09022020 - OPERATION SHEGE KA FASA : Northern Govs disown outfit

PAGE 2, SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020, PAGE 3

PAGE 4—SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 

Help comes for special needs people 

For Persons Living with 

Disabilities (PLWDs) 

in Nigeria, there are 

numerous mile-high odds to 

contend with. 

These include restricted 

access to transportation, education, 

employment and 

even health care due to inadequate 

purpose-specific facilities 

that meet their special 

needs. In addition, they are 

also stigmatized. 

The National Population 

Commission (NPC), in 2018, 

disclosed that 19 million 

people live with one form of 

disability or the other in the 

country. 

As a result of the challenges, 

PLWDs, particularly those 

gifted with a skill or willing 

to learn a craft in the arts, are 

inhibited from doing so. 

A 2018 report by the United 

Nations Educational Scientific 

and Cultural Organisation 

(UNESCO) stated that 

out of the estimated 10.5 million 

out-of-school children in 

Nigeria, about five to seven 

million are children with disabilities. 

Many of the affected children 

are, therefore, deprived 

of receiving quality education 

and grow up as educationally-deficient. 

It is this gap on the opportunity 

scale that a group, 

Street Project Foundation 

(SPF), seeks to bridge by its 

decision to include persons 

with disabilities in its Creative 

Youth Boot Camp initiative. 

The programme, which is 

supported by VOICE, was 

launched in 2016 to provide 

opportunities for 16 to 25- 

year olds with talents in the 

creative, visual and performing 

arts to be mentored by 

industry experts. 

A 2018 United Nations 

Conference on Trade and 

Development (UNCTAD) report 

on Creative Economy 

Output stated that the global 

Mr Donald Unanka, Founder, Potters Gallery and 

Disability Rights Advocate advising the Ambassadors 

of Street Project Foundation 

market size for creative 

goods expanded substantially 

from $208 billion in 2002 

to $509 billion in 2015. 

Also, trade in creative services 

increased from 17.3 per 

cent in 2011 to 18.9 per cent 

in 2015. 

The report noted that exports 

of Nigeria’s creative industries 

as of 2015 stood at 

$9.12 million, its lowest since 

2006; while its imports for the 

same period amounted to 

$401.89 million. 

Understanding the importance 

of the commercial and 

cultural values of the arts to 

the country, as well as being 

an empowerment tool for 

young Nigerians, the SPF, 

through the boot camp, 

Zaharadeen Zailani, Person Living 

with Disability, an Ambassador 

Street Project Foundation performing 

at the grande finale of the Nov/ 

Dec Boot Camp 

therefore, offers singers, musicians, 

poets, creative writers, 

presenters, comedians, 

spoken word artists, actors, 

visual artists, fashion enthusiasts 

and performance artists 

of any kind the chance to 

pursue their passion, while 

giving them a platform to 

showcase their talents. 

This year’s edition, the 

fourth, since inception, has as 

its theme: ‘Art for Social 

Transformation’, and will run 

for six weeks, starting from 9 

March. 

Speaking on the programme, 

Rita Ezenwa-Okoro, 

Founder and Lead Visionary 

of SPF, explained that the 

boot camp was conceived 

with a special focus on creative 

arts and vocational 

skills in order to improve the 

skillset of the Nigerian youth. 

“SPF was set up to focus on 

youth development, using 

creative arts as a tool. When 

you are teaching drama for 

instance, you are teaching 

young people diction (communication); 

when you are 

teaching dance, you are 

teaching stance, public 

speaking and non- verbal 

communication; when you 

are teaching improvisation, 

you are building their critical 

thinking skills. That was 

what birthed the creative 

youth boot camp,” she said. 

But, more importantly, it 

also offers an opportunity for 

PLWDs, who may have been 

denied opportunities by societal 

factors, a chance to express 

themselves. 

Ezenwa-Okoro stated that 

this year’s boot camp has 

been designed to encourage 

young persons with special 

needs to participate in order 

to forge a career path for 

themselves. 

Ondo bank 

robbery: 

Osunyikanmi 

commiserates 

with 

Akeredolu, 

traditional ruler 

Director General of the 

Directorate of Tech 

nical Aid Corps, Dr. 

Pius Osunyikanmi, has commiserated 

with the Ondo 

State Governor, Mr. Rotimi 

Akeredolu, and the Jegun of 

Ile-Oluji and Jegun in Council, 

Oba Oluwole Adetimehin, 

over the robbery incident in 

the ancient town on Thursday. 

A group of deadly robbers 

had invaded Ile-Oluji in Ile- 

Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government 

Area of Ondo State 

and attacked two banks in 

the community, leaving four 

people dead. 

In a statement issued on 

Saturday, Osunyikanmi described 

the incident as unfortunate, 

saying Ile-Oluji had 

been part of the communities 

in Ondo State that enjoyed 

relative peace. 

He noted that Governor 

Akeredolu had, since assumption 

of office, made the 

welfare, security of life and 

property his major priority by 

providing regular support for 

the security agencies, insisting 

that the one-off incident 

in Ile Oluji should therefore 

not define his administration. 

He also stated that the 

reign of the Jegun of Ile oluji, 

Oba Oluwole Adetimehin, 

had witnessed unprecedented 

development in the town, 

adding that the robbery incident, 

though painful, would 

not affect the resolve of the 

community to match forward. 

While commisserating with 

the families of the people that 

lost their lives during the attack, 

Dr. Osunyikanmi urged 

the governor not to be deterred 

in his efforts to make 

the State safest in the country 

Ṫhe Aid Corps DG commended 

the Assistant Inspector 

General of Police in 

charge of Zone eleven, Bashir 

Makama, for visiting the 

scene of the robbery and and 

conducting on-the-spot assessment 

and urged the security 

operatives to fish out the 

people behind the dastardly 

act.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020, PAGE 5 

From right: Professor Doyin Salami, Chairman, Economic Advisory Committee; 

Mr Gabriel Owope, Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Tunji Sobodu, Chairman; 

and Mr. Valentine Whensu, Director, of Globalview Capital Limited at the firm’s 

retreat and strategy session in Lagos yesterday 

AMOTEKUN CORPS DRAFT BILL: 

How operatives will relate with locals, 

police – Oyo AG 

By Dayo Johnson 

and Adeola Badru 

Amid expectations that 

the draft bill of the 

South-West security 

outfit will be tabled before the 

six Houses of Assembly in the 

region, this week, for 

approval, Sunday Vanguard, 

yesterday, gained insight into 

how Amotekun will relate 

with locals, the police and 

other security agencies. 

“The security network will 

be working in collaboration 

and as a complementary 

network with the police and 

other security agencies and 

the armed forces”, Oyo State 

Attorney General and 

Commissioner for Justice, 

Professor Oyewole Oyewo, 

said. 

“We will be depending on 

our local people because of 

local intelligence. You can say 

it is community policing, 

vigilante, but this security 

system has come to stay”. 

Oyewo spoke against the 

backdrop of the legal 

framework for Amotekun, 

which has now been drafted 

and approved by the 

Attorneys General of the six 

South-West states for 

submission to their respective 

Houses of Assembly for 

legislation. 

The legal framework has 

been the main issue after 

Amotekun was launched 

amid funfare in January by 

the region’s governors to 

combat worsening insecurity 

in the South-West. 

After the launch, the 

Attorney-General of the 

Federation and Minister of 

Justice, Mr Abubakar 

Malami, said the security 

outfit was illegal as security 

under the Constitution is the 

exclusive preserve of the 

Federal Government. 

The 

Malami 

pronouncement generated 

outrage in many quarters, 

especially on the Southern 

part of the nation, where it is 

believed that the police and 

other security agencies lack 

the capacity to curtail 

worsening insecurity and 

hence need help. 

Subsequent meetings 

between federal authorities 

and South-West governors led 

to a deal that Amotekun 

should be legalised through 

the provision of legal 

framework. 

Penultimate week, the six 

Attorneys Generals in the 

region commissioned some 

of their colleagues to fashion 

out a draft bill on the security 

outfit. 

Rising from a two-hour 

meeting on Friday in lbadan, 

Oyo State capital, the 

Attorney Generals said they 

had completed work on the 

draft bill and were set to send 

it to the Houses of Assembly 

for approval. 

Those present at the 

meeting were the Attorneys 

General of Ondo State, 

Adekola Olawoye, SAN; 

Osun, Oluwafemi Akande; 

Ekiti, Olawale Fapohunda; 

Ogun, Akingbolahan 

Adeniran, and Lagos, 

Moyosore Onigbanjo, 

represented by S.A. Quadri 

(Director of Civil Litigations). 

Also in attendance was the 

Director General for 

Development Agenda For 

Western Nigeria (DAWN) 

Commission, Mr Seye 

Oyeleye. 

Standard operational 

procedure 

Their host, Oyewo, said the 

bill would be through once it 

is signed into law by the state 

governors after approval by 

legislators. 

Oyewo went on: “ Each 

South-West state would have 

to own its legislation and its 

own security network corps 

that would be bearing 

‘Amotekun Corps’. By next 

week, it will go to the state 

Houses of Assembly after it 

has passed through the exco 

of each of the states. 

“We deliberated on the plan 

to evolve a collaborative 

security network/agency in 

the South-West. We have been 

able to come up with a legal 

framework to back up the 

establishment of the security 

network in each of the states. 

“Each of the states will have 

its own legislation and its 

own security network outfit 

that will bear the name 

Amotekun Corps. There will 

be standard operational 

procedure that will also be in 

common and there will be an 

avenue for collaboration 

between the states. 

“The draft bill will proceed 

to the House of Assembly of 

each of the states and will be 

signed into law by the 

By Soni Daniel 

A 

former governor of 

Abia State, Senator 

Theodore Orji, is under 

investigation by the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission 

(EFCC) over billions of 

Naira allegedly traced to 

his son. 

Orji is also accused of 

diverting, while in office, 

N383 billion revenue from 

the Federation Account, 

N55 billion Excess Crude 

•Ondo lawmakers cut short recess to treat legislation 

governor of each state. That 

is where we are now.” 

When asked if the new 

security outfit will be licensed 

to carry arms, ammunition 

and wear uniforms, Oyewo 

said: “Yes, of course, the 

carrying of arms is legislated 

by law and the Amotekun 

outfit will comply with all the 

laws of the land. 

“We just want to allay the 

fear of anybody that has fear 

that this is just part of the ways 

to impact the security 

architecture in Nigeria, to 

protect lives and property. 

“We have been 

emphasising that Section 14 

of the Constitution imposes a 

duty, a primary duty, on the 

federal, state and local 

governments to secure lives 

and property and that is 

exactly what the states here 

present are doing.” 

Asked if the AGs will write 

to officially inform the 

Attorney General of the 

Federation (AGF), Abubakar 

Malami, on the new 

development, the Oyo AG 

noted: “We run a federal 

system. As long as laws are 

passed within the competence 

of our legislation, we don’t 

need the permission, 

authority or even the counsel 

of anybody other than the 

operators set under the 

Constitution. 

“As I have stated and I 

reiterate, the law is to establish 

a security network with 

Amotekun Corps and that is 

what will be presented to the 

state Houses of Assembly and 

that will be passed into law”. 

Meanwhile, Oyewo denied 

the speculation that the 

meeting failed to hold on 

Thursday as earlier 

announced because of 

political constraints, noting: 

“Logistics and the challenges 

of the offices of Attorneys- 

General in the various South- 

West states necessitated the 

change in the meeting day.” 

Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr Kingsley Otuaro, presenting staff of office to the Okpala 

Uku of Umute Kingdom, HRH Fidelis Chukwuji Oseyenim. 

Accelerated passage 

Also speaking with Sunday 

Vanguard, the Speaker of the 

Ondo State House of 

Assembly, Rt Hon Bamidele 

Oloyelogun, said the 

lawmakers in the state, who 

are presently on recess, would 

be recalled to attend to the 

bill. 

Oloyelogun, who is also the 

Chairman of the Conference 

of Speakers in the South-West, 

said all the Houses of 

Assembly in the region would 

accelerate the passage of the 

bill on the security outfit as 

soon as it is forwarded to them 

by the executive arm of 

government. 

He said Amotekun is an 

idea whose time has come and 

there was no going back. 

“ We are anxiously awaiting 

the bill from the executive 

arms of government across 

the states”, the Speaker said. 

“ All the Houses of 

Assembly are ready to see that 

the bill when forwarded by 

the executive arm of 

government, is given 

accelerated passage. 

“ We can’t delay this bill, 

more so we don’t delay bills. 

This particular bill is very 

important to our people in 

the South-West and we are 

ready to do the needful to 

ensure Amotekun sees the 

light of the day. 

“ The Houses of Assembly 

in the region are expectant to 

see this initiative through. It 

is an idea whose time has 

come and nothing can stop 

it. It is very important to us. 

Our six governors have keyed 

into its success, we the 

legislative arm of 

government across the region 

are equally in total support 

of Amotekun. 

“ All we are waiting for it 

for the executive in the six 

states to forward the bill to 

the state Houses of Assembly 

and pronto it will be given 

speedy hearing and passage”. 

ABIA: 100 bank accounts 

allegedly traced to Orji’s son 

...as EFCC probes ex-gov over alleged diverted billions 

revenue, N2.3 billion Sure- 

P revenue, N1.8 billion 

ecological funds, N10.5 

billion loan, N12 billion 

Paris Club refund, N2 

billion agricultural loan 

and N55 billion 

ASOPADEC money. 

A petition to the EFCC 

alleged that the funds were 

received without 

commensurate projects on 

ground. 

The ex-governor’s first 

son, Chinendum Orji 

Eyinanya, who is 

currently the Speaker of 

Abia State House of 

Assembly, is said to be a 

frequent guest at the EFCC 

Headquarters to throw 

light on his involvement in 

the alleged fraud as he is 

alleged to have about 100 

accounts in different 

banks, with over 80% of 

the accounts still very 

active. 

Efforts to get Orji and his 

son to react to the 

allegations last night were 

unsuccessful. 

Man kills lawyer for parking 

in front of his shop 

A 

renowned Owerri based lawyer, Damian Ali, has been 

killed. 

Ali, a prominent son of Mgbuisii - Ohaji in Imo State, was 

allegedly killed on Friday in Owerri, by a man said to run a 

pharmacy shop in the World Bank area of the Imo State 

capital. 

Sunday Vanguard learned that the deceased, fully dressed 

and prepared to go to work, had stopped in front of the 

pharmacy for his child to buy something for him. 

The shop owner and his boys were said to have confronted 

him and perhaps an argument ensued prompting the man 

and his boys to physically assault him for parking in front of 

the shop. 

The lawyer was said to have collapsed and died after the 

beating. 

Imo Sate Police command confirmed the incident. 

Ex-NIIA boss berates FG over 

US travel ban 

By Olayinka Ajayi 

former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of 

A International Affairs, NIIA, Professor Bola Akinterinwa, 

has berated the Federal Government for failing to strengthen 

Nigeria’s bilateral ties with the US through information 

sharing. 

Akinterinwa, in a chat with the SundayVanguard, said: 

“Waiting to be reminded by the US is a show of defeat”. 

He, however, explained that it was a right decision by the 

Nigeria government to respond to the United States claims 

against our country but unsure if it was in the right direction. 

His words: “The US believes there is a need for information 

sharing in order to combat terrorism effectively. However, 

going to plead with the US is nothing more than an expression 

of self-defeat. The Minister of Information said that they were 

caught unaware. Why should anybody tell you when you are 

going to be sanctioned? Was Nigeria not informed about 

information sharing?”. 

Akinterinwa maintained that if the Federal Government wants 

her citizens to travel to the US, they must get things right 

especially in the area of information sharing. 

“That is why we talk about international relations, intergovernmental 

collaborations and diplomacy. So when there 

is an international question raised, everybody should feel 

concerned” he said. 

“So I believe setting up a committee to go plead for leniency 

will not be enough. If government is serious, their first mandate 

should be to query and fire whoever has not performed his 

duty. Then when you establish the reason the government of 

Nigeria has not responded, the President will be in a better 

position to know the next line of action to be taken” 

Japanese honour for Udo Udoma 

By Kennedy Mbele 

former Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator 

A Udoma Udo Udoma, is among the recipients of the 

Japanese government's prestigious Autumn Imperial 

Decorations for the year 2019. Udoma will be decorated with 

the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, which is one 

of the highest orders awarded in the name of His Majesty the 

Emperor of Japan. The Japanese government explained that 

the award is in recognition of Udoma's contributions towards 

strengthening bilateral relations and promoting friendship 

between Japan and Nigeria. 

Udoma, the first Nigerian to be so honoured, is an accomplished 

lawyer who served as Minister from 2015 to 2019, and 

Honorary Consul of Japan at Lagos from 2011 to 2015. He is 

the first Nigerian ever to receive the Order of the Rising Sun 

award from the government of Japan. 

The Japanese government further explained that Udoma has 

played an important role for many years in improving the 

Japan-Nigeria relationship.


CONSTITUTION REVIEW: Go back to 2014 confab 

report, PANDEF tells Senate 

By Emma Amaize 

THE Pan Niger Delta Fo 

rum, PANDEF, umbrella 

body for traditional rulers, leaders 

and stakeholders of the 

coastal states of the Niger Delta, 

has asked the Senate Constitution 

Review Committee to 

search no further as the answer 

to the problems it wants to resolve 

are contained in the Report 

of the 2014 National Constitutional 

Conference . 

The regional group urged 

the Senate Committee to start 

by picking up the Report of the 

Conference and studying the 

recommendations for adoption 

of relevant sections.. 

.It was, however, specific that 

the Committee should restore 

the principle of derivation and 

fiscal federalism. 

The President of the Senate, 

Ahmad Lawan, had, at Thursday’s 

plenary, announced a 56- 

man Steering and Constitution 

Review Committee. 

The Publicity Secretary of 

the group, Hon Ken Robinson, 

told Sunday Vanguard: 

“PANDEF considers the move 

by the National Assembly to 

review the Constitution as 

commendable, if it is well-intended.” 

According to PANDEF, if the 

Senate of the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria and indeed the 

9th National Assembly is serious 

about this constitution review 

process, then there would 

be no need to reinvent the 

wheel. The Constitution Review 

Committee should start 

by looking at the recommendations 

of the 2014 National 

Conference, which are far 

reaching, and provide answers 

to most of the challenges that 

we are confronted with as a 

nation. 

“They should study and 

adopt relevant sections of that 

report. And guided by it and 

the 1963 Constitution, it should 

not take the National Assembly 

more than six months, of 

course, with the cooperation of 

the State Houses of Assembly, 

to give to Nigerians a constitution 

that would truly be a Constitution 

of the people of Nigeria,” 

said PANDEF. 

“The Senator Ovie Omo- 

Agege Senate Committee is 

said to be made up of one senator 

from each state and two 

from each geopolitical zone, it 

is therefore imperative that all 

Nigerians of goodwill in the 

various constituencies of the 

country, must firmly demand 

from their representatives, 

commitments to uphold their 

wishes and aspirations in this 

process.” 

“Nigeria is at a critical point 

and the 1999 Constitution (as 

amended) has been widely repudiated, 

with many Nigerians 

calling for a fundamental 

restructuring of the country, 

politically and economically.” 

“The present structure of Nigeria 

has become grossly defective 

and inappropriate for a 

heterogeneous society like 

ours. It does not provide the 

enabling environment for 

growth and progress among 

the component states, and 

spawns unhealthy competition 

among the various ethnic nationalities 

and tribes in the 

country.” 

Good intentions 

According to him, a constitutional 

review based on good 

intentions could be the easiest 

and tacit path to restructuring. 

“We, therefore, cautiously welcome 

the decision of the Senate 

to further review the constitution 

of the Federation, and 

hopes to make collective presentations 

to the committee, in 

tandem with other regional 

bodies, on our positions on restructuring 

and other burning 

matters in line with the generally 

accepted recommendations 

of the 2014 National Conference”, 

he said. 

“We would further engage 

our representatives in the National 

Assembly and the State 

The President Rotary Club of Victoria Island East, Lagos, Rotn, Otunba Gbemi 

Oyeneyin (left), watches inductee, Rotn, Dr (Mrs) Oluseye Yomi-Sholoye, is congratulated 

by the Rotary International District 9110 Governor, Rotn, Dr. Jide Akeredolu, 

after her installation at Eko Hotel and suites. 

Houses of Assembly to ensure 

that necessary fundamental 

changes are effected to the 

Constitution. We hope the process 

won’t be a mere merry-goround 

or wasteful jamboree 

designed to distract Nigerians 

from the daunting security and 

socio-economic issues, and to 

buy time for politicians as we 

move towards 2023.” 

“Definitely, something has to 

be done to strengthen the nation’s 

security system, whether 

it is the introduction of state 

police, community policing or 

whatever. The way things are 

going, we may not have a nation 

to call our own, if nothing 

is urgently done to save the 

nation from the menace of insecurity.” 

“And call it resource control 

or whatever, the significant 

point to note is that the Niger 

Delta people’s desire to become 

major beneficiaries of the securities 

and services of the resources 

nature had richly endowed 

their land, is right and 

just. It is, therefore, expected in 

a fair sense, that the Senate 

constitution review would restore 

the principle of derivation 

and true fiscal federalism, to 

give better consideration to resource 

producing states.” 

“You may wish to recall that 

the derivation principle, which 

first came up in 1946 at the 

Phillipson Commission, was 

intended to make regions with 

natural resources benefit from 

their God-given endowment 

based on contribution. Today, 

the situation is that those who 

contribute little or nothing get 

plenty; paradoxically, those 

who contribute so much, get 

so little.” 

“And the members of the constitution 

review committee 

and the National Assembly 

must realize that they owe the 

people, whom they are said to 

be representing, the responsibility 

not only to listen but to 

act in accordance with their 

wishes and aspirations.” 

PROTEST OVER NAVY ARRESTS IN ONDO: 

Boys held are no sea pirates — Families 

•I have no hand in action – Monarch 

By Dayo Johnson, Akure 

FAMILIES of three sus 

pected sea pirates arrested 

by the Forward Operational 

Base of the Nigerian Navy 

in Igbokoda, Ondo State have 

cried out that their sons are 

not criminals but being victimised. 

In a statement issued in Akure 

on behalf of the families, their 

lawyer, Mr Atima Koboju, 

claimed that the suspects, 

Odun Ogunse, Adeojo Sunday 

and Edema ThankGod, are 

innocent. 

According to the families, 

ThankGod is a driver, Ogunse 

a bricklayer while Sunday is a 

labourer. 

The Forward Operational 

Base of the Nigerian Navy had, 

last week, arrested the boys and 

called them pirates just as it declared 

33 others wanted for 

alleged criminal activities. 

But Koboju, in the statement 

made available to Sunday 

Vanguard, alleged that the 

three boys and others declared 

wanted “are the youths of Temetan, 

Kofawe and Agbeni 

communities involved in land 

dispute with the Olu of lgbokoda, 

Oba Afolabi Odidiomo”. 

The families added, “It is ridiculous 

that the Nigerian 

Navy Forward Operating 

Base, lgbokoda can be used for 

such purpose. 

“It is sad that the Navy Forward 

Operations Base, lgbokoda 

is now blowing hot and cold 

and acting the script of some 

persons to nail innocent persons 

to crime. 

“They claim that Bamitale 

lwatan is connected to the attack 

of a vessel in Bayelsa and 

wanted in connection of kidnap 

is not true. 

“The claim that Bamitale 

lwatan is also connected to gun 

duel between officers of the Nigerian 

Navy Forward Operating 

Base, lgbokoda and sea 

pirates at Gbagira Awoye is not 

true. 

“Bamitale lwatan is the 

youth leader at Temetan community 

who Oba Odidiomo 

desperately wants to nail to 

VIVO unveils ‘all-in-one’ Y 

series 

Vivo, a smartphone company 

has unveiled the newest 

‘All-in-One’ Y19 series 

smartphone into the Nigeria 

market which comes with a 

5000mAh battery capacity 

with 128GB ROM and 

4GB RAM, nullifying the 

need for an external storage 

device at the same time 

guarantees an immersive 

viewing experience with 6.53 

FHD+ HaloView screen. 

The phone company said the 

Y-series smartphones stand 

out for its massive storage 

capacity, long-lasting battery 

and elaborate design 

amongst other things. 

Commenting, Marketing 

Manager, Vivo Nigeria, Tayo 

Odunowo, said: ‘’Though 

famous for its innovation and 

premium standard, Vivo has 

shown with the release of its 

Y-series range of smartphones 

that the brand puts 

consumers’ needs at the fore 

of each product’s 

development and design. 

‘’The Vivo Y-series has an 

array of exceedingly stylish, 

super functional and very 

durable smartphones with 

each member of the series 

offering unique features 

that make them stand out 

from other devices within 

the same market segment. 

‘’The Y11, which was 

unveiled in December 

2019, is one of the most 

affordable devices within 

the vivo Y-Series family 

and remains one of the best 

mid-range smartphones 

available in the market 

houses a 5000mAh battery, 

dual rear cameras 

(13MP+2MP), fingerprint 

sensor and 3GB RAM and 

32GB ROM storage 

capacity.” 

crime”. 

Meanwhile, the Commander 

of the Naval Base, Commodore 

Danjuma Ndanusa, insisted 

that the three boys are 

sea pirates and would face the 

music, adding that 33 others 

have been declared wanted for 

criminal offences in the riverine 

area of Ondo. 

