18012020

2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020 — 3

4 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 18, 2020
From left, Former Kogi State Deputy Governor, Arc. Yomi Awoniyi; Business
Mogul, Mallam Lawal Garuba and the father of the groom, Mallam. Garuba
Shehu, during the wedding fatiha between Muhammad and Zuwaira Garuba
Shehu at Al Nur Mosque, Wuse 2, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida
The groom. Muhammad Garuba Shehu (m) flanked by his friends during
the wedding fatiha between him and his bride, Zwaira at Al Nur Mosque,
Wuse 2, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida
Sack from Senate: I was denied fair hearing, Ifeanyi
Ubah tells A-Court
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
In a swift reaction,
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah
of the Young Peoples Party,
YPP, on Friday, lodged an
appeal to challenge the
judgement of an Abuja
High Court that sacked
him as the lawmaker
representing Anambra
South Senatorial District.
In the four-ground of
appeal he filed before the
Abuja Division of the Court
of Appeal, Ubah, insisted
that he was denied fair
hearing by the high court.
He told the appellate
court that he was neither
served with the
Originating Processes nor
hearing notice with respect
to the suit that led to his
sack from the Senate.
Besides, he argued that
the Abuja court lacked the
territorial jurisdiction to
hear and determine a preelection
matter that arose
from election that held in
Anambra State.
The appeal came barely
two hours after trial Justice
Bello Kawu of the Federal
Capital Territory sitting at
Kubwa, declined to setaside
his judgement that
nullified Ubah’s election on
the premise that he
allegedly used a forged
National Examination
Council, NECO, certificate
to contest the senatorial
election that held in
Anambra South on
February 23, 2019.
The court went ahead
and affirmed the order it
made on April 11 last year,
which directed the
Independent National
Electoral Commission,
INEC, to withdraw the
Certificate of Return it
issued to Ubah and issue
a fresh one to Dr. Obinna
Uzoh of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP,
who came 2nd at the
election.
Ubah had approached
the court to set-aside the
judgement which he
insisted occasioned grave
miscarriage of justice
against him.
Following his application
for stay of execution, Justice
Kawu, on December 4,
restrained the Senate
President from swearing-in
Uzoh, pending the
hearing and determination
•Files 4-ground of appeal, applies for stay of execution
of the motion challenging
the verdict.
The court equally
ordered all the parties,
including the INEC to
maintain status quo till it
decides the merit in
Ubah’s contention.
However, in a ruling on
Friday, Justice Kawu held
that Senator Ubah’s
application to vacate its
judgement lacked merit
and accordingly dismissed
it.
Justice Kawu said he
was satisfied that Ubah was
duly served with all the
relevant court processes via
substituted means.
He equally dismissed a
motion another claimant to
the PDP senatorial ticket,
Chief Chris Uba, filed to be
joined as an interested
party in the substantive suit
marked CV/3044/2018,
which was filed before the
court by an electorate in the
state, Mr. Anani Chuka.
Ooni of Ife Royal African Young Leadership Awards debut
•Shagari, Awolowo grandsons, 98 others bag awards
By Shina Abubakar,
Osogbo
One hundred youths
who have
distinguished themselves
in various sectors of the
society yesterday were
given recognition awards at
the Oduduwa Hall, Ile-Ife,
Osun state.
The event was hosted by
the Ooni of Ife, Oba
Adeyeye Ogunwusi at the
Obafemi Awolowo
University, OAU Ile-Ife.
Bello Shagari, the
grandson of the second
republic president of
Nigeria, Shehu Shagari, the
grandson of Obafemi
Awolowo and runner up of
the 2019 Big Brother
Nigeria, Seyi Awolowo were
recognised for their
influence among the
youths.
Popular musician, David
Adeleke (Davido),
Ifeoluwa Otedola (DJ
Cuppy), Lateef Adedimeji,
Seun Okinbaloye, Hon.
Debo Ogundoyin, Seyi
Tinubu, Funke Adesiyan,
the Special Assistant, to the
wife of the President,
Kehinde Peter (Kenny
Blaq), Bayegun Oluwatoyi
(Woli Stole) and Seyi
Olofinjana were among the
numerous list of awardees.
In his welcome address,
Oba Ogunwusi said his
monarchy was committed
to redefining the culture of
governance and
leadership, emphasising
his dedication to
advancement creative
enterprise of young
population.
He stated that the maiden
edition of royal African
young leadership forum
was to further show his
commitment to peace and
unity in Nigeria.
The monarch further
disclosed that the global
community focus was on
Africa, particularly, its rich
human and natural
resources to becoming the
frontier of economic
development.
By Bashir Bello
Kano State Government
said it has
apprehended a drug dealer
and intercepted one hundred
and forty five (145) cartoons
of expired and illicit drugs
stored in a ware house
located at Niger street in
Fagge local government area
of the state.
The drugs which is
estimated to cost about N150
million was said to have been
allegedly sold to
unsuspecting individuals in
the state.
The State’s Commissioner
for Health, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim
Tsanyawa disclosed this
shortly after the operation
carried out by the Joint State
Taskforce on fake and
Counterfeit drugs and
unwholesome processed
Foods the Miscellaneous
Committee and The National
Agency for Food and Drug
"As the Progenitor of
Oduduwa and the
custodian of our
immemorial culture and
heritage, redefining the
new culture of governance,
leadership, entrepreneurial
inventiveness and the
ingenuity creative
enterprises of our brilliant
young populations has
been at the epicentre of my
Royalty."
"Unfolding the maiden
Royal African Young
Leadership Forum (RAYLF)
is an audacious mission of
my peace and unity. As a
nation and the whole
continent of Africa, I can
boldly say that the world is
more reliant on us more
than ever before because of
the exciting young
populations that abound.
"Our young populations
remain the major catalysts
in boosting Nigeria and the
whole of Africa economic
growth Africa is regarded
Govt apprehends drug dealer, intercepts expired
drugs in Kano
Administration and Control,
NAFDAC.
Tsanyawa said they got a
reliable information about the
expired drugs stored in the
warehouse and been sold to
unsuspecting individuals.
The Commissioner who
was represented by his
Director pharmaceutical
services and also the
chairman of the task-force,
Pharmacist Abdu Umar
Madaki said the committee
has successfully identify the
owner and has since being
handed over to the magistrate
for legal action and further
scrutiny.
19 illegal toll collectors apprehended in
Onitsha
By Vincent Ujumadu, Awka
NO fewer than 19
suspected illegal toll
collectors have been arrested
in Onitsha and its environs,
with seven already
arraigned in court.
The accused persons were
apprehended by a
combined team of law
enforcement agents
operating with the State
Ministry of Transport Anti
Touting Squad.
The presiding Magistrate
of Anambra State Revenue
Mobile Court sitting at the
Central Park terminal,
Onitsha, after preliminary
hearing on the matter,
granted bail to six of the
suspects, while one of them,
Mike Chigbo was
remanded in prison custody
pending ruling on
application for bail brought
before it by his counsel.
The defendants were
granted bail in the sum of
N50, 000 on provision of a
surety each and must tender
two passport photographs
and evidence of
identification approved by
the Federal Government.
However, in the appeal
he filed through his team
of lawyers led by Dr.
Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN,
Ubah, argued that for the
jurisdiction of the trial
court to be properly
invoked, he must be served
with the relevant court
processes.
as the next economic
frontier in the globalization.
"The eagle eyes of the
global community
continues to see a continent
that is rich both in human
and natural resources. The
sheer size, young
population explosion,
innovation development,
sophisticated creative
culture and the continent
diversity distinctiveness are
true potentials that are
attracting global attention
into the continent.
"The reality of Africa rapid
population expansion is
expected to reach 2.8 billion
by 2060 according to the
World Bank statistics, with
65% of these counted as
young, energetic and
innovative driven
demography. These
demography are building
multi-purpose vehicle and
economic application
system that is aiding new
milestones of individual
economic successes.
"In economic terms, Africa
is already reaping a
tremendous demographic
dividend from this
millennium generation
with exciting and
fascinating growth which is
altering the continent socioeconomic
development.
With an incredible and
remarkable youth
population that are gaining
new knowledge, modern
skills acquisition, complex
innovation mechanisms
with technology agility,
dexterity and adroitness the
continent is assured”, Ooni
said.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 18, 2020 — 5
Amotekun: S/West states move fast
to legalise it
*State Assemblies to expedite action on bill
*Leaders tell govs to ignore Malami
*We won’t allow any group to undermine Nigeria territorial integrity —Military
*Warns against any method that negates Buhari’s Community Policing
By Ola Ajayi, Dapo
Akinrefon and
Johnbosco Agbakwuru
EMBOLDENED by
the huge support
from the people of the
South West region in particular
and across the
states of the country in general,
the South West governors
have moved fast to
give legal backing to the
regional security outfit,
codenamed Operation
Amotekun which they
launched on January 9 this
year.
This is just as the Nigeria
military has vowed that
it will not allow any individual
or group to jeopardize
the sovereignty and
stability of Nigeria’s territorial
integrity. The military
told relevant stakeholders
to join hands with
the armed forces and intelligence
agencies to ensure
that Nigeria is secured
and not to look for
other methods likely to
negate the national policy
and Community Policing
approved by the President
Muhammadu Buhari-led
administration.
Meanwhile, Saturday
Vanguard learnt authoritatively
that the laws to back
up Amotekun are before
South West States Houses
of Assembly while the lawmakers
are already fast
tracking the legislation.
According to the source
who pleaded anonymity,
“all machinery is in motion
to pass the laws in all the
Houses of Assembly in the
zone legalising the establishment
of Operation
Amotekun”.
The source also told Saturday
Vanguard that irrespective
of the position of
the Federal government,
the Western Nigeria Security
Network was already
in operation and the South
West governors would do
everything within their
powers to provide adequate
security for the people
of the zone.
While launching the outfit
about two weeks ago, the
South West governors said
it was not a paramilitary
organisation but an initiative
to compliment the various
security agencies to
tackle kidnappings and
killings in the region.
It will be recalled that
after the launch of the security
out in Ibadan, Oyo
state capital, Attorney General
of the Federation and
Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami declared
it illegal arguing
that the outfit was not
backed by any known law
in the land and that he was
not consulted before the
outfit was launched.
Malami’s declaration
was however greeted with
a groundswell of condemnations
from South West
leaders who urged their
governors to ignore the
Federal Attorney-General
From left:Osun State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Gboyega
Famodun; wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Kafayat Adegboyega; her husband,
Governor Adegboyega Oyetola; Chancellor, Joseph Ayo Babalola University
(JABU), Pastor (Dr.) Ademola Wemimo and JABU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bola
Sonaike, during the conferment of honoary doctorate degree in Public Administration
on the governor at the convocation of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji
Arakeji yesterday.
We should all support
Amotekun—Bode
George
Former Deputy National
Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP,
Chief Bode George, yesterday
warned that
Amotekun, should not be
used as an agenda to push
the country to war, but
should be supported.
George, who threw his
weight behind the outfit
said Amotekun should be
embraced and not criticized
by some northern
groups.
In a statement titled:
“The Hues and Cries about
Amotekun”, the PDP leader
said: “the security initiative
of the six South West
states that gave birth to a
protective cordon codenamed
Amotekun is largely
a necessary and proactive
response to the widening
insecurity, the
seemingly loose banditry
and the marauding licentiousness
that have ravaged
virtually all parts of
Yorubaland. The governors
did not jump into
the fray in some hurried
unreflection in the creation
of this self-protective,
self-preservation security
umbrella across
their region.
“The initiative is a product
of over six months deliberations
by various
stakeholders on how best
to protect their people
who are murdered in
their farmlands, savaged
on the roads, kidnapped
on the fields, cudgeled
and ravaged in the sanctity
of their private
hearths.
“Indeed Amotekun is
not some unthoughtful
fancy of the governors trying
to create a nebulous
counterforce to the existing
security structure as
some uninformed would
put it. It is largely to enhance
and strengthen the
subsisting law enforcement
agencies as it is already
well established in
most parts of the North.
“Our nation is already
on the very edge of tenterhooks.
The drumbeats
of suspicions, the vile
alarm about some secret
agenda or the vain recourse
to some ethnic national
appropriation do
not augur well for anyone.
Amotekun is not a challenge
or a threat to anybody
save the wandering
marauders, the murderous
goon-squad and all
kinds of assorted outlaws
whose actions make the
Nigerian Union itself vulnerable
and wobbly. We
should all support
Amotekun in that pristine
design as a deterrent to
roguish outlaws roaming
Yorubaland.”
Speaking on behalf of
the YCE, the Yoruba Elders
Council, Dr Kunle
Olajide, Secretary General
of the council urged
the six governors of Oyo,
Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun
and Lagos States who
launched the security outfit
to disregard the comments
of AGF and move
on with the initiative
which their people had
been clamouring for.
Dr Olajide said, “As regards
the pronouncement
by Malami, it is not binding
on us. He can’t dictate
terms for the six elected
governors. They acted
within the purview of
their constitutional powers.
One of the expectations
of the people who
elected them is to provide
adequate security for the
people and their property.
If he believes in what
he said, he should go to
court. He is an appointee
of government and he
can’t dictate to democratically
elected governors
of the six states. He
should then wait for
court’s pronouncement
on the issue. But, I want
President Muhammadu
Buhari to caution Malami
about his utterances.
He should call him to order.
We are running a
democracy and not a military
rule”.
Other South West leaders
who threw their
weight behind the initiative
of the governors include
Nobel Laureate,
Professor Wole Soyinka;
Chief Afe Babalola, SAN;
Mr Femi Falana, SAN;
Mr Olisa Agbakoba and
Aare Ona Kakanfo, Iba
Gani Adams. They all resolved
that Amotekun has
come to say regardless of
oppositions from the Federal
Government and
some groups in the northern
part of the country.
They also argued that the
security outfit was concerned
with safeguarding
the lives and property
of the people of the region
and had no business
with the territory of the
region which is the responsibility
of the Armed
Forces of Nigeria.
We won’t allow any
group to undermine our
territorial integrity —Military
However, in an apparent
response to the launching
of Operation Amotekun,
Nigeria military has
vowed that it will not allow
any individual or
group to jeopardize the
sovereignty and stability of
Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
The military also told relevant
stakeholders to join
hands with the armed forces
and intelligence agencies
to ensure that Nigeria
is secured and not to look
for other methods likely to
negate the national policy
and Community Policing
approved by the President
Muhammadu Buhari
- led administration.
Briefing State House
Correspondents after a
security meeting presided
over by President Buhari
before his departure to
London. at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja, the Chief
of Air Staff, Air Marshal
Sadiq Abubakar, said the
whole essence of the
meeting was to critically
evaluate what the armed
forces of Nigeria as well
as other security and intelligence
agencies were
doing with regard to ensuring
that the territorial
integrity of Nigeria was
not undermined by any
individual or group of individuals.
He disclosed
that some of the equipment
acquired by the
armed forces for the Nigerian
Air Force have
started arriving.
On the essence of the
meeting, he said, “You recall
that we had a meeting
on the 30th December
2019 and today we held
another one. The whole
essence of the meeting is
to critically evaluate what
the armed forces of Nigeria
as well as other security
and intelligence agencies
are doing with regard
to ensuring that the territorial
integrity of Nigeria
is not undermined by any
individual or group of individuals.
“We also looked at the
emerging situations in
some of our areas particularly
acts of banditry in
some of the North Western
states and other parts
of the country and we
have critically looked at
everything and we are
satisfied with the progress
we are making. We are
satisfied with the support
the Federal Government
is giving the armed forces
and other security
agencies in terms of procurement
of platforms.
Substantial number of
these equipment are expected
by the end of February.
“Some of the equipment
we are acquiring have
started arriving for the Nigerian
Air Force, two helicopter
gun-shoots have
arrived on the 15th of January
and we are now in
the process of putting
them together which will
add to whatever we have.
“We are equally expecting
other equipment like
I said that are meant for
the armed forces of Nigeria
which we are hoping
to get by the end of February.
I am sure you are
also familiar with the
equipment acquisition by
the Nigerian Police Force.
“I am sure you are also
aware of the policy on
Community Policing that
was approved by Mr.
President and it is going
to be funded. The whole
idea is to ensure that Nigeria
is secured and Nigerians
can go about pursuing
their legitimate aspirations
without any hindrance.”
Air Marshal Abubakar
further said, “What we
want to do here is to reassure
Nigerians that the
armed forces of Nigeria
and indeed security and
intelligence agencies in
Nigeria are going to continue
to work round the
clock to ensure that our
country is secured and to
ensure that nobody undermines
the territorial integrity
and national sovereignty
of Nigeria.
“We are going to keep a
very close watch on what
is going on and with the
equipment that we are
getting, definitely, the
challenges we are facing
in some of the theaters of
operation particularly the
North East will be addressed
adequately. We
are doing everything with
the other sister countries in
the Lake Chad Basin working
together to ensure that
the Boko Haram terrorism
is brought substantially to
an end as quickly as possible.

6 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 18, 2020
Shehu Sani’s audio tapes surface in
$25,000 EFCC probe
*It’s my voice but tape incomplete —Sani claims
*We’re ready to meet in court — EFCC
By Soni Daniel,
Editor, Northern
Region
THE Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission
is set to charge
former Kaduna Central senator,
Shehu Sani, to court,
having obtained and confirmed
recorded audio conversion
in relation to the
$25,000 he allegedly demanded
and collected from
the owner of ASD Motors,
Alhani Sani Dauda.
The audio tapes, 13 in all,
have been played at EFCC
office. The chat recorded
was between the complainant
and the suspect. A decision
has been taken by the
EFCC to push ahead with
Sani’s arraignment any
moment this month.
A top source, close to the
probe confirmed to Saturday
Vanguard that the confrontation
between the two men
took place at the EFCC’s
Headquarters in Jabi on
Wednesday with Senator
Sani, who had hitherto denied
receiving any money
from Dauda, acknowledging
the conversation between
them after listening
to five of the 13 voice recordings
of their discussions.
The source revealed that
after listening to first of the
13 audio recordings, the
Senator reportedly said “Do
you have another one?”
“By the time the second
and the third were played
to him in the presence of his
lawyers, Barrister Audu Mohammed
Lawal, and Barrister
Glory Peter, the former
senator said ‘I am okay with
this; I am okay with this’,”
the source said last night.
“But when asked if he was
familiar with the voices in
the audio, he said, “Yes, that
is my voice except that some
aspects of the recording
have been deleted”.
Asked whether he thought
the EFCC or the complainant
tampered with the tapes,
Sani said “I am not saying
you people deleted it. But
that is not the complete conversation”.
In the voice recording,
Shehu Sani could
be heard in Hausa language
pleading with the
complainant that he should
do everything to make sure
they resolved the issue because
of their reputation. In
one of the recordings, he
said to Sani Dauda, “You
have a family and I have a
family; think of the way
people will see the matter
even though it is not public
money,” he allegedly
pleaded in Hausa. “I believed
you already discussed
with Bashir, Bashir
must have given you his
personal advice on what we
need to do so that this matter
is buried here,” he was
further reported to have
said in one of the voice recordings.
In another instance, Senator
Sani could be heard
admitting that $25, 000 was
“bribe money”.
He allegedly had two
2023: I'll handover quietly to my
successor —Buhari
•Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun (5th left) flanked by
the Deputy Governor (4th left), Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Rt.
Hon. Kunle Oluomo (R); other top government functionaries and
Chairmen of the newly sworn in Local Government Transition Committee
for all the 20 LGAs in the State at a Swearing-in event that
was held as the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
PRESIDENT Muham
madu Buhari has
said that he was morally
bound to handover quietly
to whoever will succeed
him in 2023 when he must
have completed his second
tenure.
The President also said
that he was a beneficiary
of a free and fair election
in the country and would
bequeath same to his successor.
Speaking at a dinner with
members of the legal team
for the 2019 presidential
election petition on Thursday
night in Abuja, the
President said that he was
overwhelmed by the number
of people that supported
him during the 2019
election campaigns.
He recounted that the
turnout of Nigerians during
his presidential campaigns
to the 36 states of
the Federation in 2019 convinced
him that his re-election
was not a fluke.
According to the statement
by the Senior Special
Assistant to the President
on Media and Publicity,
Mallam Garba Shehu,
“The number of people that
turned out in every state
across the country was
more than anybody can
buy or force.
“This gave me so much
confidence and the election
proved that with the votes
I got.
“That is why I insist that
elections must be free and
fair because I am a clear
beneficiary of a free and fair
election,” he said.
The President told the
legal team that he was already
looking forward to a
peaceful hand over in 2023,
stressing that he was morally
bound to fulfill that
wish.
He said, “Morally, I want
to have a clear conscience.
I swore by the Holy Book
that I will abide by the Constitution
of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria.
“I will continue to do my
best and I hope that by
2023, I can handover quietly
to whoever succeeds
me and I wish him the best
of luck,” he said.
The President commended
the legal team led by
Chief Wole Olanipekun,
SAN for the outstanding
legal successes recorded in
the presidential election
petition.
He praised the team for
the effective legal strategy
that thrived in piloting his
election litigation.
“You creditably demonstrated
a deep understanding
of the law and its practices
and I am indeed
proud of you all.
“I am confident that by
securing a convincing and
unanimous legal victory at
the Supreme Court you
have by so doing ensured
that the political mandate
of the Nigerian electorate
is now firmly secured,” he
said.
The President added that
the legal team’s enormous
contributions have affirmed
the rule of law and further
entrenched democratic
governance in Nigeria.
“This legal team is an
assemblage of some of the
most scholarly legal teams
meetings with the complainant:
one, at the complainant’s
house and the
second at the complainant’s
office after the Muslim
“Isha” prayers.
The source further stated
that contrary to Senator
Sani’s public posturing of his
innocence in the alleged
crime, he reportedly begged
profusely after listening to
the recordings that the matter
should not be taken further
to the media.
When contacted over the
matter, the acting spokesperson
of the Commission, Tony
Orilade said “All I can say is
that the investigation of Senator
Shehu Sani is ongoing
and he would soon be
charged to court”.
ever assembled in this
country.
“I must note that the
aforesaid legal successes
recorded through your excellence
have assisted me
in fulfilling this government’s
desire for a better
Nigeria,” he said.
On behalf of the All Progressives
Congress (APC),
the President told the team
to accept his commendations
and best wishes for
their meritorious service.
In his remarks, the lead
counsel, Chief Olanipekun
said the legal victory was
won based on the facts of
the law, stressing that the
President never used his
position or office to influence
the decision of the
Courts.
The lead counsel said:
“The courts were allowed
to do their job, Mr President
and I must commend
you for that Sir. Nobody
whispered to anyone of us,
how we are going to see
Judge A or Judge B. That’s
the way it should be. Judges
must be allowed and be
given free hand to do their
job.
Nigeria’s debt stock
hits N26.2trn
…As DMO plans 3rd Sovereign Sukuk
By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief & Jennifer
Gideon
THE nation’s public debt has risen to N26.215
trillion as at the end of the third quarter of 2019.
The Director General of the Debt Management Office,
Ms. Patience Oniha, disclosed this at a press briefing,
in Abuja, yesterday.
According to her, the figure was about 2. 0 per cent
higher than the debt stock at the end of the second
quarter, which stood at N25. 701 trillion.
The federal government owed N17. 943 trillion while
the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory owed
N8. 271 trillion. The September 2019 total debt stock
represented N 3.786 trillion or 16 .88 per cent over the
debt stock as at end of third quarter of the previous year.
The D-G also unveiled its 2020 New Borrowings in
which the federal government plans to borrow the sum
of N850 billion from the domestic market and another
N744 billion from external sources totaling about N1. 6
trillion.
Reacting to criticism over the rising borrowing by the
current administration, Ms. Oniha said, “Public Borrowing
is not done by one. It is not approved by one
man. It is a collective decision. So when we take on this
administration as having borrowed, let us bear in mind
that borrowing is cumulative and there are rules and
regulations about borrowing. There are laws and procedures
that must be complied with.
“In fact that the document must be presented to the
National Assembly is in compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility
Act and the DMO Act. So we are complying
with the laws on public borrowing.”
There is a deficit of N2.18 trillion in the 2020 federal
government budget.
Debt Management Strategy
The DG said that under the Debt Management Strategy,
her team had to increase the level of external borrowings
because they had lower interest rate, longertenured
and help to boost foreign reserves.
The domestic instruments, she said, had more short
terms and that even the domestic borrowings were being
structured into longer terms.
According to her, the borrowings of the current administration
was driven by the government- approved
debt management strategy and not an ad-hoc decision.
She explained, “Let us understand that the borrowings
are to fill the revenue gap. Successive governments
had been running deficit budgets and then unfortunately,
oil prices dropped. Domestic production
also dropped and we had to borrow and then that became
an issue. Let us understand that the debt is cumulative.
“What is good is that these borrowings are included
in the Appropriation Acts and you could see them. Between
2015 and 2017 we know that revenue really went
down and we had to borrow to spend the economy out
of recession. And after 2017, what do we see? The
level of borrowing has continued to decline.
Ms. Oniha said that the nation’s debt stock was still
within a reasonable threshold, saying, “Total Debt to
GDP was at 18.47% as at September. The limit is 25%.
The increase in total public debt between June and
September 2019 is marginal – at 2%.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020 —7
Monarch’s palace razed, houses burnt as
military invades Bayelsa community over
killing of personnel
*Panic in Agge over large military presence
*I took refuge in the forest—HRM King Seide
*I cannot confirm the invasion—JTF Spokesperson
By Samuel Oyadongha
& Emem Idio
THE palace of the
paramount ruler of
Bilabiri Kingdom, His
Royal Majesty, King
Paul Brakere-Seide, was
among houses razed on
Friday when the military
allegedly invaded the
coastal settlements of
Bilabiri I and II in Ekeremor
Local Government
Area of Bayelsa State.
There was also report
of large military presence
around the Agge
axis of the troubled
coastal enclave causing
many residents to flee
their homes for fear of
likely reprisal attack.
The alleged incursion
came barely two weeks
after some naval ratings
were reportedly killed
along the Ramos River
by suspected sea robbers.
It was learned that the
military stormed the
community at about
10am in nineteen gunboats,
shot sporadically
into the air and began
burning down some selected
houses in both
communities including
the palace of the paramount
ruler and those of
suspected ex-militants.
Saturday Vanguard
also learned that the
military claimed that
they were searching for
Okerenkoko Floating Dock: PANDEF asks Buhari
to call NIMASA to order
By Emma Amaize,
Regional Editor, Niger
Delta
Mr. Peter Obi, with students of St. Patrick’s International Vollege, Awka,
shortly after he donated laptops, printers and a generator to them.
hoodlums and sea pirates
responsible for the
killing of some military
personnel.
Though it could not be
immediately confirmed,
informed sources told
Saturday Vanguard that
some hoodlums again
attacked the military operatives
deployed in the
area but were repelled
by the superior fire power
of the gallant troops.
According to an eyewitness,
though no life
was lost or arrests made,
the military action lasted
for over three hours,
forcing the indigenes to
flee their homes and
seek refuge in the forest.
PAN-Niger Delta Fo
rum, PANDEF, umbrella
body of traditional rulers,
leaders and stakeholders
of coastal states of Niger
Delta, weekend, opposed the
plan by the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and
Safety Agency, NIMASA, to
relocate a Floating Dock programmed
to be berthed at
Okerenkoko, Delta State, to
an unknown location, citing
insecurity.
The regional group urged
President Muhammadu
Buhari to “call the management
of NIMASA to order in
the interest of peace and
wellbeing of the people,” insisting
that “the said floating
dock be located in Okerenkoko,
where it was planned
for.”
I took refuge in the
forest —HRM King
Seide
CONFIRMING the invasion,
the paramount
ruler of Bilabiri communities,
King Paul Seide,
in a telephone chat said
he had to hide in the forest
during the invasion.
“We were all in my palace
this morning when
some of my subjects ran
to me to inform me about
military presence and
asked me to run but I
told him that I cannot
leave my palace. But
they forced me to run
that they were over sixteen
military gunboats at
the waterside.
“As soon as I left my
palace, they came and
burnt down my palace
into ashes and that of
my younger brother.
They did not arrest anybody
or left any message.
I have returned to
my community to meet
my palace in debris.”
When contacted, the
spokesman of the Joint
Task Force, Operation
Delta Safe, Major Jonah
Unuakhalu said he was
not aware and promised
to confirm and get back.
As at the time of filing
this report he was yet to
get back.
Deputy National Secretary,
PANDEF, Hon. Ken Robinson,
told Saturday Vanguard
that the group was inundated
with complaints, following
media reports, quoting
an Executive Director of NI-
MASA, Rotimi Fashakin,
that the reason for the decision
is that it is ‘almost impossible’
to move the floating
dock to Okerenkoko in
Delta state because of insecurity.
Cautioning that the
people of the Niger Delta
should not be taken for granted,
he said: “PANDEF considers
the statement not only
reckless and insensitive, but
provocative. The questions
we would want the said Rotimi
Fashakin to answer are:
is insecurity in Nigeria peculiar
to the Niger Delta region?
Are there no oil and
gas activities ongoing in the
area? Where is this new location?”
“We completely reject the
baseless statement and demand
that the management
of NIMASA retract it immediately,
and offer unreserved
apology to the people of the
Niger Delta region, and Delta
State in particular.
“Government should not
insult the sensibilities of the
Niger Delta people, a floating
dock cannot be located
in the area but oil can be exploited.
This was what they
tried to do with the Nigerian
Maritime University, NMU,
in Okerenkoko, Delta State.
Now, it is a floating dock,”
he stated.
Hon Robinson added:
“This is also another attempt
to deny the region the needed
economic boost, and further
strangulate economic activities
in the Niger Delta. It
is this same narrative and attitude
that have rendered the
sea ports in the Niger Delta
region non-functional, and
fettered the relocation of
headquarters of oil multinationals
to the Niger Delta. We
shall no longer accept it.”
Wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugochi
Ugwuanyi (left) administering vaccine to a student during
the flag off of de-worming programme for pupils
in public primary schools in the state, yesterday.
Enugu governor’s wife flags off
de-worming of pupils
…As stakeholders hail Ugwuanyi on
school feeding programme
THE wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica
Ugochi Ugwuanyi, yesterday, flagged off the de-worming
programme for pupils in public primary schools in the
state, organized by the National Home-Grown School Feeding
Programme, in collaboration with the state government.
Performing the function, Mrs. Ugwuanyi appreciated the
federal government for its thoughtfulness in introducing
the school feeding programme in primary schools in the
country, which she said was designed to improve child
nutrition and health, increase school enrolment, create
employment opportunities and strengthen local agricultural
economies.
She also thanked the state government for its contributions
in ensuring that children of the state are among the
beneficiaries of the feeding programme in the country, stressing
that “it is a clear demonstration of good governance and
a state with a vision to make health interventions and education
accessible, affordable and qualitative”. This came as
stakeholders in the National Home-Grown School Feeding
Programme applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for ensuring that
Enugu was among the states in the country to benefit in the
first batch of the scheme.
Speaking during the flag off of the de-worming exercise,
the state programme manager, Mr. Ifeanyi Onah noted that
“this event was made possible because of the pragmatic
and proactive leadership of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of
Enugu State, whom I usually describe as the man who saw
tomorrow”. Mr. Onah disclosed that the programme which
started in Enugu State, three years ago, has about 2,230
cooks feeding about 194,707 pupils, adding that the state
was among the first set of states that joined the exercise by
fulfilling all the conditions in 2016.
Farmers/herders crisis:
Foundation appeals to journalists
on fair reportage of conflict
By Peter Duru, Makurdi
FOUNDATION for Justice, Development and Peace,
FJDP, of the Catholic Church has appealed to journalists
to avoid sensationalism in the reportage of the lingering
farmers/herders conflicts to avert the escalation of the crisis in
the country. The Coordinator of FJDP in the Catholic Diocese
of Makurdi, Rev. Fr. Remigius Ihyula gave the charge
yesterday while declaring open a two day Inter-Media Coordination
and Synergy Workshop on Dousing Tensions between
Pastoralists and Farmers in the Benue Valley in Makurdi
Ṫhe cleric who described the lingering farmers/herders
conflicts as one of the most dangerous things to confront the
country appealed to journalists to handle the issue dispassionately.
“You will agree with me that the farmers/herders
conflict is one of the most dangerous things that confronted
our country. As we speak there are thousands that are displaced
from their ancestral homes and this has been ongoing
for many years. “So we are trying to see what we can do
to bring peace to the country. We are all Nigerians and we
should seek to live in peace with one another not minding
the differences in our culture and religion. “In that respect
we all know the important rule the media plays in every
society. The media defines the society and it plays a key role
in ensuring sustainable peace and development in every
society. “So this workshop is part of planned activities to
douse the tension between pastoralists and farmers in the
Benue Valley through non-sensational and non-incendiary
reporting of conflicts in the media space,” Fr. Ihyula stated.

8 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 18, 2020
Obaseki, security chiefs meet, strategise
to combat farmer-herder clashes in Edo
*CP confirms reduction in crime rate
THE Edo State Gov
ernor Godwin
Obaseki has disclosed
that his administration
was firming up strategies
with relevant security
agencies to tackle cases of
farmer-herder clashes in
the state.
The governor spoke to
journalists after the Security
Council meeting,
held with the state’s security
chiefs and other
stakeholders at Government
House, Benin City.
Obaseki further reaffirmed
the state government’s
commitment towards
improving the
state’s security architecture
in order to protect the
lives and property of Edo
citizens and residents.
Governor Obaseki, who
urged citizens to support
security agencies to combat
crime in the state, said
the meeting was a platform
to review the security
situation in Edo State.
He said, “We have had
extensive consultation.
We have 1,234 crime cases
on record, out of which
850 are considered serious;
we have spent time
reviewing and doing indepth
analysis on the incidents
and categories of
crime, as well as the area
it’s concentrated. Over the
Yuletide period, crimes in
Edo were significantly
reduced.”
The Edo State Commissioner
of Police, Lawan
Tanko Jimeta said
through the collaborative
efforts of security agencies,
the state has experienced
a significant drop
in criminal activities.
Chairman, Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Edo State
Chapter, Comrade Felix Inegbenosun Irabor (left) presenting a souvenir to
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, during a courtesy visit by officials of
NATA, at Government House in Benin City.
Two to die by hanging for murder in Osun
By Shina Abubakar,
Osogbo
JUSTICE Jide Falola of
Osun State High
Court sitting in Ikirun, yesterday
sentenced two men
to death by hanging for
murder.
The three accused,
Orisakunle Abiodun, 21,
Opadokun Olayinka,29
and Femi Aroyehun,24,
were arraigned on January
22, 2018, on two counts of
conspiracy to murder and
murder.
The charges were contrary
to and punishable
under Section 324, 316(1),
319(1) of the Criminal
Code Law, Cap. 34, Vol. 2,
Laws of Osun State.
The accused persons
pleaded not guilty to the
charges preferred against
them.
During the trial, the state
prosecution counsel, Philips
Afolayan called three
witnesses to prove his
case.
The witnesses included,
Oladipupo Damilare, Sergeabt
Aina Clement and
Sergeant Josephine Erokpo.
Barrister Afolayan also
tendered the extra-judicial
statements of the nominal
complainants as well
as those of the three accused
persons in evidence.
The accused persons
entered their defence and
each gave evidence for
himself without calling
any witness.
In his judgement, Justice
Falola ruled that Prosecution
Counsel has
proved his case beyond
any reasonable doubt and
found Orisakunle Abiodun
and Opadokun
On the farmer-herders
clash, which led to a sad
incident in Sobe, he disclosed
that the security
agencies have agreed to
have an extended security
council meeting to
meet with those concerned
in order to prevent
such killings in future.
“We know that this is
the time and period of
movement of cows and
people around, we are
putting strategy on
ground to ensure it
doesn’t happen
again,"he said.
On the case of a teacher
kidnapped recently,
he said, “The teacher
has been released and
reunited with her family.
We thank the Inspector
General of Police (IGP),
Mohammed Adamu for
his support as the helicopter
he approved for surveillance
in the state led
to the release of the victim.
All the security agencies
have agreed to work
together in ensuring Edo
State remains crime free”.
Jimeta, assured the people
of Edo State that security
agencies will do
their best to ensure a
peaceful election across
the 18 local government
areas of the state, adding,
“All of us have agreed to
work together with more
synergy and put in place
very broad strategies to
ensure the election is free
and fair.”
Olayinka guilty of two
counts preferred against
them.
He, however, acquitted
the third defendant, Femi
Aroyehun on the two counts
preferred against him.
Meanwhile, Counsel to
the convicts, L. S. Bello,
pleaded with the court to
temper justice with mercy.
Justice Falola then sentenced
the two convicts to
five years imprisonment for
conspiracy and death by
hanging for murder.
The deceased, Adeoye
Matthew was on March 9,
2017, murdered by a mob
after he was involved in an
altercation with the convict
while returning from work
with his friend, Oladipupo
Damilare around Babjo Secondary
School, Idi- Iroko
Area, Ikirun.
Residents reported the attack
to the police who came
Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice,
Edo State, Prof.
Oluyinka Omorogbe noted
that the Ministry of
Justice was working vigorously
to attain a 50-percent
decongestion of inmates
in correctional centres.
“Our principal activity
is prosecution. We are
working hard to ensure
all cases are dealt with
promptly. The security
council has mandated us
to protect citizens’ right,
urging us to report to it
every month and ensure
those awaiting trials are
not unduly held behind
bars. We are also to ensure
de-congestion
through all the different
legal ways and means
that exist.”
to the scene and evacuated
the victim to Araromi
Hospital, Ikirun where he
later died on the same day.
Edo gov set up 7-man c’ttee
to rejig Edo auto industry
Buhari not playing politics with
devt of N-Delta — Akpabio
THE Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, has set
up a seven-man automobile technical committee with
a mandate to fashion a strategy for an improved, profitable
and sustainable automobile industry in the state.
Speaking at the inauguration of the committee in Government
House, Benin City, Obaseki said the committee
has 90 days to come up with a workplan to sanitise and
transform the industry and position it to drive productivity
and economic growth in the state.
He said, “I am setting up a sub-committee with some
members of the Edo State Government, and over the next
three months, they will come back with work plans and
recommendations.”
He said his administration is committed to leveraging Edo
State’s strategic position as a transportation hub to grow the
local automobile industry, with the input of key stakeholders
from the national scene.
“Studies have shown that Benin City is the second largest
automobile market in the country. We will like to have an
automobile mall or park where we have one big market,
where people can come to get what they need for their
vehicles.
By Ike Uchechukwu,Calabar
MINISTER of Niger Delta Affairs , Senator God
swill Akpabio has asserted that President Buhari
was not in anyway playing politics with the development
of the Niger Delta region of the country.
He added that the forensic audit ordered by the president
was a sign of courage on the part of the president
and emphasized that the government was committed to
righting the wrongs in the region. Senator Akpabio made
the assertion at the Executive Council Chambers of the
Governors office yesterday in Calabar when he paid a
courtesy visit on the Cross River State governor, Prof.
Ben Ayade, as part of the ministry’s tour of projects in
the state.
“The essence of the Ministry’s visit to the state is to
look at ongoing projects and see where the ministry can
intervene alongside the NDDC so as to touch the lives
of the people besides fast-tracking development in the
region. “President Muhammadu Buhari is not playing
politics with the development of the region and this is
why projects are taken to the grassroots.
“In line with this, the ministry is committed to developing
the region and intervening in areas that touch
people’s lives,” he said.
EFCC arrests Clerk of Benue
Assembly for alleged N220m fraud
By Peter Duru, Makurdi
THE Clerk of the Benue State House of Assembly, Dr.
Terese Agena has been arrested by the Benue zonal
office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, over an alleged N220million fraud.
According to a statement issued yesterday in Makurdi by
the zonal Head Public Affairs of the Commission, Nwanyinma
Okeanu, the Clerk was arrested and detained after a
valid remand warrant was obtained from the Federal High
Court In Makurdi.
“He is being investigated for an alleged case of fraud,
stealing and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of
N220million,” she stated.
Okeanu however regretted that “Today, Friday, January
17 at about 10am, Torese Agena currently under the EFCC
custody, invited his wife and children to the EFCC’s zonal
office in Makurdi where he is being held.
“The wife, Mrs. Agena Terngu and her daughters, Terfa
Mamadu Ngweavese and Agena Suur assaulted two mobile
policemen on duty after giving the third a human bite
on his left arm and tried to run down another with their car
while trying to escape.”
She said the suspect’s wife as well as his two daughters
who allegedly carried out the said assault had been handed
over to the police for prosecution while Dr. Agena was being
processed for arraignment as soon as investigation into the
matter was concluded.
NSCDC intercepts truck load with PMS
concealed in bagco bags in Ogun
By James Ogunnaike
MEN of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence
Corps, Ogun State Command have intercepted a
truck loaded with Premium Motor Spirit, (PMS) contained
in a bagco bags along Cele Bus Stop, Alagbole in Ifo
Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The suspect, 29 year-old, Emmanuel Fregene with a
truck registered as LSD 04 SW Lagos was accosted by
the anti vandals unit of the State command coming from
Akute to Sagamu.
Upon interrogation, the
suspect who doubles as
the driver confessed to the
crime. He said, he accepted
to transport the fuel because
of some pressing
needs, adding that he was
promised N80,000 on delivery
by a man he could
identify only by his nickname,
‘Small.’
Speaking with newsmen,
the State Commandant
of the NSCDC,
Ahmed Abodunrin commended
the efforts of his
men and also the timely
information granted to the
command by members of
the public on various activities
of vandals in their
environs which led to the
arrest of Emmanuel.
While appealing for
more of such intelligence
report, he assured that other
cohorts will be apprehended.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020 —9
S-Court Judgment: PDP govs shun NEC meeting
•Atiku calls for a committee to review conduct of 2019 polls
By Dirisu Yakubu
ELEVEN out of 14
governors elected on
the platform of the
Peoples Democratic Party,
failed to turn up for the 87th
emergency National Executive
Committee, NEC, meeting
which held in Abuja on Friday.
The meeting which had in
attendance prominent
members of the party
including former Vice
President, Alhaji Atiku
Abubakar was convened to
discuss among others, the
recent Supreme Court
judgment which nullified the
election of Emeka Ihedioha
as governor of Imo state.
Apart from Bello
Mutawalle, Adamu Fintiri
and Aminu Tambuwal,
governors of Zamfara,
Adamawa and Sokoto states
respectively, no other
member of the PDP
Governors’ Forum turned up
for the all-important meeting.
Although, national publicity
secretary of the party, Kola
Ologbondiyan blamed the
development on short notice,
saying the decision to
convene the meeting was
arrived at only on Thursday.
In his brief remark, the
party’s flag bearer in the 2019
Presidential election, Atiku
Abubakar called for a post
mortem on the PDP
performance, adding that it
would be right for a committee
to be set up for that purpose.
He said: “I will like to propose
that a strong committee to
review the last elections and
recommend to the party
needed reforms and address
the challenges in the last
election is setup forthwith. But
what cannot wait is that we
should not take what has been
happening in our democratic
process from the role of the
Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC,
security agencies and the
judiciary for granted.”
He also lauded the PDP for
the role it played in deepening
democracy while in power,
saying
“our party governed very
well from 1999 up to 2015. As
true democrats, we conceded
power to the opposition in the
hope that it will further
entrench democracy
development and unity. But
alas Nigerians have been
proved wrong by the
governing All Progressives
Congress, APC. It has become
very necessary for us to
mobilise Nigeria to resists the
threat to our democracy, unity
and development.”
Addressing the 87th NEC,
national chairman of the party,
Prince Uche Secondus
lamented what he called the
waning ethos of democracy in
the country under the
leadership of President
Muhammadu Buhari in the
past five years.
He said: “Anxiety has
engulfed our country because
it’s now evident that all the
huge sacrifice and
contributions of our founding
fathers to ensure the
endurance of democracy in
our land are being thrown to
the dustbin.
“All the efforts of our great
party to deepen and grow our
democracy for 16 years that
resulted in our losing power
and handing over in a
seamless transition to the
opposition are being blatantly
squandered in APC’s 56
months reign.
“The ruling APC, and the
federal government
combining effectively with
INEC, and some security
agencies including military
took the electoral manipulation
to the next level.
To give the desired colour to
their agenda and facilitate the
electoral fraud as designed, a
unique type of unbridled
violence was introduced.
The national chairman also
said the party has credible
intelligence that “the
Presidency and APC
leadership are still arm twisting
the judiciary to ensure they
deliver to them four PDP won
states of Sokoto, Benue,
Bauchi and Adamawa while
keeping states like Kano we
clearly won for them.”
Meanwhile, the party in a
communique at the end of the
meeting resolved to go the
distance including civil
disobedience to press for the
entrenchment of good
governance and rule of law in
the land.
Make Sam
Mbakwe Int’l
Airport
functional, APC
chieftain tells FG
By Michael Eboh
Following the return of
Imo State to the All
Progressives Congress,
APC, a chieftain of the party
and former senatorial
candidate in the 2019
general elections in Imo
State, Barrister Chyma
Anthony, yesterday, called
on the Federal Government
to consider making
functional, the Sam
Mbakwe International
Airport, to boost commerce
and industry in the state and
the country in general.
In a statement in Abuja,
Anthony also hailed the
verdict of the seven-man
panel of Justices that
upturned the election of
former Imo State governor
Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha
and ordered the swearing in
of Senator Hope Uzodinma
as Governor of Imo State.
He urged the Buhari
administration to improve
the condition of federal roads
in Imo state and address the
perennial gully erosion
challenges that was
threatening lots of
communities in Imo State.
He enjoined everyone in
Imo State to support and
cooperate with the new
government of Hope
Uzodinma, while he
expressed optimism that the
new government had so
much to offer, that would
dee Imo State reaching an
enviable height in the
nearest future.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
AMOTEKUN:
Why Middle Belt states will replicate
it despite FG’s position – MBF
•Says Govt failure has given birth to initiative
•We’ve Operation Rainbow, will strengthen it – Plateau
•Amotekun is same as Vigilante, we’re on it and ahead – Kogi•We had Taraba Marshal but FG disbanded it – Taraba
By Peter Duru, Makurdi
As divergent views and
outrage continue to
trail the federal
government’s decision
to declare the recently
launched ‘Operation Amotekun’
an illegality, notable leaders in the
Middle Belt geopolitical zone, an
area that yearly bore the brunt of
marauding herdsmen, have
declared their support for a
replication of the outfit in the zone
to curb the excesses of the
marauders.
Speaking passionately on the
issue, the President of the Middle
Belt Forum, MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu
was emphatic that Governors of the
zone would soon replicate
Amotekun in the zone.
Dr. Pogu said, “I believe Middle
Belt Governors will take a cue from
the Amotekun initiative.
“We believe that the fundamental provision
of the constitution which is the providing
security and ensuring welfare
to the people cannot and
should not be compromised.
“So if the constitution
makes that provision, which
is for government, and the
government is not doing it and
there are killings and
We believe that the
fundamental provision
of the constitution
which is the providing
security and ensuring
welfare to the people
cannot and should not
be compromised
kidnappings on a daily basis
to the extent that Boko Haram
and some of these marauding
herdsmen are occupying our
land something has to be done.
“Given that kind of scenario
the citizens have no option but
to find a better way to secure
their lives. Government
should have ensured that our
roads are secured. But the
government has failed in that
responsibility too.
“Therefore we need to assist
in providing security for the
people. That is why the Yorubas and leaders in
the South West geopolitical zone thought it
wise to establish Amotekun to complement
and not to take over the responsibilities of the
police and the military in providing security.
They are supposed to be applauded and
praised for doing it and not vilified and
condemned.
“The other part of the hypocrisy is that there
are so many security outfits in the northern
states. All the northern state governors used to
meet and take decisions on security. They have
vigilantes.”
Continuing he said, “In some states where
the Sharia is introduced they have the Hizba
and Islamic security outfit. So why are they
against Amotekun? It means there is hypocrisy,
there is differential treatment. That means we
have some first class and second class citizens
in this country and we cannot accept that.
“This country belongs to all of us and
everybody is equal before the law and the
constitution. So it is wrong as far as I am
concerned to have two yardsticks for the same
issue.
“In the north so many states have vigilantes
and they help in complementing the police
and the military in providing security. Why
should the South West be denied just because
the Governors came together.
“If Arewa or northern governors meet and
take such a decision will the government deny
them? Why are they vilifying the South West?
It simply means that if it is the South West no,
if it is the South East no, but if it is the far north
yes. No, Nigeria cannot be run like that.
“So the Middle Belt states will also explore
ways and means of protecting their people.
They are not going to stay there idling, no.
“That is the position of the Middle Belt, we
are going to encourage our governors to do
same and get things that are Middle Belt
specific. We are certainly doing it.
“I don’t believe the South West Governors
will just sit down without challenging the
pronouncement of the Federal Government.
They also have the rights if others have it,” he
added.

