, they will raise
our carrying
capacity and, in
addition, change
the skyline and
ambience of the
university.
TETFund’s
intervention
Already, the
university has one
of the best Senate
Administrative
Buildings with a
well-spaced and
equipped Senate
C h a m b e r .
TETFund has
greatly assisted us
on staff
development as
some of our
academic staff
members have
embarked on
studies abroad to
u p g r a d e
themselves. We
have entered into
l i n k a g e
programmes with
f o r e i g n
universities and,
in conjunction
with the Chinese
E m b a s s y ,
We are living in a
man’s world, so,
no matter how
hard a woman tries
to showcase
herself in whatever
position she
occupies, it may
seem as if she is
not proving her
mettle
mounted a Chinese Language Learning
Centre in our university. This makes us
one of the ten universities in Nigeria
running the programme. Staff members
of the university have keyed into the
Contributory Pension Scheme awaiting
•Prof Victoria
Adaobi Obasi
government to do the needful by paying
the percentage accruable to them to
complete the cycle of the Pension Scheme.
The founding fathers established the
university as non-residential, but that has
changed as we can boast of two female
hostels built by TETFund and a male
hostel courtesy of Niger Delta
D e v e l o p m e n t
Commission, NDDC.
We have quality
academic and nonteaching
staff members
who are working round
the clock to achieve the
vision and mission of the
founding fathers of the
university to provide
quality education to all
who desire and are
qualified.
What were the goals
you set for yourself upon
assumption of office and
how much of them have
you achieved?
One of our goals is to
ensure that there is
adequate infrastructure
for teaching, learning and
research. I want to ensure
that during my tenure and
beyond, our university is
ranked among the best in
the world. My resolve is
to see that staff members
are motivated to put in
their best, and to keep the
system running and
contribute to the making
of our institution one of
the best. I want to leave
the university better than
I met it and, with the type
of lieutenants I have, the dream of
repositioning our university is what each
and every one of them carries like a cross.
Our desire is to be the best and turn out
the graduates that can compete with their
counterparts from top universities
anywhere across the world.
Funding is always a big problem in
universities. How do you cope?
Funding is crucial to the survival of any
university. Dearth of funding impairs dayto-day
activities of any university. I
implore our financiers to do the needful
by releasing funds for teaching, learning
and research purposes for which the
university is established.
If the university is adequately funded,
we will break many grounds in research
to strive to be among the Ivy League
universities in the world. Entrepreneurs
who love education should join in the
provision of infrastructure in tertiary
institutions.
I need to extol TETFund for their
interventions in various universities
through the provision of buildings,
equipment of laboratories, etc.
Students can sometimes be unruly;
what has been your experience with
them?
My students are my children. What I
wish for my children is also what I wish
for them. They should not be lost in the
maze of societal challenges like ‘Yahoo
Yahoo’, prostitution, cultism,
examination misconduct or actions that
are inimical to the completion of the
programmes that brought them to the
university. The sky should not only be their
limit but their launch pad to greater
success. They should take their studies
seriously and refrain from ‘sorting’
because this is a lazy student’s way of
cutting comers to graduate. They should
be proud of earning their certificates to
complete the mantra of being worthy in
learning and in character. Our students
should, at all times, remember the motto
of Imo State University which is
‘Excellence in Service’ so that at the end
of their stay in the university, they will
become worthy ambassadors of their
alma mater.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 23
Sex for favours: A brazen divorcee’s therapy
Glory was only nine
years married when
the whole union
came crashing round her
ears. "I’d always had problems
with my mother-inlaw,’
she said. “Lukman, my
husband, wasn’t an only
child, nor the first son. He
must have been the only one
his mother could easily
wound round her scheming
fingers.
“She took instant dislike to
me right from the moment
we were introduced and
sneered at the part of the
country I came from. To put
her down a peg or two, I told
her how much my family
had achieved in the past and
the type of plum job I had.
That sort of got her goat. She
must have guessed that I
earned more than her
golden boy did, and became
even more resentful of what
she called my extravagant
taste. She couldn’t stop the
marriage as I was already
pregnant but she used every
opportunity she had to run
me down. I felt like beating
her up. Lukman was torn between
the two of us and refused
to take sides. My patience
finally snapped the
day she criticized my cooking.
I’d just had my second
son and she’d come to stay
with us under the pretext of
helping with the baby.
“I’d sent the maid to the
market and her ladyship
chose that time to demand
for her food. I grudgingly
made the amala she wanted,
but she jabbed at the stuff
and grumbled it was hard
and lumpy. That was when I
really lost it. I rounded on
her and called her an interfering
witch. The more
shocked she was at my expletives,
the more I tore
into her. She looked really
frightened at a point and I
threatened that if she
didn’t give me peace in my
marital home, I would
beat her up.
“When Lukman came
home, she started ranting
and it was my turn to look
aghast. I completely denied
her allegations. It was
my word against hers and
my husband didn’t know
who to believe. In the end,
I convinced her to go back
to her husband’s home -
that I was quite capable of
looking after myself and
the kids.”
“Her attack on me whenever
she visited became so
vitriolic that I got fed up
with her and her son who
was always making excuses
for her. When I discovered
she’d successfully convinced
Lukman to take a
second wife in their home
town, I simply washed my
hands off the whole family
and moved to a flat with my
two sons. Thanks to my
mother-in-law, the breakup
was really messy and
Lukman disappeared from
our lives. The emotional
trauma of the break-up of
my marriage was hard
enough, let alone having to
look after two boisterous
boys. Because I’d pilled on
the flab, my self-esteem
took a nose-dive until Joy,
my best friend, decided I
had to have my life back. I
started going to the gym
with her, lost a bit of weight
and actually got promoted
at work.
“My confidence came
back in leaps and bounds -
so did my libido. Lukman
had always complimented
me on being highly sexual
and experimental in bed.
Girls from my part of the
country usually are, though
when I’m in a relationship,
I seldom stray. Now that I’d
done without for close to a
year, my sex-drive was back
with a vengeance. So when
next a banker at the gym
made a play for me, I encouraged
him. He was
married so we both knew
what we would be in the relationship
for. The day he
paid me a visit at the flat,
my two sons were fast
asleep in their room. I let it
slip that I would need a few
things in the house - like a
good freezer, a good airconditioner
and maybe a
new set of furniture so I
could throw away the castoffs
from my matrimonial
home. That the least I was
reminded of my disastrous
marriage, the quicker it
would be for me to move on.
“A couple more visits later,
he called the house to ask
which of the items I regarded
as priority so they
could be delivered. I chose
the freezer and the air-conditioners.
They were delivered
within a week. We’d
kissed a few times but hadn’t
gone all the way. After his
gifts, I led him straight to
my bedroom and lust took
over. When he left, I felt
elated - I’d finally broken the
jinx with marital sex and my
fling gave me the confidence
that regardless of my being
a divorcee, I was still an attractive
woman who respectable
men found sexy.
“In the meantime, in spite
of my promotion, running a
home alone wasn’t a breeze.
It was an effort to get
Lukman to pay the kids’
school fees, on top of which
I had to put food on the table,
maintain the car and a
cranky generating set. That
was when it dawned on me I
could actually make the
men in my life contribute to
things needed in the house
no matter in whatever
shape. So I started socializing
more and invested in
trendy clothes. I looked out
for men who had good jobs
and weren’t bad looking. I’d
discovered that asking a
man outright for cash handouts
could make you look
cheap. But if you wine about
going without vital fixtures
in the house, they were always
eager to help. It sort of
brings out the chivalry in
them.
“My next lover actually
owned a furniture factory.
He willingly gave me a posh
suit of furniture but the mean
fellow carted away my old
ones. He was a nice man in
his 40s. It was obvious he
had great love and respect
for his wife but after they’d
had their fourth child,
she’d lost interest in making
love. He said he missed
the sex and didn’t want to
be made to feel like a
money-machine. So I pampered
him with good home
cooking and he always
brought lovely South African
wine to go with the
meals. The only problem
about him is that he did his
talking after sex, but I just
shrugged and humoured
him. I wasn’t on the lookout
for a husband!
“Over the months, I’ve
met quite a number of generous
men - and one or two
who thought they could
take me for a ride. I will stop
when I find a man I can really
share my life with, after
all, I’m not 40 yet. In the
meantime, I’m not
ashamed of what I’m doing.
It never feels like prostitution
- more like an amicable
exchange between two
consenting adults. You’d be
surprised at how many
women do what I do - and
get away with it.”
The breaker of shackles
I am not free while any
woman is unfree, even when
her shackles are very different
from my own.
These words from the
late Audre Lourde, Af
rican-American poet
and activist, have served not
only as a passionate statement
from an individual feminist activist,
over the years, they have
become a warning and reality
check for those who claim to
be concerned about improving
Loud Whispers
With
Erelu Bisi Fayemi
Oluwaseyi Gabrielle Ojo (1979-2019)
•The late Oluwaseyi Ojo
the status of women. As in
other social movements, the
privileged minority have an
obligation to use their access
to leverage a better deal for
the majority. A lack of understanding
of this responsibility
is what breeds insensitivity,
disconnection, a lack of
solidarity and ultimately,
failure to achieve a common
purpose.
Seyi Gabrielle Ojo was
well and truly aware of this
responsibility. As a young, female
Lawyer, Seyi Ojo did
not need to heap the problems
of other women on her
head. She had choices, a hallmark
of her class and position
in society. Many women
in our communities do not
have such choices, and even
when they are able to exercise
their rights to choose,
societal pressures and patriarchal
oppression push them
into poor choices. Seyi spent
her time and resources ensuring
that women and their
children had affirming
choices. Following the wise
words of Audre Lourde, Seyi
understood that while she enjoyed
freedoms based on her
education and class, it was not
worthwhile unless she applied
it to helping other women remove
their shackles. Every
woman living in a patriarchal
society has shackles, they just
happen to be different based
on education, age, class, marital
status, physical ability,
geographical location and so
on.
I first met Seyi Ojo during
the JKF1 years (2010-2014)
but we did not work together
then. In December 2018, during
the 16 Days of Activism
Against Gender Based Violence
Campaign, I organized
a forum to look at what had
happened in Ekiti State since
the passing of the first Gender
Based Violence Prohibition
Law of 2011. Seyi Ojo
was one of the resource persons
at the forum, and she gave
a very inspiring presentation.
Shortly after the event, the
Ekiti State Attorney-General,
Hon. Wale Fapounda, told me
he was going to second someone
to manage the dozens of
Even though I know
our loss is heaven’s
gain, the pain of
losing Seyi is almost
unbearable. In her
short sojourn on
earth, Seyi managed
to do so much for so
many
requests I get on a weekly basis
to help intervene in one
GBV related case or the other.
When the AG showed up with
Seyi Ojo, I was very pleased
to have such a knowledgeable
and dedicated person on my
team. The Gender and Vulnerable
Persons Unit that
Seyi coordinated did amazing
work in a very short space
of time. Seyi handled each assignment
with determination,
grace and focus. She supervised
a team of volunteers who
helped with the cases, she facilitated
mediation and counselling
sessions, she was a credible
link with the law enforcement
officers, and she also diligently
followed up on cases
for prosecution. In addition,
she cared for the children and
young people who are often
the casualties when relationships
break down, or who were
targets of abuse themselves.
You could not ask for a better
champion of the rights of
young girls. As a professional,
Seyi was on top of her game.
It is one thing to be a good
professional. It is another to
be a good person. Seyi was
more than good, she was the
best. Kind, caring, insightful,
reflective, generous, I could
go on and on. Seyi possessed
both external and internal
beauty. Even though she ran
into many challenges and had
to battle backlash from those
who felt exposed by her actions,
Seyi was not deterred,
all these served to strengthen
and energise her. She had a
warm, open and charming
disposition, which endeared
her not only to me but to all
her peers and juniors in the
office. I will be forever grateful
to Seyi for the role she
played in ensuring that the
Ekiti GBV Law of 2011 was
replaced with a stronger,
more comprehensive law in
October 2019. Even though
God only brought Seyi my
way for exactly one year, it
feels as if she had been with
me for ten times that amount
of time. No task was too much
trouble for Seyi, nothing was
beneath her, and she paid impeccable
attention to detail.
Seyi was the kind of staff
member you could assign a
task to and sleep soundly,
knowing it was in safe hands.
In the evening, my senior
staff team would jockey
amongst themselves to try
and see me for one thing or
the other. I always gave Seyi
priority because I knew she
was working on time-sensitive
cases. If I could not attend
to her immediately, I
would ask her to come back
so I could give her my undivided
attention. It will feel
very strange not seeing Seyi’s
smiling face waiting outside
my door, alongside Tokunbo
Gbadamosi, Bolaji Olagbaju,
Bunmi Alonge, Bunmi
Obanise and Remi Ajayi
Babington all teasing and
laughing, insisting on a right
to see me first. I have lost a
cherished younger sister. I
have lost a dear friend. I have
lost a beloved colleague. I
have lost a devoted cheerleader.
I have lost a trusted adviser.
I have lost a passionate
team member who understood
my ideals and vision.
Even though I know our loss
is heaven’s gain, the pain of
losing Seyi is almost unbearable.
In her short sojourn on
earth, Seyi managed to do so
much for so many. Seyi had
no closing hours, her task of
breaking the shackles of others
was a 24/7 one. Going
back to Audre Lorde’s words,
it is as if Seyi lived by them,
‘Life is very short and what we
have to do must be done in the
now’. Thank you Seyi, for the
many things you taught me.
Thank you for the joy and
satisfaction you brought to
those around you. Thank
you for all your hard work
and sacrifices, expecting
nothing in return, only to
see justice done. Rest in
peace my beloved Seyi. You
will be forever in our hearts.
Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is
a Gender Specialist, Social
Entrepreneur and
Writer. She is the Founder
of Abovewhispers.com, an
online community for
women. She can be
reached
at
BAF@abovewhispers.com

PAGE 24 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
Prosperity preachers
will go to hell
— Evangelist
Omolehin
BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI
•Evangelist Isaac Omolehin
Evangelist Isaac Omolehin, Founder of
the Word Commission International
along Ajase-Ipo Road, Ilorin Kwara
State capital, is an accomplished man of God.
His humanitarian activities, without
financial support from anywhere, to say the
least, are legendary.
Other segments of the Commission include
the Word Assembly, the Word Commission
International Charities and schools.
Omolehin also caters for old people and
operates a rehabilitation centre for mentally
challenged people.
His ministry is pure rural evangelism with
deliberate attention on charity and,
practically, the meeting of the needs of the
underprivileged the best way he could.
The cleric, in his 60s and who studied animal
science at University of Ilorin, started his
ministry over 40 years ago in Ilorin where he
had lived all his life though he is from
neighboring Kogi State.
Speaking in an interview in his office,
Omolehin gave graphic details of lives God
had used him and his ministry to change for
the best, backing his claims with pictures, and
many publications over the years.
He recalled communities in Kwara that
needed water and he dug bore holes for them,
adding that the ministry had been taking care
of aged people abandoned by relations, and
babies abandoned on the streets, while some
were brought by prostitutes.
‘’In a number of communities, demons
causing deaths left because I
sank boreholes there. A mad
woman walking the streets of
Ilorin naked was picked and
rehabilitated in our
rehabilitation center.
“She had trekked to Ilorin
from Ibadan, mad. Now she
is well and is a mother of
three who now runs a mini
supermarket in Ibadan”, the
cleric said.
“A number of elderly
people have been abandoned
by their sons and daughters
as a result of family disputes.
Some have been accused by
their children of witchcraft
and other conditions for
which they are abandoned.
‘’We have a team of women
that visits them in their
homes, wash their clothes,
make their hair, cook their
meals and also keep their
companies to reduce
loneliness.
‘’The situation we found in
different homes impressed it on us to build a
place where we can bring them into, so that
The cleric
recalled how a
prostitute came
to drop her baby
with the ministry
because she
was disturbing
her business.
they can have access to regular light and water
as well as medical care in our hospital”.
The cleric recalled how a prostitute came to
drop her baby with the ministry because she
was disturbing her business.
“A prostitute who came to drop her five years
old daughter with us in the orphanage said
she did not want the girl to be spoilt, that the
single room where she was doing her business
was also the place where she lived with the
girl and the girl was beginning to see things
she will not like her to know about”, he stressed.
“If a customer came and she asked the girl
to go and play, she would soon return to knock
saying ‘I have played finish’. So, we took the
girl as we also continually taught the mother
about human dignity. She has since changed
to live a more fulfilled life taking to alternative
business of selling recharge cards’’.
Omolehin also said that the assembly also
takes care of the widows, beggars and the
needy.
He said, “Many widow need care. We cook
for the poor and beggars every Saturday. We
give packs of rice to widows at 19 Ajase-Ipo
Road annex of Hope Motherless Babies
Home International once a month.
“We share rice to widows at Iluke, Kogi State.
Once every month we also share rice to widows
in Ihima, Kogi State, Osi and Obbo Aiyegunle
in Kwara State once every year.
“Hundreds are fed weekly, quarterly and
yearly in different locations in Kwara. We
have been feeding poor people in Ilorin for
the past ten years.’’
Omolehin said he had gone for crusade
in Obbo-Ayegunle in Ekiti local
government area of the state, by the
lead of the Holy Spirit when young
people were dying and fasted for 20
days and the strange deaths stopped.
Having observed many jobless
youths when he went for the
crusade at Obbo-Aiyegunle, he
asked for land from the monarch and now
has a big fish farm where those youths are
gainfully employed.
But the evangelist was
particularly dejected that the
more he takes people off the
streets, the more the
prevailing bad leadership
breeds them, and it looks as if
he hasn’t done anything.
He said, “The truth is that I
am not happy because all
these men of God too drive
on the streets, they don’t close
their eyes, they see these things
I am talking about, but they
don’t care.
“If they had done the same
thing like I have been doing
over the years, the crisis we
are having today won’t be as
much as this’’.
He was however happy and
fulfilled that four of his
children are pastors overseas,
and they are doing fine.
He showed pictures of how
he, his wife and aides took the
naked mad woman in
ARMTI area of Ilorin who
trekked for four years from Ibadan to Ilorin
and rehabilitated her.
‘’After she was okay, she took us back to her
house in Ibadan, directing us as we went and,
when we arrived there, the relations told us
she just went out to buy something and she
never came back. Today, she has her own mini
supermarket she is running”, Omolehin said.
He recalled with nostalgia, too, how the
Commission picked abandoned babies from
the streets while some were brought to the
motherless home, numbering 63, “and we fed
them everyday”.
The eclectic Omolehin was optimistic that
the whirlwind preaching for prosperity by
many of the churches in Nigeria has
compounded the problems in the society.
He called prosperity preachers fraudsters
and self-centred people because the money
they keep asking people to bring shows that
they are also needy, and he was also
particularly sad that the wealth is not
beneficial to members of their congregation.
“How would you describe the big churches
whose leaders have private jets and universities
but which members’ children cannot attend
because the varsities are expensive and,
therefore, not meant for them, whereas the
money was generated from members of the
church in the first place?, he asked
Omolehin harped on saving souls through
evangelism, which, he said, is the essence of
Christianity, instead of preaching prosperity.
He noted that the clear departure from
evangelism as was in the days of old is the
genesis of the crisis in our society today.
“In the Bible, the rich man couldn’t abandon
his wealth and follow Jesus when Jesus asked
him to do so because he preferred to have his
wealth and go to hell. If you ask me, those
who are preaching prosperity and misleading
our youths into all manners of short cuts to
sudden wealth won’t make heaven’’, the cleric
said.
He was emphatic that his calling through
evangelism and teaching the word of God was
to take off the streets those who are on the
wrong side of life because of their addiction
to drinking, smoking, adultery and all
manners of social vices.
He said, “And we do this with skills. We let
them see plan B, that their lives could be a lot
better if they abandon this other life. The skills
we are talking about is not about telling them
that smokers would die young, and all that
because they already know that over the years
and still people stick to smoking, so it is not
the option.
“The skills we have been applying have been
compelling them to see the gruesome side,
and the consequence of their addiction, and it
would be gradual until they totally abandon
it’’.
The Gaa Imam community in Ilorin around
where his church is located used to be a
dreaded area to pass when it was getting dark
because of its notoriety for large numbers of
youths who were addicted Indian hemp
smokers.
But peace now reigns in the community
because Omolehin’s Commission has been
able to take away those youths off the streets
and they are now members of his church.
The community head of Gaa Imam though
a Muslim was so elated about this
development that he led a delegation to thank
him and his ministry.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 25
ABODERIN-TALABI:
ALABI:
Why hard work is
not enough for…
Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi is the immediate past Executive Council
Chairperson of Women in Management, Business and Public Service
,WIMBIZ. She is also the Founding Publisher of Clever Clogs Books and
Convener of Akada Children’s Book Festival. In this interview, she shares
her experience as leader of Nigeria’s top female platform dedicated to
inspiring women to attain leadership roles in management, business, and
public service. She also talks about her work as a children’s book author.
BY CHARLES KUMOLU, Deputy Editor
YOU recently concluded your tenure
as the Chairperson of WIMBIZ. How
was it like leading such a group of
accomplished women?
At the beginning of my two-year tenure,
2018 and 2019, my goal was to continue
the excellent legacy of the founders who are
the trustees of the organisation and of my
predecessors on the Executive Council. I set
out to build on the solid foundation I met
which is avidly dedicated to helping women
as they contribute to nation-building. My
goal was to enhance the organisation’s
positive influence in society, strengthen the
programmes we already have, deepen the
involvement of our associates and expand
the scale of our impact. I believe those goals
were achieved. My time as a WIMBIZ
volunteer was an amazing opportunity for
me to learn and grow. I am truly grateful to
have been allowed to lead. It was indeed a
season of firsts and stretch assignments.
During those years our Roundtable
Lunches extended beyond Victoria Island,
Ibadan, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. It
extended to Ikeja, Grand Bonny Kingdom;
Uyo, Akwa Ibom and Accra for the first time.
The Big Sister Programme was taken to
Ogun and Rivers States. Our induction
ceremony to welcome new associates into
WIMBIZ took place not only in Lagos but
Abuja and Port Harcourt for the first time.
We launched regional summits in 2018. The
first two took place in Abuja and Port
Harcourt. We had a social media campaign
to encourage organisations to formulate
and enact a sexual harassment policy if
they did not already have one. We also ran
another social media campaign to
encourage women to run, vote and get
involved in the political process.
Executive conversations
We started Executive Conversations
platform to make sure the associates and
attendees of WIMBIZ events from the early
years have an avenue to meet and exchange
ideas with like-minded peers. Our WIMBIZ
App is now available on iOS as well as
Android
We have done our best to connect our
associates and with those outside their dayto-day
acquaintance, through regular
channels such as our Book Club, and
extraordinary channels such as the
Mentoring Breakfast Meeting with Indra
Nooyi, erstwhile Chairman and CEO of
PepsiCo. We have done our best to advocate
for more women in leadership positions and
innovative investments in people through
WIMBOARD, WIMPOL, CEO/Policy
Maker Interactive Forum. We also
participated in a consultative dialogue
organised by United Nations , UN,
women.
We launched an in-house WIMBOARD
Institute for the first time in 2019, training
women on board operations, principles and
structure; value creation and sound
stewardship; enhancing board
performance and effectiveness and
financial management. We ran two streams
that were both oversubscribed.
We expanded the scope of the WIMPol
initiative to include a town hall meeting
before the general election in February
2019.
We have done our best to EMPOWER
through a star-studded faculty assembled
for the Masterclass on Leadership through
the ever-popular and always
oversubscribed Annual Mentoring
Program; through WIWIC which held at
the University of Jos in 2018 and the
University of Sokoto in 2019. We also
achieved this through WIMCAP, a 2-day
training session for SME owners, which
expanded beyond Victoria Island Lagos, to
reach entrepreneurs in Abuja, Port
Harcourt, Gbagada and Lekki. We have
been able to participate in several research
studies published in 2019 including the
Power of Parity Africa Report 2019 by
McKinsey Global Institute; the Nigerian
SME Survey by PwC and the Women on
Boards Nigeria report by DCSL, IFC, and
IoD. WIMBIZ was also featured in the 2018
Deloitte report on Women in The
Boardroom.
The quantum and the depth of our
programmes, are achievable because of
solid, constant, teamwork involving an
unimaginable amount of time dedicated to
planning, preparing, fine-tuning and
executing all of them.
What inspired the decision to become
a children’s book author?
There are simply not enough custommade
picture books readily available for
children in Nigeria or children of colour
generally, but thankfully that is changing.
In a country of over 170 million people,
when you visit a bookstore you will find
that there are not enough early childhood
books which depict
people who look
like us and things
we appreciate. If
the alphabet charts
in our region were
true to form we
would be seeing A
is for Amala rather
than A is for Apple.
Both are true but
one is more
culturally
intelligent. I am
very interested in
our children
understanding our
values and ideals as
Nigerians from the
moment they can
start to read. This
helps to build up
their self-esteem
and understand
Another big lesson for
me in the past year is
that hard work is not
enough if you can’t
communicate your
vision and inspire
others to work with
you
that there is also worth and great value in
the culture to which they were born.
Furthermore, reading the alarming
contents particularly popular children’s
book by a very prolific European author
was another defining moment for me. I
realised that we can’t let people from other
cultures be the sole influence in shaping
the world view of a child growing up in
Nigeria. We also have to portray our culture
and our values through these books. These
things in part formed my decision to start
writing for children.
•Aboderin - Talabi
Tell us about your latest work, Why Do
You Wash Your Hands?
The book, Why Do You Wash Your Hands?
is an illustrated children’s book that tells
an engaging story about when and why we
wash our hands. Handwashing is a simple
way to avoid communicable diseases and
prevent frequent visits to the hospital. My
book shows young readers and their care
givers at least, 13 different occasions when
they should wash their hands. Why Do You
Wash Your Hands? is also the first
indigenous Nigerian children’s picture book
to come out simultaneously in four
languages: English, Igbo, Hausa, and
Yoruba. In addition, it is the first indigenous,
Nigerian children’s picture book to come
with stickers in four languages. It was
launched during Global Handwashing
Month last October. It is a culturally
relevant, enlightening, and
entertaining book ideal for
parent-child discussions as
well as being excellent
bedtime story material.
Your book “Why Do You
Wash Your Hands?” though
written in native languages
can only be read by
literates. How can nonliterates
be encouraged on
the importance of washing
hands?
People emulate what they
see, but other than that,
there are many
organisations and
government agencies that
are passionate about hand
washing and work
tirelessly to encourage
hygienic habits. These
organisations such as
WaterAid or UNICEF
teach hand washing in
communities not only across the country
but all over the world.
What difficulties have you been confronted
with while writing children’s books?
As a writer of children’s books, one of the
challenges is finding an illustrator who can
interpret, and depict in a child-friendly
manner, what the text is saying. It is also a
challenge to find affordable book printers.
As a publisher, one of the biggest difficulties
is trying to attain profitability in an industry
with razor-thin margins and fierce
competition from cheap imports.
What is your appraisal of the reading
culture in Nigeria?
It is very encouraging. Nigerians love to
read. What we need is better access to books.
It would be great if we could have several
well-stocked, well-maintained public
libraries in every single one of our 774 Local
Government Areas across the country. That
would be a dream-come-true. Pretty much
consistently, I get invited to book readings at
different places in Nigeria. Children want to
read. They love to read. They just need better
access to good quality and relevant books.
How are you managing competition in the
Nigerian children’s book industry?
There are comparatively very few authors
who write specifically for children in Nigeria.
The children’s book industry is decidedly in
its infancy here. To help it grow and develop,
we are seeing cooperation and collaboration
between children’s book authors.
The competition we are seeing that could
potentially drown the local children’s
publishing industry is from the flood of underpriced
imports from countries like India. It is
very tough to compete with import-quality
books retailing at N250 per unit when it costs
more than N650 per unit to produce that same
book locally.
For guardians who seek ways to improve
their children’s reading habits, what advice
do you have for them?
When guardians ask me how they can
encourage their children to read, I tell them
to start reading in front of them. If they start
seeing you read, there is a greater chance they
are likely to want to read too.
Adults should read any place it is safe to do
so and encourage their children to do same.
They should be taken to libraries book
readings and literary festivals. Idle moments
should be converted into reading time. Set
up a reward system for your children
whenever they read books. For younger kids,
simple prizes such as stickers are highly
appreciated. During after school, hours
encourage them to read for fun. Within reason,
let them choose a book that interests them.
Ask them questions about the storyline of their
book, to ensure that they comprehend what
they have read and to improve their critical
reasoning skills. These habits will also help
to improve their vocabulary and grammar
as well as broaden their sense of creativity.