Contacted, Oba Odidiomo 

said, “The navy has its own intelligence 

and they have the 

facts on those arrested and 

those on wanted list.” 

He added that the navy could 

not do his or anybody’s bidding, 

noting that the reasons 

and decision to arrest the suspects 

were best known to the 

authorities. 

The monarch said, “How 

would l have a hand in their 

arrest when they were arrested 

miles from Igbokoda and 

their activities on the sea were 

not even in Igbokoda? I have 

become a cheap instrument to 

be used to cover their alleged 

crimes”. 

CRPC commends Ganduje for 

constituting Primary Healhcare Board 

THE constitution of the Kano State Primary Health 

care Board by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje 

will go a long way in promoting healthcare delivery for 

millions of residents of Kano State. 

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Development 

Research and Projects Centre, implementers of 

the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health, 

PACFaH@Scale, project in Abuja. 

The statement, signed by the Executive Director of the 

Project, Dr Judith Ann-Walker, commended, Ganduje for 

fullfiling the promise he made when the group led an 

advocacy visit for the constitution of the board last year. 

“ Recall that last year, we led an advocacy visit to the 

governor where the need for the constitution of board 

was requested as a very significant measure that is required 

to move the state’s healthcare delivery forward”, 

the statement said. 

Fayemi faults location as bomb 

explosion rocks Ekiti 

Insecurity can be curbed when leaders are 

united — CAN 

By Marie-Therese 

Nanlong. 

ngoing insecurity in 

ONigeria can be curbed 

only when credible leaders 

who have the capability and 

are willing to unite the 

country and its people 

without any form of 

discrimination are 

enthroned. 

This was the view of the 

Chairman Christian 

Association of Nigeria, CAN, 

in the 19 Northern States and 

the FCT, Rev. Yakubu Pam, 

while presenting a paper, 

titled, ‘Struggle for identify in 

Nigeria: Abrahamic Faith’s, 

ethnicity and ethic conflicts 

in perspective, ‘ during the 

Da’awah Coordination 

Council of Nigeria (DCCN) 

2nd National Summit on 

Peaceful Coexistence and 

Nation-Building, held in Jos, 

Plateau State. 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

Fear gripped residents of Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, as bomb 

explosion rocked Ekiti State old Government 

Secretariat. 

It was gathered that the explosion, which occurred around 

7.05am, shook some of the buildings at the old 

Government Secretariat located at the Oke-Oriomi area 

of Ado-Ekiti, where the Ministry of Local Government 

and Chieftaincy and some other agencies and 

departments were located. 

Other buildings located over two kilometres away from 

scene of the incident were also affected, as the explosion 

reverberated round the city, especially at 

Okesa,Okeyinmi, Irona and Ilawe road, making the 

people living in those areas to scamper for safety. 

It was gathered that the explosion occurred at the 

Ordinance Explosive Disposal Department (EoD) of 

the Ekiti Police Command. 

The bungalow housing the EoD office was ripped apart, 

while adjoining building housing the office of the 

Nigerian Union of Journalists, Correspondents’ Chapel, 

Ekiti State Chapter was badly affected . 

All the offices around the area were affected had their 

louvre blades and glasses shattered while the asbestos 

and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ceiling, doors and 

windscreen of vehicles parked around the offices were 

severely damaged. 

The State Police Commissioner, Mr Asuquo Amba, and 

officers of the Anti-Bomb Squad arrived the scene 

shortly after the explosion and immediately swung into 

action by removing some of the explosive materials from 

the area. 

Governor Kayode Fayemi and his deputy, Chief Bisi 

Egbeyemi, also visited the site of the explosion. 

Fayemi, said the EoD office shouldn’t have been located 

in the area, saying: “It ought to be in a far distance”. 

The CP, while addressing newsmen at the site of the bomb 

blast, said he suspected that the explosion was caused 

by counter terrorism accessories kept in office. 

“Let my men from Anti-Bomb Department check around. 

Officers are combing the place as you can see”, Ambo 

said. 

“This is the office where they keep detonation accessories. 

The explosion must have been caused by the equipment 

kept in their store. 

“The area has been cordoned off. We are going to devise 

means of ensuring improvement in the stocking of these 

equipment next time. 

“We are happy that there is no loss of life, no casualty. 

Some of these devices are used to detect bomb and to 

detonate it . Some of them used to detonate on their own 

and that must have caused the explosion”. 

The Northern CAN Chair 

urged Muslims and 

Christians in the country to 

shun religious and ethnic 

rivalry and embrace the 

teaching of the two Holy 

Books for peaceful 

coexistence in the country. 

“We want people in the 

grassroots and at home to 

know that in a meeting of 

religious leaders from 

different religions are calling 

for peace in the country, no 

more war. Enough of the 

bloodshed, enough of the 

killings, enough of 

destroying properties and 

enough of exchanging of 

unhealthy words in the 

media”, he said. 

“This time around, we must 

stop the circles of killings, we 

must stop the circle of hatred 

otherwise our children 

unborn will not forgive us. We 

want people to hear that like 

the Sultan said yesterday, that 

we are calling for peace and 

we should mark our calling 

for peace with action. 

“We want religious leaders to 

talk to their followers that we 

are calling for peace, Nigeria 

is a country we are proud of, 

without this country, we have 

no any other country and 

most of the things that are 

happening were stage 

managed to make sure that 

there is crisis. 

“Nobody will be happy to see 

his son being Kidnapped and 

killed, nobody will be happy 

to see his daughter being 

kidnap and killed, but it takes 

a mature person to look into 

the future than to remained 

in pains. 

“As we look into the future, 

some people must sacrifice 

for this country to continue in 

peace and forgiveness must 

come in if we will sacrifice. I 

know that our loved ones have 

been killed but we must 

forgive”. 

He called on Nigerians to 

harnessed their ethnic and 

religious differences to build 

the country rather than 

allowing some individuals to 

take advantage of it to destroy 

the nation.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2020, PAGE 7 

Row grows 

over 74 

delisted 

parties 

•Some of the parties were joker 

ers s – Odumakin 

•Action violates democratic culture – Shonibare 

•Proscription is rude shock – Galadima 

By Clifford Ndujihe, Dayo 

Johnson, Levinus Nwabughiogu, 

Chris Ochayi, Rotimi Ojomoyela, 

Olayinka Ajayi, James Ogunnaike 

& Shina Abubakar 

THE Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC’s deregistration of 74 

political parties has elicited 

plaudits and criticisms for the 

electoral umpire with some of the parties 

threatening to challenge the action in 

court. 

The action of the INEC, on Thursday, 

has reduced the number of parties in the 

country to 18 from 91 that took part in 

the 2019 general elections. 

It’s inconsistent with 

freedom of association 

— Shonibare 

Acting National Chairman of the Social 

Democratic Party, SDP, Chief Supo 

Shonibare, said: “Pluralism which is an 

essential ingredient in a democratic 

culture entails a multi party system of 

government. The 

constitution guarantees 

freedom of association. 

“Any restriction is 

inconsistent with freedom 

of association. I have never 

been able to understand 

curtailment of political 

parties. We have been 

pulled into some sense of 

preference for our 

imitation of the concept of 

a two party system, under 

some misguided premise 

that that concept requires a 

legislative caveat 

curtailing parties to two; 

as Babangida Military 

junta did. 

“Even in the UK, where 

the two-party system is 

touted, it is descriptive of 

the fact that two Parties 

denominate as main Party 

and main opposition, 

which has always been the situation in 

Nigeria; even in situations of many 

political parties. When we had no 

restrictions in the first and second 

Republics, we had no factions in political 

parties. Whenever there was any 

irreconcilable dispute within main 

I have 

never been 

able to 

understand 

curtailment 

of political 

parties 

support bases in the Parties, those not in 

control in those Republics simply went on 

to form a new political party to seek 

political power. 

“You encourage factionalized entities 

in a restricted space. Indeed ruling 

groups will encourage 

factionalization to destabilize the 

opposition. 

“The issue is that if we had 

had a settled immutable 

political vehicles, then 

APC wouldn’t have 

emerged. We would 

still have had PDP, 

APP and AD- all 

controlled by the 

then PDP ruling 

party. 

“The ruling 

APC may be 

looking at 

reading off the 

same script. 

We should be 

careful what 

we wish for. It is politically advantageous 

for the ruling groups to have a situation 

where there’s a constriction of political 

vehicles able to contest for 

political power. In that 

event, you can control and 

take over a limited 

number of political 

parties- like the Obasanjo 

regime did in 2000-2001 

with AD and APP being 

taken over by the ruling 

Party. It was our Courts 

which came to establish 

the pluralist nature of our 

democratic culture & our 

constitutional provision. I 

suspect there’s a contrived 

attempt to intentionally 

sponsor many political 

vehicles so that some 

agitation for a restrictive 

control can be justified. 

They have more political 

parties in neighbouring 

Benin Republic and Togo. 

There are several political 

parties in Ghana. In other 

African jurisdictions, the 

security apparatus is not 

involved with the 

proliferation of additional political 

parties, as it’s alleged in our Country.” 

INEC is right but.... — 

Arabambi 

To Comrade Abayomi 

Arabambi, Chairman of the Labour 

Party, Ogun State: ”The act of the INEC 

in de-registering some political parties is 

not unexpected or outside the provisions 

of the Constitution as it is today. 

The history of court interventions, the 

alterations to the electoral act and the 

amendment to the Constitution 

eventually empowered the INEC to assess 

each party’s performance after election to 

determine if the parties satisfied the 

provisions of the Constitution. 

“By law as at today, if any party fails to 

satisfy the constitutional requirements , 

such party will be de - 

registered. However, it would have been 

neater for INEC to let the various 

ongoing litigations be concluded before 

wielding the axe. 

“Having said this, it behoves us in LP to 

be very sincere on some of the issues that 

informed the very many existing political 

parties . 

It is an obvious fact that some very rich 

political leaders just use their reach to 

register some alternative parties while 

they remain in their first choice parties. 

“These very rich political agents of 

crude politics are busy using such parties 

of mistake to cause confusion in the 

polity. 

“Of course , it is true that INEC acted 

rightly and within the provisions of the 

Constitution. It has to be noted that the 

number of registered National political 

•Professor Mahmood Yakubu, 

INEC Chairman 

parties are unwieldy. Let it be taken into 

consideration the space on the ballot 

paper that should allow for boldness and 

eligibility of the various logos of the 

political parties taking part in the 

election. 

Most of the dormant parties are mere 

ego - dressing for some individuals. 

It is now clearer that for each political 

party to remain registered, a great deal 

more efforts should be exerted to satisfy at 

least the minimum requirements of the 

Constitution.” 

Some of the parties were 

jokers —Odumakin 

Mr. Yinka Odumakin, spokesman for 

Afenifere, pan Yoruba socio- political 

group, said: “We recognize the right of 

association enshrined in the constitution 

and will always defend it. But there is no 

denying that a lot of the parties are jokes. 

Our advice to INEC is to continue to 

clean up the electoral process so we can 

truly determine the strengths of the 

parties so that the ones that do not meet 

requirements of existence would not 

compete when they are deregistered.” 

It’s a welcome devt. — 

Abayomi, Cairo, 

Continues on page 8

PAGE 8— SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 

•Odumakin 

Continued from page 7 

Morakinyo 

Dr Tunji Abayomi, a constitutional 

lawyer, described the deregistration as a 

welcome development that would 

help reduce the high cost of 

conducting polls in the 

country. 

“ lt is a welcome 

development because 

most of the political 

parties are just 

existing by names 

without adding value 

to the country. Many 

of the political parties 

in Nigeria are 

irrelevant to the 

democratic process. 

INEC’s step would 

reduce cost of 

conducting elections 

in the country,” he said. 

In like manner, Dr Tayo 

Cairo, a former Chairman of 

the PDP in Ondo State, said: ” lt 

is always confusing to the electorate to 

see about 100 political parties on the 

ballot papers. Not more than 12 political 

parties have recognisable and functional 

offices in the country, deregistering the 

affected parties was not out of order. I 

believe Nigeria should not have more 

than five viable political parties. 

Unnecessary proliferation of parties 

would not help the system.” 

In his reaction, a former member of the 

Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. 

Adebayo Morakinyo, commended the 

INEC for what he called the bold step. 

Morakinyo explained that the decision 

would further sanitize the electoral 

system and reduce the unnecessary huge 

cost of conducting elections in the 

country. 

He said: “Most of these political parties 

only function during election period, 

when some elements often used them to 

make money from desperate politicians. 

“Some of these political parties cannot 

boast of winning a polling unit let alone 

winning a ward, some of them don’t even 

produce candidates during election.” 

Action is suspicious 

— Oguntuase 

The Chairman of PDP in Ekiti State, 

Chief Gboyega Oguntuase, opposed the 

decision of INEC, saying it is a game 

plan ahead the 2023 general polls. 

Oguntuase explained that PDP does not 

trust INEC and does not have confidence 

in any of its actions. 

He explained that INEC ought to have 

given the political parties a time frame 

and necessary conditions to be met before 

deregistering them. 

It’s shocking 

— Osun IPAC 

•Galadima 

•Shonibare 

The Chairman of Inter Parties Advisory 

Committee, IPAC, in Osun State, Pastor 

Popoola Olatunji, described INEC’s 

decision as shocking, especially as it 

failed to follow due process. 

He said the electoral umpire ought to 

have allowed the case against 

deregistration before the High Court take 

its due course before taking its decision. 

Besides, he added that 

the political parties that 

ought to have been 

deregistered first were the 

ruling All Progressive 

Congress, APC, and the 

main opposition party, the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, for running foul of the 

financial regulation of the 

commission. 

“It is shocking. While 

people are clamouring that 

political parties are too 

much, I believe the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission 

should have done the 

needful. There was a case in 

the High court, the commission ought to 

have waited for the outcome. As much as 

I am not against the body doing the right 

thing it should be done legally. I urge 

Nigerians to join their voices against 

what the electoral umpire has done. 

“Part of the criteria set for 

deregistration is winning election, yet 

INEC is not waiting for Edo and Ondo 

states elections to hold since our elections 

are staggered. Besides, we have so many 

states that have not conducted local 

government elections. Is INEC 

preempting that the parties cannot win 

elections in those states? 

You cannot form a 

political party that 

cannot produce 

even ordinary 

councilor in the 

entire 774 LGA and 

you call yourself a 

political party 

Moreover, the parties that ought to be 

deregistered were not. The APC and the 

PDP ought to have been deregistered 

because of their inabilities to render 

their financial expenses for the 

last general elections. 

I am not against them 

deregistering parties or 

doing the right thing 

but they should 

follow due 

process. They 

should 

have 

followed 

the 

litigation 

before the 

High 

court to 

the supreme 

Court before 

taking this decision, 

“he added. 

INEC‘s action 

illegal, 

unconstitutional 

—ANN 

THE Alliance for New 

Nigeria, ANN, one of the 

political parties de-registered 

by the INEC, said the action 

of the electoral umpire was 

illegal as it contravened 

the provisions of the 1999 

Constitution. 

The party said through 

its National Publicity 

Secretary, Akinloye 

Oyeniyi, in a statement 

that the Constitution is 

bigger than all organs and 

agencies of government 

which INEC is one. 

According to him, 

“INEC lied by saying it 

acted based on the Section 

225 of the Constitution 

because that section 

actually has in it that until 

all elections from the 

office of the president to 

that of the councillors in the 

774 local governments and area councils 

are concluded, no political party can be 

deregistered. 

“We know INEC is acting a script and is 

aware a court ruling will be coming on 

the 17th of this month, hence this 

illegality. The constitutional provisions 

are very clear; and we are in the electoral 

process in states organising their council 

polls to fulfil this provisions. The question 

now is why would INEC carry out the 

illegality in contravention of the 

constitution? 

“We are appealing to our teeming 

members and supporters to 

remain calm, the party is 

putting all in its disposal in 

motion to protect and 

sustain their constitutional 

rights to belong to a 

political party of their 

choice and freedom of 

association.” 

Deregistration 

by INEC a rude 

shock — Galadima 

National Chairman of 

the Allied Congress Party 

of Nigeria, ACPN, Alhaji 

Buba Galadima, said: 

“The news of the 

deregistration of 74 

political parties by the INEC came to us 

as a rude shock. Also worrisome was the 

inclusion of our Party, ACPN, in the list 

despite being in the Supreme Court with 

the INEC. 

“Our Party considered the deregistration 

of the ACPN in the circumstance as 

callous, pre-judicial and a contempt of 

the Supreme Court that is expected to fix 

a date for the judgement on the matter of 

being unlawfully excluded from 

participating in the governorship election 

of Kogi and Bayelsa States. 

“ The deregistration exercise at this 

period by INEC of the ACPN is preemptive 

of the outcome of the Appeal 

against it at the Supreme Court and so 

the rush to deregistration. The 

deregistration was in bad faith and 

unacceptable to us. INEC must wait for 

the outcome of the Appeal at the Supreme 

Court before deregistration of INEC”. 

They are businessmen, I 

support INEC-Yerima 

To Alhaji Shettima Yerima, President, 

Arewa Youth Consultative Foru, AYCF, 

“It is better to deregister most of them 

because they are not productive. You cannot 

form a political party that cannot produce 

even ordinary councilor in the entire 774 

LGA and you call yourself a political party. 

Some of them are there for strictly business 

and that is why it is easy for them when they 

sit down, they will just wake up and say they 

have endorsed the candidate of this or that 

party meanwhile they don’t even have 

followers and members. All they do is to 

hold their offices in their briefcases and go 

about collecting money everywhere. For me 

I totally agree with it. Let us have viable 

parties even if it is just two parties.” 

INEC was right, most 

of the parties exist only 

in paper—Salem 

Also, Hon. Bamidele Salem said: ” I 

support that move. It is in compliance 

with the provisions of the Nigerian 

constitution as amended and it will 

actually save us a lot of stress and a lot of 

cost. If you look at what it takes INEC to 

conduct elections as a result of this 

multiplicity of political parties most of 

which only exist in name and on paper, 

there is no point. I strongly believe that 

we can make do with 10 or less political 

parties in Nigeria.” 

INEC should be worried 

about poor voter 

participation in 2019 

elections — Okorie UPP 

Also speaking, National Chairman of the 

United Progressive Party, UPP, Chief 

Chekwas Okorie said: “UPP and its 

leadership were taken aback by the 

unwarranted deregistration of 74 political 

parties including our party. 

“INEC Officials visited our National 

Secretariat on verification exercise where 

they confirmed that our well appointed 

National Secretariat met all the criteria of 

functionality. They commended it as 

belonging to the first six Political Party 

National Secretariats in all 

considerations. 

“Our National Executive Committee 

Members from 36 States of Nigeria and the 

FCT were on hand with all the verification 

and identification requirements. These are 

the major requirements of the amended 

Electoral Act for a political party to 

remain on the Register of Political Parties. 

The other requirements include winning any 

election in a general election or winning the 

Chairman or Councillor in a State Local 

Government Election etc. 

“Over 30 States in Nigeria have not held 

their local government elections since the 

amended Electoral Act became operational 

before the obviously vexatious 

deregistration of Political Parties. INEC has 

inflicted severe and avoidable damage to 

Nigeria’s democracy. Notwithstanding the 

illegality of the action of the Commission, it 

defies logic that the Commission will 

deregister 74 political parties that are 

already growing and gaining traction in the 

democratic space while at the same time 

ready to register over 100 new political 

parties that will start from the scratch to 

learn the ropes and begin to promote their 

symbols and manifestos to the electorate for 

subsequent elections that are around the 

corner. 

“INEC should be more worried about the 

poor voter participation in the 2019 general 

elections which is below 35% national 

average. INEC should be expanding the 

political space instead of constricting it. 

INEC should be deepening our democratic 

culture and ethos instead of destabilizing it. 

Our National Executive Committee will 

meet soon to decide on our next line of 

action”.


CORONAVIRUS: 

Blame lawmakers 

if anything happens 

to Nigerians 

trapped in China 

—Mbisiogu, NIDO Coordinator 

•‘Impact to hit Nigeria 

hard next month if...’ 

By Charles Kumolu, DEPUTY EDITOR 

Coordinator of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, NIDO, in 

Guangdong Province, China, Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, in this interview, 

discusses the implications of Coronavirus to Nigeria’s economy 

and the country’s position on the request for evacuation of Nigerians 

trapped in Wuhan, China. 

he House of Representatives rejected a 

Tmotion for the evacuation of Nigerians 

trapped in Wuhan by Ben Uba. It was also 

reported that you want them evacuated. 

What informed your position? 

The House of Representatives shouldn’t 

have dismissed the motion moved by Ben 

Uba on the assumption that China has 

better facilities to take care of them. I 

expected them to have been spurred into 

making findings on the wellbeing of 

Nigerians in the city of Wuhan. These 

Nigerians are experiencing hardship 

because of the restriction of movement. I 

am not saying this out of hearsay, I am their 

Coordinator and they relate with me daily. 

I get daily updates on their plight. If they 

were in better condition, they wouldn’t 

have opted for evacuation. They could have 

even demanded money from the Federal 

Government, but these citizens are saying 

that they want to be evacuated the way 

nationals of other countries were evacuated. 

The decision to be taken out of the city is a 

collective decision of all Nigerian students 

in that city. President of the students’ union 

in Wuhan told me that they sampled 

opinions before arriving at the decision to 

be evacuated. Can you imagine staying in 

a house in a week without moving out and 

even if you have the option of going out, 

you will not because you don’t know who 

you may come in contact with. 

The position of the House is not different 

from the pulse of most Nigerians. They are 

saying that the country cannot handle such 

an emergency… 

The countries that have evacuated their 

people have not recorded any casualty. If 

evacuation is taking place, there are safety 

measures to be put in place to ensure that 

people do not contract the virus. For 

instance, if they are evacuated from China, 

upon arrival at Murtala Muhammad 

International Airport, they must be kept in 

a secluded place for 15 days. They must be 

quarantined for 15 days before being 

allowed to mix with the crowd. If the 

government is scared of evacuating them, 

the students are saying that they should just 

be evacuated and kept in seclusion for 15 

days after which they would be free to go 

anywhere. The House members should 

have had firsthand information before 

acting. The World Health Organisation, 

WHO, has stated the number of days an 

individual can stay in seclusion to ascertain 

if the person has the disease. Nigeria 

should follow the guidelines of WHO. This 

is what other nations had done. The disease 

is becoming more terrifying. The number 

of those infected keeps increasing. About 

2000 or 3000 people are infected daily in 

Wuhan area. I want the House of 

Representatives to mandate the federal 

government to have an arrangement with 

the Chinese authorities, to enable the 

evacuation of these Nigerians to another 

Chinese city. They can even be taken to 

a distant city. China has 52 provinces 

and the disease is in Hubeng Province. 

They can be taken to another city 

where they would be quarantined. 

Doing so would reassure Nigerians 

that the government cares. This is 

very important because other nations have 

evacuated their citizens. If the government 

fails to evacuate them, it may not speak well 

of them. If they are insisting that China has 

better facilities why not arrange with them 

to ameliorate the plight of Nigerians. I can’t 

be a father and watch my sons suffer in a 

hopeless situation. 

Don’t you think that some of these cities 

may not be willing to accept Nigerians 

evacuated from Wuhan? 

China has one central government and 

no city disobeys the central government. If 

the federal government makes the request, 

the Chinese central government would 

grant it. Our government needs to act for 

people to know that it cares for the citizens. 

If they are not evacuating them, what 

alternatives are they suggesting? They may 

be right in their decision but what 

alternatives are they 

bringing to the table? 

How many Nigerians 

are trapped in the city? 

We have about 65 

Nigerians excluding 

children. The city has a 

large population of 

foreigners who school 

there. The list I got from 

the Nigerian Students 

Union has the names of 50 

people who are schooling. 

That is excluding 

businessmen. I learned 

that they have eight 

children. The rate at 

which the number of 

those infected increases is 

scary. With that alone, we 

do not need anyone to tell 

us that our people who 

are trapped in that city 

need to be taken out. The 

whole country is in a state 

of lockdown because 

people are even afraid of 

going out. You can’t even 

go out to buy food because 

everyone is afraid not to 

contract the disease. 

Everything is in a state of 

standstill. 

If the government decides to evacuate 

them to Nigeria, how best can it be done? 

They should ask other countries that 

evacuated their citizens how they did it. The 

evacuation that was done was not a secret, 

even the media reported it. All we need do 

is to follow international best practices as 

prescribed by WHO. What method did 

Africa will even 

suffer more than 

other continents 

because we have 

become so 

dependent on 

Chinese imports 

• Mbisiogu 

Singapore and other countries use in 

evacuating their citizens? We should not 

just sit down and complain that we do not 

have the facilities to prevent the spread. 

Nigeria was able to contain the spread of 

Ebola virus and got international 

commendations for doing that. 

What about the handling of the situation 

by the Chinese authorities… 

They are on top of the situation and they 

are introducing stringent policies to able 

to contain the spread. One of the policies is 

the decision to shut down the transport 

sector in the country including the 

movement of trains. There was also an order 

that all businesses including banks be shut 

down until February 10. As of today, 

virtually all international airlines have 

suspended flights to China. They are doing 

these in good faith. The 

Chinese government is 

fighting hard to defeat 

this disease. If they 

hadn’t instructed all 

their citizens to remain 

indoors, the situation 

would have been more 

alarming. The crisis is 

not about China alone 

but also the whole world. 

I want the international 

community to support 

China to win this battle 

that poses a threat to 

man. 

How is NIDO in 

China handling the 

situation? 