•Ortom
Plateau renews call for Operation
Rainbow after recent killings
•Says it will strengthen it
By Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos
Meanwhile the recent killing of
about 15 youths in Kombun
district of Mangu local
government area of Plateau State by
suspected herders has renewed the calls
for a special security outfit similar to the
Amotekun in the State.
Former Governor Jonah Jang had
established Operation Rainbow; a form
of community policing structure but it
later went comatose due to lack of
funding and personnel but Governor
Simon Lalong is reviving the outfit to
make it live to its responsibilities.
Some residents have strongly
advocated effective utilization of
Operation Rainbow as Bitrus Kaze said,
“Governor Simon Lalong should take a
cue and consolidate on the Operation
Rainbow by domesticating it further in
both content and context. The time is now
for the government and people of Plateau
state to design our own means of survival,
nobody else understands our plight
better.”
Another, Mashat Makut stated,
“Plateau is a God-fearing State,
America’s age long motto is in God we
trust, but they don’t rest in that cliché
when it comes to facing the enemy
•Bello
headlong. We need a Plateau local
vigilante police now or never. If
Operation Rainbow is ineffective
then we do away with it completely
and work with the local vigilante
to set up a Plateau Police.
”The Southwest Governors
only recently set up a regional
local police; we have to take
recourse to the scriptures to act
accordingly. Desperate times call
for desperate measures. If we ever
doubted the collective will of the
locals spearheaded by the
traditional institutions then this is
the time to have a deep rethink.
”If the old way isn’t working,
then we have to change tactics. We
alone can free ourselves from the
onslaught of the attackers on a
mission to claim our lands and
heritage. Plateau needs a local
vigilante policing structure
peculiar to our terrain.”
Again Dachung Bagos stated,
“I want to reiterate my strong
stand and need for State and
community policing to safeguard lives
and property.”
However, Search for Common
Ground, a non-governmental
By Boluwaji Obahopo, Lokoja
Meantime, following the
commencement of Amotekun,
the Kogi State government
said it would strengthen its own borders
to avoid infiltration by external forces.
Special Adviser to the state Governor
on Security, Commandant Jerry
Omodara (Rtd) who spoke on behalf of
government said the state being at the
centre of the country may experience
some infiltration by fleeing criminals
from the South West.
Omodara said, “What the South West
governors are doing now in terms of
Amotekun is nothing different from
having Vigilante groups. Its only the
name that its different. Kogi State is well
ahead of them in terms of setting up its
vigilante.
“We are also aware that Kogi State
may experience influx of people
organization working in Plateau, Benue
and Nasarawa States through its project:
transforming the farmerherder
conflicts and
promoting freedom of
religions and beliefs in
Nigeria’s Middle Belt
We need a Plateau
local vigilante police
now or never. If
Operation Rainbow is
ineffective then we do
away with it
completely and work
with the local vigilante
to set up a Plateau
Police
SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—11
•Lalong
recently assembled
stakeholders who hinted
on a need for regional
synergy to combat
violence and crime.
But the State
Commissioner for
Information and
Communication, Dan
Manjang noted that, “We
don’t need to imitate
anyone, we have
Operation Rainbow
which is effective but it
depends on the law
guiding
its
establishment. It has its
challenges but it is just
to strengthen it.
”I don’t have any
knowledge of any regional or North
Central security outfit like what the South
West just did but we have Operation
Rainbow here in the State.”
Amotekun is same
as Vigilante Group,
we’re on it — Kogi
especially now that Operation Amotekun
has taken off. You know Kogi is not only
in the centre of the country but also shares
borders with nine other states.
“What we plan to do is to strengthened
our borders to guide against influx of
criminals who may be running away from
these south west states.
“We are a responsible and responsive
government and we are not going to allow
external forces destroyed the good work
the state governor, Yahaya Bello has put
in place in terms of security.
He has invested heavily on security and
has won many awards including from the
Inspector General of Police; as the Best
Governor in Security. We will continue to
save our people and their property. There
is no cause for alarm.”
Omodara also said the state Governor
has directed each of the 21 local
government areas of the state to form a
semi form of Vigilante at their respective
council areas.
We Had
Taraba
Marshall,
But it Was
Disbanded
By FG
—Gov’s Aide
By Femi Bolaji, Jalingo
Speaking on the reaction of the
Federal Government to the set up
of AMOTEKUN by South West
governors in the region, the Senior
Special Assistant to governor Darius
Ishaku on Media and Publicity, Bala Abu
noted that it was high time state
governments were given leverage in the
security of their respective states.
He explained that Taraba had also had
its own fair share of the federal
government’s disdain towards
establishing its own security outfit in the
state.
Recall that sometime in 2018, there was
uproar over the establishment of Taraba
Marshall between the state government
and the Army.
The Marshall who had then
commenced training on enforcing full
compliance to the anti open grazing law
passed by the State Assembly was
disbanded.
Speaking on the realities of the day, Abu
said “the idea of states setting up their
own security outfit is a a result of the
failure on the side of the Federal forces to
provide security in virtually all the
states.
“Most times the Federal security
agencies who are also under the Federal
government ignore calls for intervention
to save lives and properties in these
states.
“The reason is that the Federal
Government is too far away from the state
and does not respond quickly to such
calls. Sometimes it doesn’t even respond.
“And that is why some states feel there is
need for them to set up their own security
outfits that they can deploy as the need
arises.
“That does not mean they want to
become independent. And I think the FG
needs to understand the feelings of these
states.
“For example, Taraba wanted to start
its own security apparatus and up till now
it has not taken off because it did not enjoy
the support of the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government sent soldier
to interrupt the training programme even
though some representatives of federal
security agencies in the state were part of
the process.
“Up till now the initiative has not taken
off. I believe States should be given some
form of autonomy to control security in
their states.”
Speaking on the role of the Federal
Government in such initiatives, Abu stated
that “the Federal Government should only
supervise the process so that there would
not be any reason for suspicion.
“In our own case, money had also been
invested and the entire process was
interrupted which is not fair,” Abu added.
•Ishaku

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR:
LESSONS FOR A NEW NIGERIA
innovation capacities remain
stunted after a war in which giant
scientific strides were made in the
more challenged, in Biafra...
Revisiting Wars, such as this one
can also help us find heroes that
inspire us to do yesterday’s
impossible. Like the pilots that
flew in and out of Uli-Ihiala Air
Strip with literally seconds of
light at night, or the Missionary
Doctors, citizens that hid friends
or strangers in their roofs to save
their lives. These visits to a place
of memory can also tell us who
we are, that we may know who
we can become.
BY PROF. PAT UTOMI
Excerpts from his
paper, A HARVEST
OF PARADOXES
on the 50th anniversary
of the end of the war
Iwant to crave your indulgence to begin
with a seemingly unrelated issue.
War is a horrible experience. I have
experienced it, watched it in movies and
read about it in books. But not all wars
involve guns and bombs. Some deploy
only words, yet, they can be as devastating.
Our country is embroiled in one right
now...
For an experience like the civil war, from
which we can learn much, so that this
experience never occurs again, it is even
more important that we speak in greater
candor but that the nuances be heard right
so good, rather than obfuscation, and
further seeds of discord, be the outcome.
With that said, I would like to pay tribute
to the human spirit, which allows broken
men and women to overcome the anguish
of war and construct new lives, after. With
the Nigerian civil war there were saints
and sinners, and there were heroes and
traitors. It is not possible to talk about
the war without
talking about the kind of
emotion in Kakadu – the
musical. I remember cries of pain
and gratitude in Surulere, Lagos where I
was when the war ended, as I got ready to
return to school in Ibadan. People
returning from war after fleeing Lagos
nearly four years earlier realizing that
their Yoruba neighbour had rented out
their house and dutifully saved the rent
paid, so that instead of £20 that was
exchanged for what value they had in
Biafra they had four years rent to begin
again with. In next door Port Harcourt,
people of Igbo stock declared properties
abandoned.
Gratitude in all things to the creator
and human solidarity which allowed
foreigners from far, French Doctors like
Bernard Kouchner, Global charities like
CARITAS, and neighbours near and far
who helped ameliorate miseries almost
unprecedented in modern human
experience.
Why does it matter to reflect on that
experience and 50 years since?
I think this initiative has value because
war is horrible and anything that enables
people learn enough from its experience
to make them seek not to repeat it, does
humanity a great favour. Allied to this is
that managing the cessation of hostility
will determine how people heal and
whether it is easy to capitalize on old
wounds. Few doubt that the nature of the
peace treaty that ended World War I paved
the way for a Hitler to emerge and made
a more terrible World War II to happen.
War creates its psychosis and that can
affect culture in a way that people may
not become immediately aware of, but
this may affect fundamentally a people’s
way. Why, for
example, were Ndigbo typically
considered modest, even stereotyped as
stingy, before the war, and in the post-war
era have become more voluble,
extravagant and showy, with significant
consequences for Emotional Intelligence.
I have a host of theories on that but those
will not be for today.
We also need to reflect to determine why
war has brought scientific and allied
material (commercial) progress to many
societies but our scientific gains and
It was no surprise that
those who removed
President Shagari
brewed a poisoned
chalice which so
many years later has
brought Nigeria more
divided today than it
was during a civil war
thought to have been
Genocidal
A PERSONAL
PERSPECTIVE ON
THE WAR
My experience is
actually graphic and
good material for a
movie script. It
started before the
civil war proper. The
Continues on page 13
riots in Northern
Nigeria that
became a pogrom
followed the
military coup of
1966.
On the last
Sunday of May in
1966, I was on a
train returning to
Gusau in the deep
North West.
While I was
traveling
towards Gusau
my family had
gone to worship
at Our Lady of
Fatima Catholic
C h u r c h .
Protesting
Military Rule
and calling for
a break up of
Nigeria the
indigenous people there invaded the
church in the middle of Holy Mass. With
chants of Araba, Aware. Ba mu aso
milikin soldier, they attached worshipers.
My mother’s arm was broken in the attack.
When I arrived Gusau, the Train Station
was deserted. As I got off the Train I could
see my father’s Blue Peugeot 404 across
the road on the street. Beside him was his
double-barreled hunting gun. I thought
it peculiar he was going hunting. Instead
of entering the station he waved me over.
The story gets more bizarre from there.
A week later we left from the Gusau
Aerodrome on a chartered light Aircraft.
The image of anxious and desperate
people not as fortunate as us, chasing after
the aircraft haunted me for years. My
father worked for British Petroleum that
airlifted us.
Those experiences resulted eventually in
the outbreak of civil war. I was a student
at Christ the Kings College in Onitsha
when in July 1967 the shooting war began.
A few months after, Nigeria Federal
Forces advancing into Asaba capped a
slaughter of Ibos that left a trail from
Benin, Warri and across the Midwest,
with cold blooded execution of thousands
who had gathered to sing songs of
welcome to the troops. I have a friend who
survived by playing dead under weight of
his father and brother who were cut down
and lost their lives as the bullets rained
down their lethal power and blood soaked
the white celebration “oto gwu” they all
wore. When darkness came he got up from
under the bodies and made for the bush.
I had managed myself to cross from
Onitsha, where I was in school, after
discussions with my uncles on what was

LESSONS FOR A NEW NIGERIA
Continues from page 12
best. The oldest of my male cousins signed
up with the Biafra Army. We never saw
him alive again. I crossed the Niger by
canoe in the cover of darkness. And never
saw again the uncle I had discussed what
I was best to do. On the other side, a few
miles from the killing fields of Asaba, the
people had fled the towns into the bush
where nomadic life seemed safer. My
Grandfather, a World War II veteran in
his 70s saw no reason to do so.
An eye witness saw a teenage soldier use
him for target practice, abandoning his
corpse in the front porch of his small house.
I was “captured” coming out of the bush
to cross the road. We were lined up, men
to the left, women to right. This preexecution
routine in the Asaba massacre.
Then something happened.
Another group of Federal soldiers
caught up with the ones asking us “where
are ze rest of ze rebels” before the
execution of the men. I still recall I felt no
fear, no horror, just resigned to fate. The
newly arrived troops challenged our
captor and a fight broke out between
them. We ended up in the Refugee camp
at St. Patricks College Asaba. A few weeks
later I was reunited with my family in
Lagos, and enrolled in school in
Ibadan. So for half of the civil war
I viewed it from a telescope from
far away Ibadan and Lagos.
I get a big sense of deja vous when
I hear people talk about the
insurgency in the Northeast of
Nigeria today, in Lagos, like a
distant nuisance. That was how we
came to see the rest of the civil war
from Lagos. Take away Radio and
TV reporting of it, mingled with the
motivation military song, and the
calls on General Gowon to (Go on
with one Nigeria), Biafra was a far
off foreign war, in Lagos.
Having had the privilege not too
many had, of seeing it from inside
Biafra, in the theatre from the other
side, and far from the theatre, my
memories of the war are typically
broader than those of many of my
contemporaries. In it must be
rooted my passions surely. But I
have never managed to fully
understand why I have never felt
any bitterness. Realizing that I
canvased for an international
system of justice without thinking
of justice for the second-worst
genocide of the 20th century, shook me,
after the Rome statutes were passed.
But I could begin to rationalize it as I
reflected years after. Having seen it from
all sides, even so young in my teens.
Through the course of my life’s journey, I
have been routinely described as
passionately Nigerian. Why and how is it
possible that I don’t feel pain or anger of
what I had experienced so personally.
It is perhaps because seeing things from
all sides enabled me discover a shared
humanity abused by the ambition of a few
powerful people whose egos wasted
million lives.
If for me the first of the harvest of
paradoxes of the Nigerian civil war is my
“failure” to be bitter the second has to be
Nigeria’s inability to learn lessons from
an unnecessary war from which we were
all vanquished – both victor and defeated.
The slogan from this time, 50 years ago
was “No victor no vanquished”. But that
motto is a lie we were all greatly
diminished, all vanquished by it and
today act like we would like to be all
vanquished again, not necessary from the
territory called Biafra but from Nigeria
writ large.
Nigeria’s inability to have learnt
institutionalized lessons from the civil war
is perhaps one of the greatest cases of
leadership failure in modern human
history. Even that is a paradox. The end
of civil war was marked by some great
leadership initiatives.
Yes, there may be reason to quarrel with
£20 as the optimum value for what people
brought from Biafra but the idea of No
Victor Vanquished and the 3Rs of
Reconciliation, Rehabilitation, and
Reconstruction propelled a momentum of
healing unprecedented in conflict
termination. Politically, the presence and
role of Ukpabi
Asika, in the
Gowon team and
the elections of
1997 set a
remarkable pace.
I was fortunate
as a young
person to be
named to a
Presidential
Another group of
Federal soldiers
caught up with the
ones asking us
“where are ze rest of
ze rebels” before the
execution of the
men. I still recall I felt
no fear, no horror, just
resigned to fate
Advisory Role in
the Shagari
government.
Being quite
precocious I
e n j o y e d
ambushing
President
Shagari when he
came out from his
office, to smoke.
With Abba
Daboh, his Chief
Press Secretary,
we would chat
him up on issues.
That enabled me
see a Nationalist
that Press
Reports seldom
threw up.
It was no surprise that those who
removed President Shagari brewed a
poisoned chalice which so many years
later has brought Nigeria more divided
today than it was during a civil war
thought to have been Genocidal.
Had Dr. Alex Ekwueme served as
President of Nigeria in 1987, the ghost of
the civil war would have been buried for
good. But those who overthrew President
Shagari have wittingly or and unwittingly
continued to resurrect the ghost of Biafra,
discussions in the North Central, issues
of religious freedom or it lack, deepening
poverty and so on, as a result of poor
leadership.
These have cumulated in deep distrust
in society. These distrusts have
compounded the process of policy choices
and deepened the challenge of economic
development and the quality of life of the
Nigerian people...
Once I arrived Lagos in 1968 all we were
concerned with was James Brown’s
records and partying. It was hard to tell
who was Igbo, Yoruba or Kanuri for that
matter. But today, even without a war
going on a visit to social media unveils a
flow of vitriol and hate speech that you
wonder.
So why did we party across the so-called
divides when a shooting war Was on and
the youth of today are really shooting at
each other in a time of peace and
Democracy. And how did that affect how
many in my generation who suffered
so much from the horrors of war never
become so embittered and those who were
born decades after the war hate so much
on all sides, North vs West; North vs East;
East vs West etc.
In my view, a huge failure of leadership
is responsible.
LEADERSHIP FAILURE
I recalled being interviewed the two
days after the Coup of December 31,
1983, by the New York Times
Correspondent Clifford May III. That
interview reported in the New York Times
of January 8, 1984 quoted me as saying
that those who sacked Shagari
Government may have thrown the baby
out with the bathwater.
Whereas in the Balkans hatreds from
communal feuds can go for a thousand
years with vendettas and Civil Wars
from one generation to another, many in
Nigeria forget the horrors of the war
because of the leadership of Gowon and
Shagari teams. As I said earlier, had the
coup of 1983 not disrupted the flow
and Dr. Ekwueme had become President
in 1987 the Ghost of Biafra would have
been buried for good.
Post Shagari national leadership was
in constant equivocation about the
Nigerian experience and tried to bury
memories rather than profit from lessons
it threw up.
Let look at examples elsewhere. War
often puts pressure on science to help
facilitate waging war. This usually results
in technology that is transformed into
wealth creation. The Americans became
a significant commercial power from the
science of World War II by
appropriating German Science and
Scientists in addition to their own. In
Biafra, PRODA, the project research
and development Agency advanced
innovation after war, we failed to convert.
Rwanda is speeding ahead on many
fronts because it confronted its demons
after the Genocide and built that
remarkable memorial which recalls the
horrors of the experience in vivid color,
audio, video, and scripting, so that it can
SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—13
be visited after often enough to reinforce
the clarion call of Never Again. But
leadership in Nigeria failed to do such
and decades after continues to
treat the South East as occupied
Territory.
It is leadership that points a way
forward from such experiences. The
absence of such leadership in
contemporary Nigerian experience,
compared to Paul Kagame in Rwanda has
left us with so much animosity among
young people.
To move forward we must begin to
rethink the current form of sociopolitical
and economic organization in
Nigeria. It is possible to think and act
win-win and elevate the dignity of all.
With a modus Vivendi that looks that
way I have no doubt that Nigeria will
ultimately live the dream of its founding
fathers that current Nigeria offers.
LESSON FROM 50
YEARS AFTER BIAFRA
FOR NEW NIGERIA
The critical question is why does
Nigeria wobble so badly in spite of
experience that should be driving it
forward and what can be done about
it. I think we can list the reasons to
include:
1. A mistaken view that Nigeria is
about how much more you can extract
from the national cake. A cake to eat,
makes poor tomorrow, but producing
makes rich always. Check out Spain’s
experience in history for illustration.
2. Merit matters. The Nigerian essence
sadly has become about the
democratization of mediocrity.
Affirmative action that some are
educationally backward has been abused
for excessive cronyism that has devalued
the Nigeria way and its institutions and
made corruption the purpose of public life.
3. The collapse of culture which has
reduced human purpose to primitive
accumulation of power and money
often through criminal privatization of
the commonwealth has hurt Nigeria
badly. Public life must become about
service and advanced of the Common
Good.
4. The loss of a sense for the principle
of subsidiarity that government and
Authority be decentralized so it is at levels
closet to the people where they can feel it
be able to hold it accountable.
A distant government in some far off
place like Abuja; Alausa or Enugu creates
a moral distance in the civic culture
which Peter Ekeh captures well in his essay
on the Two Public. It has made corruption
endemic.
5. The overburdening of people by an
expensive and pompous state.
Government needs to be cheaper, simpler,
more ethical and more sensitive to extent
circumstances.
6. The thinking, learning, projecting,
and planning state as an imperative
of this age. We live in a time of the
Fourth Industrial revolution but the
government of Nigeria cannot seem to
plan because of a mismatch of talents,
values, and purpose. So the country
flounders.
7. The Grand Norm must be rewritten
and political party systems reformed.
CONCLUSION
If the ghost of Biafra is not to
return. And it does not have to be from
the South East. Some books titles are
telling here. Chido Onuma’s says we
are all Biafrans now. Another tells us that
in Biafra, Africa died. If the ghost of Biafra
which can rise from frustrated youth
in the South West, Niger Delta, and
several parts of the North who were the
first to call for the breakup of Nigeria in
the chants of Arab, Aware;
is not to rise we have to urgently
develop a work programme to
tackle these several points. May God
help us as we try. The slogan that Nigeria
must be one and indivisible is meaningless
in contemporary logic. The Americans
have enshrined the right to secede in their
own constitution but few expect a move
for secession that will succeed. That
provision, however, pressures those in
power to act to advance the good of all.
The principle of non- interference in the
internal affairs of countries which took
root in the Peace of Westphalia after
100years of religious wars in Europe in
1648 set the tone for the basic of this
inviolable right to keep Nigeria one. But
the Genocides of the 20th century set
the human community on a different
course. Beginning with the universal
declaration of human Right of the UN the
right of self-determination began to
short the fore.
Political Parties and leadership
orientation must be such
that politicians know that if they do
not act justly people will be justified to
seek to leave that Union. Just like
divorce was unheard of a hundred years
ago in the America family but is now the
norm, self-determination is the rising
norm in Nation States. Constitutions,
Political Parties and Governance must
reflect that.

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
Civil War Ended, Uncivil War
Started, 50 Years Ago
By Ikeddy ISIGUZO
IDIDN’T have the luxury of the fond
childhood that many my age recount
with relish. It was not the fault of my
parents, but of a war that we knew more
about as we became adults. The Biafra War,
as many know it, ended on 15 January
1970, when General Phillip Effiong, made
his famous declaration in Lagos before
Gowon,50 years ago.
Effiong was the acting Head of State.
General of the Peoples Army Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who I remain fond of,
for the protection of our lives in the three
and half years that Nigeria would have
preferred to see us dead, had gone on exile.
“I, Major-General Phillip Effiong, Officer
Administering the
Government of the Republic of
Biafra, now wish to make the
following declaration: That we
affirm that we are loyal
Nigerian citizens and accept
the authority of the Federal
Military Government of
Nigeria. That we accept the
existing administrative and
political structure of the
Federation of Nigeria. That
any future constitutional
arrangement will be worked
out by representatives of the
people of Nigeria. That the
Republic of Biafra hereby
ceases to exist,” he said.
When Effiong died in 2003,
in Aba, Igbos buried him. He
was a patriot. He was my Head
of State from 8 January 1970.
Marks the war left on its
victims defy adequate
accommodation in the paltry
words that address them at
conferences. Where enough
words are spoken, the words,
are seen as healing for the ills
of the war, one of the most vicious wars
fought in the previous century.
Nobody talks of the uncivil war that
replaced the civil war since 1970. It is
spoken of with justifications, among them,
that Igbos planned a coup, and killed others.
Igbos (forever?) deserve punishment and
they must remain in Nigeria to receive that
punishment.
While images of malnourished children
are everlastingly etched on my mind - the
After 50 years
of this
steadied gaze
on punishing
Igbos many
are realising
Nigeria
cannot work.
This day, fifty years ago, we Nigerians saw
the end of a bitter and sanguinary Civil
War in which two sides of our Country
had been pitched against each other for fully
thirty months. A war which had directly and
indirectly taken the lives of millions of our
citizens and had left the lives of more millions
shattered.
I assess that we are assembled to mark this
day for two important reasons. First, we are
assembled in gratitude to God that our Civil
War came to an end when it did. And that it
did not continue beyond that day to go on
inflicting more deaths and more wounds upon
our citizens and peoples of Nigeria, and upon
our Country as a corporate entity.
Secondly and more importantly, we elders,
leaders. rulers and citizens of Nigeria are
assembled here today before the World, and
before the Ruler of all Peoples and Nations, to
assert that We the People of this Country of
Nigeria will Never Again manage the affairs
of our Country in such a way as to lead to war
among us.
It is hugely providential that We are
registering this resolve today before the World
and before the Creator and Ruler of the World.
I say providential because, as an elderly citizen
of this Country and as a citizen who was
already a young University Teacher in the time
of our Civil War, I have good reasons to fear
today that the character of the affairs of our
Country these days and the prevailing mood
among us Nigerians, are chillingly similar to
the character of the affairs of our Country in
the months leading to our Civil War.
The Government of our Country is being
managed in ways that make it look like an
exclusive preserve of a particular minority.
There seems to be an agenda being pursued
loss of our best, able, intelligent
young men and women across
Igbo land is unforgettable - we
cannot lose sight of a war that
Nigeria unleashed on Igbos in
1970 to ensure that “never again
shall they rise”.
Valuable national resources
have been wasted in moves akin
to trying to stop the sun from
rising from the East.
Unfortunately, some Igbos have
joined so that they can become
“something” in a Nigeria that is
at best indeterminate.
We are a people who have proverbs for
everything. We were not raised in fear.
Nigeria’s recurring challenges rest on the
race for nothingness - empty positions and
opportunities that undermine Nigeria’s
chances of making progress.
You stay on the ground if you have
dedicated your life to holding someone
down. Nigeria’s lack of progress is situated
in the resources wasted in ensuring that
Igbos are down. For 50 years this approach
to establish this minority in all positions of
command in the Executive, Administrative,
Judicial and Security Services of our Country.
The voices of the majority register protests
continually and are Continually disrespected
and ignored. The state of law is patently being
subsumed to the needs of that agenda with
seriously damaging effects on human rights.
These situations are inevitably fostering
among the Peoples of the Middle Belt and
South of our Country. The feeling that they
are being reduced to the status of conquered
Peoples in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, some persons belonging to the
would-be minority conquerors are loudly
has decimated national efforts in all things.
Sadly, the ferocity of these policies increase
as they fail.
Wars cost lives. We know. We went to war
to defend ourselves. We knew lives would
be lost. I saw many of them.
My primary school teacher died in the
war, conscripted from the palm plantation,
under whose protection we sought
protection from air raids. It also served as
a market, and centre for communal
meetings. He was an only son.
Each time I step into our village church, I
remember it was an military base, just miles
from Umuaro, where Col. Monday
Onwuatuegwu commanded the 8th
Division of the Peoples Army.
I still see the faces of those soldiers
bubbling with enthusiasm that matched the
brilliant rays of the rising sun badge on their
shoulders. Many of them died. Many young
men from my village died, our best.
Stories of these losses are all over Igbo
land. No family was spared. We have borne
the marks well. Some are still counted as
missing in action, nobody saw their corpses,
threatening to overrun and seize
the ancestral homelands of the said
Peoples of the Nigerian Middle Belt
and South. And they are actually
pushing for that conquest with their
acts of destruction of farms and
villages, acts of wanton killings of
People, acts of kidnapping, acts of
intimidation, and the act of
bringing of masses of their ethnic
kinsmen from Countries beyond
Nigeria to seize and possess land by force and
intimidation in Nigeria. The outcome of all
these, as we assemble here today, is that our
Country is divided into two hostile parts...
or heard they died. We have started
mourning them. If in 50 years they have
made no contact, they were dead. Igbos live
with these burdens. Nobody can bear them
for us.
How could disagreement among top
military officers, over a coup, lead to
massacres, genocides and still, Igbos, on
whose behalf the officers supposedly acted,
without consultation, are considered not to
have adequately atoned for lives lost in the
1966 coup?
After 50 years of this steadied gaze on
punishing Igbos many are realising Nigeria
cannot work. They are
s h o u t i n g
restructuring. Did they
forget that Igbos stood
on the Aburi Accord
which is 53 years old?
We went to war when
Nigeria rejected
restructuring, 53 years
ago.
Some of the woes of
the war would have
been ameliorated if
the “benefits of the
war”, like Biafra’s
scientific strides,
survived the war. After
living in a country, that
in war could construct
an airport, for night
flights, within months,
refined its fuel,
manufactured its
military hard and
software, we listen to
tales of why the
simplest things cannot
be done 50 years on.
Competence is not a
value. Failures are
treated as communal
responsibility. We are
all guilty, is the typical
position to draw a baseline of no standards
for all.
In the uncivil war of the past 50 years,
there is no Red Cross, no Caritas, no peace
talks, no international conventions for war.
It is a war without rules of engagement.
Without these known indicators of
escalating conflicts, Nigeria carries on with
practised pretences of peace.
The uncivil is more vicious. Though there
are no air raids, the battle fronts are in daily
confrontations between Nigerians and their
own security agencies. It is a war of survival
worse than a civil war because it is war in
peace time.
Once targeted on Igbos, the uncivil war
has spread to ensure that though tribe and
tongue may differ, it enrols us in
brotherhood of stiff opposition to any
inclinations to make Nigeria work.
Nigerians affirm the civil war ended 50
years ago, unaware of the uncivil war which
daily questions our Nigerianess.
It would be a war without end until
Nigerians realise we are all refugees in the
uncivil war - and end it now.
50 YEARS AFTER CIVIL WAR: The way out of another war —Akintoye
Meanwhile also, as a manifest corollary to
these fearsome developments, thee dreaded
fundamentalist terrorist movement, ISIS after
being vanquished in the Middle East, has
established its new strong base in a part of
Nigeria and from there has proclaimed West
Africa as its new province by way of ISWAP.
The probability has become high therefore
that lSlS might make a junction with the
minority pushing for the
conquest of the majority in
Nigeria, that Nigeria might
thus be ravaged by ISIS, that
Nigeria might soon be the base
from which lSlS will push to
conquer West Africa and all of
Africa, with the purpose of
turning Africa into a mighty
We fought
and ended a
Civil War but
we have
never really
moved
measurably
away from the
brinks of Civil
War
base of fundamentalist terror
against the rest of the civilized
World.
But in the spirit of today. In
the spirit of Never Again
plunging our Country into Civil
War, we can, and we must
terminate all this descent
towards horrific war. We can
and we must speedily move our
Country into the state of law.
The state of mutual respect
among our hundreds of
Nations and the state of order
and peace in our Country.
The steps needed to
accomplish this new order of
existence for our Country are
obvious. First, the Nigerian
ethnic nation that has been threatening other
Nigerian ethnic nations , that has been
Continues on page 15

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—15
The Biafran War: My Memoires
By Jacob Ajom
Iwas too young, too timid and ill-informed
to know the time, date, month or year. Like
many other kids in our village, I was just a
timid African child growing up in a remote Boki
village, Arangha, in Isobendeghe, far flung from
the theatre of war. My village is in Boki Local
Government Area of present Cross River State.
Boki was a people balkanised between Ogoja,
Ikom and Obudu – all in Ogoja Province with
Ikom holding the larger portion of Boki. We
had Boje, where present day Boki Local
Government headquarters is located as the
administrative headquarters of Boje Touring
Area. The Admin Officer then reported to the
Divisional Officer in Ikom. That is just by the
way as I knew nothing about the administrative
structure. All I can remember is that there was a
war between Nigeria and Biafra. The two most
popular figures then were Gowon and Ojukwu.
Both of them young army officiers in their prime.
The war was so politicised and tribalised that
all I knew then was that it was a war between
Hausa(Nigeria) and Igbo(Biafra). All the other
tribes involved in the conflict were either
sympathisers to or followers of the two major
actors. While Gowon represented the
Hausas(federal), Ojiukwu represented
Biafra(the secessionists).
Before then, Nigeria had been one. As a child,
I remember seeing pictures of politicians in
almanacs. It was a period I grew so attached to
almanacs. I had special likeness for almanacs
as faces of great men like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe,
Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello,
the Sar’duana of Sokoto, Sir Tafawa Balewa,
Aminu Kano, Chief Michael Okpara, Chief
Osadebe, Chief Matthew Tawo Mbu(The Star
of Ogoja), Michael Ogon, among others tickled
me. I didn’t care about their offices, I would just
stare at the pictures hung on the wall. It was also
very fashionable to have almanacs in your room
or parlour.
Suddenly we haeard a war had broken out.
Incidentally, the first gun shot was fired at
Gakem, a border town between Cross River in
Ogoja axis and Benue(Vandykia axis).We heard
stories of how the Igbos were killing the hausas
in one breath and in another breath stories would
come of how the Igbo territories were falling to
the hausa forces. From our remote community,
the only means of getting information was
through the good, old transistor radio. I can’t
remember if I had seen a newspaper as radio
was the only means of information from the
outside world. Even the radio was scarce as only
a few homes could boast radio sets. Most often,
information from the radio was distorted as
listeners were either half educated or not
educated at all.
And so the story of the war was received from
different perspectives. The Biafran radio, piloted
by the irrepressible Okoko Ndem kept the
airwaves busy with first class propaganda – of
how federal troops were being decimated by the
Bifran soldiers; how Bifra was advancing to the
west and so forth. The Nigerian radio was also
pouring out its own messages of how they were
crushing the rebels and were ready to take over
the entire eastern Nigeria from the grips of the
rebels.
It must be noted that, apart from the core Igbospeaking
territory of eastern Nigeria, the
minorities were torn between supporting the
Biafran cause and the federal troops. This
division cascaded down to the local
communities. We had a certain King in
Isobendeghe. He was Otu Felix Osor Bobua,
simply called Otu Osor. Surprisingly, Otu Osor
was so enlightened that he commanded a lot of
reverence from his subjects. His word was law
and he carried himself with such aura that he
ruled with an iron fist. He was a member of the
Eastern House of Chiefs and brought home all
the stories about the Biafran agenda. He was
50 YEARS AFTER CIVIL WAR: The way out of another war
Continues from page 14
engaging in invasion, destruction, disruption
and barbarous rampages in the homelands
of other Nigerian ethnic nations and that has
been mobilizing external forces to assist the
conquest, subjugation and ethnic cleansing
of other Nigerian ethnic nations, must now
immediately, stop and renounce this agenda
to the satisfaction of all of Nigeria, and to the
satisfaction of the civilized World.
Secondly, after that, we Nigerians must
restructure our Country, with the objective of
giving our Country a true and generally
acceptable Federal Structure under which the
different sections of our Country will be able
to develop their resources for the conquest of
poverty in their domains, for the elevation of
clearly a sympathiser of the Biafran cause and
wanted his subjects to belong to Biafra. Through
his influence Isobendeghe became a theatre of
the absurd. Biafran troops would come on patrol
and once they left a day or two after, federal
troops would arrive. Yet we were on the fringes
of the real battle fronts.
In one of the community meetings, Otu Osor
decreed that all the Isobendeghe villages must
contribute money to be forwarded to Biafra.
There were some discordant tunes among his
chiefs as some villages, like Arangha, my village
refused to forward their contribution for the
‘common’ cause. Otu Osor brought in Biafran
soldiers and went round the villages and picked
some opinion leaders and took them away. As
much as I can remember, some of the Arangha
village leaders taken away included Mr Jerome
Obon(my father), Papa Daniel Okure, Papa
Joseph Ogar Owan and Papa George Obim, all
are now late. There were others from other
Isobendeghe villages that were arrested and
taken to Ikom prison. Some were released within
days of their arrest but my father and Pa Joseph
Owan were detained until the Arangha
community contributed 55 pounds and sent to
Ikom before they were released.
My father’s arrest could not have been possible
if it were today. He was not at home when the
Biafran troops got to the village. As a hunter and
farmer, my man was to stay a whole week in the
bush hut from where he would go for his daily
affairs. When the soldiers came and asked after
him, the community had to detail two men, like
the quality of life of their citizens, and for their
contributions to the overall prosperity of our
Nigeria.
To make Restructuring produce a full and
abiding good for our Country, we must now,
for the first time, correct a serious mistake
which we have been making from the
beginning. especially from the beginning of
Independent Nigeria. That mistake is that we
have been ignoring the fundamental fact that
underlies our Country. The fundamental fact
is that Nigeria is a Country of many different
Nations, of Nations that are in some respects
radically different in their cultures, their
Political traditions, their perceptions of
acceptable reality; their expectations, and
their desires and goals. By ignoring this
fundamental, we have almost continuously
let our Country wobble and teeter on the brink
of violent implosion. And we have continually
palace guards we watch in Nollywood movies,
to the bush to go fetch him. He was brought
home within hours and taken away. That was
the power of the gun and the timidity of the people
then. I doubt if it could have been possible if the
same scenario repeats itself today.
The situation in Isobendeghe was intriguing.
Each time someone from another community
brought news of invading soldiers, the locals
ran into the bush. In the course of one of such
escapes to the bush, we got to a small river which
had overflown its banks because of a heavy
downpour the previous night. A tree trunk that
crossed the river was the only bridge available
to the fleeing villagers. One woman who had
just put to bed a few days earlier got to the river.
While crossing the ‘bridge’, she fell inside the
water with her baby strapped to her body in a
sling. She and her baby were eventually rescued
before they could get drowned.
The war eventually took its toll on
Isobendeghe community, when the Biafran
soldiers, with the consent of the notorious Otu
Osor raided Alike and Awong Villages and took
away about 12 young men, I guess for
conscription. One of the men taken away was
from Arangha, Thomas Abang who owned a
shop at Alike. He was taken from under the bed
where he was hiding and taken away.
Incidentally, there was a Civil Defence Corps in
Isobendeghe, which belonged to the federal
government. We were told they pursued the
vehicle that conveyed the arrested youths and
the Biafran troops. The story was that the Civil
inflicted serious pains upon ourselves. We
fought and ended a Civil War but we have
never really moved measurably away from
the brinks of Civil War.
We have now seen enough to be convinced
that we must not continue to ignore the
fundamental. The fundamental will not go
away; it is we who must harmonize the
Structure and Management of our Country
with the fundamental. Refusing to recognize
and harmonize with the fundamental would
certainly continue our Country's slide towards
dissolution, and might soon complete that
process. Consciously recognizing and
harmonizing with the fundamental would
almost certainly give our Country a long and
stable lease of life. But that means that if we
do agree and choose to continue to live
together as One Country, then we all (all
sections of our Country) must together work
Defence personnel threw a hand grenade at the
moving vehicle which exploded in a big ball of
fire and the vehicle and the Biafran soldiers all
perished there. But all that was discovered to be
fake news as the Bifran troops successfully
carried out their mission and left unharmed.
Till date, the conscripted youths never returned.
It caused so much row in the community. Otu
Osor went into exile at Ntamante, another Boki
Community and lived there till long after the
civil war. He made frantic efforts to reconcile
with the Isobendeghe people. Although he
returned to his birth place, his full reintegration
was never achieved. Families of those who lost
their loved ones never forgave him. He was
isolated and stigmatised and eventually, he died
in sorrow.
On the lighter mood, the civil war brought to
our consciousness the joy of military
adventurism. Children in each of the villages
organised themselves into militia groups. We
had complete commands with leaders, some of
who eventually became soldiers. One of them is
retired and lives there in the village. He is Chief
Cletus Agbor(Old Soldier). We would dress in
leaves, using well carved calabash as helmets.
We carved guns out of wood in which we inserted
improvised iron pipes. We also used bamboo
and limestone as artillery. Innocently, we would
“wage war” against neighbouring villages. We
played war games until the elders banned the
passtime, which they claimed was not good
enough for the times. It was a comic escape
from the reality on ground. For the youth, it was
an adventure as we mimicked the real battles
where millions of lives were lost.
The civil war also saw the first batch of
Isobendeghe sons being recruited into the
Nigerian army. In my village, Arangha the first
set of youths who furthered their fancy for the
new exciting, but dangerous profession, the army
included Daniel Owan, John Ogar(now the clan
head of Isobendeghe), his younger brother
Fidelis Ogar, Demort Eban Besong, Robert Odu,
Cletus Agbor(now a chief), Ignatius Nyiam,
among others. Those were from my village,
Arangha. There were more from the other
villages also thet I did not know. Some of them
jumped ship and returned prematurely. Others
lasted till the end of the war. Today, some are
dead. Only a few of them are still alive.
While the war lasted, each time any of them
came home it was a huge party in the
community. On one of such occasions, a
holidaying soldier named Dakim Danyia, a
sergeant then was partying. He was a very good
singer but drinks had the better of him. With his
rifle in his hand, he was singing and dancing on
the street among the villagers. He attempted to
fire the rifle into the sky when suddenly, in a
flash, the hand failed him and the rifle faced
downwards. He pulled the trigger and fired into
his right leg. The crowd scattered in fear as the
soldier, who was in his full military regalia fell
flat in the pool of his own blood. Heavy
commotion ensued as many thought he had
killed himself.
DD was rushed to a hospital in Ikom.
Eventually, he was amputated and ended up in
crutches. He retired and later died with one leg.
The war created a lot of social dislocation as
some Isobendeghe men and women who were
either working or living far away from home
were trapped. Those who managed to return
were celebrated. Each returnee brought home
tales of woe. Tales of hunger, fear and long treks,
etc. The return of one raises hope that others too
would come home safely.
One Mr Oliver Obi Tangban, OOT, was a
teacher who was based in Abakalike, which was
one of the heavily affected centres of the war. He
had with him his family and dependants. On the
night they returned, the entire community stayed
awake till the next day.
It was an experience no one want to pass
through anylonger. War is an evil wind that blows
no one any good. Nigeria.
out agreement upon and thoroughly respect
the agreed conditions and demands of our
living together as One Country.
We must now, absolutely, and without further
delay address our fundamental and let our
Country, our Nations, and our People have
peace. We are already in a crisis. If we, in our
sober deference to reality, find that we can no
longer hold together as one entity, then let us
together peacefully find a rational solution
and let us Never Again plunge into any kind
of War among us. It is subhuman to continue
to suffer pain and brutalization without trying
to get rid of it. And it is insanity to keep doing
a thing the same way over and over and expect
a different outcome.
I am confident that we, Nigerians, can make
a success of doing the desperately needful now.
And I wish our many Peoples the best.