PAGE 26– SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
ALLEGED ROT IN NDDC:
Names of contracts’ beneficiaries
must be published, PANDEF insists
•Says N-Delta govs may have abdicated role in
Commission
By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, Niger
Delta
Deputy National Secretary of Pan Niger Delta
Forum, PANDEF, the umbrella body for monarchs,
leaders and stakeholders of the coastal
states of Niger Delta, Mr Ken Robinson, speaks
on issues in the Niger Delta Development Commission,
NDDC.
Specifically, Robinson asks why governors of
the region have not been playing or allowed to
play their lawful role in the running of the NDDC.
“The NDDC Act provides that there shall a
Niger Delta Development Advisory Committee
referred to as ‘the Advisory Committee’ which
shall consist of the governors of member-states of
the Commission, and two other persons as may
be determined, from time to time, by the President,”
he says in this interview.
“The Advisory Committee is charged with the
responsibility of advising the Board and monitoring
the activities of the Commission, with a
view to achieving the objectives of the Commission.
But the question is, has this been happening?”
Excerpts:
WHAT is PANDEF position on the
standoff in NDDC, where an Interim
Management Committee is in charge and the
Board screened and approved by the Senate
is technically disbanded and not inaugurated?
PANDEF supports the order for a forensic
audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission
by President Muhammadu Buhari. This
position was reached at the end of the Forum’s
National Leadership Retreat held at Uyo, Akwa
Ibom State in October last year.
We, however, further requested that the names
of all beneficiaries of contracts of the Commission
during the period under review should also
be made public, so that the people of the Niger
Delta and Nigerians as whole would know those
who have contributed to the problem of critical
infrastructure in the region. We also asked that
the probe should be extended to all national
and regional interventionist agencies in the
country, like PTDF. PANDEF’s backing of the
probe of the NDDC was informed by the appalling
and rather vexing state of infrastructure
in the region, and the Commission’s failure
to fast-track the development of the region.
The NDDC has been characterized by non-performance,
poor management of resources and
reckless perversion of its set objectives. The region
is littered with abandoned projects; huge
amounts of money are said to have been released
to people for contracts that were never
executed. The forensic audit should, therefore,
be holistic; there should be no sacred cows.
Anyone found wanting, should be made to bear
the consequences of his or her actions or in actions.
Has PANDEF any objection to President
Buhari’s stance that the Board is going to be
reconstituted?
PANDEF has no particular interest in who
becomes Board Chairman, member or Managing
Director of the Niger Delta Development
Commission, provided decisions are made in
line with exact provisions of the law establishing
the Commission. Ourshared concerns are
the socio-economic issues of poverty, youth
unemployment,the dire state of infrastructure
and environmental challenges facing the region.
And the inefficiencies and improprieties
of the interventionist agencies that were established
to address the decades of neglect and
underdevelopment of the region, which is largely
due to government’s indifference to the development
of the region. Recall that in 2016,
unrelenting attacks by aggrieved youths on
Nigeria’s strategic oil and gas installations, the
bulk of which are located in the coastal states
of the Niger Delta region, snowballed into yet
another crisis in the volatile region. At the peak
of the crisis, oil production was drastically reduced
from about 2.3 barrels per day to mere
800,000 barrels per day (bpd); in view of the
economic ramifications of the situation, the
government of President Muhammadu Buhari
employed various strategies
to arrest the situation.
None of the strategies – including
the option of force
through the deployment of
troops and militarization
Unfortunately, in
spite of the gains
arising from the
subsisting
relative peace in
the Niger Delta,
the Nigerian
government has
not reciprocated
the gesture of the
region
stored, and it has been sustained. The oil production
benchmark for the 2020 National Budget
is kept at 2.18million barrels per day.
Unfortunately, in spite of the gains arising
from the subsisting relative peace in the Niger
Delta, the Nigerian government has not reciprocated
the gesture of the region by addressing
the genuine demands of the Niger Delta people
as encapsulated in the 16-Point Demand
that was presented by PANDEF to the Federal
Government on November 1, 2016.
So far, has PANDEF any axe to grind with
the Minister of Niger Delta, Obong
Akpabio,in his handling of NDDC and Minis-
emmaamaize@yahoo.co.uk
•Robinson
of the region – was effective
enough to douse the
tension in the Niger Delta.
It was at that point that
PANDEF, under the able
leadership of Chief (Dr.)
Edwin Kiagbodo Clark,
the National Leader of the
people of the South-South
geo-political zone, stepped
into the fray to calm tempers
in the region through
various engagements with
critical stakeholders. The
intervention of PANDEF
convinced the armed agitators
to halt attacks on oil
and gas facilities to give
room for dialogue.
The relative peace that
ensued yielded the expected
result for the Federal
Government as Nigeria’s
revenue earning capacity
from oil and gas was retry
of Niger Delta Affairs?
We do not have any axe to grind with the
Honourable Minister of Niger DeltaAffairs,
former Governor Godswill Akpabio, in his handling
of the Ministry and the NDDC, or any
other matter, at the moment. And we should
not, because having been a governor of one of
the states in the region for eight years, we assume
the Honourable Minister
sufficiently understands the peculiarities
and challenges of the
region, and thus will act accordingly.
As critical stakeholders of
the region, PANDEF is committed
to working with both elected
and appointed public office
holders from the region to better
the lot of our people. We will
have issues with anyone that
fails to deliver on the mandate
of his or her office to the region,
particularly those occupying offices
with strategic relevance to
the development of the region.
It must be appreciated that the
peace and development of the
region is paramount,and that
the Ministry of the Niger Delta
Affairs has critical role to play
in this regard. It was for this reason
that increased budgetary
funding for the Ministry of Niger
Delta Affairs, and interventionist
agencies in the region
like the NDDC and the Presidential
Amnesty Programme,
was one of the issues in the 16-
Point Demand PANDEF presented
to the Federal Government
on November 1,2016.
What agenda will PANDEF set for the Ministry
of Niger Delta Affairs and NDDC this
New Year?
The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs needs to
adopt a more coordinated approach in tackling
the security and development issues in the
Niger Delta; work in synergy with all critical
stakeholders in the region, and create opportunities
for broad public engagements to engender
public confidence. The people of the
Niger Delta want to see less of politics and primordial
interests, they want to see greater commitment
to the delivery of the dividends to democracy,
and the commencement of processes
to fast-track the socio-economic development
and transformation of the region.
Both the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and
the NDDC should give greater attention to the
development and empowerment of ordinary
Niger Deltans, especially rural women and
youths, to check the growing rate of youth delinquency.
The indiscriminate award of contracts
and wastage at the NDDC should stop.
The priority of the NDDC should be on completing
existing projects rather than starting new
ones. And most importantly, we want to see
concrete efforts at addressing the dire state of
infrastructure across the region, particularly
roads this year. We want to see the commencement
of work at the various sections of
the East-West Road, and other critical roads in
the region.
How do you expect the Presidency and
Senate to resolve the seeming row over the
right leadership for NDDC...Interim Management
or Approved Board at the moment?
There should have been no squabbles over
the right leadership for NDDC, in the first place.
It became an issue because of conflicting interests
among top officials of government. How
else would one describe what unfolded? However,
the President’s statement that the Board
would be recomposed and inaugurated after
the forensic audit seems to have doused tension.
The worrisome part in all of this is that it
further reveals the patronizing attitude of the
government in handling the affairs of the NDDC
and other development agencies in the Niger
Delta region. However, if this whole brouhaha
was about correcting the ills of the past, and
repositioning the NDDC for greater service
delivery, then good. But if this is another exercise
to witch-hunt perceived political opponents
and intractable allies, then it would be unfortunate
Sincerely speaking, based on the laws guiding
NDDC, is there anything wrong with the
composition of the Board that the President
said will be reconstituted?
We are not aware of the reasons for which the
President said the Board would be recomposed.
But we know there are varied opinions on this
subject matter in the region. As PANDEF’s interest
is the unity, peace and sustainable development
of the region, and the consequential
improvement of the socio-economic livelihood
of the people of the region, we remain committed
to fostering these ideals and, conscious of
the very unique challenges of the region, we are
detached on issues like this.
However, the NDDC Act states that the office
of the Chairman shall rotate amongst member-states
of the Commission in alphabetical
order starting from A to Z. Accordingly, the
NDDC Board chairmanship position has been
held by Abia State, Akwa Ibom State,Bayelsa
State,and Cross-River State, in that order since
its establishment. The states yet to occupy that
office are Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers.
But another section of the Act provides that the
appointment of the Managing Director, and
the two Executive Directors of the Commission,
who shall be indigenes of oil producing
areas shall start with the member-states of the
Commission with the highest production quantum
of oil and shall rotate amongst memberstates
in the order of production. The President,
therefore, needs to be properly guided and ensure
strict compliance with the NDDC Act in
resolving the matters relating to the Commission,
in the best interest of the region. While we
implore for understanding and mutual respect
from the people of the region; it is instructive
that we remain mindful of issues that would
divide us, and not create situations that would
be detrimental to the peace and progress of the
region.
What is wrong or right with the current structure?
It is true that the NDDC Act does not provide
for an Interim Management Committee,but
this is not the first Interim Management of the
Commission. The President has said the Board
would be recomposed, and that the Dr. Joi Nunieh
led Interim Management Committee
would be in place until the forensic audit is
completed. We would, therefore ,further appeal
to the various interests within and outside the
region on this matter to give peace a chance,
and allow the forensic audit to take place in a
conducive atmosphere. We cannot continue to
dwell on the argument of what is wrong or right.
It is people of the region that bear the brunt of
these political disagreements.

Why Nigerians are
talking about 2023 now
Many politicians
and analysts
may have been
shocked over last week’s
comment by Asiwaju Bola
Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos
State governor, that it
was premature to be talking
about 2023 at this point
of Nigeria’s political development.
Asked about his
opinion on who should succeed
President Buhari in
2023, the national leader of
the ruling All Progressives
Congress said “that time is
not now; we have just finished
one election and Mr.
President is busy sorting out
the budget, working for the
people of this country…Of
course, restlessness of politics
is going to be there, but
any lover of this country
will not talk about the succession
plan yet.” Whereas
Tinubu’s reasoning that
talking about politics now
could be at the expense of
governance is persuasive,
the political ambition of
the man himself in the elections
of 2023 has been a
subject of public discourse
in the country in the last 5
years. How can the same
person be seen to be condemning
the trend? Is he
merely playing politics?
PhD,Department of
Philosophy,
University of Lagos
08116759758
Acknowledgements and gratitude (2)
Still, we must keep
hope alive and begin
to lift ourselves by our
own bootstraps since politicians
do not really care
about us, a reflection of their
extremely low mental magnitude.
It is sad that elections
in Nigeria have mutated
into the caricature of recycling
some of the worst citizens
in positions of power.
But since nothing under the
sun lasts forever, the possibility
of positive change remains.
But wishful thinking
and prayers will not bring
the kind of change Nigerians
are yearning for. It can
only be brought about by a
moral and attitudinal revolution
led by a few dedicated
people who are willing to be
the vanguard of the oppressed
and downtrodden.
Who knows - 2020 may herald
the dawn of a new era in
Nigeria’s economic and
socio-political evolution.
On a more personal level,
my private and professional
life was relatively stable in
2019 except for few challenges
which made me to appreciate
better the precariousness
of human existence.
I had a successful surgery to
remove a small ulcerated
lesion on my face. But generally
speaking, my health
condition was good notwithstanding
the occasional
malaria caused by mosquito.
Of course, the inclement
financial situation particularly
for those of us receiving
salaries was a
Some people are likely to
answer the question in the
affirmative because Tinubu’s
plan to contest the Presidency
in 2023 is an open
secret. Only, last month,
Abdullahi Umar Farouk, a
senior legislative aide to
Femi Gbajabiamila,
Speaker of the House of
Representatives was quoted
to have said that Tinubu
would succeed President
Muhammadu Buhari in
2023 in recognition of his
contribution to the development
of the country’s democracy.
Farouk, a threetime
member of the House
of Representatives from
Kebbi State, stated this at
the inauguration of the national
executive committee
of the Tinubu Media Team,
TMT2023. So, do the restless
politicians Tinubu says
are distracting President
Buhari include his own supporters?
Evidence that not many
believed in Tinubu’s admonition
is immediately supplied
by the stance of the
General Overseer of Latter
Rain Assembly, Pastor
Tunde Bakare who had earlier
revealed that it was his
own turn to become President
after Buhari. Bakare
source of concern for me. It
is depressing to note that in
terms of real value my
emoluments as a full Professor
is somewhat less than
what I was paid a decade ago
as a Senior Lecturer. In fact,
a senior journalist who visited
me late last year was
shocked when he saw my
salary. He told me that senior
journalists earned much
more than that, but Nigerians
do not know that lecturers
are among the most underpaid
people in the country
today.
Now, without the help of
others I would not have
achieved anything last year.
Human beings are fundamentally
social beings, a
fact confirmed by our greatest
invention, language. We
need each other to be fully
human. Indeed, at the very
beginning of our lives conception
requires something
from a woman and a man,
which implies that at least
two people are needed before
a human being can be
formed. Our inexorable social
nature entails that we
depend on another to thrive
and achieve our ambitions,
and dreams. This means
that we cannot develop our
potentialities without the assistance
of others. Therefore,
we be humble and grateful
to the individuals who assisted
us in the journey of
life. It cannot be overemphasised
that thankfulness
is at the very core of respect
for others. Just as gratitude
was not just making a prediction,
he also backed up
his point that it was important
for Buhari to influence
his successor in 2023 so
that his legacies would remain
intact. According to
Bakare, “God is into succession;
anyone in government
that does not concern himself
about succession is destroying
his own legacy because
the person coming
after you can just mess up
everything… Let us ask God
for grace of accurate succession;
that Buhari will
not hand over the baton of
government and governance
to thieves and perverts,
to corrupt and power-drunk
individuals, but those who
are true patriots, who will
serve like our founding fathers
served.”
The pastor sounded quite
genuine in imploring the
President to institutionalize
a system of succession
in the country and join the
league of strong world
leaders like the late Deng
Xiaoping of China; Nelson
Mandela of South Africa;
and Goh Chok Tong of Singapore,
but the Presidency
has since distanced President
Buhari from getting
involved in determining his
successor. This was clarified
by Femi Adesina, a
presidential spokesman,
that whereas Buhari might
be interested in who succeeds
him, he will not manipulate
the process. It can
therefore be argued that
is a sign of intellectual and
emotional maturity, ingratitude
is, in an important sense
the negation of what makes
us civilised human beings.
Ingratitude is inimical to
genuine friendship; it blocks
the flow of kindness by discouraging
the desire to lend
a helping hand when the occasion
demands. Consequently,
there is no end to the
expression of gratitude for
acts of kindness and support.
Unfortunately, even
among family members and
friends, there is a tendency
to take kindness for granted.
This natural but irrational
attitude stems from thinking
that, since he is my wife, husband,
father, mother or
friend as the case may be,
such act of kindness is “not
really a big deal” because it
is what is naturally expected
of him or her. In my opinion,
taking kindness for
granted is wrong. So, if someone
does something for you
irrespective of how close the
relationship you share with
the person might be, it is always
right to thank that person.
By so doing, you are letting
the person know that
you value what she or he did
and that you are not taking
it for granted. The world
would be a more humane
place if everyone lives by this
simple principle.
As is the tradition in this
column for some years now,
I wish to thank those who
contributed positively to my
life in the preceding year. I
begin from the place where
I earn my legitimate “stomach
infrastructure”, namely,
the University of Lagos,
Akoka, an institution I have
grown to cherish since my
undergraduate years in the
mid-1980s. I am grateful to
the amiable hardworking
Vice Chancellor of the university,
Prof. Oluwatoyin
Ogundipe. Prof. Ogundipe
has always been nice to me
and I appreciate it. I wish
Indeed, there is already a
group known as the Pathfinder
Consortium working
for a presidential aspirant
in the 2023 elections. One
Shodipe-Dosunmu, the Director-General
of the Consortium
says the group was
formed to seek support for
and campaign for the candidacy
of a former Deputy
National Chairman of the
Peoples Democratic Party,
Chief Bode George. A major
newspaper in the country
has also claimed to
have been told by Chief
George himself of his plan
not only in the race but also
against the All Progressives
Congress chieftain, Asiwa-
SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 27
admonition, ju Bola Tinubu, at the presidential
poll in 2023. What against the admonition of
bassadors of Nigeria (TAN)
this seems to suggest is that the then President began as
some people already lining far back as 2012 to mobilize
for him to contest the
up against Tinubu are doing
so because they disbelieve
the sincerity of his call political rallies all over the
2015 elections. They held
for restraint and caution nation collecting signatories
of those who were al-
over 2023. One analyst imagines
that many crises legedly pleading with
currently going in the country
concern 2023 and that in an election that was 3
Jonathan to show interest
those involved are linked to years away. The Buhari
the same APC leader. The support groups have not act
crises rocking the APC differently in the last 5
chapters in Edo and Osun years. Interestingly, both
states are among areas that Presidents Buhari and
have been so mentioned. Jonathan pleaded with the
The argument is that the enthusiasts in vain to allow
caution against distracting them govern. Even the
President Buhari does not strong argument that the
appear to have been extended
to Governors ing less than 90 days before
law disallows electioneer-
Obaseki and Oyetola who voting was patently ignored.
If so, how can Tinu-
are currently being distracted
by APC factions. bu succeed in stopping his
numerous admirers from
also jumping the gun?
Tinubu’s
Bakare’s recommendations
and the presidency’s
response have clearly established
that discussing
the 2023 elections and
In fairness to the
political stalwarts, an
appeal to them to
adhere to either the
electoral law or
political decency
cannot persuade
them as politics is
the only thriving
industry in Nigeria
today
matters pertaining to them
has since kick-started and
no one can stop Nigerians
from the political culture of
politics, politics and politics
without governance.
Ingratitude is inimical to
genuine friendship; it
blocks the flow of
kindness by
discouraging the desire
to lend a helping hand
when the occasion
demands
him resounding success in
his efforts to make our university
among the best
worldwide. I thank Prof. Ben
Oghojafor and Prof.
Oluwole Familoni, Deputy
Vice-Chancellor (Management
Services) Deputy Vice-
Chancellor (Academics &
Research) and Prof. L.O.
Chukwu (Director, Academic
Planning) respectively
for their assistance
and friendly disposition towards
me. Prof. Andrew
Ugboru, a plastic surgeon at
the College of Medicine,
University of Lagos, is
hereby acknowledged for
the surgical expertise he displayed
in my treatment at
the Medical Centre. Dean,
Faculty of Arts, Prof. E.O.
Adeboye; Profs. Muyiwa
Falaiye (Director, Institute
of African and Diaspora
Studies); Iyoola Oni,
Obasoro-John, and particularly
Dean of Student Affairs,
Ademola Adeleke, were really
gracious to me and I thank
them. My sincere gratitude
goes to Simon, Dee Tony, Prof.
Dave Aworawo, Drs. Henry
Ogunjewo, Isaac
Nwogwugwu, Seyi Kenny,
and Obi Iwuagwu; Profs.
C.C. Anunobi, N. Nwokoma,
Chimdi Maduagwu (Co-Director,
Confucius Institute,
In Osun, loyalists to Minister
Rauf Aregbesola, a
Tinubu man are at loggerheads
with Governor
Gboyega Oyetola while in
Edo, loyalists to Adams
Oshiomhole another Tinubu
ally are not allowing
Governor Obaseki to have
a breathing space. The
bone of contention in both
cases as we hear, has to do
with alignments for the
2023 elections. In the circumstance,
telling anyone
that it is premature to talk
about 2023 will not fly. In
truth, party loyalists in the
country have never listened
to the voice of reason concerning
the need to let the
nation develop. Rather they
are forever scheming for
personal gains at the expense
of national development.
This they have always
done even in breach of electoral
rules and guidelines.
During the administration
of President Goodluck
Jonathan, a group known
as the Transformation Am-
University of Lagos), Uche
Udeani, (Director, Distance
Learning Institute), Adeyemi
Daramola, Oko Okoro, Hope
Eghagha, Iwu Ikwubuzo, and
Victor Ariole. I deeply appreciate
staff of the Philosophy
Department (both teaching
and non-teaching), especially
members of the Accreditation
Committee led by Dr. C.T.
Osegenwune, for their wonderful
work during the exacting
accreditation exercise last
November. The visiting accreditation
panel led by Prof.
Jerome Okonkwo handled
the exercise very professionally:
as the Chief Servant of
the Department I thank them
from the bottom of my heart.
Other good friends who
made last year a relatively
pleasant experience include,
but not limited to, the following:
Jello, Chief Raphael
Obidubah, Nduka
Iheanacho, Emeka Udeani,
Stevoo, John Jogging, Bede
Egbufor, Bishop Njoku, Jake
Epelle, the entire staff and
Board of Trustees of The Albino
Foundation, Bunmi,
Otumba & Mrs. Meshioye,
Hajiyah Ajoke, Hajiyah
Mariam, Kalu Onuma, and
Dr. Robert Obioha. My coresidents
in Block C, Highrise
– thank you very much for
your good neighbourliness. I
sincerely appreciate the assistance
I received from my doctoral
students - Waheed,
Kelechi, and Sufiyanu.
Lugard, Matthew, Ben, Debo,
Lekan, Wasiu, Eko-For-Show,
and James were good to me
and I thank them. My elder
sister, Ihuoma, who has just
been appointed a Judge, and
her husband, Dee Sam, are
hereby wholeheartedly acknowledged
for being there
for me. Congratulations big
sister for your well deserved
elevation to the elite rank of
the bench. I wish our parents
were alive to witness our elevation
to Professor and
Judge. Now, it is with regret
mingled with sadness that I
In fairness to the political
stalwarts, an appeal to
them to adhere to either the
electoral law or political
decency cannot persuade
them as politics is the only
thriving industry in Nigeria
today. For some time
now, a fact of life in this
country is undoubtedly that
one can only get favours of
any type through political
patronage. For admissions
into schools, employment
into government offices
that are done secretly and
even promotions in Ministries,
Parastatals and Departments
are all premised,
these days, on partisanship.
In addition, it is only politicians
who get regular illegal
pensions, bogus gratuities
and humongous severance
allowances. Why for
goodness sake, would politicians
and their private
armies not start from now
to talk about 2030 and beyond?
remember the death of my immediate
elder sister, Miss
Felicia Ngozi Anele, who died
late December 2017. She was
a good woman, but unfortunately
she allowed undesirable
elements, including wolves in
sheep’s clothing called “men
of God” to mess up her life.
From her death I learnt that it
is not just enough to be a good
person; one needs to be mentally
vigilant and alert at all
times also. Uncle Sam Amuka
(Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers);
Eze Anaba (Editor,
Vanguard); Adekunle (Deputy
Editor); Wale Akinola (Editor,
Sunday Vanguard) and all the
staff of Vanguard Media Limited
- I wish you all the best.
My dearest wife, Ijeoma,
and my two sweet daughters,
Nwanyioma and Nwadiuto;
words cannot capture fully
what you mean to me. Ij baby,
evidently I am not a perfect
husband. But there is no perfect
husband (or wife) anywhere
for that matter. About
twenty-one years of living together
is not a joke, because it
shows commitment and resilience.
Because three of you are
in my life, I have good reason
to be happy and thankful. To
my readers, particularly those
that criticise my views with
sound reasoning and relevant
facts, I am grateful for you are
part of the reason I write every
Sunday. To those who insult
me for criticising President
Muhammadu Buhari, I can
only say that you are still at
the intellectual level of Homo
Neanderthalis and, as such,
cannot grasp the underlying
rationale behind my attitude
to this lousy caricature of a
democratic government. Anyway,
you are wasting time because
your ad hominem criticisms
cannot stop me from
speaking out clearly against
mediocrity and incompetence.
I wish every person of
goodwill, peace, profound
excellent health, contentment,
and lasting happiness.
Concluded.

PAGE 28 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
Kidnappers on the
rampage in Adamawa
...abduct 13 professors, 287 others in 2019
Angry Adamawa youths protesting against kidnapping in the state
BY UMAR YUSUF, YOLA
Adamawa State alongside Borno and
Yobe has been engulfed by insurgen
cy since 2009.
Though the fight against insurgents seems
to be on the downward trend, many believe
relief is yet to be achieved.
Sporadic attacks by the insurgents were
recorded in the first week of this year in
parts of the state, especially in Adamawa
North Senatorial District.
Apart from insurgency, the current security
challenge is kidnapping by suspected
miscreants in the state capital and other
semi-urban areas.
Kidnapping in the state has assumed a
new dimension in the past two years as no
single day passes without recording cases
of kidnapping.
It has become a booming and lucrative
business in Adamawa to the extent that everybody
is scared of the next person or his
or her immediate neighbour.
Notorious dimension
Top government officials, businessmen,
academians and even farmers are not left
out in the scourge.
The menace has assumed a notorious dimension
in Adamawa, leading to questions
on the ability of security agents and local
vigilante groups.
In Adamawa, no fewer than 300 cases of
kidnapping were recorded by the state Police
Command in 2019 alone.
There were so many other cases that
were not recorded by the Police on the advice
of the victims and their families.
In such cases, the families only go into
negotiations with the abductors for the payment
of ransom to ensure the freedom of
their loved ones.
Such families believe that reporting the
abduction of their loved ones does not help
matters much, but prefer to negotiate directly
with the kidnappers.
Modibbo Adama University of Technology
located in the outskirt of the state, had
not less than 13 of its professors kidnapped
in 2019 alone.
The figure does not include other staffers
and students abducted within the same period.
Neither the police nor the school authority
has been able to identify why the institution
is a target.
But security analysts alleged possible
connivance by insiders within the institution.
Others said the location of the university,
perhaps, makes it possible, explaining that
it is sighted close to a mountainous area.
Residents of the state are not happy that
security operatives are unable to contain
the rate of kidnapping in Modibbo Adama
University of Technology and the entire
Girei Local Government Area despite its
proximity to the state capital.
Series of protests
The frequent onslaught of kidnappers on
the people of Girei and its suburbs and the
allegations that arrested kidnappers are
easily released by authorities concerned
forced the people to embark on series of
protests to drive home their points.
In the last couple of weeks, the people of
Girei have held more than three protests
over the release of arrested
suspected kidnappers. During
the protests, the Yola/
Mubi Federal Highway
leading to the Adamawa
North Senatorial District
and Borno State was
blocked for hours causing
untold hardship to commuters
and other road users.
Suspected
kidnappers
The protesters accused the
authorities concerned of releasing
arrested suspected
kidnappers within a short
period, only for the suspects
to return to unleash mayhem.
Only last week, one of
such protestes by the people
almost turn sour as miscreant
capitalized on the
frenzy situation to attack
vehicles of security operatives
plying the road, accusing
them of complicity in
the release of arrested suspected
kidnappers. But, the
situation was quickly brought under control.
It has become a
booming and
lucrative
business in
Adamawa to the
extent that
everybody is
scared of the
next person or
his or her
immediate
neighbour
Similar protests have been held in other
parts of the state over the quick release of
arrested suspected kidnappers, even as the
business continues to gain ground and more
victims continue to fall prey.
Suspected kidnappers
Recently, some heads of vigilante groups
who assisted the police in the arrest of suspected
kidnappers were rewarded by Adamawa
State Police Commissioner, Mr.
Audu Madaki.
The ceremony attracted a lot of dignitaries,
including traditional and opinion
leaders.
Some arrested suspected kidnappers were
also paraded at the event.
Surprisingly, the joy of being honoured
was shortlived as no fewer than four top
commanders of the vigilante groups from
different local governments were murdered.
As at press time, their killers have not been
identified or arrested by
the police.
It was learned that the
same kidnappers they
once arrested turned
round to kill them after
being released from detention.
However, the Adamawa
State Police Command
disagreed that the situation
is beyond its power.
300 suspected
kidnappers
The command said in
2019 alone, over 300 suspected
kidnappers were
arrested, paraded and
charged to courts for prosecution.
Public Relations Officer
of the command, Suleiman
Nguroje, said the
command will not relent
in making Adamawa safe.
He said: “Security strategies
are being put in
place. We will not tell you
our strategies, but within
the shortest possible time, kidnapping will
be a thing of the past in Adamawa State.
•Gov Umar Fintiri
“There is a collaboration with sister security
agencies fully supported by the state
government and when it becomes operational,
there will be no hiding place for
kidnappers.
Operation Farauta
“A new security outfit codenamed “Operation
Farauta” is now in place and it is
intended to flush out all the criminals on
the mountains, in the forest or elsewhere in
the state.’’
Commenting on the recent protests over
alleged release of kidnap suspects, especially
in Girei, he said four suspects were apprehended.
He said they made confessional statements
and were transferred to the Force
Intelligent Bureau in Abuja for investigations
to unravel any hidden accomplices
outside the state.
He maintained that another set of four
suspects in Girei were nabbed, adding that
after investigations they were charged to
court.
“All the suspects were charged before
Magistrate Court 4 in Yola and are currently
in prison awaiting trial.
“Simply because they were stopped from
carrying out jungle justice on the suspects,
they decided to protest.’’