NIDO through the 

overall President in 

China, Justina Ajala, has 

raised funds for our 

people in Wuhan. She 

reached out to me, 

saying the funds raised 

are for their immediate 

needs and people are 

contributing already. 

NIDO in China is 

calling on people to 

support them to ensure that they are not 

just well taken care of but also evacuated 

from the city. 

The federal government through Nigeria 

in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, 

recently said it had not received any 

evacuation request. Is that true? 

The students in Wuhan have written to 

them. It is left for them to respond. I strongly 

believe that the Nigerian Embassy and 

Abike Dabiri have forwarded the letter to 

the government because those are the 

channels through which we can reach the 

government. Abike Dabiri assured us that 

our request has been submitted to the 

government. I am sure that Abike Dabiri 

is working hard to bring the plight of the 

affected people to the presidency. 

Evacuation is not the duty of NIDCOM as 

it cannot do so. It is the responsibility of 

the federal government. If the government 

doubts the letter written to them from 

Wuhan, they should invite some us to the 

House to explain the plight of these people 

in detail. They can also reach out to them 

financially but the students are saying they 

don’t want money. I have also said that they 

should be taken to another province in 

China but the issue is that they cannot even 

move out because the transportation 

system is not working at the moment. 

Can you count the cost of the crisis on 

Nigerian businesses in China… 

The cost is increasing daily. Some of my 

staff who are in China for holidays are even 

trapped there. I don’t even know if the 

Chinese government would lift the ban on 

free movement on February 10 given the 

worsening situation. As of today, last 

Thursday, China has lost $50 billion as a 

result of the virus. Even monies transferred 

to Chinese businessmen cannot be 

accessed because the banks are not 

working. The economic implications are 

much and they extend beyond China. 

Nigeria will begin to feel the impact of the 

virus next month because 80 percent of our 

imports are from China and some of the 

items in the Nigerian market are depleting. 

Suppliers are no longer shipping products 

out of China. Manufacturers are no longer 

producing because of the restriction of 

movement and shutdown of activities in the 

country. This should even be an opportunity 

for the Nigerian government to become 

serious about stabilizing the power sector. 

Some items our people import from China 

can be manufactured here if we had stable 

electricity. Africa will even suffer more 

than other continents because we have 

become so dependent on Chinese imports. 

Prices of Chinese products will go up 

because factories are not producing. There 

is a market in China called Canal Market 

with a daily inflow of $10 million from 

Nigeria. I stand to be corrected. The market 

like others in China is affected. That is 

outside the bilateral trade going on 

between China and Nigeria. We import so 

many things from them.

PAGE 10, SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020. 

*Nnamdi 

Kanu 

SOLDIERS/IPOB TENSION IN ABIA: 

Leave Biafra 

agitation 

out of our 

monarch’s burial, 

Nnamdi Kanu’s kinsmen cry 

By Ugochukwu Alaribe 

Ahead of next Friday’s burial 

of the parents of Nnamdi 

Kanu, leader of Indigenous 

People of Biafra, IPoB, there is 

palpable tension in his community, 

Afaraukwu, Abia State over the likely 

presence of soldiers. 

This fear was mainly precipitated 

by an earlier visit of security agents 

to the community in Umuahia North 

Council Area of the state last Sunday. 

No fewer than 100 soldiers in nine 

military vans and two Armoured 

Personnel Carriers, APCs, had 

visited the community. 

Though the soldiers marched 

around the community and left some 

residents panicked. 

They were at Bank Road and 

Factory Road, making people 

scampered to safety. 

The entrance of the road leading 

to Eze Kanu’s Palace was blocked 

with their vans. 

Irked by the development, IPoB in 

a statement by its Media and 

Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, 

condemned what it described as an 

invasion of Afaraukwu community. 

IPoB described it as a brazen 

display of military might. 

Concerned by the likelihood of 

recurrence, Kanu’s younger brother, 

Emmanuel Kanu, said soldiers 

should stay away from the burial 

ceremonies and allow Afaraukwu 

community to bury its late monarch 

and his wife peacefully. 

Supreme price 

He said this while briefing 

newsmen in Umuahia. 

His words: “We are doing all we 

can to ensure we have a peaceful 

burial. There was an invasion of the 

community by soldiers. The last 

incident happened on Sunday when 

soldiers in their hundreds came into 

the community and everybody was 

running helter-skelter. We are saying 

enough is enough because there is 

no war going on in Isiama 

Afaraukwu. Why this unnecessary 

invasion and we consider it 

an act of provocation? We are 

asking the Army to stay 

away from us and allow us 

to bury our late parents. 

They died as a result of 

Operation Python Dance. 

They should steer clear of 

this burial. They are aware 

we don’t carry guns. We 

don’t kill and we don’t ask 

anyone to kill for us. We 

assure them we will conduct 

a peaceful burial. My 

parents have paid the 

supreme price. I am making 

a clear call to the Nigerian 

government to avoid Isiama 

Afaraukwu during this 

burial. The Army should 

stay away from the burial.” 

Late monarch 

Also, President General, 

Afaraukwu community, 

Chief Ikechukwu 

Ndubueze, told Sunday 

Vanguard that the 

community wants a peaceful 

burial for their late monarch and his 

wife. 

He, however, said soldiers did not 

invade any house and did not attack 

anybody when they visited the 

community. 

Ndubueze explained that they 

patrolled the community and later 

left, stressing that it became a 

tradition for the soldiers to patrol the 

community ever since the Python 

Dance exercise took place. 

He said: “What we are doing is a 

traditional burial. The entire 

Afaraukwu community wants a 

peaceful burial. We have been 

meeting with security agencies in 

the state. What we are doing is not 

an IPoB affair. We are only burying 

our late monarch and his wife. They 

should allow us to bury our dead. 

Afaraukwu is a peaceful community. 

Some people don’t want us to have 

a peaceful burial. All we want to do 

is to give our 

monarch and his 

wife a peaceful 

We assure 

them we will 

conduct a 

peaceful 

burial. My 

parents have 

paid the 

supreme price 

burial. The 

Commissioner of 

Police is our 

tenant, Assistant 

Inspector General 

of Police,AIG, lives 

in our community, 

the head of 

Immigration and 

other security 

chiefs live in our 

community. Even 

Abia State 

Government 

House is our 

tenant. They won’t 

be living in our 

community if we 

are not peaceful.” 

He further 

warned against 

what he described 

as fake reports 

about the burial, 

stressing that such 

had created tension. 

However, IPOB said no amount of 

intimidation and harassment would 

stop it from attending the burial. 

“One thing is certain, on February 

14, 2020, the parents of our leader 

will be laid to rest. The Nigerian 

Army and its supporters cannot stop 

IPOB from the burial. The Nigerian 

Army is wasting its time and 

valuable resources in trying to stop 

something they know they are 

incapable of stopping. Burial of the dead 

is a right older than man itself. Real 

soldiers fight wars, not innocent civilians 

preparing for burials,” the group said.


Nigeria needs six 

elite universities 

By Ladipo Adamolekun 

It is to the elite universities that the country 

will look for the education that promotes 

the sort of creativity and skills required to 

successfully compete as a big player in the 

world economy from the 2030s onwards. 

PREAMBLE 

In the Maiden Convocation Lecture that I 

delivered at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti 

(FUOYE) in April 2017, I made the point that 

Nigeria needs some elite universities. I 

prefaced my advocacy on the issue with the 

following: 

The idea of selecting and nurturing a small 

number of elite public universities in the 

country has been raised in the media, by think 

tanks, and especially by the NUC since the 

early 2000s. (I have been an advocate of “a 

dose of elitism in the Nigerian University 

system” since 1990). Simultaneously, a 

significant number of universities (public and 

private) have expressed the desire and/or 

determination to join the ranks of world-class 

universities… 

And I concluded my advocacy as follows: 

I strongly recommend the selection of six 

public universities, one from each geopolitical 

zone, to be nurtured as elite universities with 

the following specific goal: to have one in the 

top 100, two others in the top 200 and the other 

3 in the top 500 by 2030 (sic). It is to the elite 

universities that the country will look for the 

education that promotes the sort of creativity 

and skills required to successfully compete 

as a big player in the world economy from 

the 2030s onwards. 

Unexpectedly, a first concrete step in the 

direction of promoting and nurturing world 

class universities in the country was recently 

launched: Central Bank of Nigeria 

Collaborative Post Graduate Programme 

(CBN-CPP) partnering with the University of 

Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsukka and 

Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. According to 

the CBN, “The aim is to provide world class 

postgraduate studies in Economics, 

Accounting, Banking and Finance, and 

Business Administration comparable to what 

obtains in the best business schools across 

the globe” (bold and italics added). CBN has 

built a Centre of Excellence (CoE) at each of 

the designated universities and academic 

programmes were scheduled to commence in 

October 2019 - See Financial Times (London), 

August 13th 2019. 

In this Discussion Paper, I examine key 

issues relating to the establishment and 

nurturing of the proposed six elite 

universities. The Paper is in three parts. Part 

One is focused on the selection of the six elite 

universities. In Part Two, I lay out three phases 

of development for the selected universities: 

Take Off phase, 2020-2023; Consolidation 

phase, 2023-2028; and World Class phase, 

2028-2030. Part Three is devoted to 

relationships among the selected universities 

and between each of the universities and a 

varying number of public universities across 

the country. Furthermore, possible African 

and international linkages for the elite 

universities are highlighted. In the 

concluding Part Four, measures for assuring 

effective implementation, evaluation and 

monitoring are summarised. 

PART ONE: 

SELECTION OF SIX ELITE 

UNIVERSITIES 

In the Convocation Lecture mentioned in 

the Preamble, I made the point that the 

University of Ibadan is a self-selected elite 

university, based on some outstanding 

achievements. First, in 2010, the Institute of 

Life and Earth Sciences (including Health and 

Agriculture) of the Pan-African University 

(PAULESI) was established at the University 

of Ibadan – selected as one of the continent’s 

“existing universities of excellence”. 

PAULESI at Ibadan is focused on one of five 

thematic areas that constitute a post-graduate 

training and research network across the five 

regions of the continent (Central, Eastern, 

Northern, Southern and Western). The 

network is supported by the African Union 

and Association of African Universities with 

financial assistance from the African 

Development Bank. 

Second, according to the widelyacknowledged 

university ranking leader, the 

Times Higher Education (T.H.E) World 

University Rankings (founded in 2004), 

Ibadan was the only Nigerian university 

ranked among the top 1000 leading 

universities in the world in 2016-2017 and 

2017-2018, one of three in 2018-2019, and one 

of four in 2019-2020, based on the following 

five criteria: citations (per faculty member); 

teaching (especially learning environment); 

research (volume, income and reputation); 

industry income (to measure research 

influence); and international outlook 

(percentages of international faculty and 

overseas students). 

A third evidence is Ibadan’s dominance with 

respect to the distribution of Nigerian 

National Order of Merit (NNOM) laureates: 

by December 2019, thirty-three of the sixtynine 

laureates with undergraduate degrees - 

about 48 percent - graduated from Ibadan, 

compared to ten – about 14 percent - from 

other Nigerian universities. (Twenty-six 

laureates obtained undergraduate degrees in 

universities outside Nigeria and seven had 

no undergraduate degrees). 

Fourth, and finally, Ibadan is a member 

of the African Research Universities 

Alliance (ARUA), comprising sixteen selfselected 

“leading” universities in Sub- 

Saharan Africa (SSA). Established in 2015, 

ARUA “is set to become a pan-African network 

for bringing research and academic 

excellence to the fore throughout the region 

by developing strong and viable research 

universities.” And its goal is to enhance 

“research and graduate training in member 

universities through a number of channels, 

including the setting up of Centres of 

Excellence (CoEs) to be hosted by member 

universities.” By mid-2019, ARUA had 

established thirteen COEs and Ibadan senior 

academics are active participants in some of 

them. 

Although the robust self-selection argument 

for Ibadan cannot be made for Nsukka and 

Zaria, there is strong evidence that each 

stands out among the universities in its zone. 

Nsukka joined Ibadan and Covenant 

University in the T.H.E World University 

Rankings 2018-2019 (in the 1000 – 1258 

category) and was ranked among the top 1,396 

universities in 2019-2020. Both Nsukka and 

Zaria have been selected by CBN for support 

to develop and nurture world class post 

graduate studies (see Preamble). 

Furthermore, Nsukka hosts one and Zaria 

hosts two of the seventeen African Centres of 

Excellence (ACE) designated in Nigeria by 

the World Bank in 2018. Zaria also hosted 

one of the ten ACE designated earlier in 2014 

by the World Bank. In 

addition, both 

universities are among 

five Nigerian universities 

(excluding Ibadan) that 

have produced NNOM 

laureates – Zaria (4) and 

Nsukka (1). Given these 

accomplishments, I 

would propose that 

Nsukka and Zaria should 

be selected as the elite 

universities in their 

respective geopolitical 

zones (South-east and 

North-west) 

Based on strong 

evidence of rather low 

standards among 

university teachers in 

the country, each elite 

university should 

design and implement 

appropriate retraining 

and remediation 

programmes for its 

weak academic staff 

across all levels 

Consequently, the 

selection exercise should 

be focused on the 

remaining three 

geopolitical zones 

(North-central, Northeast 

and South-south) – 

one elite university in 

each zone. I propose that 

the selection should be 

through open 

competition among all 

the federal universities in 

each zone. The coordination of the selection 

exercise should be entrusted to a body of about 

seven experts comprising distinguished 

scholars with extensive teaching, research and 

university administration experience. I would 

suggest that the criteria for the selection of 

the universities should draw, to the extent 

possible, on the lists of methodology used by 

three leading institutions that currently 

conduct World University Rankings: (i) T.H.E 

World University Rankings, (ii) Quacquarelli 

Symonds Limited (QS) World University 

Rankings and (iii) the Academic Ranking of 

World Universities, (ARWU), also known as 

The Shanghai Ranking. The announcement 

of the Open Competition for Selecting 

Nigerian Elite Universities should be sent to 

all the federal universities in the three 

geopolitical zones. 

•Prof Ladipo 

Adamolekun 

It is important to stress that the number of 

elite universities could be increased after 

2030. For example, Germany started with 

three elite universities in 2006 and by 2016, 

the number had increased to eleven. Another 

example is the self-selected Russell Group of 

elite universities in the United Kingdom (UK): 

starting with 17 members in 1994, the current 

total is 24. So, the number of Nigerian elite 

universities could be twelve or higher by 2050. 

PART TWO: 

THREE PHASES OF 

DEVELOPMENT 

The obvious starting point would be a rapid 

baseline assessment of each of the six selected 

universities. The proposed baseline assessment 

should be an update of the section on each 

university in the 2012 Report of the Committee 

on Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public 

Universities. Each university could be 

requested to constitute an assessment team 

that would comprise both insiders and 

outsiders with an outsider as the coordinator 

and all assessments should be completed 

within six months. Based on the assessments, 

each university should also be requested to 

arrange to complete a ten-year strategic plan 

covering 2020/2021 to 2029/2030. This should 

be completed before the end of the 2020/2021 

academic year. The Strategic 

Plan should lay out clearly the 

timelines for the proposed three 

phases: Take Off phase (2020 – 

2023), Consolidation phase 

(2023 – 2028), and World Class 

phase (2028 – 2030). The 

activities to be carried out under 

each phase together with the 

resource requirements (human, 

physical and financial) should 

also be clearly stated. And the 

expected results should be 

consistent with what would 

constitute effective Take Off as 

well as what would constitute 

the distinguishing 

characteristics of the 

Consolidation and World Class 

phases. 

Expectedly, each university 

would have its peculiarities with 

respect to timelines, planned 

activities and expected results 

that will be spelled out in its 

Strategic Plan. For example, 

the University of Ibadan that 

has been consistently ranked 

among the world’s top 1000 

since 2016 might consider one 

year, 2020/2021, adequate for 

its Take Off phase thereby having only two 

phases of development in its 10-Year Strategic 

Plan: Consolidation and World Class phases. 

Next, Ibadan might decide on Consolidation 

phase activities that would ensure that it is 

ranked in the 201-300 category in the last year 

of that phase (2028) and in the 101-200 

category in the last year of the World Class 

phase (2030). (The highest ranked African 

university since 2016 is South Africa’s 

University of Cape Town, consistently in the 

101-200 category). Two of the other five should 

aim to be in the 401-600 category by 2028 

and 301-500 category by 2030 and the 

remaining three should aim to be in the 801- 

1000 category by 2028 and 401-600 by 2030. 

A good outcome by 2030 would be: Ibadan to 

rank among the best 200, three or four others 

among the best 500 and the remaining 

one or two in the 501-600 category. 

(cf. Four South African universities 

were among the best 500 in T.H.E 

World Universities Rankings in 

2019). 

Regarding funding, in addition to 

special substantial Take Off phase 

grant that should be provided for each 

elite university in 2020/2021, each 

university’s annual budget (based on 

parameters used for funding other 

federal universities) should include a 

top up of about 25% from 2021/2022 

to 2029/2030 Furthermore, the six 

universities should be 

exempted from the 

prevailing free 

tuition policy in 

federal universities. 

They could be 

requested to set 

their tuition fees at 

about 50 percent of 

the average of 

prevailing fees in 

private universities 

with respect to the 

d i f f e r e n t 

disciplines. This 

proposed funding, 

with some 

tweaking from one 

year to another, is 

likely to help 

ensure “sizable 

budgets” for the 

universities. 

However, each 

university would 

need to ensure that 

no Nigerian who 

meets its criteria 

for admission is 

denied the 

opportunity because of his/her inability to pay 

prescribed fees. The following are some 

measures that could help finance bright 

students from deprived backgrounds: 

bursaries, merit-based scholarships, needbased 

grants, and work and study 

programmes. 

Besides finance, there are four other issues 

that should be addressed by each university 

throughout the three phases of development: 

(i) quality of teachers; (iii) quality of students; 

(iii) adequacy of physical and educational 

infrastructures; and (iv) the “combination of 

freedom, autonomy and leadership”. 

Quality of Teachers: A major issue to address 

during the Take Off Phase should be the twopronged 

“crisis in manpower” in many 

universities that is highlighted in the report of 

the Committee on Needs Assessment (2012): 

shortage of academic staff and over-staffing 

with non-teaching staff that “doubles, triples 

or quadruples that of teaching staff”. And I 

would strongly recommend that each elite 

university should embrace the idea of a 

differentiated remuneration within the 

professoriate. In other words, there should be 

explicit differential contracts and levels of 

remuneration for professors, determined by 

their output at internationally competitive 

levels. This would mean the abandonment 

of fixed common salaries for professors. This 

performance-linked remuneration should 

cascade down to the levels of lecturers. I would 

also recommend that each university should 

consider the desirability of teachers’ 

assessment by students, a practice in US 

universities that is widely credited with positive 

impact on the quality of teaching. 

Furthermore, based on strong evidence of 

rather low standards among university 

teachers in the country, each elite university 

should design and implement appropriate 

retraining and remediation programmes for 

its weak academic staff across all levels (from 

lecturers to professors) during the Take Off 

phase. Finally, academic staff and other staff 

unions should operate within terms and 

conditions specific to each university. 

Quality of Students: The elite universities 

should be excluded from centralised 

admission of students through the Joint 

Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). 

This will restore a critical aspect of university 

autonomy to the institutions. Each university 

will determine the criteria that would help 

ensure that it admits only quality students. 

However, admission processes must be open 

and competitive. As is the case with elite 

universities in many countries, each of the six 

universities should set annual targets that 

would ensure close to 50:50 share between 

undergraduate and graduate students by 

2030. Students’ unions, like academic staff 

and other staff unions, should also operate 

within terms and conditions specific to each 

university. 

Adequacy of Physical and Educational 

Infrastructures: The inadequacies in public 

universities with respect to physical and 

educational infrastructures are laid out in 

some detail in the report of the Committee on 

Needs Assessment (2012). Each university 

would be expected to spell out specific 

interventions to meet its needs and assure that 

infrastructures would be adequate throughout 

the period covered in its Strategic Plan. 

•Adamolekun, a professor, lives 

in Iju, Akure North, Ondo State. 

www.adamolekun.com

PAGE 12– SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 

co.uk 

EDO: How my house was bombed 

— Inegbeneki, APC chieftain 

•Inegbeneki 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

CHIEF Francis Inegbeneki, a 

chieftain of the All Progressives 

Congress, is a founding member 

of the Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), 

which is at the forefront of opposition to 

Governor Godwin Obaseki’s second term 

bid. Inegbeneki speaks on the contentious 

issues. Excerpts: 

Attack on house 

I got the news of the attack on my house 

at about 3:30 am of February 1, 2020. I 

am still in shock, I am traumatized. My 

family members are traumatised because 

of the bombing of my residence. Frankly, 

this is the height of criminality. I 

condemn this act and the people who 

threw that improvised explosive device 

(IED) into my compound and their 

sponsors. I want to tell them that they 

have started a battle they cannot finish. 

Day of attack 

My son was at home with his pregnant 

wife. Then they called that there was a 

loud bang in the house. I didn’t want to 

believe what I heard. They were at home 

at about the time when they heard a loud 

explosion. The security guard told me 

that he saw a white truck, that when he 

heard the sound of the vehicle, he opened 

his window and saw the truck in front of 

the next compound and, immediately, 

another person came out of the car to say 

“no, no be this one, nah the next one”. 

So, they reversed and came to my place. 

The security guard said he was watching 

them from his window, he said they lifted 

something and threw it into the 

compound that made a little noise and 

then threw another one, which made a 

huge bang. Then, the people entered 

their truck and drove away. I told my son 

to go and report the incident to the police 

in the morning, which he did. We have 

reported to the police and the Department 

of State Services (DSS). My son told me 

that men of the bomb disposal unit came 

to the house to remove one IED that did 

not explode. Since then, my people, who 

are shaken by the incident, are still living 

in fear. 

Crisis in party 

Since this crisis started, I have not 

made any statement and the reason is 

because I was hoping that there will be a 

peaceful resolution. The crisis in Edo APC 

is not between Obaseki and Oshiomhole, 

No. Far from it! The crisis in Edo APC is 

between Governor Obaseki and members 

of the Edo Peoples Movement, EPM, of 

which I am a founding member. I am sure 

the governor just drew in the Comrade 

so that he can intervene. 

Message to supporters 

To members of my party in the state, I 

appeal to them to remain calm. After the 

rain comes sunshine; but to those persons 

who threw that IED into my compound and 

their sponsor, I want to repeat that this samba 

drum of war that they are beating, they should 

get ready when the lyrics of the sound and 

the music of that drum begin to dance to lyrics 

of the song. 

Obaseki will get second 

term – Governor’s aide 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

Jimoh Ijegbai, Edo State Commissioner 

for Education, insists the governor’s 

achievements will secure him victory. Excerpts: 

Division in APC over Governor 

Obaseki second term 

Governor Godwin Obaseki has done three 

years and we are preparing for another 

election. Great that INEC has announced the 

time table, those in this state and outside the 

state, can see that Governor Obaseki has done 

excellently well. On internally-generated 

revenue IGR, what we had before Obaseki 

came on board was an arrangement being 

run by ‘agberos’. You find them celebrating 

that they have made billions of naira. Even 

the former governor realised that 

Edo cannot continue on that path 

because of the downturn of the 

economy and he decided to go for 

one of the best brains we have to 

become Governor. Obaseki, after 

careful planning decided we must 

deploy technology in collecting 

revenue so that we can plug all the 

loopholes and ensure that the Edo 

people get value for their money. 

Before the introduction of 

technology in collecting revenue 

at the local government level, the 

entire 18 local governments were 

only able to raise N33m monthly. 

When technology was introduced, 

the revenue shot up to about 

N300m as at December last year. 

If you compare N30m and 

N300m you should decide 

whether we can go back to the old 

ways or continue with what we 

have started. The populace will be 

the greatest beneficiary of good 

governance. Governor Obaseki was one of 

the persons that designed the pension scheme 

we have today in Nigeria. He decided to 

•Emmanuel 

introduce the contributory pension scheme. 

Today, you can see that pensioners are no 

longer protesting. Pensions and salaries are 

paid at the same time. He has introduced the 

same policy at the local government level so 

that a situation where the wage bill is 

increasing and pension is increasing, there 

will come a time government will come to a 

halt and you will not be able to pay those in 

service and those who have retired. The best 

way to go is the contributory pension 

scheme. In education, some people make 

silly statements that the governor is not 

doing well. It is true that Oshiomhole 

embarked on red roof revolution but 

Obaseki decided to take it further that it is 

not sufficient to have structures and the 

learning process is not there. We decided to 

introduce technology in teaching our 

children at the primary 

school level. It is now being 

extended to the secondary level. 

He decided to 

plan first so 

that the result 

will be more 

manifest in 

his second 

term 

Our children are now learning. 

There is a big difference 

between what we have before 

and what we have now. 

Obaseki also introduced 

reforms in the Colleges of 

Education. In line with the 

reform policy we are pursuing, 

we are going to have one 

College of Education with three 

campuses. Abudu will be in 

charge of primary school 

teachers, Igueben will train 

teachers in secondary, 

vocational and technical 

education and the one at Afuze 

will train those in Special 

Needs, physical and health 

education. They will specialise 

in their core areas. The 

curriculum will be built around 

the technology we are using at 

the primary and secondary school level. Our 

teachers will be better equipped. We have a 

team of consultants that will ensure the 

Zidora Group, a leading service 

delivery company with multiple 

subsidiary companies and businesses, has 

just sent a Youth Corps member, Mr 

Olaniyi Toba Emmanuel, who served with 

the company abroad, for greener pastures 

after the mandatory National Youth 

Service Corps (NYSC). 