16 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
Apotheosis of
Ironsi
By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
soldiers who toppled the Ironsi regime.
According to Babangida, “He (Ironsi)
Ironsi – Nigeria, The Army, Power And was killed for advocating for a unitary
Politics by Chuks Iloegbunam; Eminent system of government in Decree No 34,
Biographies (EB), Awka, Nigeria; 2019; ‘the unification Decree’. He meant well.
298pp
In fact, the decree was promulgated for
the preservation of Nigeria as an entity.
here is an almost general Unfortunately, some Northerners
Tacknowledgment that “The Class of interpreted it to be a means for Ndigbo,
1966”, that is, the northern revenge coup after the January 15, 1966 revolution, to
plotters that killed General JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi further take over the entire affairs of the
and ousted his regime, has somewhat nation. General Aguiyi-Ironsi was a man
superintended over the affairs of the country who saw tomorrow; he wanted Nigeria
ever since. The vengeful class has its finger on united in accordance with the military
the pulse of the country and only puts its command tradition and it was probably
minions in charge of affairs at the never intended to facilitate any form of
commanding heights. It is against this domination. Interestingly, even today, we
background that the story of Ironsi is hardly are still struggling to remain united as
ever given a mention in the Nigerian scheme. one.”
Chuks Iloegbunam is one courageous Ironsi rose at a time Nigeria was embroiled
writer who has dared to right and write the in eventful contradictions. He was a
forgotten history of Ironsi, in a sense ensuring remarkable hero and leader in the Nigerian
that the first should not be put aside as the last. Army’s peace mission to the Congo. The
In 1999, Iloegbunam published Ironside – The divisions in the Nigerian military were such
Biography of General Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria’s that Northern Nigerian soldiers had planned
First Military Head of State. The irrepressible to stage a bloody coup tagged “Operation No
Iloegbunam has followed up with this new Mercy” on January 17, 1966 only to be
volume that expands the earlier version to upstaged by the January 15, 1966 revolution
include intervolving issues on Nigerian of Majors Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Chukwuma
nationhood, the army, power and politics. The Nzeogwu and others. Ironsi led the charge of
preface to the 1999 Ironside is included in the quelling the January 15 coup though some
new book before a well-annotated “Preface Northern officers assert that he was somewhat
To This Edition” that starts out with quotes part of the plot.
from President Alvaro Uribe who ruled When the rump of the civilian regime as
Colombia from 2002 to 2010, and General represented by the then President of the Senate
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida who served as and Acting President, Dr Abyssinia Akweke
the Military President of Nigeria from 1985 Nwafor-Orizu, ceded power to the soldiers led
to 1993.
by Ironsi, there were frayed nerves all over the
Babangida’s words deserve attention country. Ironsi’s response, following the advice
because he was among the Northern Nigerian of top civil servants like Chief Simeon Adebo,
was the enactment of the Unification Decree,
and the touring of the four regions of the
country to preach peace.
It was at the Western Region wing of the tour
that Ironsi was arrested in the company of his
host, Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, by a junior officer
who had accompanied Ironsi on the tour, to
wit, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma. It was akin
to a “maiguard” undercutting his master! The
horrendous torture and killing of Ironsi and
Fajuyi make for heart-rending reading, but
Danjuma claims he lost command only for
the irate soldiers to lynch Ironsi and his host
Fajuyi. Remarkably, Danjuma dismisses Ironsi
as “absolutely useless desk-clerk Head of
State.”
Against Danjuma’s dismissal of the slain
Supreme Commander, here are
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s words
on Ironsi: “In a military career studded with
firsts – first Captain, first Major, first ADC to
the Governor-General of Nigeria, first
Equerry to the Queen, first Lieutenant Colonel,
first Battalion Commander, first Brigadier,
first psc, first IDC, first Military Attache to a
Nigeria Diplomatic Mission, first Nigerian
Commander to a UN Battalion, first Major-
General – General Ironsi commanded the
United Nations Force in the Congo with such
distinction that he was awarded international
honours by countries grateful for his superb
command of their troops during the
emergency.”
Like all heroes denied honour in the
homeland, Ironsi represents the Nigerian
tragedy writ large. Iloegunam does not buy
the holier-than-thou role of General Yakubu
Gowon as per the demise of Ironsi and cites
current Nigeria reality as giving the lie to
Gowon’s triumphalism that “The rising sun
of Biafra has set forever.”
In dealing with the pogrom against the Igbo,
Iloegbunam had to include excerpts of the
279-page, 14-chapter “Report of the Justice
G.C.M Onyiuke Tribunal: Massacre of
Ndigbo in 1966.” It’s as gory as they come!
Iloegbunam fittingly depicts Ironsi as “The
Last Nigerian”. Given the nepotism and
prebendalism that is the rule rather than the
exception in the exercise of power in Nigeria
of the here and now Ironsi indeed belonged to
a different planet!
Ironsi – Nigeria, The Army, Power And Politics
by Chuks Iloegbunam is without question a
rare gem of a book. It teems with quotes from
Christopher Okigbo’s poetry, requisite
appendixes, references to cognate books, rare
pictures and apt notes. The editing errors of
mixing up the country Colombia as Columbia
and putting the Babangida years as 2003-
2011 can easily be fixed in future editions.
Iloegbunam has done great justice to Ironsi
by addressing the multiform issues attending
to the brutal mauling of an original Nigerian
hero. Iloegbunam goes further afield by
broadening the book Ironsi beyond the
protagonist to address Nigeria’s anarchic
democracy and its greedy gatekeepers and
stakeholders. Iloegbunam does not end up just
condemning but critically proffers germane
solutions on how the country can conquer her
woes through wide-ranging restructuring and
authoring a fresh autochthonous constitution.
Iloegbunam has earned lasting stripes as a
leading thinker in Nigeria, and it is hoped
that through his innovative publishing
enterprise, Eminent Biographies, he would in
due course put more distinguished lives up for
deserving attention and recognition.
Call for resignation of Omo-Agege, a rape of the
Urhobo nation — UPU
The highest sociocultural
umbrella
body of the Urhobo Nation,
the Urhobo Progress Union
(UPU), has described the
call for the Deputy
President of the Senate of
the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, Senator
OvieOmo-Agege, to
resign, both as a Senator
and Deputy President of
the Senate, as a
reprehensible grand
scheme to further rape and
deprive the country’s fifth
largest Nationality of her
rightful place in the
National Scheme.
In a statement issued by
the Office of the UPU
President-General,
OlorogunMoses
Oghenerume Taiga, the
UPU, while describing the
allegation against Senator
OvieOmo-Agege as most
obnoxious, odious,
repugnant and devilishly
wicked, said that those
calling for Senator Omo-
Agege’s resignation are
enemies of the “Live and
Let Live” basics of
democracy, which include
fair hearing, due process,
based on irrefutable facts.
The Statement declared
that, “for avoidance of
doubts, the UPU has never
supported criminality or
immorality in the polity.
Therefore, ordinarily, if
there was any iota of
substance in their call for his
resignation, the Urhobo
Nation would have been
boxed into a tight corner, but
would still have stood firmly
and stoutly for moral
rectitude. Rather, the call, by
the group, lacks the slightest
whiff of believable scent.
“The UPU is well briefed
that this odious matter has
long been disposed of in the
earliest days of Senator
Omo-Agege’s entry onto
the Political arena. Our
Senator has been going to
the United States of
America, before he became
a Senator, and even
recently, as his family partly
resides there. Even, as we
speak, Senator OvieOmo-
Agege’s Californian Law
License is very much active.
“On the issue of the
forcible seizure of the Mace
of the Senate of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria,
Senator Omo-Agege was
exonerated of any
complicity by an Abuja
High Court sitting in
Bwari.”
The Statement called on
all those who feel Omo-
Agege has a case to answer
to go to court, “instead of
this undemocratic resort to
mudslinging and nuisance
to the public peace.”
The Statement urged the
Civil Society Coalition,
threatening to mobilise a
noisome coterie of those
they would be
misinforming against our
Senator, to have a rethink.
AMOTEKUN: Ideal structure for modern policing
— Onuesoke
By Ephraim Oseji
Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) chieftain, Chief
Sunny Onuesoke has said
that the grassroots-oriented
and bottom-up structure,
which Amotekun presents, is
the ideal policing framework
to checkmate emerging
criminality in rural and
remote communities.
Onuesoke, speaking
yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo
State, during a security
workshop, described the
Federal Government position
as unfair and not in tandem
with the principle of
egalitarianism being
preached by the present All
Progressive Congress
(APC)-led administration.
According to the PDP
chieftain, the use of village
hunters and vigilante
personnel adopted by the
security outfit presents the
best form of community
policing. He argued that it is
out of place for the Attorney
General of the Federation,
Mr. Abubakar Malami to
say the machinery for setting
up Amotekun is
unconstitutional when the
civil defence, Civilian JTF
and Sharia police that are of
similar background and
outlook were already in
existence in the northern
part of the country.
Ex-militant leaders Phase-3 ask FG
to release withheld slots
F
ormer Niger Delta leaders of the Presidential
Amnesty Programme Phase 3 have called on
President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate and the
National Assembly to re-visit the Phase 3 reintegration
exercise and correct the lapses by directing the Chairman
of the Amnesty Programme, Professor Charles Dokubo,
to release the remaining slots of their members to be
captured ad benefit just as they have done to Phases1& 2
to give them sense of belonging.
They said they were deceived by Federal Government
during the disarmament and reintegration exercise under
former President Goodluck Jonathan that further window
would be opened for the ex-militants.
Oyetola seeks private sector
inputs for rapid economic growth
•Bags JABU’s honorary doctorate degree
in Public Admin
Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said
that for the economy of Nigeria to grow, experts in the
private sector must support their counterparts’ efforts in the
public sector.
He made this known during the conferment of honorary
Doctorate Degree in Public Administration on him at the 10th
Convocation Ceremony of Joseph Ayo Babalola University,
Ikeji-Arakeji, Oriade Local Government Area of the state.
Oyetola noted that the public service could only get stronger
and become more efficient when people who have made
their marks in the private sector support efforts of the
government through efficient deployment of innovation and
creativity for strategic development.
He maintained that with such support, the system will
consequently expunge bureaucracy and other excruciating
tendencies that paralyse it, saying that would help to place
the economy on the right track.
He said the Nigerian public service is populated by some
of the best brains, but it requires a push at critical levels to
deliver optimally on its mandate.
Imo: Protesters storm NASS in
black attire
By Henry Umoru
PROTESTERS numbering over one hundred under the aegis
of concerned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth group
yesterday stormed the National Assembly to protest against
Tuesday's judgment by the Supreme Court which removed Emeka
Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and declared Senator
Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the
authentic winner of Imo governorship election.
The protesters who all appeared in black attire, comprising of
young men and women in their early 20s, were seen chanting
songs like, "supreme court is fraud, we must save our democracy,
the judiciary under the APC government is a failure".
They also carried different placards with inscriptions like;
"Presidency and Judiciary murder Democracy". Leader of the
group, Hassan Garba who condemned the judgment in totality
said that it was robbery against the PDP and the people of Imo
State, said, " we don't accept that judgement by supreme court
which removed our candidate, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha. Something
must be done to save our democracy."

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020 — 17

18 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
continues from pg 17
Like his contemporaries including Majek
Fashek, Ras Kimono and The Mandators,
the reggae icon moved to the United States,
and later to Canada and Germany in search
of bigger opportunities. While he was away,
fans of the Messiah of Afro reggae music
missed him. But this time, he’s back and
ready to reclaim his place in the Nigerian
music scene.
Explaining why he disappeared into thin
air, Any Shurman, said he travelled
overseas in search of greener pastures
overseas because most of the recording
companies they were signed unto then
either closed shop due to lack of funds to
continue the business or simply left the
country.
He blamed his generation for creating a
big vacuum that launched the present day
musicians into prominence. “When we
came on board, we took over the scene after
Calypso music which was in vogue then.
We had recording companies where all of
us, including Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono,
The Mandators, Orits Wiliki were signed
unto. But these days, what we have is record
label. These young musicians are utilizing
the opportunity because most us left the
recording companies which we were signed
unto because most of these companies
closed shop due to lack of funds to continue
the business. So, everybody decided to look
for greener pastures overseas, thus creating
a big vacuum which they capitalized upon
to sing whatever they like because the
preferable is no longer available. That’s what
happened.”
However, while commending the present
day musicians for their creativity and
exploits, Andy Shurman frowned at the
lyrics of their songs.
“I love the present Nigerian musicians.
These crop of musicians took music to
another level. They replicated what
happened in Jamaica many years ago, as well
as in the United States. But you can’t
compare their lyrics with what we did during
our own time. It has no comparison. Their
rhythms are good but their songs are not
good. They sing almost the same thing even
though they copy themselves. Their music
Mabel Oboh delves into politics,
becomes ADC spokesperson
When seasoned actress and
broadcaster, Mabel Oboh launched
her NGO, Mabel Oboh Centre for Save
Our Star, MOCSO, last year, with the sole
aim of catering for the health needs of
Nigerian entertainers, little did she
realize that the effort would land her into
politics.
Sources close to Mable Oboh confirmed
that the seasoned actress is now the
spokesperson for Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos
chapter of African Democratic
Congress,ADC. She's also to head
the media and publicity
department of the party, with
Mr. Isaac James as her
assistant.
By this development,
Oboh has joined the
league of entertainers
who have delved into
politics to right the
wrong.
On her new
appointment,
Mabel said she
was humbled and
short of words.
According to
her, it took a
lot of
convincing
from one of the
p a r t y ' s
•Mabel Oboh
chieftain, Mr. Kingsley Awatt (Zonal
Chairman) for her to yield to the clarion call.
“I believe they chose me for my position
believing I can deliver. I have always been
the people's woman. I care for the poor and
the needy as they need a voice. I strongly
believe that with former President
Olusegun Obasanjo as the party chairman.
We are in safe hands. I must also commend
the great work that Hon. Ekanem idara is
doing.”
“I must confess that the strength and
passion I saw in her convinced me that
this is a party that is not money driven.
Kingsley Awatt is another man that
is full of passion. My subordinate
and I are ready to move the party
forward. The manifesto of the
party is similar to what my NGO
stands for. This is a new dawn
for me,” Oboh said.
Speaking further, the
seasoned actress said she's
pleased to identify herself
with ADC as party that
clamours for the creation
of a welfare state.
Meanwhile, it's
unclear if Oboh will
be vying for any
elective position
under
NFVCB lifts ban on ‘Sugar Rush’,
film back in cinemas
The National Film and Video Censors
Board,NFVCB, Thursday, lifted the ban
placed on Jade Osiberu’s comedy film,
‘Sugar Rush’ screening in Nigerian cinemas.
NFVCB last week, pulled the film from
cinemas despite its roaring commercial
success on the grounds that it granted Sugar
Rush temporary approval so that it could
meet its debut in time for Christmas Day and
benefit from the usual overflow of film-goers
during the yuletide.
However, the Board in a statement signed
by its Executive Director/CEO, Alhaji
Adedayo Thomas said ‘Sugar Rush’ has been
classified and granted final approval for
public screening.
The statement reads in part: “The past week
has been eventful for us as an organization
with diverse speculations in the media on the
perceived ban of Sugar Rush movie at the
cinemas while we were still doing our due
diligence on the movie for final approval
“We are pleased to inform the general public
that the movie has been classified and granted
final approval for public screening.”
Thomas also stated that the unprecedented
successes of the creative industry was
responsible for the nation’s award as the
Emerging Film Market at the Official
Convention of the National Association of
Theatre Owners (NATO), CinemaCon, Las
‘I’m back to fight against
injustice in Nigeria’
the
platform of the
party in future.
Vegas, USA. He also noted that the board
improved capacity of its staff and this led to
the confiscation and recent destruction of
over N500 million worth of bootlegged and
pirated video works.
“We urge filmmakers, music and video
producers, and other industry practitioners to
join us as we embark on this reform journey
together in order to improve the current
success benchmark of the industry.
centres mostly on love
and sex. At a time in
this country, there was
no rainfall and Majek
Fashek came out with
‘Send down the Rain’,
and the rain started
falling. Just like I
released ‘ Save the
Masses , the military
government then
came after me, and
after they saw the
truth, they released
me. I became their
friend because they
knew that music is a
universal language”,
he stated.
Shurman said his up coming album is
critical of the prevailing social disorder
in the country today. Typical of his kind
of music, the reggae star surely is
coming back to dislodge the oppressors
of the masses.
“My up coming album chronicles the
Being an entertainer was the only thing on my
mind right from birth — Gabriel Afolayan
•Afolayan
Film maker, Odera
Ozoka pays homage
to Auguleri monarch
US-based Nigerian filmmaker, Odera
Ozoka is surely working underground
to actualize his political ambition.
Recently, the award-winning film maker
was the guest of Igwe Micheal Idigo V
Ezeudo, the paramount ruler of Auguleri,
Anambra State. He was at the ancient town
to celebrate the 128th Ovala Aguleri festival
(Ovala Ovu Obi), with the people as
well as pay homage to the monarch who
was also marking his first year on the
throne.
Speaking at the event, Ozoka
commended the monarch's
desire to expand the Ovala
culture in a way to boost tourism
and generate financial
gains for his people. He urged
the Igbos to learn to preserve
their cultural heritage, just as
he hopes experience smiliar
thing in other cultures spanning
northern and southern part
of the country.
"It festival was a sight to behold.
It took me back to my
childhood days in many wonderful
ways. I could see the same
excitement in the faces of the tens
of thousands of visitors as well
as the illustrious sons and
daughters of the community as
•Andy Shurman
happening in the country. I travelled
round the country to see things for myself.
And I found out that we need a change,
we need another Messiah to lead us to the
promised land. People are living in fear
in this country and we must stop the
oppressors,” he declared.
Popular actor, Gabriel Afolayan has revealed that being an entertainer
was the only thing on his mind right from childhood.
“I have never had anything on his mind apart from being an entertainer
as an option since I was born,” he revealed.
The talented actor made this revelation while in a recent chat with
WG. He also debunked insinuations that he has not been working with
his elder brother , Kunle Afolayan who's a renowned film maker all
this while.
Gabriel is featuring in Kunle Afolayan’s forthcoming movie,
“Citation.” alongside veteran actor, Sadiq Daba, Jimmy Jean
Louis, Temi Otedola among others.
In chat with WG, Gabriel revealed that he has never had
anything on his mind apart from being an entertainer as an
option since I was born.
On his relationship with his elder brother, Gabriel said
they have always had feelings towards the same thing.
“We have always wanted to do film and it has reflected in
our epic lifestyle from a very young age. I grew up in Ibadan,
while Kunle grew up in Lagos. Anytime I came for holiday,
he would always take me to cinema houses to watch films. It
was during that period I discovered we like doing same thing,
We like to delve into what our late dad was doing when he was
alive-telling stories . It has always been an attractive zone for us.
they turned out in their numbers to be part
of history. It was one of delight, happiness
and wonder," he stated.
The event held in Amaeze square showcased
the rich cultural heritage of Aguleri
Kingdom.
Dressed in his royal regalia
accompanied by his cabinet, the monarch
was ushered into the arena as he danced
to the tune of Igba Eze and Uvie music.
Later, men and women of various ages
danced to the rhythm of the traditional
drummers as different groups and families
took turns to entertain the people and pay
homage to the traditional ruler.
•Odera and Igwe Micheal Idigo V Ezeudo

Edited By AYO ONIKOYI
08052201215
onikoyi68@gmail.com
SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—19
Why artistes fail
to show up at
award events
—Soundcity boss
Soundcity
MVP
Awards took the
spotlight of the
N i g e r i a ’ s
entertainment
landscape last
Saturday at the Eko
Convention Centre,
Victoria Island, Lagos
and it was rather
disturbing that a
number of artistes
who were
nominated and
even won awards
didn’t show up for
the event. Artistes
like Teni who won
the Best Female
MVP, Burna Boy
who scooped three
awards at the event
and Naira Marley
were all missing at
the grandest event
in
the
entertainment
scene.
It is gradually
becoming a norm
for artistes to be
missing at award
shows that celebrate
them. The convention
at such instances is
that they make a video
clip to be played at the
award events
expressing gratitude to
the fans, after all, the
fans are the reason they
are celebrated.
Quite a number of
pundits had weighed in
on the matter, describing
their actions as
disrespectful and lack of
regard not only to the
organisers of the shows but
the music industry.
Media mogul and
Soundcity boss, Tajuddeen
Adepetu, whose company
organises the annual
musical event attributes the
trend to lack of confidence
from artistes.
“I think they don’t have
the requisite confidence of a
true artiste. They are so afraid
of the competition that they
run into a hole during
awards ceremonies, they can’t
stand to be truly judged.
Perhaps, if they are told they
would win or they can rig it
to win they will be there,” he
says.
He further admits that in
a normal setting, the artiste
would never miss a platform
that celebrates and rewards
their creative talents but in a
situation where artistes lord over
managers, the reverse is the case.
“In an industry where you have
professional artistes, they will
inform the organisers on time
about their intended absence and
make a clip of an acceptance
speech but over here, you have
management that can’t even
manage their artistes. So, we
have people who a little stardom
overwhelms their reasoning and
their place in the general mix of
things. It is quite unfortunate
when an artiste can even begin to
imagine that they don’t need a
platform. But you know they
always come back to beg. After a
failed year or two, that’s when you
•Bonang at
Soundcity MVP
Swagga Don is a musician,
songwriter and producer but
with unknown identity. He’s
much like Lagbaja as he wears a
mask to hide his true identity. But
beyond that, what is more important
is the mission he has set for himself
and that is to unite all Africans in
Diaspora through music. He calls
hear ‘Baba please help your
boy’.”
He concluded by
advising the young
millennial stars to be
humble.
“Whatever stardom they
may think they have, it’s still
does not equal any of the
legends of the music industry
today and they should check
out those ones and learn from
their humility. That humility
•Adepetu,
Soundcity boss
himself the ‘Avatar’, the ‘Spirit of
Africa’, which he said he represents.
He had a brief session with select
journalists penultimate Thursday in
Lagos where he unveiled plans to
release an album titled ‘Mother
Africa’ from which a video of a track
“African Township” was launched at
the mystic time and date of
00:01:10:01:2020. The video was
shot by Benny Willis Studios,
produced by Swagga Don and
W3TV and Films while
Wallace W. Williams was the
creative director. It was shot
on locations in Trinidad,
London and Nigeria
featuring Odegz
Williams, the Blue
Avatar.
Speaking about
the album and his
mission he said his
mission is to bring
back the Avatar
(The spirit of
Africa) through
music and good
melody. Soka
Makosa.
“Avatar is
uniting the spirit
of Africa, unity of
•Swagga Don
Africa in diaspora.
With Africans
spread all over the
world we need a
unifying force to connect the Africans
in the diaspora and music and
culture is the tool. Wherever we are
we sing the same kinds of music,
culturally we are all the same.
Africans, we need to unite wherever
we are. Whether you are in the
continent, the Americas, Caribbean
or Cuba, we need to unite. Africans
come together through music to
is the reason they are still relevant
today and will continually be
relevant until they answer the call
of the Almighty.”
Winners of the Soundcity
MVP Awards which was
sponsored by Star lager beer
and Star Radler include
Nigerian Grammy nominee
Burna Boy who scooped most
awards of the night, Kenyan
Khaligraph Jones, and South
African Prince Kaybee.
Swagga Don storms Nigeria, reveals
plans to awake ‘The African Spirit’
bring about love, unity and peace
and that’s what the African spirit
is all about. The African spirit is
the African Avatar and that’s what
I represent.African Avatar is about
positive message, positive music
to address ills in the society such
as xenophobia and the rest,
because that’s not the spirit of
Africa. We are a happy people. We
are here to change the paradigm,
to bring the Avatar through
Swagga Don and the music will
speak for itself. “ he said.
Swagga Don who does Soka
Makosa says the coming album
embodies all that is African and
not limited to particular genre.
He said,”In the album coming
“Mother Africa” you have reggae,
Makosa, the first track is a mixture
of Soukous, contemporary African
music, Makossa and all that
embodies the
fusion
o f
Africans
as a
people.
H e
a l s o
explains
why he
chose not
to reveal
his true
identity,
saying when
the time is
right the
world will
really get to
know the
person behind
the mask
“ I have other professions
and those other professions do not
•Tiwa Savage at
Souncity MVP
permit me to come into the open. I’m
on a long music trajectory, who
knows, I may unveil myself before
long. But for now, I have highly placed
status that will not permit me to have
music clash with it. Besides, I’m a
body in the spirit of Africa,” he said.
Swagga Don was presented in
Nigeria by Majek Fashek’s manager,
Uzoma Day Omenka, fueling
speculations that he may have
dumped the Rainmaker, who is
currently undergoing treatment in
London for an undisclosed ailment.
But Swagga Don was quick to dispel
that and explains his connection to
Majek Fashek and his manager.
Uzoma is still with Majek Fashek
and I and Majek have a relationship
but we talk aboutthat later on.
Uzoma is 100% with
Majek Fashek
but he’s
promoting the
Avatar. He’s
loyal to
M a j e k
Fashek and
I’m also
loyal to
Majek
Fashek
because I
had the
inspiration
to help
Majek
Fashek
in his
first
coming
but that will
be revealed in due
course, the untold story of Majek
Fashek. I have always been behind
the scene, doing quite a lot behind
many artistes,” he said.
•Swagga Don and
Uzoma Omenka

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
SYLVESTER KWENTUA
07039301842
sylkieboy@gmail.com
•Omoni Oboli
Uti Nwachukwu
prays for Mercy
Eke’s family
Ex Big Brother Africa star
and popular actor and
model, Uti Nwachukwu
took to his Twitter page on
Thursday, to pray for Mercy
Eke. Uti did this after
Mercy’s sister claimed they
have been receiving death
threats from Tacha’s fans.
Uti showered prayers on
Mercy and her family,
asking God to bless and
protect them.
“Dear God in heaven, we come together to
pray and agree that your daughter
@real_mercyeke, will live long till ripe old
age and declare your good works here on
earth! She will forever have peace, joy,
wealth, health and fruitfulness, all the days
of her life, in Jesus name we pray,” he
prayed.
People who lie
against you won’t
know peace
unless...
– Mercy Aigbe
Nigerian actress/filmmaker,
Mercy Aigbe, has offered
prayers for her fans. She took
to her Instagram page to offer
the prayers.
“Until they confess all the lies
they said against you to gain
favour, they will never know
peace, amen,” she prayed.
Meanwhile, Mercy Aigbe has
asked her fans to be careful, so as not
to fall victim to scammers who open
several social media fan pages to
scam people, insisting that her
authentic Instagram handle is
@realmercyaigbe.
•Uti
•Mercy
Aigbe
I won’t apologize for being ambitious
– Omoni Oboli
It wasn’t business as usual for the haters of A-list actress, Omoni Oboli as
she fired back at them in a post on her Instagram page recently. She was
as unapologetic as she was direct in the message to the trolls who seem
to have problem with her success story.
“I’m a very ambitious person and I’ve learnt to stop apologizing for it. I
also believe very strongly that we can all win together. If you think bringing
someone else down is the only way you can climb, darling, that’s witchcraft
right there! We are all striving to be better than we were yesterday. Stop
talking about other people. Hustle on your lane. I’m not going to dump
down to make you feel better. Get up let’s go! PS: If you really can’t stand
the heat, honey, leave the kitchen! It’s 2020 #Omonifam, let’s WIN.”
She posted.
Omoni Oboli has distinguished herself as a first class actress and
top producer. She has acted in many blockbuster movies and also had
produced some great ones.
Actress, Anita Joseph
to marry heartthrob
February 14
•Adanma
Anita Joseph
This St. Valentine’s Day,
February 14, 2020 will
surely be one for
the memories for curvy and
sassy Nollywood diva, Anita
Joseph as she’s set to hit the
altar with her fiance, MC
Fish, whose real name is
Fisayo Michael. This
information was shared by
the actress on her social
media page.
MC Fish, is a fastrising
comedian and
hypeman. The wedding,
according to the actress
would be a private
Davido should pay me royalties for
discovering Peruzzi – Twitter user
ATwitter user who goes by the
username, King Patrick, has called
out DMW music stars Peruzzi Vibes
and Davido over a breached contract.
He also accused Peruzzi of setting
up a meeting to kill him.
According to the individual, the
matter is already in court and the
only reason he made it public is
because the case is being delayed,
and he wants people to see how he
is being treated for his good deeds.
Patrick made it clear that all he wants
from the DMW artistes is to get paid
royalties and also get due credit for the
services rendered.
“I met Peruzzi in 2014, then he was
out of med school because of his father’s
financial problems but I did
•Davido and Peruzzi
event.
It will be recalled the beautiful
mother of one recently described
the man as her king and the one
behind her smile.
In another news, Anita Joseph
has advised her fans to do away
with procrastination. She said
they should stop procrastinating
and act now.
“Today is that tomorrow you
talked about, stop
procrastinating and do it now “.
She posted on her Instagram
page. “A look at your yesterday
what do you still see?” she asked
rhetorically.
everything in my power to help him go
back to school. I paid for his ticket and
visa; he was like a brother to me. He was
more interested in music, so my investment
in his education was a failed project but I
still decided to support his music career. I
clothed him, fed him and gave him
allowances, I also made sure he had
comfortable accommodation,” his tweets
read.
The social media user regretted that when
Davido tried signing both of them into
DMW, Peruzzi discouraged Davido from
signing him along, claiming he was just an
ordinary guy who helped him with
producing his first musical video. He
claimed that instead of Peruzzi to fulfill his
promise of paying him compensation, the
artist set up a meeting to kill him.
Keep your boyfriend away from your
best friend – Actress, Adanma Luke
One of the sexiest actresses in Nollywood, Adanma Luke,
has issued a strong warning to her female fans, saying
they should try as much as possible to keep their boyfriends
away from their besties (best friends).
Taking to her Instagram page, the beautiful actress from Nnewi
South local government in Anambra State wrote: “If you have a guy
in your life, keep them away from your so called bestti or friends.”
Her reason for saying this is not known, as she didn’t explain why she
issued such a warning.
Adanma Luke, who studied Cooperative Economics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
University, made her debut in a movie titled ‘Open Fire’, in 2010.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—21
By BENJAMIN NJOKU
08111813022
By BENJAMIN NJOKU
It has become part of their
tradition. Perhaps, not for the
first time nor the last time. For
any reason, Nigerian music
superstars are steadily setting a bad
precedent in terms of skipping major
awards ceremonies that tend to
celebrate their creativity.
The 2020 edition of the Soundcity
MVP Awards festival was another
sad experience. The event went
down last Saturday, at the Eko
Convention Centre, Victoria Island,
Lagos, but without most of the award
winners present to receive their
awards. The story was the same last
November, when the 6th All Africa
Music Awards, AFRIMA, held at the
same venue.
For some, it’s a matter of logistics,
not being around, or total lack of
interest. But for others, it’s a
statement of disregarding the
awards.
With the exception of Tiwa Savage,
who won in the Best Music Video
category for her song ’49-99' and
entertained the audience, no other
major winners from Nigeria was
present at the awards night.
Teni, who took home the award for
Best Female was conspicuously
absent, just as controversial
musician, Naira Marley clinching
his first major award in history,
‘Viewers’ Choice’ award for his viral
song ‘Soapy’ was equally missing
in action at the event.
Afro-fusion singer, Burna Boy who
has successfully secured a spot on
the BRIT Awards nomination list in
the International male solo artist
category and the Song of the Year
category for his feature on Dave's
“Location” was the biggest winner
of the night. But unfortunately, he
was not on hand to receive his
coveted prizes.
The multiple award-winning
artiste who topped the nomination
list with seven nominations across
different categories, won three of
the most coveted awards; Best Male
MVP; Song of the Year(Killin Dem)
featuring Zlatan Ibile and the
keenly contested African Artiste of
the Year.
Burna Boy's manager, who
received the awards on his behalf
relayed the singer's message,
saying “Burna said I should tell you
guys to expect more madness from
him this year.”
Rexxy and DJ Spinall went
home with Best producer award
and DJ of the year respectively.
Kenyan singer, Khaligraph Jones
took home the award for Best Hip
Hop, while Prince Kaybee of South
Africa received the award for Best
Collaboration for his song
‘Gugulethu’. Also, DJ Cuppy was
awarded the plaque of excellence
in philanthropy for her recent fundraising
project to educate young
girls in the North-east region.
Receiving her award, Cuppy
accompanied by Kupe, one of the
beneficiaries of her largesse
expressed surprise that she would
be on stage receiving an award that
is not related to music.
Excited Cuppy described herself
as 'an embodiment of greatness.'
“I’m 27 years-old,” she echoed,
encouraging the youths to be
inspired by her Cuppy Foundation
and seek ways to make lives of the
less-privileged better. Other
recipients of the excellence awards
include the British-Nigerian
professional boxer, Anthony
Joshua for his excellence in sports;
media entrepreneurs and political
Soundcity MVP Award
2020: Big winners
missing at the
show!
activists, Adebola Williams and
Chude Jideonwo for their
excellence in community and
socio-political development; CEO
of iCreate Africa, Bright Jaja for
social entrepreneurship and digital
influence.
The awards night, which kicked
off with a red carpet staged at pool
By Chinasa Afigbo
A
new kid on the block, Ogundokun
Tunde who goes by the stage name,
‘Tiuns’ is banking on his debut single,
'Loke', to break into the mainstream
Nigerian music scene.
Tiuns, an Afro-urban artiste, said he’s
here to turn the tide of the Nigerian music
industry with his unique and versatile
sound. He describes himself as the
‘idiosyncratic artiste.’
According to Tiuns, he discovered his
talent in music way back in 2009, while
he was in secondary school.
“It was a tradition in those days, during
break time, for some of my classmates to
meet at one corner of the classroom,
making beats on wooden tables with
rough-edged rulers and broken reeds of
pencils – teenage boys cooking up lyrics
in the heat of the moment to rhyme with
their improvised beats,” he recounts.
Tiuns decided to join in that recreational
activity, and for the first time, he sang like
someone who had been singing all his
life. “The entire classroom was star-struck.
They applauded my amateur
performance. Till today I can’t explain
what moved me to join the classroom
jesters,” Tiuns says.
The rising singer was taken aback by his
impulsive demonstration which made him
side, featured performances
by Tanzanian's rapper,
Diamond Platinumz, Tekno,
Joeboy, Fireboy and Tiwa
Savage and some curtain
raisers. The show was closed by
Davido, who came on stage and
the crowd went wild with his
electrifying performance.
A new kid on the block, Tiuns
steps out with 'Loke'
Reality television in
Nigeria is set to hit a
whole new level as Ultimate
Love, the brand new reality TV
show from MultiChoice,
premieres on February 9, on
DStv and GOtv.
The reality series follows the
journey of single men and
women living in isolated
location in their quest to find
*Joeboy on stage
realize that God had given him a talent for
the world to relish. From that day, he
began to perform in school a s
well as other social events
that gave him the
opportunity to display his
talent.
Growing up in Kanji new
Bussa in Niger State greatly
influenced Tiuns taste in
music. “It was a medley of art,
culture and nature,” he says.
“Before that day in school
when he got the push to
become aware and nurture his
God-given talent, the
idiosyncratic singer has always
been a lover of good music. He
used to listen to various genres of
music; from the polar strings of
Maher Zain to the afro-beats of
D’banj to the rhythm and blues of R
kelly. “As a child, and even till now,
artistes like D’banj 2face, African
China, R Kelly, Justin Bieber, and even
some Muslim artistes, still trigger my
unapologetic drive for good music,” the
singer says.
Tiuns believes that the best of his art comes
spontaneously when the spirit is free and
soars on the aisle of strings, horns and
drums. He had a studio session to do a cover
with Kiss Daniel on Jaho cover one evening
when Dtac, an in-house producer,
began to play a couple of beats. A
particular beat came up and words
that won’t go away began to flow out
from him. Dtac saw prospects in it and
didn’t hesitate to record him. In 30
minutes, ‘Loke’ was produced.
‘Ultimate Love’ reality TV show premieres on Dstv, GOtv
life-long love and build a
relationship as a couple that
could culminate in marriage.
They will be joined by a resident
counsellor known as ‘Aunty’
who will assist them in finding
the perfect partner and provide
the necessary counselling
sessions and support needed.
The winning couple will be
rewarded with a lavish
*Diamond Platinumz
performing on stage
*Davido on
stage
*Tiuns’
traditional wedding ceremony
and a fully furnished home if they
commit to getting married.
For the maiden edition, a total
of 16 strangers, comprising eight
men and eight women will be live
on television for 24 hours
throughout the duration of the
show as they participate in a
series of locally inspired activities
to test their compatibility as
couples, with viewers voting off
their least favorite couple every
week.
The show presents a new
reality TV entertainment as
viewers follow the progress of
these individuals, who have
long searched for their love
interest, jostle to find and
potentially settle with the right
partner.