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 29
By Victor Young
As the smoke of
industrial unrest
thickens across the
country over nonimplementation
of the
N30,000 new national
minimum wage, Organised
labour is sending its officials
to recalcitrant states ahead of
planned show down.
Sunday Vanguard
investigation confirmed that
about 20 of such states have
identified nationwide.
According to Sunday
Vanguard’s findings, the
Nigeria Labour Congress,
NLC, is sending its senior
officials to the states to
prepare ground for the next
action as Organised Labour
plans to deal with the states
individually rather than
collective.
General Secretary of NLC,
Emma Ugboaja, told Sunday
Vanguard that Congress had
received situations reports
from states on their level of
compliance and that NLC
had already analyzed the
reports.
According to him “We have
received the situation reports
from our state councils on
the level of compliance by
each state. We have
analyzed the reports. I can
tell you that we are going to
treat the issue on state-bystate
basis. That is to say, we
are not going to declare a
nationwide strike over the
matter as it is. What we have
decided to do based on the
situation reports, is to send
our team from here (National
Secretariat) to the states to
among others, find out why
negotiations have taken so
long, whether the
negotiation is genuine or the
state government is just
playing games. We do not
want a situation where the
government is deliberately
using delay tactics in the
name of a so-called
MINIMUM WAGE:
Strike smoke
as Labour
leaders storm 20
‘recalcitrant states’
•Say govs still fly private jets, charter
private jets to social gatherings
negotiation to buy time. But,
if the negotiation is genuine,
we want to know why the
negotiation has taken so
long to be completed. In a
situation like that, our
officials will help to speed
up the process to make sure
it does not drag beyond this
January. If our officials find
out that the negotiation is
not genuine, we will compel
real negotiation. If this is not
possible, we will then
authorize and declare
industrial unrest or strike.
“The governors have no
excuse, they have to pay. It
is a law. Most of the state
governors have
not changed.
They are still
living their
ostentatious
life style,
flying private
jets and
chattering jets
to birthday
parties and
other
ceremonies.
They still have
and still
engaging
armies of aides
and all manner
of assistants.
We do not want
a situation
where the
government is
deliberately
using delay
tactics in the
name of a socalled
negotiation to
buy time
In fact, the
activities of
the
immediate
past
Chairman of
the Nigerian
Governors’
Forum, NGF;
who is also
the
immediate
past governor
of Zamfara
State, Alhaji
Abdul’aziz
Abubakar
Yari, have
exposed the
antics of the governors. All
the while, the man was
pretending and
impoverishing the workers
and other citizens of the
state while he was living in
affluence.
“During his time, besides
underpaying the workers
and owing them several
arrears of salaries including
unpaid pensions, he was
busy awarding all manner of
benefits to himself. To
worsen the situation, he
influenced the state
lawmakers to enact an
outrageous pension law in
his favour and paid himself
three months pensions in
advance in millions of Naira,
but refused to pay the state
pensioners several arrears
of unpaid entitlements.
“So, this time around, we
are not going to give them
any breathing space to do
any of such frivolities. By
next week (this week),
probably Tuesday or
Wednesday, we will send our
senior officials to the states
that have not concluded
negotiations to asses the
situation in such states for
our next line of action, like I
have said earlier.”
Meanwhile, according to
situation reports state
councils sent to NLC
national secretariat, last
week, obtained by Sunday
Vanguard, Adamawa State
concluded negotiation before
December 11, 2019 and has
commenced Implementation;
Bauchi State concluded
negotiation on December 31,
2019 and is awaiting
Implementation; Borno State
concluded negotiation on
December 31, 2019, and is
awaiting Implementation;
Jigawa State concluded
negotiation before December
11, 2019 and has commenced
implementation; Kaduna
State concluded negotiation
before December 11, 2019,
and has commenced
implementation; Kano State
concluded negotiation before
December 31, 2019 and is
awaiting Implementation
while it increased minimum
wage to N30,300; Katsina
State
concluded negotiation
before December 31, 2019
and is awaiting
implementation; Kebbi State
concluded negotiation before
December 11, 2019 and
commenced implementation
and Lagos concluded
negotiation before December
11, 2019, and has
commenced implementation.
Similarly, Abia State
Negotiating team handed
over its Report to State
Government on January 3,
2020; Organised Labour in
Akwa Ibom gave a counter
offer to Government on
December 31, 2019;
Negotiation still going on
Anambra State; Bayelsa State
resumes negotiation in the
first week of January 2020;
Benue State is still
negotiating; Delta State still
Negotiating (The State
Government however, Friday
announced commencement
of implementation effective
Continues on page 30

PAGE 30— SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
•President Muhammadu Buhari •NGF Chairman, Gov Fayemi •NLC President, Ayuba Wabba
Continued from page 29
November and that it would
pay arrears of November
and December); Ebonyi
State still negotiating with
Joint Negotiating Council,
JNC. State
government has presented
a table staring from N30,030
for level 1 and inconsistent
increases across board.
Also, Edo State is
negotiating; Ekiti State is
still negotiating; Enugu
State is still negotiating.
Submitted a report to the
technical committee of the
salary adjustment
negotiation committee for
their input and transmission
to State Government.
Successfully negotiated 13th
month; Gombe State is still
negotiating ; Imo State
hopes of concluding
negotiation soon; Kwara
State Negotiation committee
was inaugurated on
December 31, 2019; In
Nasarawa State, Labour has
sent names of its 13-person
negotiation team to state
govt. Government claims the
number is unwieldy and
asked for reduction. To
engage govt on this when
work resume in
January; Niger State is
negotiating; Ogun State is
negotiating percentage
increases; Ondo State
hopeful of conclusion in the
second week of January
2020; Osun State is
negotiating; Oyo State is
still negotiating; In
Plateau State, Government
has presented its table with
an initial offer.
The report noted that
Rivers State is to finalize
negotiation on January 6,
2020; Sokoto State resumed
negotiation on January 2,
2020; Yobe State is still
negotiating; Zamfara State
is still negotiating.
The report added that
Cross River is yet to start
negotiation smarting from
kidnap of state chairman of
NLC; Kogi State Labour
leaders are in contact with
State Governor and Deputy
Governor who promised to
start negotiation by January
2020; and in Taraba State,
Labour has written to the
State Government but yet to
get a response. JNC
transmitted the salary table to
the state governor who referred
the tables to the Head of
Service for advice. Head of
Service advised that
negotiation should commence
but Governor said he was
waiting for directive from the
Nigeria Governors Forum.
STATUS OF NEGOTIATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CONSEQUENTIAL WAGE ADJUSTMENT IN STATES
SN States Negotiation Remarks
1 Adamawa Concluded before December 11, 2019 Commenced Implementation
2 Bauchi Concluded on December 31, 2019 Awaiting Implementation
3 Borno Concluded on December 31, 2019 Awaiting Implementation
4 Jigawa Concluded before December 11, 2019 Commenced Implementation?
5 Kaduna Concluded before December 11, 2019 Commenced Implementation
6 Kano Concluded before December 31, 2019 Awaiting Implementation
Increased minimum wage to N30,300
7 Katsina Concluded before December 31, 2019 Awaiting Implementation
8 Kebbi Concluded before December 11, 2019 Commenced Implementation
9 Lagos Concluded before December 11, 2019 Commenced Implementation
States Still Negotiating
10 Abia Handed over Report to State Governmenton
Jan. 3, 2020
11 Akwa Ibom Gave a counter offer to Government on Dec.
31st, 2019
12 Anambra Still Negotiating
13 Bayelsa To resume negotiation in the first week of
January 2020
14 Benue Still Negotiating
15 Delta Still Negotiating
16 Ebonyi Negotiating with JNC. State govt has presented a table staring
from N30,030 for level 1 and inconsistent
increases across board.
State Council was not involved.
17 Edo Still Negotiating
18 Ekiti Still Negotiating
19 Enugu Still Negotiating. Submitted a report to the technical
committee of the salary adjustment
negotiation committee for their input and
transmission to State Government
Successfully negotiated 13th month.
20 Gombe Negotiation yet to be concluded
21 Imo Hopeful of conclusion soon
22 Kwara Negotiation Cttee inaugurated on
December 31, 2019
23 Nasarawa Has sent names of its 13-person
negotiation team to state govt. Govt
claims the number is unwieldy and asked
for reduction. To engage govt on this
when work resume in January
24 Niger Still Negotiating
25 Ogun Negotiating percentage increases
26 Ondo Hopeful of conclusion in the second
week of January 2020
27 Osun Still Negotiating
28 Oyo Still Negotiating
29 Plateau State Govt has presented its table with
an initial offer
30 Rivers To finalize negotiation on Jan. 6, 2020
31 Sokoto Resumed Negotiation on Jan. 2, 2020
32 Yobe Still Negotiating
33 Zamfara Still Negotiating States Yet to Constitute Negotiating
Committee
34 Cross River Smarting from kidnap of state chair
35 Kogi In contact with State Governor and
Deputy Governor who promised to start
negotiation by January 2020
36 Taraba

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 31
MINIMUM WAGE:
No cause for alarm — Governors Forum
•‘Only two states yet to negotiate’
By Henry Umoru
THE Nigeria Governors’ Forum,
NGF, says only two states have not
sat down with Labour Negotiating Committees
on the 30, 000 minimum wage,
stressing that they will do that and all
the 36 states will pay accordingly.
According to the umbrella body for the
36 state governors in the country, the
matter has become a non-issue as all
its members have all agreed to pay the
minimum wage.
Speaking with Sunday Vanguard,
Head, Media and Public Affairs of NGF,
Abdulrazaque Barkindo, explained
that more than 20 have already agreed
to pay, and others still meeting with
their various Labour unions negotiating
teams with a view to resolving the
matter.
Barkindo, who noted that there was
nothing to worry about alleged moves
by 25 states to shut down the economy
over the minimum wage impasse, said
that with the level the governors had
reached with Labour unions, there was
nothing like shutting down the economy
as that will not happen.
On the way forward, the NGF spokesperson
urged the Nigeria Labour Congress
(NLC), the Trade Union Congress
(TUC) and other Labour unions to negotiate
with their respective states to
address the issue.
Barkindo said, “The governors have
been struggling with the issue of minimum
wage and the states have agreed
to pay, only two states have not sat
down with their Negotiating Committees
and they will do that and the states
will pay accordingly.”
On whether the NGF is worried about
the threat by Labour in 25 states to shut
down the economy over the minimum
wage, the NGF’s spokesperson said,
“NGF is not worried. Why must we do
that when we have put everything in
place to ensure that the states implement
it?
“All the states have agreed to pay the
minimum wage. I do not know where
the shutting down is coming from because
the Chairman of NGF, Dr. Kayode
Fayemi, said at the end of the meeting
of the Forum on December 19 that
the governors will pay the agreed
wage.”
It would be recalled that the 36 state
governors, under the aegis of the Nigeria
Governors’ Forum, NGF, had, at
the end of their December 19, 2019
meeting in Abuja, said that there was
no backtracking on the decision of the
Federal Government with regard to the
payment of the minimum wage of N30,
000 to workers.
The governors stressed that they had
already subscribed to pay the wage but
that the consequential impact on the
upper cadre must be renegotiated.
Forum Chairman, Fayemi, who noted
that all fingers are not equal, said
that while some states can even afford
to pay N50, 000, his members had engaged
the respective branches of the
NLC to meet the December 31 minimum
wage implementation deadline.
He stated that the NLC was aware of
the level of preparedness of states to
pay, adding the governors were willing
to make available to the union each
state’s status of negotiation to clear any
doubt.
Fayemi, who was responding to a
question on whether the governors had
backtracked on negotiations, had said:
“Minimum wage was not on our agenda
because it is a settled matter and
governors have all indicated without
any equivocation that we subscribed to
the Act of parliament that has been
passed on the national minimum wage
of N30, 000. There is no debate, we
have accepted that.
“The negotiation you are talking is
about the consequential impact of the
minimum wage on the higher level.
Each state has started that process, if
the Nigeria Labour Congress is not fully
aware of the status
of the negotiation in
the various states,
we will be happy to
share the information
available to us
with them.
“But as far as we
The governors
have been
struggling with
the issue of
minimum wage
and the states
have agreed to
pay, only two
states have not
sat down with
their Negotiating
Committees
are concerned,
there is no decision
from the Governors
Forum to back track,
we are not backtracking
on the minimum
wage. However,
fingers are not
equal, states have to
renegotiate in terms
of the consequential
implication for
the others.
“Some states may
be in the position to
pay N50, 000. What
we can tell you is
that no state will
pay less than N30,
000 when we finally
get to that point.”
The Federal Government
and the
Organised Labour had, on October 18,
2019, announced an agreement on the
implementation of the new wage.
Before then, the Federal Executive
Council (FEC), at a meeting presided
over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,
had approved the agreement and set
dates for the take-off of the new wage
and payment of the arrears.
FEC had also directed that the payment
of the new salary structure should
take effect and the arrears cleared by
December 31.
But the NGF had said that the agreement
between the Federal Government
and Organised Labour on consequential
adjustments on the new minimum
wage was not binding on state governments.
The agreement over consequential adjustments
averted a strike that labour
had threatened to call had the government
further delayed the take-off of the
new minimum wage.
Revenue sharing
formula
The NGF Chairman
also said that a review of
the revenue sharing formula
had remained the
position of the governors
to enable them implement
the new minimum
wage without hitches.
Fayemi, who spoke after
a meeting with President
Muhammadu Buhari
at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja, in December
2019, said that the
agitation for the review
of the revenue sharing
formula by the Governors’
Forum dated back
to the administration of
former President Olusegun
Obasanjo.
Fayemi said, “We feel
that it’s time for the revenue
sharing formula to
change and we have
made a representation to
the President and Commander-in-Chief
not just
under the Buhari administration.
“This has been an ongoing agitation
that started way back since the time of
President Olusegun Obasanjo; it continued
under President Yar’Adua and
President Goodluck Jonathan.
“So, it’s not just something that has
been brought out under President Buhari”.
The NGF Chairman, who revealed
that the forum had presented its position
on the proposed review of the revenue
sharing formula to the Revenue
Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal
Commission (RMAFC) for consideration,
said: “You also know that there
is a process to this. The process is that
the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation
and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC,
which has the responsibility for this,
would do its own due diligence, consult
widely with critical stakeholders.
“We have also made available our own
representation to RMAFC. Every state
has a representative at RMAFC as you
know and, only last week, RMAFC held
a retreat on this and other matters and
I believe they will communicate their
position.
“Now that we have a full fledged
RMAFC in place with a Chairman and
other members appointed, it is our expectation
that this would be taken up
by RMAFC with Mr President in a manner
that we have taken it up.
“Whether that would affect negotiation
for the minimum wage, I can tell
you no. Minimum wage is a law. But
as I have always said to you, a National
Minimum Wage Act is not a general
minimum wage review. They are two
separate things”.
Fayemi maintained that governors
were committed to the Minimum Wage
Act, promising that no state would pay
anything less than the approved N30,
000, but said that the consequential adjustment
may not necessarily end up
being the same among the states.
He said, “Some of us have started paying
N30, 000 as you may be aware, others
want negotiations on the consequential
adjustments to end before they start
paying the minimum wage.
“And as you may be aware, what has
happened so far is that the Federal Government
has agreed a percentage of
consequential adjustments with Labour.
“What is happening currently in states
and majority of our states is that they
have started that negotiation, which is
to agree on what that consequential
adjustments would be.
“I have also said to many people who
have asked me, fingers are not equal
at the level of the states.
“So, consequential adjustments may
not necessarily end up being the same,
it will be different from state to state.
But I can assure Nigerians that no state
is going to pay anything less than N30,
000.”

PAGE 32— SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
MINIMUM WAGE:
The debt – revenue question, by Ajulo
Dr. Kayode Ajulo, a lawyer, is Managing
Partner, Castle of Law and Chairman,
Egalitarian Mission for Africa. Ajulo shares
his perspective on the controversial minimum
wage for workers in the 36 states of the
federation.
IT’S a known fact that Nigeria operates
a federal system of government with
each federal unit enjoying some form of
autonomy as provided for by the
Constitution. Recently, there were hues and
cries by the Nigerian Governors Forum and
some concerned citizens on the need to
review the sharing formula of revenue
accruing to the various states vis-a-vis the
autonomy of the third tier of government
(Local Government), especially as it relates
to revenue accruable to it from the
Federation Account.
This allocution seeks to appreciate the
imperative of reviewing the sharing formula
of revenue accruing to various states vis-avis
the autonomy of local government
administration in Nigeria and the position
of relevant laws on the sharing formula as
regards revenue accruable to the three tiers
from the Federation Account.
It is pertinent to recall that the renewed
agitation and clamour by the Nigerian
Governors Forum for the review of sharing
formula of revenue accruing to various states
is not far from the statements by some state
governors of their inability to pay the
?30,000.00 minimum wage to their state
workers in the light of the looming economic
downturn and realties.
Recently in an interview, Governor
Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State lamented
that the minimum wage is a serious issue in
the country.
According to him, some states cannot pay
the 18 percent minimum wage because of
the existing revenue sharing formula
between the federal and other tiers of
government.
As a result of the above,
various states have resorted
to debt financing to
implement various projects
and pay workers’ salaries.
This has resulted into
increase in the debt ratio of
various states across the
federation.
According to the World
Bank, 40 per cent of low
income developing
countries are either in debt
distress or at high risk of
default.
It is quite apparent that
most states in Nigeria have
huge debt loads with very
low revenue generation.
While debt is soaring, most
states apparently depend on
more debt to execute any
meaningful developmental
projects. (Top 10 states debt
ratio according to
NairaMetrics.com).
Lagos State: As of 2019,
the total debt of Lagos State
stood at N980 billion. Data
from sources have shown
that the domestic debt of
Lagos at the end of March
2019 was estimated at N542 billion. Without
doubt, the state is Nigeria’s trade centre with
the Apapa seaport that controls almost 90
per cent of goods that flow in and out of the
country.
However, on the revenue side, the recent
Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) data
from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)
showed that Lagos State generated the sum
of N382 billion in 2018. This is the biggest
across states but it only covered 70 per cent
of domestic debt.
River is Nigeria’s second most indebted
state. The state is one of Nigeria’s major oilproducing
states and scoops monthly 13 per
cent derivation from the Federal
Government. River State’s total debt stands
at N249 billion while domestic debt is
biggest at N225.5 billion. On the other hand,
the state generated N112 billion IGR in
2018. Measuring its debt against revenue,
it means that the state’s revenue can only
•Ajulo
pay 49.9 per cent of the huge domestic debt
while the external debt is hanging.
Delta is third on the list with an estimated
N242 billion out of which domestic debt
gulps N223 billion. Delta is equally an oilproducing
state with 13 per cent monthly
derivation allocation and several
international oil corporations.
More worrying statistics are derived when
comparing the state’s debt stock to its IGR.
Basically, Delta State’s reported IGR in the
year 2018 was put at N58 billion. This means
that the state’s IGR represents only 26 per
cent of its domestic debt.
Cross River State’s debt was estimated at
N225 billion in March 2019. It generated
N17 billion IGR in
2018 and this put the
state’s revenue at 10
per cent of N167
It is quite apparent
that most states in
Nigeria have huge
debt loads with
very low revenue
generation. While
debt is soaring,
most states
apparently depend
on more debt to
execute any
meaningful
developmental
projects
billion domestic
debt.
For Akwa-Ibom
State, the total
domestic debt owed
as of March 2019
was N199 billion. In
total, Akwa-Ibom
owes N213 billion.
This is another oilproducing
state with
billions received
monthly from the
Federal Government.
Comparing the
state’s total debt stock
against its IGR of
N24 billion, its
annual IGR is just 12
per cent of domestic
debt accrued.
Osun State’s total
domestic debt as of
March 2019 was
estimated at N147
billion. When
compared with the
state’s IGR of N10
billion, it means that Osun State’s IGR only
covers 7 per cent of the domestic debt owed.
In total, Osun owes N178 billion debt to
rank 6th on the list.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is the 7th
most indebted state in Nigeria. The domestic
debt accruable to it as of the end of March
2019 was estimated at N193 billion. On the
other hand, IGR generated in the year 2018
was N65 billion. This implies that FCT’s
revenue covers just 40 per cent of its domestic
debt. The total domestic and external debt
owed by FCT stands at N173 billion.
Edo is the 8th state with the biggest debt
accumulated in the country. Edo’s domestic
debt stands at N88.3 billion with IGR put at
N28.4 billion. This means that the state IGR
covers only 32 per cent of its domestic debt.
In total, Edo owes N171.2 billion.
Kaduna is one of the main commercial
cities in Northern Nigeria. According to the
debt statistics, the state’s domestic debt
profile was estimated at N121 billion with
IGR estimated at N44 billion. This means
that the state’s IGR can only offset 36 per
cent of the debt. In total, the state’s debt stands
at N162.9 billion.
Bayelsa and Ekiti States owe N150 billion
each; thereby making the 10th on the list.
Bayelsa is one of Nigeria’s oil-producing
states. Reports show that as of the end of
March 2019, the state’s domestic debt stock
was N147 billion while IGR in 2018 stood
at N13 billion. This means that the state’s
IGR only covers 10 per cent of the huge debt
profile. In total, Bayelsa owes NN150
billion. According to DMO’s report, Ekiti’s
debt was also put at N150 billion in March
2019, with IGR estimated at N6.6 billion
only in 2018. This means that its IGR can
only offset 5per cent of its domestic debt of
N118 billion.
According to the data above, Lagos
recorded the largest IGR and simultaneously
accumulated the biggest debt. Asides Lagos,
most states depend on either more
borrowing or monthly allocations from the
Federal Government to even pay workers’
salaries.
Debt-revenue issue
Recently, in order to ease off the debt-revenue
issue, states began to push for a review of
revenue sharing formula that would improve
their share of monthly allocation.
Apparently, the states and the Federal
Government now largely depend on
borrowing. This is appalling as some states
have plunged into huge debt without major
infrastructural face-lifting.
Also, most of the debts acquired by these
states are from external sources.
Hence, from the monthly federal allocation
to the states, a portion of it is always deducted
to service the acquired debt while the huge
debt remains.
It is, therefore, imperative to review the
revenue sharing formula in order to minimize
states’ debt ratio and maximize revenue
accruing to each state.
Laws on revenue sharing formula:
The Constitution provides that the Federal
Government shall maintain a special account
to be called “The Federation Account” into
which shall be paid all revenues collected by
the Government of the Federation, except the
proceeds from personal income tax of the
personnel of the armed forces of the
Federation, the Nigeria Police, the Ministry
or Department of government charged with
responsibility for Foreign Affairs and the
residents of the Federal Capital Territory,
Abuja. See Section 162(1) of the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria (as amended).
It is imperative to note that all monies
standing to the credit of the Federal
Government of Nigeria in the Federation
Account belong to the three tiers of
Government – Federal Government, State
Governments and Local Government
Councils – and, as such, are to be shared
between these three tiers of government with
an additional 13 per cent for oil-producing
states as derivative revenue.
Nigeria’s revenue-sharing formula is as
follows: every month, the Federal
Government takes the lion share of 52.68
per cent from the Federation Account. The
36 states take 26.72 per cent while the
balance of 20.60 per cent is handed to the
774 local governments in the country. See
Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account)
Act 2003.
It suffices to add that since independence,
the revenue sharing formula can neither be
said to be equitable nor efficient as the
internal revenues generated by each state
are largely dependent on civilization,
population, infrastructural development
and number of foreign investments in the
state.
According to data from the Nigerian
Bureau of Statistics, in the first half of 2019,
Lagos State led the collection table with
?263.25 billion while Rivers collected ?151.8
billion. FCT generated ?72.8 billion, Bayelsa
?71.6 billion, Kano ?58.5 billion, Kaduna
?54.7 billion and Ogun ?48 billion. Edo
Stated generated ?47.3 billion, Ondo ?47.2
billion, Oyo ?42.1 billion, Sokoto ?38.8
billion, Benue ?38.1 billion, Imo ?37.4
Billion and Kwara ?36.6 billion.
At the lowest rung of the ladder are Ekiti
with ?25 billion, Gombe ?21.7 billion and
Osun ?20.2 billion.
It is, therefore, apparent that the ability of
various states to pay the ?30,000 minimum
wage would only depend on the revenue
generated by it. It is also clear that some
states, especially the ones on the lowest rung
of the ladder of IGR, may find it difficult to
implement the payment of the minimum
wage. Hence, there is a need to review the
sharing formula in order to make room for
equal distribution of wealth among the
various states of the Federation.
Autonomy:
As stated above, in a federation, there exist
elements of autonomy among the three tiers
of government namely – federal, state and
local government.
The Constitution recognizes the autonomy
of the local government, which means that
states should have no business with the coffers
of the local governments and the Federal
Government should have nothing to do with
how states allocate their resources for
developmental or infrastructural projects.
More importantly, in recognition of the
distinction between the state governments and
local government councils and their
respective funds, the Constitution provides in
Section 162(6) thereof that:
“Each state shall maintain a special account
to be called “State Joint Local Government
Account” into which shall be paid all
allocations to the local government councils
of the State from the Federation Account and
from the Government of the State.
It is a general principle of the law of great
antiquity that where the words of the
Constitution or statute are not ambiguous,
they are to be given their literal interpretations.
Upon a community reading and
interpretation of the provisions of Section
162(5) and (6) of the Constitution, it suffices
to state that even though the state government
is constitutionally empowered to collect the
funds due to local government councils within
their area of jurisdiction.
Such funds are not to be paid into the account
of the state government or to any other
account whatsoever; rather such funds are to
be paid into the “State Joint Local
Government Account”. See 162(5) and (6) of
the Constitution.
The said provision of Section 162(5) and (6)
of the Constitution is mandatory and must be
complied with, and the operative word in the
aforementioned section is “shall” and the word
“shall” is carefully chosen by the draftsmen. It
is trite that where the provision of a statute is
garbed with the word “shall”, it connotes that
it is imperative that the provision is mandatory
and must be obeyed. This is so because the
word “shall” is a word of command. It imposes
a duty and makes the provision mandatory.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 33
How emotional intelligence can enhance personal brand
– Abiola Salami Management) as we also
A
biola “Champ” Salami
is a globally acclaimed
Performance Coach and
author of motivational books
that include ‘Get MAD!, Who
Says It’s A Man’s World and
the much anticipated ‘The
MAGIC Of Emotional
Intelligence’. The alumnus of
Harvard University and
Lagos Business School in this
article from his new book
speaks about building
personal brand with
emotional intelligence.
Excerpts:
Experts say a personal
brand is built around you —
your personality, your lifestyle,
and your interests. In my
opinion, Personal Branding is
an inside-out approach to
maintaining a track record of
demonstrated excellence. In
building a sustainable
Personal Brand therefore, we
need to master the skills in
Emotional Intelligence.
According to Daniel
Goleman, Emotional
Intelligence is the ability to
understand oneself (i.e. Self-
Awareness) and manage
oneself (i.e. Self-
New Paverstone company set to unveil in Ibadan
By Ayo Onikoyi
he residents of Ibadan,
TOyo State are in for a
relief regarding their needs
for paving stones as an
Ibadan-based company
Quedoospavers is set to
unveiled a paver stones
company in the city.
According to the Chief
Executive Officer of the
company, Ajibola Sodiq
Olasunkanmi, Ibadan
residents will soon have no
reason to travel all the way to
Lagos to get the paving stones
as they are adequately poised
to take care of their needs.
“ What we are bringing is
understand other people (i.e.
Social Awareness) and
manage others (i.e.
Relationship Management).
Everyone wants a strong
personal brand; the one where
you walk into a client’s office,
a boardroom or a social
gathering and people think all
the right things about you.
But, ignoring self-awareness
while only emphasizing dress
sense, swag and other outward
reflection of your personal
brand is the fastest way to kill
your Personal Brand. Why?
The packaging will be
awesome but the content will
be awful. Self -Awareness is
about knowing yourself as you
really are - it is discovering
your authenticity.
There are 3 simple things
you can do to help you with
this journey of Self Awareness.
Firstly, keep a journal about
your emotions. The biggest
challenge to developing selfawareness
is objectivity. It’s
hard to develop perspective on
your emotions and tendencies
when everyday feels like a new
mountain to climb. With a
journal, you can record what
Ajibola
quality, durable and
affordable. Our paving stones
requires low maintenance and
with high life cycles. They also
come with lots of benefits, such
as it allows rainwater to
events triggered strong
emotions in you and how you
responded to them. Write
about occurrences at work
and home - don’t leave
anything behind.
Psychologists tell us that in
just 21days, you will begin to
see patterns in your emotions
and you will develop a better
understanding of your
tendencies. You will get a better
idea of which emotions get you
down, which pick you up and
which are the most important
for you to tolerate.
Secondly, know who and
what pushes your button. We
all have buttons. (I fondly call
it Mumu button in Nigerian
colloquial parlance). You
know that conduct or person
that irritates you until you want
to scream. To use this strategy,
you can’t think about things
generally. You need to pinpoint
the specific people and
situations that trigger positive
or negative emotions in you.
It could be certain people
(e.g. a recalcitrant co-worker
or client); particular situations
(e.g. impromptu reports or
meetings) or conditions in the
environment (e.g. a noisy
office).
naturally drain and it can be
repaired by lifting the affected
areas, regrading and recompacting
the base and
bedding sand and reinstalling
the same pavers. It is an
inexpensive procedure that
leaves no unslightly repair
patches, said Ajibola
Ajibola
Sodiq
Olasunkanmi is a Nigerian
entrepreneur ,industrialist,
number one international
brewery distributor in Oyo
state. He is the chairman and
CEO of Quedoos
Multiconcept Limited, a
company committed to
development and changing
the landscape in Oyo state.
NEGLECT: : Lagos monarch urges govt to empower
community leaders
By Alade Aromashodu
rked by the neglect of
Itraditional rulers in the
country by government, a
monarch, Chief Musbau
Amole Jinadu, Baale of
Agoro, Okobaba, Mainland
Local Government Area of
Lagos, has called for a change,
maintaining that
“governance originated from
the royal institution.”
Speaking at Ijoko Agba
(seat of elders), election of the
town union executives
conducted recently, Jinadu
said that it was elders of Ijoko
Agba that ensured that social
infrastructure: light, borehole
water, education programme
and skill acquisition
programmes, were provided
in the community.
According to the monarch,
“We are chosen to direct affairs
Adode names field after ex-Super Eagles player, as
Ogor wins Chairman’s Cup
T
•Chief Jinadu
of our people, ensure peace
reign in our community,
without political
interference,” therefore, in a
way we help government, so,
government should help us
too.
Musa Aliu, new chairman,
who was sponsored by the
community members,
pledged empowerment
programmes and assistance,
which he has rendered in the
past.
Aliu also promised to do
more on programmes,
especially in terms of
education and skill
acquisition.
Mr. Sunmonu Iyanda,
elected vice chairman,
speaking on behalf of the new
executive, detailed their
programme, which hinge on
provision of assistance to
brilliant indigenes of the
community educationally;
skill acquisition programme
like computer training and
others.
Meanwhile, electoral team
comprised: Chief Kakawa,
governor general of Ijoko
Agba, Nollywood actors:
Abbey Lanre, film producer
and Baale of Agoro, Chief
Musbau Amole Jinadu
among others.
he Chairman of Ughelli
North Local government
Council, Delta State, Olorogun
Godwin Adode, has
named Ughelli public field
after the late ex-Super Eagles
player, Clifford Cassidy during
the Chairman’s Football
Competition organized by the
council chairman.
The Chairman’s Football
Competition which features
seven teams from the various
kingdoms of Ughelli North
local government area has;
Agbarho, Agbarha-Otor,
Ewreni, Ogor, Orogun and
Ughelli kingdoms that battled
for the winner of the maiden
competition.
The competition was won
by Ogor kingdom, who went
home with a cash reward of
N300,000 and a trophy, while
Agbarha-Otor kingdom, had
2nd position with a cash reward
of N200,000 and a trophy
and Ughelli kingdom,
who took the 3rd position with
a cash reward of N100,00 and
a trophy, followed by Agbarho
kingdom which took 4th
position with a cash reward
and a trophy.
While addressing the teams
and other invitees at the football
pitch, the Ughelli North
Council Chairman, Olorogun
Godwin Adode said he was
using the medium to name the
Ughelli public field after the
late ex-Super Eagles player, as
Clifford Omavuaye Cassidy
Playground.
“I am using this opportunity
to name Ughelli Public field
after our very own, because of
his contributions towards the
development of sports in
Ughelli North local government,
describing him as
sports lover, and the first
Ughelli son to play for a national
team (Super Eagles)
and also helped other Ughelli
sons.
“Henceforth, the Ughelli
public field will be known and
called Clifford Omavuaye
Cassidy Playground and I am
also calling on well meaning
Deltans and corporate bodies
to support sport competitions
to bring peace and unity to the
state.
Adode pointed out that that
football is a unifying factor
that brings peace in the society
and can also assist in removing
the youths from the
streets and other social vices,
saying that a tournament of
this kind would have been held
last year but due to lack of finance.
Mr. Christian Cassidy who
thanked the council boss on
behalf of the Cassidy family
appreciated him for the great
honour he has bestowed on
the family and late Clifford
Cassidy.