For over five years now, under the 

philanthropic movement of Zidora Aid 

Foundation, many who couldn t smile 

have smiled, many whose hope were 

•Ijegbai 

reforms succeed. Late this month, we will send 

a bill to the House of Assembly to consolidate 

the three colleges into one with three 

campuses. If you look at our tertiary 

institutions, we have run a system that there is 

no longer crisis-ridden. Salaries are being 

paid; research and development are going on. 

Obaseki has also done very well in road 

construction across the state. Last year, we 

renovated 240 primary schools across the 18 

local government areas. We decided to go to 

the base. There is no ward in the state where 

you will not see one project being carried out. 

It is an attestation that the Governor wants to 

build the party from the base. You don’t need 

to lobby before projects get to your area. 

Change is difficult to scale through. People 

will initially resist it but later they will embrace 

it. I know that Edo people accept and 

acknowledge that Obaseki is working. The 

other day, the CBN Governor was in the state 

where he launched a very ambitious 

programme. We are cultivating 120,000 

hectares of land for oil palm. In the next three 

years, the economy of the state will experience 

a boom. The state is moving in the right 

direction. The governor is diversifying the 

thought lost have been revived, lives and 

minds have been enriched and 

empowered. 

Zidora Group, a company founded by 

Dr. Arinze Madueke, Anambra born 

medical doctor-turned-serial 

entrepreneur, less than a decade ago with 

just one office in Lagos, has risen to 

dominate Nigeria travel and tours 

industry, with considerable stakes in other 

business areas such as oil and gas, 

agriculture and food production, 

economy. You know about the production 

centre and the industrial park. By the time 

Obaseki is re-elected, these things will start 

bearing fruit. Obaseki has a vision. He is not 

focusing on what do I do quickly without 

planning so that people will be hailing him. 

He decided to plan first so that the result will 

be more manifest in his second term. 

APC crisis 

I do not see any crisis that will not end if 

people genuinely seek peace. What are the 

issues? There can be disagreements but the 

ability to resolve the crisis differentiates us from 

animals. Oshiomhole laid the foundation 

Obaseki is building on what we started. I do 

not see any reason for the crisis not to be 

resolved. The party is making efforts to see 

peace reign in the party. 

In a democracy there are laid down rules 

for whatever you are doing. It is not a lawless 

society. The constitution of the party is there. 

Whatever you are doing that is not in line with 

the laws of the land, you are wasting your time. 

It ought not to be. In democracy, you have 

submitted that you are going to be guided by 

the rule of law. It is not a situation where one 

person will take action at the spur of the 

moment that is not legally binding. I think at 

the appropriate time we pray that peace will 

return to the party and there should be genuine 

reconciliation, which makes it easier for the 

party and everybody in the state. 

Obaseki’s second term ticket 

Who is a major player in this state? I have 

one vote and the other person has one vote. 

Gone are the days where one man will think 

that he will sit down and dictate. We buried it 

long time ago when we said let the people 

lead, one man one vote. That was what took 

us to where we are today. We decided to say the 

people should be at the front burner in 

whatever we are doing. When it gets to the 

nomination, that is going to be the process. 

One man cannot dictate. I see them running 

around at night meeting with persons who are 

not in the APC. That is the irony of it. The Holy 

Bible says woe onto those who go to Egypt for 

favour. We founded the party upon which we 

are ruling Edo State. Those you call major 

players are ordinary members of the party. At 

the end of the day, Mr. Governor will win 

nomination and the main election. Go round 

the state, you will find out that the people are 

happy with what Obaseki is doing. For the 

very vocal minority who are saying no, it must 

be done in their terms, we say no to that. We 

rejected that long time ago. 

Zidora sends ex-corps member abroad for free 

pharmaceuticals,real estate,I.t,media, 

foreign education placement . 

Today, the Group has over 7 branches 

across the country: Lagos; Okota, 

Lekki,Ikeja,Abuja, Ukpor and Onitsha. 

In all, there are over 200 workers in direct 

and indirect employment with Zidora. Said 

Madueke: “Nothing makes me fulfilled like 

being able to pay my workers every month. 

There is this happiness that through our efforts, 

we are able to help all these Nigerians make a 

living”.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020, PAGE 13

PAGE 14, SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 

CRIPPLING CORONAVIRUS: 

China Town 

on edge 

…as Chinese nationals who travelled home can’t return 

By Kennedy Mbele 

Amid the outbreak of Coronavirus in 

China and the global anxiety it is 

causing as it spreads to other parts of 

the world, business activities at the Overseas 

Chinese Service Center, popularly known as 

Chinese Town, Ojota, Lagos, have slowed 

down. 

China Town is hitherto unarguably one of 

the most bustling parts of Lagos. 

When Sunday Vanguard visited the area 

late last week, many of the attendants seen at 

the shops said their masters travelled to China, 

their home country, for Christmas and New 

Year and, having been trapped by 

Coronavirus there, had not returned and may 

not be back soon. 

In front of some of the shops were sales girls, 

so busy with their phones that they neither 

greeted anyone nor responded to greetings. 

Wearing long faces, some of the Chinese 

nationals who were seen in their shops and 

who managed to welcome Sunday Vanguard 

kept sealed lips even after receiving warm 

greetings and very persuasive introduction 

soliciting their opinions on the Coronavirus 

issue. 

Meanwhile, we visited the Chinese Town 

administrative block where the Director of 

External Relations, Hon. Julius Solomon, 

fielded questions from our reporter, 

explaining that the Chinese government 

officially announced the outbreak of the 

Coronavirus on January 7 when most of the 

Chinese were still in their home country, 

celebrating the New Year. 

According to Solomon, following the 

outbreak, they are yet to return to Nigeria. 

He looked into the health and economic 

implications of Coronavirus and called on the 

international community to come together to 

combat the disease which, he said, will be 

more disastrous than a World War if not tacked 

immediately. 

The following conversation ensued:Kindly 

accept my condolence over the deaths 

recorded in China, your 

employer, following the 

outbreak of Coronavirus. 

I accept your condolence. 

Coronavirus is affecting the 

whole world, especially 

Chinese who are members of 

the Overseas Chinese Centre 

that has a branch in Nigeria. 

So, it is a world health 

problem that needs to be 

taken seriously. 

What is your 

understanding of 

Coronavirus? 

Like we heard in the media, 

nobody can really pinpoint 

what it is and its causes, but 

we have heard about the 

symptoms that range from 

common cold to pneumonia 

and the rest of them, but then, 

it is not a palatable disease. 

Your complex is not as 

busy as it used to be. What is 

responsible? 

Yes, the place is more or 

less like an Overseas 

Chinese Center that fosters 

relationships with Chinese 

coming from different parts of 

the globe to Nigeria. It is an 

international place where 

Chinese can come and settle 

issues and, if the center cannot resolve it totally, 

then it is referred to the embassy. 

Wearing long 

faces, some of 

the Chinese 

nationals who 

were seen in 

their shops 

and who 

managed to 

welcome 

Sunday 

Vanguard kept 

sealed lips 

Did some of your people travel out of town? 

Yes, you know Coronavirus started close to 

the Chinese Luna year which led to the 

migration of the Chinese from different parts 

of the world to their homeland to celebrate 

the New Year. The New 

Year was a few days to the 

7th of January when the 

Chinese government 

officially announced the 

outbreak of the 

Coronavirus. So this has 

trapped a lot of them back 

there. 

The Chinese keep a lot of 

secret. Do you think that 

this aspect of their culture 

will affect the explanation 

of the main cause(s) of 

Coronavirus? 

Yes, they do that but 

things have taken a new 

dimension. It is now a 

global issue which cannot 

be swept under the carpet. 

They need all the support 

that they can get from every 

part of the world to resolve 

this. Ordinarily, they would 

have not locked up a whole 

province of over 16 million 

to quarantine them. They 

need a lot of assistance 

despite their technological 

advancement. The problem 

of Chinese with a 

population of two billion 

people is a problem of the 

whole world. So they 

cannot afford to be secretive about the virus. 

A lot of ailments are attributed to what 

people eat. To what extent do you think that 

what the Chinese eat might be a cause of the 

virus? 

I don’t really think that what they eat can 

cause Coronavirus because in Africa we eat 

bush meat, that we don’t eat it raw doesn’t 

matter. We should also understand that the 

Chinese had been poor after the war and this 

is part of the reasons they eat some of the 

things we don’t eat. They had to look inwards. 

In Nigeria, if you check, most of the meals of 

the easterners come from vegetables, it is 

because of the war they experienced; the same 

with the Chinese. Everybody eats what they 

feel like eating. Eating habits differ from one 

culture to the other and from one tribe to the 

other. So I don’t really see what they eat as a 

cause of Coronavirus. Yes, the Chinese have 

the extreme but if you check you will see that 

diabetes is not common among the Chinese 

because they eat a lot proteinous foods. We 

eat almost all the things they eat but the way 

we eat might be different. I think we should 

stop attributing it to what people eat but 

concentrate on how to resolve the problem. 

Lassa fever happened in Africa; this one is 

happening in China, we should all join hands 

together to resolve it. 

Do you think that what is happening in 

China can affect other parts of the world? 

The health effect cannot be quantified. It is 

something that has to be curtailed as quickly 

as possible, so that we will not have 

something more devastating than a World War. 

We are talking about a country that can afford 

250,000 nationalities to every continent of the 

world. Luhan or Hubell today is bigger that 

Togo and Benin Republic put together. Both 

communities are bigger than most of the 

countries in Europe. The whole world needs 

to join hands together and see how they can 

contain Coronavirus because if goes out of 

hand, it will be like an atomic bomb. On the 

economic implication, China has started the 

production of about two million nose masks 

everyday for over two billion people. That 

means that they can afford to provide nose 

masks for their nationalities across the globe, 

leaving other people vulnerable. Since 

January 7 when the outbreak of Coronavirus 

was officially declared in China, there has been 

a lot of restrictions on cargos to other parts of 

the world and, whether we agree or not, 

Chinese people provide most of the goods and 

services for the world; 70 percent of what is 

consumed all over the world is made in 

China. 

What is your advice to the Chinese living 

in Nigeria? 

They should watch out, follow all necessary 

health procedures and report, immediately, 

any symptom related to Coronavirus. 

How would you advice our country, 

Nigeria? 

My advice to our country, Nigeria, is that 

we should put in place every measure, should 

there be an outbreak of any kind of this 

situation in future. We should not wait until it 

happens. This is a world health issue which 

Nigeria must prepare for at all times, so that 

any suspected case can be death with 

immediately. 

Do you have any other thing to tell us on 

this issue? 

The whole world should put all hands on 

deck to resolve this outbreak because, if it is 

allowed to go out of hand, it will be a problem 

of the whole world that will even be more 

worrisome than World War.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2020,PAGE 15 

Genital mutilation! 

• Girls who go under the knife! 

By Chioma Obinna 

& Elizabeth Uwandu 

Iwish I could take my life or kill my 

mother for making me go under the 

knife. Doctor, is there anything I can 

do to correct my genital?”, Sade Oriola, 

a victim of genital mutilation, said. 

Sade’s sad situation aptly describes 

what many women 

circumcised under 

the age-long harmful 

practice continue to 

experience. 

Many homes have 

been broken because 

women cannot satisfy 

their husbands 

sexually for no fault 

of theirs. 

The pathetic 

experiences these 

women who 

underwent genital 

mutilation, also 

known as Female 

G e n i t a l i a 

Mutilation, FGM, 

According to her, 

FGM is the partial 

or total removal 

of female external 

genitalia due to 

non-medical 

reasons 

pass through, 

sometime, make 

them see no reason 

for sex since they can 

hardly reach orgasm 

which is the climax in 

sexual intercourse. 

Meanwhile, every year, the world 

commemorates the International Zero 

Tolerance for Female Genitalia 

Mutilation. 

This year, Sunday Vanguard 

participated in a chat-room organised by 

the Nigerian Women Journalists in 

Nigeria, NAWOJ, Lagos State Chapter. 

The event hosted a renowned gender 

and reproductìvè health analyst from the 

United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, 

Dr Esther Somefun. 

Somefun explained the situation in 

Nigeria, the implications and the way 

forward. She said, currently, 200 million 

Nigerian females are genitalia mutilated 

while Osun State leads with 67.8 percent. 

According to her, FGM is the partial or 

total removal of female external 

genitalia due to non-medical reasons. 

“There are four types of FGM: Type 1 - 

Partial or total removal of clitoris or 

prepauce; Type 2 - Removal of labia 

minora (external lip) with or without the 

majora; Type 3 - Narrowing of the 

external genitalia; and Type 4 - All other 

forms of FGM including prickling, 

piercing and incising of the genital.” 

Sadly, Nigeria is one of the seven 

countries which account for over 200 

million girls and women mutilation, the 

expert said. “Although, the incidence of 

FGM is dropping, the practice persists 

because of gender inequality, the belief 

that it can curb promiscuity, 

and that it must be part of the 

rite of passage”, Somefun 

said. 

“Other reasons for its 

persistence are weak 

enforcement of the law and 

recently medicalization”. 

States 

with high 

F G M 

rate 

Accordingly 

to Multiple 

Indicator 

Cluster 

Survey, 

M I C S , 

2 0 1 6 - 

2 0 1 7 , 

O s u n ; 

Ekiti; 

Oyo; Imo and Ebonyi 

states ranked high on 

FGM incidences 

while Osun is highest 

with 67.8 percent; 

Ekiti and Oyo, 55.0 

percent; and Imo 

and Ebonyi, 51.6 

and 43.2 

percentage 

respectively. 

Explaining why 

Osun scored 

highest, the 

expert said: 

“Osun accounts 

for a high 

number of cases 

due to deepseated 

cultural 

norms and belief 

system such as 

the need to 

p r e v e n t 

promiscuity, family ritual, which must be 

done for women to be clean and free of 

evil spirits, and weak enforcement of the 

law and the campaign against FGM. 

“Meanwhile, government has 

championed the advocacy against FGM 

in all the states across the country. We 

equally engage youths through the use of 

the social media to create awareness 

among girls and there is a lot of pressure 

to eradicate FGM. 

“For example, the initial prevalence rate 

was 48.4 percent, now it is 18.4 percent. 

“Nevertheless, government needs to 

create more awareness and 

enlightenment programmes to dispel 

myths. 

“They should ensure that all laws are 

enforced not minding whoever the 

perpetrators are. 

“There is need to provide 

essential services to 

survivors to alleviate the 

complications. 

“And while young girls 

should be advocates to 

fight against FGM 

practice, traditional 

and religious leaders 

should be engaged by 

the Federal 

Government to ensure 

the abandonment of 

FGM.” 

Effects 

There are many 

n e g a t i v e 

implications of 

FGM. For 

instance, 

women find it 

difficult to enjoy 

sex because the 

external female 

organ, the 

clitoris which 

e n s u r e s 

lubrication 

during sex, has 

been cut off. 

In some cases, 

the external 

organ has been 

sewn up. 

And apart 

from not 

•Somefun enjoying sex to 

the fullest, there 

may be cases of infertility, pelvic 

inflammatory infections, menstrual 

pains, keloids and obstructed labour. 

For example, women with Type 2 and 

Type 3 are most at risk during delivery. 

Are there benefits for those who 

are circumcised? 

There are huge benefits both for short 

term and long term. 

There is no risk of gynaecological 

problems such as painful menstruation; 

repeated pelvic infections, infertility and 

urinary tract infections among others. 

Again, sexual intercourse will not 

painful and there is no risk of obstructed 

labour. 

How effective are policies and 

laws to stop FGM? 

Last year, UNFPA supported the Federal 

Government to revise the National Policy 

and plan of action on FGM. 

It is noteworthy that all the five states 

where FGM is prevalent have now 

adopted the Violence Against Persons 

Prohibition Act, VAPP, thus putting in 

place sanctions against perpetrators of 

FGM. 

And knowing that FGM is a cultural 

issue, since 2014, UNFPA has engaged 

community, traditional and religious 

leaders to have a consensus to abandon 

FGM. 

Currently, there are over 600 anti-FGM 

champions conducting door-to-door 

counselling on the need to abandon FGM 

in the five states. 

Also over 100 communities in Osun 

have abandoned FGM. 

In the four other states collectively, over 

1,500 communities have declared the 

abandonment of FGM. 

And apart from all states having VAPP 

laws in place to prosecute perpetrators, 

each state has Technical Committee that 

ensures compliance. 

300 heath care workers have also been 

trained to offer services to women with 

complications. 

What can be done to correct 

complications that arrive from 

FGM? 

Lubricants can be used but it will not 

totally relieve the pain. 

Depending on the type of FGM, 

corrective surgery can be done to open 

the external genitalia to allow for easy 

passage of the male external genitalia. 

There is no age limit for correction 

surgery. 

Way forward 

Somefun said, “My advice to mothers, 

fathers and girls is to join forces to push 

against FGM through social media and 

the conventional media. 

“And girls should not be cut for selfish 

reasons any longer. 

“For the media, they should join the 

advocacy against FGM by writing on 

what survivors are going through and 

present facts on FGM in those states.”

PAGE 16— SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 

Journey into marriage 

It’s a very interesting journey. I was a civil 

servant then and I lived at number 14 Tony 

Umeh Street, Awada Layout, Onitsha while 

her parents lived at number 20. There were 

vacant plots between the two buildings which 

gave me sight advantage. I monitored her 

silently until I moved out in 1996. The week I 

moved out I ran into her on the street and 

became restless. 

I regretted not speaking to her. I dropped 

my bag at home and quickly rushed out to 

track her on the street. After almost an hour of 

searching for her, I spotted her in a salon. I 

called her out and spoke to her for the first 

time. In our conversation, I hinted her that I 

was moving out of the place and, therefore, 

urged her to pay me a visit. She told me it 

would be difficult as her parents were very 

strict. 

I persuaded her and she gave me her word. 

On the d-day, she came with a girl friend of 

hers, I guess for security reasons. My little 

interaction that day granted me access to her 

soul. When it was time to go, I asked if I could 

visit her in school. She said no, that her 

parents mounted serious surveillance on 

her. I gave up when I saw that I could not 

change things. I bade her farewell and 

we never saw again until 2001, almost 

six years later. 

Strolling 

I saw her for the first time in 

Onitsha. We walked past each other 

and an impression was created in 

my mind. She was actually on 

her way from school 

while I was 

strolling out. 

Crush 

Their family 

house was to 

ours. So once 

in a while, I 

would peep 

through the 

window just to 

set my eyes on 

her. That was 

actually when 

my spirit told 

me she was 

going to be my 

wife. At this 

stage, there was 

n 

o 

communication. 

Love life 

My love life 

before I met her 

was not 

defined. There 

was no active 

girl friend. I 

created enough 

space to avoid 

conflict. That 

way no one was 

going to hold 

me to account when the 

chosen one surfaced. I was very 

committed to my job 

Challenge of marrying one of 

the women dated in the past 

I didn’t have such challenge. I 

targeted marriage at 30. Earlier 

years were deployed to building 

foundation and creating resources. 

Marriage was never my priority 

then. It was until I turned 29 that I 

activated my searching device. 

Nasty experience in marriage 

I can’t really pinpoint anyone now. 

But all I know is that misunderstanding 

comes once in a while, and it is resolved 

as quickly as possible. It has been a 

peaceful union. 

What I cannot do in the name of 

marriage 

We love each other but I can’t kill, neither 

will I steal for love. 

How I felt when I met her 

The feeling was amazing and fulfilling. It 

was worth it though. 

•Teco Benson 

Love at first sight 

I don’t subscribe to love at first sight. My 

reason is simple. It often comes with misplaced 

judgment. People are judged based on 

physical appearance. External beauty has 

misled a lot of men into making wrong marital 

decisions. What guarantees a long lasting 

marital union is the beauty of the inside and it 

cannot be deciphered at first sight because it 

is not tangible. In other words, there’s need for 

multiple contacts to be able to ascertain the 

true personality behind the model. And you 

can get correct 

result if you hide your 

intention. If a woman knows she is being 

profiled for marriage, she will bring out her 

acting prowess and give you what you want to 

see. But as soon as the wedding is 

consummated, she will unleash her true 

nature. 

First meeting 

Great drama indeed! If you recall, I said 

earlier that I made several trips to Onitsha 

before I, eventually, I ran into her younger 

It took six years of 

labour to win my wife’s 

heart —Teco Benson 

By Benjamin Njoku 

•Teco Benson 

and wife 

•The Benson family 

Tales of celebrities meeting and falling in love for the first time is not very rare in 

this part of the world. While many of them have shared inspiring stories of how they 

met their spouses on movie sets, at social engagements or inside buses, others have 

married their childhood friends. But Teco Benson has a different story. The prolific producercum-director, 

who made his directorial debut with the 2003 film, ‘Blood Diamonds’, says 

he met his wife, Uju, on the street and fell in love with her. He was restless until he was 

able to win her heart and it took him about six years to labour for love. Interestingly, their 

union is blessed with five loving boys: Miracle, Chisom, Tochukwu, Kenechukwu and 

Kosi. Find out how he did... 

sister Nkoli. I gave my phone number to the 

sister for onward transmission to her because 

she was then in Port-Harcourt on holiday at 

the time. About two weeks after my trip, I got 

a telephone call from her 

at last. It was heartwarming. 

I extended an 

invitation to her and she 

I don't subscribe 

to love at first 

sight. My reason 

is simple. It often 

comes with 

misplaced 

judgment 

agreed after some 

persuasion. She asked to 

know why I wanted her to 

come all the way to Lagos 

to see me. I told her I would 

disclose the reason to her 

when she arrived Lagos. 

Then there was night bus 

and there was no GSM in 

Nigeria. So the following 

night she left for Lagos as 

agreed. 

Throughout that night my 

eyes didn’t blink. To be able 

to catch some sleep, my 

friend Reemy Jes, who, 

incidentally, slept in my 

house that night advised 

that we lodge in a hotel 

because there was power 

outage. Even with the air 

conditioner and other hotel 

facilities, I was unable to 

close my eyes till the 

following morning. As soon 

as it was 6.00am, we 

hurried down to my house to ensure that the 

cab she hired didn’t arrive before me. Lo and 

behold around 7.00 am, I heard a knock on 

my gate. My heart lifted. I rushed to the gate, 

lo and behold there she was. I looked at her 

innocent face and natural beauty. I gave her a 

hug and took her inside. My soul was very 

happy. Seeing her convinced me further that 

she was the one. That same day I was 

auditioning for a movie titled ‘Terror.’ She 

accompanied me to the audition ground. 

When we returned home, she asked me to tell 

her why I invited her. I 

promised to tell her the 

following day. And truly I did. 

Without mincing words, I told 

her that I called her because I 

have made up my mind to 

spend the rest of my life with 

her. 

What are you not 

comfortable with when you 

see your wife step out? 

I am not comfortable with 

indecent dressing. So I don’t 

condone skimpy and 

provocative wears. She 

understands her status as a 

married woman. So she 

respects herself. 

What helped to build your 

marriage at the early stage? 

Trust, true love and mutual 

respect! 

Things that could lead to 

break up in marriage 

Copying and comparing 

oneself with others, lack of 

contentment, adultery, family 

influence, lack of trust and grace of God. 

Dating before marriage 

Our own case was unique. I noticed her from 

1995. She was young and dating was out of it. 

I spoke to her for the first time in 1996. I left 

Onitsha for Lagos in 1997. In 2001, marriage 

happened.

Between Buhari and his 

Security Chiefs 

“I was taken aback by what 

is happening in the North-West 

and other parts of the country. 

During our campaigns, we 

knew about Boko Haram. What 

is coming now is surprising. It 

is not ethnicity or religion; rather, 

it is one evil plan against 

the country” - President Buhari, 

in Abuja, January 29, 2020. 

Riders beware! 

This article could easi 

ly have been titled 

WHY BLAME THE 

SERVICE CHIEFS? FISH 

ROTS FROM THE HEAD. 

And, it would have been just 

as appropriate. Those asking 

for the Service Chiefs to be 

sacked, to me, missed the 

point. The Security Chiefs did 

not fail us. Buhari did. 

“The buck stops here” - US 

President Harry Truman, 

1884-1972. 

When Truman made that 

statement, he was not only referring 

to political leaders – 

Presidents, Prime Ministers, 

Governors and even Local 

Government Chairpersons – 

he was taking a position which 

every Chief Executive Officer, 

CEO, of any organisation 

should adopt. Irrespective of 

whether one is the Chairman/ 

Chief Executive of XYZ Plc or 

Governor of ABC State, the 

CEO must be ready to be held 

responsible for anything that 

occurs – good or awful. Unprincipled 

leaders are frequently 

ready to accept the 

awards for the Best Chief Executive 

Officer when things go 

well. They turn around and 

point to subordinates when 

they go awfully wrong. Buhari 

is ever ready to claim responsibility 

when Nigeria is commended 

by any agency in the 

international community but 

disclaims it when the reports 

are condemnatory. 

Buhari’s expression of surprise 

that North-West of Nigeria 

had been taken over by 

bandits and kidnappers have 

merely exposed our President 

as someone who is completely 

out of touch with what is 

going on in his own state – not 

to talk of Nigeria. Effective 

Presidents always ensure they 

obtain original and independent 

reports about the situations 

in their countries. They 

never rely totally on the briefings 

and cuttings provided by 

their staff members. 