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
By AYO ONIKOYI
08052201215
onikoyi68@gmail.com
Five Bollywood
blockbusters to
light up January
The five Bollywood blockbusters to light
up January on Zee World DStv Channel
166 and GOtv Channel 25 are Deception,
Ring of Fire, Lady Luck, Gangaa and King of
Hearts.
Deception tells the story of two desperate
parents Harsish and Supriya, who in a bid to
help their son Nareen who seems to want to
abandon all earthly attachments and
indulgence seeks the help of their son’s
classmate Pooja, who has troubles of her own.
Pooja in her desire to help Nareen makes an
enemy, Nareen’s aunt who doesn’t trust her.
This is a twisted tale of a family with agendas
and secrets, too many to keep up with. Each
family member keeps getting in the other’s
way.
‘Ring of Fire’ follows the struggle between
2 women, Ragni & Shriti, from different
backgrounds who get married under
questionable circumstances.
On ‘Lady Luck’ this month, Pavitra tries to
break the trust between Ansh and Bhoomi as
she brings another person into their
relationship. Vasundhara has been made to
seem unfit and the rest of the family begin to
worry about her mental state. Bhoomi bears
witness to the person who has been
tormenting Vasundhara. Bhoomi fights
Pavitra in an attempt to make sure she begins
to value Vasundhara as her mother. As she
recovers, Vasundhara hands over household
I am dying to meet
Rihanna —Brownie
By Sylvester Kwentua
amsiyochukwu Uche, who
Cwishes to be known as Brownie,
an upcoming artist, surely dreams
of doing music that will take him to
the top! He has lofty dreams of
impacting people with his music
and in the long run, hopes to meet
American music star, Rihanna.
Brownie made his dreams known
in a chat with Showtime Bonus.
Speaking on his journey into music,
Brownie said, “When I was young,
I started knowing myself, and it all
started from the church. When I was
12 years old, I used to do special
numbers in the church and anything
music. When I reached the age of
14, I started playing keyboard, going
deep and going versatile. I started
going to live band shows and all that.
I started becoming versatile because
you need to know how to play all
types of music. But then, I have to
channel myself to where I want my
own kind of style to be. Hip-hop has
been my passion all through. I have
been playing hip-hop and I listened
to music that inspired me the more.
Although, I was into high-life and
all that, but I knew where my fruit
was and what I wanted for myself.
So, I started doing music via Hiphop.
I had my first track at the age
of 17 years only and the turn up was
not impressive but I was pushed.
That actually motivated me the more
because I was close to where I
wanted to be; so I started going to
local shows, bars and where people
are holding a party. That was like a
little beginning to me. Before you
knew it, I started doing songs; I
started producing songs; producing
for me and producing for others. I
loved what I was doing. I was doing
more songs and more songs.”
Brownie, who wishes to
encourage people to pursue their
dreams with his music, has some
projects he is working on at the
moment. Talking about what he is
up to at the moment, brownie said
“I am working on ‘Gbana’. Gbana
is a hit jam coming through and I
have tried to maintain. That is the
song we are working on; although
a n d
business
authority
over to
Bhoomi
a n d
Lata,
t h i s
leaves
Suman and
Surbhi feeling upset and
unappreciated.
This January on Gangaa 2, Madvhi gives
Niranjan medicine from the false prophet, this
lands him in the hospital. The false prophet is
at the Chaturvedi mansion and has gathered
all of them to blame Krishna for the bad things
happening at the mansion. Madvi kicks
Gangaa and Sagar out of the house because
they are the only two that don’t believe in the
false prophet. The suspense continues
This month on King of Hearts, Koyal is
furious with Mahi for trying to get in the way
of her and Satya, so she finds a way to get
Mahi out of the picture. Mahi is more
determined than ever to catch Satya out at his
own game and it seems that Satya’s enemies
are willing to help.
This January, there’s more drama than ever
on Zee World, and if viewers think that they
know what’s coming, they are in for a few
surprises.
•Brownie
we are also working on other songs.
However, Gbana is the song you
guys should be expecting sooner,
with the video also following it.”
Brownie is signed unto Ramour
Chillings record label, a relatively
new record label and dreams of
impacting the world with his type
of music. The upcoming artist who
claims to sing Afro hip-Hop,
mentioned Burna-Boy and Wizkid
as the Nigerian artists he looks up
to, while mentioning Rihanna as the
international artist he looks up to.
And for those who may want to
know if he is in a relationship or not,
Brownie has this to tell them.
“There is no girl in my life right now.
Right now, my priority is not a
relationship. I had girlfriends in the
past but right now, I want to be
focused on doing songs. I am single
and not into a relationship and
won’t want to be for now. Let me
drop my first song first and then we
can revisit the matter.”
W
•I Go Save
•Verchi and F2
D.E.M signs Verchi,
F2 under new label
ith the arrival of Dream Empire Music, a music
outfit dedicated in promoting talented artistes,
there is no doubt that the Nigeria music scene will soon
be bombarded with raw talents.
Already, the music outfit has signed two young talents,
namely, Ifeanyichukwu Chigbo Kennedy (aka Verchi),
and Franklin Ibe (aka F2) to hone their skills in the
music sector.
“I am really interested in music, but I cannot do music;
so l decided to invest in young vibrant talents, says
Comedian I Go Save
honours three
philanthropists at ‘I Go
Save Unusual’ concert
taghware Otas Onodjayeke, a.k.a I Go
OSave shook the fabric of Benin City to its
foundation with the 9 th edition of his annual ‘I
Go Save Unusual’ concert which held January
5, 2020. But the major highlight of the event
besides the musical and comedy session was
the award session where the humour
merchant decided to honour three
philanthropists who, through their
magnanimity have positively impacted on the
lives of so many other. They were Amb. Terry
Igiebor, CEO, VIP Room; Chief Lawrence
Emareyo, Founder, Lawrence Emareyo
Foundation and Chief Brown O.
Tesigimoje, Chairman, Gimbrown
Marine Security Oil and Gas
Limited.
The show was a sold out
event which had over 2,500
people in attendance
entertained with ribcracking
jokes from comedy
heavy weights like
Basketmouth, Igodye,
Buchi, Gordons, Bovi,
Senator and musical
performances from Maleke,
Orezi and Duncan Mighty.
‘I Go Save unusual’
concert is also called the
comedy champions league
because it’s one of the
comedy concerts that
parades the Nigerian
comedy heavyweights
whenever it comes up.
Over the years ‘I Go Save
Unusual’ concert had
paraded comedy titans
like Alibaba,
Basketmouth, I Go Dye,
Gordons, Klint d Drunk,
Akpororo, Princess, Buchi,
Bovi, Maleke and many
others.
Mbataku Chimaobi Clarke the
CEO of Dream Empire Music.
He said for the duo of Verchi
and F2, it was a rigorous, and
painstaking efforts and he’s
positive the new signees will rub
shoulders with the establishment
music artistes in the country.
“Everyone wants to achieve success
in whatever field; I am actually toeing
that line, and to see that my dream
come through, I want to fulfill reality,
and not just coming into reality. I want
the music label to stay longer and
stronger. The music label will spread
to the whole of Africa given the
structure on ground and I am going
to work with other music labels that
are already on ground,” Clarke
added.
Verchi whose works have earned
him a place in the music scene have
worked with some notable artistes
such as Seyi Shay, Skales, Omotola
Jakande Ekehinde, Harrysong and
among others. He is an Afrocentric
R&B singer and songwriter, born in
the early 90s in Lagos state. He hails
from Orumba South LGA in Anambra
State. In 2014, Verchi won the Golden
Breakthrough competition.
F2 on the other hand is from Ehime
Mbano, Imo state. Music started
naturally with the young talent at a
very tender age as he has always
been an ardent lover of everything
that has sound and produces
beautiful melody. He fell in love with
the guitar along the way and started
exploring through the musical
instrument as a minor. Immediately
after his primary and secondary
education, he moved to Federal
University of Technology, Owerri
where he studied Prosthesis and
Orthopedic Technology.
He released his first official song
titled ‘Gyration’. Gyration got street
acceptance and opened the way for
F2, thereafter, he birthed other songs
like, Salute, Hapuchaa’ and his 2016
national anthem ‘Shima’.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—23
Frank Aig-Imoukhuede @ 85
On January 8, 2020 the Magodo G.R.A residence of Frank Aig-Imoukhuede lit up with jubilation
and celebration as his friends, family members and well wishers came together to celebrate
his 85 th birthday. Frank Aig-Imoukhuede at various times in his life was a poet, playwright,
author and a civil servant. He was the pioneer Chief Executive of the National Council for Arts and
Culture (NCAC) and first Cultural Officer of the Federal Civil Service. He also saw to the establishment
of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), the National Art Gallery, and the Nigeria’s Copyright
Council (now a commission) amongst other great achievements. Photos by Bunmi Azeez
E.J Ikomi celebrates a
milestone
EVERY milestone in one’s life is an occasion to
celebrate. For E.J. Ikomi, a new milestone in his
life came when he was promoted to the rank of
Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army. He was not
only joined in celebration by his family, his kinsmen
were part of the celebration too as he paid a
courtesy visit to the Olu of Warri and the king’s
palace chiefs.
L-R: Pastor (Mrs) Rose Oshiabugie, Mrs. Sessi Aig-
Imoukhuede, the celebrant's sister-in-law, Mrs.
Emily celebrant's wife, and Frank Aig-
Imoukhuede, celebrant.
L-R: Chief Eugene Ikomi, Brigadier-General E.J.
Ikomi HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri
Mrs. Ikomi and children with other palace chiefs.
The celebrant, Frank Aig-Imoukhuede flanked by
wife Emily (L) and daughter-in-law, Funke Aig-
Imoukhuede (R).
L-R: Engr. Akin Erinoluwa, his wife, Ambassador
Moses Ihonde, the celebrant's brother in-law and
his wife, Vic.
Brigadier General EJ. Ikomi and his Family
L-R: Nesh Majoroh, Chudi Ikenze and Segun
Sidahome.
L-R: Obaseki Aig-Imoukhuede, Mrs. Virna Aig-
Imoukhuede and her husband, Ayo.
The celebrant, Mr. Frank Aig-Imoukhued flanked
by Dr. Dayo Alugbin (R) and Mrs. Funke Alugbin
(L).
Brigadier General EJ. Ikomi and his familywith
Warri traditional chiefs.
Rotar
tary Club of Ogudu G.R.A marks vocational service month
Rotary marks vocational service month every January worldwide. The Rotary Club of Ogudu GRA
Lagos executed this as a project by celebrating and honouring deserving members of the
community from different vocations, who have excelled with plaques and cash reward:
L-R: DCP Dantwaye Miller; Award recipient, Mr
Udo Sunday, a security man at Ogudu G.R.A
Estate and Rotn. President Vivian Ohiaeri
L-R: Dr. Jide Akeredolu, District Gov, Award
recipient, Mrs Uduak Oladeyo, Rotn. President
Vivian Ohiaeri and Rotn. Kunle Adeniran.
L-R: Rotn. Bala Yesufu, Award recipient, Mr Aremu
Adeyemi of Le’Ola Hotel, Maryland, Ikeja and
Rotn. President Vivian Ohiaeri

24—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
Man escapes with
lover’s car during
cross over service
•I intended to sell the car, travel out —suspect
By Evelyn Usman
C
ross over service, held on the
last day of the year in virtually all
churches in Nigeria and across the
globe is usually characterized with
a huge turn out , as most attendees, use the
opportunity to appreciate God for seeing
them through the challenges of the outgoing
year. To some worshipers, it is the only day
they set their feet in church.
The atmosphere at Our lady of the Apostle
church in Lakwe, Ajah area of Lagos, was
not different on December 31, 2019. Among
the worshipers were an intending couple
who drove to the church in their Toyota
Corolla car , valued at N3.2 million.
While service was ongoing, the man,
Uche Ayahbalu , 41, walked out, informing
his lover that he was going to listen to a
radio programme inside the car . Having
waited without seeing him , she went
outside on what could have warranted the
delay, only to discover that he had driven
away in her car!
Brags
Effort to reach him on the phone failed as it
was discovered to have been switched off.
It was gathered that when she eventually
got him on the fifth day via his mobile phone
, he bragged that she should not bother to
look for him or invite the Police, that nobody
would be able to get him where he was. But on
the directive of the Commissioner of Police,
Lagos State Police Command, CP Hakeem
Odumosu, operatives of the Special Anti-
Robbery Squad, SARS led by the Officer-in-
Charge, CSP Peter Gana, tracked the suspect
to his hideout in a hotel near Ikorodu,
where he was found sleeping, awaiting the
return of the receiver of the car with some
cash.
Complaint
Crime Guard gathered that one Kamoru
Abolarin, whom the fleeing lover allegedly
connived with to abscond with the Toyota
Corolla, was first arrested before the
Anambra-state born main suspect. At the time
of the arrest, the stolen vehicle was discovered
to have been used as a collateral for N1 million
loan.
Confession
However, during interrogation, Ayahbulu,
disclosed that the car was driven to Ibadan,
Oyo state capital with the intention to sell but
that buyers approached were skeptical .
He said, ”The lady in question is my wife”.
But his claim was described as untrue by the
lady who claimed they were not married
yet. When asked if he had done the necessary
rites, he said, “ I have only done the
introduction”.
Explaining how he moved the car, he said, “
We both went to church for cross over service,
on December 31, 2019, from there I called
Kamoru Abolarin (pointing to his partner in
crime ). I took the car and drove off to Ibadan
but couldn’t sell it after four days because
buyers approached said the names on the
particulars were not same as mine, even when
I tried to convince them that it belonged to
my wife.
At a point, I told Abolarin that if we didn’t
get any buyer ,I would return the car. We later
got the contact of one Jaji, in Ikorodu . We
drove back to Lagos but when we got there,
he (jaji) said he would pay N1.5 Million but I
insisted it was N1.7 million”.
Double standard
He stated that when the buyer could not pay
the amount, he begged him to give him a
loan of N1.1 million , with an agreement to
leave the car with him as collateral, pending
when he would pay back.
But the supposed buyer, Jaji, lodged
Anyahbalu in a hotel in Ikorodu, with a
promise to get the requested loan. He (Jaji)
reportedly took the Toyota Corolla car to a
money lender , where he collected a loan of
N1 million but collected N500,000 out of it.
Unfortunately for Anyahbalu , he was yet to
receive the money , before he was arrested.
Why I did it
Asked why he chose to steal the car, he
replied, “ I took the car because I didn’t like
the way my wife used to act. For instance, if I
called her while she was at work, she would
not call me with endearment words like
honey or darling because she is with a man.
I have even caught her with men at different
occasions and this has been on for over one
year.
“ Again, I did it out of frustration and
anger, as I had made up my mind never to go
ahead with the marriage. My intention was
to sell the car and travel out of the
country. I intended to travel to Dubai
and from there, cross over to
Canada. I also had the intention of
buying her another one, had the plan
succeeded “.
Partner in crime
On his part, his partner in crime, 25-
year-old Kamoru Abolarin, admitted
to have been invited by the main
suspect .
Abolarin who hails from Osun state,
said, ” He invited me to come and
drive the car for him , from the church
. I am an electrician and also a driver.
When I got there I knew he wanted to
steal the car and I told him it was
wrong. But he told me he would replace
it with a better one when he got abroad.
I regret my involvement”.
The suspects according to the
By Evelyn Usman
Twenty-nine-year-old Ayodeji
Bakare, an indigene of Osun state
, was arrested on January 4, 2020
by the Police in Lagos, following a foiled
attempt by members of his gang to
escape in a vehicle snatched from its
unsuspecting owner in Aguda, Surulere
area of the state .
The gang which operated on a
motorbike had intercepted the
undisclosed motorist at about 1.30am
and fired some warning shots which
compelled him to surrender his car keys
. However, while the four-man gang was
escaping in the stolen Toyota Corolla
car, they stopped to search it for any
valuables, only for a team of patrol
policemen to accost them.
Crime Guard gathered that the Police
team first asked the hoodlums the
name of owner of the vehicle, only to
discover that the name they mentioned
did not tally with that on the vehicle’s
particulars. When it became glaring
that their game was up, others ,
managed to escape , leaving Bakare at
the mercy of the policemen. A locally
made gun, an expended cartridge and
six unexpended ones were recovered
from him according to the Police.
Preliminary investigation revealed
that Bakare , had just returned from
prison , over a similar incident.
In this interview with him, he opened
up on his gang’s modus oprandi, its
choice cars, areas of operation and his
role during operation.
He said : “ I got this gun, ( pointing to
the recovered gun) from one of the
receivers of the stolen vehicles. He gave
me on December 13, 2019 to get him
cars for him. We are a gang of four . We
snatch vehicles , especially Totoya and
Honda products. We also collect
•Uche Ayahbalu (l) and Kamoru Abolarin
Confession of a car snatcher:
I’m a philanthropist, We go
for Toyota and Honda vehicles
•Our targets are clubbers around Surulere, Ajah
•Vehicles with tracking devices are difficult to sell
•Ayodeji Bakare
Command boss, CP Odumosu , while parading
them at the command’s headquarters during his
maiden press briefing, warned robbers to leave
the state for good or have same fate befall them.
victims phone, jewelries and cash.
We operate on okada, around
Surulere , Aguda and Ajah, as from 12
midnight till day break. We attack people who
park to ease themselves and those returning
from clubs. We do not have any particular
person in mind but as long as the vehicle is
what we want, we go for it.
” Two members of the gang are usually
armed during operation: myself and another
. Immediately we sight anyone easing
himself, I would release some shots to scare
him while others would ask him for the car
keys. Immediately, the car would be driven to
a designated place from where the receiver
would come for it. I was doing it before but
stopped when I was arrested. I spent three
months in prison before I was released. I
came back in March. Since I came back, I
have stolen seven cars . This would have been
the eight car, had we succeeded
“ The receiver gave us between N50,000
and N100,000 , at the end of each operation.
At times he would not give us anything,
especially if the vehicle has a tracking
device . this is because the police could track
it to where it is parked. For such cars, we
would abandon them on the road and collect
only the valuables in them”.
Mother’s position
Asked what he spent his share of the loot
on, he replied, “ I am a philanthropist in my
own little way. I give money to housewives
whose husbands are jobless in my area at
Oyingbo. I also share it among children
whose parents are too poor to buy them books
to school or feed them when going to school.
They do not know what I am into.
But my mother would never collect a dime
from me, even when I offered her. She would
always ask where I got the money from
because she knew what I was doing. She
has never asked me to leave her house because
I live with her but she would always beg me
to leave crime . I wish I listened to her. If given
a second chance, I will turn a new leaf”, he
said.
M
Wi
by
•How I fo
When 3
mum
13, 2
little did she
carrying out
This is bec
of her blood
street, Ijan
surroundin
unraveled by
Crime Gu
popular cha
Amosu Igbo
her children
the worst wh

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—25
•The building ( scene of the incident )
urder at dawn!
ow hacked to death
unknown assailants
und my mother in the pool of her blood dead- bereaved teenager
By Esther Onyegbula
•Ifedayo
Same evil spirit that confused
my father has destroyed me
•Domestic worker who stole in Lagos, arrested in Benue
Operatives f the Special Anti Robbery
Squad, SARS of the Lagos State
Police Command have arrested a
fleeing domestic worker who stole the
boss’s vehicle and other valuables, in Lekki
area of Lagos.
During preliminary investigation, the
suspect, Nicolas Ifedayo , a Ghanian , who
was arrested in his hideout in Benue State,
was discovered to have also stolen his
Nigerian girlfriend’s Subscriber Identity
Module SIM card , from
8-year-old Tolami, popularly known as
my Onyinda woke up on Monday, January
020, to get her children ready for school ,
envisage that would be her last time of
such responsibility on them.
use hours later, she was found in the pool
, right inside her apartment at Sanni Alaso
ikin, Ojo, dead. The circumstances
g the gruesome attack are yet to be
the Police.
ard gathered that the mother of three and
rcoal dealer, usually left for her shop at
ro, Alasia area of Ijanikin, after preparing
from school. However , no one suspected
en she was not seen on Monday as some
which he withdrew all the cash , via mobile
transfer.
Vanguard gathered that his boss, a female
lawyer (names withheld) told all her staff to
go on vacation, on December 24, 2019 and
resume in January 2020 but that Ifedayo,
the private guard, insisted he would stay back.
Unknown to his boss, he had duplicated keys
to some of the offices. Next day, (November
25,2020) he zoomed off in his boss’s Honda
jeep with plate number AKD 787 BB , loaded
with some power generating sets, refrigerator
, laptops and other valuables.
He was however tracked to
Ipelo village in
customers who came to patronize her assumed she
could have gone to purchase more charcoal.
Her eldest child, Oyinda, who is preparing to write
the West Africa Examination Council, WAEC , was
usually the first to join her mother in the shop
whenever she returned from school. She would be
joined with her siblings, who would leave for home
with their mother at the close of the day.
Discovery
However, when she came to the shop that fateful
day and did not see her mother, she put a call through
to her on her mobile phone but there was no
response.
Narrating how she discovered the unexpected to
residents, she said, “ When I could not reach my
mother on her phone, I called her friend who also
sells charcoal, at Adams street to know if she was
Ogbadigbo Local Government Area
of Benue State, on January 8, 2018.
The suspect who was paraded by
the Commissioner of Police, Lagos
State Police Command, CP Hakeem
Odumosu, at the command
headquarters, Ikeja, alongside other
robbery suspects arrested by the
Lagos State Police Command,
stated during interrogation that an
evil spirit was responsible for his
action.
He said , “ I was employed in
August, 2019 and was paid N30,000
monthly. I don’t know what came
over me. I have been working for four
months . It is not my fault. An evil
spirit is tormenting me. It was after
I did it that I realized I had made a
mistake. That same evil spirit
prevented my father from training
me in secondary school, as I was
forced to drop out of school in Junior
Secondary School 3. I went into
wielding but could not raise money
to buy the tools needed for the job.
“I drove straight to Benue state,
my mother’s village , where I sold
some of the things. My father is a
Ghanaian but I was born and raised
here . I stayed back in my mother’s
village with the intention of starting
a new life, only to be arrested by the
Police”.
Asked how he withdrew money
from his girlfriend’s account , he
replied, “ Her SIM card has been
with me because she did not have a
phone , she was using mine. On the
day I was leaving, I told her to wait
for me in my apartment at my work
place on the day I left with the vehicle.
I gave her N4,000 but did not tell her
I won’t be coming back. I bought
recharge card worth N28,000 from
her account. I am sorry for
everything, it is not my fault” , he said
remorsefully.
CP Hakeem Odumosu, therefore,
advised Lagosians in particular
and Nigerians in general to always
ensure they check the profile of their
domestic staff with the Police before
engaging them. He informed that the
suspect would be charged to court.
with her but she said no.
At that point, I became worried
because her phone rang severally
without response. I reached a couple
of other persons on phone to ask if they
had seen my mother but they all said
no. I decided to go and check her at
home. When I opened the door, I saw
her lying on the bed . I raised the
curtains up so as to allow fresh breeze
in. As I I tried to wake her up, I
discovered she was motionless”. She
stopped at this point, wailing louder.
Residents mourn
Residents who were alerted by the
alarm raised by Oyinda rushed to their
room and parlour self contained
apartment to behold the gory sight.
One of them who gave his name as
Baba Pat, said, “ nobody heard the
victim screaming or shouting for help.
It is still confusing but I believe that
whoever killed her should be familiar
to the family”.
He therefore, called on
government and other relevant
agencies to investigate the
circumstances surrounding the
murder of the mother of three.
Another resident, Kayode Bode
explained that “ I came back from
work and heard the disturbing shout
from the building. Immediately, I left
my apartment to know what the matter
was. I also saw other residents rushing
there. We found Oyinda weeping and
screaming at the same time. . We were
still there in shock when she turned
her mother’s corpse and discovered
that the bed sheets were soaked with
blood. On closer observation, she was
discovered to have been stabbed to
death with a sharp object.”
Another neighbor identified simply
as Mummy TJ, explained that the
building occupied by the deceased and
her children was her late mother’s.
She said, “ when her mother was alive,
she came to visit her frequently. But
five years ago, she lost her husband.
That was when she moved in here with
her children, until her mother passed
on”.
Crime Guard gathered that her
corpse had been taken to Abeokuta,
Ogun state for burial.
As at time of writing this piece , no
arrest had been made. But residents
are full of expectation on the Police to
bring perpetrators of the dastardly act
to book, or else, the incident may end
up among the list of unresolved
murders in Nigeria.
•The suspects
I joined robbers to
raise money to buy
JAMB form —Suspect
Evelyn Usman
“This is the least of my expectations for 2020. My
crave for education has made me a guest at the
Police station. Only God knows where this will lead
me to “. These were the words of 22-year-old Afeez
Mohammed, a suspected member of a robbery gang
that specialized in attacking travelers coming late
into Lagos state.
He was arrested on January 7, 2020, by a Metro
Police team at Abule-Egba area of Lagos. A bag
containing a revolver pistol was recovered from him
, while two members of his gang managed to escape.
One of the fleeing members , Mohammed Kadiri
, was arrested next day. He was discovered during
interrogation to be a commercial motorcyclist of
one of the Bike hailing service operators . Rather
than engage in the services of picking passengers who
booked online , to their destinations, Kadiri, was
discovered to have been working for the gang.
In this interview with Crime Guard, he disclosed
that he volunteered to work for the gang in order to
make up for the amount he owed his company.
According to the 30-year-old man, “ I have known
Friday ( fleeing gang leader) since last year. He told
me to bring his friend, Afeez Mohammed ( pointing
to the second suspect) from Ikeja under bridge to
Ashade, Guinness road, Agege. When we got there, we
met him drinking. When I told him I wanted to
leave and pick another passenger, he said I
shouldn’t bother, that he would give me money for
that day’s job. He told me to take them out on patrol,
at Toll gate.
“ We left at about 11 pm. They said they were
going to wait for travelers returning to the state late.
Unfortunately, they did not see any victim that night.
On our way back, we were intercepted at Abule-Egba
under bridge. When they were beating Mohammed,
I ran away . But the police contacted me and asked
me to come. I went and handed myself over to them
at Oko-Oba Police station.
“ I know I have violated my company’s rules. The
stipulated time for operation is 10 pm. But I was
tempted to stay back because Friday said he would
give me N15,000. I just collected the motorbike in
November 2019 and I deposited N3000 daily. But I
am owing N15,000 and he promised he would clear
it for me. I have a pregnant lady at home”, he stated.
JAMB form
On his part, Afeez Mohammed , said that was the
first time he would accompany the gang for an
operation.
He said, “I knew Friday at Kangagua market.
During one of our discussions, I told him to assist me
with some money to register for the Joint Admission
and Matriculation Board, JAMB examination and
he promised to .
On January 4, 2020, he called me on the phone to
accompany him somewhere. He said a motorbike
rider would come and pick me. But I was hesitant and
gave him an excuse . He called again the next day
, to inform that the motorcyclist would be coming to
pick me. I couldn’t resist the invitation because JAMB
registration was to begin in two days .
“Unfortunately, I did not get the needed N5000
for the JAMB form as there was no catch. As if that
was not enough, I could not escape when the Police
accosted us because I did not know the terrain. Friday
only gave me a bag to hold but when it was reached
by the Police, its content turned out to be a revolver
pistol.
“ I have never committed such crime in my life.
My search for N5,000 to register for JAMB pushed
me into this”, he said in an emotionally laden tone.

26—Vanguard, SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020
Why women
are marrying
later- by
choice
By Florence Amagiya
It was the talk of the town
when Aisha celebrated her
30th birthday. As far as she
was concerned, every one of
the goals she had set for
herself had been achieved: A
degree, a high flying job, a
professional certification and
her own house. There was
absolutely no talk of Mr. Right.
Asked if this did not cast a
shadow on her big day, she
enthusiastically responded in
the negative, saying she had
vowed not to settle down until
she is financially independent.
Chatting with a variety of
young women, WW found
Aisha’s position to be hugely
popular. Further research
revealed a generational trend
which has millennials placing
a lower value on early
marriage than their mothers
and grandmothers.
While such data is not
readily available in Nigeria,
data for the United States
reveals the average age of
marriage for women in 2018 to
be 27.8. Ten years ago in 2008,
it was 25.9, just marginally
higher than the figure in 1998
(25.0); and much higher than
the figure for 1988. The
bottomline is that the trend
shows a continual rise in the
age of marriage as well as for
starting families.
Another respondent, Isioma
Joan Benson who runs an
NGO told WW that her own
mum married so young; at the
age of 14- 15.
“l don’t think she was very
happy because l noticed with
the drive she had; she would
have done better if she had
married later than that age.
Meanwhile, personally, l
would not allow my own
daughter to marry at a very
•Sandra
•Blessing
tender age. I would prefer that
she is old enough, find herself
and if possible a career before
thinking of marriage. As we
all know that in today’s
marriage; you have to bring
something to the table. No
man wants a liability; if
anything they want a woman
who can carry the home
without them. Marriage
relationships these days are
like flat mates kind of
relationships; bills are shared
between couples and there is
nothing you can do about it;
it is a trend that has come to
stay and it was also written in
the Bible about the last days
•Joan
•Lady Chichi
syndrome. Hence men no
longer go for women who do
not have anything they are
doing; if anything they want a
woman who would do more for
them”.
A Radio Personality who
simply wants to be known as
Lady Chichi is of bthe opinion
that marriage is a partnership
that one should go into when
one feels ready. She says it has
very little to do with age, and
has more to do with
preparedness in terms of
emotional maturity, financial
ability with other factors.
“I do not believe anyone
should be pressured into
getting married. ‘You are
getting old oh, you will not
find a husband oh’ are just
illusions and are all our
society’s way of keeping
people ‘in the box’ operating
under its rules. True, a large
percentage of women no
longer get married on time and
this is a global phenomenon”.
Lady Chichi puts this state
of affairs down to more women
craving freedom and self
expression. “They want to
define and live life on their
own terms. They want to finish
their education and embark on
fulfilling careers before getting
hitched. This has its own
downside of course because
after doing all this, getting the
ideal partner to fit perfectly
becomes difficult, leading to
some ‘waiting’ period. But
everything in life has a
disadvantage too but you
don’t look at that only.
“And then biology comes into
play because of the woman’s
fertility. There are ways to
handle this if a woman is
confident of the path she has
chosen. For me, there’s no big
deal about marrying late. We
should come to terms with the
modern world. Things have
changed. Besides, with the
issue of lack of job security,
high unemployment, low
income, high financial
pressures, I believe more and
more people are being held
back from getting married and
starting families. This is a
position where they are unable
to settle until late. It is
expensive to pay bride price,
it is expensive to look after a
family”, she added.
Conversely, Blessing
Okoekhian, a Corp Member is
of the opinion that the reason
why women of this generation
tend to get married late is
because of education in this
era. According to her, some
are trying to build themselves
to be self independent; not to
allow any man to treat them
as if they were meant to be in
the kitchen and also be well
prepared and understand
what marriage entails before
going into it.
“Well, for me, l would advise
my unborn children to get
married early so as to avoid
some complication in child
bearing due to age factors.
And so that they are not forced
to marry men they wouldn’t
have because the biological
clock is against them
eventually.
For Businesswoman Sandra
Obeten, marriage is a good
thing which every young
woman dreams to enter in
spite of all the negative news
surrounding it. “Our mothers
married on time and we are
the consequences because
they are still alive and strong
enough to still enjoy us as
adults, but not marrying on
time may be a disadvantage in
that area. But that is not
enough reason not to add
value to one’s life before
marrying. I think that while
waiting to be married; one
should just endeavour to
continue to add more value to
their lives. It saves the day at
last. Again, marrying your
friend is the best thing that can
happen to anybody. In our
mothers` era, their experience
with their husbands was
compared to been married to
their boss at work because
there was no cordial
relationship between the
couples. And who wants to
live with an enemy?”

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—27
bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk
Abandoned children never get
over the mother who walks away
STEPHANIE was just six
years old, and her brother
19 months when their mother
walked out on them—and her
marriage. “She left us with our
next door neighbour as she
often did when she had to go
out after work, but this time, she
never returned,” she recalled,
“To this day, I’m not really sure
what precipitated her decision,
though the marriage had clearly
been in trouble. Her leaving
was a very humiliating
experience—I was too young to
cope with the pitying looks of
the neighbours. Some were
outright nasty in their
comments.
“My dad went to pieces. He
obviously couldn’t cope with two
kids and a full-time job, so he
packed us off to his parents who
were everything good parents
should be. I know my dad will
always be there for us, but
because of Mum leaving, we
didn’t spend so much time
together. I have some e-mail
contact with my mother’s half
sister here in Nigeria, so I do
hear a little of what she’s up to.
I know she’s in Ghana, her
native country, and I apparently
have a half-sister whom she’d
dumped at her mother’s.
Though I’m curious about my
half-sister, I have no desire to
meet her.
I have very faint memory of
my mum and when I see
photographs of us together
when I was a baby, it is very odd
because I don’t feel any
emotional connection to her.
While it is easy to assume that I
must be desperate to learn why
mum walked out on two small
children, nothing could be
further from the truth. I have
not desire for any contact with
her or any interest in finding
out why she left us like she did.
She means nothing to me.”
According to clinical
I have very faint
memory of my mum
and when I see
photographs of us
together when I was
a baby, it is very
odd because I don’t
feel any emotional
connection to her
psychologist Linda Blair, there are
particular implications if the motherdaughter
bond is broken too early. “The
mother-daughter relationship is the
hardest and most complicated relationship
there is because your mother is your role
model and care-giver,” she said. “Most
importantly, she is the person a woman has
to break away
from to
become an
adult herself.
Men may go
on to be
mothered by
wives and
girlfriends,
but women
have to learn
to mother
themselves.
When a girl
loses her
mother too
young, she
often has to
grow up too
fast and take
u
p
responsibility
for herself too
soon. The result is while she may be very
capable and fiercely independent, she can
also be full of anxieties and find it difficult
to adapt to new situations.”
Aminat had just entered secondary school
when her mother walked out on the family
to live with her lover. Almost 30 years later,
she still bears the scars of her mother’s
decision to leave her family for another
man. “An abandonment that shaped my
life,” she said. “I grew up with no
confidence. If you think your own mother
doesn’t love you, why should anyone else
like you? And even at the age of 11,I knew
this wasn’t something most mothers did.
Mums are
supposed to
put their
children first,
but with me
and my two
brothers, there
was no mother
fighting to
have access.
She was more
than happy to
leave us with
our father.
There were
other children
at school who
had divorced
parents, but
they all lived
with their
mums, so I
always felt the
“While many fathers walk odd out one on out. their
families, it is still unusual for a mother to
leave a marriage without wanting custody
of her children, let alone to have little or
no contact with them. Even in this age of
high divorce rates, it’s seen by many as
going against nature. After mum left, even
Fight age-related illness with a 30-minute walk!
IF you want to stay young, don’t wait for a
wonder drug—ust go for a walk instead. A halfhour
walk every day is as good as a ‘super-pill’
capable of combating age-related illness from
diabetes to dementia, Britain’s biggest science
conference heard. It also fights obesity, arthritis
and cancer and helps lift depression. Dr. James
Brown, an expert in ageing, said that while 30
minutes’ brisk walking a day may not seem like
much, studies from around the world show it
benefits all-round health.
Dr. Brown, a lecturer in health sciences at
Birmingham’s Aston University, said: ‘All of
these changes are not seen in people that run
marathons, they are not seen in people who lift
weights in the gym or spend four hours running
on the treadmill, these are seen in people who
walk, and who walk for half an hour a day. You
can get all these health benefits, you can get a
reduction in all of these diseases that are
associated with ageing, by just keeping active.’
Dr. Brown told the British Science Festival that
maintaining muscle as we age is key to staying
mobile and living an independent life. Not only
is exercise the best way of keeping muscles from
withering, it has many other benefits.
Delivering a round-up of existing research,
he said: ‘Maintaining your muscle mass,
maintaining your activity level, is really
important. But there is no need to worry because
it has all been sorted. There is a magic new
super-pill. This super-pill will prevent obesity.
It will also reduce deposits of bad fat. It prevents
diabetes—heart attacks, strokes. This pill
reduces the risk of, or delays, Alzheimer’s
disease.
‘So if you give this pill to people with early
stage Alzheimer’s disease, 50 per cent of the
people who take this pill will have a reduce
progression of the disease. It reduces the risk of
some cancers, particularly cancer of the gut. It
can increase mobility’. He went on to say that
regular walks can even treat depression. Dr.
Brown said that 30 per cent of people with
depression who take up walking for half an hour
a day find their symptoms are improved. If the
amount of time that patients spend walking is
increased, the number who notice improvement
reaches nearly 50 per cent.
He added:’It reduces anxiety in about 50 per
cent of people and can improve levels of cognition.
It can improve your ability to think and reason. It
reduces arthritic pain in about 50 per cent of
sufferers and can reduce hospital admissions in
older women for hip fractures by 40 per cent. It
gives you more energy and reduces fatigue levels
and if you tie all these things up together into
one real subject area, it’s quality of life. If you
give somebody a quality of life questionnaire three
or six months later, their quality of life will have
improved. We also see a 23-per cent lower risk of
death. This isn’t a pill, it’s exercise.’
Dr. Brown, who is the clinical and community
engagement head at the Aston Research Centre
for Healthy Ageing, said muscle tissue releases a
hormone that regulates the ageing process. The
more active you stay as you get older, the more
likely it is that your body will age well. He added:
‘Avoid the man boobs and spare tyre as much as
you can and you’ll age better.’ It is never too early
to start, he said, adding: ‘We’re all very different.
The key thing is to do as much as you can. The
message I’m trying to get across is it’s as simple
as movement. It’s all about getting your heart
beating slightly faster, burning up glucose.’
though her own mother, our
grandmother, was wonderful and
Dad did his best, he was having
to work hard to provide for us. I
had to look after myself. I was the
one who made sure my uniform
was ironed and my books ready
for the next day—all the things a
mum would normally do. Nobody
ever sat us down to explain what
was going on. As a result, I thought
that my parents had split up
because we were too much to
handle.
“My mother was never maternal,
but there had been good times
before she left. She always made
a fuss on our birthdays and
Christmases were wonderful. She
would make a special effort to find
exactly the toys we asked for. In
spite of maintaining some contact
with her, there was still a huge
sense of rejection. We were
supposed to spend the last
weekend of the month with her,
but she always made it clear we
got in the way of her new life. She
even made dad give her money to
buy us food when we were with
her. I remember the day I had my
first period and rang her. Her
reaction was that it was no big
deal. I had hoped that she would
make a fuss of me as my friends’
mothers did of their daughters,
but she didn’t.
“To this day, I haven’t got to the
bottom of why our mum
didn’t want much to do
with us. I don’t see that
much of her now. I feel
it’s too late for her to be
my mother and there’s
no point in delving into
it further. She seems to
have blocked out what
she did. She’ll talk about
events in my life as if she
had been there when she
couldn’t have been.
Having children of my
own, I just can’t
understand how any
mum could leave,
especially when her kids
are so young and need
her so much. It’s
incomprehensible to me.
“Some have suggested
she might have
depression or couldn’t
cope because she was
young when she
married, but every
question brings up more
questions. There were
close relatives around if
she needed emotional
support, and she could
have fought for access to
her children, but she
didn’t.
“What happened to me
made me determined to
be the best mother I can,
and though I’m a bit
over-protective of my
children, I’m proud of
the way I turned out.

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
08116759759
HE WORLD’S hottest gran is
Toffering free subscriptions to
her Only Fans account to raise
money to battle the Australian
wildfires.
The country has been devastated
by raging bush fires which have
killed at least 26 people and
destroyed 2,000 homes.
Gina Stewart, 49, was so upset by
the images of the destruction she’s
offering free subscriptions to her
saucy snaps account in exchange for
donations.
The Gold Coast Instagram star,
who has been dubbed ‘the world’s
hottest grandma’, said: “It’s the least
I can do.
“My brother is an actor down in
Sydney, he’s been working every day
as a volunteer firefighter.
“His house has been really close
to the firefront – so he’s literally
fighting for his community.”
In an Instagram post shared this
morning, Gina announced her
plans to pitch in with the relief effort.
The model said those who donate
at least $10 to fundraisers would be
given a free link to receive her
“premium content”.
She added: “Thank you for your
support in advance, much love
Gina”.
Experts fear a billion animals
including mammals, birds, reptiles,
frogs and insects have perished in
the bushfires.
Heartbreaking footage was
shared of charred animals corpses
including koalas and kangaroos
which were killed in fires in Batlow,
New South Wales.
It is feared the huge death doll and
destruction of habitat may have left
several species on the brink of
extinction.
Gina has been left heartbroken by
Boy, 10, dubbed 'human snake' because he sheds
his skin every six weeks
ten-year-old boy in
A India has been
dubbed a ‘human snake’ -
because a rare condition
causes him to shed his skin
every month.
The youngster, known
only as Jagannath, suffers
from rare genetic skin
condition called lamellar
ichthyosis.
The condition causes
the skin to grow too fast,
dry out, and shed, much
like a reptile’s.
Jagannath’s case is so
severe that his skin sheds
every four to six weeks.
He is forced to bathe
hourly and smear himself with
moisturiser every three hours to try
to relieve the symptoms.
Shocking photos of the young boy,
from the Ganjam district of eastern
India, show his skin completely
dried out and flaky, stretched over
his body like scales.
His skin has become so tight that
he is often left unable to walk
properly, and needs a stick to help
him stretch out his limbs.
Sadly, there is no cure for
Jagannath’s condition - and his
father, Prabhakar Pradhan, who
works as a labourer in a paddy field,
can not afford the cost of his son’s
treatment.
He said: “My son has suffered
this disease since childhood, and
there is no cure for it.
“I do not have enough money
to take him for a treatment and
my heart breaks seeing him suffer
with this cursed disease every
day.”
A dermatologist in the Indian
district, who did not wish to be
identified, said: “This disease is
not treatable, although some
doctors say there is a cure.”
Dr Rakhesh, senior consultant
‘LEAST I CAN DO’
dermatologist at Aster MIMS
hospital in Kerala, India, said
lamellar ichthyosis is one of the
rarest congenital skin conditions.
There is currently no cure, but the
condition can be treated with
creams and some medications to
prevent complications and improve
quality of life.
t h e
devastating
loss of wildlife.
She said:
“ ‘ M y
reactions to
the animal
toll is one of
deep sadness
and disbelief.
“It’s such a
catastrophe
for the
environment
here in
Australia and
our wildlife is
so important
to us all.”
Other celebrities have also
pledged their support to help fight
the fires.
Fellow Aussies Kylie Minogue,
Margot Robbie and Rebel Wilson
have donated hundreds of
thousands of dollars while an
emotional Chris Hemsworth
revealed his family was
contributing $1million towards
relief efforts.
Climate change experts are
warning “the worst may be yet to
come” with the country’s
heatwave and cyclone seasons on
the way.
More extreme weather is
predicted over the next few
months with cyclones, floods and
warm temperatures anticipated
over the summer.
Bank accidentally puts £27m into
woman’s account – and she gives it
straight back
uth Balloon was just clocking off from work when she decided
Rto check her bank account – and she could not believe her luck
A woman received the shock of her life after checking her bank
account and discovering the equivalent of £27m was sat in it.
Ruth Balloon was just clocking off from work when she decided to
check her account and couldn’t believe her luck.
She initially hoped someone had gifted her the money, but quickly
checked with her bank.
But sadly the $37 million was put in her account in error.
Balloon, from Dallas, then gave all of the money back to her bank
LegacyTexasBank.
“I was like, ‘wow, we have a lot of money’!,” she told KTVT .
“I hoped someone really gifted us with that $37 million,” Balloon
told the outlet.
For her brief moment as a millionaire, Balloon thought about just
how she would spend her acquired wealth.
“First I was going to do 10% tithing, she told KTVT. “Then I was
going to donate some money and then I would have invested in real
estate.”
LegacyTexasBank said in a statement: “On Tuesday, December 10,
our client made a foreign currency deposit into her LegacyTexas
account. Due to the fluctuation in exchange rates, all foreign currency
transactions must be manually entered into our system through our
back office.
“When our client’s deposit was being keyed in, our representative
entered her account number into the amount field by mistake,” the
bank said, according to KTVT.
Following the error, Balloon said she wasn’t going to try and keep
the money, but hoped for a ‘thank you’ reward for being a good
customer and notifying the bank.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—29
Why do apparently healthy
people collapse and die
without warning? Almost
everyone has heard of or known
someone who suffered “sudden
death,” Someone that seems to be a
relatively young and healthy person
can just “drop dead.”
The high number of cases of sudden
death in Nigeria, particularly amongst
the productive male and female agegroups,
is worrisome and even
though medical experts blame it all
on the poor health status of the
populace,
The Nigeria Medical Association,
NMA, once called for a national
check-up day for all Nigerians to
promote healthy living through
compulsory, regular health
screenings. Such checks, the body
said, should be done at least once
every six months.
Incidents of persons that were “hale
and hearty” with no signs or
symptoms of illness, but “slumping”
and “dying suddenly,” persist, notably
among young adults and the middleaged.
Men and women of all social
classes are affected and questions are
being asked about the phenomenon.
Among the causes of these sudden
deaths is the condition known as
Sudden Cardiac Death, which from a
clinical perspective represents a
public health threat among
cardiovascular deaths in the country.
Sudden Cardiac Death is
unexpected death caused when
the heart stops functioning.
Several adult deaths from this
are reported each year, it is one
of the commonest causes of
heart disease-related deaths.
It is sudden, unexpected
death caused by loss of heart
function. It is responsible for a
significant number of heart
disease deaths. It occurs most
frequently in adults in their mid-
30s to mid-40s and affects men
twice as often as women.
Sudden Cardiac Death is not
a heart attack. In a heart attack,
there is a blockage of blood flow
to the heart, causing damage to
the heart muscle, resulting in
the heart attack.
With a Sudden Cardiac Death,
the electrical system that powers
the heart stops operating
properly, and the heart begins
to beat extremely quickly. The
electrical system to the heart
malfunctions and suddenly
becomes very irregular. The
heart beats dangerously fast.
Because of how fast the heart is
beating, it’s not getting blood
Incidents of
persons that were
“hale and hearty”
with no signs or
symptoms of illness,
but “slumping” and
“dying suddenly,”
persist, notably
among young adults
and the middle-aged
out to the body—
oftentimes
resulting in
unconsciousness
because blood
isn’t getting to the
brain. In the first
few minutes, this
is the greatest
concern. Death
follows unless
emergency
treatment is begun
immediately.
There are many
stories of younger
people suffering Sudden
Cardiac Death while
engaged in athletic
activities. Cases of enlarged
hearts are a common cause
that often goes undetected.
Other risk factors include
heart arteries that have
grown abnormally that create
difficulties. Also, heart
rhythm disorders can lead to
rapid heartbeat patterns,
•Heart attack...Know your
risk factors
Do yourself
favour, don’t
‘drop dead’
causing fainting and
possibly Sudden Cardiac
Death.
Generally, the risk factors
for Sudden Cardiac Death
include a previous heart
attack (especially within the
six months after a heart
attack); coronary artery
disease (triggered by
smoking, family history,
high cholesterol, etc.) and
history of fainting.
Others are a family
history of the disorder;
obesity; diabetes,
recreational drug use
and heart failure
(extremely weak
pumping from heart).
Immediate action is
crucial. Survival is high
if treatment is initiated
within five minutes of
the cardiac arrest and proper performance
of CPR. There is the option to have an
Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator
implanted. It is a preventative treatment
that can also be used for survivors.
Surgeries can also be performed to help
improve blood flow to the heart.
Emergency treatment includes
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and
defibrillation. CPR keeps enough oxygen
in the lungs and gets it to the brain until
the normal heart rhythm is restored with
an electric shock to the chest
(defibrillation). Portable defibrillators
used by emergency personnel, or public
access defibrillators may help save the
person’s life.
The symptoms vary. Some people may
experience a racing heartbeat or
dizziness. In over half of the cases,
however, sudden cardiac arrest occurs
without prior symptoms.
Most sudden cardiac deaths are caused
by abnormal heart rhythms called
arrhythmias. The most common lifethreatening
arrhythmia is ventricular
fibrillation, which is an erratic,
disorganised firing of impulses from the
ventricles (the heart’s lower chambers).
When this occurs, the heart is unable to
pump blood and death will occur within
minutes, if left untreated.
A previous heart attack is significant. A
person’s risk of Sudden Cardiac Death
is higher during the first six months after
a heart attack. Coronary artery disease
is also a strong factor. Other risk factors
for coronary artery disease include
smoking, family history of
cardiovascular disease, high
cholesterol or an enlarged heart,
prior episode of sudden cardiac
arrest, family history of sudden
cardiac arrest or Sudden Cardiac
Death, etc.
Most cases are related to
undetected cardiovascular
disease. In the younger
population, Sudden Cardiac
Death is often due to congenital
heart defects, while in older
athletes (35 years and older), the
cause is more often related to
coronary artery disease.
Men aged 40 and older and
women aged 50 and older should
have an exercise stress test and
receive education about cardiac
risk factors and symptoms. If heart
problems are identified or
suspected, the athlete should be
referred to a cardiologist for further
evaluation and treatment
guidelines before
For patients who have great risk,
an ICD may be inserted as a
preventive treatment. An ICD is a
small machine similar to a
pacemaker that is designed to
correct arrhythmias. It detects and
then corrects a fast heart rate.
The ICD may be used in patients
who have survived sudden cardiac
arrest and need their heart
rhythms constantly monitored. It
may also be combined with a
pacemaker to treat other
underlying irregular heart
rhythms.
Tip:Know your risk factors. Know
your family history. Inform those
around you about what to do. And
make the changes necessary to
reduce your personal risk.
Educate your family members. If
you are at risk for SCD, talk to your
family members so they
understand your condition and the
importance of seeking immediate
care in the event of an emergency.
Family members and friends of
those at risk should know how to
perform CPR.