PAGE 34—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
Cast out fear, praise Him
he New Year is still fresh
Twith us and we do not
what it has for us. God alone
knows what is in it for us. My
prayer is that this would be
our year of testimonies, a year
that would bring an end to all
challenges, a year of Laughter
Ḣowever, we must know
that miracles are for those who
have had one challenge or the
other especially challenges
that no human being is able
resolve.
Anyone expecting a miracle
must also prepare for it. Did I
hear you say, how? The answer
is that you have some roles to
play even as you put your trust
in the Almighty God.
First, you need to cast our
fear. What is fear? Fear as a
noun is described as “ an emotion
experienced in anticipation
of some specific pain or
danger (usually accompanied
by a desire to flee or fight) . As
a verb, it is described as “ be
afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive
about a possible or
probable situation or event”.
Whichever definition we
choose, fear is real but a believer
in Christ must cast out
the spirit of fear.
hen you walk through
Wthe door in any gathering,
instantly we can tell a
number of things about you.
Believe it or not up to 11 assumptions
are made regarding
your economic level, education
level, social position,
exposure level and many
more. It takes seconds to form
a good first impression; it may
take a life time to get rid of a
bad one.
Everybody is unique with
their own style; the way you
present yourself creates your
image and that of your business.
People will do business
with you based on what they
see. Do you look authoritative,
approachable or aloof? You
are a brand how you package
yourself makes a big difference.
Attractive packaging
will set you apart from competition.
Essentially the way
you look and carry yourself is
your very own Personal Brand.
Believe it or not your selfbrand
is directly affected by
your level of etiquette savvy.
Identifying, recognizing and
enhancing your personal
brand is key today for career
and professional success.
Putting it all into perspective
you can consider yourself
Joyfulhomes2015@gmail.com
Matthew 1 vs. 19 & 20 tells
us something about fear “
Then Joseph her husband,
being a just man, and not willing
to make her a publick example,
was minded to put her
away privily. But while he
thought on these things, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared
unto him in a dream,
saying, Joseph, thou son of
David, fear not to take unto
thee Mary thy wife: for that
which is conceived in her is of
the Holy Ghost”.
Joseph was afraid yet he
loved Mary. Hence he thought
about what to do to avoid public
disgrace.
Brother, you love your wife
but you are afraid of your inlaws
who have been putting
pressure on you because your
marriage is yet to be blessed
with children. May I suggest
that you ask the Holy Spirit
to empower you to cast out
fear of what human beings
can do to you? Hold on to
God by giving him praise and
you will be surprised what the
Lord will do for you.
Should you succumb to the
fear of in-laws or friends, you
may end up with a situation
that could endanger your life.
janet.adetu@gmail.com
Branding your image
as a package that is boxed,
labelled and priced both consciously
and unconsciously by
all. How do you set yourself
apart for distinction, that
package that stands tall
among the rest.
You want to dawn with seven
C’s including character,
charisma, charm, class competence,
credibility and clout.
These will help you build and
sustain both your elf and professional
image.
Are you a prized package?
Let me leave you with 8 success
strategies for becoming
a prized package.
8 Success Strategies for
branding your image
1. Define who you are:
How would you feel if you
discovered that someone has
the same name as you? Almost
like a case of stolen identity.
A friend of mine, a medical
doctor had her identity stolen
from her by someone who
had been using her name for
8 years before she found out.
The medical board could not
and would not change her
name on her qualification by
virtue of their strict policy. Her
medical career was ruined because
that person had a
stream of criminal records.
Delta retirees want pension payment
based on N18, 000 minimum wage
Delta State Civil Serv
ice retirees in the
Contributory Pension
Scheme have called on
the state government to expedite
action and pay them their
benefits based on N18,000
minimum wage instead of the
present payment based on the
old salary regime of N7,000
minimum wage.
The group in a statement
signed by its Chairman,
Comrade Agbaka A .l and
Secretary, Okproma J.O respectively,
said that the issue
of the payment of the differential
had dragged since 2015,
lamenting that nothing concrete
had been done even after
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa
led- administration pledged to
implement after authenticating
the actuarial valuation
report prepared by Messrs B.A
Adigun and Associates and
approved by his predecessor,
Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.
The retirees further lamented
that even after the Prof.
Monye and Hon Emu Kingsley-led
verification Committee
had engaged the services
of H.R Consultancy, a body of
Actuarial valuers, and submitted
more than 11 reports,
but faulted by NLC, JNC,
TUC and ACR, on grounds
I give an example of what I
mean. A couple got married
and had to wait on the Lord
for children. The man’s relations
put him under pressure
to have a secret wife. He succumbed
and a woman gave
him a son. His wife was kept
in the dark.
Within a few years, a quarrel
broke out between the
man and his secret wife. The
woman in anger told him, he
was not the biological father
of the child. In the course of
the quarrel another man
showed up to claim the child.
The biological father threatened
to have his child or kill
the ‘ husband’. The man who
struck a secret deal with his
relations ended with greater
fear. Fear for his life. He
became so troubled that he
had to confess to his wife. At
the end, he ran for his life. He
had allowed pressure from
relations and friends to move
him from the lower level of
fear to a higher level.
It was then it dawned on him
that the solution to the challenge
lies in cooperating with
his wife in prayer, service to
the Lord and thanksgiving.
To the glory of God, the couple
was blessed with a set of
twins, a boy and a girl.
David, the son of Jesse as a
shepherd was someone who
Brand your unique name it
should have clarity, consistency
and constancy.
Be clear and know who you
are and what you stand for. If
you are a banker; act like a
banker at all times in the business
and social settings. Be
consistent in the way you communicate
your brand when
writing or talking or even
through emails, text messages
or on social media. Ensure
that to all who need to see you,
you are constantly visible.
•What are your unique attributes
•What makes you tick
•What motivates you
No matter how different we
appear to be we all have
unique characteristics.
Are you determined, dedicated,
devoted, (what is most
important to you?)
2. Create and complete a
SWOT Analysis:
This is quite a familiar term
so take time out to :
- Identify your internal characteristics
that accentuate
your strengths
- Know your internal weaknesses
that you must improve
upon
- What does the environment
offer you in terms of opportunities?
- Do not overlook the underlying
threats that could
that the reports lacked the best
practice and indices of professional
Actuarial valuation,
yet nothing worthwhile had
since been achieved.
The pensioners therefore,
called on the Delta State Government
to among others,
substitute the reconstituted
Prof Monye and Emu Kingsley
led committee with a new
body; involve the NLC, JNC,
TUC and ACR in the new
committee, as these bodies
were part of the committee
that submitted the acceptable
report; and invite PENCOM
as well as the two actuarial
valuers that handled the report,
to the committee to put
an end to this issue of harmonized
pension.
had cause to be afraid. He
was always in the forest-tendering
sheep. He had reasons
Once you are able
to cast out fear,
your miracle is
imminent
to be afraid because of attack
from animals and reptiles on
him or his flock but he overcame
fear by looking unto the
Lord.
Brethren, you too can overcome
fear. Don’t allow anyone
to instill fear into you.
Once you give them the space
for fear in your heart, the devil
will take over. Some people
are so afraid that they get
to a point where they are even
afraid to serve the Lord.
David said in Psalm 27 vs. 1
“ The Lord is my light and my
salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my
life; of whom shall I be afraid?
He continued in verses 5&6
“ For in the time of trouble he
shall hide me in his pavilion:
in the secret of his tabernacle
shall he hide me; he shall set
up upon a rock. And now shall
mine head be lifted up above
mine enemies round about
me: therefore will I offer in his
tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I
will sing, yea, I will sing praises
unto the LORD”.
Brethren, did you get the
point? David cast out the spirit
of fear. He handed over the
challenge to God and praised
also arise.
Take a moment to honestly
assess yourself and find out
your swot analysis.
3. Identify your Grooming
Style and Dress Sense
Be careful to pay attention
to detail when it comes to
good grooming as nothing
goes unnoticed. If you cannot
take care of yourself well; in
the business world we look at
that as one who will not pay
attention to projects, assignments
and duties. Simple
things like wearing a signature
fragrance, properly applied
makeup (if a lady), wearing
clothes that fit the body
you have now and not the one
you want or wish you had or
praying to have. When you
wear clothes ask yourself-
• Do they fit your profession,
age and status
• Have you considered color
coordination
• Do you look respectful, reliable
and representative of
your organization.
4. Watch your Posture
Your posture shows signs of
body language saying a lot
ASenior Special Ad
viser ( SSA) to Gov
ernor Ifeanyi
Okowa on Peace Building
and Community Relations,
Olorogun Eunice Okoh,
has asserted that the Supreme
Court election victory
of Governor Okowa was
a validation of Deltans'
mandate for him at the 2019
general elections.
Okoh made the assertion
in a media chat with our correspondent
while reacting to
the apex court's judgement
at Otu Jeremi, Ughelli
South Local Government
Area on Thursday January
9th, 2020.
" Deltans voted massively
for His Excellency, Governor
Okowa in the last gen-
God. You too can do the same.
Make up your mind that in
2020, you will see the end of
all challenges.
Take the steps that David
took as recorded in verses 3&4
of Psalm 27: “ Though an host
should encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear: though
war should rise against me,
in this will I be confident. One
thing have I desired of the
LORD, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house
of the LORD all the days of
my life, to behold the beauty
of the Lord, and to inquire in
his temple”.
Brethren, you are the one to
cast out fear. The sermons you
listen to build up your confidence
and trust in the Lord but
the decision to cast out fear is
yours.
Once you are able to cast
out fear, your miracle is imminent.
It is also advisable that you
lay a solid foundation for the
miracle that you expect this
year by participating in fasting.
Some churches have declared
fasting between January
and February to lay a solid
foundation for the expectation
of members that must be
met this year. Brethren, fasting
and prayer do not kill;
rather, it moves you closer to
God.
With fasting, you put the flesh
under control while your
prayer moves you closer to
God. As you get intimate with
the Lord, your miracle rolls
in
Ṙesolve to be thankful to
God and praise Him daily.
The truth is that, the physical
things that we thank God for
without saying a single word.
It makes all the difference
when you do not carry yourself
well. Our first impression
of you is tied to what we see.
55% of the time, we look at
your appearance, body language
as well as attitude. Imagine
being well dressed at a
conference, slouching in your
chair and picking your nose.
It is about being conversant
with the way you sit, stand and
walk. Always sit upright, stand
erect and walk with a purpose.
if you are the boss the
worst thing that could happen
is if a client were to enter your
office and walk right passed
you looking for the boss.
5. Your Vocals
Your voice commands audience.
I always tell my trainees
that to project your voice
well you will need to be standing.
Monitor your choice of
words with maturity, how you
deliver your words in the pitch,
pace and speed of your voice.
Your voice can give you away,
speak with confidence. When
I say vocals I also mean spoken
and unspoken. If you are
are of smaller proportion
compared to the invisible
things that God has done for
us
İ’ll share a testimony. A lady
was waiting on the Lord, her
husband was patient but her
in-laws were impatient. They
actually sent one of them to
poison her, which he did. She
never knew she was poisoned.
During one the services she
attended, a word of wisdom
was released that someone in
the congregation had been
poisoned but that God would
heal her.
Those who wanted to kill
her wanted her out of the way.
That was the enemy’s solution
to her barrenness but God rose
for her. As I write today, she is
a mother of three children.
Brethren, be determined to
cast out fear. Fear does not
allow faith to grow. Fear must
give way for faith to grow. The
word of God helps grow our
faith and this is one good reason
we must create time to
study the Holy Bible and meditate
on it.
Brethren, as you continue to
praise the Lord, challenges
will give way.
With our study of the word
of God, the peace of the Lord
is guaranteed. You will have
less worries, the joy of the Lord
will give you the type of peace
that only the Lord can give
you.
Brethren, resolve to praise
the Lord at all times.
Praise him with all your
heart and you will testify to
his goodness.
We’ll continue next week if
the coming of the Lord tarries.
Shalom!
still using abbreviation text
messages in a business setting
you are indeed killing your
image.
6. Master your Business
Etiquette Savvy Skills
Business etiquette savvy is
very important for your business.
This is the secret that will
grow your business and put
you on the success ladder.
• How do you introduce
yourself? First name only or
first and surname.
• How do you introduce others
you know to each other?
• How do you present your
business card?
• Do you have a business
card?
• Where is your business
card?
• Handshake: what does
your handshake say about
you?
• Remember Names: you
just met someone yesterday,
do you remember their name?
It is not about your talent, it
is more to do with how you
build and sustain your relationships.
• Hand shake
• Eye contact
• Smile
• Greeting style
7. Mix Mingle / Networking
skills.
How do you feel walking
into a room of strangers? Are
you shy, anxious, confident, or
extrovertive? Your ability to
build your network is what will
keep your brand alive. Master
how to mingle, generate
small talk and keep a conversation
going. Begin to join relevant
groups or associations
to ease the networking experience.
Okowa's Supreme Court victory, validation
of people's mandate — Okoh
eral elections. He won twenty-
three out of twenty- five
local government areas.
" It was a wide margin. So
I was not expecting anything
less from any court that
would handle a petition
against his victory at that
election".
Okoh who was a former
Vice Chairman of Ughelli
South Local Government
Council, further asserted
that God has ordained Governor
Okowa to govern Delta
State for a second
tenure,"so no man can
change what God has ordained".
She then advised Chief
Great Ogboru and the All
Progressives Congress (APC
) members in the state to
gladly accept Governor
Okowa's call for them to join
hands in building a stronger
Delta State.
The Okwagbe-born political
icon also stated that
Governor Okowa was establishing
a legacy that would
unite Deltans and make the
state a better place with the
concept of a ' Stronger Delta
'
She commended Governor
Okowa for his concept
of ' Prosperity for all Deltans
' ,noting that the establishment
of the various empowerment
programmes
have positively touched the
lives of youths in the state.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020,PAGE 35
I was told to prepare for the worst
– Mother of conjoined twins separated in Abuja
By Luminous Jannamike, Abuja
Goodness and Mercy Martins
were born attached to each
other at the heart, diaphragm
and liver on August 12, 2018.
Before now, it was unheard of in
history that twins sharing such vital
organs survived separation surgery in
Nigeria.
So, within hours of their birth, the
twins were referred from the Federal
Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa
State to the National Hospital Abuja
for emergency care owing to the
complexity of their case.
Surgeons in Abuja spent over 14
months rehearsing the final
separation procedure on a 3D
simulation of a conjoined heart and
other delicate organs.
To the amazement of their parents
and the doctors, however, the
conjoined sisters survived four
complex surgeries to live
independently.
Inside The
Womb
A woman releases two eggs during
ovulation. One may be fertilized if she
engages in unprotected sexual
intercourse during her menstrual mid
cycle.
The fertilised egg may split into two
embryos with each part having its
own amniotic sacs.
However, if the splitting process does
not complete; the embryos become
conjoined.
Since only one egg is involved,
conjoined twins are always the same
gender and are genetically identical.
According to a 2017 paper in the
journal of Clinical Anatomy, conjoined
twins are extremely rare, with an
incidence of one in 50,000 births.
Survival Chance
Success of separation surgery
depends on where the twins are
joined. The most common type of
conjoined twins is that fused at the
abdomen. At least one twin survives
75 per cent of the time.
Medical experts can only tell which
organs the siblings share and,
therefore, plan surgery after they are
born.
Those joined are the heart are the
most difficult to separate hence
possess the least chance of survival.
Only five per cent of them live longer
than 24 hours.
The Odds
“Goodness and Mercy are such
resilient girls,” said Michael Edeh
Martins, their father, on the day the
girls were discharged.
Minutes after their birth, doctors at
FMC Keffi told Martins and his wife,
Maria, that there was almost no way
the girls could make it in Nasarawa.
According to preliminary
diagnostics, the conjoined twins
appeared to share the same heart
which caused the family huge anxiety.
But, determined to keep their little
girls, the Martins family sought a
second opinion - and found the
answer they were looking for.
Doctors in Keffi promptly referred
the conjoined babies to the premium
tertiary healthcare facility in the
nation’s capital for emergency care.
Experts at the National Hospital did
a close analysis and found that each
girl had her own tiny
heart which were
almost beating at the
same time and attached
to one another at the
atrium.
Also, the experts
found that the twins
had only one liver but
it was big enough to
pass for the size of two.
Aside from being
joined at the two most
delicate organs of the
body, the Martins twins
were born with a
condition known as
omphalocele, a birth
defect that left a section
of their intestine
sticking outside their
navel.
The odds were still
stacked against them,
but there was a chance.
However, the
separation surgery and
other sundry needs of
the conjoined sisters
would cost about N20
million.
Born with a combined birth weight
of 5kg via c-section, their father, an
Oturkpo-born painter, and their
unemployed mother could barely
afford to meet their own basic
necessities let alone N20 million
surgery cost.
I was told by
some friends
and relatives to
prepare myself
that there may
no longer be
any heartbeat
from the girls
after the
separation
surgery
Succour
After doctors took necessary scans of
their organs to make 3D printed copies
for further analysis, the sisters’ case
was brought before the National
Hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Dr.
Jaf Momoh, who mobilised resources
for surgery.
Momoh said the hospital
management decided to fund the care
and the entire processes leading to the
major surgical procedure for the
separation as its corporate social
responsibility.
He also approved the setting-up of
a multidisciplinary team of medical
experts led by Prof. Emmanuel Ameh,
a Chief Consultant Pediatrics
Surgeon, to handle the case of the
Martins sisters.
The 78-man medical team spent over
one year meeting, planning and
rehearsing the procedure on a 3D
print-out of a conjoined heart.
With no clear separation points in
their fused organs, the
experts would have no
option but to cut some
vessels. However, they
must do their best to keep
it to a minimum.
The surgery finally took
place last November,
stretching out an
agonizing 13 hours to
have the liver separated,
the diaphragm, then the
heart.
The operation to treat
their omphalocele was
not a smooth ride as one
of the sisters recovered
within hours, while the
other had complications
that delayed her own
recovery.
According to Ameh,
plastic surgeons on the
team were particularly
worried that a large
section of the girls’ chest
would be open and at risk
of being infected once
they were separated.
He, however, added
that they had to create
artificial skin large enough to cover
the area, which took several weeks to
achieve.
“We needed to determine if they
could live independently when they
are separated. We found out that they
were sharing a diaphragm and one
liver was serving both of them, but all
other organs were separate,” Ameh
stressed.
Despite the challenges that
bedevilled the surgery, he described
the twins’ overall recovery as
astronomical.
Now, after weeks on ventilation
machines, they are stable and continue
to defy the odds against them.
What’s
Next?
Though the outlook for them is very
strong, there are fears of possible postsurgery
complications.
The National Hospital says the
separated twins will have to be
monitored over the next few months
to ensure they lived healthy lives.
Board Chairman of the hospital, Mrs
Partricia Etteh, said the hospital would
give the parents N200, 000 for the
upkeep of the babies.
She also called on well-meaning
Nigerians to assist the parents to
properly cater for the twins.
Gift
Responding to the call, Minister of
Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen,
commended the medical team and
assured of automatic employment for
the unemployed mother in the Federal
Civil Service.
On his part, the Minister of State for
Health, Adeleke Mamora, who is also
a father of twins, announced a
donation of an undisclosed sum to the
parents of the separated twins.
According to the father of the girls,
“to see my daughters’ thrive in the
ICU, then come off the ventilator and
now discharged was unbelievably true and
exciting”.
“After our daughters’ birth, we were
scared but abandoning them was never
an option. I just couldn’t do that… and
look I made the right decision,” Martins
said.
On her part, the mother of the twins,
Maria, said at some point, she was told to
prepare for the worst as the twins’ chances
of survival were so slim.
“I was told by some friends and relatives
to prepare myself that there may no longer
be any heartbeat from the girls after the
separation surgery,” she said. She
expressed appreciation to government,
staff and management of the National
Hospital, as well as family and wellwishers
for the support that saved his girls.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
Will these World events define
2020 and beyond?
This is the conclusion of
the three-part reflec
tions of my views and
opinions on events in 2019. It
was challenging getting the
thoughts together to make
them very compact. Last year
was quite significant in the
history of the last decade. As a
result, I tried as much as possible
to write on some of the
events that defined the year.
In the course of achieving
this, I realised that I wrote
more on BREXIT than any
other subject. This is understandable.
I live in the United
Kingdom; thus, I am more affected
by events in the country
than any other place in the
world. For the past three years,
BREXIT has been the main
focus of all discussions in the
country. Although I wondered
the unnecessary burden David
Cameron's government
placed on the citizens.
2019 is gone. 2020 is turning
out to be more eventful.
The activities of the last few
days have aroused us to the
fact that this decade will throw
up more surprises than the
last. There have been some
natural and man-made occurrences
that are threatening
the peace of the world and
there are no signs of these ending
soon.
The Australia fire which
started late last year has continued
till date increasing the
death toll by the days. Over
200 homes have been destroyed
in the fire, and almost
half a million animals are
dead or injured. Prime Minister
Scott Morrison experienced
the backlash of his people
as he was accused of doing
little to assuage their
wounds. He was heckled on
his visits to the affected areas.
You wonder if these political
leaders ever have good
thoughts towards their subjects.
If Morrison did, he took
him quite some time to show
his people.
Nature came out to play last
week in Puerto Rico when an
earthquake of 6.4 magnitude
hit the country. This prompted
the government to declare
a state of emergency, and
members of the National
Guard drafted in for recovery.
It destroyed the country’s
main electricity generating
facility and rendered many
citizens homeless. This was a
critical disaster for a country
recovering from the September
2017 Hurricane Maria
which, according to reports,
killed 2,975 people and
caused damage of up to $100
billion.
WEEKLY HOROSCOPE
By Joshua Adeyemo joshuaadeyemo@yahoo.com
ABOUT THE MOON
Periods of the Moon’s fluctuation as given here-under,
are when unexpected frustrations and disappointments
are possible .And those are the times when other people
should not be taken for granted. Any period with hysteric (*)
should be handled more carefully. However if I write
that such periods/days favour you, you have no cause
to worry. Therefore you are advised to plan your week
carefully. Such periods/days are:
2.43pm to 3.08pm of Monday (same day)*
1.13pm to 4.44pm of Wednesday(same day)
2.00pm to 7.22pm of Friday (Same day)*
By 2.00pm on Friday, there will Third Quarter Moon in
26th degree of. Romantic Venus moves into passionate Pisces
on Monday by 7.40pm. Intelligent Mercury comes into
intellectual related Aquarius by 7.32pm on Thursday. During
the week, Moon will go through Leo, Virgo, Libra and
Scorpio.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
BUSINESS; Reliance on your mental energy’ll bring good
results. Make good contacts.
MONEY; This is not the right time for new joint ventures,
with stranger like friends.
LOVE; Your sex appeal may attract extravagant admirers.
Watch out on Friday.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
BUSINESS; It is important you take legal related issues
more seriously. Be moderate.
MONEY; Say no to not too practical advice from friends on
Tuesday. Utilise Thursday.
LOVE; Exhibition of mental arrogance by you can bring
avoidable trouble on Saturday.
PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 19)
BUSINESS; Refusal of others to give you needed cooperation
on Tuesday indicated.
MONEY; Hard work and self reliance are keys to the much
needed success at this point.
LOVE; After minor challenges on Tuesday, positive influence
will take over. Be loving.
ARIES ( Mar 20 – Apr 19)
BUSINESS ; People around you are under pressure on
Tuesday : try to pacify them then.
MONEY; Better opportunities will be yours on Thursday, if
you are more cooperative.
LOVE; Excitement and fantasy early in the week can induce
infatuation. Be more realistic.
TAURUS ( Apr 20 – May 20)
The Iranians started the
year on a bad note. The country,
mourning the death of the
head of its elite Quds Force,
Qassem Soleimani, in the
hands of United States forces,
was hit by two severe earthquakes.
Mother nature does
not mourn. Soleimani was
killed alongside Abu Mahdi
al-Muhandis, the deputy
commander of the militia-
Popular Mobilisation Forces.
The killing was the culmination
of months (years) of hostilities
between Iran and the
US. The Iranian leaders described
the attack as an act of
“international terrorism” and
promised “hard revenge.” The
US claimed it acted in selfdefence
as Soleimani was actively
developing plans to attack
American diplomats and
service members in Iraq and
throughout the Middle East.
The “hard revenge” was
carried out last week, but it
was below the scale the world
had expected. The damage
was minimal and a promise
that it won’t take any new military
steps if there are no further
aggressions from the US.
The playout of the drama had
melted the tension around the
world. However, Iran will
have to explain the crash of
the Ukrainian passenger
plane near Tehran. All fingers
point to a fatal error on their
part as Western powers maintain
it was a missile from them
that caused the crash.
Just as we were getting our
heads around the developments
in the Middle East, the
Duke and Duchess of Sussex,
Prince Harry and Meghan
dropped a bombshell. They
announced “resignation”
from their roles as “senior royals.”
Their decision is causing
Iran will have to explain
the crash of the
Ukrainian passenger
plane near Tehran. All
fingers point to a fatal
error on their part as
Western powers
maintain it was a
missile from them that
caused the crash
ripples in the royal family and
the general public, but you
cannot fault the couple. They
have been subjects of constant
negative press in recent times.
I am guessing they took this
decision, so they could step
away from public scrutiny
while they enjoy their lives. As
this is a developing story, it will
be in the public domain for
some time to come.
2019 IN RETROSPECT (3)
The chances of Jo Swinson,
the leader of the United Kingdom’s
Liberal Democrat of
occupying 10 Downing Street
were very slim. She was a long
shot, but not because she was
unqualified. No. If politics
works according to wishes,
she would be the Prime Minister.
Swinson was elected leader
a few months earlier making
her the most youthful leader
of the Lib Dem till date. She
looked like the new deal – the
modern alternative to Labour
BUSINESS; Don’t mistake gambling for enterprising endeavour
and run into avoidable troubles.
MONEY; If you take your new ideas seriously, unexpected
success’ll be yours. Be positive.
LOVE: Unless you’re more determined, you may succumb
to temptation to gamble on Tuesday.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 20)
BUSINESS; Thinking negatively may affect your health
and working pattern. Be optimistic.
MONEY; Whatever others think, say or do they cant stop
your mid-week success.
LOVE; Be your intelligent self and avoid energy sapping
excitement on Friday. Be moderate.
CANCER (June 21 – July 22)
BUSINESS; Don’t allow anybody to set you against veterans
within your base on Friday.
MONEY; Even if aggressive ones work against you, Tue &
Wed will bring you success.
LOVE; Handle domestic challenges with maturity on Friday.
Enjoy mid-week romance.
LEO (Jul23 – Aug 22)
BUSINESS; Level of your concentration’ll be improved.
Do away with pessimism. Be steady.
MONEY; Guard against bad mistakes, especially on Friday.
Mid-week success indicated.
LOVE; Nice opportunities’ll come earlier in the week. Avoid
gambling on Tuesday.
VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)
BUSINESS; Your active mind is clearer than those trying
to ignorantly advise you wrongly.
MONEY; If you take the initiative, remarkable mid-week
success’ll surprise you pleasantly.
LOVE; After confusion you caused on Tuesday, mid-week
success’ll ease off all tension.
LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 22)
BUSINESS : Starting unhealthy competition on Monday, is
to pay back badly on Friday.
MONEY; Cooperative approach on Wednesday’ll earn
you unexpected good results.
LOVE; For your home to remain peaceful on Friday is for
you to exhibit maturity.
SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
BUSINESS; You’ll have the needed supports of powerful
ones early in the week. Be receptive.
MONEY; Your refusal to crack under pressure will earn you
good results on Thursday.
LOVE; Un expected support’ll make you happier on Wednesday.
Avoid unnecessary argument.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec21)
BUSINESS; Here comes an ambitious week when you’ll
need to be as moderate as necessary.
and Conservative Parties. At
this time, all the drama on the
modalities for exiting the European
Union was in full play.
Swinson perceived this as an
opportunity to push her ideology.
But the extremity of this
shocked many people, including
her supporters.
Looking directly into the
camera, she said: “The first
task is clear. We must stop
BREXIT. And we are crystal
clear: a Liberal Democrat
majority government will revoke
Article 50 on day one.”
The rapturous applause in the
hall did not, however, reflect
the mood in the country. The
general public thought she
had lost her mind.
At the end of the gamble,
Swinson not only lost her seat
in last December’s General
Election but also the leadership
of her party. She resigned
as a result of the humiliation.
The steam she exhibited at the
start of the campaign became
painful “huffs” for her and the
team. This showed how disconnected
the Lib Dem was
to the cause of the majority of
citizens.
Swinson had company in
Nigel Farage, the leader of
BREXIT party. It was a show
of shame as his party did not
win a seat. This has left analysts
wondering if the result
would finally consign this
“nationalist” into the dustbin
of history. For the Labour Party,
things will no longer be the
same for Jeremy Corbyn or
the party. His leadership style
divided the party resulting in
the exodus of loyal members.
He lost all the grounds gained
in the 2017 election to infighting,
breakaways and lack of
clear vision for the UK. He
will play a backbench politics
in this new decade.
In October, Nigeria marked
her 59th independence anniversary.
It was a time for celebrations
as fifty-nine years in
the life of a country is no mean
feat. It was thus symbolic, especially
for a country that has
been through many challenges.
In Nigeria, hope is never
in short supply. But at no time
is the currency of hope more
alive than around the Independence
Day celebrations.
Nigeria is on bended knees,
struggling to stand straight.
She is in this position as a result
of the misuse of the natural
and human resources that
abound in the country. The
reality of today does not reflect
the dreams of opportunities,
jobs, housing facilities,
better infrastructures, etc. of
the forefathers. The political
leaders are incapable of accomplishing
anything. Individuals
touted as messiahs
have become liabilities because
the citizens like to worship
the “messiahs” as “gods”
and do their bidding.
The story of 2019 will be incomplete
without a mention
of Prince Andrew, the son of
Queen Elizabeth. He dragged
the royal name through the
mud by his association with a
convicted sex offender. The
damage would have been
minimal if the Prince had kept
his mouth shut afterwards.
No. He decided to go public
on his denials and in the process
exposed himself further.
In all, 2019 was a great year
for some. It ended on a high
note for Boris Johnson, Volodymyr
Zelensky, Anthony
Joshua and many others.
Looking forward to a better
2020.
Concluded.
MONEY; Business pressure’ll lead to unexpected success on
Tuesday. Be steady and practical.
LOVE; Success (financial ? ) will bring admiration and
secret happiness on Saturday.
ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELING 4 LOVERS
SHOULD WE ALLOW THEM ?
Dear Counsellor
Me and my husband physically came and consulted you
sometimes around December in the year 1998. We came to
you because of fruits of womb related challenges. Your advice
was taken seriously by both of us. And, I missed my period
eventually in 1999 as rightly predicted by you ; God blessed
us with a daughter. Although, we have had another girl and a
boy. It becomes very important to seek your professional advice
on our daughter born on January 28, 2000, meant to
complete her University education in the near future. She is in
for Computer Science. A relatively well to do son of my husband’s
mentor (in the business circle) develops interest in our
daughter. His date is July 28, 1984. He lost his wife through
child birth. Himself and his father want my daughter as his
wife. My mind is agitating on two things (1). He is a Muslim
like his father while we are Christians. (2) . Would they allow
our daughter to complete her education as they promised, if
we agree ? At this point both myself and my husband are very
close to confusion. Please help us out. Sorry for our not getting
in touch since then. Should we say yes ?
Mr & Mrs Anonymous,
Ibadan.
Dear Mr. & Mrs Anonymous,
Two reasons make me happy for you. Because, God answered
our prayers on one hand. On the other hand you seek
my advice at the right time. Making right decision at the right
time can be taken as great achievement and I say BIG CON-
GRATULATIONS TO YOU. I am begging you in the mighty
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to allow this supper intelligent
teenager to complete her University education before
dabbling into the risky terrain of emotional attachment. Honestly
am happy for your entire family because if you take my
advice seriously this time around, the way you have done many
years ago, you will avoid everlasting sorrow, trouble and hard
to resolve continuous life challenges. These two different
SOULS (your daughter and the widower) are not compatible
at all. Your daughter belongs to supper intelligent class with
innate desire for higher degree of freedom as indicated by
cluster of planets in revolutionary Aquarius. As her natal Mercury
(thinking process) and Uranus (genius/invention/FREE-
DOM) conjoined in independent minded Aquarius when she
was born, living in bondage (which this relationship will eventually
turn out to be) can lead to very bad health/possible
death. The man is a complete DICTATOR as indicated by new
Moon in kingly Leo at bad angle to difficult Saturn in sex/
jealousy/death related Scorpio when he was born. Space here
can not take many more revelations. This girl will have her life
breakthrough and chance for happy marriage between her
25th and 27th years on earth.