“Like all God’s creatures, 

enemies have a purpose in the 

world. They offer criticism of 

one’s conduct, albeit unsought, 

that is not always provided 

by friends”-Rosenblalt, 

VANGUARD BOOK OF 

QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 48. 

Leaders who read are as 

conversant with what their political 

opposition and critics 

say as their subjective press 

briefings. Anybody following 

US President Donald Trump 

closely would have noticed 

that he watches television stations, 

reads newspapers – including 

those he knows are 

against him – in order to know 

better what is going on in 

America. He regularly sends 

personal rejoinders to the authors. 

Granted, Trump had 

bastardised what was an established 

tradition among 

American Presidents and top 

officials since President 

Kennedy, 1917-1963. 

Kennedy in the last century 

who, like other Presidents before 

him, read only the press 

briefings provided by the 

White House staff and he 

thought he was fully informed 

until a surprise occurred in 

form of a national strike by 

the United Auto Workers, 

UAW, a powerful labour union. 

The press briefings had 

not prepared Kennedy for this. 

There is only one good, 

knowledge, and one evil, ignorance 

— Socrates 

he last couple of days, the 

Tmove to ban Okada and 

Marwa off the main roads in 

the city of Lagos has created 

so much anguish for the Lagos 

commuters. It has divided 

the people. Some are relieved 

that the nuisance of 

these two and three wheelers 

are taken off the road while 

others, are dismayed, despondent 

that their only 

means of livelihood have been 

withdrawn from those eking 

a living in these trying times. 

No one knows how many 

Okadas and Marwas there 

are on the roads but what is 

for sure is that there are thousands 

of undocumented Okada 

and Marwa riders in Lagos 

State and crucially, whatever 

the numbers, the fact is, 

they will potentially lose their 

livelihood. 

Okada riders have taken 

over the roads in their thousands. 

The safety of the roads 

and Okada have always been 

an issue even with motorists 

who have always flouted the 

highway codes and with tragic 

consequences. 

With the Okadas and marwas 

, let loose on the roads is a 

perfect storm. What is for sure 

is that there have been more 

deaths on the roads as a result 

and of course, it is also used 

for nefarious activities; bag 

snatches,quick getaways, kidnappings. 

Couple of years ago, the 

state government ordered 

Okada riders to wear helmets, 

there were protests, they said 

it was expensive even if it 

meant saving their lives. The 

result , was some homemade 

helmets fashioned from all 

sorts and they missed the salient 

point that wearing a proper 

safety helmet is there to 

save lives, protect their heads 

from accidental impacts. Nigerians 

have always lived by 

the seat of their pants and 

laugh in the face of danger. 

Safety is not a funny business 

and not one to play Russian 

roulette with. It is wasting precious 

lives. 

It is important to have 

standards and adhere to safety 

regulations and for years, 

this has been dismissed or disregarded. 

Expediency has always been 

It is difficult to 

determine when 

they transformed 

from just rustling to 

limitless banditry – 

with kidnapping as 

a subsidiary 

business 

Thereafter, the young President 

learnt his lessons. In addition 

to the summaries provided 

by his staff, he would request 

for several national 

newspapers to be brought and 

he read for himself the uncensored 

news of each day. He was 

shocked to discover that his 

White House had kept from 

him all the reports about the 

developments leading to the 

strike which might have been 

averted had he received all the 

facts he needed for action. 

I have recalled the Kennedy 

experience only to make the 

point that Presidents or Governors, 

sooner or later, become 

hostage to their officials. They 

lose touch with reality and become 

enslaved in the wall of 

propaganda - which their staff 

members always build around 

them. They are given the impression 

that they can do no 

wrong; everything they do or 

fail to do is a result of divine 

guidance. Critics are “enemies 

of progress” or ignorant 

commentators – until most 

leave office. 

“The rate of change in our 

time is so swift that an individual 

of ordinary length of life 

will be called on to face novel 

situations which have no parallel 

in the past. The fixed person 

for the fixed duties, who in 

the old society was such a godsend, 

will in the future be a 

public danger” - Alfred North 

Whitehead, 1861-1947. 

Whitehead had used so 

many words to tell us that just 

as it is difficult to teach an old 

dog new tricks, it is difficult 

for older people, especially 

those who had taken such a 

long leave from leadership, to 

excel. In many respects, it is 

not entirely his fault, but Buhari 

has become a public danger 

to us. Modern leaders read 

volumes of reports and they 

still find time to read their nation’s 

newspapers and watch 

independent television. Most 

likely, all the televisions in Aso 

Rock are switched to NTA. 

Buhari was shocked that his 

own North-West, which was 

safe from bandits, when 

Jonathan was President, had 

been taken over during his own 

tenure. Previous stories from 

Katsina State, especially the 

one from Daura, will illustrate 

the point that we have a President 

who is completely disengaged 

from what is happening 

in his country – even his 

own home town. 

“Every time you negotiate 

with terrorists, you become an 

accomplice” - VBQ. 

In May last year, I published 

on these pages an article titled 

KATSINA DEY BURN 

OGAPATAPATA DEY ENJOY 

FOR LONDON. Governor 

Masari of Buhari’s own state 

as well as the Governor of 

Zamfara State had cried out 

loud that bandits had taken 

control of their states. It was 

front page news for every national 

paper. Yet, the President 

apparently was not aware of 

it. On one of his visits to Daura 

last year, bandits waited 

only two days after he left to 

kidnap the Daura District 

Head who was eventually released 

after collecting a hefty 

ransom. Still, Buhari wants us 

to believe he was ignorant of 

it. A former Governor of Zamfara 

abandoned his state and 

lived in Abuja or abroad while 

bandits took over. Buhari’s Security 

Chiefs either refused to 

tell him or he could not grasp 

the ultimate implications of 

what he was told. 

Katsina, Zamfara and 

Kaduha States have been negotiating 

with terrorists and 

bandits for over two years. 

Buhari was not aware of it. 

That is the President who had 

promised to protect us during 

elections. Please read what 

was written in May 2019 and 

you can easily see why we 

don’t have the President we 

need. 

It is important to have 

standards and adhere to 

safety regulations and 

for years, this has been 

dismissed or 

disregarded 

the Nigerian mantra but never 

safety or efficiency or effectiveness. 

So the massive protests was 

the last stance to get the state 

administration to change its 

mind. Despite appealing to 

the state house of assembly to 

appeal and influence the state 

to overturn the decision. 

They were mistaken as the 

lawmakers kowtowed to the 

ban and informed protesters 

to obey the law. 

The decision to ban was primarily 

to save lives and standardise 

an effective mode of 

transport by the state government;. 

The state Commissioner 

for Information and Strategy, 

Mr Gbenga Omotosho, 

said that the government had 

had enough of fatal accidents 

caused by the operators. 

Further more, Omotosho 

said, “The figures are scary. 

Between 2016 and 2019, 

there were more than 10,000 

cases of accidents recorded at 

General Hospitals across the 

state. This number excludes 

unreported cases and those recorded 

by other hospitals. The 

total number of deaths from 

reported cases is over 600 as 

of date.” Omotosho also noted 

that Okada and Marwa 

riders often violated the Transport 

Sector Reform Law 2018 

and contributed to the crime 

rate in the state. 

The figures are shocking but 

these Okada and Marwa did 

not just appear on the roads; 

they were fulfilling a need. The 

dire state of transportation in 

Lagos State has been a state 

flux for decades especially in 

heavily populated areas. 

There was a need for affordable 

and accessible transport 

and that's what they need. 

They were able to weave in 

and out of heavy traffic, carry 

passengers from door to door. 

It was initially a God sent for 

the low income earners, traders 

and middle income earners. 

Disturbingly enough, there 

is no training or test to get on 

the roads. No safety regulations 

to adhere to. Years ago, 

due to the senseless deaths on 

the roads, Lagos State government 

demanded that every 

rider and its passager 

should wear helmets. Of 

course, there was an uproar; 

the protest that they should 

wear helmets! Helmets are 

known to save lives but, many 

take to the roads regardless 

and they become part of tragic 

statistics. 

What is definite, is there are 

no true statistics of these riders 

but for businesses like, 

MAX it claimed to have created 

2,000 direct jobs and 

70,000 indirect jobs, it postulated 

that some 90,000 Lagos 

residents on the platform 

would lose their means of livelihood. 


KATSINA DEY BURN, Katsina, was that candidate 

OGAPATAPATA DEY “EN- Buhari, being a retired General 

(in how many wars did 

JOY” IN LONDON 

he take part before becoming 

“A leader is best/ When people 

barely know he exists…/ would step in and wipe BH 

General, we might ask?) 

Worst when they despise off the map. CHANGE!! We 

him….” -Lao-tsy, Chinese philosopher, 

6th century, VAN- lieve all the propaganda. His- 

were gullible enough to be- 

GUARD BOOK OF QUOTA- tory would record that as Buhari 

was finishing his first term 

TIONS, VBQ, P 124. 

Long before one Ogapatapata 

announced he was go- 

around. And, whereas BH was 

in office and about to start his 

second term, BH was still 

ing to London for a private the only terrorist group the 

visit, Katsina State had become 

the kidnapping capital eral more have been added 

nation knew under GEJ, sev- 

of Nigeria. Its next door neighbours 

– Zamfara and Kadu- 

First, herdsmen now kills as 

since 2015. 

na – pushed Borno State off many Nigerians all over the 

the top of the murder chat; and country as BH does in the 

it is now a two-way race to North-East. Whereas Buhari 

capture the gold medal for had no hesitation going after 

mayhem between the two BH, he started by offering excuses 

for herdsmen, blamed 

North West states. Nigeria, 

already the world’s leader in state governments for attempting 

to save their farm- 

poverty, children out-ofschool, 

maternal deaths, children 

dying before they reach herdsmen attacks. He all but 

ers and communities from 

the age of five, polio, measles provided them with immunity 

from punishment. 

and several other miseries afflicting 

mankind, is moving “Against stupidity [of Nigerian 

governments], the gods 

up to claim a gold medal for 

homicides in a country not at themselves struggle in vain” - 

war. And, just as if to prove that Frederick Von Schiller, 1759- 

the rough-necks have little 1805, German philosopher. 

respect for Nigeria’s Commander-In-Chief, 

C-I-C, of group virtually granted im- 

Second, with one terrorist 

the Armed Forces, they have munity, others in the North 

taken the battle for control to started organising. Cattle rustlers 

(that is the elegant name 

Katsina. There is a touch of 

morbid irony in all these. And, given to vicious and armed 

former President Jonathan livestock thieves) increased in 

must be mildly amused by number and ferocity. They 

what is going on. There were also spread to more states 

no roughians in Daura in from their original base in 

2015. 

Zamfara. Just as they did with 

In 2013-2015 when it was herdsmen, Buhari and his security 

officers, as well as Min- 

only Boko Haram, BH, 

threatening three or four states isters, ignored the problem – 

in the North-East, the entire ill-advisedly expecting it to go 

country was deafened by the away by itself. Obviously, none 

noise of CHANGE. Each time of them has ever heard that 

BH struck anywhere, one “appetite grows with eating”. 

noisy fellow wrote a press release 

asking Jonathan to receeded 

the more of them there 

The more the rustlers sucsign 

if he was incapable of ensuring 

the security of Nigeri- 

armed robber wanted. 

were and the more each 

ans. APC members thought he It is difficult to determine 

was clever. Even if Jonathan when they transformed from 

had accepted the advice, his just rustling to limitless banditry 

– with kidnapping as a 

resignation would not have 

brought Buhari to power immediately. 

Instead, the former time our self-admitted ‘Baba 

subsidiary business. But, by the 

Vice President would have Go Slow’ went about campaigning 

for the second term, 

taken over and he would have 

appointed another VP. A hundred 

PDP Presidents could been too slow to understand 

the terrors he had ignored or 

have resigned between 2011 had gone out of hand. 

and 2015 and APC would still To be continued. 

have had to wait until 2015. LAST LINE: AKWA IBOM, 

“He who speaks without HONOUR THE FATHER OF 

modesty will find it difficult YOUR STATE. 

to make his word good” -Confucius, 

Chinese philosopher, it can do; it is up to Ibomites 

VANGUARD has done what 

551-479BC, VBQ, p 162. to honour the Father of Modern 

Akwa Ibom State. Get in 

The impression they gave 

“Fellow Nigerians”, including 

the people of Zamfara and 

touch with me as soon as possible. 

Some personal stories are 

heartfelt; , Of course, there are 

two sides to a story. Sandra 

Egbuna, said she was able to 

fund her education. She said 

that she saved money from her 

earnings; “This was what I 

used to train myself for my National 

Diploma. I am currently 

on industrial attachment 

with Gokada and by next year, 

I will start my Higher National 

Diploma. 

“If the government bans us, 

I cannot go back to school. 

There is no hope for me. Some 

of my mates are involved in 

prostitution, but I chose to 

keep my dignity and work 

hard,” she said. One can not 

but feel for this young lady, 

who is trying to make something 

of her life despite the 

odds and the risks. 

The blanket ban is going to 

affect many, more than just 

the Okada and Marwa riders. 

It has a knock on effect on 

many more. The economy can 

ill afford many more on the 

poverty line and unemployed. 

It is difficult to balance the 

pros and cons but what is 

more important is what is in 

the best interest of the majority. 

It is a tough call but far too 

many fatalities and it has also 

spun the criminal elements 

who have found a way to add 

more miseries to the already 

impoverished lives of the 

masses. 

In the meantime, scores of 

people have taken to walking 

to work or shopping. 

Many have taken to social 

media: 

“Dear Sanwo-Olu, my cousin 

and I walked from UNI- 

LAG junction to Ransome 

Kuti. We’d have taken a bike 

instead. 

Another , @Vichofu wrote, 

“Imagine trekking from 

CMS to Obalende, then from 

Obalende another trek to Dolphin 

Estate because these 

routes are majorly for bikes 

and kekes.” 

A user, Chukwuemeka 

Umenzekwe, also wrote, “It 

was quite a struggle gaining 

access to a commercial bus 

today because of the okada 

ban. We begged the driver for 

an increase (in fare) to carry 

us. This is Lagos.” 

The most novel is those that 

using horse power to beat the 

ban. Not sure if the horses will 

be pleased, they are not meant 

to be ridden on roads, their 

hooves can not take it and will 

need to be rested and fed to 

undergo the rigours of the 

Lagos roads. 

The bigger operators are 

also bemoaned of losing 

trade: 

The most affected by the ban 

are the ride-hailing services 

and their investors. The most 

popular ones are Opay, Gokada 

and MAX. 

The Chief Executive Officer 

of MAX, Adetayo Bamiduro, 

in a recent interview, said his 

company had invested billions 

of naira in the business. 

Bamiduro, who claimed 

that his company had been 

paying taxes to the state government 

and the Federal 

Government, said that in 

terms of equity investment 

and shareholders, MAX had 

close to $10m (about N3.6bn) 

in Lagos.


Unusual transformation 

of Adokiye Kyrian 

•From virgin girl to tomboy? 

Delectable singer, Adokiye Kyrian always 

seems to have her hands on the pulse 

of things. If she is not making 

something happening, something is 

happening about her. But in recent times, it 

has been a bit of a lull for her. But what is 

staggeringly glaring about this young Imo 

State-born singer and actor, is her recent 

transformation from the vulnerable, virgin girl 

she was to the tomboy, she’s turning out to be. 

Everyone who can recall this girl some six 

years ago would have a picture of an innocent, 

naive, virgin girl who said she would only 

give her virginity to any man who could buy 

her mother a private jet. 

When Potpourri leaked the story that she 

was still a virgin at 23 it was greeted with 

outrage. She made more news back then 

when she offered her virginity to the Boko 

Haram sect in exchange for the release of the 

Chibok girls. Everything about her was so 

feminine and there was a touch of 

vulnerability about her that made her always 

•Fatimah Adeoye 

•Patoranking 

look like a damsel in distress. She 

was all woman and many suitors 

were hungrily eying her. 

In recent times, the singer has 

almost switched gender, in 

appearance, for all we could see. She 

was a desirable, sexy woman back then 

and she did step up to highlight her 

sexuality by having many sensual 

pictures of herself generously available 

on the social media. But not anymore! 

Short of the Bobrisky stunt in 

reverse, Adokiye is making so much 

effort to hide all her femininity to look 

masculine. Her style of dressing 

these days is clear attestation to that. 

It is as if she doesn’t want to be a 

woman anymore. Why Adokiye? 

Has her virginity gone up in smoke 

and she’s bitter by it or what could 

be happening to the once virgin 

singer? Obviously, there are more 

questions than answers. 

Intellectual theft: 

$10,000 Ghollyhood 

movie pirated for 

100,000 naira in 

Nigeria 

hollywood-Nigerian actress, 

G Fatimah Adeoye woke up on 

Saturday, February 1, 2020, to the greatest shock of h e r 

life. It was supposed to be another routine 

weekend to relax but when the Ghana-based 

actress saw her movie she hasn’t released on 

YouTube, she almost fainted. She couldn’t 

believe her eyes because she hadn’t sold the 

movie titled “Aaliyah” to anybody. She only 

premiered it a couple of years ago. 

Hear her, “I woke up this morning and went on 

Google, I typed my name to see news and other stuff 

about me on there. I do this once in a while. Only for 

me to see my movie I produced uploaded on YouTube on 

the 02/12/2019 on Aforevo YouTube channel. I called my 

editor and asked him about it because it’s only myself and 

him who have access to the movie and he denied he didn’t 

know anything about it. I contacted Aforevo and they said it 

will be better if I come down to Nigeria to 

sort things out.” 

“I only premiered it and haven’t 

•Johnny Drille 

released it yet or sold the right to 

anyone. Do you know I saw it on 

YouTube this morning. Someone sold 

the internet right to Aforevo company 

in Nigeria,”she said in a WhatsApp chat 

with Potpourri. 

The movie, from the screen was sold to Oakfil 

Production in Nigeria as the producer of the movie. 

On further inquiry and telephone conversation between 

Fatimah Adeoye and the editor of the movie (name withheld) 

sent to Potpourri, the editor later admitted he sold the move for 

100 thousand naira to a Nigerian production outfit. From the voice 

notes sent to Potpourri, the editor was profusely begging Fatimah, saying he 

would pay back, that, he only did what he did because he was going through a 

bad time and his family needed help. 

The original producer, Fatimah Adeoye born to a Nigerian father from 

Ogbomosho, Oyo State and Ghanian mother, from Ashanti region, Ghana said 

the movie cost her 10 thousand dollars to produce. 

Patoranking to host first 

ever solo concert in Abuja 


frican award winning Reggae/ 

A Dancehall artist- Patoranking, 

is set to headline his first ever solo 

concert in his almost 6 successful 

years in the music industry tagged 

‘ The Patoranking Experience’. 

Exactly 9 months after dropping 

his power packed, 

internationally recognised 

album - Wilmer which ranked 

no.5 on the Billboard chart, he 

announced his first ever 

concert. 

The concert is slated to 

•Adokiye 

take place on February 14, 2020 

at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. It is 

one to look forward to as Patoranking 

will be pulling no stops with delivering 

only the best experience as he is known 

to deliver. 

The Patoranking Experience 

witnesses Patoranking flanked by the 

industry’s finest in the likes of 

Niniola, Waje, Timaya, 2 Baba, Tekno, 

Mayorkun and some surprise acts 

certified to give fans a real 

experience. It promises to be an 

unforgettable time with timeless 

music, exceptional performances 

and definitely an ambience of full 

enjoyment. 

•Adokiye 

•Toyin Abraham 2 

AMVCA nominations 

•Adokiye then 

•Adokiye then 

Johnny Drille performs 

tonight at ‘Ultimate 

Love’ show premiere 

igerian singer and songwriter, Johnny 

NDrille, will be performing LIVE today, 9 

February at the Ultimate Love show premiere 

on DStv 198 and GOtv 29 at 7:30pm WAT. 

Johnny Drille, who is currently signed to Mavin 

Records, has created a niche for himself with his 

unique sound and style delivering hit songs like ‘Wait 

for me’, ‘Halleluya’, ‘Start All Over’ and his most recent 

body of work, ‘Count on You’. 

In 2018, Johnny Drille won The Headies Award for Best 

Alternative Song for his song, ‘Finding Efe’. He has also 

been nominated for awards such as The Headies Award 

for Next Rated in 2018 and Top Naija Music Award for 

Artiste of The Year in 2019. 

Living in Bondage, 

God Calling lead 

nominations for 

7 th AMVCAs 

he nominations for the 

T 7th Africa Magic Viewers’ 

Choice Awards (AMVCA) was 

announced on Thursday by 

Nollywood power couple, Ibrahim 

Suleiman and Linda Ejiofor 

Suleiman during a special live 

broadcast on all Africa Magic channels 

on Dstv and Gotv. 

The movies Living in 

Bondage and God Calling both led the 

nominations with 11 each in categories 

including; Best Director, Best Picture 

Editor and Best Cinematographer. Other 

entries with multiple nominations 

include Seven, King of 

Boys and Ratnik with seven 

nominations each and Elevator 

Baby with six. 

Featuring prominently in more than 

one category are actors like Toyin 

Abraham, Funke Akindele and Ramsey 

Nouah.


Difference between 

porn star and prostitute 

—Savage age Trapqueen, 

ex adult film star 

ar 

Last week we brought you 

the story of an ex adult film 

star who quit the profession 

for some reasons and 

promised to bring you the 

full interview. Her name is 

Ededey Eworitsemogha Joy 

but known as Savage 

Trapqueen. Excerpts: 

Is there a real porn industry 

i 

n 

Nigeria? 

Yes, there is but it’s still 

underground because people 

still feel shy admitting it. 

As a porn star, what have you 

done? 

I did a couple of movies while 

I was still in the porn industry 

and also did a couple of 

interviews but BBC gave me 

stardom after my interview 

with them 

Please explain how BBC 

gave you popularity? 

Well, I did an exclusive 

interview with BBC Pidgin on 

my former career and it went 

global and due to this I got 

more recognition from all over 

the world while I was into 

porn. 

So, why did you leave the 

porn industry? 

Well, because I came to 

realise my family didn’t 

consent to it, the society, rivalry 

from my former colleagues, the 

pay was little and I was a 

victim of assault. So, all these 

factors discouraged me from 

continuing in the profession. 

First, when your family 

didn’t consent, why did you go 

into in the first place ? 

Well, my family was never 

aware I was into porn, they 

knew I had passion for 

modelling, being a video vixen 

and being an actress, so they 

had no clue of my being into 

porn. They only got to know 

after my BBC interview so it 

came as a shocker to them and 

I knew due to my family values 

they were never going to 

consent to it, but I actually felt 

I could derive fame and also 

be financially independent 

from being into porn but I was 

wrong. 

You said the pay is poor, 

how poor is it, comparing with 

normal Nollywood roles? 

Well, producers could make 

like $10,000 if sold off to a 

foreign company but ends up 

giving the actors and actresses 

as low as 50-80k. So, the 

producers actually live off the 

actors and actresses. 

Nollywood pays same in some 

cases but the difference is, the 

actors/actresses have their 

dignity intact unlike porn that 

one could easily be passed off 

as a prostitute. 

Are porn stars really 

prostitutes? 

There’s a huge difference 

between a porn star and a 

prostitute. A prostitute is just a 

•Savage 

Trapqueen 

call away after accepting a specific 

amount for her/his service. A 

prostitute could be picked up from 

anywhere and won’t even have a 

general checkup before providing 

a service and also a prostitute is 

not being recorded while having 

sex and the videos are not being 

sold unlike a pornstar, that’s 

always being scouted for, goes for 

a general checkup to know the 

state of health. A porn star has to 

be able to convince the viewers, 

that whatever emotions running 

are real. Pornstars tend to retake a 

particular scene till the angles are 

perfectly gotten to project that this 

particular act is real. So, porn stars 

could also be referred to as adult 

actors/actresses, cause it’s just 

another expression of art so there 

is a huge difference between being 

a porn star and a prostitute, 

knowing fully well, porn stars are 

being recorded for sales unlike 

prostitute which could be a one 

time thing. 

Which one is more morally 

depraving or bad? 

Actually in an African society 

like ours, none is good but to the 

western world, being a porn star is 

better off than being a prostitute, 

considering the risks involved in 

being a prostitute. I feel being a 

porn star is better off, though I’m 

in no way supporting such trade 

because I was once there and I 

don’t advise anyone to venture 

into any of these professions 

either into porn or prostitution 

despite knowing the challenges 

we go through especially as a 

female child.. 

Must you really like sex to be 

a porn star? 

Not really, but in a kind of 

way, yes you should enjoy sex, 

but most of the times I don’t 

enjoy it but I’ve to act like I 

really do.. 

Are the scenes as seen on 

video really real? 

Yes, they are very real. 

So, what motivated you to go 

into it in the first place? 

I’ve always wanted fame so I 

felt going into it will bring me 

just that and I will be able to go 

into Nollywood through that 

and I felt it would also pave way 

for me into being a brand model 

for lingerie and all but I was 

wrong. 

How many porn films have 

you done? 

About 5 movies and some 

short films too 

So, what’s your next plan? 

I just started my YouTube 

channel and soliciting for a 

chance into Nollywood 

Acting in ‘Dear Affy’ 

magical for me 

—Bianca Ugowanne 

Vibrant Nollywood new entrant actress, Bianca Ugo who 

featured in the star studded romantic comedy movie, 

‘Dear Affy’, which is set for cinema release on February 

14, recently disclosed what it felt like being on the big budget 

set of the movie. 