30—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
By Epiphenia Muolokwo
A
quick look at this
scenario: You’re
pretty - at least that’s
what everyone says, and you’ve
got this not so fine, not so rich
guy who’s been on your neck for
the past five years. Yeah! You’re
right. That’s creepy! He wouldn’t
stop. He seems to always have his
ways around getting your contact details.
You block him on Whatsapp, he finds you
on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, name it -
just everywhere! You just don’t know how he
does it. You’re beginning to feel upset.
Warding off guys, depending on how hot a
chick you’re (Haha), may sound somewhat
easy, ‘Easy-peasy’. With a pale or unpleasant
countenance could work, you may think.
Not so for many guys.
Well, In real life, many ladies face this
problem all the time. Especially, those we
may have given our number to, voluntarily.
Don’t give up so easily. Sometimes, you may
give out your contact to someone who may
appear nice but later you find out you
are not into the guy. You
show that you’re not
interested but he can’t
get it. The more you try
to ward him off the
more he persists.
What do you do?
The most
conventional method
is by telling the guy
off nicely or flicking
the block button.
But what if you flick
that button and they
end up getting to
you through a
different route?
More and more
creative ways
have, over the
years, been
developed by
women. Some
have turned
effective to
some of us
women.
On the ‘billing
method’ which
happens to be the
most effective for me,
I’m going to tell a
story. It’s a personal
experience about my
recent encounter.
You know there are
these kinds of
people you see and
it just dawns on you
right there and
then, that you don’t
like them. It’s safe
to call it ‘dislike at
first sight’. Well,
this guy ticked all
the boxes. From
how weirdly he
starred at me
from a distance,
to his outfit and
the way he
talked. He
didn’t even smell nice. Thank
goodness he didn’t have a bad breath.
Nevertheless, he gave me every reason to
dislike him on sight.
He approached me regardless. Of course
there isn’t a way he could have known that
he was already disliked on sight. “You’ve a
really good height”, he said as he grabbed a
seat nearby to sit adjacent to me. “I love
girls as tall as you, I’ve been watching you
since you walked in”, he added.
I smiled, looked at him and said “thank
you”, just so I don’t appear rude. Some
friends were also in the small gathering and
it ought to be an interesting evening. Far
from it for me. His concentration on me
fouled the atmosphere to me while others
were having good times with the drinks and
chops. He continued with a lot of
uninteresting talks. Monosyllabic replies
followed. It didn’t make him to stop and
face elsewhere. He rather got inspired to
ask me about traveling for the Christmas
holiday. He had been told I was from his
state. That probably inspired him. But that
irritated me the more. You met somebody in
one evening outing and gbaam, you’re
asking the person to travel home for
Chirstmas with you. I know a few may fall
for this but not many. But I had had enough
and it was time to throw in the Billing
Method since all my attitudes failed to send
the message. I then demanded a return flight
ticket and many other things I needed to
sort out before travelling. Those things
required money. Yes, I said I needed money
to sort the problems before I could travel.
The billing method is when you throw a
bunch of pathetic stories so you could get
some bucks from a guy. Money and such
stories are
usually a turn off for men. It
comes handy especially for the ones you just
met and don’t really care about and who
wouldn’t read all your nice rebuffs. It works
like magic. It did for me on the night. His
countenance changed. He didn’t want to
show me, but I smelled it. Yes! It worked. I
almost went in a full gloat mode, but then,
I’d appear weird. He stopped smiling,
mumbled one one or two things, faced the
other guys and shortly after he left the
gathering. It was a good-bye to nuisance.
It worked like magic! Haha!
I know that many girls use this method.
And I figured running a teeny-tiny survey on
this could revela more experiences.
“I’ll tell him plainly, I believe if he’s
responsible enough, he’d know I’m not
interested but if not I’d give him some
attitude,” Josephine said who said she likes
being blunt to ward off guys she doesn’t like.
Another, Nwendu from PortHacourt told her
story this way:
“While I was in school... There was this
guy who was really into me and liked
showing it. He even told his friends he liked
me and all that.... People all around him
knew he liked me... But I didn’t like him at
all. He was a known cultist but professed
pure love and all that. It was a no no for
me, because he would always say he would
marry me, but when he approached me, I
told him I appreciated his love but that I
would not reciprocate as I was in a
relationship with someone else... He didn’t
bulge, he kept professing and showing love
and in some cases it was irritating to me as
How girls
ward off
guys they
don’t like
I didn’t feel anything for him.
That’s how I blacklisted him, didn’t pay
him much attention, started withdrawing
from him constructively. I took his calls but
with an I don’t care tone... It still took him
time for him to digest the fact that I didn’t
want him... But gradually I think the love
faded away. When it did, We became just
friends. He would borrow
my notes in class, call me,
check on me but with no
intimate talks. We still chat
and talk till date....
So I believe time and my
attitude towards him
warded him off.
Bube from Enugu put hers
this way: “I will tell him
outright, but first I’ll give
him signs, stop picking his
calls, give excuses. If he still
doesn’t get the drift, I’ll
politely tell him that I
wouldn’t do anything with
him.
But then, if he starts
proving stubborn I’ll block
his line and on all social
media connected to me. If I
mistakenly bump into him
on the road, I’ll not even
behave like I’ve seen him
before; walk up to me and
I’ll disgrace you!”
“Just Ask him for money.
Tell him you need a loan
of N1million Naira to kick
He approached
me regardless.
Of course there
isn’t a way he
could have
known that he
was already
disliked on
sight
start a project,” said Uche from Onitsha.
“Uncle will start yapping on about how
money is not everything, but you have to
stand your ground and tell him that you love
money.
Keep singing it into his unfortunate ears,
in no time, he will disappear. It
works wonders for me all the time!”
For Oby in Lagos, “Just ask him for money
you know he can’t afford, tell him its urgent
and that the universe will take care of the
rest for you. I met this guy who wouldn’t
stop bugging me even after I politely told
him I wasn’t interested. So I had to tell him
I needed 300 thousand naira urgently for a
business. He never called my line again till
date.
Since then, the billing
method became my trick. At
most they will tag me
materialistic or gold digger
but I will have my peace,” said
the Lagos girl.
“ First of all I will be honest
with him about how I feel but
if he insists, I’ll become
extremely aggressive and rude
to him,” Naya said from
Enugu.
I’ll stop picking up his calls
and start doing those things I
know he doesn’t like or things
I wouldn’t normally do.
Read the warding off method
from Nelo in Abuja: “This is
funny but has worked for me.
I would first politely tell him
but if he insists I’ll tell him that
I told my mum about him and
that after praying my mum
said he was not the right guy
for me or that I was not the
right girl for him.
Thanks to pepper sprays and
tasers, we can deal with
creeps who go on a full blown stalking mode
and deem it fit to go violent. We don’t
hesitate to use those ‘beautiful’ defense
devices on them. But should it get to that
before some men get the message?
Written by Epiphenia Muolokwu

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—31
What new electricity
tariff will do to the
economy — NECAN
•Says six reviews in five years have not
yielded result, recent increase up to 200%
•Uket Obonga
The latest hike in power tariff has attracted comments from many persons
and organisations. In this interview with UDEME AKPAN, the
National Secretary, Nigeria Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network,
NECAN, Mr. Uket Obonga, said the tariff should not be allowed, as it could
lead to closure of businesses, unemployment and loss of revenue in Nigeria.
How do you react to the recent tariff
hike?
It is rather unfortunate that this is happening.
It shows that the Nigerian Electricity
Regulatory Commission, NERC, may not be
sensitive to the plight of Nigerians, who are
currently passing through very tough economic
situation. In other words, the timing for the
hike is very wrong. NERC is only yielding to
pressure from the Electricity Distribution
Companies, DISCOs, who believe that Cost
Reflective Tariff is the solution to their problems.
They refuse to accept the fact that it would not
work under the current structure and market
environment. I am also wondering why they
call it ‘minor’ review when it is very high up to
200 per cent or more in some cases.
Is NERC justified to
emerge with the tariff?
As a regulator, the
Commission has powers to
carry out such a review, but it
may not be right under the
present situation. It should be
noted that the same reasons
were given in 2015 for the
minor review, which did not
culminate in the DISCOs
expanding networks to
improve services to
consumers. Recall that before
they were given that level of
tariff in 2015, they had
promised then to meter the
customers. Similarly, I do not
think the exogenous variables
that informed the 2015 review
have warrant another review.
Only the inflation rate has
jumped from about seven per
cent to the current 11 per cent.
The price of gas was
increased in 2015 to $2.5 per
a thousand cubic feet. The
dollar-naira exchange rates
in 2015 was N350 per dollar and it has
remained so ever since.
In your opinion, what do they intend
to achieve, and is the basis of
calculation right?
They are yielding to the demand of the
DISCOs for a Cost Reflective Tariff. As I said
earlier, the request will be unending as long as
the situation remains the same. We can only
talk of giving the DISCOs Cost Reflective Tariff
As a regulator,
the Commission
has powers to
carry out such a
review, but it
may not be right
under the
present
situation
if all electricity consumers were metered to
eliminate estimated bills. In addition,
consumers are made to pay for power supply
consumed. The level of exploitation of
consumers through estimated billing by some
of the DISCOs does not support this tariff. The
basis of calculation is not right, when we
consider the variables that are supposed to
inform the price increase.
How will the tariff affect consumers
and the Nigerian economy?
Consumers have not yet recovered from the
impact of the last price increase in 2015. Those
who are negatively affected are Residential R2,
Commercial C1 & C2 and Low Voltage
Maximum Demand
Customers. Others are the
high voltage customers and
industrialists. Currently, we
know of some hotels that
spend 60-70 per cent of their
revenues on energy bills and
alternative energy generation
through diesel. Further
increase would cripple these
businesses and lead to closure
of a good number of them.
Similarly, smaller businesses
like welding, barbing salon,
hairdressing, restaurant/bar
owners will not be able to
cope with the proposed price
increase. As these businesses
close down, jobs will be lost
and unemployment rate will
increase, worsening an
already bad situation. The
hike also will affect cost of
goods manufactured locally,
leading to inflation.
Government at all levels will
lose taxes from collapsed
businesses. Foreign goods
will be cheaper than locally
manufactured ones.
Standard of living will drop further as many
Nigerians would be made poorer. Many
Nigerians who cannot afford to pay energy
bills will resort to energy theft, meter bypass
and other illegalities. The DISCOs whose
desire is to increase their revenues will see that
their revenues will drop significantly, as many
consumers will opt out of supplies on their
networks.
How many tariffs hike were done in
the past and did they make any impact?
All together, we have had six tariff reviews in
five years. They did not make impact on the
sector. As long as the conditions that informed
the previous reviews remain, there is no
assurance that the current review will be
different.
What were the expectations from
TCN, JENCOs, DISCOs etc. at
privatization and have they lived up to
expectations?
On a general note, none of them has lived up
to expectation. For instance, TCN is still
battling with inadequate and dilapidated
transmission infrastructure across the country.
The lines are old and need to be changed with
new ones, their transformers and stations
across the country are equally begging for
replacement. Though transmission capacity
increased from 5,000MW to 6,000MW, it
cannot be relied upon as we have constant
system collapse. In 2013, transmission
capacity was about 4,600MW, it rose to
5,000MW in 2014 and in 2018. According to
data obtained from the Association of Power
Generation Companies, APGC, the capacity
rose to 6,500MW and we are told that they
have scaled that up to 8, 000MW now. DISCOs
remain the weakest link in the chain. They have
performed dismally in areas like customer
enumeration, metering, reduction of aggregate
technical commercial and collection losses,
revenue collection and remittance,
development and expansion of their networks
remain the same.
How do you assess the role of the
Minister of Power and NERC?
The minister is empowered to recommend
to the President those to be appointed
commissioners and chairman/CEO of NERC.
However, that appointment was not made until
2017. The gap affected the sector, particularly
as major decisions were not taken to move the
sector forward. NERC has some issues;
including under staffing, as the population of
its staff currently stand at about 177.
Was there any engagement with
consumers in the process of working
on the Tariff?
The Nigerian electricity supply industry is
made up of three critical stakeholders,
meaning that the market stands on a tripod,
involving the regulator/government on one
side, the operators (TCN, Discos etc) and
consumers. The Electric Power Sector Reform
Act of 2005 clearly documented that the tariff
rate setting must be done through consultation
with critical stakeholders. In this case, nothing
of sort was done and for us, whatever they have
done is an exercise in futility that cannot stand.
Which problems exist in the sector
and how can they be tackled?
The sector has many problems, which cover
transmission infrastructure that is rapidly
decaying and needs replacement. It lacks the
required liquidity to fund projects. Therefore,
the Federal Government has no option but to
increase funding for TCN. The GENCOs
complain of lack of gas and low water levels.
However, we believe that since gas is produced
locally and much of it is flared daily,
government should consider bringing down
the cost from $2.50 to $1.50; to ease the burden
on the GENCOs. On distribution, we know
that the distribution end in the power chain is
the weakest link and it is in a very poor state
due to lack of investments, the DISCOS have
not really invested in their networks. Recently,
I was travelling along Calabar – Ikom highway,
and within 10km, I counted 42 fault lines. You
can see the state of dilapidation of
infrastructure. The current DISCOs do not have
the financial and technical capacities to
manage the franchise areas, currently given to
them and because the areas are too large, we
are suggesting that the areas should be
reviewed and immediately reduced to a
manageable size so that whatever is taken out
of them can be given to other investors.
Also, the sector lacks accurate data. On the
number of customers, it is my opinion that the
Federal Government should organize a
nationwide customer enumeration exercise to
determine the actual number of electricity
consumers in Nigeria as this will help us to
know what the DISCOs are actually collecting
and remitting. It is our view that the CBN
should take over metering customers
nationwide and ensure that every consumer is
metered in order to eliminate estimated
billing. The DISCOS must be made to scale
down on aggregate technical collection and
commercial losses, which now stands at over
50 per cent to maximize revenue collection.
The sector needs more transparency and
accountability, if it must survive. Load rejection
must be stopped and the DISCOs should be
compelled to receive loads allocated to them.
The current payment for 1,100MW of
electricity supply out of the 3,700 MW given to
them is too poor.
The Federal Government has 40 per cent
equity holding in all the privatized companies,
which appears to be high. The government
should consider giving up 20-25 per cent to
other investors in order to attract funds and
other resources for the development of the
sector. The size of the franchise areas should
also be reduced to pave the way for the advent
of new investors. We have to domesticate the
current model, which we adopted from India,
taking into consideration the domestic issues
in Nigeria.

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
Our leaders buy votes
openly— Falae
•Says those parading themselves now are not our representatives
•Challenges Buhari to lead by example on health tourism
•It’s suicidal for Nig to join W/A currency union
•Unregulated visa policy disastrous
By Dayo Johnson Akure.
Chief Olu Falae, was both a former Finance
minister and Secretary to the Government of
the Federation SGF under the former Military
General Ibrahim Babangida. In this interview, he
spoke with Saturday Vanguard on a number of
national issues such as the new minimum wage, the
N30b bill before the NASS, common currency for
West African countries, proposed new visa policy, the
hate speech bill and the nation’s electoral system
amongst other burning issues. Excerpts:
As a former Finance Minister is the
new minimum wage for workers in the
country desirable.
It is very sad that we are still talking about
the minimum wage issue which would be
granted after a lot of debate and disagreement.
Workers would enjoy it for six months to one
year and after one year, they would still go
back to their previous years. What affect your
standard of living is the quantum of good and
services that you consume, it is not the amount
of paper notes. If we can reduce the wage as
well as the prices of goods and services, we
will be better off. It is not the quantum of money
you get but the quantum of money relative to
the goods and services. So it is better to work
on the stabilisation of goods and services, and
also solve the electricity problem, get people
trained to start producing things locally and
your present salary to buy more foods. So it is
not the quantum of the money but since the
government appears not to do much on
quantum of money and prices of goods
workers then demand higher wages. As a
Federal Permanent Secretary, my last salary
was N15,184 per annum and I was living well.
You can be paid N10 million a day and still
can’t feed yourself.
What is your take on the N30b loan
the
Federal
government is
requesting for which is
presently before the
National Assembly for
approval?
Even when I was in
government I will only
support loans which are
called project loans with
concessional terms. Those
are the types of loans I’ll
support. I’ll not kick
against loans just because
they are called loans. The
point needs to be made that
the ability of Nigeria to
service foreign loans
depends very heavily on
our ability to pump oil an
sell oil at the international
market. From what we all
know now, our customers
at the international market
are already moving away
from the use of oil in many
areas of the economy. They
Even when I
was in
government I
will only support
loans which are
called project
loans with
concessional
terms
are already producing and marketing cars
that will no longer use petrol. France,
America, Britain and Japan, 10 to 15% of the
cars they are making no longer use petrol.
They are making and marketing them now.
And you can project that in the next five years
the demand for our oil will be going down.
So, the ability to service our loan and repay
them will be going down. We should bear that
in mind that we should not create a situation
where future generations will find it difficult
if not impossible to service loans and repay
them. If that were to happen because it has
happened before when I was in government
when the IMF said we should pay back our
loans which we could no longer afford to pay
back, that means the IMF will automatically
take over the country’s CBN and Ministry of
Finance. It is an obnoxious thing that we
should not allow to happen. And that is why
the Babangida’s government did not accept
the IMF loan because the terms were
humiliating. So, we must work against that
kind of situation ever
arising again.
President Buhari
recently preached against health
tourism but he does contrary whenever
he is indisposed.
He should lead by example. Since he
became President he has gone abroad for
health challenges quite a number of times.
I’m not saying Nigerians should do it but
before he says Nigeria should not do it, he
should ensure that hospitals have the necessary
facilities. It is not easy for a Nigerian to travel
abroad for treatment under the present
economic situation. I welcome what he said
but he should lead by example.
There are calls that troops in troubled
parts of the country should be
withdrawn. Won’t this be counter
productive?
Ordinarily, the police is in charge of security
but once it is beyond that, the government has
the right to bring in the military to overcome
the insecurity. In their opinion, if the insecurity
is still high it will be unwise to withdraw the
military.
A common currency for West African
countries has been proposed. Do you
subscribe to this?
As one of those first group of
officials in the formation of
ECOWAS I recognized that
ultimately the objectives of a
common market is to have a
common currency. I have always
known it from economic theory and
I have seen it from Euro. But I want
to remind us that for several decades
Britain is in Europe and it never
adopted European common
currency. The reason is that if you
belong to the currency union, you
will lose control over the regulation
of your economy and once we belong
to the West Africa currency union, you
are no longer the sole managers of
those forces that stabilize the
currency. At this stage, it is too great
a risk for us to take because it is not
at all clear to me what we are going
to benefit from it. In terms of size
and potentials, Nigeria is bigger
than all the other countries put
together. Unless of course if they will
join the naira. It will be suicidal for us to join
a currency that will not be in our control. I
strongly advise against it. All you need are
flexible convertibility of the currency, the
Naira, and the CFA.
Are you expressing the same fear on
the proposed VISA Policy by the
Federal government
They have not told us what the objective is. If
it is to facilitate free movement of people, it
will be in both directions that other members
of ECOWAS can come in without visas and
we Nigerians can also go to their country
without visa. That is absolutely the minimum
condition which is called reciprocity and if it
is not, the question must be asked. One of the
reasons you have a visa regime to the receiving
country is to know those who want to come to
the country. Your embassy is there, they apply
and they find out if they are criminals or
terrorists. You then filter the process and allow
only those who will not bring problem into
the country. Your first consideration is the
security of your country which you don’t want
to put at risk. You can have a liberal policy.
They must apply, vetted and your embassy staff
must have certified them. Unregulated visa
policy is disastrous.
If government says it wants Africans to come
into Nigeria without question, I’m asking, for
what purpose? You see people coming into the
country that’s already grappling with acute
unemployment and you think people there
won’t challenge them? The Nigerians in those
border states who are unemployed seeing more
people coming in, will ask questions. In any
case, the reason visa has become an
international issue is that it enables the
welcoming countries to verify those coming
into their own country and see whether they
constitute a threat to national security or not,
whether they’re terrorists, kidnappers and all.
But to now say people should come into
Nigeria without any visa requirements leaves
much to be desired, it does not make sense to
me. In any case, in diplomacy, there’s
something we call reciprocity, if you’re going
to grant such privilege to citizens of other
countries, they must reciprocate by granting
the same thing to Nigerians, unless we waive
it. I don’t think Nigerians want to waive such
privilege. I’m not saying we cannot help
weaker African countries, of course, we’ve
been doing it, I believe we should, but I think
we must do such in a way that will benefit us
and also help them too. We should do it, when
they will come in and have a better life here
than they were experiencing where they were
coming from and also contribute to the
development of the host country, Nigeria. But
to now open our borders to people to come in
just like that without mutual benefits, that
doesn’t make any sense to me. I know how
much we did for South Africa, and I know
what they did to us and what they’re still doing
to us today, if only because of that, we ought not
to have an unmanaged visa concession. I’m
not saying we can’t have visa concession, all I
am saying is that such must be well managed
and guided.
In all sincerity do you think Boko
Haram has been defeated as claimed by
the military?
We still hear of attacks but it is difficult to
know who is attacking who. All kinds of people
get together and do all sorts of things in an
attempt to survive. The military deployment to
the North East is still in place but we still hear
of attacks from time to time. I will say that the
impact of Boko Haram has been substantially
reduced. From what I hear and what I see Boko
Haram is still very much alive and we cannot
afford to be complacent. These terrorist
organizations have a way of reinventing
themselves and becoming more violent.
Your advise to government on
disobedience of the orders of court
The law and the constitution is the only link
between us. So, anybody who disobeys that link
is threatening the unity of the country.
Many Nigerians believe our electoral
system is faulty, what’s your take on this?
It is unfortunate, we are no longer voting for
our leaders, our leaders are now buying votes
openly. They now do it openly and
unashameably. They should not claim that they
•Chief Olu Falae
have anybody’s mandate, and that’s the truth.
What we are having now is no longer election,
and it is raising a question of legitimacy on our
electoral process. When I was in politics, on an
occasion one of my candidates ran to me here
in Akure and said where they were voting a
candidate of another party was sharing money
openly and the police were looking up and he
went to report to the policeman but the
policeman asked him to go and look for his
own money to share. In that situation people
have not chosen you it is your money that has
chosen you, that is what is going on in the
country. It is a shame, it raises the question of
legitimacy, what legitimises the office is that it
enjoys the sovereign support of the people but if
that support has been bought it is no longer the
sovereign support. Government based on
rigging of election is illegitimate because the
will of the people have been perverted. It is the
support and will of the people that authenticate
the electoral process but those have been
substituted with violence and moneybags
What is the way out?
We can only hope and pray that at some points
when it gets so bad the whole thing will unravel
and we will have a new electoral system,
simpler than this run by all of us with integrity,s
that all of us will want our choice to prevail
whether for councillor, governor or President
because those that are parading themselves
now are not our representatives
Let’s talk about the controversy that
the hate speech and social media
regulation bill at the National Assembly
is presently generating
The question I want to ask is that why is it that
in the recent time government policies are often
controversial, it is as if they like to provoke
people. First we heard about RUGA for cows
in other people’s territory. A government must
take care of all the people, but if a policy
will favour one side and provoke other
people, you should drop it, don’t even talk
about it. If you will do anything you must
consult properly, you would have got signal
that those policies are not acceptable to most
of the people and you exist to serve everybody,
so there should be consultation. The other
time I heard that rivers are going to be
acquired by the federal government but I
don’t think that one will be possible because
God created the rivers on their own and I
don’t think anybody can transfer it. Why
these controversial policies, why can’t we
bring policy that will make people clap and
shout but instead we have policies that will
make us fight, fearful. It is lack of
consultation, it is as if they know it all in the
democracy and it is not like that. You know
there are some people who will go to governors
or the president to persuade them to do certain
things for selfish reasons but it is for the president
to say no this thing will favor the tailors in
Nigeria but carpenters would not like it, I
am for both tailors and carpenters, I am for
all Nigerians, that should be the reaction of
those in government in order to minimize
controversy, violence and disagreement.
There can be no growth and development if
there is instability. I think it is lack of
control of the policy making process that is
generating all these controversial and
mindless kind of policies .

C
M
Y
K
Ex-Governor Ayo Fayose could
be excused if all he did was
seek medical help from nature.
There are many in the medical world
who believe in letting nature do its
healing work first before syringes
and pills take over. The first thing
our elders used to do whenever they
visited a sick person who was
bedridden was to open the windows
and draw the blinds to let fresh air
and light flood the room. It was their
way of letting nature in. A close
friend once had a child who had a
nasal issue. The elderly doctor the
wife consulted advised her to take
the child to the beach early in the
morning for a month to let the salty
air do the healing. If that didn’t
happen, then he would prescribe
drugs. And in years past, luxurious
sea travel used to be specially
recommended for the rich who
needed to recuperate. Exercises are
also a good form of the healing
process. And exercises come in
different ways—from dancing to
walking to aerobics to sports. Fayose
obviously prefers dancing—and who
would blame him especially if the
instructor or dancing partner is a
beautiful damsel.
I am trying to find a medical
defence for the pictures which went
viral on the social media of Mr Ayo
Fayose, luxuriating on a cruise. The
pictures had him—or someone like
him— dancing, sun bathing, posing
with a Captain’s cap and so on. Mr
Fayose, the immediate past
Governor of Ekiti State, had sought
permission from court to seek
medical help abroad for undisclosed
ailments. The court used its
discretion and allowed him to travel
ostensibly to cure himself of mental
and physical ailments. He had been
dragged to court by the EFCC for
fraud and misappropriation of funds
in excess of five billion Naira. The
caption accompanying the
photographs had talked, tongue in
cheek, about ‘intensive care’
‘doctors’ and ‘convalescing.’ His
reply was no less cheeky. He simply
told his detractors to eat their jealous
hearts out. I am assuming of course
that the photographs that went out
were his and not photo shopped. I
am also assuming that the cheeky
our preachers cover up for the
Ypoliticians by pretending to
have received visions and special
revelations. They say: “This is what
God, the Master, says . . .” when God
hasn’t said so much as one word.
Ezekiel 22:28. The Message
Translation.
This denunciation of fake prophets
especially caught traction on social
media after Father Ejike Mbaka at
the beginning of the year proclaimed
that the Supreme Court would
replace Emeka Ihedioha with Hope
Uzodinma as governor of Imo State.
While Mbaka was persistent in
spite of the incongruity of the fourthplaced
candidate achieving that feat,
other so-called men of God openly
dismissed him and his prophecy as
fake.
The contention among the men of
God easily brings to light the fact that
the pulpit has been defiled as
Prophet Ezekiel announced.
With Mbaka having won the battle
of the prophets, does that mean the
propriety of Mbaka’s prophecies?
Not surprisingly, many have found
fault both with the message and the
messenger.
Jesus, the author of the faith that
Father Mbaka postulates,
consistently told His followers to
look at the root and not the fruit of
ministry.
The relationship between Mbaka
and Buhari was partly shaped by the
discord the fiery priest had with
President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife,
Patience.
Mbaka, according to his admission,
had asked the then first lady for her
telephone number on at least three
occasions so that he could be giving
her messages directly.
Mrs. Patience, however, refused.
She apparently passed on the
number of one of her close associates
for Mbaka to be relating with, but
the man of God was seriously
displeased.
Medical fugitives
retort was his. So ‘in your face were’
the photographs; so unapologetic was
his retort that one is embarrassed that
a man who left our shores purportedly
to avail himself of medical facilities
that were not available in the country
should be so wanton and unabashed
in his display of indecency,
impropriety, and disregard for law.
Which is why I am hoping, somehow,
that both the photographs and the
reply to people’s comments were not
his.
If indeed, the photographs of a man
dancing and sun bathing on a ship
belong to Fayose, then how does that
fact make the judge who granted him
medical leave feel? How does it make
the lawyer, most likely a senior lawyer,
who had argued passionately for his
medical reprieve feel? In all
probability, they both know the truth
which is that there was nothing wrong
with Fayose that necessitated his
being treated abroad. After all, the
man had feigned illness in the past
just to score cheap political points. But
even at that, they should still be
embarrassed by this insensitive, if not
contemptuous display of child like
fun. Many of his ilk who take this
route to freedom hide their
movements like medical fugitives
which they are. Some even make a
show at going to a hospital. None that
I know has thrown it back at the court
the way Fayose has allegedly done.
Even if he was ill, Fayose—and this
is not being personal—should not
have been given permission to go
abroad for treatment. He was
Governor of Ekiti State for eight good
years. Time enough to build a world
N2m kola that began Mbaka’s romance
with Uzodimma
“When she (Dame Jonathan) came,
I told her to give me her (mobile
phone) number so that I could give
her messages, but thrice, she refused.”
It was following that development
that Father Mbaka who had before
then backed Jonathan made a
turnaround and gave his famous
message of Jonathan failing in the
2015 election.
Again, ahead of the 2019
presidential election, the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP vicepresidential
candidate, Peter Obi had
on December 3, 2018, visited Mbaka’s
Adoration Ground for the ministry’s
annual harvest.
Mbaka, had a well-reported falling
out with Obi who refused to make a
public announcement of his donation
to the ministry.
Mbaka followed up with a curse
saying: “In your capacity and what
God has done for you as
governor...God hates stinginess. What
I am saying is not to please you, but
what will save your life. Otherwise,
you and Atiku will fail.
“If there is a place they will coat
words for you, it is not at Mbaka’s
altar. You can save your political
destiny. Or, in 2019, you people will
not even know how they did the
SATURDAY Vanguard, , JANUARY 18, 2020—33
class hospital. It should be tough luck
to him if his ailment cannot be treated
in this hospital. I reiterate that I am
not being personal. It is the way I feel
about public officials who are indicted
for fraud or embezzlement who want
to seek medical treatment abroad.
Most of them feign illness. But that is
beside the point. Even if they were
seriously sick, they should avail
themselves of the facilities they built
or neglected to build in the country. I
If by your actions and
inactions, you deprive your
country of progress, then you
should not benefit from the
foresightedness of other
countries
think a law should be made, or a
convention established, that any public
official who is indicted for fraud,
embezzlement or misappropriation of
public funds in any form should not
be allowed to go abroad for medical
treatment. If by your actions and
inactions, you deprive your country of
progress, then you should not benefit
from the foresightedness of other
countries.
They also ask why is it that he does not raise issues
that impact on the severe living conditions of
Nigerians? Is he ignorant of the fact that Leah
Sharibu has been kidnapped for almost two years?
election. What will make my brother
to come for bazaar, and he won’t even
break kola?”
The hot news of Mbaka’s rejection
of Obi’s candidature for refusal to
break kola masked another
development that day.
President Muhammadu Buhari who
was represented at the same ground
by Senator Hope Uzodimma broke
kola with N2 million.
Unlike the stingy Obi, Fr. Mbaka
had good words for Uzodinma after the
breaking of the kola.
That was the beginning of
Uzodinma’s hope to win the election.
Responding to Uzodimma, Mbaka
said:”Uzodimma would become the
next governor by the grace of God.”
Even after Uzodimma came a distant
fourth, Fr. Mbaka was unwavering in
his prediction affirming that the
election would be overturned in favour
of Uzodimma at the Supreme Court.
At the beginning of the year, Mbaka
had said:”In spite of all that would
happen this 2020, there is hope. In
Imo State, there is hope. Hope, hope,
hope in Imo state!”
“God is coming with a new flag to
restore the dignity of that noble land.
A new leadership that will break
barriers and there will be joy in the
land of Imo.”
Remarkably, other Men of God who
Leaders who under-develop their
people should stay home, eat amala
with them and attend their hospitals
It is the same reason I do not lose any
sleep whenever I hear that a senior public
official or their relative was kidnapped
or attacked. It was the same reason I did
not shed a tear when the news of the
attack on President Jonathan’s home
filtered out. You sow the wind, you reap
the whirlwind. He is lucky he had
soldiers to defend him. The rest of us are
not so lucky. In fact, the hottest part of
hell should be reserved for public officials
at the State and Federal levels who had
opportunities to make Nigeria better but
chose instead to entrench poverty and
insecurity in the land. Of what use are
their billions stacked in foreign accounts
to us or even to them? Of what use was
Abacha’s loot to him?
President Buhari was reported to have
said the other day that medical tourism
would henceforth be discouraged. That
was rich of him. Here is a man who spent
months in a British hospital. He didn’t
come back with a loud statement on the
urgent need to revamp the health sector
so that no future Nigerian leader would
have to suffer the indignity of being
treated abroad. His wife talked openly
about availing herself of foreign medical
facilities. His children are products of
foreign education. In fact, his family is
so western oriented it is embarrassing. If
a leader does not believe in his country’s
health and educational systems enough
to entrust his life or that of his family to
them, how can he in good conscience ask
his people to believe in them? His life is
as important to him as their lives are to
them.
Leaders who under-develop their
people should stay home, eat amala with
them and attend their hospitals. That is,
if the law does not catch up with them
first and they are not held accountable
by the courts for their actions while in
public office.
had become disposed to Ihedioha were
quick to dismiss Mbaka, dismissing his
prophecy as fake.
Even though Emeka Ihedioha came
first in the election, his position had been
questioned on the claim that he lacked
the spread.
But the Supreme Court jurists
apparently did not look the way of
remedying the election with a run-off or
whatever. They were probably in sync
with Mbaka.
A new theory has now come out that
the Mbaka’s prophecy was programmed
to water the ground for the judgment.
Some who allude to this, ask why
Mbaka’s prophecies are almost always
tuned towards one political direction.
They also ask why is it that he does not
raise issues that impact on the severe
living conditions of Nigerians? Is he
ignorant of the fact that Leah Sharibu has
been kidnapped for almost two years?
That Nigerians of all faiths, and mostly
of his Christian faith in the North are in
agony?
John the Baptist rebuked President
Herod’s alliance with strange women.
Jesus was also a torn in the flesh of
President Herod who he regarded as a
cheat famously telling off some
presidential emissaries, “go tell that fox.”
Luke 13:31,32.
Until Father Mbaka takes up the issues
that directly affect the people, the
insecurity, the corruption, the
marginalization of his people, his
prophecies would continue to rest in the
realm of political controversy.