By Sam Eyoboka
GEDEGBE Onosakponome Matthew is
Iover 50 years old. He had arrived the
Ajamimogha Street venue of the 2019 Word
of Life Bible Church cum Eagle Flight Microfinance
Bank Limited annual empowerment
programme with high expectations and
the middle-aged man with virtual impairment
was not disappointed. He became a sudden
owner of a brand new a brand new ready-touse
tricycle courtesy of Word of Life Bible
Church in collaboration with its subsidiary,
Eagle Flight Micro-Finance Bank.
Aided by his daughter who also could not
hide her joy, blind Igedegbe became a recepient
of the tricycle via a ballot picked by a 6-
year old boy to become one of the over 1,000
beneficiaries of the empowerment programme
and was full of excitement despite
his disability on that humid Boxing Day afternoon.
The case of Akpoduado Anthony, a onelegged
middle-aged man resident of Warri is
a story to behold. Anthony who was actively
engaged in company suddenly fell ill with a
life-threatening diabetes disease which eventually
led to the amputation of one leg at the
Delta State University Teaching Hospital,
Oghara in Ethiope East Local Government
Area of the state. He’s been placed on half
salary as a result of the health challenge but
as luck has smiled on him, he will soon be
receiving new dreams as a recipient of the
tricycle.
Nnamani Ikechukwu Christopher became
the first owner of a mini-bus at the empowerment
programme to mark the 14th anniversary
of the Eagle Flight Microfinance Bank.
He was immediately followed by Otighi Benny
and Ogbose Josephine as the mammoth
crowd of expectant persons were anxiously
awaiting the announcements of their names.
The second set of recipients included Paul
Favour Emily, 30; Eturuemu Doris, Tina
Amaka Okubama, 35, and Iredia Friday Fred
ended up with a tricycle each.
Two twin brothers Davies Madamedon and
Dennis Madamedon, 18, residing at Ekurede
Itsekiri and SS1 students were also blessed
with two grinding machines which they hoped
to use to assist in the payment of their school
fees. On the whole, in line with the church’s
mission statement of building and equipping
the people that build the nation and in the
spirit of Christmas, the Word of Life Bible
Church in conjunction with its Eagle Flight
Microfinance Bank Limited gave out 20 minibuses,
five tricycles, 50 grinding machines to
less privileged persons as part of its yearly
empowerment programme.
Like it has always been on every December
26, in the past couple of years, Ajamimogha
Road, Warri, Delta State was not different this
year. The only thing that stood the street out
among the previous years was that the crowd
that greeted it was unprecedented! As early as
6.00 a.m. that fateful day, even when some
The Voice of the Lord
BISHOP WALE OKE
Think it over
Contact Address:
The Sword of the Spirit Ministries,
The Garden of Victory,Old Ife Road,P.M.B 60,
Agodi-Ibadan,Oyo State
Telephones:
0813 128 4001, 08186991467
Email: ootpbsotsm@gmail.com
& info@sotsm.org
Website:www.sotsm.org
facebook.com/franciswaleoke
Twitter:@franciswaleoke
Instagram:@franciswaleoke
sam.eyoboka@gmail.com
08023145567 (sms
Oritsejafor empowers 1,075 Warri residents
on't sin by letting anger control you.
DThink about it overnight and remain
silent (Psalm 4:4 NLT).
Many times we react in immediate anger
to a situation that we consider unpleasant
and provocative. While it is alright to
be angry, the Bible makes it clear that a
strong person controls his or her anger, that
"If you are sensible, you will control your
temper," that "when someone wrongs you,
it is a great virtue to ignore it" (Proverbs
19:11 GNB).
Yes, many times we as human, are not
able to immediately ignore a wrong that is
done against us, yet, the Bible teaches that
it is great strength to be slow to anger.
He that is slow to anger is better than the
mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he
that taketh a city (Prov. 16:32).
Anger is a natural tendency of every human
being. It is part of the nature of God
that we all share. God Himself gets angry
from time to time. The Bible says "God is
angry with the wicked every day" (Psalm
7:11). But a critical part of the nature of
God is that He is "slow to anger, and plenteous
in mercy" (Psalm 103:8, Psalm
145:8). In this regards, God wants each of
General Overseer of Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor presenting
the keys of a mini-bus to Anunobi Cosmas Chinedu, a youth corps member attached
to the church’s African Broadcasting Network while his wife, Mama Helen Oritsejafor
and Bishop Eddy Bebor watch with admiration.
Mama Helen Oritsejafor presenting the keys of another bus to Mrs. Juliet Amiroghoye
while her husband, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Bishop Eddy Bebor and others watch
with keen interest.
us His children to be like Him, "slow to
anger, and plenteous in mercy."
Our text today makes it plain that we
sin when we let our anger control us.
How many times have we carried our
anger overboard and have thereby
damaged precious relationships, sometimes
irrepairably.
The Bible teaches that rather than
giving in to a momentary burst of anger
we should "think about the matter
overnight and remain silent” (Psalm
4:4). After such deep reflection, you
can now take quality decision on what
measured and calculated response you
will make to the situation in question,
measures that are redemptive and not
destructive, measures that are corrective
and not damaging. This is the way
of the wise and mighty. May the wisdom
of God be with you in the current
situation at hand that has provoked
your anger.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let
every man be swift to hear, slow to
speak, slow to wrath:
For the wrath of man worketh not
the righteousness of God (James 1:19-
20).
•PASTOR IGHODALO
SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020 , PAGE 37
*Ituah Ighodalo is
the Senior Pastor,
Trinity House, Trinity
Avenue, Off Ligali
Ayorinde Street,
Victoria Island,
Lagos.
+234-808-895-6162
info@trinityhouseng.org
Who is the faithful and
limitless God ? (2)
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest,
and cold and heat, and summer and winter,
and day and night shall not cease. Genesis
8: 22 KJV
The word faithful means to be steadfast in
giving affection or allegiance. It is to be
firm in adherence to promises or in observance
of duty. We therefore say our God is
Faithful, firm in adherence to His promises that
He made to mankind and in observance of His
duty. It is God that has promised, and He will
fulfill that which he has promised. He is faithful
in covenant keeping. Gen 8: 21-22. Therefore,
the place that God’s covenant has put you, no
one can take you away from that place; not even
you can move yourself from there. Covenant is
an agreement; God has an agreement with man
and the agreement is sealed with His name and
the blood of Jesus Christ.
There are certain things we do not pray for in
this earth. You do not need to pray to sow seed
or to harvest because there will always be seed
people were still in their beds, following the
previous day’s activities, thousands of others
had already converged on the street, waiting
anxiously for the day’s event to kick-start.
The event was the 14th anniversary of a yearly
poverty alleviation programme of Eagle
Flight Micro-Finance Bank, solely owned by
Word of Life Bible Church, founded by immediate
past National President, Christian Association
of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.
All products were branded and registered
and ready for business just as there were consolation
prices of mini-bags of rice for 1,000
members of the church.
Making the presentation of one of the minibuses
to a 29-year old youth corps member
who will soon be rounding up his service in
Warri, Anunobi Cosmas Chinedu, the immediate
past National President of the Christian
Association of Nigeria, CAN and initiator of
the annual poverty alleviation empowerment,
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor encouraged all those
who had thronged that arena but were not so
lucky, to rejoice all the same.
“The fact that you participated, you have
won. The fact that you encouraged somebody
else, you have won. May God remember you
for good. And to those who today have won a
bus specifically, Cosmas God has remembered
you. we rejoice with you. We give God the glory
for your life. You came to Warri, you didn’t
know anybody except God and today God
has demonstrated that He has never foresaken
you. He has never forgotten you. Mama
and I join to rejoice with you and so today, I
present to you this bus in the name of God the
Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
God bless you. Congratulations,” he prayed.
In the same manner, his wife and chairman
of the Eagle Flight Microfinance Bank Limited,
Mama Helen Oritsejafor also prayed profusely
for the winner of the last bus, Mrs. Juliet
Amorighoye, a civil servant and a prayer
leader with the Word of Life Bible Church.
According to the coordinator of the programme
made it clear that winners of the products
who are not members of the Word of Life
Bible Church are expected to automatically
become members for the purpose of enabling
the church to mentor and disciple them for
“optimal usefulness to the church and our
communities. This is also to prevent the sale
of the gifted items as we saw in years past.
“Where a winner sells the item won, or not
seen in Church, the church and the Eagle Flight
Microfinance Bank reserves the right to recover
or retrieve such item from the winner.
For this purpose, our legal unit has prepared
a document to be signed by all winners of
tricycles and mini-buses,” the guideline read.
In a brief interview after the programme,
the martriach of the Church, Pastor (Mrs.)
Helen Aduola Oritsejafor said the gifts were
the couple’s way of giving back to the society,
especially the less privileged; noting that the
essence of wealth was all about sharing with
the needy. She appealed to corporate organisations
to be more proactive in coming up
with similar empowerment programmes that
could help cut down the poverty rate in the
country. Mama Helen said the level of poverty
in the country prompted their intervention,
adding wealth is nothing until “you
can positively affect lives of less privileged
persons in the society because if you take a
look at the masses of the country you can
see poverty.”
time and if you are able to plant a
seed you will always reap the harvest.
Once you plant a seed you
will reap in harvest, and it will
come without fail that harvest will
come. If you sow a bad seed the
harvest will come.
God is faithful in making a way.
A lot of times, certain things overwhelms
a lot of us. There are times
we think our prayers will not be
answered or that God will not fulfill
His promises to us. In 1 Corinthian
10:13, God assures us
through His words that no matter how
hard the temptation and life trials may
be, He will make a way out of it for us.
All the tension and anxiety, pain and
wonder whether we would make it or
not. God would always make a way.
Whatever it is we are going through;
God is faithful who will not make a way
of escape for us when we go through
temptation and life challenges. I assure
you that God will make a way, no matter
how bad the situation may seem. If
you are alive, there is hope for you in
the name of Jesus.
We are pressed on all sides, for some
it if because we fail to take the right
decision at the right time, for some because
we missed the way at a point in
life, for some it is because of external
factors, while for others it is because of
our carelessness. That test that does not
kill you will make you stronger.
Happy New Year.

PAGE 38 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020
The Wonders of Christ's
Unstoppable Power to Save (2)
By William Kumuyi
Mark 2:5 "When Jesus saw
their faith, he said unto the
sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins
be forgiven thee."
t does not matter the tight
I
spot or the present state
of condition you may find
yourself. This is borne out of
the fact that where there is a
will there is a way and the
moment you come to Jesus
everything will be alright.
This is exemplified in the life
of the paralyzed man who
had no hope nor persons to
recover him from his sorry
state until something dramatic
occurred because
Jesus came to town.
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ
the same yesterday, and to
day, and for ever."
The same Jesus that attracted
scores and thousands
of spectators, due to the manifestation
of the power of God
upon His life, still does awesome
wonders beyond comprehension
today. All you
would need is to tap into His
blessedness and that can only
occur you welcome Him into
your life as your sin taker, then
He would become your
chain breaker.
Mark 2:2-5 "And straightway
many were gathered together,
insomuch that there
was no room to receive them,
no, not so much as about the
door: and he preached the
word unto them. And they
come unto him, bringing one
Enforcing Christ’s victory
over Satan
T
sick of the
palsy,
which was
borne of
four. And
when they
could not
come nigh
unto him
Pastor Kumuyi for the
press, they uncovered the roof
where he was: and when they
had broken it up, they let down
the bed wherein the sick of the
palsy lay. When Jesus saw their
faith, he said unto the sick of
the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven
thee."
These people that came to
Jesus bringing the paralyzed
man had previously tried all
the solutions best known to
them, which could be scientific
and traditional, and might
have travelled far and wide in
search of solution, but without
any breakthrough. Not
until they met the final solution
(Jesus) were they relieved
of the heavy burden on their
shoulders.
May be you have tried everything
you could test run on
that problem and or situation
of yours without any hope,
and you have gone to all places
you could travel to seeking
for solution without avail; yet
I want to sincerely welcome
you for coming to the right
place because it is the final
place of the solution you have
been yearning for all these
while. To be continued
Rev. Emmanuel Awazie
*Assemblies of God Church Nigeria,
111 Clegg Street, Surulere,
Lagos.
he Good news of the Kingdom of God to humanity is that
Satan has been roundly defeated in this life and all eternity
for the benefit and to the advantage of the Church, and this
should be no secret to the Bible believing Christian - “God has
put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him
head over all things for the benefit of the church.” Eph. 1:22
also read Col. 2:15. This knowledge is made more relevant as
we learn how to effect this privilege in our real-world experiences.
Divine truth must translate into the liberty of the Children
of God, for the glorious life that God designed through the
death of Jesus Christ for His sons – “ And you will know the
truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jn. 8:32. Anything short
of this reality shortchanges us and reduces our effectiveness in
achieving all that God has purposed for us in this life.
Our Redemption is complete, because it was executed, done
by the One who is perfect - “Therefore he is able, once and
forever, to save* those who come to God through him....”
Heb. 7:25; as in every covenant act, however, our participation
is of the essence – “Dear friends, you always followed my
instructions when I was with you....now Work hard to show
the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence
and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the
desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Phil. 2:12-13.
It does matter to what extent that we are willing to participate
in line with scriptural revelation. God has chosen that as we
play our part in the entire affairs, we also personally experience
real solid joy – “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to
the Spirit and understand what he is saying...everyone who
is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise
of God.” Rev. 2:7. It is very difficult to experience joy indirectly;
there is something about direct personal involvement
that makes joy really justifiable and beneficial. You and I have
been offered with the life of Jesus Christ for this purpose –
“Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been
miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and
intimately, the One (Jesus Christ) who invited us to God...
your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned
your back on a world corrupted by lust.” 2 Peter 1:3-4.
Faith in Jesus Christ empowers the believer to become a
child of God and thereby share His nature and divine attributes
– “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his
name:..who are born, of God.” Jn. 1:12-13; also read 3:5-6.
God is our Father, He is the Omnipotent One, He created us
with the very quality that He has - “...So God created man in
his own image,....” Gen. 1:26-27; He has empowered us to
exercise His dominion on earth. Halleluiah! It is this nature
that can enforce the victory of Christ over Satan; it is this personality
that qualifies to overthrow Satan – “And they overcame
him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their
testimony;....” Rev. 12:11. Divine powerful tools can only be
understood and handled by those who share divine attributes,
that is why new birth is inevitable; the divine weapons simply
rout and crush Satan and his schemes – “...We use God’s mighty
weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning
and to destroy false arguments..., and punish everyone
who remains disobedient.” 2 Cor. 10:3-6.
In this new year, I urge you to believe the gospel of Christ and
learn to use God’s weapons – “...Be strong in the Lord and in
his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will
be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil...Pray
in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and
be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
Eph. 6:10-18. This way, you will be able to enforce the victory
of Christ in every area of life’s challenges.
Faith in the Redemptive names of God (28)
Jehovah-Eloheenu (The
Lord our God)
Text: Psalm 99:5,8-9
Introduction
EXALT the Lord our God
and worship at His footstool;
He is holy. O Lord our
God, You answered them; You
were to Israel a forgiving God,
though You punished their
misdeeds. Exalt the Lord our
God and worship at His holy
mountain, for the Lord our
God is holy. Psalm 99:5,8-9
NIV.
Jehovah-Eloheenu is the
name God declares Himself
as the Lord our God. This
name was what God used as a
testimony to the children of
Israel after their great victory
with His help in the crossing
of the Red Sea and the slaying
of their tormentors. Our testimony
is found in the power of
His might. We have testimonies
because we are not the
ones responsible, for there is a
God that sees us through and
ensures that even though we
take a dangerous trip through
the sunless valley of the shadow
of death, and yet without
consulting with Him, He protects
us and see us through.
GEN 41:1-46
Restoration of divine
greatness to wear the
kings ring; brethren,
in our daily matters arising,
God is first, Jesus and the
Holy Spirit. In all human undertakings,
there must be
matters arising before you
carry out your daily duties.
You must recognise the first
application that matters most
which is life and the owner of
LIFE which is God Almighty.
The two powerful personalities
enable you to journey your
necessary ways.
Consider Joseph the son of
Jacob what the brothers did
to and what he became at last,
because he held up unto the
BISHOP MACRRAN
RANSOM KELNANAH
The Apostolic Christian Chapel
3, Shoyinka Street, Itire
08035130729
Restoration of divine destiny
Lord his God, God led him
through and out of the pit to
where his great restoration is.
When he passed through the
kingdom of the pit the Lord
was with him in the pit. When
he was taken out of the pit by
his brothers and sold him to
kingdom of slavery, the spirit
of the Lord guided him to righteousness.
He was taken from
there to the kingdom of dungeon,
the holy spirit overwhelmed
him to make him
different. He gave the word of
wisdom to butler’s dream for
a way out of dungeon. Gen
40:9-15. After Joseph executrd
the judgement of devine interpretation
of butler’s dream
requesting him to think of him
• J.K. Akinola. (Senior Pastor)
His providential care
This name is to acknowledge
the blessing of God in our
life and never to forget the benefit.
We are so short sighted
that when faced with a fresh
challenge because we are anxious,
we seldom forget how
God rescued and led us to safety
when we were faced with a
challenge. We forget that He
is the same yesterday, today
and forever and He is here to
do more than He has done for
us because His mercies are
new every morning.
When the children of Israel
were greatly distressed God
did answered their cries. Many
times they forget what He did
in the past when faced with
another crisis. They come
charging against Moses, but
God was so patient and loving.
Despite their ingratitude,
He was always showing them
mercy. When we thought our
life is over He rescued and
delivered us. We don’t have the
facts and details on how He
did it so we declare that it is a
miracle.
His worship and reverential
fear
The earth is referred to as
God's footstool (Matthew
5:35; Isaiah 66:1); also, sometimes
Jerusalem is called
God’s footstool; likewise the
temple, the tabernacle, and
the ark of the Covenant are
all given such reference.
(Lamentation 2:1; Psalm
99:5; I Chronicles 28:2).
The Israelites, when they
worshipped, turned their faces
toward the ark, because that
was the place where was the
symbol of the divine presence
of GOD. When the people had
sinned, and wrath was about
to descend on them, Moses
and Aaron interceded for
them, and they were not destroyed.
God spared them, but
showed His displeasure at
their misdoings.
His justice and equity
The LORD reigns in terror,
power, and majesty. Let the
people tremble. "He sits between
the cherubim." He is always
present with His people;
they need not fear, though the
earth be moved. He is great in
Zion and more potent and
higher than all people.
Conclusion
This study of the name of
God will be concluded in the
next episode, as we shall see
the fulfilment of this name in
the Lord Jesus Christ. Give
your life to Jesus Christ today,
and you will begin to enjoy the
blessings of this name. The
name of the Lord is a strong
tower, the righteous runneth
into it and is safe. (Proverbs
18:10).
God bless you.
J.K. Akinola. (Senior Pastor)
The Gospel Faith Mission International
(GOFAMINT), Living Word Cathedral, Oluyole Estate,
beside Total Petrol Station, off Ring Road,
Ibadan. (Telephone: 08033376660, 08055405095)
The truth about genuine tongue-speaking (2)
Those who
SPEAKING in esying, that Christian may Christ, who are born again
tongues is not a have one or two or more of of the word of truth, and of
yardstick to mea-
the don’t other gifts believe of the Spirit. in the Holy Ghost, should
Therefore, no Christian constantly ask the Lord in
should covet or emulate the
gift
Jesus
of another Christian.
believeprayer, to purge their
Emulation is one of the
works of the flesh. lies(Gala-
sure spirituality, as most
believers erroneously believe.
The carnally-minded
can speak in tongues because
it is just a gift. Therefore
tongue-speaking does
not make believers in
Christ to be perfect, neither
does it make them to
be furnished unto good
works.
But prophesying, which
is profitable for reproof, for
correction, for doctrine
and for instruction in righteousness,
makes the man of
God to be perfect, and thoroughly
furnished unto good
works. (II Timothy 3:16-17).
Paul asked, Are all apostles?
Are all prophets? Are
all teachers? Are all workers
of miracles? Have all
the gifts of healing? Do all
speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
(I Corinthians
12:29-30). Of course all
Christians do not speak in
tongues, neither do all
prophesy because the Holy
Spirit distributes His gifts as
He wills. And so, if the Holy
Spirit does not give a Christian,
the gift of speaking in
tongues or the gift of proph-
tians 5:19-21).
And even though, one has
the gift of speaking in
tongue, what is important is
that this tongue must be
tamed because the tongue is
a fire and a world of iniquity,
which can defile the whole
body and this same tongue
is set on fire of hell. The
tongue is an unruly evil, full
of deadly poison. (James
3:6-10). Therefore, those
who have the gift of speaking
in tongue, must pray earnestly,
that their tongues be
tamed, from that old tongue
of lying and cursing, or
speaking evil of others, gossiping
and backbiting, or
idle talk and idle word, or
of foolish jesting and filthy
communication, into a new
tongue, that is wholesome
and into a new tongue of
the learned. (Isaiah 50:4a).
Job asked this question,
“Is there iniquity in my
tongue?” (Job 6:30a.)
Therefore all believers in
tongues of every iniquity.
Speaking in tongues and
all other gifts, shall cease
someday. (I Corinthians
13:8b). But charity, faith
and hope will abide forever.
The greatest of these
gifts, is Charity. Therefore,
if we have the gifts of speaking
in tongues of men and
of angels, and do not have
charity, we shall be as
sounding brass, or a tinkling
cymbal, and it shall
profit us nothing. (I Corinthians
13:1-3).
To have the tongue
tamed, should be the earnest
desire of every believer
in Christ, rather than the
ardent desire to speak in
tongues. Finally, not all
tongue-speaking is genuine.
Tongue-speaking that
is acquired by practice or
when it is well with him, to show
him kindness and make mention
of him to Pharoah and
bring him out of dungeon because
he was stolen away out
of the land of hebrews and he
did nothing at where he served,
he was put into the dungeon.
This year 2020, someone
will remember you for good.
Your restoration for greatness
shall surely take place in your
life this year. Whoever recommend
you for evil you know
not shall see your lifting up to
greatness because you turn to
God and worship him in spirit
and in truth. This year is the
year of coming out of your
family dungeon, business dungeon
nd any kind of dungeon
you find yourself. The King’s
ring wore by Joseph shall be
the same blessing in your life
this year. Who ever locked your
office and your promotion,
shall open it for you in this
2020.
This year whosoever shall
associate themselves together
against your restoring to greatness
for better achievement,
must be broken to pieces. Isaiah
8:9-10. Brethren, who put
you in dungeon shall bring you
acquired by being taught in
the bible school, is not of
God. It is sensual and of the
flesh and demon inspired.
Believers in Christ can
have the gift of prophesying,
casting out devils, and
of doing wonderful works
in the name of Jesus, and
even can have the wonderful
gift of speaking in
tongue, and of interpretation,
yet will not be allowed
into the gates heaven, if they
are workers of iniquity. (Matthew
7:22-23.) Stubbornness
to any of the doctrines of
Christ, is as the sin of iniquity
and idolatry. (I Samuel
15:22-23a). It is only the
righteous nation, who bring
forth the fruit of the Spirit,
by keeping the truth, that will
be allowed to enter the gates
of heaven. (Isaiah 26:2).
And ye shall know the truth
and the truth shall make you
free, thus saith the Lord
Jesus.
CHRISTIAN GOSPEL CHURCH
(The Truth Centre) 4, Christian Gospel Avenue,
Beside Psychiatric Hospital,
Uselu, Benin City, Edo State.
Email: cgc.com.ng@gmail.com
Telephone: +234 (0) 7052061135, +234 (0) 9030731406.
Website: www.cgc.com.ng
out, who binds you shall loose
you now and carry you up. Jeri
40-4
As Joseph was taken out of
prison known as dungeon this
year, where ever you are put
against your success, God will
remove you with His Mighty
power this year. You will eat
with the kings and also have
peace of mind. Though the
way is rough and through the
rough ways you were able to
see this year 2020, you will
surely live to see more years,
Amen. Joseph came out from
dungeon and became the controler
of the whole land of
Egypt and wore the King’s
ring, I pray for you today that
your promotion will take away
shame from you.
Return to the Lord and be
bless. There is God’s plan to
see you through sadness, tear,
difficulties and sorrows in this
new year 2020, it’s a year of
halleluya in your
mouth…Amen
It is a decree according to
Job 22:28 that you must succeed
this year. It is Gods final
decision that you must restore
to greatness in wealth. Job
36:11.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 39
At the Feast of Taber
nacles, Jesus stood
and cried out, saying:
“If anyone thirsts, let him
come to me and drink. He
who believes in me, as the
scripture has said, out of his
heart will flow rivers of living
water.” (John 7:37-39). However,
no one seemed to be interested
in what Jesus was offering.
No one asked him for
a drink of this so-called living
water.
Unwanted water
“Clarus, which water was
he talking about?” “He said
living water.” “What kind of
water is that?” “Frankly,
Gringory, I don’t know.” “Is
it as good as Coca-cola?” “Actually,
I think he was talking
about spiritual water.” “What
do you do with spiritual water?
Can you serve it to your
friends at a party?” “I doubt
it.” “I don’t think Jerusalem
is ready for that kind of water.
Of what consequence is
living water when what you
want is Coca-Cola?”
God says: “My people have
committed two evils: they
have forsaken me, the fountain
of living waters, and hewn
themselves cisterns- broken
cisterns that can hold no water.”
(Jeremiah 2:13).
According to Jesus, there
are two types of water: natural
water and living water. Of
the two, the prescribed choice
is living water. Jesus says:
“Everyone who drinks of (natural)
water shall thirst again;
but whoever drinks of the
water that I shall give him
Where is my love? (3)
MATTHEW 22:36-
37,39 say: “Mas
ter, which is the
great commandment in the
law? Jesus said unto him,
Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all
thy mind.. And the second is
like unto it, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself.”
Beloved, we owe God a duty
of love in all our principles
and practices. We must love
Him, and delight in communion
with Him. It is our
duty to walk in the ways in
which He has appointed us
to walk particularly in the
area of adoration and affection.
We are commanded to
show our love toward Him
by serving Him with all our
heart and soul. What we do in
His service must be cheerfully
done, and with good will.
We must keep His commandments
and give honour to
Him as a proof of love. And
to Him we must cleave unto
as one we love and delight in,
trust in, and from whom we
have great expectations. Love
covers multitude of sins, thus,
for all our sins and transgressions
God requires nothing
but to turn to Him, love and
obey Him so that His grace
in mercy shall abound in our
life.
Moreover, we are also
taught our duty to our neighbour.
God's common gifts to
mankind oblige us to honour
all men. And those who have
been in distress, and have
found mercy with God,
shall never thirst; but the water
that I shall give him shall
become in him a well of water
springing up to eternal
life.” (John 4:14). What precisely
is Jesus’ living water?
It is the Holy Spirit.
Hard choices
Christians suppose all
Christians have the Holy Spirit.
We presume that we receive
the Holy Spirit at the
point of our conversion. We
declare we are born again
once we answer an altar call.
However, most of us fail
Jesus’ litmus test because we
continue to thirst. If we truly
have the Holy Spirit, we
would not thirst again.
But what kind of life would
we have if we never thirst
again? How then would we
be entertained? Surely a person
who does not thirst must
be dead. Such a person
would no longer be able to
enjoy life. We want to be able
to thirst but to have a constant
supply of delectable
drinks whenever we want
them to satisfy our thirst. We
want to be able to hunger but
to be able to satisfy our hunger
readily with lavish plates
of food. Therefore, we reconfigure
a more palatable construct
to Jesus’ statement. We
should be ready to show kindness
to those who are presently
in distress. A good believer
is expected to visit the sick,
help the needy and encourage
those in captivity (prison) so
as to win them for Christ, as a
matter of love.
Matt 25:35-37 says, “For I
was an hungred, and ye gave
me meat: I was thirsty, and ye
gave me drink: I was a stranger,
and ye took me in: 36 Naked,
and ye clothed me: I was
sick, and ye visited me: I was
in prison, and ye came unto
me. 37 Then shall the righteous
answer him, saying,
Lord, when saw we thee an
hungred, and fed thee? or
thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a
stranger, and took thee in? or
naked, and clothed thee? 39
Or when saw we thee sick, or
in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer
and say unto them, Verily I say
unto you, Inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of
these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me”
To meet the high standard
of love set before us by the
Lord, we must circumcise our
hearts, cast away all corrupt
affections and inclinations,
which hinder us from fearing
and loving God. Remember
that by the nature of Adam
which we inherited, we do not
love God and this is our original
sin, the source by which
our wickedness proceeds. But
the coming of Christ to die for
our sin has opened our eyes
to a new horizon of love for
Thirsting for the world
Of what
consequence is
living water when
what you want is
Coca-Cola?
insist we have the Holy Spirit, in
spite of the contradiction whereby
we continue to thirst for the
vainglories of this world.
We really need to sort out these
contradictions with the Lord beforehand.
Otherwise, he might
mistakenly send us to the wrong
heaven. Who wants to get to heaven
and find out that it does not
have the good things of life? Who
wants to get to heaven only to discover
he cannot enjoy sex there?
Who wants to go to a Promised
Land that does not have the leeks
and cucumbers of Egypt? Who
wants to trundle through life having
to eat manna every day instead
of Kentucky fried chicken?
Surely, the heaven that is truly
heavenly is the one where we can
have our cake and eat it too.
Spiritual Life
Let no man deceive you: the life
Jesus offers is the spiritual life. He
came that we might have a full
God. And having seen the
uncommon kind of love
our God demonstrated
through Jesus Christ, we
are commanded to reciprocate
such gesture in all
ramifications of our lives.
With the real love, no
matter what we are going
through in life, whether
trials, persecution, afflictions,
they will never
deter us from the love we
have for God rather they
will make us to continue
to serve God and please
Him.
Job had a great love for
God, thus, when he was
tempted with affliction
and loses he spoke not
against God but had
great regard for Him. He
remained faithful to God
and at the end of the trial
God blessed his latter end
more than his beginning.
God is faithful in love.
Any child of God could
go through trials, affliction
or persecution but
when all these things are
happening, the Lord will
be watching whether you
will speak evil or denounce
Him because of
hardship, trial, affliction
or persecution. He will be
watching whether you
love Him above all the
things you are passing
through.
Let us love the brethren,
sinners and encourage
them to come to the Lord
and He will bless us in
Jesus name.
Anglican Church elects Odutemu archbishop of Bendel
By Sam Eyoboka
THE Anglican Bishop of
Ughelli Diocese in Delta State,
Rt. Rev. Cyril Odutemu has been
elected Archbishop of the Province
of Bendel of the Anglican
Communion.
Rt. Rev. Odutemu was elected
Archbishop of the Province by the
House of Bishops which was
chaired by the Primate and Metropolitan
of the Church of Nigeria
Anglican Communion. Most
Revd Nicholas Dikeriehi Okoh.
Archbishop Odutemu, who
was recently appointed by
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as
the Chairman of Delta State
Christian Pilgrims Welfare
Board, was consecrated Bishop
at the Cathedral at Asaba.
He was consecrated Bishop
by the Primate and Metropolitan
of the Church of Nigeria
along with other Archbishops
and Bishops of the Church of
Nigeria on September 12,
2010.
Ughelli Diocese was thrown
into a festive mood when now
Fakeye receives Anglican Communion Award
By Sam Eyoboka
ROFESSOR David Olug
Pbade Fakeye, a professor of
English Language and Literature
Education, in the faculty of Education,
Arts & Social Sciences,
University of Ibadan on Sunday
bagged a distinguished award.
The award was in recognition
of his love for service to humanity,
education, sharing the good
news of Jesus Christ and striving
for spiritual, intellectual and
physical wellbeing of individuals
and wholesomeness of communities,
courtesy of the Diocese of
Ibadan South (Anglican Communion)
– Adeyinka Adegbite
Memorial Anglican Church
(AAMAC) Oluyole Estate Ibadan,
Nigeria at their 10th Year Adult
Harvest Anniversary thanksgiving.
The Vicar/Archdeacon of
AAMAC, Ven. Isaac Adeyemi
Jesulola, noted that the harvest
anniversary and award presentation
is to adore God’s faithfulness
in our lives, honour
Him faithfully with the resources
He has blessed us with,
and serve Him diligently all
the days of our lives, as our
God is ever faithful.
The awardee, Prof. Fakeye
dedicated the award to God
and humanity, adding that service
to humanity is essential to
give to others and consider
their welfare as much as your
own, also God expects us to
Most Rev. Odutemu was enthroned
as the second bishop
of the Diocese at the All
Saints Cathedral, Iwhreko
Street, Ughelli on Friday
17th of December 2010.
He took over the mantle
of leadership of the Diocese
from his predecessor, Rt. Rev.
Vincent Muoghereh and exercises
his full Episcopal
overseership over the Diocese,
until he is now also the
Archbishop of the Bendel
Province.
serve Him through humanity,
our Christian life is a life
of service and sacrifices –
There is reward for whatever
we do here on earth for
the sake of Christ, - Heavenly
reward does not depend
only on our salvation but
also on our good deeds – No
one should be neglected
when it comes to doing good
works – Little is much when
God is in it, also, quoted
Psalm 100:5 – “For the lord
is good, His mercy is everlasting
and His truth endures
to all greatness”
Prof. Fakeye is the president
Young Men’s Christian
Association of Nigeria
(YMCA) Ibadan.
Praises as Akugbene mien holds annual thanksgiving
and enriching personal
relationship with God.
That is why he gives us
God’s Holy Spirit as a
down-payment. “But
Lord Jesus, we don’t want
spiritual life. We want
physical and material
life. We want the life of
eating the best foods and
drinking the best drinks.
We want the life of living
in the best houses, driving
the best cars, and having
the best jobs. We don’t
want the life of carrying
our cross and denying
our self.”
For the children of Israel,
the route to a Promised
Land flowing with
milk and honey turned
out to be a wilderness.
There was no pipe-borne
water, no television, and
no edikaikong soup.
Therefore, they mumbled
and grumbled and wanted
to go back to Egypt.
Alas, many Christians
are caught in similar conundrums.
We have been
seduced by the “prosperity
gospel.” Nevertheless,
we are out of pocket; unemployed,
without accommodation
or unmarried.
Therefore, we are
also mumbling and grumbling
through this wilderness
of life; just as the Israelites
did to disastrous effect.
Esau did not value spiritual
life. What is the value of spiritual
life when a man is hungry?
What is the value when
he is horny? Esau did not value
his birthright. But someone
else did. Esau traded eternal
life for a plate of rice. He
traded eternal life for a night
of passion. It was just one sexual
fling, but he caught AIDS.
It was just one night of illicit
sex, but Bathsheba became
pregnant. But much later,
Esau came to appreciate his
birthright. On his father’s
deathbed, he sought it carefully
with tears. But, alas, it was
too late.
We die in sin not because we
cannot obtain eternal life, but
because we reject it. We don’t
want it. It is costly and we don’t
want to pay the price. Jesus
says: “any of you who does not
give up everything he has cannot
be my disciple.” (Luke
14:33).
Forbidden drink
The palace of His Royal
Majesty, Pere S.P Luke,
Kalanama VII, Pere of
Akugbene mien kingdom, was
agog with activities recently
when the traditional ruler held
its annual thanksgiving ceremony
Ṫhe event was attended by his
subjects within the communities
in the kingdom and other guests,
including Jackson Angalabiri,
Egbain II, Ebenanowoei of
Kumbowei kingdom.
In his sermon, the officiating
minister, Rev Dike, who is the
District Superintendent, Assemblies
of God Church, Ughelli,
urged the indigenes of the
kingdom to remain united. He
also urged them to always
support their traditional ruler
Ȧlso speaking, Pere Luke,
who is the Vice-Chairman of
Delta State Traditional Rulers
Council, thanked God for elevating
him to his present position
in spite of ordeals he experienced.
He further commended the
state governor, Sen Ifeanyi
Okowa and his deputy, Kingsley
Otuaro for providing the
One day, the Lord said to me:
“Femi, I want you to stop
drinking Coke and Fanta!” I
have never fought the Lord with
as much ferocity as I did on
that one. Coke and Fanta were
my favourite drinks in the
world. They were non-alcoholic,
non-intoxicating and
relatively cheap. Why then
should I have to give them
up?
“Show me,” I insisted,
“show me in the bible where
it says a man should not
drink Coke. How is it a sin
to drink Coke? Why are you
so determined to take everything
away from me?”
“What if I told you to give it
up for me?” asked the Lord.
“But why would you even
ask such a thing of me? I
thought you were my
friend,” I pleaded. “I also
thought you were my
friend,” the Lord replied.
“Okay, I will reduce the
number of bottles I drink in
a day.” “No, I want you to
give them up completely.”
Jesus says: “My Father
loves me, because I lay
down my life.” (John 10:17).
I am ashamed to admit it
took me no less than two
years to lay down this aspect
of my miserable life.
One day, the Lord told me
to go and pray for a boy who
was paraplegic. When I got
there, the mother asked me
if I would like to have a
drink. I asked for Fanta
Chapman and when I took
a sip of it, the drink bit me
on the lip. (Proverbs 23:32).
I know that might sound
strange to you, but there is
no other way of describing
what happened. I knew immediately
that the Holy
Spirit was behind this.
I have not taken any Coke
and Fanta in the last 20
years, and I will never take
Coke and Fanta again as
long as I live.
needed support for him to succeed.
At the gathering, the kingdom’s
annual scholarship was
presented to deserving students.
While making the presentation,
Chairman of the Palace
Scholarship Committee, Mr.
Fleming Carter, commended
the traditional ruler for sustaining
the scheme. He also hailed
Pere Luke for increasing the
number of recipients from two
per community to four. No fewer
than 48 students benefited
from the scheme in the 2019/
2020 academic session.