“Acting in Dear Affy was magical for me. This is the first 

time I will be on a set that big”, she said gleefully. 

‘’Honestly it felt really great being a part of such a huge 

and major project, every moment was 

special 

with all the other actresses and 

actors. 

Tell me, which new entrant 

wouldn’t be overjoyed to be 

working with multi level 

superstars like Toyin 

Abraham, Kehinde 

Bankole, Bimbo 

Ademoye, Enyinna, 

Chinedu , 

and Odunlade 

on her first 

feature film? 

So, you see 

why this 

was a big 

deal for 

m e . 

Beyond 

the big 

names, it 

is also the 

wonder of the 

set, the quality 

of personnel and 

production. I had to 

keep pinching myself 

if this was real. It was 

the most magical moment 

of my short time in the 

industry’’ she said 

further. 

The upcoming •Bianca actress 

who takes on her first 

major role in a full 

feature film, on her 

adventure in the 

world of acting has 

admitted she relishes 

every moment spent 

on set of ‘Dear Affy’ 

and grateful to the 

director for trusting her 

enough to work 

alongside already 

established superstars 

like Toyin Abraham, 

Kehinde Bankole, Bimbo 

Ademoye, Chinedu 

Ikedieze, Odunlade 

Adekola, Enyinna Enwigwe 

and a host of others. 

Director of the movie, 

Samuel ‘Bigsam’ Olatunji 

also revealed that he was 

fascinated by the stand-in 

talent that Bianca Ugo 

validated on the set of ‘Dear 

Affy’, considering it was her 

first major performance. 

“We were all impressed at 

the acting prowess that 

Bianca demonstrated on 

set. She got into it so 

naturally, that, for me, is a 

real talent, she is what we 

call a natural talent. We 

will be watching her fly 

from here on”, Olatunji 

said. 

•Bianca

PAGE 20 — SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 

Do older men love being seduced by younger women? 

I 

recently came across 

these interesting views 

on the age-old topic of 

the sugar-daddy versus the 

toy-boy and have adapted 

them for readers’ consideration. 

Read the two opposing 

views and decide who wins 

hands down – the sugar daddy 

or the toy boy? Joan, 52, who 

says she roots for the toy boy 

any day declares – Hmm, lets 

see – a middle aged bore with 

a wobbly gut, hairy ears and 

the stamina of a mayfly? Or a 

slim, smooth 20-something 

with a flat-board tummy and a 

randy libido ? It’s not a hard 

choice, really. 

“That’s why I only date toy 

boys, I’ve been dong it for 14 

years, since my marriage 

ended after two decades, I was 

only 38 then. I moped around 

my home for three months until 

a mate dragged me out to 

an all night party packed with 

sophisticated young men. 

“Why not have a bit of fun?” I 

thought as a gorgeous young 

thing started chatting me up, 

then surprised me with a kiss! 

I floated home, shocked and 

thrilled to have puled a 30- 

year old. I wasn’t past it after 

all. Locked in that lad’s embrace, 

I’d felt sexy and alive. I 

was hooked. 

“Some few months later, I met 

another young man and took 

this one home. My son then 

18, and my daughter were out 

so we had the place to ourselves. 

I admit I had a moment 

of terror – would he be 

put off by my stretch marks and 

punchy tummy. But it wasn’t 

smooth stomach he wanted after 

all. He wanted my experience. 

And that night, I taught 

him bedroom tricks he couldn’t 

believe. Better still, at his 

young age, he wasn’t looking 

for a relationship or kids. After 

fantastic sex, we said a guilt 

free goodbye. I have had some 

sexually and emotionally satisfying 

experience with various 

young men and now my men 

are getting younger – my last 

conquest was under 30! It’s 

easy to pull them, even at my 

age. I’m proud of my figure 

and I dress it up well. The lads 

I go out with see I get a kick 

out of it, which adds to the 

thrill. None of these “for the 

Baba kes”, for me. 

“My stomach retches at the 

thought of being with a man my 

age. I don’t want nights in front 

of the TV. I want to speed in the 

seat of my young lover’s fast 

cars. Admit it, wouldn’t you? 

Just fly safe and condoms always. 

Amina, 22, completely disagrees 

with Joan. “All teenage 

girls want older men”, she declares. 

“I was just 28 when I 

got mine. John was 32 and ran 

his own business. He had the 

car, the money, the rugged good 

looks. The only ting the boys my 

age had were spots. I snared 

John while I was doing work 

experience in an office. He 

came to transact some business 

and set me lusting after him. He 

was my first lover and we did it 

at the back of his SUV. All that 

slow, sexy, skilful experience 

left me gasping for more. In ten 

months, he taught me all he 

knew about sex. When I found 

out he had a daughter, 11 

months younger than me, I felt 

grown up and superior. My sex 

life was miles better than my 

friends’ – they just dated lanky 

boys our age. John had a flabby 

belly and chest hair – it made 

him more of a man to me. When 

I found out he had a girl-friend 

his own age, I dumped him. 

I was mad, not sad – ready 

for my next challenge. I’d 

learnt then there would always 

be people like John 

looking for cheap thrills with 

chicks like me. So when I met 

Phil a few weeks later, loving 

John had made me bold and 

confident. We met at a night 

club and when I led him to 

where his car was, he couldn’t 

believe his luck. You see, 

older men love being seduced 

by younger women. 

Right then, as I clawed at his 

back, I was like my favourite 

film stars – gorgeous, lusted 

after, and sizzling with 

power. Phil offered me more 

than just amazing sex, he 

gave me commitment as I left 

home and moved in with him. 

A year on, we got married. I 

had the whole adult package. 

I even became a mum, had 

two boys, whilst my mates 

nursed broken hearts. But 

then, the arguments began, 

my fault, looking back. I liked 

the stability but I wanted 

other matured men falling at 

my feet again and again. 

When I went out with my 

mates, I always ended up 

gong home with an older 

man, having told Phil I was 

staying with a friend. I did try 

out the lad the same age as me 

once, but the sex was terrible, 

over too quickly. My restlessness 

meant I cared less and 

less for my marriage. I wanted 

the buzz of a passionate relationship. 

“Then a year later, I met 

Gerry. From our first kiss, I 

knew my marriage was dust. 

He was 45, three years older 

than my mum. He lavished me 

with clothes and spoilt me rotten. 

So, I walked out on Phil 

and my boys. It broke my heart, 

but my marriage was too unhappy 

to stay. And I loved 

Gerry. He had been married 

three times, had loads of experience, 

knew what women 

wanted. Which is why, three 

years on, we’re married. 

Thank goodness, Phil and I are 

civil to each other and I see my 

boys as often as I want. 

“I’ve had people sneer that 

I’m just looking for a fatherfigure. 

What rubbish! I don’t 

need another dad. I’ve got 

what I need – and that’s a red 

hot husband who makes me 

feel special. I’m number one 

in his world. If I just nee a cuddle, 

I get one. Older men are 

more understanding, grateful, 

loving and strong. They’d 

rather get romantic on the sofa 

than go clubbing with the lads. 

And let’s face it, with older 

men, you don’t have to skimp 

and save to make ends meet. 

“Young men are too selfish, 

boring, immature and clumsy 

in the bedroom. I think there’s 

nothing sexier than deep 

laughter lines ...” 

When a rash could 

be a health warning 

If you have some rashes and 

you are worried, here is a 

guide to help you alley some 

of your fears. Is it dry and itchy 

in the crook of your arms, 

knees and wrists or on your 

hands? It is probably a topic 

eczema – the commonest form 

of the condition. Other symptoms 

include redness and inflammation. 

Don’t scratch it 

because you’ll infect it and end 

up with scars. Instead, ease 

the itching with an unscented 

moisturizer, and if it continues, 

visit your doctor. Good 

news, it is not contagious. Do 

you have dry, itchy, scaly skin 

on your forehead, nose and 

scalp? Seborrhoea eczema is 

a common harmless rash affecting 

the face and the scalp. 

It looks like the skin folds of 

the armpits and groins. It looks 

like dandruff, but is actually 

caused by yeast that generally 

lives harmlessly on the skin. 

You doctor should be able to 

give you an anti-fungal cream. 

Are the outsides of your 

knees, elbows, wrists covered 

in red scaly patches with silvery-white 

scales? Sounds like 

psoriasis, it’s quite common 

and is usually caused by 

stress, and aggravated by alcohol 

and smoking. Slap on 

loads of unscented moisturizer 

after washing and learnt some 

relaxation techniques to be 

stress free. 

Does it come in jewellery on 

hands? Chances are you’ré allergic 

to your jewellery. Often, 

it’s the cheap costume stuff that 

does the damage, because 

chances are it contains nickel. 

Just stop wearing it, especially 

if you also use skin toning 

creams. 

Y 

OUR column to express your loving 

thoughts in words to your 

sweetheart. Don’t be shy. Let it flow 

and let him or her know how dearly you feel. 

Write now in not more than 75 words to: The 

Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, 

Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: 

sundaylovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark 

your envelope: “LOVE NOTES" 

Butterflies 

He assaults my senses all day long, 

Sometimes i feel like I'm insane, 

I can no longer keep control of me, 

My restless soul can no longer keep 

calm, 

My nervous heart is almost breaking 

down, 

Feelings for you summersaults in me all 

day long, 

My body longs for your touch, 

I no longer feel like myself, 

I'm screaming in my head i Want out, 

I want control of myself, 

I want out from these crazy feelings, 

I want out from these crazy feelings of 

you. 

Omokeni Gold 

mizjin.samson@gmail.com 

Get ready for love-filled Valentine 

You can start making preparation for your 

Valentine Day. 

Time is not on your side any longer but you 

think that you have all the time at your disposal. 

When you see people making plans don't 

you just fold your arms thinking that you are 

going to have a perfect Valentine. It is now 

left for you to think of the way you are going 

to have a perfect love-filled Valentine this 

month and never make repeat your past mistakes 

again. 

Michael Adedotun Oke 

talentupgradeglobalconcept@gmail.com 

08027142077


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DISCLAIMER! 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVEL 

VELTY BASED SOLUTION (ADVER 

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By Josephine Agbonkhese 

08054650907 

Email: jossynovia@gmail.com 

ELIZABETH OPUTA: 

Working from 

digital standpoint 

Elizabeth Oputa is Manager, 

Champagnes and Wines 

Portfolio, Moët Hennessy, 

Nigeria. A public relations 

guru, she has, in the last 15 

years, provided marketing 

solutions for small 

businesses and 

multinationals in 

various industries 

including 

printing, 

b e a u t y , 

advertising and 

oil, prior to her 

role at Moët 

Hennessy. The list 

includes Hewlett- 

Packard, Johnson and Johnson, and Pfizer— 

all in the USA. 

She has in her kitty a bachelor’s of science 

degree in marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson 

University, New Jersey, and a master of 

business administration in international 

marketing, strategy and finance from 

Simon Business School, New York, both 

in the USA. 

Oputa who was in 2016 selected as 

part of the inaugural class of the 

prestigious Africa Business 

Fellowship, also holds a 

Professional Diploma 

in Digital 

Marketing 

from the 

Digital 

Marketing 

Institute, 

Ireland. 

In this interview, the Amazon, who is 

passionate about revitalizing the Nigerian 

luxury goods space, talks about her life, career, 

work with SMEs and love for mentoring 

women. 

You’ve worked with notable brands in the 

US; why did you choose to settle in Nigeria? 

Joining Moet Hennessy, for me, was a 

natural evolution for my career. I started out 

in sales, straight out of university. From there 

I moved on to direct mail advertising, then 

digital with Johnson & Johnson and brand 

marketing with Pfizer. After moving to Nigeria, 

I worked on several brands from a digital 

standpoint including Nigerian Breweries and 

Nestle. Moet Hennessy allowed me to round 

out the event activation aspect of marketing. 

Have you spotted any difference between 

the PR industry here and what you 

experienced abroad? 

The biggest difference is that the marketing 

teams are a bit smaller. That’s mainly due to 

the fact that in many industries, Nigeria is 

considered a market that’s in its infancy stage. 

But we should strive for excellence on a global 

scale always. Sometimes, many of us settle 

for mediocrity because we haven’t seen it done 

better here. 

•Elizabeth Oputa 

What lessons have you learned from your 

work with various industries over the years? 

Over the years I’ve learned that it’s 

important to be authentic. Every brand has a 

target audience. Be authentic with the brand’s 

offering in a way that makes your campaigns 

ownable. One mistake I’ve seen with some 

brands is replicating another brand’s effort 

and although this may seem like it works at 

first, it always puts the brand one step behind. 

I’ve learned that it is best to be authentic with 

yourself and original with your efforts. 

As a key player in the luxury goods space, 

do you think Nigerians are appreciative of 

luxury? 

Luxury is mainly about experiences and I 

have found that Nigerians are very 

appreciative of luxury. It is developing and 

improving. People are becoming more aware 

of the value of luxury experiences. However, 

there is still an opportunity for luxury brands 

to come in and add more definition to the 

luxury goods space. 

How are you helping SMEs as a member 

of the African Business Fellowship? 

The key for small to medium-sized 

enterprises in Nigeria is 

ensuring the business’ 

operations are fail-proof. It 

doesn’t matter how much 

a business spends on 

advertising and 

the work that I’ve done for 

businesses in Nigeria. I also 

ensure the brands’ online 

presence. 

recruiting new 

customers. If the 

operations prohibit 

that business from 

flawless delivery 

of the product or 

service, that 

business 

cannot 

survive for 

very long. 

This is 

You’re said to be 

passionate about enhancing 

lifestyle experience and 

encouraging travel tourism 

for Nigeria; how? 

Before I started in this role, 

brands were activating but 

not with as much detail as we 

see today. In a sense, I’ve 

encouraged the movement 

by raising the bar. With my 

activations, I ensure there’s 

an element for consumer 

engagement beyond just a 

photo wall. We can see much 

more of this in the market 

now, in general. I started the brunch 

movement with the first-day brunch that I did 

for Moet Grand Day in 2018. Furthermore, I 

see a lot more Nigerians abroad as well as 

African-Americans venturing to the country 

to be part of the events that they’re seeing 

trending online. I’ve shown a side of the 

Mentorship is critical 

for success. How will 

you know what lies 

ahead if you can't rely 

on support from 

someone who has 

been there to help you 

lifestyle in Nigeria that isn’t usually 

publicised abroad in a large way. 

How do you cope with challenges? 

Every career has its own challenges and I 

definitely have had more than my fair share. 

With every challenge, however, comes 

opportunity. The fact that I’m still here is a 

testament that I’ve been able to overcome 

these challenges despite how tough they 

seemed when I was in them. 

Some women say mentoring is overrated; 

do you think otherwise? 

Mentorship is critical for success. How will 

you know what lies ahead if you can’t rely on 

support from someone who has been there to 

help you? Also, it’s good to have someone to 

hold you to your goals, ensuring that you’re 

checking the boxes to get to your dreams. I 

have several mentors that I confide in both 

here and in the US and I’m grateful to these 

mentors for all of the time they take out of 

their very busy schedules to support my 

development and growth. 

…so how are you helping to develop 

younger women? 

I often host a group of young women, whom 

I mentor, to an evening of dinner and 

conversation. There are a number of strong 

platforms already that cater to women. What 

I find missing sometimes is the intimate 

environment that allows us to hear one-onone 

specific situations and help with insights 

from my own experiences. That’s the touch 

that I add. 

How can we get more women into top 

management positions? 

We need to couple 

conversations with actions 

by having women at the 

top mentor women in 

entry-level and middle 

management. Only then 

will we help open the 

doors for women in 

leadership positions. 

What must women 

know about leadership? 

You must be bold, trust 

your voice and let it be 

heard. The fact of the 

matter is you have what it 

takes to succeed, so just 

trust yourself and use the 

God-given talent that you 

have been blessed with. 

What would you want 

changed about Nigerian 

women? 

If I could change 

anything about Nigerian 

women, it would be 

recognising our talents 

early and developing the 

confidence to execute the 

power that we have. We 

are so powerful, our voices 

are powerful, our talents 

are powerful yet because 

of our upbringing or 

certain things that were 

expected of us early on, 

we’re scared to speak up. This is something 

that I would change. 

…and your passion? 

Storytelling is my passion. Showing 

different perspectives and bringing out the 

best that a brand has to offer; whether the


Making the most of your ‘roguish’ brother-in-law! 

“ 

Iwas already in my late 

twenties when Imet 

Jonathan”, recalled Fade, 

now 35 and a mother of three. 

“I’d completely recovered from 

the cad who threw me over for 

a girl with a richer family background 

and was ready to move 

on with my life. Jonathan was 

32, a good man with a stable 

well-paid job – a far cry from 

the flashy men I always found 

attractive. An accountant and 

a complete gentleman, 

Jonathan brought out the lady 

in me, making me shop for 

more elegant and sophisticated 

clothes – not the drab ones I 

used to wear. 

“We got married when our 

first child was on the way and I 

couldn’t be more content. My 

mother-in-law was not the nosy 

type and she always mentioned 

the fact that I got the best of her 

childr4en. She had four, I’d met 

her two daughters, but Wale, 

her other son was abroad. 

None of the family really talked 

about him, and if they did, they 

said strange things like, ìt’s a 

pity about him with such a 

bright future too ...’Or `No one 

was really surprised, he’s been 

a tear away all his life’. 

“In the end, I asked Jonathan 

outright about this mysterious 

brother of his. Ì’m ashamed to 

say that he’s brought nothing 

but embarrassment to our family’, 

my husband sighed. `Wale 

is currently in prison abroad 

serving time for fraud. Unfortunately, 

he is coming out next 

month and will be repatriated. 

The family has put heads together 

and we’re giving him 

one last chance to pull up his 

socks. He can’t stay with my 

married sisters, so it was decided 

he should stay with us 

until he finds his feet … 

‘ 

“On the day he was to arrive, 

everyone was kind of 

nervous. I’d already gotten 

the guest room ready for him 

– all that was left was for 

Jonathan to bring him home. 

When they finally arrived, I 

was mildly shocked by the 

arrogant, self confident 

cocky man that walked in. 

I’d expected someone 

shame-faced and roughlooking 

– not this tall, handsome, 

sexy man! I’d gone out 

of my way to prepare a welcoming 

dinner and he ate 

heartily, praising my food to 

high heavens. At one time, 

when his brother was not 

looking, he winked conspiratorially 

at me and I quickly 

looked away. He was a good 

house guest with very good 

string of friends who always 

took him out. One even gave 

him one of his cars and he 

sometimes treated me and 

children to meals out. The 

more he hung around,t he 

more sexy he looked at me – 

he was a sexier version of my 

husband – the type of devilmay-care 

bloke I always fell 

for in the past. 

“He was with us a couple 

of months when the inevitable 

happened. My husband 

was away for the evening 

and we were listening to 

music as we liked the same 

type, when he asked me to 

dance. I was hesitant. He 

saw my panic, got up and 

dragged me against him. 

`How I’ve longed to do this 

…’ he muttered and kissed me. 

We made love right there on 

the living room couch! It was 

later that the madness of what 

I’d done hit me. But that didn’t 

stop the lust until about a year 

later when he eventually settled 

into his new flat. 

“He’s been quite successful 

in business too – thanks to a 

few of his friends helping him 

along. He has since got married 

and has a lovely so. But 

whenever I needed a bit of excitement, 

the black sheep of 

the family is always willing to 

oblige ...” 

Bukky, in her mid-twenties, 

recently got married to 

Malik, her boyfriend of three 

years who was still a virgin at 

29 when they met. They had 

met at a prayer meeting at the 

Pentecostal Church they both 

worshipped in. “There is always 

a worship and prayer 

meeting for the singles so that 

worshippers who are single 

could be encouraged to team 

up”, explained Bukky. “Out 

pastor actually introduced us 

and Malik was quite a confident 

man. We hit it off together 

too but the church is 

dead set against sex before 

marriage. 

“I was up-front with him. I 

told him I was not a virgin and 

hoping he would take the hint 

and let us make love. But he 

confessed shame-faced that 

he was a virgin and was willing 

to wait for us to get married 

so he could find out first 

hand what sex was all about. 

“I couldn’t believe that I was 

hearing a 29-year-old male 

virgin at this day and age? 

And it wasn’t as if he was ugly. 

He’s a hunk of a man and I 

was already in love with him 

– and dying to take him to bed! 

We’d stayed together a couple 

of times in his flat without him 

going beyond passionate 

kisses and occasional grope. 

It was so frustrating and to put 

it crudely, I was climbing the 

wall out of frustration. I 

wanted sex so much. 

“Malik has a much older 

brother who is quite successful 

and famous. He was to be 

the father-of-the-day at our 

wedding and he asked me to 

see him at the office so we 

could fine-tune all the arrangements. 

I’d been in his 

office several times with 

Malik and this day in question, 

Malik couldn’t come 

with me. We went through the 

expenses together and he 

agreed to give us a chunk of 

the cost. I was gobsmacked 

as we were talking of hundreds 

of thousands. 

“Casually, he asked me to 

help myself to drinks in the 

office refrigerator and I was 

doing just that when he surprised 

me from the back. I was 

even more surprised when I 

discovered he was a smashing 

kisser. He lifted me effortlessly 

onto his vast office desk, 

fumbling with my clothes. He 

assured me we wouldn’t be 

disturbed and we make love 

right there in his office! I was 

so sex-starved I felt no guilt. I 

dare say the wedding went like 

a dream. Apart from the huge 

cheque my brother-in-law 

gave Malik and me, he gave 

me a personal cheque too with 

an instruction to never hesitate 

to ask for more whenever 

I wanted it – and I’ve always 

taken him up on his offer. As 

for Malik, when we finally 

made love, I put on such a convincing 

act of pretending it 

was such a special event for 

me – and the love that shone 

from his eyes made the deception 

worth while!” 

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE 

By Joshua Adeyemo joshuaadeyemo@yahoo.com 

08056180139 (SMS) 

ABOUT THE MOON 

Periods of the Moon's fluctuation as given here-under, 

are when unexpected frustrations and disappointments 

are possible .And those are the times when other people 

should not be taken for granted. Any period with hysteric (*) 

should be handled more carefully. However if I write 

that such periods/days favour you, you have no cause 

to worry. Therefore you are advised to plan your week 

carefully. Such periods/days are: 

1.28pm of Monday to 8.1226pm of Tuesday* 

9.16 am to 8.46pm of Thursday (same day) 

4.02 pm of Saturday to 8.30am of Sunday 

Today’s Full Moon is across 20 degrees of Leo/Aquarius 

axis. This week, Mercury and Venus transit Pisces and Aries 

respectively. The Moon goes through Leo, Virgo, Libra and 

Scorpio 

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) 

BUSINESS; You’ll start the week on an ambitious note to the 

betterment of your prospects 

MONEY; Whatever happens, you will get your bearing rightly 

on Tuesday. Be bold. 

LOVE; Exciting attractions indicated on Thursday but it can 

lead to illicit and/or secret affairs 

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 19) 

BUSINESS; Many of you may be tempted to look straight 

into the eyes of your superiors. 

MONEY; Positive actions on your part’ll earn you mid-week 

success desired by you and yours. 

LOVE; Friends may unconsciously put your finances under 

pressure you can not resist. 

ARIES ( Mar 20 – Apr 19) 

BUSINESS; Expansive Jupiter goes into Capricorn and influence 

many to see green light. 

MONEY; Mid-week success indicated for those of you who 

are more consistent. 

LOVE; Much will depend on your initiative ; your being self 

assertive’ll bring good result 

TAURUS ( Apr 20 – May 20) 

BUSINESS; Lucky Jupiter at positive angle will signal good 

signs. Be your practical self. 

MONEY; Whatever your choice, mid-week success’ll be yours. 

Dont give in to blackmail. 

LOVE; Reason with your tried and trusted friends, especially 

around mid-week. 

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) 

BUSINESS; Frivolity’ll not appeal to you. Its good to be 

conscious of your image. 

MONEY; Pressure’ll lead to situation you’ll have good opportunities. 

Be your smart self. 

LOVE; If you are receptive to your good friends, you’ll have 

more to be happy about. 

CANCER (June 21 – July 22) 

BUSINESS; First Quarter Moon warns you to take the LAW 

and its agents seriously. 

MONEY; Opportunity to lay good foundation may come 

today (Sunday). Beflexible. 

LOVE; Say no to aggressive instinct trying to come to the 

fore on Thursday. 

LEO (Jul23 – Aug 22) 

BUSINESS; Your business parners’ll come with good suggestions 

early in the week. 

MONEY; It’s important you resist temptation to gamble at 

all around the mid-week. 

LOVE; Those of you trying to mix business with pleasure pay 

painful price. 

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22) 

BUSINESS; Good ideas on best way to improve your working 

pattern’ll come to you. 

MONEY; Other people’ll work favourably for you on Thursday. 

Be steady. 

LOVE; Mid-week success indicated for many male Virgo 

born people. Be moderate. 

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 22) 

BUSINESS : Severe pressure’ll come with much needed success 

during the mid-week. 

MONEY; Gambling around weekend can lead to avoidable 

loss and/or trouble. 

LOVE; Refusal to reason with your spouse can lead to weekend 

misunderstanding. 

SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21) 

BUSINESS; Take advantage of good ideas coming to you in 

order to enhance your prospects. 