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
The debate started on my Facebook
page. What prompted me to ask
this question in my Facebook post was
the story of a biology teacher, who was
reportedly “raped” by five of his female
students until he went into a “coma.”
The report said he was just recovering
from an undisclosed ailment, so it was
easy for the five students to overpower
him. The report did not state how the
rape took place. Did the girls perform
oral sex on him or in his sick state, he
managed to muster an erection and had
vaginal sex with one, some or all of
them? Was he pinned down or he was
in charge?
The report also said he did not shout
for help because neighbours had gone
to work, but the neighbour, who found
him was around and even heard “voices
from his room, although faint because
our rooms are far apart. I thought he
was merely having some conversation.
I also heard moans…..” Was it rape or
consensual sex? Did the girls threaten
him with guns, machetes or other
dangerous weapons? Couldn’t this
have been an adventure gone awry?
Until the police provide more
information, I remain undecided.
What is rape? “The crime, typically
committed by a man, of forcing another
person to have sexual intercourse with
the offender against their will.” This
definition seems narrow, so let us take
a broader definition. “Rape is a type of
sexual assault usually involving sexual
intercourse or other forms of sexual
penetration carried out against a person
without that person’s consent. The act
may be carried out by physical force,
coercion, abuse of authority, or against
a person who is incapable of giving
valid consent, such as one who is
unconscious, incapacitated, has an
intellectual disability or is below the
legal age of consent. The term rape is
sometimes used interchangeably with
the term sexual assault.” This definition
also does not suffice.
For instance, what is “sexual
intercourse” and what is “sexual
penetration?” Wikipedia says:”Sexual
intercourse (or coitus or copulation) is
sexual activity typically involving the
insertion and thrusting of the penis into
the vagina for sexual pleasure,
reproduction, or both. This is also
known as vaginal intercourse or vaginal
sex. Other forms of penetrative sexual
do not need to take part in a
Ycoup d’etat to be chosen as leader.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo was in jail for
treasonable felony when the first
military coup took place on January 15,
1966. The young majors wanted to
make him Prime Minister.
As a consultant historian, mine is to
say it from a very objective and
analytical point of view. The problem
with Nigeria is that some of our leaders
are insincere, they do not want the
people to see the truth. That caused
them to remove history from our school
books.
I know many will disagree with me.
That is alright but I also challenge them
to an international debate to fault my
claims. I seek not to protect or project
Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa. I write as one
who understands Nigerian history.
Some of those who took part in the
January 1966 coup, came out boldly to
say that their plan was to release Chief
Awolowo from prison and make him
prime minister.
Captain Emma Nwobosi, who led the
Western Region operations is still alive.
Major Emma Ifeajuna confided in a few
friends. Maj. Wale Ademoyega said this
much in his book, ‘Why We Struck.’
Much later, it happened in Ghana in
1979. Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings was
detained at Burma Camp, Accra,
awaiting execution after being
condemned by the Col. Joe Enninful
led court martial for the abortive coup
of May 15.
On June 4, his friend, Maj. Kojo
Boakye –Djan, led a platoon of other
ranks to set Rawlings free. They took
him to the radio station to announce
himself after which he became
Chairman of the Armed Forces
Revolutionary Council [AFRC].
It also happened in Bangladesh. In
1975, Maj. Gen. Ziaur Rahman was in
captivity when Col. Abu Taher set him
free and gave him power.
Back home in Nigeria, Brigadier
Murtala Mohammed was flown back
from London in 1975, to become Head
Can a man be raped?
intercourse include anal sex
(penetration of the anus by the
penis), oral sex (penetration of the
mouth by the penis or oral
penetration of the female genitalia),
fingering (sexual penetration by
the fingers), and penetration by use
of a dildo (especially a strap-on
dildo).” On the other hand,
Wikipedia says: “sexual penetration
is the insertion of a body part or
other object into a body orifice, such
as the vagina, anus or mouth, as
part of human sexual activity or
animal sexual behaviour.”
The secular world and
some sections of Christendom
have extended the
frontiers of sex from heterosexual
to include LGBT
(lesbians, gay, bi-sexual
and transgender) and the
frontiers keep expanding
You can see that over time the goal
post has been shifted as far as
definition of sex is concerned. The
secular world and some sections of
Christendom have extended the
frontiers of sex from heterosexual
to include LGBT (lesbians, gay, bisexual
and transgender) and the
frontiers keep expanding. We now
have pansexual, omnisexual, etc.
these extensions have also led to
the modification of the definition
of rape. In the United States, for
instance, until 2012, the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
considered rape a crime solely
committed by men against women.
In 2012, the FBI changed the
definition from:”The carnal
knowledge of a female forcibly and
against her will” to “The
penetration, no matter how slight,
of the vagina or anus with any body
part or object, or oral penetration
by a sex organ of another person,
without the consent of the victim.”
The implication is that in the US,
at least since 2012, men can be
raped.
A story broke out in the US about
four years ago, which one source
later said was fake news. Two
burglars allegedly broke into the
home of a notorious gay rapist and
got more than they bargained for.
The gay rapist is 6.7 feet of flesh
and muscles. He easily
overpowered the burglars, tied
them up and sodomised them for
five days. The tabloids termed the
incident as rape, but if it had
happened before 2012, it would
probably have been termed as just
sexual assault.
But the same incident cannot be
described as rape in Nigeria. The
only rape recognized in Nigeria is
sexual assault against women. Our
Awolowo coup of January y 1966
of State. The plot to oust Gen.
Yakubu Gowon was hatched by
officers like colonels Alfred Aduloju,
Abdullahi Mohammed, Anthony
Ochefu and Lt.cols Ibrahim
Babangida and Shehu Yar’adua.
That was also how Maj. Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari became
military leader in 1983. He was
doing his job as a GOC in Jos, when
younger officers, led by Maj.
Haruna Mustapha Jokolo, offered
him the big job.
In 1998, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo
was released from gaol by the
Minna Mafia. The idea was to
pacify the South-West following the
death in custody of Chief Moshood
Abiola. That was how Obasnjo
became civilian President.
Awolowo was the centre piece of
the first military coup even if he was
in jail. The way the plotters acted,
it was obvious they had soft spot
for the former leader of opposition.
Ademoyega and Maj. Chris
Anuforo had made arrangement in
Lagos for Capt Emma Udeaja to fly
to Uyo with Prime Minister
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to hand
over to Awo after the coup.
The Nigeria Air Force plane to do
that was to be made available by
Major Theophilus Enwezor
Nzegwu, the first Nigerian to be
commissioned as an Air Force
officer, in 1959.
That probably explained why
Maj. Emma Ifeajuna was bent on
not hurting the prime minister
during the coup. The
circumstances surrounding Sir
Abubakar’s death remain in the
realm of mystery.
The same Ifeajuna that shot his
commanding officer, Brig. Zakari
Maimalari and killed Lt.col Abogo
Largema at Ikoyi Hotel, Lagos tried
to be civil with the prime minister.
On sighting Balewa in his
bedroom, Ifeajuna was alleged to
have said: “I come here with
respect. I will take you with me.
We know all the trouble going on
in the country is not your fault.”
Ifeajuna, accompanied by Lt. Fola
Oyewole and other ranks also
assured Balewa’s Aide de Camp,
Kaftan Nangasu, an Assistant
Superintendent of Police, that no
harm would befall his boss.
“I will look after him,” the Army
officer added. All the soldiers who
invaded the Prime Minister’s
official residence stood at attention
when they saw him and gave out
smart compliments.
When Nangasu came out with a
revolver, Ifeajuna quickly disarmed
him. His grandson, simply
identified as Sunday, also struck
an Army sage. They beat and let
the kid go.
President Nnamdi Azikiwe knew
Criminal Code states that a man commits
rape when he has carnal knowledge of a
woman against her will, without her
consent, or if that consent was gotten by
coercion. So those five girls could not have
raped their teacher, even if they sexually
assaulted him or took advantage of his
weak state, as far our laws are concerned.
But a bill to amend the Criminal Code
Act Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria, 2004, passed through second
reading in the Senate last November. The
bill, sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu,
seeks to delete portions of sections 218 and
221 and amend the definition of rape as
contained in Section 357. When passed
into law, rape in Nigeria, like America, will
now be recognized as asexual crime
against both men and women. But until
our criminal code is amended, Nigerianbased
men should know that they cannot
be raped, no matter the level of sexual
assault and onslaught. So mind the
company you keep. Also, since rape
scarcely occurs in public, mind those you
share private moments with.
The amendment of the criminal code will
provide legal recourse for many men. In
homes and offices, drivers, domestic male
staff, junior staff and agile and handsome
young men are being allegedly sexually
exploited by oga madam at the top, but
they suffer in silence. I have heard of male
staff, who were victimised because they
refused to sleep with their female bosses.
These are clearly cases of sexual
harassments. But like women, who are
sexually assaulted, they prefer to be silent.
Is it because of stigmatisation or they fear
nobody will believe them. When the bill is
passed and signed into law, will male
victims of sex abuse be encouraged to
come forward?
Law or no law, it would be more difficult
for men to establish a case of rape. I can
imagine lawyers tearing their cases to
shreds in court. The definition of rape
includes penetration. A man musters an
erection and penetrates a woman, yet he
is the rape victim; lawyers will probe
deeper. Was there physical force, coercion,
abuse of authority? Was the man tied or
chained? Was a gun pointed at him or a
knife pressed against his throat? In that
case he should be in a state of fear for his
life? Is it possible for a man in a state of
fear to have an erection? Instead the penis
would usually shrink. While the
amendment is welcome, the problem of
men is far from over as far as rape (of men)
is concerned.
there was going to be a coup. The Premier
of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello
was also hinted by the Western region
Premier, Chief Samuel Akintola.
Some 24 hours to the coup, Akintola, was
in Kaduna and spent time at the Premier’s
lodge with Brig. Sam Ademulegun,
commander, One Brigade, Kaduna.
Akintola wanted them to escape to Niger
Republic. The Sardauna refused.
Zik quietly went on medical leave abroad.
His doctor, Humphrey Idehen and ADC,
Lt. John Obada were released by the
president.
While Awo was in detention, his party,
the Action Group and Zik’s National
Convention of Nigerian Citizens formed an
alliance. According to a top member of the
NCNC, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Awo
enjoyed some benefits.
The Eastern region government under
Chief Michael Okpara pleaded with an
Igbo house owner who lived across Uyo
prison to vacate the house for Awo. Every
night, Chief Awolowo would sleep there
only to go back to jail next door in the
morning.
Mrs Hannah Awolowo was placed on
ministerial salary by the NCNC
government and Chief Awolowo had
domestic staff whose wages came from
Enugu.
There was soft spot for Awo especially
after he lost his first son, Segun, in a car
crash on July 10, 1963. He heard the news
on radio while serving at Broad Street
Lagos Prison.
Ademoyega was from Ode Remo, close
to Awo’s Ikenne. Ifeajuna taught at Ilesha
and was at the University of Ibadan with
Awoists like Bola Ige and Wole Soyinka.
Nzegwu’s wife was Aina, a Yoruba.
Even when the majors handed over to
Gen. Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi, the man
tasked with investigating them, Lt.col
Yakubu Gowon, slowed down. Later he
chose Awo as his Number Two.
Everything was done to make Awolowo
Prime Minister. It was Ifeajuna’s job to
spare Balewa. He claimed he did. Balewa
was later found dead. Awolowo was
released, after another coup.

Many have no hope in Hope
Uzodimma. He doesn’t inspire
confidence. Many doubt he has
genuine claims to the mandate,
despite the Supreme Court. But the
mandate legally is his now. The law is
such an ass, his opponents will say.
Hope Uzodimma must know that his
reputation has holes. It has to be
patched, stitched with exemplary
performance . Beer parlors are filled
with gossips about his past. So he must
rise to the occasion and confound
doubters. And confound those who
have said that the Supreme Court has
pushed Imo State onto a ‘one chance’
Danfo bus.
We all knew Ihedioha himself didn’t
win the elections. We had watched
one Professor Otunta, a professor of
mathematics, who could not work out
what the two thirds of 27 was, hand
him a mandate he didn’t deserve. A
professor in broad day light confused
school children with his abracadabra
mathematics and announced Ihedioha
winner of Imo governorship elections.
And Ihedioha, well aware that he had
a dubious mandate, marched around
like an emperor, intimidating his
political opponents and indulging
himself in building 27 fancy stadia
when there were 27 general hospitals
waiting to be equipped. The gods must
have been livid.
Hope Uzodimma must understand his
handicaps. Ngige understood his
when he broke from his godfather and
became a political cow without a tail.
So he started mopping the mess of
the Okija shrine and doubts about
whether he was a man or a houseboy
with solid roads and sensitivity to the
cries of the people.
Hope Uzodimma must forget his
political hunchback and run with the
people. He has been around for a long
time but he has not been known for
any political virtues or for
foresightedness. He may have excelled
in notice—me philanthropy but he
has an opportunity to prove the
skeptics wrong and show them he can
be a genuine and honest leader.
I have seen Rochas Okorocha
jubilating. Hope Uzodimma should
reconcile with Rochas Okorocha and
The orchestrated phase one China-
United States trade deal that
would partially suspend trade tariffs
was signed last Wednesday in
Washington. President Trump and
Chinese Vice Premier Liu. He signed
the new, fully-enforceable Phase One
Trade Agreement at the White House.
As part of the deal, the United States
will cut in half 15 percent tariffs
imposed on a wide range of consumer
goods imposed in September and
canceled another round that was set
to take effect in December, but others
remain in effect. China agreed to make
significant structural reforms in a wide
range of critical areas. This agreement
will begin rebalancing the trade
relationship with China and provide
new opportunity for American
businesses and farmers. In the new
agreement, China pledged to increase
imports of American goods and
services by at least US$200 billion over
the next two years, and to continue after
2021. In this deal, China will be making
purchases of United States
manufactured goods, including
aircraft, autos and car parts,
agricultural machinery, medical
devices, energy, and services.
China agreed to open its financial
services sector more widely to U.S.
firms, and to refrain from deliberately
pushing down its currency to gain a
trade advantage. The deal includes
pledges by China to forbid the forced
transfer of American technology to
Chinese firms as well as to increase
protections for U.S. intellectual
property. China and the United States
have been locked on issues of trade
war. President Donald Trump belief
was that for over 25 years China was
killing the United States with unfair
trade deals; allegedly taking hundreds
of billions of dollars out yearly, and
stealing intellectual property. Section
301 of the United States Trade Act of
1974 allows the president to levy
sanctions against countries that break
trade agreements or respond to unfair,
Hope Uzodimma: Let’s hope
he proves us wrong!
rebuild the party in the state.
But he must be careful in his
romance with Okorocha. He must not
adopt Okorocha’s Okachamara
attitude and run another one man
show bereft of standards and
coherent policy making. Hope must
run a transparent government that
relies on the engine of the state’s civil
service and institutions. He must not
copy Rochas and run the state from
Let him tell Hope, now that
Hope has come, that the
people are watching to see
the folks Hope will
surround himself with
his family’s Obi or Ibari. He must
not emulate Rochas Okorocha and
fill Imo government with his brothers
and in-laws. He can adopt the
intensity of Rochas without
imitating him in being flighty and
superficial. I don’t have to remind
him that greed kills.
Hope Uzodimma ought to
complete the probes Ihedioha
started. And recover all stolen
assets. He cannot afford to be seen
Sino-American trade deal and
barreling crude 2020
unreasonable or discriminatory
trade practices. The Chinese on the
other hand accused America of
unilateralism and trade
protectionism measures in the
imposition of increased tariffs to
hinder China’s economic
development. The China-United
States trade war which started on
July 6, 2018 is the economic
disagreement that made the two
countries imposes import restriction
to harm each other’s trade.
Analysts say the deal stops short
of addressing the core United States
complaints about China’s trade and
intellectual property practices that
prompted the Trump administration
to pressure China for changes. To
them, the deal contains no
provisions to rein in rampant
subsidies for state-owned
enterprises, which the
administration blames for excess
capacity in steel and aluminum and
says threaten industries from aircraft
to semiconductors. It also fails to
address digital trade restrictions
and China’s onerous cyber security
regulations that have hobbled U.S.
technology firms in China. The
trade war between the two economic
superpowers had hit hundreds of
billions of dollars in goods, slowed
as the man that came to cover
exposed corruption and free
suspected thieves that had been
identified. And since Ihedioha
has set the standards, Hope must
look to see if the Ihedioha
government lived what they
preached or whether they pulled
wool over our eyes and milked it.
But he must not adopt the
Ihedioha-Jasper janjaweed
methods in the recovery of stolen
assets.
Imo needs foresightedness.
That many have no hope in Hope
Uzodimma does not inspire any
confidence. So Hope, must hit the
ground running, otherwise he
could find the ground of public
opinion slipping away from his
feet before he has even settled.
Hope can do a few things quickly
to instill hope. He must equip and
commission the 27 general
hospitals in Imo state. They are
rotting away while children are
perishing from preventable
diseases. If the state can’t run
them, he should concession them
quickly.
Imo must re organize its
ministries and agencies that went
moribund under Rochas
Okorocha. The civil service of Imo
state is a dilapidated fuelguzzling
Bolekaja. Hope must
find courage from somewhere and
prune it. It embarrasses men of
global economic growth and roiled
financial markets.
The trade war had put the global
economy in vacillation resulting in
oil supply and demand dynamics
that is in a cliffhanger. Analysts
say every twist and turn of the
trade war had enormous influence
The situation of China’s
reduced growth rate may
cause oil prices to fall in
2020
over oil prices, and the thaw in
economic relations between the two
would be a boost in 2020. The
tariff reduction between the United
States and China also points to an
easing of economic tensions. The
relationship between the two
economic superpowers is indeed,
complicated and difficult to
understand. China is a proxy party
SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—35
good conscience when at every
roundabout in Owerri 40 people, in all
kinds of uniforms, who draw salaries from
the state government, loiter, doing
nothing , begging for money in the name
of traffic control.
Hope Uzodinma must prioritize data
collection. His interventions ought to be
well thought out and evidence based.
The arbitrariness of the past must be
banished. He must seek to build a
government that has integrity.
And need I tell him? Kidnapping must
be eliminated.
Hope must not fall into the temptation
of using refusal disposal to bleed the state
like some of his predecessors. Imo is
not Rivers state. Imo does not have the
funds to be thrown around or siphoned
through bogus projects. He can keep
Owerri clean with one or two smart waste
management companies at a godly cost.
A town is an organism. You can teach a
child to dance but every child will
ultimately choose his own rhythm,
develop his own preferred dance steps.
Owerri has chosen oriri na nkwori—
hospitality. Aba and Onitsha chose
business. Hope must help Owerri become
the hospitality/entertainment
headquarters of West Africa. So the
government must help the private sector
develop capacity, brains and hands, for
five star hospitality. Open air theaters
would help. A modern city library will
help. Zoos and parks will help. Vocational
training schools in and around Owerri for
hotel and tourism will help. Oguta lake
development will improve the traffic of
tourists. He can give out free land for big
bookshops. Boxing and football matches
must come to Owerri.
He must fix Owerri roads. And fix them
to last. The Okigwe-Owerri-Orlu ring
must be done to Julius Berger standards.
And he must not forget Orodo. Biko !
Imo was a civil service state for a long
time. So it’s important that salaries of civil
servants and pensions of retirees are paid
promptly.
Father Mbaka, the fortune teller, had
told us that Hope was coming to bring
hope. Let him tell Hope, now that Hope
has come, that the people are watching
to see the folks Hope will surround
himself with. Once they see them, they
will know if they can truly hope.
in the United States-Iran feud. China is
the world’s number one oil importer and
major buyer of Iranian oil. China is
against the unilateral decision of America
to impose crippling sanctions on Iran to
curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. How the
United States punishes Chinese
companies over sanctions breaches of
Iranian oil purchase is a matter of
conjecture. President Trump refused to
deploy the security codes ordinarily at a
United States president’s disposal as
threat of war with Iran interjected the New
Year celebrations a fortnight ago. A
backlash would have lead to tensions in
the Middle East. Trump might have been
hamstrung by his 2020 re-election bid by
ensuring unfettered support for the oil
and gas geopolitics for which China
appears to be an intriguer.
Even with the trade deal analysts and
researchers project that the global
economy that had slowdown may deaden
oil demand that is witnessing surplus
crude inventory. The situation of China’s
reduced growth rate may cause oil prices
to fall in 2020. Data has shown that
growth in China reduced to 6.2 percent,
the weakest in 27 years. Oil Price reports
that oil demand slow down from a major
consumer like China, signals a slump in
prices. China’s oil demand may only grow
by 2.4 percent this year, down from 5.2
percent in 2019, according to forecasts of
China’s biggest oil firm, state-controlled
China National Petroleum Corporation
(CNPC). That will also be the weakest
growth rate since the global financial crisis
of 2008. China has amassed an enormous
strategic oil reserve in the last few years,
growing from 191 million barrels in 2015
to as much as 800 million barrels last year.
China’s import demand was bolstered by
this stockpiling; should it slow down or
cease altogether it would amount to
demand reduction. The American
Petroleum Institute (API) has estimated
surprise crude oil inventory build of 1.1
million barrels for the week ending
January 10. The shale drillers are
contributing significantly even with
financial challenges.

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
Personal judgment is all a
leaders’ legacy depends on.
Why would he accept a particular
suggestion, obey or spit on the National
Constitution, appoint officials in a peculiar
Federalism like Nigeria’s? It is even a
matter of personal judgment to fulfil or
disregard campaign promises because of
which the electorates voted him into office.
Every decision will elicit a fall out; a
leader must remember this when decisions
are being made, because the laws of the
laws of unintended consequences.
President Mohammadu Buhari’s
handlers now appear to live in denial. On
January 10, 2020, THISDAY newspaper’s
Shaka Momodu wrote a searing opinion
piece; General Buhari; “The General is
Divider-in-Chief.” He said, “Without
mincing words, Major-General Buhari is
arguably the greatest single threat to
Nigeria’s unity. In case he doesn’t know,
the misplaced optimism and hopes that
brought him to power have since
evaporated. His ways reveal a caricature
of a messiah with a deeply clannish agenda,
a tribal lord with nepotism flowing through
his veins—a man with a medieval mindset
who has destroyed the little progress
recorded prior to his ascension to power.
Many are wondering, how someone that is
promoting divisions by his actions,
inactions, appointments, utterances, etc.,
be preaching unity?”
Anyone could see that at the heart of Mr.
Momoh’s rendition is nothing but terrible
disappointment that a leader that was
supposed to be the nation’s messiah has
become a burden on the country. And when
a country as perilously disunited as
Nigeria is not being healed but its problems
are being exacerbated, then that country is
being murdered. The writer, situated his
anger: “It is ironic that he is urging us not
to allow Boko Haram divide us when he is
doing same. No one is guiltier of dividing
Nigerians than General Buhari, whether
along ethnic or religious lines. It is this
man Buhari, who has put a dagger on the
things that hold us together by his policies
and appointments. He declared from the
outset of his regime that he would pursue a
policy of 97 percent and 5 percent and
proceeded to implement his regime’s
policies and appointments on that basis.
His high-profile appointments to strategic
national parastatals are so lopsidedly in
favour of his tribal/ethnic/religious stock
almost to the total exclusion of other parts
of the country such that even his most rabid
supporters and defenders are now too
embarrassed to defend him. The more he
is criticised for his insensitivity to the
principle of federal character as enshrined
in the constitution, the more adamant and
brazen he has become on his singleminded
focus and obsession with his ethnic
and nepotistic agenda to foist dominance
on other parts of the country.”
President Buhari’s Spokesman, Mr. Femi
Nigeria:Fragmenting agmenting under
Buhari’s watch
Adesina replied with: “A Columnist as
Hater in Chief.” In that reply he provided
a serious addendum to the greatest
misstatement Buhari ever made, an
addendum that would or should have
redeemed that statement, if only it
received equal attention. Unfortunately,
it didn’t.
Adesina’s explanation:”The columnist
was referring to what the President said
in the early days of his administration,
as he met with Nigerians In Washington,
United States of America. He said in
rewarding those who voted for you in
any election, it stood to reason that those
who gave 97 percent of votes should get
more positions than those who gave 5
percent. But he ended by
submitting:”The Constitution forbids
me from such, and I won’t do so.”
Adesina did well to situate that
unfortunate statement and to supply its
full version that should have put the
President in good light. He even
recounted the indices of Buhari’s
appointments, pointing out that Ogun
state got 21 appointments, Imo and
Kano came second with 15 each. Poor
Katsina, the President’s own state tied
with Edo with just 14 each. But has
Buhari and Adesina asked themselves
why some Nigerians have been accusing
the President of lopsided appointments?
And often, they have pointed at the
deciders of Nigeria’s national security
fate, those who sit at the Security
Council. Does the make-up of that sector
of the administration indicate that
Federal Character was recognised?
From there, others have looked at the
members of the top echelon of both the
police and the military. The truth is that
Buhari would never have been
responsible for the fact that Northerners
make up a large percentage of the
present crop of commissioners of police,
more than Southerners, because what
caused it has been in force well before
Buhari became president just five
years ago. Unfortunately, the attacks
by suspected herdsmen, all across the
country, and the disappointments
Nigerians have felt over the way that
challenge is being handled, has
exacerbated Nigeria’s age old
ethnicity problem. Hey, there is an
His high-profile
appointments to strategic
national parastatals are so
lopsidedly in favour of his
tribal/ethnic/religious stock
almost to the total
exclusion of other parts of
the country such that even
his most rabid supporters
and defenders are now too
embarrassed to defend
him
important point here; the ethnicity
problem has increased instead of
decreased —under Buhari’s watch. So,
he bears the blame.
Yet, why should he be blamed? The
answer is that he is Mr. President. Now,
I return to a leader’s decision making and
their effects—which kicked off this article.
Nigeria spent Buhari’s first tenure in office in
a rancorous give and take over Cattle Grazing
lands, Cattle Colony and Cattle Routes,
Grazing Reservations and RUGA. There was
no healthy and unifying discussion to show a
nationalistic answer to a national problem
was on. None. Now, Buhari has, by
presidential order, made it possible for
Africans to come to Nigeria and receive visas
on arrival. What informed such a momentous
decision? What does Nigeria stand to gain
from that order? Was it discussed with the
beneficiary countries? Has even Femi Adesina
himself understood what Nigeria stands to
gain from such? And was Buhari that made
the order not the same Buhari that has said
again and again, that lack of water at the
Lake Chad Basin has worsened the cattleherders
versus the farmers clash all across
the country? Has that problem been solved?
Would it not be worsened if Africa’s farmers
amass in Nigeria? How many African
countries will grant Nigerians visas at the
Airports? One day officials would argue that
ECOWAS protocol allows free movement
within member countries, and the next
moment we would shut our borders.
Now, has Nigeria been progressively united
or fragmented since Buhiari’s Presidency
incepted, and has the national insecurity,
which Buhari promised to rein in been
checked? What does the kidnapping and
armed robbery indices say? What about Boko
Haram attacks and brutality? We rightly
blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan
when the Chibok girls were kidnapped, but
recently Catholic Seminarians were abducted
in Kaduna. Should President Buhari not be
equally blamed? And if not, why not?
Now, dear Femi Adesina, you must
remember whose election promise included:
“Consult and amend the Constitution to
enable States and Local Governments to
create City, Local government and State
Policing systems, based on the resources
available at each levels, to address the
peculiar needs of each community. I will
therefore work with the National Assembly
to set and revise, when needed, boundaries of
operations, for Federal, State, and Local
government policing units, through new
Criminal Justice legislation to replace the
Criminal Code, the Penal Code and the Police
Act.”
If Buhari or the APC promised that, why did
the Vanguard newspaper of Wednesday,
January 15, 2020 report this: “Uproar, as FG
declares Operation Amotekun Illegal?” The
question now should not be whether vigilante
Amotekun formation of the South-West states
is illegal or unconstitutional, but why for all
of five years, such powers have not been
devolved to the states, especially as reports
like “Gunmen Kill 35, kidnap 58 in Kaduna,”
in the Vanguard newspaper of same day
keep coming.
How Christians are persecuted
in Nigeria — Christian group
By Sam Eyoboka
THE North East zone of Christian Social
Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) has
lambasted the Director of Muslim
Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola
for insisting that Christians were not being
persecuted in Nigeria. The Christian group said
Prof Akintola is a Southern Muslim who may
not have lived in the north to witness the
persecution of Christians.
A statement issued by the group’s spokesman,
Mr Raymond Manu Lamai accused Prof
Akintola of using provocative language in his
publication to denigrate and insult the entire
Christian population in
Nigeria.
According to the Christian
group, “for those of us who have
lived through it for almost four
decades, we have facts and
figures to place on the table
when it matters. To tell the entire
Christian people in Northern
Nigeria that they are lying
about a persecution that is so
prevalent is to stand truth on its
head and he has done so
shamelessly. He lacks the right
to comment on such issues,
while living in his comfort zone
in Southern Nigeria.
“Let true Muslims speak and
attempt a denial, then we, who
live side by side with them, will
open our records and ask them
what happened in these periods:
Kano State (December 18-20,
1980) when the Maitatsine Islamic revivalist
group attacked and killed about 4,000
Christians and burnt several Churches and
properties worth millions of naira. What was
the provocation?
“Kaduna State (October 25-30, 1982) when
Maitatsine riot consumed over 50 Christian
According to the
Christian group, “for
those of us who
have lived through it
for almost four
decades, we have
facts and figures to
place on the table
when it matters
lives; Borno State (December 26-29, 1982)
when Maitatsine killed over 100 Christians
and Churches destroyed;
Gongola State (February 15-March 2, 1984)
when Maitatsine killed over 500 Christians
and Churches and properties destroyed; I was
one of those who fled to take refuge in the
Army Barracks for three weeks. Gombe State
(September, 7-9, 2000) when Shari’a
implementation riot led to the death of 25
Christians; Jigawa State (June, 2001) where
15 Churches and 14 Pastors’ residences were
burnt down; Bauchi State (August 5, 2001)
when Muslims attacked and killed about 100
Christians and rendered 3,000 of them
refugees; Niger state (May-June,
2002) when at least 75 Christians
were arrested for opposing the
implementation of Shari’a;
Plateau State (February, 2004)
when 47 Christians were burnt in
a Church. “For want of space and
time, we have decided to give
instances from only nine states out
of the 19 Northern states.”
“Some of the affected nine states
have had repeated cases of killings
and Christian persecution since the
20th century right into the 21st
century. We have a list of 116 and
still counting of cases of aggression
against Christians by Muslims in
this country. We take it for granted
that even the blind can see and the
deaf can hear of the killings and
maiming and burning of
Churches going on in Southern
Kaduna and in Adamawa,
Taraba, Benue and Nasarawa states by
Fulani Jihadists.
“We also have it on record that there are
some areas and communities in some
Northern states like Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara
and Jigawa where Christian witnessing is
forbidden. Christian children are not given
admission in schools because they bear
Christian names. Where they are able to
gain admission into higher institutions,
they are denied high profile courses like
Medicine, Architecture, Engineering, etc.
What else is persecution on the basis of
one’s faith?
“He (Prof. Akintola) claimed that Boko
Haram was not an instrument invented
to fight Christians and Christianity in
Nigeria. This was simply because they are
not killing Christians alone, but Muslims
inclusive. We now ask who is the person
deceiving the world here? When Boko
Haram started out around 2008, it was a
full blown Islamic movement with a clear
fundamentalist ideology.
“Their Islamic zeal was so admired by
the Muslim community that the then
serving Governor of Borno State, Alhaji
Ali Modu Sherif appointed some of their
leaders into his cabinet. They were accepted
within the length and breadth of Northern
Nigeria. Key northern leaders and
politicians defended them fiercely. Some
of them told President Goodluck Jonathan
that any fight against Boko Haram was a
fight against the North. Was Prof. Akintola
in this country that time? So, at what time
did Boko Haram cease to be a non-Islamic
group fighting Muslims?
“Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko
Haram, in one of his video releases in 2012,
gave the mission statement of the group
and they have not deviated from it till date.
He said inter alia “… This war is not
political. It is religious. It is between
Muslims and unbelievers (arna). It will stop
when Islamic religion is the determinant
in governance in Nigeria or, in the
alternative, when all fighters are annihilated
and no one is left to continue the fight. I
warn all Muslims at this juncture that any
Muslim who assists an unbeliever in this
war should consider himself an unbeliever
and should consider himself dead.
“It is a stated objective of the group to overrun
Nigeria with Shari‘a. This mindset has been publicly
expressed by prominent Muslim politicians from
the North. When they started violent operation in
Borno State, Churches were their main targets. How
else do we tell Prof. Akintola and his MURIC that
Shekau said those Muslims who will not support
their cause will also become targets of their offensive
against the arna (infidels).
“Furthermore, the National Christian Elders
Forum (NCEF) had asked the question long time
ago and nobody, not even MURIC had attempted
an answer. Those who are pulling the wool over our
eyes as to whether or not Boko Haram is fighting a
religious war in Nigeria, should clarify what
Shekau’s statement above implies.
“NCEF said and I quote ‘In 1989, Islam in Africa
Organization (IAO) held a Conference in Abuja and
amongst many other decisions, released a
Communiqué tagged Abuja Declarations 1989 in
which it affirmed that its purpose was to eradicate
in all its forms and ramifications all non-Muslim
religions in member nations. Such religions shall
include Christianity, Ahmadiyya and other tribal
religions. (In the original Declaration, the word
Christianity was underlined.)
“Since Nigeria is considered a member nation,
could what is going on be an implementation of
this decision? Or, can we be corrected that the
Conference never held in Abuja in November 1989
or such Communiqué was never released? We are
also unaware of any rebuttal of the same statement
by Muslims leaders.”
“They asked yet another question that needs to be
brought to the attention of the man asking for
evidence of Islamic persecution against the Church.
‘In a 154 page Research Report conducted by Arne
Mulder in 2015, the researcher affirmed that over
13,000 Christian places of worship (Churches) have
been destroyed in Northern Nigeria as at December
2014. Under what condition do Muslim insurgents
destroy Churches if not Jihad?’ Do we need to define
Jihad for Prof. Akintola?
It is clear Prof. Akintola has a personal agenda
which includes a mortal hatred for Christians and
Christianity in Nigeria. He has a vendetta he has
nursed against the Christian faith over the years
and he is looking for means to vent it. This is what
we discovered. In an earlier unprompted publication
on December 22, 2019 which he titled “Christianity
has destroyed Nigeria, we want only Islam”, Prof.
Akintola related a 1903 British colonial authority’s
military action against Islamic uprising and
reached the conclusion that they were defending
Christian interest.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—37
HOPE UZODIMMA
in 36 hours
•A case of justice
delayed but not denied
BY DECLAN MBADIWE EMELUMBA
The final declaration of Sen Hope
Uzodimma as the duly elected
governor of Imo state came like an
electrifying thunder bolt. For a few who
had concluded that they had effectively
covered their tracks in the worst electoral
manipulation in the history of the state, it
was a rude devastating shock. For the
vast majority who had prayed relentlessly
for Justice to be served and the stolen
mandate restored to the man the people
voted excitedly for in the March
governorship elections, it was a thing of
indescribable joy.
Expectedly, three landmark signals
have emerged between the declaration of
Uzodimma as the duly elected governor
of Imo state - on January 14, his
inauguration the next day and his actions
36 hours after, to confirm to even a
doubting Thomas that Uzodimma is
indeed the Peoples
governor who has
come ready to serve
and
whose
governorship may
become the much
needed rallying point
for unity and peace
First was the
volcanic eruption of joy
of thousands of Imo
people that greeted the
judgement of the
supreme court in Abuja
which spread like wild
fire down to Imo state.
The second was the
incredible show of
support to the new
governor by the major
political gladiators,
For the vast majority
who had prayed
relentlessly for
Justice to be served
and the stolen
mandate restored to
the man the people
voted excitedly for in
the March
governorship
elections, it was a
thing of
indescribable joy
Former governor
Rochas Okorocha, Sen
Ifeanyi Araraume and
Okwumba Uche
Nwaosu. The third was
the sure footed take off
of the governor from
his swearing in
ceremony
Starting from the jubilation that
greeted the supreme court judgement, it
was evident that it was spontaneous,
sincere, even staggering. Of course the
news was expected, was even long overdue.
The expectation was high. Though it
took more than 10 months to manifest,
the victory was sweet. The patience paid
off and the joy became full. The jubilation
that attended the pronouncement of Hope
Uzodinma as the Governor of Imo State
by the Supreme Court on Tuesday was
unprecedented in the history of the State.
The crowd that came for his swearing-in
the next day on Wednesday, January 15,
2020 more than attested to the fact that
Governor Uzodinma is indeed the chosen
one whom Imo people voted for in the last
governorship election.
Contrary to the vile propaganda of the
opposition, the streets of Owerri erupted
in celebrations that Tuesday immediately
after the supreme court judgement. Most
drinking joints in the state capital did
not close for the night. Blares of horn from
motorists told the story that the real
expected change had just begun in Eastern
Heartland. Nothing was contrived.
This is not to suggest that friends of the
Ihedioha government and those who had
profited from them were happy. But they
were in the minority, dwarfed by majority
of those who voted Uzodinma
in the March 09, 2019
governorship election. They
were more than happy to
witness the reversal of events
through the courageous
pronouncement of the
Supreme Court justices.
The celebration actually
commenced from the premises
of the Apex court in Abuja.
Hundreds of Imolites had
camped out there since Sunday.
When the judgment did not
come on Monday, they were not
deterred. Only 24 hours
separated them from their
dream. They waited. On
Tuesday, the joyous news came.
They trooped out chanting
solidarity songs, trying to outdo
“Awilo” in their dance steps, not
forgetting to relay the good
news through phone calls. That
immutable celebration of
success echoed through
perseverance and absolute
faith in God.
Back in Owerri, the city wore
a festive mood. On the scheduled day of
inauguration, thousands poured into the
state capital to witness first-hand
Uzodimma’s swearing-in. From the
rustic and agrarian village of Ikperejere
in Ihitte Uboma LGA to the oil city of
Oguta, Imo people thronged the Heroes
Square in New Owerri, venue of the
inauguration. As Vanguard newspaper
reported on Thursday, people started
arriving there by 11am. Indeed by 1pm,
the scheduled time of inauguration, the
entire ground had been taken over by a
sea of human heads.
But just like what obtained the day
Governor Uzodinma arrived Owerri after
he secured the APC ticket, neither weather
nor time could stop Imo people from
seeing him, even if they could not touch
him. For six solid hours that it took the
governor to complete his engagements in
Abuja (including receiving his certificate
of return from INEC) the people waited
patiently, singing and dancing. The
manifest show of affection was touching.
Even old women were part of the crowd.
Those that came from the hinterland were
not thinking of going home. Their
thoughts were only on the man who had
previously touched their lives positively
and who was now only minutes away from
being the governor and benefactor again.
By 6pm when Uzodinma arrived with
his deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku to be
administered with the oath of office, the
crowd went wild in jubilation. “Onwa”,
“Onwa” (the praise name of the governor)
rented the air. Even the deaf and the blind
knew something was in the offing. Lo and
behold, Senator Hope Uzodinma became
the sixth civilian governor of Imo state by
popular acclaim. He became a case of
justice delayed but not denied.
As a man who came prepared to be the
governor, his acceptance speech after the
oath ritual performed by the Chief Judge,
Justice Nnadi, more than confirmed that
Imo people are now on the path of a
rebirth. Uzodinma’s maiden address
centred on his three cardinal programme
of reconstruction, rehabilitation and
reconciliation. He also harped on
accountability, reason he demanded
records of financial transactions of the
state government in the last 10 years.
Although, many media organizations
reported that the new governor has set a
machinery in motion to probe three of his
predecessors, Uzodinma simply wants
Imo people to know the true state of affairs
in government.
But one remarkable thing that happened
on that Wednesday in Owerri was that
Hope Uzodinma’s gospel of reconciliation
was given a practical expression that
signaled a fresh beginning for Imo people.
Former Governor Rochas Okorocha who
fought a bitter political war with the new
governor was present at the inauguration.
Uche Nwosu, Rochas’ son-in-law and
candidate of AA in the last election was
also there. So was Senator Ifeanyi
Araraume who flew the flag of APGA in
the said election. Other rivals from
different political divides in the state
congregated at the venue not only to give
a seal of approval and support to the new
administration but to proclaim in a loud
voice that this is the real government of
the people
As the National Chairman of APC,
Comrade Adams Oshimohle who was
accompanied by Minister of State for
Education, Hon. (Dr.) Emeka Nwajiuba,
said, Uzodinma’s victory is for Imo
people. For the records, Oshimohle’s
statement was just a reflection of President
Muhammadu Buhari congratulatory text
to the people of Imo State shortly after
the governor’s Supreme Court’s victory.
President Buhari urged the people of Imo
to see the emergence of Uzodinma as
God’s will for them. It was the same
message that Senate President Ahmed
Lawan and his deputy, Senator Ovie Omo-
Agege delivered to the people of Eastern
Heartland, urging them to support the new
governor. Indeed a former member of the
House of Representatives, Hon. Duro
Meseko described Imo people as being
lucky to have Uzodinma as governor,
saying that the man remains a highly
skilled administrator who wants the best
for them.
Apparently realizing that the new
governor wants the best for them, Imo
people comprising all strata of the society,
traditional rulers, professionals, politicians,
market women and youths turned out in
their best last Wednesday to usher in a new
governor whose vision is centred on good
governance, welfarism and accountability.
That rare show of solidarity to Uzodinma is
what a former chairman of Imo NUJ, Mr.
Innocent Igwe wants sustained. According
to him, the political and legal battles are
over. Imo should be united under
Governor Hope Uzodinma.
And within 36 hours after his inauguration
Governor Uzodimma met with relevant
stakeholders, from the civil service to all
government agencies to assure them that the
welfare of the workers and Imo people is the
main stay of his prosperity agenda.Also key
appointments for the offices of Secretary to
the state government, chief of staff, Attorney
general and commissioner for justice, as well
as chief press secretary to the governor, have
been made. By next week the governor will
address Imo people to unveil his prosperity
agenda to them.
Why Supreme
Court declared
Uzodimma winner
— Emelumba
The media aide of Senator Hope
Uzodimma, Declan Mbadiwe
Emelumba yesterday adduced
reasons that he felt informed the judgment
of the Supreme Court that declared his
principal governor of Imo State against
Emeka Ihedioha who was declared winner
by the electoral body, INEC.
Mbadiwe Emelumba, in a statement in
owerri at the weekend said the records of
proceedings at the tribunal clearly show
that all the parties,including INEC agreed
that results from 388 polling units where
Uzodimma won were unlawfully excluded
from the final tally of the governorship
result.
Emelumba said neither INEC nor the
PDP tendered contrary results from the
same booths to contradict the ones
tendered by the APC and Uzodimma and
corroborated by the Police, thus confirming
their authenticity, adding that the same
results were signed by INEC returning
officers
“Why should anybody, particularly the
national chairman of the PDP, Uche
Sokondus, deliberately misrepresent facts
by claiming that INEC cancelled results
from these booths” ,the statement said
“The truth which is public is that INEC
in connivance with PDP, unlawfully
omitted those results from Governor
Uzodimma’s scores in the governorship
election, an injustice which the supreme
court has remedied”
Emelumba wondered why those
criticising the supreme court judgement
have not paused for a second to ask how
the PDP candidate Rt Hon Emeka
Ihedioha, could have won the governorship
election with votes from only four LGA’s ,
which were nonetheless bloated out of
proportion
Emelumba advised PDP to accept the
bitter truth that it is end game time for them
and that the mandate they stole from APC
has been recovered, and stop blaming the
supreme court for their inevitable nemesis.