PAGE 40—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
Protect the rights of our children
Candid View
With
MagnaFaith Krimi
+1 (202) 718-9278
magnafaithmedia@gmail.com
Considering the alarm
ing increase in the de
sertion of children in
Nigeria, a special rule must
be identified under all jurisdictions
for child support concerns
specifically for minors
and vulnerable persons.
Minors are persons under
the age of full legal responsibility
and a vulnerable person
is one who is insufficient in
their personal faculties mental
and otherwise.
Some cultures within Nigeria,
typically do not leave room
for women to keep custody of
children born within marital
contracts. The giant of Africa
is multi tribal and so are the
customs of her people. These
customs vary per ethnicity. I
personally am of the opinion
that while Nigeria is largely
polygamous in terms of marriage,
Men reserve the right
also to raising their children
just as much as women do.
This opens a much broader
conversation that will be addressed
in another article.
Combing through a large
majority of most regular people
in Nigeria, there is a notion
that Men are known to
be privileged in custody cases.
Whether Men are privileged
or not, statistics show
that about 50% of Nigerian
children aged between 5 and
17 are involved in child labor.
Most of which are street children
who are poor, homeless,
inadequately provided for
and or forced to leave home.
Some of these street children
who have been neglected, exploited
and even in some cases
murdered are traced to be
from single-parent homes. In
2002 UNICEF reported an
alarming estimate as high as
100 000 000 children cited as
street children, while recently
stating that it was impossible
to quantify.
We have seen an increase in
the numbers of street children
in Nigeria that is not proportional
to the awareness that is
being raised within society.
There are now reports of boy
prostitutes on the streets of Nigeria,
a subject that was not
the case in recent years past
or at least was not a subject of
major concern. Mothers have
been found to have deserted
their children naked, filthy
and running lawless on the
streets of several local communities.
How did we get here?
Our Lawmakers have failed
The necessary evil
Women have often
been described as a
necessary evil, a desirable
calamity and a domestic
peril. Recently, a woman
had traced a perceived side
chick side chick of her husband
to a shopping mall to
disgrace her. Stories abound
of women who killed their
husbands because they suspected
these significant other
was about to dump them for
another. Husbands are known
to die of mysterious circumstances
because the women
inside think they are about to
be dumped for the one outside.
Some desperate wives and
girlfriends have taken to voodoo
to tie down their men so
they don’t leave them or if they
do, they die. A man who died
recently was suspected to have
been killed by the cult his wife
belongs to through voodoo because
the man was going to
be reconciled to his ex-wife
who was the wife of his youth.
A lot of women are taking to
this evil ways to tie a man
down, disconnect him from
his family and his other children
from other wives.
In the Bible, when King
Ahab married Queen Jezebel,
his life never remained the
same. The strange woman he
married brought all manner
of evil to his life, into his household
and into the land where
he was king. According to the
Biblical narrative, Jezebel,
along with her husband, instituted
the worship of Baal
and Asherah on a national
scale. In addition, she violently
purged the prophets of Yahweh
from Israel, damaging
the reputation of the Omride
dynasty.
For more than two thousand
years, Jezebel was saddled
with a reputation as the
bad girl of the Bible, the mostwicked
of women. This ancient
queen was denounced as
a murderer, prostitute and enemy
of God, and her name
was adopted for lingerie lines
and World War II missiles
alike. But just how depraved
was Jezebel?
the Nigerian Child. Whether
these children have engaged
in petty theft, prostitution and
formed gangs, it is not a reason
to not address child homelessness,
child welfare and inadequate
protection with their
root causes.
Society tends to focus on
more obvious factors like social,
political and economic
disruption - Where I see a giant
elephant in the room; Nigerian
Lawmakers.
The Nigerian Lawmakers
and by extension government
have failed to make provision
for broken homes and/or families.
Nigeria now experiences
rural-urban migration
which has dislocated extended
families serving as support
nets that have filled in to take
care of deserted, neglected and
abandoned children.
It is clear that the Nigerian
Law does not adequately provide
for child support obligations
for minors and vulnerable
persons. Whether we differentiate
between minors and
vulnerable persons or not, one
thing is certain. No man should
be allowed to walk the streets
of Nigeria without full-filling
due diligence in terms of providing
maintenance obligations
for the children they
brought into the world. Likewise,
every woman whose children
are in custody of their
Father or legal guardian.
Maintenance obligations in
this regard are within the economic
capacity of each parent
and as the Law can prove
so
Ḃy way of protocol, it is imperative
that the Nigerian Judiciary
see it beneficial to add
a rule to provide assistance to
spouses during divorce proceedings
in order to ensure especially
equality of financial
In recent years, scholars
have tried to reclaim the shadowy
female figures whose
tales are often only partially
told in the Bible. Rehabilitating
Jezebel’s stained reputation
is an arduous task however,
for she is a difficult woman
to like. She is not a heroic
fighter like Deborah, a devoted
sister like Miriam or a cherished
wife like Ruth. Jezebel
could not even be compared
with the Bible’s other bad
girls—Potiphar’s wife and Delilah—for
no good comes
from Jezebel’s deeds. These
other women may be bad, but
Jezebel is the worst.
Yet there is more to this complex
ruler than the standard
interpretation would allow. To
attain a more positive assessment
of Jezebel’s troubled
reign and a deeper understanding
of her role, one must
evaluate the motives of the
Biblical authors who condemn
the queen. Furthermore,
one must reread the
narrative from the queen’s
vantage point. As we piece together
the world in which Jezebel
lived, a fuller picture of
this fascinating woman begins
to emerge. The story is
Supreme Court victory: Ex-militant leaders laud Okowa
Ex-militant command
ers under the aegis of
Movement for the Actualization
of the Dreams of
Niger Delta, have hailed Governor
Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta
State over his Supreme Court
victory that validated his election
as governor of the state..
The group in a statement
signed by its National President,
Mr. Josiah Oyakonghan,
popularly known as Commander
Oyimi, stated that the
Supreme Court verdict is an
affirmation of the genuine
votes cast by Deltans at the
2019 governorship election
in the state.
Oyimi Said: “The highest
court in the country has finally
settled the controversies
surrounding the Delta
state governorship election
and affirmed Governor
Okowa as the true winner of
the 2019 election.
“Our Governor can now
concentrate and accelerate
the pace of development
in the state, now that there
would be no more unnecessary
distraction. We therefore
solicit for more support
from Deltans for our Dear
Governor.”
While urging the All Progressives
Congress (APC)
candidate, Chief Great
Ovedje Ogboru, to accept the
judgment in good faith, the
group further urged Ogboru
and his followers to support
Okowa in the task of rebuilding
the confidence of
Delta State people in the ability
of government to meet their
aspirations.
If you cannot
afford to take care
of children do not
bring them into
the world. These
principles should
be taught in
schools
The choice of a black
woman in the monarchy
was too far in
Britain’s racist system
and now, the queen’s
worst nightmare was
becoming a reality. The
royal household may
never recover from this
in a long time
not a pretty one, and some
perhaps most readers will remain
disturbed by Jezebel’s
actions. But her character
might not be as dark as we
are accustomed to thinking.
Her evilness is not always as
obvious, undisputed and unrivaled
as the Biblical writer
wants it to appear.
It took Prophet Elijah to take
her out of the picture.
Today, all perceived wicked
wives and women are nicknamed
Jezebel.
Duchess Meghan Markle,
wife of the British Royal,
Prince Harry is in the eye of a
storm. Prince Harry and
Duchess Meghan are facing
backlash after announcement
about stepping back as senior
royals.
The British media report
that Prince Harry and Duchess
Meghan blindsided
Queen Elizabeth with their
decision to step back as senior
members of the royal family
İn a piece called "Coming
By Prince Okafor
Youths of host commu
nities of Chevron Ni
geria, yesterday, appealed
to the Federal Government
to investigate what it
described as poor representation
and marginalisation of
its members at Chevron Nigeria
Limited.
They also urged Nigerians
to ignore calls by the Petroleum
and Natural Gas Senior
Staff Association of Nigeria
(PENGASSAN) for the removal
of Chairman and
Managing Director of Chevron,
Mr. Jeff Ewing.
Recall that PENGASSAN
strength between the divorcing
spouses and/or non-married
partners in some cases.
Children born in Nigeria
through marriage, parentage,
relationships or affinity reserve
a right to be cared for
regardless of their vulnerability.
Every parent natural or
adoptive, indeed has an obligation
to provide maintenance
support for their children,
minor and unmarried
vulnerable persons to the extent
to which they are capable
of doing so.
Nigerians must graduate to
a place where children considerably
subsist modestly
and according to the situational
social status of their
guardians.
Nigerian men who find it
culturally acceptable and
deny their adoptive or natural
children child support or
maintenance should face adjudication.
Again, I repeat that
men who find it acceptable
and deny their children as
known to them of basic maintenance
and as within their
economic capacity should be
remanded in prison.
If you cannot afford to take
care of children do not bring
them into the world. These
principles should be taught in
schools. As society needs to
understand the direct and indirect
implication of engaging
in birthing children without
planning. Traditional rulers,
local community heads
and educational institutions
must begin raising awareness
on these issues. And if situations
ensue that result in the
inability of parents to provide
maintenance and support for
their children, then there
should be proven effort to
show sense of responsibility on
their part.
Men and Women should
share common responsibility
for the obligation to provide
food, necessary subsistence,
clothing and housing for their
children. It behoves us as society
to set in place effective
enforcement measures with
authorities making declarations
for child support and
maintenance whether under
federal authority or at state
levels. No man should walk
the face of the earth free,
should they owe arrears of
maintenance and child support
for their children, adoptive
or natural. It should be
required retroactively and if
possible by indexation.
Government officials who
live off of taxpayers money
should have their checks garnished
if not outrightly relieved
of their duties when
found to be guilty of child
or going’, Meghan gets the
blame and it's because of her
race. CNN senior entertainment
writer Lisa Respers
France insisted that Markle's
mixed background had a role
in the hostility she faces since
becoming the Duchess of Sussex.
"From the moment Prince
Harry and Meghan Markle
made their relationship
known to the public in 2016,
the message many Britons
sent to her was clear: You aren't
one of us, and you aren't welcome.
Meghan, a biracial, divorced
American actress, was
far from what many envisioned
as a fairy-tale match
for a beloved member of the
British royal family. While
many in the UK welcomed
her, the British tabloid media
and a large swath of the Twitterverse
were not kind."
Many experts all agreed
that race had a role in the animosity
Markle received
from the some in the public,
including the British press.
While Meghan identifies as
biracial, she is being treated
as a black woman. As far as
the world is concerned, Meghan’s
entire being is filtered
through the colour of her skin
The British Media have
never been lenient with her.
With the current development,
they have put her on the Cross
and are ready to crucify her.
She has committed an unforgivable
sin of trying to draw
the royalty out of Prince Harry.
Head or tail, true or false,
Megxit is real and Britons will
never forgive Meghan for
what they perceived she is doing
to Prince Harry. What she
has done has altered Britain’s
maintenance and support
abandonment. This should be
seen as a serious offense as
their actions ultimately are responsible
for some causes of
social vices in our communities.
Lawmakers must seek to
charge parents for recklessly
abandoning their children to
damage, drugs, crime, abduction,
torture and even murder.
I suggest, parents who hide
under the guise of marital differences
should be prosecuted
also. No Nigerian child
should suffer for the inability
of the parents to communicate
and find common grounds to
adequately and mutually care
for their children.
Yes, we must begin prosecuting
people especially men, after
a process of determination
for paternity is established -
State and/or federal officials
should work to obtain information
about parent’s income
and financial circumstances
including location of
their assets. Amicable solutions
to include voluntary
payments of maintenance
should be encouraged where
suitable by use of mediation,
conciliation or similar processes.
Nigeria as a Federal Republic
should begin looking toward
initiating institutions
and competent authorities to
create procedures, carry out
processes and enforce decisions
on child support and
maintenance related cases
primarily for disintegrated
families. Nigerian officials
must look into developing a
unique system for effective
implementation and adoption
of operations that would
encourage consistent electronic
and statistical management
of databases for this purpose.
history. The Monarch will
never remain the same.
Piers Morgan, a CNN replacement
of Larry King is
ready to take Meghan to the
gutters if it is the only achievement
he makes in his latest
journalist life.
The British Media was never
kind to Meghan, a black
woman who found her way
into the British monarchy.
Even the Queen did not hide
her disdain for the black
woman and the choice of her
grandson. On their wedding,
her countenance could not
hide her dislike for Harry’s
choice. Her countenance
wasn’t something to write
home about. The choice of a
black woman in the monarchy
was too far in Britain’s
racist system and now, the
queen’s worst nightmare was
becoming a reality. The royal
household may never recover
from this in a long time.
Piers Morgan, a longtime
critic of Markle, took a victory
lap last Wednesday after the
royal couple announced they
will take “a step back” as senior
members of the royal family.
He twitted, “People say I'm
too critical of Meghan Markle
but she ditched her family,
ditched her Dad, ditched
most of her old friends, split
Harry from William and has
now split him from the Royal
Family,” Morgan tweeted “I
rest my case.”
One only hopes that history
will not repeat itself in the royal
household. Princess Diane’s
history is still very raw and one
hopes it is not repeated with
Duchess Meghan and Prince
Harry.
CHEVRON: Host communities
dismiss calls for Ewing’s removal
had assembled its members
to protest in all Chevron facilities
across the country.
However, in a statement by
Christopher Etuemi Wuruyai
of Gbaramatu Youth Council
(GYC), Comrade William
Emuakpo of Youths of Chevron
Host Communities of
Nigeria and Izon-ebi Wuruyai,
of Youths of Chevron Host
Communities of Nigeria, the
youths expressed dissatisfaction
with Chevron's current
modus-operandi.
The statement reads: “We
write to make the relevant authority
and the public know
that the call by PENGASSAN,
Chevron branch for Mr. Jeffrey
Ewing's removal as Chairman
and Managing Director
(CMD) Chevron Nig. Ltd over
alleged imminent sack of 32
workers, racism and discrimination
of Nigeria workers is
mere blackmail. Therefore,
this well-orchestrated plan to
remove Mr. Jeffrey Ewing
should be ignored by relevant
authorities.’’

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 41
JAMB suspends NIN for 2020 UTME, Direct Entry registrations
T
By Joseph Erunke
HE Joint Admissions
and Matriculation
Board,JAMB,has suspended
the use of National Identification
Number, NIN, as requirement
for registration in
the 2020 Unified Tertiary
Matriculation
Examination,UTME.
The suspension also affected
the JAMB’s Direct Entry
Registration for the year.
But the board which announced
the suspension of
NIN at a press conference
yesterday in Abuja said NIN
would be a necessary requirement
in the 2021 UTME and
Direct Entry registrations.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq
Oloyede, who broke the
news, attributed the action to
what he called “technical
reasons.”
The forum was attended by
top management staff of the
National Identification
Management Commission,
NIMC, led by its Director-
General, Aziz Aliyu.
By Victor ‘Tunde Oso
NIGERIA and Kenya
were Africa’s top startup
investment destinations,
jointly accounting for 81.5%
of investment received in
2019. Nigeria bagged 49. 5%
of venture capital investment
in the out gone year.
A start-up is a company
that is in the first stage of its
operations. These companies
are often initially bankrolled
by their entrepreneurial
founders as they attempt to
capitalize on developing a
product or service for which
they believe there is a demand.
In a report by Quartz Africa,
Nigeria ranked top,
both for number of deals
done and for their value as
start-up investment received
grew nearly five fold compared
to 2018.
Elsewhere, Egypt also recorded
strong growth with
investment more than doubling
in the last year, largely
thanks to the funding
raised by Swvl, the bus hailing
company, which raised
$4 million in June and has
also expanded across and
beyond the continent. In contrast,
South Africa, typically
a top start-up investment
destination, recorded decline
in 2019 with both the
number and value of deals
dipping.
The sizes of funding
rounds also notably gotten
bigger in 2019 as 26 deals
(equalling 6% of the deals
total), accounted for 83% of
total funding raised in 2019.
Quartz Africa said the
bumper rounds were largely
recorded in fintech with
the sector dominating startup
funding yet again thanks
to sustained interest from
global payments giants
backing African fintech
companies: in November,
Visa paid $200 million for
a 20% stake in Nigerian
payments processor, Interswitch
making it Africa’s
first fintech unicorn. Just as
importantly, new interest in
African fintech emerged
from China with OPay and
PalmPay, two new payments
companies in Nigeria, jointly
receiving over $210 million
in funding predominantly
from Chinese investors.
Last year, start-ups operating
on the continent received
a total of $1.3 billion
in start-up funding, an annual
funding report by Wee-
Tracker shows. It’s the first
time annual Africa-focused
start-up funding has crossed
the $1 billion mark according
to Weetracker’s methodology
although Partech Ventures,
which also compiles
annual funding report, notes
the billion-dollar mark was
Oloyode, citing ongoing
difficulties being faced by
candidates in the NIN registration,
insisted that the NIN
From left: Past-Assistant Governor, Rotarian Tunji Ola; Rotarian Olumuyiwa
Fagbola, President Rotary Club of Ikeja; and Mr Ayodeji Adelopo, Director, S.O.S
Children Village Isolo, during the Christmas party and presentation of gifts organised
by Rotary Club of Ikeja for the children of the S.O.S village.
Nigeria tops Africa’s start-up
investment destination in 2019
*Kenya follows with 32% market share
reached last year.
The difference in funding
totals of annual reports usually
boil down to variations
in methodology, but for its
part, WeeTracker’s reports
covers private companies
that have raised investment to
operate in Africa irrespective
of where they have headquarters.
It also only covers deals
that are verifiable via press
release, the start-up or investor
or regulatory filings.
Regardless, the $1.3 billion
invested in African tech companies
2019, compared to just
under $200 million invested
in 2015, underscores the rapid
emergence and growth of
technology ecosystems across
the continent, particularly
SECURITY: Policing is everybody’s task— Ooni
By Shina Abubakar,
Osogbo
FOREMOST Yoruba
monarch, Ooni of Ife,
Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi
Ojaja II has said policing is
the responsibility of every
citizen in order to ensure a
safe society.
A statement issued by the
palace’s Director of Media
and Public Affairs, Moses
Olafare yesterday disclosed
that the monarch while receiving
the Osun State
Commissioner Police,
Johnson Kokumo, in his palace
in Ile-Ife, said community
policing is a call to duty
for everyone.
While describing the Police
chief as an epitome of
good policing, he expressed
confidence in his ability to
further strengthen the current
peace being enjoyed in
the state.
“I am impressed by your
approach especially as
you’ve comprehensively
state your agenda and
prime targets, this shows
that you have the knowledge
of the state and you
requirement as a precondition
for the UTME and Direct
Entry registrations has
been set aside.
are fully prepared to face
the job ahead.”
“Community policing is
everybody’s responsibility
and we traditional rulers
will not leave to you alone.
We will support you with
necessary information and
an enabling environment.
I have been a good partner
in progress to your predecessors
and I can assure
you that you have my full
support.” The Ooni noted.
Earlier CP Kokumo explained
that his visit to the
over the past decade.
Quartz is a business-focused
English-language international
news organization,
head-quartered in New York
City It also operates editions
globally outside of the United
States and Japan, to include
the United Arab Emirates,
Hong Kong, Africa and India.
front line monarch was to
pay homage, seek for his
blessings and advice as
well as presenting his
agenda.
“Kabiyesi, my tenure will
showcase a paradigm shift
from the previously known
police attitude to the public,
Osun Police under my
leadership will have a
huge respect for human
right. A suspect shall remain
a suspect until his
conviction by a law court.
“My leadership will
have zero tolerance for
corruption, we want people
to go about their normal
businesses without
fear molestation from the
police. Ritual killings have
been identified as a major
security challenge in Osun
and we need the synergy of
the community particularly
the royal fathers to end
such. We’ve been trying on
our own but it’s obviously
impossible for us to achieve
an end to this in isolation.
Delta to pay minimum wage from Nov. 2019
By Festus Ahon,
ASABA
He said: “You would recall
that in compliance with statutory
provisions, we commenced
the registration of
making NIN a prerequisite
Pomp, as Akran of Badagry
graces ‘Ajido Zangbeto festival’
By Chris Onuoha
IT was a colourful event
as Ajido kingdom in
Olorunda LCDA, Badagry,
Lagos State welcomed
guests and from seekers to
their annual ‘Zangbeto Festival”
on December 30th,
2019 at the Aholu Ajido palace
ground. The festival
tagged; “Zagbeto Ajido
Festival 2019,” was declared
open by the paramount
ruler of Ajido Kingdom,
His Royal Majesty,
Aholu Saheed Sedonu Adamson,
Topon of Toyiaga,
Badagry and graced by the
Akran of Badagry, HRM, De
Wheno Aholu Memu-Toyi 1
alongside other royal fathers,
dignitaries, Lagos
State government officials
and some international
tourists.
‘Zangbeto institution’, a
formation of masquerade
group, is a socio-cultural
event held by the Ogu speaking
people of Ajido,
Badagry. This event serves
is a sort of traditional peace
keeping force, mediators
between the ancestors and
the people to solidify the
future of the land, but however,
it has been modernized
as a part of Lagos State cultural
heritage by the State’s
Ministry of Tourisms, Arts
and Culture.
DELTA State Govern
ment, has said it
would pay the new national
minimum wage approved
by the Federal
Government with effect
from November 1, 2019.
Secretary to Delta State
Government, SSG, Mr.
Chiedu Ebie, who is Chairman
of the implementation
committee, who disclosed
this at a meeting
with the leadership of organized
labour in the
State, said November and
December arrears would
be paid in two tranches.
He explained that November
arrears would be
paid with January salary
and December arrears
would be paid with February
salary.
According to Ebie, Governor
Ifeanyi Okowa had
earlier declared his readiness
to pay the new minimum
wage, he issues bothering
on the consequential
adjustment caused the delay.
Ebie said with the new
minimum wage would
cost the state government
about N700 million
monthly, commending
workers in the state for
their maturity.
The SSG, who signed on
behalf of the state government,
said the Governor
Okowa’s administration
for registration for 2020
UTME.
“This decision was based on
law and on directive but more
importantly, on the fact that
it was the right way to go. All
nations of the world go that
way. The exercise has been
very productive.
“We have just five weeks
because everything in the educational
sector is programmed.
UTME examination
must be written before
4th of April because WASC
starts on the 6th of April. immediately
after WASC,
NABTEB and after
NABTEClB,NECO starts. ‘’
Also speaking, the Director-
General of NIMC, Mr. Aliyu
Azeez, said the move was necessary
as the commission was
overwhelmed with the exercise
within the short time given
Ḣe said that NIMC had
only 1,000 centres around the
country for the exercise and
would need up to 4,000.
He, however, stated that the
partnership with JAMB
would continue while advising
parents and candidates to
use the opportunity to acquire
the number within the
stipulated time to avoid lastminute
arrangements.
Azeez also said by 2021,
NIMC registration would be
made available at JAMB
Computer-Based Tests (CBT)
centres nationwide, with operators
on the ground to capture
candidates.
JAMB had earlier stated
that all candidates for the
2020/ 21 UTME and DE must
have NIN before registering
for admission slots into the
nation’s tertiary institutions.
UTME and DE registrations
exercises are scheduled
to begin on January 13, 2020.
The two-day festival was
declared open on December
29 by the monarch, who
prayed and sent the ‘Zangans’
to the sea for rituals to
appease the gods. The second
day witnessed the main
activities comprising the
acrobatic performance by
the Zangbeto masquerades
from various groups led by
the ‘Kregbetos. Others were
‘Zangan Yonnusi’, a group of
women praise singers in the
Zangbeto family; and also
command performance by
the Athogbo and Gota cultural
troupes among others.
Speaking with journalists
on the significance of the festival,
the Aholu of Ajido
Kingdom, Saheed Sedonnu
Adamson said; “Zangbeto
institution is a rich cultural
heritage of the Ogu People
in Badagry, inherited from
our fore-fathers and celebrated
in high esteem. I am
excited that today we can
hold the Zangbeto festival
which has been adopted by
the Lagos State Ministry of
Tourism, Arts and Culture as
part of State’s cultural heritage.
However, I will appeal
to the State government to
harness the advantage of
waterway transportation in
Ajido creek as a way relieving
transportation stress for
tourists who would want to
visit Ajido land.” He also
stressed that Ajido is the
home of peace, culture and
tradition while calling on
tourists, investors and general
public to come and experience
the peace in the
land.
The festival chairman,
Sehude Adeyinka Amosu,
in his message expressed
appreciation to the Lagos
State government for recognising
the Ajido Zangbeto
festival. He also mentioned
the importance of the
Zangbeto institution as one
of such instruments of administration
that worked
well in olden days in checkmating
crime and controlling
peace in the land which
can still be used for such
purposes.
was committed to the welfare
of workers in the
State.
Chairman of the Nigeria
Labour Congress, NLC in
the State, Comrade Goodluck
Ofobruku and the
State Chairman of the
Trade Union Congress,
Comrade Martin Bolum,
who signed on behalf of
workers, expressed appreciation
to Governor
Okowa for agreeing to pay
the new minimum wage.