MONEY; Nothing easy indicated but success not forbidden 

for you. Utilise mid-week influence. 

LOVE; You will be in good mood after few challenges Take 

advantage on Tue, Wed & Thurs.. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec21) 

BUSINESS; Mid-week pressure within your base of operation. 

It s important you are consistent. 

MONEY; Unusual opportunities to enhance your finances 

will come on Tuesday. Be stead fast. 

LOVE; Excitement and pleasure are indicated during the 

weekend. Money cant but real love. 

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) 

BUSINESS; Jupiter – the planet of good luck comes to your 

Star and signal success. 

MONEY; Tue & Thurs will prove successful, particularly 

Thursday. Be practical. 

LOVE; Try your best to resolve domestic challenges before 

the weekend. Be tolerant. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELING 4 LOV- 

ERS 

Rectify Your Manhood Disability 

PART 1B 

Sexually, THE MALE SEXUAL LIFE CYCLE IS DIVIDED 

INTO SIX SEGMENTS namely, Cycle one ( that is from age 

13 to 31), cycle two (age 31 to 41), Cycle 3 ( age 41 to 50). Cycle 

4 (from age 50 to 59) Cycle 5 ( age 59 to 64). Cycle 6 (that is 

from age 65 onwards) . Physiologically, manhood physical 

structure of those in cycle one and cycle two will appear longer 

and rocky (strong), (yet God’s gift will differentiate individual 

sizes) with ability to blow ladies mind (up raising their hair). 

But, feature of men in the category 3, 4, 5 and 6 are bigger, 

slow and steady with needed experience to take ladies to the 

peak of mountain of pleasure the way members of cycles one 

and two may not fully understand. Yes, nobody can reasonably 

doubt the vast energy deposited in mate of classes 2 & 3. But 

remember the popular saying which states that ‘’experience 

can not be bought either with money or enthusiasm’’ 

Stress and pressure have untimely graduated some that supposed 

to belong to classes of 1,2 & 3 to category of 4,5 & 6, 

without the needed experience. Actually I pity such young men 

because many of them always result to consumption of dangerous 

drugs (in Viagra family) and/or reckless stimulats inform 

of execessive indulgence in very bad alcholic drinks. To 

both stressed and aged men with either erection dissatisfaction 

or erectile dysfunction I am saying relax and do away with 

all things with potential dangerous side effects. By God’s grace 

three of (some very important) natural combinations meant 

to get them out of this frustration should come up here next 

week.

PAGE 24, SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 

By Henry Umoru, Assistant Political Editor 

Y 

abagi Sani was the presidential 

candidate of the Action Democratic 

Party, ADP, in the 2019 elections. In 

this interview, Sani speaks on the state of 

the nation. 

What is your take on the security outfit 

launched by South- West governors, 

Amotekun, and the Federal Government 

describing it as illegal? 

What is happening in this country is 

because certain governments, particularly 

the Buhari administration, abdicated their 

responsibility. But once you are able to 

put in place a system of recruitment of 

leadership that is transparent, reliable, 

credible, you won’t have the scenario of 

Nigerians being killed anyhow. 

This is happening 

because people do 

not trust the system of 

governance, they 

have lost confidence, 

they don’t believe 

that they can vote and 

the vote will count. 

And once you get that 

right, people will 

begin to believe in 

the system; I can 

choose my state 

governor and the 

Federal Government 

will not come and 

upturn the result, 

using the police and 

soldiers to chase my 

people away. The 

problem is that the 

political space has 

been hijacked by the 

Federal Government 

through the use of 

the state machinery. 

This is why people 

have lost 

confidence; people 

are looking for the 

way to free themselves from this situation. 

The moment people are allowed to vote, and 

the votes count, they have a stake, but, now, 

nobody has a stake in the system we are 

running because it has been hijacked. They 

will call you to come and cast your vote, but it 

doesn’t count; if care is not taken, they will 

even kill you; so why won’t people be looking 

for regional comfort? On the issue of 

Amotekun, the content is alright, but the 

context is wrong. The Federal Government 

has made the situation such that people 

should look for a way to protect themselves. 

If you even check the five basic needs of 

human beings in the hierarchy, number two 

is safety. And it is not only safety from the 

elements, it is also safety from the law. Does 

the law protect me? If that law of the land does 

not protect you, then you have to look for a 

way because it is a basic need. That is why I 

said the content of Amotekun is okay, but the 

context is wrong. The context is that you 

cannot have a regional force over what the 

Constitution says. In our Constitution, the only 

thing recognized there are the 36 states plus 

the FCT, the 774 LGAs and the wards. The 

Constitution does not recognize the geopolitical 

zones, so if you come out and say 

there is South-West force, to do what, where 

is it in the Constitution that there is South- 

West? The geo-political zones are just political 

arrangements, but the Constitution does not 

recognize them. They would have restricted 

themselves to the states and have vigilante 

groups or something like that for which you 

also have to obtain permission from the 

constitutional body in charge of security. 

Your take on the Federal Government 

describing Amotekun as illegal when there 

is Hisbah in the North. Is the action of the 

government not a conspiracy against the 

South-West? 

No. Hisbah is a state kind of arrangement 

for Islamic purposes and such places where 

you find Hisbah, they are predominantly 

Muslim, so they want to see how they can 

further enhance the way of life of an average 

Muslim. And I don’t think they carry guns. 

But the only thing that is wrong with this one 

is the fact that you say South-West, they didn’t 

say North-East Hisbah or North-West Hisbah; 

they are all restricted to their individual states. 

What do you think governors should do to 

address insecurity in their states? 

Governors should stop being corrupt. The 

security vote they get, nobody can say what 

they use it for, they should understand that 

they are responsible for the maintenance of 

peace and security in their states and that, with 

what is happening today, nobody is safe. 

Emirs are being waylaid, governors’ convoys 

are being attacked and I hope Mr President 

won’t be attacked one day when his state is 

overrun by bandits; even his home town 

wasn’t left out because a chief in his domain 

was kidnapped. The governors have to wake 

up to their responsibilities. Government must 

recognize the fact that we need to do things 

the right way beginning with elections; people 

think that it is nothing, but believe me, it is 

the beginning of the solution to our problems. 

Once you allow free and fair elections, things 

automatically will change because the man 

there knows that he was elected by the people, 

it wasn’t somebody sitting in Abuja that 

instructed INEC to change the result of the 

election that brought him there. He will 

definitely have the love of his people at heart. 

You said the political space has been 

hijacked by the Federal Government. Are you 

calling for restructuring? 

My view is that this Constitution that we 

have today has not been tested yet; it is a 

fabulous document but it has not been 

allowed to function the way it was designed 

to function. If I am able to elect my senator, 

my governor, my member of the House of 

Representatives, my councillor, my council 

chairman, I will have no problem and it goes 

all the way on to the President. If the man I 

want to run the country is the one that I voted 

for or the majority of us voted for and he is the 

one there, you will not be talking about 

restructuring. You have the National 

Assembly and the Constitution has two parts: 

the exclusive list and the concurrent list. It is 

the duty of the National Assembly from time 

to time to look at those lists and see if we need 

to adjust them. If you put something in the 

legislative list, it doesn’t mean that forever it 

should be there. It was because it was a young 

nation, so we need to be together to develop 

and understand each other and, then, really 

become one people and that is why some of 

those things were put there for 

the purpose of unity because 

there is a lot to gain from unity. 

If Europe is trying to come 

together, America came 

together, then there is beauty, 

in fact, in terms of geopolitics, 

you have more leverage. The 

only thing we need to do and 

get right is the process of 

election, how we recruit our 

leaders and I am sure once you 

address that, it is like what the 

Bible says “…seek first the 

kingdom of God and all other 

things will be added unto you”. 

Our electoral laws, if the 

President ensures that 

digitalization is done and the 

laws are enforced, and INEC 

is allowed to operate 

independently as the name 

implies, I am sure we will get 

there, and that is why I said the 

Constitution of this country has 

not been allowed to operate in 

the way it is intended, and 

these are elementary things, 

they are things we know. The 

issue of restructuring has been there since 

after the First Republic. 

If you go back there and you do not observe 

your laws, you will also have crisis and it may 

even be worse than what we are experiencing 

today. The issue of saying the economy is not 

functioning is because, for example, if you 

own a business and you employ somebody 

who doesn’t have the knowledge, the business 

will collapse. If you allow people to choose 

their leaders and when the leaders get there 

they now surround themselves with people 

that have knowledge and can contribute on 

BANDITRY, KIDNAPPING, KILLINGS: 

I hope Buhari, like 

others, won’t be attacked 

one day —Sani 

merit, we will make it. What do you need in 

any enterprise, manufacturing, for instance? 

Raw materials, capital and human resources; 

and we have them in abundance in Nigeria 

and, therefore, all we need now are those 

managers that are going to manage the 

resources for us. We should allow people to 

elect their leaders that will represent them 

well. 

On the issue of state police, do you 

think it should be in the front 

burner as we are into another 

process of constitutional 

review? 

Nigeria is still a nation in 

the making, we are not there 

yet, and we may not know 

what we have until we lose 

it. Those things that are 

hampering the smooth 

running of Nigeria as an 

entity are things that we can 

correct. 

State police to me is premature; 

when we get there, 

automatically it will come. 

We shouldn’t throw away the 

baby with the bath water. All 

those things that are 

happening today are things 

that will make us a strong 

nation because we have 

tested all those things that 

brought us together. Once we allow time and 

space, Nigeria will become what everybody 

expects, a first world country. We have all it 

takes. American doesn’t have the 

fundamentals that this economy has. Our 

economy can grow at a faster rate than the 

American economy and other large 

economies like China’s because those ones 

come here to buy their raw materials that they 

require. The best brains we have today are 

the ones they are using there. All we need to 

do is to organize ourselves and allow what 

God has given to us to use it for ourselves. It 

can be done. Give ADP the chance in 2023 

and you will see wonders. 

•Yabagi Sani 

The Federal Government just signed into 

law the Finance Bill making it compulsory 

for the increment of Value Added Tax (VAT) 

from 5% to 7.5%. What is your assessment of 

the Federal Government policies so far? 

We have been Penny wise pound foolish in 

most of our economic policies because I feel 

that government should look at the sectors 

that drive the economy in terms of revenue 

generation. It may get to a point where the 

citizens of Nigeria will not be able to 

withstand the kind of pressure that such 

programmes are putting on them and that is 

why you are there as government. 

Government is supposed to be imaginative, 

they are supposed to think out of the box in 

order to cushion the effect of the economic 

situation on the citizens. 

Government should look 

at the revenue-generating 

sectors: the oil and gas 

The problem is 

that the 

political space 

has been 

hijacked by the 

Federal 

Government 

through the 

use of state 

machinery 

sector, 

the 

telecommunication sector; 

perhaps let’s leave out the 

telecommunication sector 

because that impacts on the 

disposable income of the 

citizens. Look at the oil and 

gas sector which is porous. 

It is not by mistake that this 

economy in terms of 

revenue is largely 

dominated by revenue from 

oil. Why I by mistake is 

because in terms of export, 

oil is a dominant factor 

because it drives the global 

economy. In spite of the cries 

by foreign countries about 

alternative source of energy, 

renewable energy, more 

environmentally friendly 

energy, climate change 

depletion of the ozone layer 

and, in spite of the efforts by 

the developed economies, in 

the next 40 years or so, oil will still account 

for more than 60% of the energy consumption 

globally. And even at that, when you talk 

about oil and gas, gas is still an alternative 

energy because of its friendliness with the 

environment in terms of the impact it has on 

the environment and this is where we earn 

close to 90% of our foreign exchange, but this 

is the most disorganized sector of the 

economy. I can’t understand a business where 

your cash cow is the most disorganized, there 

is no business that runs profitable that way. 

Your cash cow is where you concentrate; you 

apply the highest level of discipline in terms 

of management, control, accountability, 

transparency so that you can maximize 

whatever is coming from that sector. 

Today, if you look at the major infrastructures 

in the oil and gas sector, it is nothing to write 

home about. The major infrastructures today 

have no governance, no control; every 

operator does whatever they like. 

I conducted a study on the oil and gas sector, 

upstream and downstream, on behalf of 

NEITI. I led the team that conducted that 

study and I know what I saw, I know what 

our report says. The remediation efforts that 

NEITI was supposed to embark upon depend 

on the ability of government to enforce the 

laws and one of those laws, legal metrology 

law and it is about the science of 

measurement, how do you ensure that the 

major infrastructures that you are using for 

trade, whether in the oil and gas sector or other 

sectors of the economy, are accurate, legal and 

fair? But, today, if you go to the department 

that is supposed to do this job, they are in 

comatose, we don’t know how much we 

export, how much we produce in terms of 

crude oil and gas. It is some kind of conspiracy 

against the economy of this country by people 

in government and the international oil 

companies that operate in Nigeria to continue 

to short-change and steal our resources 

because I don’t understand, in this age of 

technology, why NNPC cannot sit in their 

office and know what is happening at the 

terminals online? Those oil companies 

operating here don’t operate the way they do 

in their home countries, they don’t respect our 

laws because our officials here are easily 

compromised. 

And instead of government focusing on how 

to maximize the income from that sector, they 

are chasing shadows and, if care is not taken, 

you now overheat the economy and the polity 

will now become charged and government 

may even lose the little respect it enjoys from 

the populace. My advice to this government 

is that they should look at the big picture and 

you talked about VAT which is about domestic 

consumption, we don’t have a problem with 

domestic consumption, the problem this 

economy has is about trade internationally 

because that is where we get 95% of our 

income and this 95% we cannot account for it 

properly. 

How much of VAT goes to the Federal 

Government? The bulk of it goes to the states 

and we know what the states do with the 

money, they steal it, they share it, they use it 

for election. Mr President himself, at one time, 

said about 75% of the revenue going to the 

states is squandered, they cannot account for 

it on the basis of capital development or the 

impact on the citizens. How then will there 

be accountability and transparency? The 

other thing we do is to take jumbo loans and 

increase the fragility of the economy and, if 

care is not taken, we will run to the IMF for 

bailout because, if you cannot service your 

loans, what happens? People reject your credit 

facilities. 

In other words, you are rejecting the request 

to borrow $29.9 billion by the Federal 

Government. 

It is misplaced. I would have loved 

government to look inwards. In fact people 

should be borrowing from Nigeria and not 

we going to borrow; we have enough. It is 

just that the stealing...government came out 

to say, last year, that within the first six months, 

about 1.5billion dollars was stolen, by whom, 

and has anybody been taken to court? And 

that is the official figure; you don’t know 

exactly what is happening. Senate conducted 

a study, all arms of government have 

conducted studies on the oil and gas sector 

and every one of them came out with mind 

boggling figures of losses, of infractions, of 

sharp practices that are taking place in that 

sector. 

If your party had formed a government, 

what would you have done differently? 

What we would have done differently is to 

ensure that the oil and gas sector is operated 

in accordance with the international best 

practices. We will make sure that the 

regulatory agencies are properly equipped 

with personnel, equipments, with capacity 

building so that they can discharge their 

duties effectively. If they want to go and visit 

oil companies, it is the oil companies that pay 

for their transportation; they will give them 

housing, allowances. Somebody who is 

paying you, how do you supervise that one, 

how will you come out and tell people that 

this person that has been giving you all these 

has done something wrong? Our government


KADUNA KIDNAPPINGS: 

Eggheads brainstorm as 

doctor’s wife, seminarian, 

others are murdered 

By Ibrahim Hassan 

For many residents of Kaduna metropolis 

and environs, the gruesome killing of the 

wife of a medical doctor was heartbreaking. 

Reports said she was kidnapped and ransom 

demanded in millions. 

Sadly, on Saturday, February 1, her body 

was found in a bush on the outskirts of the 

city with multiple bullet shots. 

Similarly, one of the four seminarians 

kidnapped at Good Shepherd Seminary 

Kaduna was killed by kidnappers. 

His body was reportedly dumped in a bush. 

Prior to these worrisome developments, 

residents of Kaduna, and indeed many 

Nigerians, were inundated with stories of 

deaths in the hands of abductors, either due 

to failure to meet the deadline for the payment 

of ransom or outright wickedness as was 

exemplified in a previous case, last year, when 

ransom was collected in millions, yet 

kidnapped victims were found dead along 

Kaduna-Jos Road. 

It is terrifying to note that assailants no 

longer wait to kidnap on the highways. 

As many have testified, especially those 

residing in new development areas detached 

from the hustle and noise of the city, abductors 

in groups, wielding dangerous arms, go from 

house-to-house in daytime, taking people 

away. 

According to concerned families in the 

Rigachikum area, Rigasa villages, Chikun and 

many parts of the state, kidnapped victims, 

irrespective of sex and religion, are still in 

captivity while negotiations continue on how 

to secure their release. 

Some people have argued that kidnapping, 

which is new in northern Nigeria, has been 

modified by perpetrators, who, experts say, 

are bandits from neighbouring countries 

operating with internal collaborators. 

For instance, the Dan Duala family of Kawo, 

Kaduna had waited for the return of Hajiya 

Saratu who accompanied one of her relations 

to an Abuja hospital. 

She had safely returned to Kaduna by train 

but bandits laid an ambush between Rigasa 

rail station and the Mando axis. 

Her dream of returning to her family 

members turned into a nightmare. 

She survived the attack but taken captive 

as her abductors have refused to free her 

despite the payment of N5 million’ ransom 

for her release. 

Sadly, the family member who bore the risk 

of conveying the money never returned. 

He was also abducted and the blood thirsty 

men restarted negotiations. 

A relation of the affected family said the 

kidnappers were asking for additional N15 

million before Saratu and her relation would 

be set free. 

Then communication stopped, igniting the 

fear that the two victims might have been 

killed. 

A similar incidence occurred in the same 

community where the kidnapped victim was 

killed after the abductors had received 

ransom, seized the motorbike of the person 

who delivered about N2 million to the 

abductors and was beaten to a coma. 

It could be said that those in the inner town 

and nearby areas of Kaduna city are lucky 

compared to their counterparts who reside on 

the outskirts of the city. 

Kidnap cases of those residing in the city 

were mostly on the highways, but for those 

living on the outskirts, abductors go from 

house to house selecting who to pick. 

Worst hit areas in recent times are the new 

residential layouts near Rigachikum along the 

Kaduna-Zaria Road and new areas close to 

Rigasa. 

Kaduna and environs, with all the military 

formations in and around the old crocodile 

city, are no longer places to sleep with the two 

eyes closed. 

No one is safe, even visiting dignitaries are 

not spared as was the case with the Emir of 

Potiskum, Yobe State, who narrowly escaped 

death on the Kaduna -Zaria highway but had 

his aides killed. 

As the Arewa Research and Development 

Project (ARDP) observed, kidnappers have no 

central leadership but just gangs of criminals. 

They could be difficult to confront due to 

vast, interconnecting terrain linking many 

northern states. 

Therefore, security agencies struggle to 

contain it due to its unconventional nature. 

ARDP, led by a former member of the House 

of Representatives, Dr.Usman Bugaje, 

convened a two-day conference where 

suggestions were made on how the North 

might return to a peaceful and crime free era. 

Christened the Northern Nigerian Security 

Conference, the consensus was that the 

federal and state governments were not 

adopting the right strategy in handling the 

situation. 

The conference was held in collaboration 

with Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation 

(SABMF), Savanna Centre for Diplomacy & 

Development (SCDD) and Joint Action 

Committee of Northern Youth Associations 

ans under the theme, ‘Organizing and 

Coordinating Community Response to the 

Rising Insecurity In the North’. 

Present at the occasion were the Deputy 

Governor of Adamawa State, Justice 

SadiqMahuta (Ga 

Ladimaan Katsina), Amb. 

Ahmed Magaji, Dr. 

Khalid Umar of the 

Jama’atul Nasril Islam 

(JNI), Prof. Idris Bugaje 

(Rector, Kaduna 

Polytechnic), Alhaji Kabir 

Ada mu (representative of 

the Senate President), 

Prof. Yima Sen, Prof. 

Jibrin Ibrahim, Dr. 

Abubakar Siddique 

Mohammed, former 

INEC Chairman Prof 

Attahiru Jega, and 

MallamFala lu Bello,a 

renowned banker. 

Bugaje, Convener 

ARDP, said on the 

occasion that now was the 

time for all Nigerians to 

put heads together and 

deliberate on how to end 

the incessant killings 

across the land. 

Ibrahim, on his part, 

described the security 

situation as part of the 

crises where the Nigerian 

state had failed to provide 

welfare to its citizens. 

The army, police and 

other security 

agencies are simply 

overstretched. 

Therefore, security 

agencies are more 

concerned about 

regime protection 

rather than citizens’ 

protection 

“We are back to rural banditry which was 

what the colonial masters under Lord Luggard 

fought in 1903,” he said. 

He argued that the state need to restrategize 

on how to provide security to its 

citizens, adding that the military was 

structured for conventional warfare and the 

Boko Haram war is unconventional and 

therefore was new to the military and that was 

why it took it years to develop a strategy to 

fight it. 

The military, he said, is fighting internal 

insurgencies in 34 of 36 states of the country. 

According to him, no country can survive with 

this kind of security challenge. The solution, 

according to Jibrin, is to develop synergy 

between the military and the civil society 

through traditional rulers, communities and 

civil societies. 

Transnational dimensions 

Prof. Usman Tar, a lecturer at the Nigerian 

Defence Academy (NDA), who presented the 

North-East Situation Report, said Boko Haram 

crisis had escalated to national and 

transnational dimensions. 

Tar listed contending issues in the fight 

against insurgency in the North-East to 

include the use of military (kinetic war) 

approach to confront Boko Haram. 

“This has partially failed as the group has 

renewed its regeneration by exploring the 

weaknesses of the current strategy. These 

weaknesses include lack of sophisticated 

weapons and equipment, absence of 

intelligence and lack of inter- agency 

collaboration on the part of the security 

agencies,” he said. 

“Having civilians in the frontline as 

Civilian JTF who are now part of the security 

agencies, the issue is how to demobilize this 

kind of force when they have started enjoying 

the paraphernalia of office”. 

Dr. Chris Kwaja, who presented the North- 

Central Report, stressed the need for an 

organized relationship between the state and 

citizens. He decried the situation where 

women and youth were becoming ready tools 

to merchants of violence during and after 

elections. 

“We need to differentiate between crime and 

communal conflicts. Most of the issues 

described as communal conflict are pure 

criminality”, Kwaja said. 

He expressed worry over the increased 

militarization of the public space and 

wondered if military response can be the only 

option or other approaches should be 

introduced. 

He advocated the Adamawa peace model 

where traditional rulers are fully mobilized 

in the maintenance of communal peace in 

their domains. 

From ABU, Zaria, Dr. Abubakar Siddique 

Mohammed, who presented the North-West 

report, observed the existence of extensive 

ungoverned spaces in the region. 

“Local traditional rulers can serve as 

reservoir of information. Government lacks 

capacity to provide security for the entire 

citizens. The security architecture in Nigeria 

is obsolete and a product of colonial 

administration”, Mohammed said. 

“The army, police and other security 

agencies are simply overstretched. Therefore, 

security agencies are more concerned about 

regime protection rather than citizens’ 

protection”. 

In his remarks, Mallam Haliru Maraya, a 

renowned Islamic cleric in Kaduna, said the 

security apparatus in Nigeria needed total 

overhaul. 

He compared the security situation in 

Nigeria to that of many countries he had 

visited and expressed disappointment with 

ours. 

“Going by the UN standard of one 

policeman to 450 people, the police in Nigeria 

are not sufficient. They are overstretched in 

terms of personnel deployment, working tools, 

and motivations”, he said. 

“The police in Nigeria are far behind when 

compared to other countries. 

Here, election must not be seen 

as ethnic or religious selection 

but should be based on merit”. 

Safe haven 

Meanwhile, Sunday 

Vanguard found that bandits 

appeared to have a safe haven 

in the thick bushes of Birnin 

Gwari which came under 

attack by the police. 

It was claimed that over 200 

bandits were neutralized in 

the operation. 

However, reports that the 

bandits shot at a helicopter 

during the encounter raised 

fears in many quarters of a 

country at war. 

Consequently, some northern 

groups launched a version of 

the South-West security outfit, 

Amotekun, under the name 

Operation Shege-ka-Fasa. 

The groups said the aim was 

to complement the efforts of the 

police, the military and other 

security outfits to detect, expose 

and defeat criminals. 

Although the traditional 

emirate system, led by the 

Sultan of Sokoto, had not 

thrown its weight behind the northern version 

of Amotekun, describing it as “rubbish”, the 

assumption in many quarters is that 

government has not done much to safeguard 

lives and property. 

Retired Major Yakubu Zaria said the 

emergence of such security outfits was an 

indication that government has failed to 

provide security for Nigerians.


INEC cleans-up 

Nigeria’s politics, but… 

The ‘fight to finish’ 

approach, which is 

always with whatever 

weapon, certainly 

justifies the absence of 

decent Nigerians in the 

nation’s politics. In truth, 

our unhealthy political 

environment is too dirty 

making our brand of democracy 

not a game but 

war. Our constitution and 

perhaps judicial decisions 

appear to suggest 

that it is an all-comers’ 

battle which makes it unwieldy; 

yet, it has a regulator 

that merely barks. 