38—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
DELTA MONARCHS’ AWARD:
Why
Emmanuel
Uduaghan
exploded?
•Uduaghan
•His Majesty S. P. Luke
Stories by Emma Amaize, Regional
Editor, South-South, Jimitota
Onoyume, Asst News Editor (Warri),
Festus Ahon ( Asaba), Perez Brisibe
(Ughelli) Ochuko Akuopha (Oleh) and
Paul Olayemi (Sapele)
Uduaghan’s
I
unusual morning missile
T was on December 19, 2019 morning
that former governor of Delta
State, Dr Emmanuel
Uduaghan, whose re-positioning
from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
to All Progressives Congress, APC,
is not a newsflash, detonated, but
he chose to use the word “unzip” on
his Facebook post.
He started thus: “Good morning
all, I shall be unzipping a little
today, all internet terrorists must be
careful coming close to me today.”
Nobody immediately
comprehended what he meant until
he began unzipping. “Julius
Caesar’s Animal Farm and Things
Fall Apart were some of the books
we used in our literature classes at
Federal Government College,
FGC, Warri. The ‘cuts’ did not kill
Ikemefuna or Julius Caesar,” he
punched.
He added: “The shock of
knowing who inflicted the ‘cuts’
killed them. Any ex-Governor has
the capacity to ensure that his state
is peaceful, or create a platform for
crisis. You cannot fund and
mobilize traditional rulers to Asaba to spite
me.”
At this point, the picture became clearer for
•His Majesty, King
Charles Ayemi- Botu
•His Majesty, King
Emmanuel Efeizomor II
the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers
was going to honour that day the incumbent
governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the political
leader of the state and ex-governor, Chief
James Ibori and Okowa’s deputy, Deacon
Kingsley Otuaro.”
Uduaghan continued with his outburst: “All
of us get “smart cunny”. In spite of the lies out
there, I was on the driver’s seat in 2014/2015,
to midwife the current Delta
state administration. The
critical responsibility of
any State leader is to
ensure that all actions
maintain the peaceful
nature of the State. Today’s
power is not in the guns you
have acquired. Power is in
the handset we are all
Clearly, it was the
former governor’s
communication of
bottled-up
annoyance against
his successor and
traditional rulers, who
he believed were
quick to forget
yesterday
carrying.”
“In sponsoring an
action, do you assess the
ethnic and political
implications at all? Some
actions are just damn silly!
“Congrats to those being
honoured by “some” Delta
State Traditional Rulers
today! Interestingly, you are
being honoured for: Peace
and Security, human
capital development, and
Infrastructural
development. I will not
comment on Peace and
Security and human
capital development.
“Deltans know who did
what. On the infrastructural development,
those coming by air will be landing at Asaba
•HRM Ogurime-Rime,
Ukori I, Ovie of Agbon
Airport built and put into use in my
administration. Asaba Airport had transported
100, 000 plus of passengers, including every
past and current Presidents/Vice Presidents in
Nigeria before I left office.
“I wish you a great ceremony as you use the
Event Centre and Government House complex
built by my administration,” he concluded.
Almost every Deltan knows that these were
“missiles’ fired at Delta royal fathers and
Governor Okowa in particular.
Clearly, it was the former governor’s
communication of bottled-up annoyance
against his successor and traditional rulers,
who he believed were quick to forget yesterday.
However, not many blame Okowa for
whatever happened to Uduaghan, which made
him to dump PDP, they feel he brought it upon
himself. But they are also those that think
otherwise.
Governor Okowa, who took over from
Uduaghan in 2015 despite the probabilities
against him knew about his predecessor’s
explosion before he filed out with Ibori and
Otuaro for the award by the royal fathers on
December 19, but he displayed no ill-feeling.
Okowa plays down attack
Speaking at grand reception and award of
excellence organized by the Delta State
Council of Traditional Rulers, Okowa
acknowledged the role played by Ibori in
laying the foundation for the development of
the state and also praised Dr Uduaghan for
building on the initial foundation.
While charging the political class in the state
never to trample on traditional rulers in their
respective kingdoms across the state, he
lamented some instances where politicians
and non-politicians had attempted to trample
on the traditional authority in parts of the state
and urged those concerned to retrace their
steps.
He said the stools which the various kings
occupy were created by God, adding that
politicians and other stakeholders, who have
issues with any traditional ruler should take
steps to resolve such issues for the peace and
progress of the community.
Earlier, Chief Ibori who appreciated the roles
the traditional rulers play in facilitating peace
and cordial relationship in their domain,
encouraged them to sustain the peace while
government should do everything possible to
support them.
Chairman, Delta State Council of
Traditional Rulers and Obi of Owa Kingdom,
Dr Emmanuel Efeizomor II, said the governor
deserved the award for his achievements in
human capital development and
infrastructural transformation.
…calls Uduaghan elder statesman
Earlier last year, October 22, when
Uduaghan turned 65 years, Okowa paid
tribute to him, describing him as “an elder
statesman and leader of inestimable value”
whose contributions to the growth and
development of the state remained outstanding.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary,
Mr Olisa Ifeajika, he stated: “On behalf of the
government and people of Delta, it is with
profound joy and gratitude to God that I
express very warm felicitations to you on your
65th birth anniversary.”
“As an administration, we appreciate the
enormous contributions you made and
continue to make for the peace, growth and
development of our dear state through the
laudable programmes you initiated during
your tenure as Governor between 2007 and
2015.
“As we vigorously pursue our Stronger
Delta vision, we remain irrevocably
committed to a sustainable future that requires
us to open our hearts and minds to the values
of love, courage, discipline, cooperation and
commitment as exemplified by you during your
reign as Governor.
”I join your family, friends and well-wishers
to thank Almighty God for His continued
guidance, protection and provision for you in
the past 65 years of a life of many
Continues on page 39

Continues from page 38
accomplishments,” the governor stated.
Notwithstanding the good wishes, it is
apparent that Okowa and Uduaghan were
no longer enjoying a warm relationship,
especially since Uduaghan, following
irreconcilable differences between them, left
the PDP.
Political and psychoanalysts construe that
it will take a really stretched time for both
men, who were close buddies to bond together
like in the past, after Uduaghan as governor
worked for another person to succeed him,
only for Okowa, relying on political structures
outside him (Uduaghan) to outpace his
preferred candidate in the party’s
governorship primary.
Delta royal fathers never intended
to undermine Uduaghan, say HM
Ayemi-Botu, Kalanama VIII, Ukori I
ROYAL fathers in the state, who spoke to
Saturday Vanguard, said they near no hostility
against the former governor, Dr. Emmanuel
Uduaghan, saying they treasure him as they
do Okowa.
Therefore, why was he not in the roll call of
honour on that day or did Uduaghan misjudge
the monarchs?
Bringing PDP, APC together for
honour is like oil and water
Former National Chairman, Traditional
Rulers of Oil Producing Communities of
Nigeria, TROMPCON, and paramount ruler
of Seimbiri Kingdom, Delta state, His Majesty,
King Charles Ayemi-Botu, aka Lion of Niger,
presided over the Planning Committee of the
Delta Council of Traditional Rulers that gave
the awards.
He told Saturday Vanguard: “People might
look at it from a different perspective. The
Delta state traditional institution gave the
awardees because of their track records. And
also it is like blazing the trail in the annals of
the history of traditional institutions in the
country.”
“I do not think any state has done what we
did. When you have governors who
leave good legacy at the end of their tenure,
it behooves on the people to commend them.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa just did the first term
and it was quite impressive, that was why he
had to be given.
“Traditional rulers offer title to people for
services rendered even to expatriates. That is
the way to express our gratitude to spur them
to do more and also set examples for others to
follow.
Why we skipped Uduaghan
“This could be why the litany of reactions.
In my opinion, former governor, Emmanuel
Uduaghan was a good governor. He served
well. He started from the inception of the PDP
government in 1999 through his cousin and
former governor James Ibori. From 1999 to
2015, he was in government. He was first
as Commissioner for Health and the second
tenure of the government, he was sworn in as
Secretary to State Government. He became
two- time governor on the same Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP.
“I think if for any reason, it is
something one has to think on
dispassionately, Dr Uduaghan
now defected to All
Progressives Congress,
APC, and you know Delta
is PDP- dominated state. How
do you bring PDP governors
and somebody, who left to APC
to be honoured together? It is
like putting oil and water or
white cloth and oil together.
”He might be a politician
before Chief Ibori became
governor, but I do not
remember, I think it was this
civilian dispensation after
former Head of State, General
Abdusalami Abubakar (retd),
that he had positions in civilian
government. He was former
Health Commissioner, SSG
and two- time governor. See
what spurred you to that level
and he now left it and went to
APC, which is the situation, you
are honouring PDP governor,
former PDP governor and a
former PDP governor now in
APC, it does not sound well. To me, this may
not be the consensus opinion.
“Having looked at the profile of the
governor of the state from 1999 as a
Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural
Resources, Commissioner of Health, SSG
under Governor Uduaghan and a Senator
and a Governor today and development in
the state, as royal fathers, we were convinced
that in four years he has been able to
transform every sector in the state.
“Be it education, human capital
development, infrastructure, security and of
course, his relationship with traditional rulers
is a good one, we felt he needs our
commendation and that is the reason we gave
him the honour. Since he has done the first
term, our honour to him will further propel
•Okowa
When former
governor Ibori returned
from UK, Oghara Elite
and the Oghara
Traditional Council
hosted him to a church
ceremony, Dr
Uduaghan was there
and he also called
Chief Ibori our leader
Why Emmanuel Uduaghan
exploded?
him to do more in this his second term.
What about James Ibori?
“Let me say that as Chairman of the
Planning Committee, in my opening remarks
at the event, I made it clear that Chief James
Ibori was governor from 1999 to 2017 and
every politician in the state accords him that
respect as the political leader of the state,
irrespective of their political divide. If you look
at the political landscape of the state, virtually
who -is -who in Delta politics in the various
political parties see him as their national
leader. There is one thing he did while in office
that is entrenching the rotation principle.
”While leaving office he handed over to
Delta south and through the gentleman’s
agreement, he also influenced it to Delta north
though he was far away in London, he played
a major role. On the day Senator Peter
Nwaboshi celebrated his 60th birthday, right
in the church, I was there, he said in his
testimony that it was Chief Ibori in far away
in London that influenced the position of
governorship to Delta north. We
felt he had brought sanity, peace
to Delta state,” he said.
King Ayemi-Botu added:
“When Ibori came on board he
brought peace in Warri. In Edo
state here you can see the
brickbat between the governor
and his predecessor. In Bayelsa
state, they just concluded their
governorship election and do
not forget there cold war
between the outgoing governor
and the former President , then
if you go to Rivers state the
governor and his predecessor
formerly in the same party are
now in different parties and
poles apart
“We saw that it was God if
not the last election would have
been something else. In Akwa
Ibom, we see the governor and
his predecessor in a power play,
it is only in Cross Rivers that
you have tolerable crisis. We
felt Delta state is the only state
that is stable in politics and the
major actor is James Ibori,
which is why we decided to honour him,” he
explained.
His words: “There were insinuations that
we were honoring a former governor we
should have done same to Uduaghan, we never
had need for a comparative analysis among
the past governors and the government of
today. Like we always say, any government
that comes in should improve on what the
past did. We expected Uduaghan
government to do this and we saw it. We also
expect Okowa’s government to improve on
Uduaghan’s government, it is what we are
seeing. Any other government coming in after
Okowa’s government should do same. It is a
progressive curve. It is not a diminishing
curve. We honoured Ibori for the stability
he brought into governance in the state with
the rotational arrangement.”
•Ibori
Monarchs didn’t criticize Uduaghan
– Kalanama VIII
The traditional ruler (Pere) of Akugbene-
Mein Kingdom, Burutu local government
area of the state and 2 nd Vice Chairman, Delta
Ctate Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM
Pere S. P Luke, Kalanama VII, told one of
our reporters, “Well, in fairness to former
governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, no
traditional ruler in Delta state will say he did
not touch the traditional institution . Let me
put it on record that I consider myself as one
of those close traditional rulers to him when
he was governor even from when he was
Secretary to State Government.”
”We never said as governor that he did
not do anything. Let me go back memory lane.
When Chief James Ibori was governor
between 1999 to 2007, two days to his
handover, the Delta State Council
of Traditional Rulers paid a visit to him
to bid him farewell and wish him well at
his country home, Oghara, Ethiope East local
government area . I was part of the delegation.
“Then again when Dr Uduaghan took over
as governor, two days or so to when he was
to leave office, the entire Council of Traditional
Rulers met with the governor at the Banquet
Hall and as royal fathers, we presented some
souvenirs to him. We also prayed with him
because as a governor, he was very close to the
traditional rulers. We had this quarterly
meeting with him either at Government
House, Asaba or Government House Annex,
Warri.
“There is no traditional ruler that will
say he did not do anything for the Traditional
Council or the state. Like I said in my address
at the event, we were not comparing
governments. Nobody maligned him. In my
opening remarks, I made it clear that we were
not comparing governments.
”When former governor Ibori returned
from UK, Oghara Elite and the Oghara
Traditional Council hosted him to a church
ceremony, Dr Uduaghan was there and
he also called Chief Ibori our leader. The
day Chief Ovuozorie Macauly played host
to former governor Ibori , Uduaghan was
also there and said he was one of the
beneficiaries of the Chief Ibori political
family. On that day, he cautioned Deltans not
to destroy our leaders, that Chief Ibori was a
gift to Deltans and Nigerians. He admitted
that Chief Ibori made him governor.
”What we as traditional rulers have done
is a way of encouraging Governor Okowa to
do more for Deltans. It is also to spur
Chief Ibori to continue to share his
experience for the good of the state. We did
not malign former governor Uduaghan.
”I have always said I am one of the
primary beneficiaries of the Governor
Uduaghan administration. If we had the list
of beneficiaries in category, may be stage 1,
2, 3, I will say I was in stage 1. We never in any
way undermined him. In his address, the
chairman of the Council of Traditional
Rulers at the event showered praises on the
former governor.
“The governor in his address said he was
building on the legacies of former
governors Ibori and Uduaghan. So nobody
ever said Dr Uduaghan never did anything
SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—39
as governor. Olu of Warri was there, his
revered monarch and his cousin, Chief
Solomon Areyenka was there. Nobody ever
compared his government,” the Ijaw monarch
stated.
No problem with Uduaghan - HRM
Ogurime-Rime, Ukori I, Ovie of Agbon
Ovie of Agbon kingdom, HRM Ogurime-
Rime, Ukori I, told Saturday Vanguard:
“When former governor Emmanuel
Uduaghan was in office during his winding
down as governor in 2015, we honored him
and presented to him an elephant tusk as a
mark of honor. We actually do not have any
problem with him by considering if he
performed or not as it is not in the place of the
traditional rulers to decide that, but Deltans.”
“But as monarchs, from time to time, we
decide to gather together and express joy and
this was one of such times. It was not deliberate
not to honour him.
“We honoured Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as a
governor, who has performed as he is not
seeking for a third term as governor. So there
is no political undertone to it for someone to
appraise him if he has performed or not,
neither is Ibori going for any political position
in 2023. It was not a spontaneous action by
the traditional rulers to gather and come
together. Good people always find a way to
come together as a people for joy.”
“For us traditional rulers, it is not all the
time that we come together for merriment. So
we said let us bring this people (Okowa, his
deputy and Ibori) in to make merriment
together and that was what occasioned the
award.
”Okowa does not need any accolade from
anybody because he is not going for any
position at the moment. The next political
position he can go for is for President or back
to the Senate and in going back to the Senate,
its left for the traditional rulers and indigenes
of Delta north to do that, so we could not have
been involved in any politics of Delta north.
These are the things that people should know
and there is no need castigating Okowa that
he is doing this and that, as the event was
just an act of merriment,” the monarch cleared
the air.
According to him: “We did same for
Uduaghan, so I do not think it is right that
people are making a mountain out of a
molehill. Nobody is castigating Uduaghan
saying if he performed or not, as it is not the
position of the monarchs to decide on that
because we are not assessment officers, but
only used the opportunity to honour the
governor, saying you are a jolly good fellow,
let us be together.”
The monarch asserted, “And that as far as
traditional rulers are concerned, we are happy
with him (Okowa) as he has recognized us as
a formidable and useful body within the
geographical expression of Delta and has
done many things for us, just like Uduaghan,
who also did many things for us when he was
governor and we also honoured him, and
came together like this as well.”
“So, we cannot come out to start saying
this and that because we have no problem
with Uduaghan and he is one of us unless
people are trying to place a wedge between
us. We are not politicians, everybody is for us,”
he concluded.
Award not to demoralize Uduaghan,
says monarch
A royal father, who preferred anonymity,
confided in Saturday Vanguard: “Initially, the
honour was for the incumbent governor and
his deputy, but while we were embarking on
the planning of the event, someone hinted the
idea that it is good to add Chief James Ibori
because he stood out uniquely as a past
governor in the state.”
“Though we did not want him included
initially, the yes voice for him was resounding
because of his uniqueness as a foundation
developer of the state and someone, who
reached out to everyone as governor, but
unfortunately, nobody in the Planning
Committee and general meeting of
Traditional Ruler’s Council dropped another
name and honestly, Uduaghan is a personal
friend, it was not deliberate that he was left
out. “But when we realized it, we did not have
it in the back of our minds that people will
read a different meaning to it. If I had known,
I would have brought up his name to avoid all
these confusion, but it escaped me as well.
The intention was not to take him out as
someone, who did not perform. It was not a
deliberate thing to exempt him. I personally
am grateful to him and it is wrong to say that
Uduaghan was not recognized because he did
not perform.
“The event was not an avenue to honour
all governors in the state, but Okowa and his
deputy alone, I have already explained Ibori’s
name was brought in because of his
uniqueness.
“It is strange that people are complaining
because if we are to honour governors
tomorrow, I will be the first to nominate
Uduaghan, hence I do not see any reason to
castigate traditional rulers on this as it was
not in any way to slight Uduaghan at all.
“Even Olu of Warri personally contributed
to the idea, but when this idea that we did not
honour Uduaghan came in, it changed the
whole complexion of the event. If it’s time to
honour all governors tomorrow, Uduaghan
will stand out.
“We picked Ibori because of his position
and not to slight Uduaghan. I hope this
corrects the wrong impression in the public
space and it has nothing to do with his
defection from the PDP,” the royal father stated.

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
Obaseki’s reformative trajectory in Edo
The spate of development, Law and Order (Judicial and development of the state state’s judiciary is empowered
rapid industrial Reforms)
were eased out.
and laws made to prosecute
expansion and boom in There is hardly any form of Other milestones achieved by violators as part of efforts to
economic activities across the 18 development in a society where the Obaseki-led administration maintain law and order.
Local Government Areas (LGAs) the people’s actions are not towards ensuring law and order
of Edo State, distinctly marks guided by well-spelt-out legal in the state were within the Civil service Reforms
Governor Godwin Obaseki out and security guarantees to spur judiciary. The state government From the first day in office,
as one of the few conscientious growth. Governor Obaseki knew constructed the first executive Governor Obaseki identified the
performers who came into that if anybody was coming to residence for Judges in need for efficient and functional
politics primarily to serve his Edo State for any reason, Aiguobasimwin Road, within the bureaucracy as the fulcrum upon
people.
whether business or pleasure, the GRA, which is the most secured which development in the state
In the last three years of his person needs to be sure of his neighbourhood in the state, to would revolve. This is because
administration, the governor security and safety, as well as the ensure that the welfare of there is no way anyone can
through his systematic and security of his or her members of the top brass of the develop a system without first
methodological approach to investments. Coincidentally, the judiciary is well catered for. New reforming the bureaucracy that
development has journeyed on a pre-2016 Edo State was Court complexes were also runs it, hence, the need for civil
steady path to growing a characterized by thuggery, constructed, with the old High service reforms.
proactive, progressive and armed robbery, hooliganism, and Court revamped.
The governor commenced the
productive state. This is evident brigandage, where various nonstate
actors seemed to have Division of the
ensuring that those
The Benin
civil service reform by
in the massive improvements
recorded in social welfare, annexed different segments of the Industrial
who work hard for the
economic growth, governance state to themselves. This climate Court was
growth and
and infrastructural projects of fear and terror was an created, with
development of the
across various facets of the state. immediate variable of the governor
state were assured
To achieve this, Governor disinclination for investors. building an
financial security by
Obaseki, as a first line of action The governor started with the Industrial
way of ensuring that
in November 2016 when he removal of individuals and Court Complex
their monthly salaries
assumed office, identified groups who posed as warlords to and donating The governor started and other emoluments
different sectors that required collect revenues on behalf of same to the
are paid promptly. As
transformation and set to work local governments, with 90 court. This with the removal of a matter of fact, on the
on them. Among the governor’s percent of the revenue they collect makes Edo the individuals and groups 26th of every month,
six thematic pillars through ending up in their private purse; 2nd after who posed as warlords to all workers in Edo
which he is driving reforms proscription of the Community Rivers State to
State get their salaries.
across the state is the Development Associations (CDA) donate a court
collect revenues on behalf Pensioners aren’t left
commitment to ensuring law to check land grabbing and other building to the of local governments, with behind in this reform
and order (judicial reforms) and menace perpetuated by the CDAs, f e d e r a l 90 percent of the revenue as they receive their
enlivening the civil service (civil and the Edo State Traffic government.
pensions as and when
service reforms).These are in Control and Management Stenography
they collect ending up in
due. This doesn’t only
addition to radical Agency (EDSTMA) was set up to machines and their private purse sustain the pensioners
transformation spreading across bring order to the metropolis. The other modern
but provides hope for
basic education, primary health state government also launched equipment
civil servants who are
care, sports development, urban a security architecture codenamed
Operation Wabaizigan, trained for efficient, fast and service, their emoluments will be
were procured and court clerks assured that once they retire from
renewal, security, job creation
and industrialization, among while non-state actors that were seamless judicial process. The promptly paid. It therefore helps
others.
hitherto obstructing the peace governor has ensured that the them to be more patriotic,
focused and dedicated to the
work knowing their future is
secured. The pension reforms in
the state have also helped in
clearing the backlog of pension
arrears accumulated for almost
20 years before the current
administration. Workers in the
state have been migrated to the
contributory pension scheme.
The success of the scheme at the
state level has inspired the
extension of the scheme to the
local government level.
To improve the productivity of
any person, one of the things you
must consider apart from
enumeration is the environment
where the person operates. That
is why the Godwin Obaseki-led
state government embarked on
massive construction of new
offices and secretariats for the
workers,
including
the completion of the Blocks
C and D in the Secretariat
Complex with the Treasury
Building , which was abandoned
for over 40 years.
The governor also ensured that
workers progress within the civil
service on the basis of merit and
professionalism, taking the
minds of the people from the agelong
malpractice where people
get ahead appointments and
promotions on the basis of
favouritism. Governor Obaseki
entrenched a system where
everyone is given an equal
opportunity to advance in their
careers based on excellence at
work, efficiency, effectiveness and
performance, creating a new
spirit among the workers.
It is an obvious fact that no one
can give what they don’t have,
hence, workers will be able to
deliver and perform to the extent
of their skills and
knowledge. In driving this, the
governor ensured the
construction of a training centre
for public servants, named the
John Oyegun Public Service
Training Centre, where workers
in the state’s civil service are to
be consistently trained on a
weekly, monthly, quarterly and
annual basis. These trainings are
essentially for retooling and
equipping workers with the right
skills and capacity to do their
jobs.
The productivity of the civil
service in Edo State today is at
unprecedented level.
Consequently, more women are
growing in service, unlike like
what was attainable in the past.
Edo State, perhaps, has the
highest number of women
Permanent Secretaries in
Nigeria. This is basically
because everyone is given equal
opportunity to soar based on
competence and capability.
No wonder the state is flying
high compared to its
contemporaries. Currently, in
Edo State, all that is been heard
are the echoes of Obaseki’s
transformational reforms and
policies, which are tied up to an
organic whole of a systemic plan
to better the lives of Edo people.
Governor Obaseki is not just an
exemplar but an enabler of good
governance.
Fast Facts on EdoBEST
Schools Renovated -
240
TEACHERS TRAINED -
11,300
PUPILS’ RECORD CREATED -
300,000
SBMC MEMBERS TRAINED -
11,688
SCHOOLS COVERED -
900
BOOKS DISTRIBUTED -
1,300,000

AVCIN seeks collaboration to
achieve national peace and unity
*Promotes economic devt in Nigeria
Stories by Moses Nosike
Anon profit and non partisan
body, Ambassadors of Voice
of Change Initiative
Nigeria (AVCIN) established to
pursue national peace and unity for
the benefit of Nigerian citizens and
for political, social, economic and
cultural development had
commenced a national awareness
in the six geo-political zones of the
country to create awareness on how
Nigerian ethnic groups can live
together as one being concerned by
the unity of the country and
uncomfortable with recent hate
speeches making waves in the
country has called meaningful and
good people of Nigeria to support
this initiative so that Nigerians
would forget their differences and
pursue peace and unity which is the
only thing that can keep the country
together.
On a public presentation in Lagos
on the initiative, the group presented
a documentary before media men
how they toured the six-geopolitical
zones teaching Nigerian children
how to promote and live in peace
with one another.
At the presentation, Vice President
of the group, Andy Chukwu said that
AVCIN was established in 2017 for
the purpose of initiating change in
our national life – in the political,
social, economic and cultural
contexts. “We are desirous of positive
change in and for our beloved
country, Nigeria thus our
determination to be on the
vanguard of pursuit of excellence in
the country”.
According to Chukwu, to
continually accomplish our
objective of achieving a societal
change through attitudinal
behaviour and reorientation, we
engage in community mobilisation,
public awareness, collaborations
and outreach programmes.
“We espouse the gaps that expand
our religious and tribal divides, and
Barbers who participated at
the annual J. Green
Mbadiwe and Sons barbing
competition recently smiled
home with bags of goodies. The
competition is in conjunction
with Wahl Clippers, an
international leading brand in
the male grooming industry.
Now in its 28th edition, the
competition recorded a high
number of participation, with
over 200 barbers from Lagos
state gathered at the Murphy
Hall in Yaba area of Lagos to
vie for a spot. Only 12
participants however were
eligible in the contest through a
lucky dip.
Of the 12 contestants, two were
females; they were given 15
minutes to create impressive hair
designs on their models. The
participants were judged by a
group of five who are experts in
the barbing field and evaluated
their work based on hygiene,
creativity and speed.
At the end of the day, Bashiru
Abolore from Mafoluku in
Oshodi-Isolo Local Government
Area emerged the first prize
winner. The judges praised him
for his creativity and cleanliness.
He was rewarded with two Wahl
clippers (super taper and
detailer), a barber chair and
Left to right: Engr Dare Isaac Makanju, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Ekiti state government. Engr Bankole Oluwadare, Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development, Ekiti State Government. Anne Duval,
Academy Director Jacobs Engineering SA (JESA); Oluwatoba Asana,
Production and Technical Manager, OCP Africa Nigeria; Engr Olubusoye I.
Aduralere, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ekiti state
Government at a three-day Project Management Training programme organised
by OCP Africa Nigeria for its partners in Abuja.
for us, the aim is to ensure that
Nigerians live freely, peacefully and
united wherever they choose to
reside within the country. We
collaborate with strategic partners,
groups and importantly, relevant
government agencies, NGOs, Civil
Society, faith based and security
organisations to ensure that a good
number of people get our message
of peace and unity”.
Chukwu said, “It is a common
knowledge that tribe, ethnicity and
religion have divided us more than
they should have united us.
Oftentimes, the songs of war,
violence and separation are so
deafening that one wonders if
Nigeria will ever remain one united
nation. There is fear too that
Nigerians hardly co-exist or habit
peacefully. There is also concern
that Nigerians do not live in peace
in places other than their states of
origin. AVCIN therefore undertook
the national peace project to show
peaceful co-existence among
Nigerians across the cities and
towns in the nation.
He said that though there may be
pockets of problems as typical of
humans, but the issues are usually
exaggerated. “It is to dispel these
negative narratives about Nigeria
that AVCIN engaged in this peace
project. We went round the states to
see things for ourselves. We
interviewed people – big, small,
private and public personalities –
just to hear from them. So, we went
to Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Calabar,
Bauchi and Abuja. The reasons for
this effort are to among others
dismiss erroneous narratives
portraying Nigeria as a violent
nation and also promote the
investment opportunities in the
country before the international
community
Mbadiwe empowers artisans with tools, cash prizes
Group photograps of artisans
during empowering exercises
in Lagos
N50,000 cash prize. Taking the
second prize spot was Edonhore
Abiodun from Oshodi-Isolo
LGA. He went home with Wahl
Super Taper clipper, a barber
chair and N30,000 cash prize.
The only female in the winning
spot was Stella Soyinka who
received N20,000 cash prize,
Wahl super taper clipper and a
barber chair.
Acknowledging the turnout at
the event, Chief Victor
Mbadiwe, the chairman of J.
Green Mbadiwe and Sons
thanked the barbers for
believing in their passion despite
the little recognition they got in
the public space. The
philanthropist is among the few
Nigerians who constantly ignite
hope in the artisans. Most of the
barbers who participated in the
competition are members of the
Lagos State Barbers,
Hairdressers
and
Cosmetologists Association
(LABHCA).
He further stated that one of
the reasons they increased the
number of prizes given to
winners in this edition was to
encourage them.
SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020—41
Stanbic IBTC Bank wins Best Foreign
Exchange provider award
S
tanbic IBTC Bank Plc, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc,
has emerged the Best Foreign Exchange Provider in Nigeria at the
Global Finance World’s Best Foreign Exchange Provider Awards. The event
held at RSA House in London recently.
Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc won the award having performed excellently in
the following areas, customer service, scope of global coverage, transaction
volume, innovative technologies, competitive pricing and market share.
The panel of judges at the Global Finance award also considered various
inputs from industry analysts as well as corporate executives and technology
specialists.
Headquartered in New York, with offices around the world, Global
Finance awards identifies and awards top performers among banks and
other providers of financial services.
The best performing financial institutions are recognized at three levels:
global, regional (continent) and country. Standard Bank, the parent
company of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, was awarded as theBest Foreign
Exchange Provider for Africa at this year’s awards.
The Nigerian Capital Importation reports of the Nigerian Bureau of
Statistics identified Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC as attracting the highest
volume of capital investments into Nigeria in the second and third quarters
of 2019.
How Estate coy is creating affordable
luxury
he Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Gtext Homes
TMr. Stephen Akintayo has reiterated that the vision for Beryl Estate is
to create affordable luxury.
He made this known at the maiden edition of Red Fest family festival
organized by Beryl estate at a private beach around the estate.
According to him, the estate gave birth to the vision of Red Fest. “We
thought of where people would like to go during Christmas and New year
celebration, we realise that Eleko beach is popular and people would have
to pay a thousand naira to access it, so we decided to create the same
ambiance opposite our estate to have people come around to eat, drink
and also get the vision of owning property in the new year.”
He added that plans were ongoing to buy more property along the area
to create a resort and build a pedestrian bridge from the estate to the resort.
“One of the things we are going to pride ourselves on, is to be the biggest
green estate because we have our estate in Ikorodu, Atan, Abuja and other
locations coming up and we are going to be self-sufficient in electricity.
Some of our designs have trees and we want it to be as green as possible.
There will be swimming pool and since there is a lot of water around here
we are looking at creating artificial lake.”
Reacting to question on duration of the project, Mr. Akintayo explained
that the project had a 3-year lifespan, adding that the construction phase
would be delivered by 2021 and expected to be fully habitable by 2022.
“Statistics show that by 2021 over 200000 new jobs would be created in this
community that is why we are advising people to come and invest here now
and get value for their money. If you build your house here and you are not
ready to live here then you can lease it out.
In addition, Chief Executive Officer, Ufitfly limited, Mr. Ajibola
Ogunkeyede, said that in the last one year of his organisation’s partnership
with Gtext Homes, “Prospective customers would not only buy property
but also travel to any of their preferred destinations paid by Gtext Homes
once you buy property between January to November 2020”.
CSR: GTB’s digital play centre for children
s part of the commercial bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),
Aand digital innovation, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, has gone beyond
banking services by building the first ever digital playground for children
in Nigeria.
After a recent visit to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc’s Digital Playground
for children in Nigeria, I was moved to change the popular saying, “All
work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy,” to ‘All learning and no play
makes Jack a dull boy.’
The GTBank Play Centre which is located in Lekki, Lagos State, is
equipped with a wide range of interactive games that will give kids a fun
and immersive digital experience whilst aiding their mental and intellectual
development.
According to the Managing Director, Guarantee Trust Bank, Mr. Segun
Agbaje, some of the features of the Play Centre include the Sketch Town,
where kids can design cars, launch rockets, and bring all their sketches to
life.
He said that at the playground, children can also use the wide range of
bricks available to build whatever excites their curiosity and also express
themselves creatively by scribbling, writing and drawing on a digital
chalkboard.
“The GTB play centre is positioned as ‘Africa’s first fun, safe and interactive
playground for kids offering ideal learning environment for children’s
future in many different ways.’ Children will grow in confidence as they
transfer their knowledge, skills and dispositions from one learning
experience to another through endless activities and interactions.
To play, there are rules Open to all GTBank SKS account holders between
the ages of 5-10 years, parents are required to book a visit at least 48
hours prior to the session.
Parents are allowed to bring up to four (4) children at once to the
experience which is FREE!
To participate at the centre, there are guidelines in the play centre that is
open to all GTBank SKS account holders between the ages of 5-10 years.
Also, Parents are required to book a visit at least 48 hours prior to the
session. Parents are allowed to bring up to four (4) children at once. The
experience is FREE!
Play centre allows parent to watch their children’s confidence grow as
they explore and foster their imagination through play and interaction
with other children aged 5 - 10, that is, from adventurous Lego games;
scribble and doodle their unspoken words on the great wall of PlayCentre;
design cars, build mansions, launch rockets, and colour all their sketches to
life”.
StarTimes encourages customer with
price reduction
Leading digital Pay TV Company, StarTimes has announced the price
reduction of its decoder and dish with one-month free subscription for
new subscribers effective from January 15th, 2020.
The Pay TV Company announced the price reduction from N8, 900 to N6,
900 for its DTH (Combo Decoder Only) while a combination of Combo
Decoder and Dish sells for N8, 900, a more than 30% reduction.
The company’s Public Relations Manager, Kunmi Balogun said that as a
listening organization, fulfilling its promise to customers have over the
time provided the best access to great educative, informative and
entertainment content on our platform.
“The yearnings of our customers have led to the price reduction of our
Direct to Home (DTH) Decoders which is proof of our effort in meeting the
demand of our subscribers seeking for more offerings. We believe that the
price reduction of our DTH reinforces our commitment to ensuring that
our customers enjoy the best for less”.
StarTimes have continued to deepen its dominance in the Nigerian market
with innovative moves while constantly adding engaging content in
entertainment and sports, towards expanding its market share which has
seen it grow its subscriber base exponentially.

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
By Fred Iwenjora
Before Idoreyin Ime
Umanna left the
Kwamme Nkruma
University of science and
Technology Kumasi, Ghana,
he had discovered one big
passion added to his
academic laurel. This passion
is his love for power
motorbikes.
Having bought and used over
five motor bikes and involved
in about four near fatal
crashes since he started living
his passion, Umanna tells
FRED IWENJORA all he has
done to be on top of his game
insisting that power motor
biking is still safest sports.
Enjoy.
How and when did you discover that
you love the motor bike to this level?
It was while I was at the Kwamme
Nkrumah University of Technology
Kumasi Ghana that I discovered that I
loved the two wheeled machine. I actually
started to bike in 2003 when I began to
see riders in school, some of them
Nigerians and others Ghanaians. I loved
the character of the riders because there
seemed not to be issues about nationality.
The bike unites all. Bikers stick together
because we all want and love to ride.
But motor biking is a dangerous sport
do you agree with me?
Life is dangerous on its own so one
cannot just say biking is dangerous. People
have died in the soccer field before. I am a
sportsman because I have played basket
ball, been in swimming, badminton and
all. But I found biking and stayed.
Why?
I discovered that biking helps me pump
up my adrenaline and it exercises me at
the same time. When riding a power bike,
you use all the muscles of the body. Believe
me if you ride a power bike for an hour,
you will understand. Every part of your
body would ache. While driving a car, one
is just sitting down but with a bike, you
have a lot of power you are controlling.
There must be categories of power
bikes..could you throw some light?
We have 250, 400 and other horse power.
You also have 600, 750, 1000, 1200, 1800
upwards. If someone sits on a machine that
practically has no weight when it is in top
flight motion, moving at a speed of 1000
horse power, It is more or less crazy. The
rider could hit 200mph in about 10/15
seconds. Oh, it’s a lovely experience.
However the bikers rule does not allow
that. The rule tells you to look out for
08033039599
frediwenjora@yahoo.com
After four near
fatal crashes,
biker still insists
motor biking’s
safest sport
fellow riders
and other
motorists.
We also tell
o t h e r
motorists to
be careful
and watch
out for
bikers.
H o w
morbid you
sound..any other so
called risky sports you do?
But I tell you motor biking is not risky
as long as you are careful. As long as
you are not drunk, if you are careful, then
you are ok. If you did not drink and get
drunk, you will pick up your bike and
zoom, you go. You can drink but don’t get
drunk and get on your bike. However if
you get drunk, your fellow riders won’t let
you go home on your bike. They will put
the person on a keke or taxi to be taken
home. If he is struggling we hold him
down. This has happened severally. The
victim will get sober next day and return
to pick up his bike.
Since 2003, how many bikes have you
used?
This is my fifth motor bike. I bought my
first bike in 2003 and used it for six months.
I used it to learn. I had some few friends in
Accra who taught me how to ride. They
are power bike mechanics. I started riding
bigger bikes with them and soon got tired
of the one I bought.
Must be expensive to buy and to
maintain?
Well..if you say so. But I agree there are
more technical issues with a power bike
than most other smaller bikes. However
they come in parts and each bad part is
removed and replaced.
Honda was my first bike. It was what
we call a street bike. The hands are
straight. I bought it for 2000 dollars. But I
soon got fed up with it.
My next bike was a Kawasaki 400cc. I
bought it for same price as the first. Then
I changed to another much more
aggressive Kawasaki, super sport. I
wanted more aggression. It was faster than
all I had ridden before then. After this I
went to Yamaha 400cc which I sold in
Ghana before leaving the country upon
graduation.
Now I have a very modern Yamaha 600cc
which I got for N1m. I am still enjoying it.
How often do you ride?
Very often. If a friend has an event, we
ride to the place to support him. If the event
is in Enugu or PH or Calabar, we cruise to
the place.
Does speed limit mean anything to you?
Oh yes I have always done 200kmph. I
have never tried to go beyond. I do not see
the point of doing that after all we are not
in any racing competition. You still meet
up with the others who zoomed past you. I
have done from Uyo to Calabar in 35
mins. I did Uyo to Port Harcourt 1hr and
10 mins due to the many checkpoints and
speed bumps.
You have not dared to ride from Uyo to
Lagos?
Not yet. It will be very stressful and far.
You are bending all through the long
journey. Your neck, hands and entire body
will bruise. One day I will do that and that
is when I get a bigger bike. I will get a
bigger bike definitely.
Has it been smooth cruising all the way
and no mishaps and accidents?
Yes I have had many accidents. (opens
his shirt to reveal scars). About four times
in all. I had three accidents in Ghana and
one in Uyo. The first accident was while I
was learning to ride in Ghana while
others happened later. No one prays for it
but anything can happen.
Tell me more about Blazing Wings
Motorcycle club.
When I returned from Ghana, I was
riding solo until a fellow rider told me
about a club. He talked about holding
meetings in my premises and I agreed.
Before then, only the Millenials club
existed. We actually split from them. We
are however members of the larger Akwa
Ibom Bikers forum.
Since we formed
about 4 years ago, we
have hosted clubs
from Calabar and Port
Harcourt.
What about Akwa
Ibom bikers
forum…
Akwa Ibom Bikers
Forum is a forum for
all bikers in Akwa
Ibom state. There
are about 40
bikers in the
forum. It is
made up of
bikers from
other clubs in
the state
including
Blazing Wings
motorcycle
club and
Millenials
Motor cycle club.
We meet every last
Sunday of the month to
discuss our affairs. We are actually united
by our love for the motorbike. Bikers are
free to join.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020 — 43
What does the future
hold for Ebuehi?
Super Eagles right-back
Tyrone Ebuehi made a
switch to Portuguese side
Benfica in 2018 following his
wonderful display with Eredivisie
side Ado Den Haag.
The move was hugely celebrated
by the Super Eagles fans with many
taking to soccer prediction site for one
of more bets on his performances as
it will give them the chance to see one
of their favorite player’s features in
the highly-rated Champions League
competition.
The Netherlands-born fullback
whom gooner news revealed had a
great time with the Super Eagles
during 2018 World Cup in Russia,
and Benfica fans couldn’t wait to see
the player report to camp ahead of the
2018-19 season.
Knowing well that he needed to
win his new manager’s trust to
become a regular figure in the team’s
starting lineup, Ebuehi quickly
team-up with his new club in
preparation for the season.
Unfortunately, the player’s
greatest nightmare resurfaced once
again as he picked up a long-term
injury which ruled him out of
the whole season.
According to the
club’s medical team in
July 2018, the player,
who is valued at •700k,
suffered a Cruciate
Ligament Rupture, which
required him to remain in the
recuperating room for 11 months and
20 days.
Ebuehi’s dream of becoming an
undisputed starter in Benfica’s team
was ultimately cut short by the
unfortunate injury as he spent the
whole season on the sideline.
Internationally, the injury
ultimately prevented the young man
from being Gernot Rohr’s favorite
right back ahead of Ola Aina, who
couldn’t make it to Russia due to
intense competition for place in the
team.
11 months later, the 24-year-old
finally returned from injury with the
hope of gate-crashing Rohr’s AFCON
2019 squad list but that was too late.
In fact, the player suffered another
short-term (muscle) injury which
required 20 days of treatment.
However, Ebuehi finally returned
to full fitness but was
unable to feature in any of
Benfica’s pre-season matches
before the start of this current
campaign.
With coach Bruno Lage
already has his list of trusted
players, Ebuehi was
demoted to the youth team
to continue the season —
a decision that is totally
unacceptable for a
player of his potentials.
So far the 24-year-old
has been a regular
starter for Benfica B
side but he’s yet to
open his goal
account.
Considering
Benfica’s
form,
Tyler P
Williams of
gooner news
reckons that it
could be difficult to see
Ebuehi make his first-team
debut before the end of the
campaign.
As for the Nigeria national team,
Gernot Rohr obviously rates the
attack-minded fullback but it remains
to be seen if he will be handed a recall
By John Egbokhan
A
former U-23 striker, Bright
Edonwonyi is craving for an
invitation to play for the Super
Eagles.
With the African qualifying draw
for the 2022 FIFA World Cup set to
hold January 21 at the
Confederation of African Football
(CAF) Cairo headquarters, where
Eagles will know the three
opponents they will contend with
for the solitary ticket to the final
round, Edonwonyi has made an
to the
•Ebuehi
team
due to his
lack of
first team
actions.
Ola Aina,
on the
contrary, has
become an
undisputed
starter in the team
and his form for
Roma has equally
boosted his reputation
as one of the best
players at Rohr’s
disposal.
Chidozie Awaziem, who
has been wonderful as a
makeshift right-back, is also an
important and regular player at
Spanish side CD Leganes and he is
unlikely to be dropped by Rohr.
As things stand, Ebuehi’s future
for both club and country looks a bit
gloomy and he needs to find a
solution as soon as possible. Should
he force a move out of Benfica to save
his future? Only time will tell.
His side will be returning to action
this weekend with our soccer
prediction site, you can be
guaranteed wining some couple of
more bets and be smiling to bank
every Monday morning!
Give up IBF belt, wait for
Wilder or Fury, Oboh tells AJ
The WBO, IBF, WBF and
WBA heavyweight boxing
champion, Anthony Joshua has
been advised not to bow to
pressure and go ahead with a
mandatory defence fight against
Bulgarian heavyweight
champion and IBF number one
contender Kubrat Pulev. Rather,
Joshua should let go his IBF title
and wait to face the winner of the
February 22 rematch between
Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.
Reacting to the promptings of
the International Boxing
Federation that Joshua must
fight Pulev in a mandatory
defence of his IBF belt, former
British and Commonwealth
Lightheavyweight boxing
champion, Peter Oboh said,
“Joshua has no business keeping
the IBF belt if he must fight Pulev
now. He should let go the IBF
title and rather wait for the
outcome of the Deontay Wilder
and Tyson Fury rematch. He
should take his time and prepare
very well for any of them because
that would make or mar him as a
world class boxer and best
heavyweight boxer of his
Austrian-based Edonwonyi wants
Eagles call-up
impassioned appeal to Eagles
manager, Gernot Rohr not to
discountenance him in the 23-man
roster for the Mundial race.
Speaking in an interview with
Sports Vanguard, the Austria
Vienna centre forward said that
extension of invitation to new
players would deepen the
competition for places in the team,
which in turn would strengthen the
team's chances of making
lightwork of their opponents in the
World Cup qualifying race.
The former Austrian Cup
Liverpool welcome Man Utd at Anfield
•As Madrid host
Sevilla in La Liga
Football fans can look forward
to an action-packed
weekend, starting when their
favourite teams will engage in
another thrilling round of games in
the race to become ultimate
champions of their respective
leagues. All the matches will be
aired live on DStv and Gotv
In England, the pick of Premier
League matches this weekend is
undoubtedly the clash between
league leaders Liverpool and
struggling Manchester United at
Anfield on Sunday evening. The
tasty clash involving the top two
most successful teams in the
country will see them reigniting
the North-West rivalry which dates
back almost 126 years, with United
leading with 88 wins compared to
Liverpool’s 76. This game will be
live on SuperSport Maximo and
SuperSport 3.
Both teams had played out a oneall
draw when they met back in
October 2019 at Old Trafford, with
Marcus Rashford putting United
ahead before Adam Lallana pulled
Liverpool level with five minutes
left to play. A win for Liverpool in
this encounter would take them
closer to a first league title in 30
years, and Jurgen Klopp’s men will
be relishing the challenge.
Other tasty clashes to look
forward to in the Premier League
this weekend include Manchester
City’s showdown with Crystal
Palace at the Etihad Stadium today,
Watford vs Tottenham, West Ham
vs Everton, as well as a potential
thriller involving Newcastle United
and Chelsea.
Catch all the excitement of these
matches live on SuperSport .
In Italy, the pick of the litter is a
game involving Napoli
and Fiorentina at Stadio
San Paulo tonight Napoli
are still trying to find
their feet under new
manager Gennaro
Gattuso, but SuperSport
viewers will be hoping
for a repeat of the teams’
last Serie A meeting
which was a seven-goal
thriller. The Neapolitans
ran out winners in the
away game, thanks to
goals from Dries
Mertens, Lorenzo
Insigne (two) and Jose
Callejon. La Viola’s goal scorers on
the day included former Ghanaian
international Kevin-Prince Boateng.
All the thrills of this match will come
live on SuperSport Maximo.
Spanish giants, Real Madrid will
aim to leapfrog Barcelona in the La
Liga which resumes this weekend
after taking a break to accommodate
the Copa del Rey, with a clash
against Sevilla at Estadio Santiago
Bernabeu this afternoon. This clash
will give Zinedine Zidane’s team
the chance to pull ahead of their
archrivals who will begin life under
new gaffer Quique Setién, following
the sack of Ernesto Valverde.
champion said, ''every player wants
to play for the national team but not
all of us can be in the team at the
same time. When the time comes,
I would play for the team and I
believe the time has come. Even if
its does not come soon, I would
continue to work hard on and off
the pitch. When I am called upon,
I would gladly come to serve my
country''
The Edo-born forward, whose
highest market value in the transfer
window was •1.50m in June 14,
2018, said he was excited with the
quality of players in the current
Eagles side, pointing out that his
invitation to the fold would drive the
team to further success.
''The Super Eagles have a lot of
young, talented players, who really
want to show their stuff and want to
do their best for the country. I look
forward to adding my own quota to
the team because I believe that with
my qualities, things would can only
better for the national side. To play
for the team is one of my focus in
the New Year and it it comes, I
would take the opportunity''.
Edonwonyi thumbed up Rohr for
offering opportunities to previously
unknown players, noting that ''he is
one coach who is open to inviting
players with potentials to do well.
He looks at all the leagues in the
world and that is an important trait.
•Edonwonyi
generation,”
Oboh who was also the WBA
International light heavyweight
champion acknowledged the
influence of Bob Arum, Pulev's
promoter, saying Joshua must not
fall into their trap and must have
a clear head as to what he really
wants as a champion.
“Arum is a legend when it
comes to boxing promotion and
management, he was manager
and promoter of Sugar Ray
Leonard and his power of
negotiation is second to nene.
Joshua's camp must remain firm
and resolute. If Pulev's camp is
bent on fight Joshua, they should
wait for him to fight either Wilder
or Fury first.”
Continuing, Oboh said “the
best fight for Joshua now will be
either against Wilder or Fury.
That is what the boxing world
wants to see. That is the fight that
will prove so many assumptions
right or wrong. Anything less for
Joshua will be a waste of time
and energy.”
YSFON to
organise
play-off for
Ramat Cup
Youth Sports Federation of
Nigeria (YSFON) has
directed all it's state chapters
to organise play- off to select
the best players that will
represent their state at the
37th edition of Ramat Cup
International competition for
U-16 boys slated for February
6-13 in Kano State.
According to a statement by
the Federation, signed by it's
National Secretary, Patrick
Okpavuerhe, all states are
expected to organise their
play- off from January 10th –
25th 2020 after which the
name of the state's champion
accompaigned with passport
photographs of each player, a
group photograph of the
team with a form duly filled
indicating name, date of birth,
age, body weight and height
of the players with report of
state play- off and fixtures
attached to reach the National
Secretariat on or before
Friday, January, 2020.
States were also advised to
come along with their athletes
for 100 meters, 200 meters and
4x400 meters relay as there
are plans to hold the
President's athletcs
c h a m p i o n s h i p
simultaneously with the
football competition.
The statement also reminded
states that team's arrival in
Kano for the tournament is
Wednesday 5th February, 2020
just it stated that as usual
accommodation shall be
provided at school hostels for
participating teams with an
advise that state chapters
should make provision for
feeding and transportation of
their players.