PAGE 42—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020
230 FMBN pensioners
cry for justice
•Only NEC can approve payment – FMBN
By Jacob Ajom
TWO-HUNDRED AND
THIRTY surviving
pensioners of Federal
Mortgage Bank of Nigeria,
FMBN, and Federal Mortgage
Finance Limited,FMFB, have
cried out to President
Muhammadu Buhari to compel
their former employers to pay
their outstanding pensions.
They lamented that they are yet
to receive their entitlement since
their retirement in 2003.
The retirees, who were
numbering about 300 in 2003, are
now 230 following the demise of
70 people.
In an appeal to President Buhari,
the pensioners chronicled their
“travails and traumatic
experiences.
They urged him to prevail on
Federal Ministry of Works and
Housing, Federal Mortgage
Bank, Pension Transitional
Arrangement Directorate and
National Pension Commission to
comply with a court judgment(PC/
HC/CU/828/2007), which ordered
that they be paid.
Retired in 2003
Spokesman for the retirees, Abu
Usman, who was retired by the
Fedral Mortgage Finance said:
“We appeal to President Buhari to
prevail on the FMWH, FMBN,
PATD, PENCOM to do the needful
to save our souls as civil servants
who were forcefully and
Ezechi visits
Chorus Energy
gy,
charges firm to
employ more
Deltans
The Executive Assistant to
Delta State Governor on
Youth Development, Hon
Nnamdi Ezechi yesterday met with
the top management of Chorus
Energy and urged the firm to employ
more indigenes of their host
communities and Deltans at large.
Ezechi, who commended the
management of Chorus Energy for
all their services to the host
communities, urged them to do
more as they bring more
development to the host
communities, while charging the
company to reduce the rate of
unemployment in their operating
environment.
The governor’s aide used the
opportunity to applaud host
communities and Ndokwa youths
over their peaceful co-existence with
others and urged them that with that
peaceful; posture, more investment
opportunities will come to
Ndokwaland and many of youths
will be employed.
Ezechi urged Chorus Energy
management to respect labour laws
and complement the peaceful
enabling environment provided by
Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
Hon Nnamdi Ezechi (right) and others
prematurely retired in 2003.”
The retirees’ case is a
complicated one. Following the
promulgation of Decree 82 of
1993, the Federal Mortgage Bank
was deconsolidated into two
enterprises with the establishment
of the Federal Mortgage Finance
Limited.
In 2003, the two companies
merged again. The new company
screened the former staff reemployed
some.
Those who were not so lucky
were promised transfer of service
to the Federal Civil Service.
Subsequently, they were issued
letters of redeployment to the
Federal Civil Service.
According to the retirees, just as
they were waiting for their posting
to various departments, another
memo superseding the
redeployment letter emerged.
Unsuccessful appeals
This time, it was termination
of appointments through a memo
dated 26th December 2003.
After several unsuccessful
appeals for payment of their
entitlements, the retirees took the
case to court.
From left: Mr. Majiyagbe Abayomi, Zonal Secretary, Teaching Service Commission, Ifo II, Ogun State; Mrs.
Fakunle Adenike, Principal, Community Comprehensive High School, Olambe, Ogun State; Mr. Lasilo Temitope,
Zonal Education Officer, Ifo Zone, Ogun State; Dr. Oladipupo Oyefuga, Head, Market Risk, Stanbic IBTC Bank
PLC and Mr. Taiwo Ala, Head, Internal Control, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC at the Commissioning of the School
Building and Library Renovation for Community Comprehensive High School, Olambe, Ogun State.
Aniocha man flees over chieftaincy pressure
By Chris Ochayi
move to compel a young man
A to take up a traditional title
has taken a different dimension as
the heir apparent has disappeared.
The title, which is a family right in
a community in Aniocha South
Local Government Area of Delta
State, became vacant after the
demise of the young man’s father,
who held it for more than 21years.
Although the man was supposed
to have taken over the title after his
father’s death, he was deemed too
young to assume such responsibility
at the time.
And since the stool is hereditary
and could only be occupied by
someone from the linage, the
father’s brother was selected to
John Awoniyi
The case lasted for eight years
and on April 23, 2015, the
pensioners secured a judgment in
their favour from an Abuja High
Court, which ordered the Federal
Mortgage Bank to pay them their
pension arreas up-to-date and
subsequently their monthly
pension.
Before then, the National
Pension Commission had in a
response to the FMB “request for
guidance” on how to handle the
settlement of their disengaged
staff, advised the FMB to pay the
pensioners.
Part of the letter from the
assume the traditional headship
since the throne abhors a vacuum.
Trouble started for the young man
a few years ago when he also lost
his uncle, who had succeeded his late
father. Soon after, he came under
pressure from immediate family
members who insisted that the time
had come for him to take the
traditional title.
His opposition to the demand,
however, assumed a life threatening
dimension with even his wife and
kids not spared, forcing them to flee
to an unknown destination.
In fact, his female siblings felt
disappointed that having come of
age, to stand for the family, their
brother is still reluctant to take the
title; thus constituting an
embarrassment to the entire family.
He is the first male child in a
family of four children left behind
by their deceased father who held it
for a long period. Now the women
did not stop at only threatening the
life of their brother, they extended
the anger to his wife, who they
accused of not encouraging her
husband to take the traditional title.
In fact, they alleged that her
disapproval of the title mainly was
because she hails from another part
of the country, while accusing her of
trying to undermine their culture.
A reliable source close to the
family, who revealed that the issue
is giving the family members and
the community at large sleepless
nights, said the matter is far from
over as the heir to the title has so far
commission to the Federal
Ministry of Power, Works and
Housing, dated November 7,
2019, reads: “The affected
retirees are entitled to be paid
their retirement benefits
under the provisions of the
enabling laws. We are not
unaware of President
Buhari’s resolve to offset all
pension arrears. We have
also witnessed the
absolute compliance
with the rule of law by the
President. We, therefore,
seek your quick
intervention.”
Under section 46 of the
Pension Reform Act of 2004,
the commission will ensure
every necessary step is taken
to achieve compliance.
In the face of the uncertainty
surrounding compliance ,
the pensioners are
banking on the
President to wade
in
Ṁeanwhile, the
Group Corporate
Communications
Officer, Federal
Mortgage Bank of
Nigeria, Abbas
Aminu, said the pensioners’ case
had been treated by his
organisation and sent to the
Ministry of Works and Housing.
He added that the ministry has
taken the matter to the Federal
Executive Council for necessary
approval.
“On our part, we have done the
needful. We have done our job,
based on the agreement we
entered into with the pensioners.
The matter is no longer in our
hands but with the National
Executive Council,” Aminu
added.
avoided all entreaties to take the
responsibility.
The source told Sunday Vanguard
that the title is hereditary, saying the
man’s refusal to take it had been
interpreted by his siblings as a denial
of the family of the privileges that
come with the title.
He said, “We are made to
understand that the young man and
his family have left the country to
only God knows where when the
pressure took a new dimension and
became a threat to life.
“This started about three years
ago. The man did not take the entire
thing serious at the beginning but
when the issue assumed a new
height, he decided to leave.
“Information pieced together few
weeks back indicated that the man
and his family want to seek asylum
in a foreign country. But whether they
will be granted is what we don’t
know.
“The man rejected the pressure to
take up the traditional title of his
community because of his Christian
faith. I think at a time he opened up
to some people that, as a Christian,
he won’t go through all the
traditional shenanigans which the
traditional stool embodies.
“He was also said to be bitter that
his siblings are threatening his life
and that of his wife, whom they
accused of not doing enough to
persuade him to take the said title.
You know the siblings stand to
benefit so many things by having
their own blood as the title holder in
the community.”
ALLEGED
BURYING OF
PLACENTA ON
CHURCH ALTAR:
Pastor, varsity don
docked for perjury
By Dayo Johnson, Akure
ONDO State government
has dragged two former
members of a popular
church in Akure, Pastor John
Abiodun and Dr Lanre Olu-
Adeyemi, to court for alleged
conspiracy, publication of false
information, perjury, impersonation
and threatening violence among
others.
They are facing a seven-count
charge having alleged to be behind
the fake news on social media that
the founder of Promiseland
Prophetic Ministry, opposite
Shasha, Owo-Akure Expressway,
Akure, Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi, and
other members of the church
burying the placenta of a baby on
the church’s altar.
The suspects also petitioned the
police but, after investigation and
digging of the church altar, nothing
fetish, according to sources, was
found.
State prosecutor, Bose Tunde-
Alarape, informed the court that it
had been difficult to serve one of the
defendants, Olu-Adeyemi, who is
also a Senior Lecturer at Adekunle
Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko),
a notice of motion on the matter.
The charge sheet read: “That John
Abiodun and Lanre Olu-Adeyemi,
on about 09:00 hours, at Akure in
the Akure Judicial Division,
conspired together to publish life
threatening and inciting stories
about one Ajidahun Emmanuel
Jeminiyi which is punishable under
Section 59 of the Criminal code, cap
37, vol. 1, Law of Ondo State 2006.
“That John Abiodun and Lanre
Olu-Adeyemi, on or about 13th
January 2019 at about 09:00hours,
in Akure, in Akure Judicial Division,
did publish, on different whatsapp
platforms, various falsehood
against Ajidahun Jeminiyi, perjury
punishable under Section 117 of the
Criminal Code, Cap 37, Col. 1, Law
of Ondo State 2006.
“That John Abiodun, on or about
24th June 2019, at about 13:00
hours, at High Court Registry,
Akure, deposed to an affidavit of oath
against one Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi
and Promiseland Prophetic
Ministry, knowing that the
depositions were false. This is
punishable under Section 484 of the
Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws
of Ondo State.
Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe
enjoined the counsel to engage all
legal measures available at serving
motions on clients before it can be
concluded to be impossible.
The case was adjourned till
January 30 as well as Feb 3, 18, 24
and 26 for hearing
INTERNAL
SECURITY:
PCL tasks Interior
Ministr
try y on talent,
technology
By Dapo Akinrefon
firm, Philip Consulting, PCL, has
A tasked the Ministry of Interior
and its four para-military agencies
to focus on talents and technology
as a means of achieving internal
security in the country.
The firm said the step would
enhance security and deliver on the
promise made by President
Muhammadu Buhari in his June 12
speech to take 100 million
Nigerians out of poverty.
The Ministry of Interior engaged
Phillips Consulting to design and
facilitate a two-day strategy retreat
on the theme: Driving Performance
in Achieving the Presidential
Mandate on Nigeria’s Internal
Security.
It was designed to generate
innovative strategies, policies and
programmes for reforming
Nigeria’s internal security agencies.
In his speech entitled: “The Case for
Change and Impact on Human and
Capital Development,” Chairman
of Philip Consulting, Mr. Foluso
Phillips, highlighted factors which
would drive performance.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 43
ational Public Relations Officer
of Petroleum Tanker Drivers,
N PTD, an arm of the National Union
of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers,
NUPENG, Comrade Adebayo Atanda, in
this interview, speaks on why petrol
tanker drivers are not dropping their threat
to embark on nationwide strike from
Wednesday, January 15 over the menace
constituted by containerised vehicles in
Apapa axis, Lagos.
By Bose Adelaja
our union threatened to commence a
Ynationwide strike on Wednesday,
January 15 if some of your demands are
not met. Are you still going ahead with
the strike?
We are just withdrawing our services as spelt
out by our national leader. I know
government will rise to the challenge
because of the pains Nigerians will
experience if this action is embarked upon.
This is the best weapon to register our
plight. Our challenges are glaring to
government and members of the public and
I don’t think anybody will blame us for
withdrawing our services. We are not the
only people that transact business in Apapa,
other road users work in the axis. I give
kudos to our National Chairman for taking
the bull by the horn by announcing the
withdrawal of services. Except urgent
measures are taken, tanker drivers have
decided to withdraw their services with
effect from January 15, 2020, because we
don’t know where the containerised vehicles
derive their powers from. They are on the
road 24 hours thereby obstructing free flow
of traffic to and fro the depot and this has
negatively affected the state of our roads.
Have you reached out to the association
that regulates the activities of
containerised vehicles?
We did not reach out to them directly
because government is our intermediary as
we are all road users on the axis. We know
that 80 percent of petroleum products are
lifted from Lagos and tanker drivers travel
to Lagos from other parts of the country to
lift products. Under normal circumstances,
tanker drivers are expected to spend three
days on the road and are given allowances
to cover the three days but for the past few
years, the three days have extended to three
weeks, thereby exposing the drivers to
danger on the road. Based on this, our
National Chairman stated categorically at
the last quarterly meeting that we cannot
continue to die in silence. This is the major
reason we have decided to withdraw our
activities effective from January 15, 2020.
What has government done since you
registered your plight?
Government is aware that tanker drivers
are orderly on the road and we do not allow
our activities to disturb others. The primary
responsibility of containerised vehicles and
tankers is to lift petroleum products but
when the depot cannot be accessed, this calls
for concern among stakeholders and
government is aware that we are going
through a difficult moment on the road.
What kind of effect does this have on your
members?
The effects are pathetic. A situation where
tanker drivers spend weeks on the road
causes ill health, financial and family
instabilities. Many of our members have
been attacked by touts, especially at night.
Although government has set up a joint task
force to regulate activities in the Apapa axis,
the menace constituted by containerised
vehicles makes the withdrawal of our
CONTAINERISED TRUCKS:
Tanker drivers dying in silence
in Apapa — Comrade Atanda
•Petrol scarcity looms as he says no
going back on strike from Wednesday
services long overdue. The plight of
Nigerians is paramount to us. That is why
we are creating awareness so that the endusers
are not caught unawares by the
proposed withdrawal of services. We have
decided to go this extra mile because we
feel the plight of members of the public and
will not want to
subject them to
hardship.
Could you be
more specific
about the
challenge?
Whatever
transpires on the
road usually takes
place in the night
when people
including law
enforcement
agents have
closed. Touts take
over the roads at
night to extort our
members and
when this cannot
be achieved, they
resort to violence.
This poses a threat
to the drivers as
they cannot
abandon their
trucks for fear of
being vandalised.
We have been able
to survive till date
due to the grace of God but, if someone is
pushed to the wall, the next thing is to react
before things get out of hand. That is why
January 15, 2020, exercise is necessary.
They are on the
road 24 hours
thereby
obstructing free
flow of traffic to
and fro the
depot and this
has negatively
affected the
state of our
roads
Are you not worried about the likely
implications of the strike?
The implication will be great because
members of the public depend largely on
petroleum products for survival but we don’t
want this to happen. That is why we are
crying out and we hope government will
intervene by calling the owners of
containerised vehicles to order. We have
made this public through the media and
people are aware of our intention. Our
National Chairman has reached out
to the appropriate authorities
including the Group Managing
Director of the Nigeria National
Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
How can you describe your
relationship with the operators of
containerised vehicles?
We have a good rapport; it is only
that the menace they constitute on
the Apapa axis creates challenges
for other road users. The gridlock
on the Apapa axis of Lagos State is
affecting our activities. Our finances
have been affected and our members
are suffering even though
government is investing so much on
the roads. The impacts of the
investments are not being felt due to
the indiscipline of road users.
Government has been collaborating
with us, listening to us and carrying
us along on its activities and that is
why we cannot do anything without
informing them.
Would you say the joint task force
on Apapa gridlock has helped the
situation?
The government has done its best
to set up the task force but, frankly speaking,
the issue of containerised vehicles should
be looked into. Apart from the lifting of
petroleum products, tanker drivers have no
other reason to come to Apapa.
We can temporarily cope with bad roads
because a portion of the Apapa/Oshodi
Expressway is undergoing reconstruction;
only that this may be difficult to carry out
within Mile 2/Apapa axis until the
•Comrade Adebayo Atanda
containerised vehicles are removed.
We have been sensitising our members on
the danger of working in the night but the
present situation in Apapa is not helping
matters.
Our drivers do not want to travel in the
night anymore and we have told them to
park their vehicles between 6 and 7 pm to
continue their journey the next day but they
are helpless because of the endless queues
in Apapa.
Though our lives are in the hand of God,
government has the power to secure the
roads.
Your members recently complained that
they are being extorted by the task force.
Is it still ongoing?
Our members do not have the
wherewithal to do that because they don’t
have money to throw around. They are only
entitled to allowances to fuel their trucks
and feed on the road. Where do they get the
money to bribe people? They are being
attacked by touts because there is no money
to part with. We have more than 11,000
registered members on our database.
This does not pose a problem because
PTD is divided into four zones, namely:
Lagos, Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt,
led by zonal chairmen who report to the
headquarters.
On risks
Tanker drivers are exposed to a lot of risks,
indiscipline, and carelessness on the part
of other road users. For example, some of
our drivers have been attacked or
manhandled by touts as they go about their
duties. We have been doing our best by not
taking the law into our hands and this is
one of the issues raised during our quarterly
meeting which took place on December 20,
2019. Our National Chairman enumerated
some of the challenges faced by tanker
drivers in the course of carrying out their
legitimate activities.

PAGE 44, SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020
Viewpoint
By Ola Awoniyi Lawan@61: The quintessential politician behind the gavel
hen Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan
Wgraduated from the
University of Maiduguri
(UNIMAID) in 1984 with a B.Sc in
Geography, his apparent career was
as an academic.
The career was probably foisted
on him as Ahmad was a beneficiary
of the legacy of Professor Jubril
Aminu who, as the Vice-Chancellor
of UNIMAID, offered graduates
with first-class or second class upper
degrees appointment at the
university as graduate assistants. For
the next decade, Lawan’s sojourn
was within the academic
community of UNIMAID.
In 1990, he went to the Cranfield
University in the United Kingdom
for his master’s and doctoral
programmes in Remote Sensing
and GIS on a European Union
scholarship. He returned to Nigeria
in 1996 to resume his teaching career
at UNIMAID.
Politics did not appear as a
prospect in those early days as he
focused on being a scientist and an
academic.
“When I completed my studies and
returned, I had little idea that I
would join politics. Until a year after
I returned, then something
happened,” Lawan recalled. “I will
not like to describe myself as an
accidental politician. But maybe a
reluctant one because I never
imagined that I will be able to
survive in the kind of political
environment that we have in
Nigeria. But when God is with you,
nothing is impossible.”
As destiny will have it, Ahmad
Ibrahim Lawan is today the
President of the Senate of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. That
is the reason he has been described
as a hybrid of an academic and a
politician.
In 1997, with a bit of
encouragement from his close
friends, Lawan took his first steps
into active politics when he joined
the defunct United Nigerian
Congress Party (UNCP). That was
By Collins Adaka
here is only one name fashion
Tdesigners in Nigeria and Africa
need to respect – Mudi.
Mudi is an embodiment of
awesome and innate talents, style,
decorum and leadership. At any
point in time,he exudes confidence
and relish in concentration as to how
the next design will come out aright.
His utmost pleasure and
satisfaction is the joy and beauty he
creates in his numerous clientele
across the length and breadth of
Nigeria and beyond, when they
adorn his designs. There is truism
in the obvious fact that when you
are born with a talent, you have the
onerous responsibility to stretch it
andnurture it into something
creatively beautiful.
Every human being has one talent
or the other. It is left for you to
discover which one is yours. Mudi
discovered his, decades ago and
since then, he has been tickling
thefancies of his specialised clientèle
By Olusola Sanni
ince Governor Seyi Makinde
Sconstituted the caretaker chief
executives into the local government
councils and the local council
development areas in Oyo State,
there has been a heightening of
noise about the propriety of the
governor’s action.
The dividing line is expected. The
ruling Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) supports and hails the governor
for a ballsy move to restore order in
the administration of local
government authorities in the state;
while the opposition All Progressives
Congress (APC) is busy alleging that
the governor’s action is illegal. Which
of the two sides is upholding the truth
is left for the court to decide when the
judiciary wades in to interpret the
legality or otherwise of the govern or
‘sproclamation.
The suspended chairmen, all of
them of the APC bulk, have many a
time mounted theso apbox and made
spirited efforts to make the state
government reverse the decision to
suspend their tenure in office.
Unfortunately, the bid to salvage their
so-called mandate should have been
•Ibrahim Lawan, Senate President
during the General Sani Abacha
political transition programme that
ended with the general’s sudden
death in 1998. When General
Abdulsalam Abubakar who
succeeded Abacha blew the whistle
again in 1998, Ahmad joined the All
Peoples Party (APP) and was elected
its Vice-Chairman in his home state
of Yobe. In the electoral cycle that
gave birth to the Fourth Republic in
1999, Ahmad was elected to the
House of Representatives,
representing Badeja Federal
Constituency of Yobe State. He spent
eight years in the House before
moving up to the Senate in 2007.
Since 1999, Lawan has won six
consecutive elections, becoming one
of the longest-serving federal
lawmakers in Nigeria.
“I never believed for one day that
politics is deceit. In Hausa, they say
‘siahsa yaudara ne’. It is not
yaudara. Politics is service and if you
are a politician and you are elected,
you will account for it because you
will be asked how you represented
the people,” Lawan said.
Lawan wanted to be President of
the Senate in 2015 but his time had
not come. Despite the controversial
circumstances of that leadership
contest, as a loyal party man, he
harboured no grudges against
anyone. He eventually became the
Senate Leader that year and
converted the apparent setback to
advantage by building on his
parliamentary experience. When the
opportunity presented itself again
in 2019, he was again the
frontrunner. This time, he was
resoundingly elected the Senate
President by his colleagues across
party lines. He has since committed
himself to building a united Senate
and National Assembly.
For Lawan, acrimony within
Parliament based on political
differences or between Parliament
and other arms of government
benefits no one.
Lawan once said: “While l served
for the five tenures in the past, I
experienced various situations of
Legislature/Executive relationships
and of course the outcome was
mostly undesirable.
“At one point we almost
impeached the President. At that
time, President Olusegun Obasanjo,
in 1999, in his first tenure when I
was in the House of Representatives.
The Executive and Legislature never
had a decent relationship and
Nigeria and Nigerians suffered for
four years in that instance.
“The second tenure, I think the
President became wiser and the
relationship improved and our
productivity as a government also
improved. So I watched how bad
relationship, rancorous
relationship between the Executive
and the Legislature caused so much
anxiety and instability in the land.
“We made a conscious decision
this year 2019 when we ran for the
office of President of the Senate. We
told ourselves that we are first and
foremost representatives of
Nigerians. We came on different
platforms, vehicles that took us to
the construction site. And of course,
at the construction site, all of us are
supposed to work together to
construct that structure.”
This conviction has been driving
the President of the ninth Senate
despite strident criticism from some
quarters who prefer a cat and mouse
relationship between the two elected
arms of government. Lawan believes
in a National Assembly that
constantly rises above partisan
politics to work for the collective
interest of the people.
“We believe that fighting between
the Legislature and the Executive
does not help anyone. The legislators
will still collect their salaries. The
ministers will collect theirs. But the
country suffers. And you will regret
after you leave office because you
can’t show anything that will justify
the number of years you have
served.
“So we said we will work with the
Executive arm of government in
such a manner that there is mutual
respect. They respect us. We respect
Employment: Mudi’s can-do message
with bold and audacious designs
thereby making a statement so
distinct that it can only be Mudi.
Such is the phenomenon called
Mudi.
Located in the sublime and serene
abode in Anthony Village, Lagos
State is Mudi Lane, this is the name
of the street which houses his fashion
emporium. The beauty of the
landscape alone is so alluring that
you immediately get the impression
that tickles your emotions as to the
kind of business you are coming to
transact. Yours sincerely was there
recently to discussion how we can
sponsor some unemployed youths
who have indicated their interest in
fashion designing to us. Because we
sincerely believe government
cannot do it alone hence it has
become absolutely inevitable and
necessary to stand in the gap as a
private initiator. The unemployment
rate amongst our youths is soaring
by the day. According to the Minister
of Labour and Productivity, Mr.
Chris Ngige, Nigeria’s
unemployment rate is to reach 33.5
per cent by this year 2020. This is
obviously alarming and
frightening. Something urgently
needs to be done.
On the said appointment with
Mudi at Mudi Lane, Anthony
Village, Lagos, he said: “Every
investor is a risk taker. However, they
don’t gamble on luck, they’re
realistic and strategic long term
planners. I have faith in God
Almighty and faith in what I am
doing because living a life of faith
means overcoming fear and
adopting a play to win mindset, one
that says even if you do fail you won’t
give up or let your dreams die.
Success isn’t automatically given to
us, it’s pursued with all the energy
and sweatwe can muster. That’s
probably why we, at Mudi Fashion
are flourishing and growing like a
Cedar of Lebanon planted in the
house of the Lord.”
Life isn’t a bed of roses. It is often
said that nature itself teaches us that
it is impossible to succeed without
going through adversity. That is to
say life isn’t predictable and the
solutions we engage to answer our
life questions don’t always come
nicely wrapped hence one must have
the ability to yield and be flexible as
we work out means to define our
pathways.
Mudi’s phenomenon from
nothingness to something is an
encouragement and a stimulus to
those out thereto pursue their dreams
and aspirations with vigor and
relentless efforts knowing that God
will grant their heart desires if they
don’t loose faith inasmuch as they
work assiduously towards their
desired goals.
It’s a wake up call!
The Bible says in Proverbs 22:29
(NKJV)”Do you see a man who
excels in his work? He will stand
The hullabaloo about Oyo LGA caretaker chairmen
directed at the immediate past
governor of the state, Abiola Ajimobi.
The aggrieved suspended local
government chairmen should have
asked the former governor why he
chose to defy a court order in May
2018, which stopped him from
proceeding with the conduct of the
election.
It would be recalled that a Federal
High Court sitting in Ibadan had
ordered the Oyo State Independent
Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to
halt the conduct of election into the
33 local government councils and 35
development areas in the state.
Incidentally, the suit which the court
ruled upon was initiated by members
of the same APC and not PDP - the
more reason the APC should seek selfintrospection
rather than blame the
PDP for its current woes.
That the May12, 2018 local
government election in Oyo State was
a shambolic exercise propped by
executive rascality is not difficult for
anyone who followed developments
up to the election to decipher. That
the PDP, a major opposition political
party at that time, did not participate
in the election tells it all that the
processes leading to the election was
not credible and the product thereof
could not have been sustainable. In
that sense, it is not unexpected that the
Government of Governor Makinde
backed by the House of Assembly,
would most certainly suspend the
chairmen made out of such election
until the protocol is straightened for a
proper local government election in
Oyo State.
If the then Governor Ajimobi had
conducted an election that makes a
mockery of democracy, would anyone
then blame his predecessor for doing
the right thing by cleansing the
Augean stable and setting the
protocols aright for a smooth local
government administration in the
state?
Though one shares the pain of the
suspended local government
chairmen, the impression should not
be made that Governor Makinde is
deliberately punishing them for
belonging to a rival political party.
Perhaps, they also have themselves to
blame for their travails, because if
they had prevailed on the government
of the day when their election was
being conducted to apply reason
instead of brawl, their mandate would
have been water-tight and very
difficult to take away by anyone even
with a malicious intent.
It is difficult to fault both Governor
Makinde and the Oyo State House
of Assembly in suspending the old
board of the OYSIEC on account of
conducting election into the 35 LCDAs
created by the Ajimobi-led
administration. If that administration
had listened to wise counsels, it
certainly would have consulted more
widely before delineating those
LCDAs. Worse still, the administration
misled the OYSIEC to commit an
illegality of conducting elections into
those LCDAs -entities that are not
known to the 1999 constitution.
Based onthis sheer infraction, it is
wrong of the opposition to cite a ruling
of theSupreme Court barring state
governments from dissolving local
government administrations. What
the Supreme Court pronounced in the
wisdom of the court was to protect
local government authorities from the
authoritarian tendencies of state
governments. But the verdict of the
Supreme Court is not meant to
them. We are not going to be
unnecessarily difficult but we are
going to be thorough.
“Where our oversight is required,
we will do so with utmost
responsibility but we will ensure that
there is prudence, there is economy,
there is efficiency in the
management of the public fund by
the Executive arm of government.
“And where we disagree with them,
we will agree on the basis of facts
and reasons. We don’t have to go to
the market square to fight. We will
insist, let the national interest define
and determine the outcome of our
disagreement. Let’s all work for the
national interest. And that is what
we intend to do.”
This pragmatic approach by this
quintessential Yobe-born politician,
coupled with his bi-partisan
leadership style is, no doubt, yielding
the desired results when you
consider the modest progress that
has been made by the National
Assembly in just six months.
This includes the realignment of
the financial year to a more
predictable cycle of January to
December and the passage of some
critical bills in record time. Add to
that, at least for now, that the
National Assembly is not dissipating
energy unnecessarily feuding with
another arm of government but is
instead focussing on its legislative
agenda. Given his philosophy of
constructive cooperation, Lawan is
poised to lead the ninth National
Assembly to more achievements.
Lawan was born on January 12,
1959, in Gashua now in Yobe State
in the northeast of Nigeria. At 61, he
has enjoyed the privilege of serving
his country at the highest level and
is determined to demonstrate his
gratitude by devoting his public
service career to the pursuit of the
unity, peace and progress of Nigeria.
Here is wishing the quintessential
politician and leader a happy
birthday and many more years of
fruitful service to his fatherland.
*Awoniyi is the Special Adviser
on Media to the Senate President
before Kings, he will not stand
before unknown men/” In another
translation of this same verse in the
Bible (MSG) it says “skilled workers
are always in demand and admired,
they don’t take a back seat to
anyone.”
No skill you learn will ever be lost.
Always know that God calls
prepared people, so prepare
yourself by acquiring one skill no
matter your level of education. Your
unwillingness to learn today will
leave you unprepared for
tomorrow’s opportunities.
Surprisingly but interestingly,
Mudi has another arsenal in his
booty. I discovered this when I visited
Ughelli, in Delta State recently and
was amazed at the beautification of
three roundabouts in the town. The
beautification of the landscape of
the said roundabouts had a stunning
effect on me that necessitated by
asking who was behind it.
*Adaka is resident in Lagos
Read more on
www.vanguardngr.com
provide a blanket cover to improperly
constituted local government
authorities.
In any case,since the House of
Assembly has passed a bill sacking
the suspended local government
chairmen and they, in turn, have
approached the court to challenge the
action, it suffices, therefore, that there
is a vacuum in the local government
administration in Oyo State. The
question that arises is that should
Governor Makinde fold his arms and
not put an interim measure in place
for the day-to-day running of local
governments in the state till the courts
resolves the current imbroglio? I think
those criticizing the governor for
constituting a caretaker committee
in the local government areas and
development areas in Oyo State are
merely disguising their purports of
pursuing a political agenda.
Since the case is already in court, it
will be more patriotic for the
embattled chairmen to wait for the
pronouncement of the judiciary rather
than go about causing tension in the
state and sabotaging the incumbent
council chiefs.
•Sanni, a public affairs expert, lives
in Ibadan.