44 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
We all know you. But
if you were to
describe yourself
to the younger generation
considering all you have
been through what would
you say?
Etim Esin is a Nigerian exinternational.
One of the
pioneers that travelled to Europe
with the late Stephen Keshi,
Austin Eguavoen and Samson
Siasia back in the 80s. I was also
nicknamed Maradona in
football circles. Etim Esin is who
Etim Esin is; I am what I am and
I am who I am. We were the
pathfinders of Nigerian football.
I believe it is about time our
recognition came, not when one is
dead. I have lost a lot of friends,
some we played together like Sam
Okwaraji, Stephen Keshi, Rasheed
Yekini, Uche Okafor, Thompson
Oliha, Anigala a whole bunch of my
generation, not to talk of the likes
of Muda Lawal, Alloy Atuegbu,
among others in the 70s
generation. The way our
football is going is pathetic.
But with time we will get
there someday..
What exactly is
pathetic about
Nigerian football?
When we used to play
in the local league the
stadiums were full, the
situation now is
pathetic because the
stadiums are empty,
even with modern
technology the pitches
are not even upgraded
to FIFA standard. I
think a lot of things
should be involved; the
private sector should
be involved, well
meaning Nigerians
like Femi Otedola,
Alhaji Aliko Dangote,
Mike Adenuga among
others can come into
our football if they
know that there is a
level playing field.
They can change the
face of Nigerian
football because they
are not going to be
there because of the
money but because of the passion.
In 1994 we were 5th best playing
nation in the world. Can you
compare ’94 and now? I think if we
put our acts right we will get there.
You were called Maradona
because you were considered as
good as the great Argentine soccer
idol, Diego Maradona. I remember
it was the great sportscaster, late
Ernest Okonkwo that gave you that
name. Would you say you
actualised your football potential?
No. But I don’t have any regret
because if it didn’t happen maybe I
wouldn’t be here talking with you.
It’s not everything you dreamed of
always come to pass. I dreamed of
playing for Nigeria, I played for
Nigeria. And I dreamed of going to
the World Cup but that did not
materialise. A lot of my colleagues
that made it to the World Cup have
passed away. Sometimes I look at
God and see that a lot of my
colleagues have become Pastors; like
Peterside Idah is a Pastor, Taribo West
today. Maybe, someday. I too will be
called to become a pastor.
Laughter.....
You are laughing, don’t laugh. At
times when you see what you have
been through, you just have to give
thanks to God that you are still alive
today.
You were at the U-20 FIFA World
Cup in Chile ’87 when it was
thought Nigeria assembled about
the best Flying Eagles squad ever.
What really happened in Chile that
the Eagles failed to click?
It was majorly about the incident,
the drama that happened before the
World Cup – my gun shot incident,
etc. Maybe if they dropped me and
the team travelled without me,
perhaps they could have performed
better. My inclusion caused disarray
among my colleagues. Definitely,
•Esin
I told him I wanted to go
home and see my mother
because she was sick.
When we got there, he
found out that my mother
was not actually sick, he
said, waoo this boy! I hope
you won’t kill me one day.
He said if my stubbornness
was in the blood he would
have cured it
some thought or asked was I the only
one? But here was a talent who was
on top of his game. Everybody
wanted to see me in the team, even
President Babangida wanted me to
go. So that was the amount of
pressure to have me in the team.
Eventually, things didn’t work out
fine as we lost to Brazil, lost to Italy,
we drew with Canada and were
eliminated.
After that disappointment in 1987,
I played for Nigeria in ’88 which, for
me, was a very good progress.,
because even though we didn’t click
in ’88, but then, we still have to thank
God as we struggled up to when
Okwaraji died. May his sould rest in
peace. A new crop of players came
up and used the path we created to
qualify for USA ’94. A number of us
from that batch, including Nduka
Ugbade, were dropped from the
What Abiola
promised me
—Etim Esim
•Dangote, Adenuga, Otedola can change face of Nigerian football
•Why Udemezue remains Nigeria’s best
•What makes Davido, Wizkid different from our football stars
•Not going to the World Cup my biggest regret
ne of the most gifted footballers to have come out of Nigeria in the late 80s and early 90s was
OEtim Esin. He began his professional football career in Calabar with Rovers FC of Calabar and
negotiated his way through two other local clubs before going abroad to Belgium. Just when his stock
began to rise, the unfortunate happened. Etim abandoned his blossoming career and fled to Nigeria.
That marked the beginning of his fall which eventually saw him hang his boots in 2000
unceremoniously.
Of all his disappointments, Etim singled out his inability to go to a senior FIFA World Cup as his
greatest regret. Etim spoke with Jacob Ajom. Excerpts.
USA ’94 party. Remember, if he had
gone to USA ’94, Ugbade would
have made the Guinness Book of
Record as one who competed in
FIFA U17, U20 to the senior World
Cup. But you know what? Nigeria
for what we are, they discharged the
guy and he was dropped. So I believe
at this stage, the crop of players who
have made Nigeria proud in the past
and those who have played at the
World Cup should have come
together and changed the face of
Nigeria football.
You talked about the pressure on
the coaching crew to include you in
the Chile ’87 squad and how your
inclusion caused misgivings
among your teammates. But we
also knew how coach Chris
Udemezue had special likeness for
you. Tell us about your relationship
with the coach, now late.
The advice he gave me{in terms of
discipline} all came to pass. This was
a man who had already battled with
one superbrat (Tarila Okorowanta)
before and here was another(that is
me). So he used the Tarila experience
and told me that ‘look, if you behave
like Tarila you are going nowhere.
Your career may blossom, but you
won’t get anywhere far.
Coach Udemezue was a strict
disciplinarian and a man who
always wanted something to be
right. Unlike coaches of nowadays
who will expect you to bribe them,
once he saw the talent in you,
definitely he would pick you up and
developed that talent in you. That
was one of his greatest assets. On the
whole, he was a very strict
disciplinarian. Ask all those that
passed through him in the junior
national team, they would tell you
he was the best coach we ever had.
There was a time Coach
Udemezue accompanied you to
your parents in Oron
Definitely, he went with me to Oron
to see my mother. I told him I wanted
to go home and see my mother
because she was sick. When we got
there, he found out that my mother
was not actually sick, he said, wow
this boy! I hope you won’t kill me
one day. He said if my stubbornness
was in the blood he would have cured
it, but mine was in my bone marrow
...laughter.
I don’t think any player, before or
after me has achieved that – to drag
a national team coach to your
village. That means there was
something special he saw in me. He
saw the talent and took me like his
son. He knew if I continued like that,
it was going to be a disaster.
What influenced your attitude as
a young boy and why were you so
good a talent, yet so stubborn?
Basically, football comes to me
naturally. It wasn’t that my father
wanted me to play football. It was in
1987 when I was shot that my father
had the mind to come see me. He
was never thrilled by all the hype I
was associated with . It was when I
started playing for the Flying Eagles
that he started showing interest in
my game. He was a strict
academician, an Oxford graduate
who opened school in Oron –
Technical College, Oron. He never
wanted any of his kids to be involved
in all these things like sports. I have
siblings who were born in London,
they schooled there and some of
them are lawyers, doctors. Michael,
Raymond, Ekanem and so forth;
they were all born in England and
my dad schooled there too.
I did not come from that
background of deprivation or went
into football because I could not pay
my school fees or anything like that.
I was chauffer driven to and from
school. I am not trying to brag or
make undue claims. I didn’t have that
traditional drop out background of
many footballers of those days.
Everything was on a platter of gold.
They used to carry Range Rover,
Mercedes, Volvo and drive us to
school.
So, you were a pampered child?
Definitely, I grew up being
pamapered and I was a rebel in the
family. I wanted to do things my own
way. So when football came up,
coupled with the fact that my dad
did not use to give me enough pocket
money {because he would insist until
I got good grades}, so I started
playing football and coach of Oron
Young Stars saw the talent in me and
he began giving me more money
than what my dad used to give me. I
then reasoned with myself that so if I
put my mind in playing football I
would get the financial freedom and
independence I so much cherished.
So at that tender age, I saw a pathway
to my independence through
football. That was how I became
serious playing football.
You talked about Oron Young
Stars?
That was from where I started
before Rovers of Calabar picked me
after we played against them in the
FA Cup. We beat some teams before
we faced Rovers. We played out a
draw. From there, coach Charles
Bassey just picked interest in me and
invited me to Calabar. I didn’t even
finish my secondary school because
as I dropped my biro that was how I
joined Rovers in 1984. Then people
like Keshi were already playing for
the national team. Even the problem
I had in Belgium, Keshi used to warn
me that he liked me and wanted my
progress but that the way I was going,
I was headed for disaster. He advised
me to marry and settle down. But
you know how it was at that young
age – maybe most of them didn’t
believe my age then, But I was playing
in my true age. So people were just
wondering, where this small boy
emerged from? It was rapid
progression: from 1984/85 Rovers of
Calabar, Flash Flamengoes ’86,
Iwuanyanwu Nationale ’87. So you
could see it was phenomenal.
Maybe God just slowed me down for
a reason.
You were called Maradona.
Which particular match were you
christened Maradona by the match
commentator?
I can’t even remember. Maybe it
was when the Flying Eagles played
visiting A. A. Genk of Belgium at the
national stadium, Lagos. In those
days we never went for trials abroad.
Pepsi Cola brought Genk to Nigeria.
We played one match here in Lagos
and I scored two goals and went to
Benin and I scored a hat-trick. I think
that was when Ernest Okonkwo
nicknamed me Maradona. That was
prior ’86 when Maradona ruled the
world. The comparison was just up
there, but we thank God for
everything.
Did being compared with one of
the greatest of all time actually get
into your head?
No. Never. Rather, my dream was
to play against him. That is why
missing the 1994 World Cup was very
hurting to me, especially, considering
the fact that we were grouped
alongside Argentina. That is why I
consider missing the ’94 World Cup
was my biggest regrets. Abiola had
promised me that when the 1993
elections was over, he would use his
presidential powers to see that I
became free of the problem I had in
Belgium. But it was not to be as man
proposes, God disposes. I am glad
that I am alive talking to you today.
If you wouldn’t mind. Can we go
back to Belgium? What actually
happened in Belgium?
Actually, what happened in
Belgium was racism, you know there
is racism everywhere. It happens in
boxing, basketball and many other
sports. Once they see a black talent,
they will try and do everything to
bring him down. I was one of the
best black players in Belgium, if not
the best. I am not trying to hype
myself here, It was open knowledge,

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020 — 45
•Maradona
sponsorship for our leagues? Look
at our clubs in continental
competitions, you won’t see names
of sponsors on their jerseys, even the
rights we used to get we lost because
of greed. Clubs get virtually nothing.
The biggest country in Africa does
not have its league on television. This
is where cable television makes most
of its money. In South Africa,
Supersport owns a full-fledged
football club, Supersport FC, well
financed and well maintained to
international standard. How much
is South Africa’s population? And this
is where they make their money most.
MTN is sponsoring up to the
national team. Why can’t MTN
sponsor a club in Nigeria?
But the ugly reality is
that we are not
straightforward.
Once we become
straightforward,
things will begin
to look up. I
cannot see
something white
and I call it
black. Maybe
that is why they
say I am
stubborn. I am
not stubborn but
being truthful.
That is the way I
was brought up.
Your editor, Onochie Anibeze knows
it, Mumuni Alao, he came to
Belgium he can testify to this. I was
the best. So their plot was how to
bring down this black monkey. The
girl I was accused of raping was my
girlfriend. What I did not know was
that she was underage. They called
it statutory rape or so and naively I
didn’t know. You know how fast they
grow big and I didn’t care to ask of
her age. When my lawyer came he
told me I shouldn’t have accepted
that I did it, that the girl was
underage. There was no evidence to
have proved my guilt. In my
statement I admitted due to my
naivety. If the club had given me a
good lawyer to advise me before I
wrote my statement I wouldn’t have
put that I slept with her because there
was nothing to prove, no forensic or
DNA test or anything like that. But it
was just a journey God made for me.
My experience should be a lesson to
all black players who are at their best
now; like Sadio Mane, he should be
careful. Look at what that woman
did to Eboue, took all his money and
almost caused the guy to commit
suicide. There is racism in football
and it is worse than cancer. Even in
the Premiership. Racism is
something that has not been faced
with the seriousness it deserves. It is
something Confederation of African
Football, CAF, should champion
as a body and mount pressure for
it to be stamped out because it is the
black race that suffers it most. They
will throw a banana at you or make
monkey chants.
Your experience in Belgium; could
it have been possible if it were
today?
No, I don’t think it could because
players today have managers, they
have agents. In our time, we did not
have any form of backing. We were
just out there in Europe, trying to
survive. So that is the advantage they
have now.
You came back from Belgium and
signed for a local club but things
didn’t really work out well.
But I won FA Cup for them in
1996. But it didn’t really give the lift
I desired because every player’s
dream is the world Cup. I thought I
could play my way back to reckoning
and make it to the 1998 World Cup
but you know there was power play.
I was still playing because I wasn’t
•Esin and family
banned. To give me a second chance
became a very big problem to
everybody. It would have been a
wonderful opportunity to have
played alongside Okocha and
others. But I was blocked everywhere.
Who were the people blocking
you? Was it the national team
selectors or who?
Both the national team selectors
and the NFA Chairman. You know
by then I had no godfather again. I
had become an orphan. So after the
’98 World Cup, I told myself there
was no need to continue, let me not
fall down one day and die. So I quit
football 2000, the year I had my
daughter.
Back to Nigerian football, a lot of
people believe domestic football is
dead.
It’s not true. We have a league. But
that is not enough. We have to bring
in the organised private sector. When
Wizkid or Dvido are playing where
do they go? They have Arena, Eko
Convention Centre. Where do we play
our own? Agege stadium. In the
whole of this axis, from where you
are coming to Ajah, except for
Onikan Stadium that is undergoing
renovation, did you see any playing
arena? So where is the development?
If one has to come to stadium, there
Even the problem I
had in Belgium,
Keshi used to warn
me that he liked me
and wanted my
progress and that
the way I was
going, I was
headed for disaster
has to be adequate security,
relaxation points like the
cinema, restaurant and more.
Then you will see people will
come back to the stadiums.
But if you want somebody
from here to go to Agege and
watch football he won’t
because he would consider
the traffic, the distance, etc.
That is why the music and
movie industry is growing so
fast. They have been able to
repackage themselves very
well. Before it was football.
Then you can’t compare a
musician or a movie star
with a footballer. But not
again, they have left us
behind. If you look at the
Nollywood industry, it is one
of the biggest, then look at
the music industry, it is also
one of the biggest in the world. And
these young boys and girls are doing
collabo. How many Nigerian exfootballers
are doing collabo? If they
call you now, they will frame you up.
This one would say I was your better,
and another would say, I played in
the World Cup and you didn’t. But I
have my friends and former
teammates in Belgium and with
them I am surviving. They are big
boys who are either directors of
football of a team in Belgium, or a
team in Holland, Spain. They will
hail me and ask what they can do for
me. I will tell them I have a player.
Just a short video of my player, they
will watch and that is it. How many
ex- internationals here run
academies? They will rather invest
in the hospitality and entertainment
industry than in football that gave
them fame and fortune. For instance,
if people like Nwankwo Kanu and
Jay Jay Okocha had opened
academies and put me there as
Director of football, do you know
what that would have meant to them.
You know this game and I know this
game. You get yours and I get what I
deserve. We don’t carry each other
along in this country. And that is
sinking us down.
So now you are into football
scouting?
Yes, I am into scouting. It’s been
good so far but basically, it is a game
of patience. Just have a platform and
put the player there. Once he is 18,
he would sign a professional
contract. So you have to be patient
and wait.
•John Etim's
late father
Just last weekend, Chief Segun
Odegbami wrote, calling for an
indigenous coach as the next Super
Eagles handler. Do you support his
view?
I am 100% in support of what he is
saying. Look at someone like
Emmanuel Amuneke. Was
Guardiola not his teammate at
Barcelona? Just give him the
platform and don’t limit his ability,
don’t try to cage him and give him a
free hand. Amuneke took Tanzania
to the last AFCON. If Amuneke
comes out, with his wealth of
experience and knowledge of the
game, he would not want anybody
to dictate for him. Would you give
him a free hand like you are giving
Rohr? Will they want to select the
team for him? No way! It should not
be. You are the NFF chairman and I
am the coach, you gave me a job, I
select my team. If I don’t deliver, I
quit. You shouldn’t have any business
with my team. Until that aspect is
corrected, we are still very far because
of interests from interest groups.
If things continue this way our
football will not grow. See
Brazilians, they would play in
Europe then go back home to play
retirement football in their domestic
clubs like Flamengoes, Santos. Look
at South Africa, how many South
African players are playing abroad?
They have the platform, a very good
league with multiple sponsors like
Adidas, Puma, Volkswagen,
Mercedes, so many other
companies. Why can’t we attract
On Samson
Siasia’s life ban by FIFA
I don’t know why
Nigerians are not rallying
round Samson Siasia. Why are
they leaving him alone? Siasia
has done a lot for this country.
The NFF is supposed to have
intervened in this matter. You
can’t ban Sisia from
football for life.
Football is the only
thing he knows.
How does he survive
because it is football
that gives him his
livelihood. Life ban?
That is outrageous.
What has he done?
That is why I am
pleading with the
President of the
Nigeria Football
Federation to do
something for
Siasia.
The GSM
handset drama at
O k o c h a ’ s
residence. Have
you made up?
It was Chief
Segun Odegbami
that called us
together and settled
us. He is our senior
and I have forgiven
Okocha and moved
on. If they are writing names of
Nigerian footballers mine will come
up before his. Respect they say is
reciprocal. I still hold Henry Nwosu
MON in high esteem because he
inspired me to play number 10. But
some people won’t give honour to
whom it is due and instead they want
to trample it which is African
mentality. Out there, they want to
place you where you belong.
Here we are beclouded by
ignorance because most footballers
didn’t go to school. Don’t get me
wrong, but I can count some exfootballers
who read and are well
developed. People like Chief Segun
Odegbami, Chief Justice Adokie
Amiesimaka, Dr Felix Owolabi.
People like Tajudeen Disu, Waidi
Akanni, and a few others were given
scholarship by Chief Abiola to go and
study in the US. Apart from the few,
the rest of us, my brother, it is just
spoken English we know, upstairs,
there is nothing. Here I am not
trying to run anybody down, I am
just telling you the basic fact.
So when educated people like
Odegbami fought hard to become
NFF president, when he was still
young and vibrant, they denied him
the chance. Do you know those who
were blocking him from becoming
NFF President? It was his former
teammate(names withheld). So you
see, it is your own person that would
kill you in Nigerian football.
In Zambia, they gave it to Kalusha
Buyala. What stops someone like
Okocha to be NFF President?
To be continued next week

46 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
Football, more than just a game
– lesson from Ghana !
have always known that
I
football is more than just the
game played on the field. It is an
incredibly powerful weapon that can
be deployed effectively to drive a cause,
tackle a societal problem, impact lives,
win an election, halt a war, resolve
crisis, make a political statement, and
even change the world.
Once again, it is the ‘changing of
the world’ aspect that continues to
intrigue and interest me, as I
understand the world better. To do any
of these things requires a good
understanding of how the world works,
and how football’s power can be
deployed.
Ghana, Nigeria’s West African
neighbour and keen rival in sports,
have just changed the coaching crew
of all their 9 national teams including
their global flagship team and product,
the Black Stars. By so doing they have
made a simple but deep statement to
the rest of the world reflecting who they
are and where they belong in the
ongoing global war of civilisations,
between the superpowers.
Ghana may be a small country on
the planet, but it has a very rich political
history, deeply rooted in the African
culture. From its first President at
Independence in 1959, it started to
lead Africa in driving a vision that
would make Africa and Black persons
a force to be reckoned with in the
world, with his vision of a united
Africa, a continental cultural, social
and economic integration, a massive
unprecedented infrastructural
development across the African
continent, and the establishment of a
global Black and African movement
to fight in the war of civilisations.
Clearly, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was
way ahead of his time. Very few other
African leaders understood him and
saw what he saw about ‘tomorrow’.
He is probably the most visionary leader
in the history of African politics.
Since after Dr. Nkrumah, Ghana has
gone through several other leaders
with varying degrees of the vision and
success at making their country the
centre-piece and model of African
development. Despite all the turbulent
political upheavals the country has
gone through, seeping through all of
their experiences is a country and a
people that are very civil, very
educated, very culturally sound, very
sophisticated, very proud of their
heritage, very civilized in their conduct
and very aware of their rightful place
in the world.
At this time in their history, they have
a leader in Dr. Nana Addo who
encapsulates the spirit of Kwame
Nkrumah. He has embarked on a
remarkable journey that clearly shows
a man of history.
How do these things connect with
the simple step of changing a coaching
crew of their country’s national
football teams?
In Ghana, football is a very important
product. The people take it seriously.
Everyone is involved in it.
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was crazy
about football. He was the Black Stars’
greatest fan.
I met Dr. John Kuffour, President in
the early 2000s in the State house in
Accra. ‘Mr. Mathematical’ he called
me as soon as we met. He knew
football intimately and a former
Chairman of one of Ghana’s biggest
clubs – Accra Hearts of Oak.
I saw a sitting Vice-President of the
country at a football match between
the academicals of Nigeria and Ghana
some years ago at the Accra Township
Stadium. He came to watch with a
lone friend, arriving the stadium
unannounced and without any
convoy of cars.
The current President, Dr. Addo, I
am told, is a supporter of one of
Ghana’s top teams (Ashanti Kotoko).
Every Ghanaian supports a local
football team. The passion for football
in Ghana is as much as that.
Nigerians love football, but I must
confess, that Ghanaians support the
game more, love their local clubs more,
and do much more for the game and
for players than Nigeria has ever done.
Akunnor
Ghanaians actually believe they
know the game more and would never
concede that Nigeria has a better
football culture and that the Super
Eagles are ever a better team than the
Black Stars. Ghanaians believe their
style of football is more advanced than
Nigeria’s. That’s why the rivalry
between both countries in football is
one of the keenest on the African
continent.
The statistics of the head-to-head
between both countries at senior
national team level, however, speak
volumes. Ghana are way ahead of
Ghana’s choice
of local
Ghanaian
coaches to lead
their national
teams is
significant and
makes a bold
statement
Nigeria, 25 to 13
victories (or so), since
1950 when they first
met.
So, what has the
change in the
coaching crew of the
national teams of
Ghana got to do with
the prize of fish in the
markets of Oshodi?
Well, let’s examine
the ‘statement’ that
Ghana made in their
choice of new coaches
for the national
teams. Their choice is
connected to their
vision of a new world
order.
The current
President of Ghana,
Dr. Nana Akufo Addo
is a champion of the
cause of the Black
race and of Africans in the world, in
the footsteps of late Dr. Kwame
Nkrumah. I listened to his speech to
the Congressional Black Caucus in the
United States of America when he
became president, how he marketed
Ghana to the African-American people
as the ‘home’ they should return to and
partner with in the building of a new
Black civilization on earth.
I watched on television when
traditional chiefs in Ghana addressed
a gathering of Black and African-
American tourists in Ghana,
apologizing for the role played by their
forefathers in capturing, selling and
shipping their healthiest Black brothers
and sisters into slavery to the land of
no return.
I watched as Ghana offered Blacks
and African-Americans land to come
and resettle, incentives to come and
invest, and free passage to and from
Ghana, and place they can now truly
call their home.
Ghana is way ahead of every other
Black and African country in
attempting to fight the war of
civilisations by restoring the dignity of
the Black race and earning global
respect.
Were Ghana to be in Nigeria’s shoes,
have Nigeria’s population, human
capital and resources, this battle
would have been won a long time ago.
Ghanaians see it clearly, Nigerians,
unfortunately, don’t.
That’s why Ghana’s choice of local
Ghanaian coaches to lead their
national teams is significant and
makes a bold statement.
The racism ‘war’ is escalating in
Europe, on the football fields, mostly
against Black footballers. It has refused
to go away. Attempts to eradicate the
cancer from football have been halfhearted
and have largely failed. Blacks
are not given any opportunities to do
anything beyond play the game
because they are considered not
intelligent enough to manage a
‘complex’ game like football! Bull…t.
Then enters the International
Olympic Committee, IOC, this week
with its own rules aimed at silencing
protesting athletes at future Olympic
Games. Who are the protestors at the
games? Go check history. They are
mostly Black athletes protesting
inequality, racism, discrimination, and
other moral scourges. Blacks are to be
silenced again!
Blacks and Africans must fightback
and earn their rights to be equal
partners in the present lopsided world.
That’s why Ghana’s decision to sink
or swim with their Black indigenous
coaches makes absolute sense. Even
when they weigh the contributions of
the foreign coaches they have engaged,
23 of them compared to 8 locals in their
51-year history, the most successful
coach in Ghana’s history is a local, CK
Gyamfi, who won three African Cup
of Nations for Ghana!
Since 2012, Ghana has kept faith
with local coaches starting with James
Kwesi Appiah. His results have been
mixed, but his replacement is another
Ghanaian, another ex-international,
and former Captain of the Black Stars,
Charles Akunnor. He and 8 other local
coaches take over all the various
national teams in the country, and the
people are prepared to sink or swim
with them for a cause higher than just
playing football.
I hope other African countries will
take a cue from Ghana, for football is
much more than the game played on
the football field.
Earlier in the week, news
filtered in that two
homebased female sprinters,
Rosemary Chukwuma and Mercy
Ntia-Obong had respectively
secured places in South Plains
College, Lubbock, Texas, and Cloud
County College, Kansas, the former
joining compatriot Onaara
Obamuwagun while the latter joins
current African Games Champion
in the women’s Triple Jump, Grace
Anigbata, at her institution.
In the last couple of years, there
has been an influx of Nigerian
student-athletes to the US as several
of them secured Track and Field
scholarships into various colleges
and universities, owing of course to
the characteristic talent of our
athletes. At this rate, many more are
set to follow in their footsteps.
Those currently schooling in the
US include African Games men’s
100m Champion Raymond Ekevwo
(University of Florida), Aniekeme
Alphonsus (William Carey
University), Fabian Edoki (Florida
State University), Bashiru
Abdullahi (University of Texas San
Antonio), Kelechi Nwanaga
(Florida State University), Ruth
Usoro (Texas Tech), Mercy Abire
(Louisiana State University), Enoch
Adegoke (Florida State University),
Isaac Odugbesan (Middle
Tennessee State University),
Benjamin Arinze (Middle
Tennessee State University), and
many more.
I must confess that I was a bit
disturbed by the trend because I
feel that it is very important to also
have a strong base back home in
Nigeria such that the homebased
athletes can serve as a formidable
opposition to their foreign-based
counterparts, especially in events
like the National Championships as
It’s time to put our
house in order
was the case in the 1980s, 1990s and
early 2000s.
However, these athletes need a
conducive environment where they
can access better facilities, an
education, good healthcare and
superior training techniques to
mention a few, because to be honest,
there isn’t exactly much to look
forward to on the domestic scene,
especially with the lack of
competitions.
Apart from a platform like
Making of Champions Track Club
that fends for its athletes, and
paramilitary outfits like the Nigeria
Police Force and NSCDC that
provide employment for their
athletes, a lot of homebased athletes
struggle to make a living and are
merely living from hand to mouth.
It’s not out of place to hear about
athletes trekking long distances
just to train due to lack of funds for
transportation, and some of them
even embark on such journeys on
empty stomachs! As fate would have
it, most of the people involved in
sports hail from poor backgrounds
and so they need all the support they
can get.
It also hasn’t helped that the
system we run hasn’t created a
viable means of sustenance for
these athletes who have taken up
careers in Sport. Back in the day,
athletes used to win cash awards
while competing on the domestic
circuits referred as Classics at the
time. The Classics comprised
several legs within the season, and
athletes that qualified for the next
leg of the classics got transportation
subsidies and were given
accommodation. Athletes who
dominated their respective events
across all legs of the Classics also
benefitted from a Jackpot, which
was a separate category of prize
monies reserved just for that
purpose.
In 2011 the Classics was rechristened
the Athletics Federation
of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League,
borrowing from the format of the
Golden League as operated by the
World Athletics (formerly referred
to as the IAAF), which comprised a
series of several meetings. The
AFN Golden League was meant to
pay athletes prize monies as well
as the jackpot in the final leg of the
series. Unfortunately, it became a
herculean task to fulfill these
promises.
Back in the day when Mobil
sponsored the National Athletics
Championships, which was later
known as the Mobil Track and Field
Championships, athletes that made
the podium got cash prizes. Mobil
sponsored the championships for
about 15 years and terminated their
sponsorship in 2004. Some years
later, the Cross River State
Government led by Liyel Imoke
sponsored the championship for
four years and even upped the prize
monies. However, since the
sponsorship ended in 2014, it’s
become a challenge for athletes to
receive prize money of any kind
from domestic meets.
We must not forget that the
athletes’ careers are at stake here,
and of what benefit is a career from
which you’re unable to earn a
means of livelihood? It is even more
demoralizing to discover that
athletes who make the national
teams to international competitions
sometimes do not receive their full
allowances. Take for instance the
2018 African Championships
hosted by Nigeria where the
country’s representatives were paid
less than half of the allowances due
them, which led to some of the
foreign based athletes rejecting the
incomplete sum.
And while the federation
continues to cite lack of sponsors as
the reason behind the inability to
pay athletes and provide other
perks, we must ask salient
questions. For instance, did previous
sponsors get value for money? Was
the AFN transparent in its dealings
with past sponsors? Has the AFN
portrayed itself in a manner that will
attract sponsors? Have they come
up with ideas that will get sponsors
excited and willing to pitch their
tent with the AFN? Our best
athletes will continue to leave in
droves until we put our house in
order.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020 — 47
Inter Milan renew
interest in Victor Moses
2020 AWCON: Oshoala
backs Nigeria's bid to host
Barcelona striker Asisat
Oshoala has backed the
interest of the Nigeria
Football Federation in bidding
for the rights to host the 2020
African Women's Cup of
Nations.
Congo Brazzaville withdrew
from hosting this year's
continental women's showpiece
over the country's lack of funds
in June 2019.
With CAF racing against time
to name a new host for the 12-
team event slated to kick off in
November, Nigeria has stepped
in and are bidding along with
Equatorial Guinea.
The 25-year-old, who recently
won the African Women's
Player of the Year for the fourth
time, believes the bid for the
rights to organise the women's
continental showpiece was a
good move.
"I think it is a very good move
It’s annoying that Messi
has more Ballons d’Or
than Ronaldo – Sarri
Juventus head coach Maurizio Sarri said it is
“really annoying” that any player has won
more Ballons d’Or than superstar Cristiano
Ronaldo.
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi moved one
ahead of Ronaldo for the Ballon d’Or record,
claiming his sixth individual honour in December.
The result came despite Ronaldo helping Juve to
an eighth consecutive Serie A title and Portugal
win the inaugural Nations League crown.
Sarri is determined for Ronaldo – who sat out
Wednesday’s 4-0 Coppa Italia last-16 victory over
Udinese through illness – to add to his Ballon d’Or
collection and match Messi.
“I would like to help Cristiano win the sixth
Ballon d’Or first,” Sarri told reporters post-game
in Turin.
“It’s really annoying thinking that someone won
more [Ballons d’Or] than him. I think about him
and I think helping him, it is my goal and the goal
of the team. It is right for him.”
Sarri also tipped Juve striker Paulo Dybala to
challenge for the award in the future.
“Dybala is going to be one of the contenders in
the next years. I think so,” Sarri added.
While Ronaldo sat out, Juve forward Dybala
dazzled with a brace and an assist against Udinese.
Dybala teed up Gonzalo Higuain for the 16thminute
opener following a stunning piece of
combination play before curling a memorable
strike past Nicolas approaching the hour mark,
having converted a first-half penalty.
by the country and the Nigeria
Football Federation," Oshoala
told Goal.
"We really need this because
Nigeria lost out in the bid to
secure the hosting rights for the
U20 Women's World Cup this
year. We have what it takes to
host the continent.
"If they can get the rights to host
the African Women's Cup of
Nations this year, it will be good
for our country's football.
"It will also prepare the country
ahead of the U17 Women's World
Cup and U20 Women's World
Cup tournaments. I believe if we
can host one of these events for
us to prepare for the bigger
stage."
Nigeria has hosted the African
Women's Cup of Nations three
times, winning nine of the
previous 11 editions of the
competition.
Pulev confirms fight against Joshua
Kubrat Pulev has appeared
to confirm that he will face
world heavyweight champion
Anthony Joshua at Beskitas’
Vodafone Arena stadium in
Istanbul in May.
The Bulgarian is ranked No 1
with the IBF and is Joshua’s
mandatory challenger. The Brit
was given until the end of this
month to agree terms with
Pulev or face being stripped of
the organisation’s title.
Sportsmail understands that
nothing has been signed
despite reports claiming the
fight is already a done deal -
one of which was shared by
Pulev on his official Facebook
page on Thursday.
Joshua and Pulev were due to
meet at Cardiff’s Principality
Stadium back in October 2017
but the Bulgarian was replaced
by Carlos Takam at late notice
after being forced out of the
fight due to an injury.
Pulev has recorded three
victories since then, including
one over Brit Hughie Fury,
while he has just one blemish
on his record, a defeat against
Wladimir Klitschko which
came in his solitary world title
fight back in 2014.
Rashford blow
for Man Utd
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer divulged that
Marcus Rashford ‘probably wouldn’t
be ready’ for Sunday’s clash against
Liverpool.
The Manchester United striker injured his
back 16 minutes after coming on as a
substitute against Wolves in the FA Cup on
Wednesday evening.
And on Friday, the United boss admitted
that although medical staff will give the 22-
year-old every chance to play, his participation
isn’t looking likely at the moment.
‘He’s more or less started every game. I
don’t think he’s used to being a substitute.
‘We’re going to give him the absolute
amount of time but I am not going to hold
my breath,’ Solskjaer said at his pre-match
press conference on Friday.
‘I would think that he probably wouldn’t be
ready but he’s still got 48 hours so let’s see.’
Rashford, who is United’s leading scorer
this season with 19 goals in all competitions,
went down under a challenge from Matt
Doherty.
The United bench immediately signalled
that he needed to come off but he stayed on
for another two minutes before being
replaced by Jesse Lingard.
Speaking after the game for BT Sport,
former United midfielder Paul Ince believed
Rahsford didn’t know the ‘process of being a
substitute’.
‘I don’t think he knows the process of being
a substitute… how vigorously you warm up,
do the right things.
‘Do you think you’re going to get on the
pitch? So it’s kind of a mindset where you
think “well hopefully I’m not going to get
on”’.
United travel to Anfield 27 points behind
their north-west rivals, but they are the only
Premier League team to take points off
Liverpool this season after holding Jurgen
Klopp’s side to a 1-1 draw in October.
Inter Milan have reignited their interest in former Nigeria
international Victor Moses, according to transfer market
expert Gianluca Di Marzio.
The Nerazzurri were heavily linked with a move for the
2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner last summer but went on
to sign Hertha Berlin’s Valentino Lazaro who has the same
attributes as the Chelsea-owned winger.
Inter Milan are in the market for defensive
reinforcements and in case they fail to reach an
agreement with Roma for a swap deal
involving Matteo Politano and Leonardo
Spinazzola, they will turn their attention
elsewhere.
Former Chelsea manager Antonio
Conte wants to work again with Moses,
with whom he won the English Premier
League title in 2017 and the Emirates FA
Cup the following year.
The former Crystal Palace man
is valued in the region of ten
million euros (around
N3.95 billion in
Nigerian currency) but
Inter Milan are
proposing a loan
deal for the
Nigerian.
Moses played
78 matches across
two seasons
during Conte’s
spell as coach of
Chelsea and was
mostly deployed
at right wing-back
by the Italian
football tactician.
The 29-year-old
has entered the final
six months of
contract with Turkish
side Fenerbahce.
WRESTLING: Adekuoroye conquers Rome
•As Oborududu settles for bronze
W
By Solomon Nwoke
restling sensation and 2-time
Commonwealth champion
Odunayo Adekuoroye has continued to
prove her mettle as she reigned supreme
Thursday night in Rome at the Matteo
Pellicone Ranking Series tournament,
claiming gold in a very dominant fashion
in the final of the 57kg class, while Blessing
Oborududu (68kg) settled for bronze at the
event.
After convincingly taking out her
opponents in the earlier rounds, Adekuoroye
demolished Indian Anshu Anshu 10-0 via
technical superiority in the final to land
gold.
On her way to the final, the former world
No. 1 impressively overcame Alina Akobii
of Ukraine 12-0, before recording a 10-0
victory via technical superiority over home
girl Arianna Carieri in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals, she outclassed USA’s
Allison Ragan 10-3 to advance to the gold
medal match.
Despite losing to world champion Tamyra
Mensah (USA) in her match, Oborududu
fought for bronze via repechage, as her
American conqueror reached the final.
In the repechage, the Commonwealth
champion beat Koumba Larroque of
France 6-2, before walking over Alina
Makhynia of Ukraine to eventually settle
for a bronze medal.
For Aminat Adeniyi in the 62kg, she
defeated Italians Sara Da Col 8-4 in the
qualification round and Elena Esposito 10-
0 via superiority in the round of 16, before
going down 8-2 to American Kayla Miracle
in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, world champion in beach
The Minister of Youth and
Sports Development Mr.
Sunday Dare has showered encomiums
on wrestling sensation Odunayo
Adekuroye for winning gold
in the final of the 57kg class of the
Mattei Pellicone Ranking Series
tournament in far away Rome.
The Minister praised the former
world no 1 wrestler for knocking
out her opponent Indian Anshu
Anshu 10-0 via technical superiority
to clinch the gold in that category.
“I am not surprised really, she is
a true representation of the never
say die Nigerian spirit. She is always
eager to win laurels for the
wrestling Blessing Onyebuchi
(76kg) could not compete as a
result of ill-health.
World No. 3 Adekuoroye and
Oborududu, who is ranked No. 7
prior to the tournament in Rome,
are expected to move up in the
rankings as a result of their
impressive showing.
Team Nigeria’s performance in
Rome will surely come as a
cheering news to female head
coach Purity Akuh, who could not
travel with the wrestlers, as he
was robbed of his belongings
including his international
passport on his way to Lagos for
the trip.
In his place, President of the
Nigeria Wrestling Federation
Hon. Daniel Igali, a certified
coaches educator, stepped in, and
has been working as their coach
at the tournament.
...Nigeria is proud of her – Sports Minister
country.
“Don’t forget she was adopted
at the Adopt Initiative launch.
She will get all the needed support
to train and continue in that
manner. We as Nigerians should
be proud of her,” the Minister
added.
Mr. Sunday Dare also congratulated
Oborududu Blessing for
winning bronze in the 68kg category
of the competition. “I have
no doubt in my mind she can get
better. One day, it will be gold. I
congratulate all the Nigerian
wrestlers at the competition.
They are all winners,” the Minister
concluded.

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 18, 2020
CROSS WORD PUZZLE
SOLUTION TO PUZZLE ON PAGE46
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