Viewpoint
By Pius Teke AKWA IBOM: Udom’s plan for rural communities
kwa Ibom State Governor
AUdom Emmanuel kicked off
his second term with a promise to
take development beyond urban
centre’s to the rural areas where the
bulk of the population resides. And
for the first time in the history of the
state, rural development is reaching
riverine communities that have
often been neglected in the past.
The governor’s change of style is
worthy of commendation when
considered from the point of view of
the fact that riverine communities
have never been made to feel they
are a part of the state, especially
those that are accessible only by
canoe or boat. The irony is that these
communities are usually
considered to be part of the state
during campaigns for elections, but
forgotten from after elections are
won and lost.
Politicians seeking elective offices,
including those from the mainland
parts of the state, who may not be
very conversant with water
transportation, would not mind
risking their lives to travel by boats
to campaign in communities they
would ordinarily feel they have no
business visiting at other times. They
often promise the hapless
communities roads and bridges to
link them with the rest of the state if
voted into office.
The gullible and largely illiterate
By Mazi Omife I. Omife
s a Christian, I have a lot of
Areverence for ordained men of
God of all denominations. In the
same vein, I used to have a great
respect for Mbaka. This is the reason
I have resisted the strong urge to get
involved in Mbaka’s provocative
habit of intruding into the realm of
politics without justifiable reason.
Mbaka, an ordained priest and
spiritual director of Adoration
Ministry in Enugu was recently at it
again, this time with his so-called
2020 prophecy in which he
prophesied that the 2019 APC
governorship candidate, Hope
Uzodinma, would dislodge the
incumbent governor of the state, Rt
Hon Emeka Ihedioha of Peoples
Democratic Party.
Mbaka’s prophecy comes at a time
when the election petition filed by
Hope Uzodimma is pending at the
Supreme court of Nigeria, a scenario
that clearly portrays the intellectual
and mental naivety of the prophet
and his spiritual double-talk.
Mbaka’s latest spoof on Governor
Ihedioha adds to a litany of his
ridiculous prophecies which ended
up as mere hoax, targeted as they are
always are, to unscrupulous and
unconscionable politicians who take
delight in listening to so-called men
An assessment of what
is currently on ground
in terms of achievement
of the lofty objectives of
the rural and riverine
development
programme of the
administration
people, they are, and desperate to
be connected to the rest of humanity,
the communities would vote the
lying politicians into office believing
that salvation had come at last.
However, after poll, would be the
end of hope and belief, and the
beginning of yet another cycle of
despair, and neglect. The thoroughly
abused and serially deceived people
would not see their supposed
messiahs again until another
elections are due.
If Governor Emmanuel has
decided to break the jinx and look
in the direction of these historically
neglected communities, then he
deserves commendation. And I dare
say, he deserves not just attention,
but support.
His administration has so far built
more than 1, 000 kilometers of
roads to open up the state, linking
virtually every part by road. Now,
with a programme he has
christened Completion Agenda, he
has made development of riverine
communities an integral part of the
plan to make all parts of the state
feel the presence of his government
and also have a sense of belonging.
This is part of a larger plan to
engender unity among the people
of the state and bring them on the
same page with him in his plan of
building the Akwa Ibom.
The plan of the current
administration for rural and riverine
areas is to see that by the time it bows
out in 2023, the living standard of
the people of those communities
would have been significantly
improved in terms of infrastructural
and socio-economic development,
at par with other developed parts of
the state. There is a solemn
commitment to give attention to
developing those areas through
construction of more rural roads,
provision of electricity and building
of health centres, as well as
establishment of cottage industries
by using the small and medium
enterprises agenda of the
administration as the driver. This
would not only help in boosting the
economy of the state, but would also
generate employment for rural
dwellers.
The government plans,
throughout the next four years, to
carry out routine maintenance of
400 dilapidated rural roads
measuring, about 120 kilometers
during the dry season every year. It
will also pursue the water supply
component of the AK-RDMP in
order to attain the goal of Good
Water for All by 2023.
The rural and riverine
development component of the
Completion Agenda is an ambitious
programme that is bound to change
the narrative on the development of
people that had hitherto been
condemned to play the role of
hewers of firewood and fetchers of
water for urban dwellers through
supplying the food that comes to the
latter.
For instance, the government has
promised to set up power stations to
handle planning and management
of rural electrification projects;
invest in small distribution and
power generation facilities, which
would give local sources of power
supply increased priority, attention
and support by it. This would ensure
connection of rural communities to
the national power grid.
The plan for the riverine
communities is to make them
Mbaka’s wishy-washy prophecy on Ihedioha
of God like Mbaka who tell them
what they want to hear rather than
what God wants them to do.
And hear Mbaka claiming before
his gullible listeners that all his past
prophecies have come to pass, in
spite of extensive list of his failed
prophecies that make him the most
controversial of all time.
Scores of Mbaka’s failed
prophecies have proved just that, as
can be seen in his failed prophecies
on successive former governors of
Enugu State.
Mbaka’s failed battle against
former Governor Chimaroke
Nnamani in 2001 or so is well known.
The day Mbaka raised the brouhaha
of Chimaroke sending assassins to
his Adoration ground to drop killer
substances that killed nearly a dozen
of his worshippers, I was at Aso Rock
with Barrister Tony Ignis Ngene to
see Barrister Handel Okoli, one of
the greatest Igbo presidency
appointees at the time that worked
and achieved so much for Igbos in
many silent ways during Obasanjo’s
tenure as Senior Special Assistant.
As chance had it, Chimaroke had just
attended a Council of State meeting
in Aso Rock and we happened to meet
with him briefly before he headed
back to Enugu.
He was visibly upset. We all
sympathized with him and bade him
farewell after which we went back to
our business in Aso Rock.
Back home two days after, Enugu
was resonating with the news of
Mbaka’s wild allegations against
Chimaroke with a thousand and one
versions of the story flying around,
which most of his followers bought
into. One of the fallouts of the blame
game was the holding of a candlelight
procession by Mbaka and
hundreds of his followers as they
carried a purported coffin of
Chimaroke as they marched along
major streets of Enugu, signifying the
imminent death of Chimaroke.
When Chimaroke refused to die
some six months after Mbaka’s
curse, he now changed gear and
turned every Wednesday session of
his Adoration Ministry into a house
of curses and prophecies about how
Chimaroke will never win election
for a second term.
Mbaka went on to prop up an
Abuja-based political neophyte from
somewhere in Oji river, whom he
said would be the governor of Enugu
State in place of Nnamani’s second
term. It turned out that Mbaka’s
candidate did not even know when
the elections were held.
The young man was so
overwhelmed by the mass support
for Chimaroke that nobody knew
when he silently ran to his Achi
village and from there quietly
returned to his Abuja base.
Chimaroke won the election with
landslide. Former Governor
Sullivan Chime suffered similar
experience in the hands of Mbaka
over the issue of disengaged workers
in Enugu State, even when it was
Sullivan who recalled them to work.
Like Chimaroke, Mbaka and his
followers also unleashed a prophetic
and curse procession against
Sullivan’s second term.
This time, he brought up another
candidate whom he prophesied to
be the next governor. Again, Mbaka’s
prophecy proved false. Sullivan won
a second term with landslide.
Most recently, Mbaka told us that
one of the northern governors in PDP
will win the 2019 presidential
election. Today we have Buhari in
Aso Rock. Recall also that before the
2019 election, Mbaka predicted that
Hope Uzodimma of APC will win
the governorship election on the day
Uzodimma visited him.
contribute effectively to the
economic transformation of the
state in a manner that would be
beneficial not just to them, but also
to the entire state. This would involve
developing a strong aquaculture for
the state using the natural resources
of those communities. With a
coastline of about 129 kilometers
that is complemented by rivers,
tributaries, mangrove, swamps,
creeks and flood plains, Akwa Ibom
has an ecosystem that is very rich in
aquatic animals and fishes, with
continental shelf, creeks and
swamps that are home to
crustaceans and shrimps.
An assessment of what is currently
on ground in terms of achievement
of the lofty objectives of the rural
and riverine development
programme of the administration
shows that significant steps have so
far been taken in meeting its goals
in all areas. The programme is work
in progress.
It may not be far-fetched to suggest
that in the not too distant future,
rural and riverine areas in Akwa
Ibom would hold attraction in
residential options for those
currently residing in urban centres
who may prefer to go to work from
their villages. What’s more, the areas
would be virtually on the same level
with urban centres in the areas of
infrastructural and socio-economic
development. It would be the easiest
way to escape the increasing cost of
living in urban centres.
•Teke, an engineer, lives in Port
Harcourt
Just last October, after another
priest, Emmanuel Chibuzo
Obimma, of Ebube Muonso
Adoration Ministry in Anambra
State, challenged the authenticity of
Mbaka’s prophecies, Mbaka
bragged: “To prove my authenticity
to the world and Nigerians in
general, to prove that I am really a
prophet of God, I’m going to make a
prophecy that on the first of October,
coming month, there will be darkness
in the cloud over Nigeria for
complete five hours starting from
12noon till 5pm, followed by a
massive rain with thunder. If this sign
did not occur on the 1st of October,
then I will resign as a Prophet.” Come
Ist October, Nigerians had one of the
most clement weathers in history. Yet
Mbaka did not resign.
Yet Mbaka would claim that all
his prophecies came to pass.
So who would bother about
Mbaka’s prophecy on Imo State?
Expectedly and rightly, Governor
Ihedioha has cast that prophetic
garbage into the trash bin where it
rightly belongs.
Who knows? Could it be that
Ihedioha refused to come to Enugu
and pay homage to Mbaka after he
reportedly visited Imo State to bless
the Government House for the
governor?
*Omife is an Enugu based public
affairs analyst
SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020, PAGE 45
VISIT TO BAUCHI: Buhari’s wife, children entitled to presidential
jet — Presidency
The Presidency said yesterday
that the presidential jet can be
used by President Muhammadu
Buhari’s wife and children. Others
include Vice President, the Senate
President, the Speaker and any other
person(s) authorised by the
President.
Garba Shehu, the Senior Special
Assistant, Media and Publicity to the
president was reacting to criticisms
on the social media over the use of
the presidential jet by the Buhari’s
daughter, Hanan to a private
ceremony in Bauchi.
Hanan, the youngest daughter of
President Muhammadu Buhari, on
Thursday visited Bauchi in a
presidential jet to attend a special
durbar ceremony organized in her
honour by the Emir of Bauchi,
Rilwanu Adamu, at his palace.
Miss Buhari’s visit on presidential
jet caused social media storm, with
most people condemning the use of
the Nigerian Airforce aircraft for
“personal use”.
Miss Buhari is a certified creative
photographer, who recently bagged
a first-class degree in Photography
from a London University.
The photography lover had
arrived at Sir Abubakar Tafawa
Balewa International Airport,
Bauchi on Thursday, and was
received by the First Lady of Bauchi
State and other government
officials.
It was gathered that the durbar was
specially organized to enable the
president’s daughter opportunity to
take photographs of the traditional
durbar, Bauchi architecture and
other cultural sites in the state.
Shehu said the Presidency
authorised the visit and informed the
office of the National Security
Adviser (NSA) to release the jet.
“It’s true that a member of the first
family was flown to Bauchi
yesterday on a mission duly
authorised,” Shehu told newsmen
on Saturday.
“It wasn’t an impromptu or
improper trip because it followed
normal procedure. The Presidency
informed the National Security
Adviser of the mission, who in turn
informed the Commander of the
Presidential Air Fleet.
“The normal practice in existence
for a long time is that the
Presidential Air fleet is available to
the President and the first family and
four others.
“These four are the Vice President,
the Senate President the Speaker
and any other person(s) authorised
by the President,” Shehu explained.
2020 BUDGET: Education takes lion’s share in Ondo
By Dayo Johnson, Akure
187.8 billion has been
Nearmarked in this year’s
budget to further deliver dividends
of democracy to the people of Ondo
State.
The Economic Planning and
Budget Commissioner, Pastor
Emmanuel Igbasan said this while
giving the analysis of the state
budget in Akure.
Igbasan said the budget has a
provision of N80.4 billion for capital
project and N 82.7 billion for
recurrent expenditure.
According to him, it also has a
provision of N 10.5 billion and N
14.1 billion for debt repayment and
statutory transfer respectively.
While giving further sub-sectoral
breakdown, the commissioner said
education took the lion share of
N35. 9 billion representing 19.13
percent, infrastructural
development N32.907b
representing 17.52 percent, public
finance, N33.357b representing
17.32 percent, health, N15213
billion representing 8.10 percent,
and agriculture, N12. 564b
representing 6.68 percent among
others.
‘Okowa’s victory testifies to his
acceptability, popularity’
By Simon Adewale
A
political pressure group in Delta
State, Okowability Prosperity
Network (OPN), has said that the
victory of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa
at the Supreme Court testified to his
acceptability.
The group said this in a statement
by its Director-General, Clement
Olojoba; Secretary-General,
Comrade Theophilus Odenore;
Director Media and Publicity, Chief
Thompson Fuoye; Director of Youth
Mobilisation, Mr. Chuks Okoh; and
Director, Finance and
Appropriation, Mr. William Monyei.
The statement reads; “We have
resolved to commend His Excellency
for being loved and cherished by all
Deltans and we urge all Deltans
irrespective of party affiliations to join
hands together to support his
government in bringing the desired
prosperity to all. We urge the governor
to see himself as the father of all
Deltans and operate an inclusive
government.
“We are also urging all Deltans to
join hands together with the governor
in the task of developing the state.
We are aggrieved that we have been
sidelined by the state government
after the rigorous campaign we
embarked upon in 2015. We have not
benefitted anything from the state
government.”
9mobile commits to innovation on new products,
services
By Etop Ekanem
Technology, the bedrock of
innovation, has changed the
way things are done and enabling
people and organisations to break
new grounds. By disrupting the
status quo, notable technological
innovations such as Artificial
Intelligence (AI), robotics, mobile
applications, and operating systems
are helping us to simplify
complicated tasks and set new
records.
Speaking on 9mobile’s
innovation journey, Acting
Managing Director, Stephane
Beuvelet, said innovation is one of
the three core values for which it has
built positive reputation; the other
two being quality of service and
customer experience. According to
him, one of the latest innovative
solutions is the first personalised
customer care service over Rich
Communication Services in Africa.

46 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020
Iheanacho
Moyes wants
change to
handball rules
WEST Ham boss
David Moyes believes
the International
Football Association
Board (IFAB) should be
looking at changing the
handball law.
Moyes made the suggestion
after his side
were denied an injurytime
equaliser against
Sheffield United in their
English Premier League
game.
After falling behind to
Oli McBurnie’s goal at
the start of the second
half, the Hammers
thought they had
snatched a last-gasp draw
when Robert Snodgrass
squeezed a low shot between
a post and goalkeeper
Dean Henderson.
However, the goal was
referred to VAR and replays
showed that the
ball had been headed
against Declan Rice’s
arm from point-blank
range by Blades defender
John Egan in the build
up.
Under the new handball
laws introduced this season,
it was the correct decision.
But Moyes felt the
goal should have stood
while Rice called the decision
“absolutely crazy”.
“We need to try and get
them to change this ruling.
We aren’t comfortable
with it and at the
moment there is a big
campaign to try and
change this ruling.
Moyes
VAR denies Iheanacho as Saints
pay back Leicester
LEICESTER City
suffered another
home stumble in their
bid for Champions
League football next
season as Southampton
erased memories of their
9-0 mauling by the Foxes
in October with a 2-1
victory.
Kelechi Iheanacho
who was introduced in
the second half scored
with a clever back-heel
but was denied by video
assistant referee.
Dennis Praet opened
scoring for Leicester, but
the Saints came back into
the game with a viciously-deflected
Stuart Armstrong
strike. Danny
Ings’ 16th goal of the
season gave the Saints
their fourth Premier
League win in five
games.
For City, it is now backto-back
league defeats at
the King Power Stadium
and only one point from
a possible nine at home
as Brendan Rodgers’
side have faltered of late
in front of their own fans.
Ogu searches for new beginning in
Saudi league
Super Eagles midfielder,
John Ogu said
he is out to make an impact
with his new Saudi
club Al-Adalah FC stay
in the league next season.
Ogu has been without
a club after he quit Israeli
side Hapoel Beer
Sheva 2018. The 31-
year-old signed a six
months contract with the
Saudi side.
“It’s been a long,
tough and crazy six
months, but I want to
quickly put it all behind
me by getting involved
with Al-Adalah immediately,”
he told BBC
Sport.
“To watch others actively
playing on television
at the start of the
season was tough and
now I have a lot of catching
up to do personally
on the football pitch.
“But I’m confident in
my ability and confident
that my body is ready for
the battles and vigorous
games to come.”
Al-Adalah currently lie
in 15th place in the 16-
team league, but Ogu is
determined to help them
stay in the the Saudi Professional
League.
“I promise to give my
all and push through to
help the club remain in
the league next season,”
he added.
“I’ve been here for a
few days and I can see
that the club has everything
to compete against
the best in Saudi.”
Ogu played his last
match for the Super Eagles
in their 2-0 defeat to
Madagascar at the 2019
Africa Cup of Nations in
Egypt. He has two goals
in 24 appearances for
three-time African champions
Nigeria.
Arteta apologises for Aubameyang
red card
ARSENAL manager
Mikel Arteta apologised
to Crystal Palace
midfielder Max Meyer
for the tackle which
earned Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang a red card
in the 1-1 draw at Selhurst
Park.
The Gunners captain,
who opened the scoring
in the 12th minute at
Selhurst Park, was given
his marching orders
with 67 minutes on the
clock.
Aubameyang caught
Meyer high on the ankle
and, although referee
Paul Tierney cautioned
him originally,
VAR upgraded it to a red
card and he will now
serve a three-match
ban.
Arteta said: “I just
watched it. It looked
nasty to be fair. We know
there is no intention to
make such a tackle.
“Hopefully he (Meyer)
hasn’t been injured
and we are sorry for
that. They made a decision
and we have to accept
it.
“It is a massive blow
(to lose Aubameyang).
Ogu
You know how important
Auba is for the team and
we lose him for a couple
of games.”
After a dominant opening
half an hour, Arsenal’s
control of the London
derby waned with
Palace improving before
the break.
Aubameyang gets the marching order
Zidane: I’m better
now than before
ZINEDINE Zidane
believes he is a better
coach now than he
was when he led Real
Madrid to three Champions
League successes.
Zidane returned for a
second spell in charge at
the Santiago Bernabeu
in March 2019, 10
months after departing
the club in the aftermath
of guiding them to a
third successive continental
crown.
His return has not always
been plain sailing
with Madrid ending last
season third in La Liga,
19 points adrift of archrivals
Barcelona while
both Spanish giants -
who are tied atop the table
- have been largely
underwhelming this
term.
And Zidane suggested
he has learned from both
his time away from the
game and the club’s recent,
relative struggles.
He told reporters: “Yes,
I think I’m better. I feel
like I have developed. In
life too, as a person.
“You learn from situations,
from the people
around you. I make sure
to listen to the people
who are alongside me,
and my aim to is to keep
on progressing.”
Suarez faces long injury
lay-off
BARCELONA for
ward Luis Suarez is
set for a lengthy spell on
the sidelines after the
Spanish champions announced
he is to undergo
surgery to treat a knee
problem.
A statement from Barca
on Saturday said Suarez
would be treated for an
injury on the external
meniscus on his right
knee on Sunday by club
doctor Ramon Cugat and
after the procedure the
club would release further
details on when he
will return.
The Uruguay forward,
Suarez
32, has made 23 appearances
for Barca this season
in all competitions,
scoring 14 goals. He
completed 90 minutes in
Barca’s 3-2 defeat by
Atletico Madrid on
Thursday which saw
them exit the Spanish
Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Suarez underwent surgery
on the same knee
last May, which forced
him to miss the Copa del
Rey final defeat to Valencia,
although he recovered
in time to feature
for Uruguay in the Copa
America.
Ibra lifts luckless Milan
ZLATAN Ibrahimovic
scored on his first start
since returning to AC Milan
as his side earned a 2-
0 win away to Cagliari yesterday
to end a threematch
winless run in Serie
A.
The Swede, who joined
the Italian club for a second
time on a free transfer
in December, swept in a finish
on the 64th minute after
Rafael Leao’s deflected
strike broke the deadlock
early in the second half.
Ibrahimovic, who made
his second debut for the
Zidane
club off the bench during
Monday’s 0-0 draw with
Sampdoria, has now
scored a top-flight senior
goal in four different decades.
The result elevates Milan
to eighth place on 25
points ahead of the rest of
the weekend’s fixtures,
after a run of three games
without victory, in which
they failed to score a single
goal. Cagliari have
now suffered four consecutive
league defeats, but
remain in sixth place with
29 points.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020 — 47
Declaration of autonomous AFN out of order,
NOC tells Gusau, others
THE Nigeria Olympic
Committee, NOC, has
urged the suspended Athletics
Federation of Nigeria
president, AFN, Ibrahim
Gusau to answer allegations
of misconduct leveled
against him by the board of
the nation’s athletics ruling
body.
This was one of the recommendations
of the reconciliation
committee which
was set up by the NOC to
mediate in the crisis rocking
the AFN since the 2017
federation elections. The crisis
came to head in December,
when majority of the
AFN members suspended
Gusau and in defiance, Gusau,
backed by Solomon
Ogba, a vice-president of
the NOC and a few others
held a Congress in Awka,
Anambra State, where they
resolved to form an autonomous
athletics federation.
The NOC reconciliation
committee comprising Francis
Orbih (chairman), Elizabeth
Margaret Binga, Toyin
Aluko and Emmanuel
Nweri in its finding and observations,
listed that
based on the laws setting
up sporting federations in
the country, it was difficult
to reconcile with the forming
of an autonomous
AFN. “It is pertinent to note
that strict compliance with
the provision of statues is
a sine qua non for good
governance, law and order
in any organisation.
“The declaration of autonomy
by the AFN is out
of order, it is not not practically
possible.”
The reconciliation committee
advised that the AFN
investigation panel set up
to question the conduct of
Mr. Gusau, be expanded to
include a representative of
the NOC, the Sports Ministry
and the Federal ministry
of justice so that a fair
AFN targets three meets before Edo 2020
By Ben Efe
ATHLETICS Federa
tion of Nigeria,
AFN, officials have targeted
three Golden
League meets before the
National Sports Festival
billed for March 2020 in
Edo State.
Already, the Ekiti State
government has agreed
in principle to bankroll
one of those meets,
while the “Edo 2020”
Local Organising Commitee
are looking to
sponsor another, to testrun
the track and field
facilities at the Samuel
Ogbemudia Stadium,
Benin City, main venue
of the National Sports
Festival.
“Going by our calculations,
we are going to
have a busy year for the
athletes,” said Brown
Ebewele who is the technical
director of the AFN.
“Before the National
Sports Festival, we are
going to have at least
three competitions. This
is to get the athletes
ready not just for the festival
but for the Olympics.
“By now we would have
started our Olympic
camping, but there are
hearing could be guaranteed
for the embattled AFN
president.
Gusau was slated to appear
before the AFN investigation
panel last December,
but he declined stating
that he would not appear
before an illegitimate assembly,
stating that he remained
the authentic president
of the AFN.
still some details still being
worked out.”
He added that the AFN
board will meet next
week to iron out details
of the year’s programme.
The major competitions
being the African Championships
in Algeria,
Olympics 2020 and the
World Junior Championships
billed for Nairobi,
Kenya.
Getafe move a new chapter, says Etebo
Etebo
GETAFE’s new mid
fielder, Oghenekaro
Peter Etebo says he is delighted
to be opening a
‘new chapter’ in his career
having returned to LaLiga
Santander to join upwardly
mobile Getafe.
The 31 times capped
Nigeria international has
signed for Getafe on loan
from English side Stoke
City, knowingSpanish football
well from a previous
spell at Las Palmas during
the 2017/18 campaign.
Etebo told reporters at his
presentation at Getafe’s
Coliseum Alfonso Perez
that he was prepared now
to workhard and help his
new team to further success
over the coming months.
“It is like a new chapter
CAF Confed Cup: Rangers target win over
Nouadhibou
ENUGU Rangers
coach, Salisu Yusuf
believes his team have no
option but to collect all
three points from visiting
Nouadhibou Football
Club of Mauritania when
they clash in today’s CAF
Confederation Cup tie at
the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium
in Enugu.
Yusuf said that the players
confidence was back
and as such they were
poised to defeat their visitor
from Mauritania.
Nigerian athtetes - L-R: Yinka Ajayi, Onome Nathaniel, Praise
Idamadudu and Patience Okon-George
“Since my coming into
Rangers, we are gradually
and steadily getting
to play some good football
but have been very
unlucky in front of goals.
Though we held the visitors
to a goalless draw
in Mauritania but that
does not mean it is over.
Nonetheless, we are
working on converting
our chances and I believe
that we shall get it
right on Sunday (today)
as we have started getting
our confidence back
with the win in the NPFL
on Wednesday, “ Yusuf
said.
Rangers Captain, Temitope
Olusesi said that
the match against the
Mauritanian club would
be tough but assured that
the visitors would have
nothing to smile home
with.
“Our continental match
will be tough but we shall
come out with the needed
victory to put us back
on track for a quarter final
ticket.”
for me, a new beginning,”
he said. “I was in Spain
before, with Las Palmas last
year, so this is a new beginning.
It is for me to
make sure that I do my
best and give my all for
Getafe. It is not going to
be easy,
there will be hard work
between now and the end
of the season. Let’s see
what I am going to bring
to the team.”
Etebo added that the
draw of such glamorous
European football was attractive,
however stating
that the main reason he
chose to join Getafe was
because he could see the
team moving in the right
direction, thanks to a positive
dressing-room atmosphere.
“I came here first of all
because I love the team,”
he says, adding,”I had other
options. I believe that if
you go to a good team, a
good dressing-room,
where you are wanted,
there is every possibility
that you will do well”
Still on the CAF Award
THE recent CAF Awards which held in Cairo,
Egypt is still generating heated arguments
from Nigerians for and against the continental football
body over what some perceive as injustice to
Nigerian football players.
No one is angry about Nigerian players not making
the top three nominees in the male category after
Super Eagles top scorer, Odion Jude Ighalo failed
to make the cut.
Reason is they see the top three, Sadio Mane of
Senegal and Liverpool, Mohamed Salah of Egypt
and Liverpool as well as Riyad Mahrez of Algeria
and Manchester City as deserving their nominations.
Even though Salah couldn’t do much to help his
country, Egypt win or advance beyond the round of
16 at the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, on home
soil last July, his performance at Liverpool in both
the English Premier League and UEFA Champions
league is enough to earn him a mention among the
top three contenders for the coveted African Footballer
of the Year Award ahead of Ighalo.
Mahrez was in the Algerian team that stopped
the Eagles and Ighalo at the semi final stage of the
2019 AFCON. He eventually led the Algerian team
to win the AFCON title for the second time in their
history and first time on foreign soil.
Added to his huge profile is his exploit with with
Manchester City in the EPL which cannot be dismissed
with a wave of the hand when compared to Ighalo
who is escounced in far away China for the big bucks
rather than profile-boosting performance.
However, the angst against CAF, though misplaced
as voting was not done by CAF, was the non inclusion
of any Nigerian in the African XI. Their anger could
be justified as every follower of the game in the world
believes that Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi
deserves a place in the selection for his sterling performance
at Leicester City in the EPL which has earned
him plaudits from Africans and Europeans alike.
Even though voting or nominations are carried out
by human beings who could be sentimental at times,
CAF should have added clauses in the voting pattern
that could at least protect worthy nominees from losing
out on sentiments.
The area of the Award I have issues with is the female
category where our girl and Super Falcons captain,
Asisat Oshoala triumphed ahead of her Cameroonian
and South African rivals, Ajara Nchout and
Thembi Kgatlana respectively.
The voting pattern revealed by CAF showed that all
the voters from Nigeria didn’t vote for Oshoala. This
has caused Nigerians to lampoon them for being unpatriotic.
Some Nigerians however, came in their defence
asking whether it was compulsory they voted for
Oshoala because she is a Nigerian.
Two of the voters, Osasu Obayiuwana and Chisom
Mbonu-Ezeoke defended themselves that they voted
their conscience as they did not deem she deserves to
be Africa’s best.
One is therefore forced to ask whether the non Nigerians
who voted for Oshoala lacked conscience for
voting her ahead of the others. Is the fact that Oshoala
is head and shoulders ahead of them in club football
while she didn’t too badly with the Super Falcons at
the AWCON not enough for her to be the best in Africa?
In the case of Perpetual Nkwocha, a four-time winner
of the same award, it was very shocking to learn
that she didn’t even consider her compatriot worthy of
being among the too three in Africa but a far fifth. It
was clear that Nkwocha was selfish and wanted to protect
her record as the only player who has won the
award four times.
To Nkwocha’s shame, Oshoala has not only equalled
the record but is in position to surpass it as she still
has age on her side and is still doing well for club and
country.
Oshoala has taken their snub with equanimity by
saying that she wants to make her own history. This
shows that she was not disturb by the snub from her
fellow country men and women.
That is the hallmark of winners and true champions,
never allowing peoples’ idiosyncrasies distract them
from their set goals in life. Congrats Oshoala. Continue
to do great things for club and country.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 12, 2020
SEE SOLUTION PAGE 5
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