Three days ago, the regulator, 

the Independent 

National Electoral Commission 

(INEC) woke up 

from the right side of her 

bed to emphatically draw 

a line that may likely signal 

a new approach to 

politics in Nigeria. INEC 

rightly decided to disallow 

unviable political 

parties to remain in the 

field of play. For this reason, 

she deregistered 74 of 

them to leave us with 18 

political parties. Some 

analysts think no less than 

13 of the 18 also deserve 

to go. Will they go or will 

the 18 increase over time? 

Here, we need to introspect 

and remember that 

fake political parties are 

common in Nigeria’s political 

history. In the Babangida 

years of political 

engineering, the then electoral 

body led by Humphrey 

Nwosu was empowered 

to verify claims by 

political parties. The 

monitors which included 

this writer found several 

names of dead people in 

membership registers just 

as the addresses of the 

then political parties were 

non-existent. In later 

years, such unavoidable 

decision of government to 

help political associations 

start and grow as 

political parties was dispensed 

with by new actors 

who did not get informed 

of the antics of politicians 

in Nigeria. Therefore, 

while it is salutary to follow 

the ideals of the party 

system that parties must 

evolve and grow on their 

own, we need to restate 

that such ideals are irrelevant 

to our politicians 

who only want to be in 

government, irrespective 

of which group forms it. 

From 1999 when democracy 

was restored in 

the country till 2015, we 

had many political parties 

in our official record 

but in practice, there was 

only one national political 

party in Nigeria - the Peoples 

Democratic Party 

(PDP). Many would say we 

now have two parties simply 

because the All Progressives 

Congress (APC) 

won the presidential elections 

of 2015 and that of 

last year. But if the truth 

must be told, we still have 

only one political party as 

the PDP and the APC are 

two branches of the same 

political tree, they behave 

alike and have same 

members depending on 

when a membership count 

is being made. In the last 

one month for instance, 

all the PDP elected members 

of the Imo state 

House of Assembly are 

now APC legislators - 

what they did was to decamp 

to another party. In 

other words, they merely 

organized a change of 

name not withstanding 

that the laws of the land 

disapproves of that. Will 

anything happen to them? 

No one knows how long 

the Imo legislators will 

hold-on to their new identity; 

they are probably on 

sabbatical leave. This is 

however not against the 

run of play as Imo legislators 

have always acted 

like political traders. We 

only referred of them because 

their change of 

name which is the latest is 

as annoying as the reason 

they gave for decamping. 

According to media reports, 

the legislators 

claimed the new governor 

It is not enough to 

cancel results in 

crisis-ridden centres, 

instead elections in 

such centres must be 

repeated until 

everyone is made to 

recognize the futility 

of disorganizing 

voting in some 

centres 

is loved by all. If so, why 

did they not join the party 

of the alleged benevolent 

leader instead of getting 

into a contest against him 

in another party? Their 

action is thus in line with 

that of several others who 

adopt candidates of other 

parties during elections 

on the ground that they 

have similar ideas without 

telling us why they never 

merged with the idealist 

party. It is therefore obvious 

that Nigerian politicians 

establish parties for 

the purpose of bargaining 

for office after elections 

The practice of political 

prostitution is thus a national 

malaise which is 

why I pity my brother Dan 

Orbih who is crying himself 

hoarse over the continuing 

trend of his fellow 

Edo PDP members that 

are eulogizing APC’s 

Governor Godwin 

Obaseki. While there is 

nothing wrong in an opposition 

politician applauding 

development 

projects by a government 

set up by another party, 

Orbih who is chairman of 

the PDP in Edo State imagines 

that the trend may 

adversely affect his party 

in the forthcoming governorship 

election in the 

state. What Orbih doesn’t 

appear to know is that he 

is virtually alone. Other 

politicians are not moved 

by party loyalty or whatever 

it may be called. In 

today’s Nigeria where 

everyone is a political 

prophet, we may soon 

hear a prediction of PDP’s 

decline in Edo. In a few 

months, Orbih will end his 

tenure as opposition leader 

in the state with no assurance 

that the party can 

sustain his virility. Indeed, 

if care is not taken, his 

successor may decamp a 

few months after but to 

where - APC that is half 

dead in the state? 

What this suggests is 

that hopes of a viable party 

in our clime are dim. 

Deregistering unviable 

political parties will 

therefore have to continue 

but INEC has to do 

more than that. It has to 

commit itself to the conduct 

of transparent elections. 

To start with, INEC 

must make it virtually impossible 

for anyone to 

veto elections in certain 

locations which are 

strong-holds of their opponents. 

Put differently, it 

is not enough to cancel 

results in crisis-ridden 

centres, instead elections 

in such centres must be 

repeated until everyone is 

made to recognize the futility 

of disorganizing 

voting in some centres. 

INEC must also continue 

to adjust to the environment 

by supporting anything 

that opens up its 

operations. To this end, 

one is at a loss as to why 

INEC disallowed the request 

of the Conference of 

Political Parties that results 

at each polling 

booth be pasted at such 

locations for public view. 

Yes, the demand may have 

initially appeared frivolous, 

but now we know, it 

would have frustrated diehard 

politicians from 

concocting bresults that 

surpassed the number of 

registered voters in some 

centres. 

Part of ensuring transparency 

is for INEC to not 

wait for protests by parties 

before simplifying the 

inspection of documents 

ordered by the courts. As 

of now, the computerization 

of the voters’ register 

and the production of the 

permanent voter’s cards 

are fine. We also commend 

INEC for the introduction 

of the card reader 

and efforts made at improving 

its operations. 

The electoral body will do 

better if it becomes more 

active and courageous in 

handling political parties. 

Here, INEC should make 

public, its observation of 

any impropriety in the 

conduct of party primaries 

so that the possible 

rejection of any list based 

on faulty primaries will 

not subjected to controversies. 

INEC got this 

right in the case of Zamfara 

but not so in many 

other cases. The Commission 

must at this point be 

ready to take full control 

of its operations by embracing 

technology-based 

designs for securing the 

election process in line 

with global realities. 

PhD,Department of 

Philosophy, 

University of Lagos 

08116759758 

Imo: Where are the 

philosopher-kings?(4) 

Upon closer reflec 

tion, however, the 

ramifications of 

the Supreme Court’s 

unanimous decision 

strike at the very heart of 

our democratic practice, 

especially the inability of 

INEC to conduct free and 

fair elections, the unwholesome 

primitive winat-all-cost 

attitude of politicians 

and the ignoble 

role of the judiciary in 

weakening the foundations 

of democracy in the 

country. Now, there is a 

growing ugly tendency 

that judges are replacing 

voters in determining the 

outcome of elections, especially 

through upturning 

results at various levels 

of adjudication up to 

the Supreme Court. INEC 

is aware of this, but is impotent 

to do anything to 

halt it. At an Abuja conference 

of Appeal Court 

justices held on March 16, 

2016, chairman of INEC, 

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, 

lamented the contradictory 

judgments on similar 

electoral disputes emanating 

from the Appeal 

Court which generated a 

lot of confusion and fresh 

episodes of litigation. In 

the same vein, while reviewing 

the conduct of 

last year’s general elections, 

INEC claimed that 

in the contested federal 

and state legislative 

seats, about 776 or 

52.08% were decided by 

the courts. The danger in 

all this is that the courts, 

including the Supreme 

Court, are steadily becoming 

instruments of indirect 

rigging in the hands of 

morally bankrupt politicians. 

As part of their 

preparations for elections, 

these politicians put 

mechanisms in place to 

use tribunals or courts to 

truncate the electoral 

choices of Nigerians if 

they happen to lose 

through the ballot. Even 

more worrisome is that, 

from the questionable 

judgment of the Supreme 

Court which pronounced 

fourth-placed Hope Uzodinma 

governor, desperate 

unelectable politicians 

with connections in Aso 

Rock who will contest in 

future elections can now 

believe that all they need 

to do and win is to prepare 

their own fictitious 

result sheets in concert 

with corrupt senior police 

officers and compel INEC 

officials to accept them. If 

the latter reject the results, 

specially handpicked justices 

would eventually 

overturn the decision of 

INEC and give victory to 

the losers. This is agbata 

ekee democracy at its 

worst, which ensures that 

politicians of questionable 

character continuously 

recycle themselves in 

top political positions ad 

nauseam. As long as this 

pathetic situation continues, 

Nigeria will be stuck 

in the mud of underdevelopment. 

Frankly speaking, given 

the authentic results from 

INEC, Hope Uzodinma is 

not the legitimate governor 

of Imo State. A close 

relative of mine told me 

emphatically that Uzodinma 

was rejected by an 

overwhelming majority of 

the electorate. Judging by 

the elementary logical, 

juridical, and mathematical 

errors in the Supreme 

Court’s decision on the 

Ihedioha versus Uzodinma 

case, a significant percentage 

of the judgments 

that would emanate from 

that court as presently 

constituted will go down 

in history as some of the 

worst miscarriages of justice 

by the judiciary in 

Nigeria. 

Concerning the replacement 

of Emeka Ihedioha 

by Hope Uzodinma, the 

latter is having serious 

problem of acceptability 

among a broad section of 

Imo people not just due to 

the highly contentious 

manner of his emergence 

Now, there is a growing 

ugly tendency that 

judges are replacing 

voters in determining 

the outcome of 

elections, especially 

through upturning 

results at various levels 

of adjudication up to 

the Supreme Court 

as governor. Aside from 

alleged questions about 

his educational qualifications, 

there is allegation 

that Uzodinma was a 

close associate of alleged 

late notorious fraudster, 

Maurice Ibekwe. Uzodinma’s 

company was accused 

by the presidential 

investigative panel for the 

recovery of public property 

of collecting $12.5 million 

for dredging Calabar 

port without executing the 

contract. Another allegation 

is that, as senator he 

did not declare his assets 

within the stipulated period 

as required by law. 

Uzodinma’s company, 

Transurb Technical Consult 

Ltd., allegedly owed 

defunct Bank PHB N690 

million, not to mention 

his indebtedness to other 

banks. Consequently, 

there is a subsisting suit 

against the company before 

Justice G.M. Onyeabo 

at the High Court of 

Justice, Lagos State division. 

Similarly, in 2005 

Spring Bank Plc lodged a 

complaint at the Economic 

and Financial 

Crimes Commission 

(EFCC) accusing Hope 

Uzodinma of fraudulent 

diversion and obtaining 

money under false pretence. 

After investigating 

the matter, the EFCC 

found a prima facie case 

against him. Through its 

counsel, Festus Keyamo 

(who seems to be swallowing 

his own vomit now 

since joining the Buhari 

government) the EFCC 

filed a nine-count charge 

against Uzodinma at the 

High Court of Lagos 

State, Ikeja division. 

There is another pending 

case in which it was alleged 

that Uzodinma connived 

with two companies, 

Smeic Engineering & 

Chemical Construction 

Company and Niger Global 

Engineering & Technical 

Company, to issue a 

dud UBA cheque of N200 

million to Chitex Ventures 

owned by a certain Chima 

Akuzie. Last September, a 

federal High Court in 

Abuja presided over by 

Justice Abdulwahab Mohammed 

ordered Uzodinma’s 

arrest because of his 

failure to appear before 

the court to answer 

charges against him. All 

these cases are stymied: 

Uzodinma, according to 

media reports, has been 

using different tactics to 

frustrate his arraignment. 

Following the introduction 

of executive order 6 

by President Buhari, 

Uzodinma is on a travel 

ban alongside 38 others 

accused of corruption by 

the federal government. 

Now that he is governor, 

the immunity provision in 

the constitution makes 

him untouchable while in 

office. What an irony for 

a government that claims 

to be fighting corruption 

better than its predecessors! 

From the foregoing, 

Uzodimna has a very 

heavy moral burden as he 

assumes leadership of 

Imo State. 

Sentiments aside, it is 

very unlikely that Uzodinma 

won on the basis of 

actual votes cast. As I stated 

earlier, virtually every 

one I have spoken to who 

voted in the election maintain 

that Uzodinma did 

not win. Consequently, if 

the legal battle with Ihedioha 

ends in his favour, 

Hope Uzodinma has a 

herculean task of convincing 

ndi Imo that he is 

their legitimate governor. 

It appears he is taking few 

steps to gain the trust of 

Imo people. For example, 

he has forfeited the 

opaque, corruption-prone 

security vote. No one 

should be surprised if 

Uzodinma tries at this initial 

stage to warm his 

way into the people’s 

hearts. Realistically, I am 

not sanguine about his 

leadership because, as the 

Igbo saying goes, anaghi 

amu aka ikpa na nka (one 

does not form new habits 

in old age). Imo State is 

in dire need of philosopher-kings. 

Hope Uzodinma 

is not one of them. 

But then, the possibility of 

the unexpected, of positive 

surprise, can never be 

completely ruled out in 

human affairs. 

Concluded.

Vanguard, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020, PAGE 27 

Prices rise as traders lament 7.5 % VAT 

By Bose Adelaja 

Following the take-off of 7.5 

percent Value Added Tax, VAT, 

prices of goods across markets in 

Lagos have increased, a survey by 

Sunday Vanguard revealed. 

Surprisingly many traders hardly 

knew what VAT meant, yet they 

increased the prices of food items. 

Although the increase in price began 

on February 1, 2020, some dealers 

told Sunday Vanguard that 

some companies started sensitising 

their distributors since January 

2020. 

A visit to some of the markets 

showed that there was increase in 

the prices of many products as traders 

claimed some companies now 

hide under the guise of VAT to increase 

prices of some items. 

At Balogun Market, Lagos, the 

price of hides and skin recorded 25 

percent increment. For instance, a 

handbag that was sold for N5,000 

in December 2019, now goes for 

N6,500. The prices of kitchen utensils, 

electronics, and gift items recorded 

about 12 percent increment. 

Similarly, household items like 

rubber band, sponge, shopping 

bags, and plates, among others, recorded 

about 15 percent increase in 

price, but the prices of lanterns, 

toothpick, and sellotape among others 

were not affected. 

At Ketu plastic market, prices of 

plastic products increased just as 

traders lamented the scarcity of 

some items. 

•Nwachukwu •Okpala •Ohanugo 

Foodstuff 

At the foodstuff section in Oyingbo 

Market, some food items were 

yet to record any increase in their 

prices as a bag of local rice was still 

between N15,000 and N18,000 

while a bag of foreign rice sold between 

N21,000 and N28,000. 

Similarly, one Derica cup of 

beans sells for N100 and above while 

a plastic paint bucket was found to 

be between N6,000 and N7,000. 

As for palm oil, five litres was sold 

at N1,700 and above depending on 

the quality while the price of a bottle 

of groundnut oil was discovered 

to be N350 and above. 

At Mile 12 Market, Agboyi/Ketu 

area of Lagos, the price of onions 

was relatively stable as a sack sells 

for N23,000 and above depending 

on the size and quality. 

The price of vegetables remained 

the same as a basket of Rodo, 

Tatase, Bawa, and tomatoes costs 

N12,000 and above depending on 

the quantity and size. 

At Sabo Market, Ikorodu, the unit 

price of detergent ranges between 

N80 and above depending on the 

brand while the price of seasonings 

recorded about 10 percent rise. 

Building materials are not left out 

as the price of cement is now N2,650 

as against N2,550 while a length of 

iron rod costs N2,100 as against 

N1,800. 

Lamenting the situation, the President, 

Market Leaders and Traders 

Association of Nigeria, popularly 

called Traders Rights Protection Initiative, 

Lagos State Chapter, Mr. 

Economists, sectoral leaders assess 

inflationary impact on goods, services 

By Victor ‘Tunde Oso 

The implementation of the new 

7.5% VAT rate commenced on 1 

February 2020. Economists and 

sectoral leaders assess the inflationary 

impact on goods, services. 

Excerpts: 

Goods presently 

being sold are past 

inventory — Proshare 

Mr. Teslim K. Shitta-Bey, 

Managing Editor, 

Proshare NG said a week of implementation 

of the new VAT 

rate of 7.5% is too short. The 

impact would appear in the rise 

in VAT income by the month 

ending 28 February 2020 and as 

reported in March 2020. FAAC 

is reported monthly but IGR is 

quarterly. Last FAAC available 

is for November 2019. Last IGR 

available is for Q3 2019. The 

delay in reporting means that 

measurement of the assessment 

of the impact of VAT on fiscal 

positions of the FGN and subnationals 

will be delayed. Perception 

can be worse than reality. 

Individuals deal within margins 

rather than absolute values, 

so if marginal costs are not perceived 

as significant by market 

participants upward price adjustments 

may be seen as benign 

without worsening the recent 

11.98% national average inflation 

rate through suppliers and 

vendors increasing their sales 

prices leading to what economists 

have called “cost push inflation”. 

It should be noted that 

goods being sold presently were 

the result of sell-offs of past inventory, 

replacement cost may, 

therefore, be reflected in new inventory 

and increase prices over 

the next few months as suppliers 

gradually face rising replacement 

prices. 

VAT rate hike taking 

toll on businesses, citizens 

—LCCI D-G 

Dr. Muda Yusuf, Director-General, 

Lagos Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry LCCI, said 

the recent review of the VAT rate 

from 5% to 7.5% is surely taking 

a toll on businesses and citizens. 

There are already marginal increases 

in costs and prices on 

many products and services. Its 

perhaps to early to determine the 

full extent of impact. However, 

the review remains worrisome 

because many businesses are 

currently grappling with high 

production and operating costs, 

which has made sustainability 

difficult for many enterprises. 

There is also pressure of costs 

driven by high interest rate, 

huge logistics cost, high energy 

cost, and high regulatory compliance 

costs. 

Businesses often have difficulties 

in passing these additional 

costs to customers because of the 

weak purchasing power by many 

of the citizens. We had advocated 

that rather than increase tax 

rates, the government should 

broaden the tax base by bringing 

into the tax net numerous 

persons and enterprises that are 

not tax compliant. Meanwhile, 

for an economy contending with 

high unemployment, we should 

be talking about economic and 

The situation has 

negatively affected 

turnover, thereby 

obstructing regular 

trading activities in 

Nigeria 

fiscal stimulus at this time, not 

an additional burden of tax. 

In order to ensure fiscal sustainability 

of the government, it 

is important to address issues of 

the cost of governance. The recurrent 

expenditure of government 

is too high. There is need 

to prune both overheads and personnel 

costs. The reform of the 

oil and gas sector would also 

boost revenue through the attraction 

of new investments. Additionally, 

the government should 

muster the political will to compel 

all state owned enterprises to 

remit to the federation what is 

due to government. This would 

have a significant impact on government 

revenue. 

Marginal price increase 

expected in one 

to two months — CPJ 

Mr. Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director, 

Centre for Social Justice 

CPJ, maintained that the new 

VAT regime is yet to reflect in the 

price of vatable goods and services. 

It is too early to expect 

changes in the price of goods and 

services. But I expect that there 

will be marginal price increase 

in the next one to two months 

when the new rate finally kicks 

in. One major issue, that is outstanding 

is the fact that stamp 

duty collection and remittance 

by financial institutions have 

been sub-optimal and there is the 

need to increase accountability 

and transparency in collection 

and remittance. The Central 

Bank of Nigeria and financial 

institutions should come clean 

and truthfully declare all collections. 

Christopher Okapala, said VAT has 

a multiplier effect on goods and services 

ranging from haulage, transportation 

and vehicle parts. 

•Onyekpere of CPJ 

•Shitta-Bey,Proshare MD 

Multiplier effect 

He said the situation has negatively 

affected turnover, thereby obstructing 

regular trading activities 

in Nigeria. 

‘’immediately the Federal Government 

announced its intention to increase 

VAT, some manufacturers 

hoarded their products and created 

artificial scarcity in the market. 

Plumbing materials like WC, hose 

and pipes were mostly affected and 

this has affected patronage.” 

Speaking with Sunday Vanguard, 

Chairman, General Leather Bags 

Association, Balogun Market, Mr. 

Azubike Nwachukwu, said the VAT 

increment is gradually reducing 

sales. 

He said: ‘’Many of us have taken 

it upon ourselves to educate our customers 

who don’t understand the 

meaning of VAT and how it can affect 

the production of goods. Some 

of them who have exhausted their 

stock did not replace it but kept their 

money in banks thinking that the 

price will reduce any moment. The 

VAT increase is a government policy 

and there is little anybody can do 

to reduce it.” he said. 

Vulnerable segment 

At Ladega Market in Ikorodu, a 

member of the Association of Igbo 

Traders, Mr. Henry Ohanugo, said 

VAT increase has ripple effects on 

the prices of cosmetics and beauty 

products. 

‘’This has brought between N500 

and N1, 000 increase per carton and 

about N20 increase per unit on some 

of the products,” he added. 

Recall that the Minister of Finance, 

Zainab Ahmed, had in September 

2019, announced the increment 

of VAT from five percent to 7.5 

percent. 

To ensure that traders do not exploit 

buyers, especially the vulnerable 

segment of the society, government 

listed some items that were 

exempted from the increased VAT. 

The exemptions include the following: 

Basic food items like additives, 

bread, cereals, cooking oil, 

culinary herbs, fish, flour and starch, 

fruits ,fresh or dried, live or raw meat 

and poultry, milk, nuts, pulses, roots, 

salt, vegetables, water,natural water 

and table water, 

Others are locally manufactured 

sanitary towels, pads or tampons, 

services rendered by microfinance 

banks, tuition relating to nursery, 

primary, secondary and tertiary education. 

•Yusuf, LCCI D-G 

•Mansur Ahmed, MAN President 

Price margin may exceed margin 

of hike -- MAN chief 

By Naomi Uzor 

The Chairman, Manufac 

turing Association of Nigeria, 

MAN, Apapa Branch, 

Engr. Frank Onyebu, said: 

“Definitely the hike in VAT 

has led to an upward movement 

in prices of goods and 

services. It is too early to say 

by what percentage margin, 

but judging from experience, 

the margin would most exceed 

the margin of the hike because 

of the spiralling effect. I’ll 

continue to say that the VAT 

hike was ill—conceived, and 

could not have come at a less 

appropriate time. I strongly 

advise that the decision be rescinded 

because it is the common 

man that end up bearing 

the burden.”


SHEGE KA FASA: 

Northern Northern govs govs 

disown disown security security 

outfit 

outfit 

By Livinus Nwabughiogu, Umar Yusuf, 

Peter Duru, 

Marie-Therese Nanlong, Femi Bolaji, 

Bashir Bello, Charly Agwam, Bashir 

Bello & Aliyu Dangida 

State governors in the northern part 

o 

f 

Nigeria have disowned the newly 

established security outfit for the 

region, Operation Shege Ka Fasa, saying 

they know nothing about it. 

The Coalition of Northern Groups had 

launched the platform last Wednesday, 

saying it would address the threat posed by 

kidnapping and banditry in the region. 

It added that Shege Ka Fasa would be 

formally inaugurated after necessary legal 

processes might have been adopted and 

endorsed by northern governors. 

However, inquiries by Sunday Vanguard 

across northern states revealed that many 

of the state chief executives were not 

disposed to the security outfit. 

I’ve no information—Gov Lalong 

In Jos, Chairman of Northern Governors’ 

Forum, Governor Simeon Lalong of 

Plateau State, said he had no idea of such a 

development. 

His Director of Press and Public Affairs, 

Makut Macham, said: “I don’t have 

information about it and Northern 

governors to the best of my knowledge are 

not a party to that.” 

Taraba State government also told 

Sunday Vanguard in Jalingo that it was not 

aware of any northern security outfit. 

It, however, urged the Federal 

Government to support Taraba Marshall 

which was inaugurated by the state 

government with legal backing from the 

state House of Assembly. 

Govs can’t be compelled to support 

unknown outfit—Gov Ishaku 

The state Commissioner for Information, 

Danjuma Adamu, who said these, added 

that Taraba Marshall would assist in 

*Arewa group tackles 

Sultan over comments 

fighting insecurity. 

He said: “As far as we are concerned, we 

are not aware of anything like that. We 

know governors in the South-West met and 

agreed on the formation of Amotekun. 

Anything done by any group in the north is 

not binding on governors of the region.” 

Corroborating this, Senior Special 

Assistant to Governor Darius Ishaku on 

Media and Publicity, Bala 

Dan Abu, urged government 

to support initiatives by the 

state to end insecurity. 

“We have Taraba Marshall 

and there is nothing as good 

as that. All we are seeking is 

for the federal government to 

support the Marshalls so that 

we can achieve desired results. 

“However, it is wrong for a 

group to form a security outfit 

and tell state governors to join. 

It is a wrong procedure and if 

northern state governors want 

to jointly float a security outfit, 

I think they know what to do.” 

We can’t align with 

faceless group—Gov Fintiri 

In Adamawa, Director 

General, Media and 

Communications to Governor 

Ahmadu Fintiri, Mr. Solomon 

Kumanga, said the state 

government was not contacted by those 

behind Shege Ka Fasa. 

He added that many of such security 

organisations had been formed to protect 

lives and properties but ended up creating 

more security risks. 

“Nobody contacted the Adamawa State 

government or its proxy before or after the 

formation of Shege Ka Fasa. So 

government cannot align with a faceless 

group. 

“Security should be seen as a serious 

project that should not be toyed with by a 

few individuals. The operators should have 

contacted the various state governments 

on the desirability of such a security outfit 

We have 

Taraba 

Marshall 

and there is 

nothing as 

good as that 

before the launch. 

‘We do not know the 

promoters’ 

“More so, we in Adamawa do 

not know the people behind the 

group and it will be unfair for the 

government to declare support for 

something it does not know its mission. If 

the founders of Shege Ka Fasa are trying 

to emulate Amotekun in the South-West, 

they should realise that it was the governors 

of that region that met and launched the 

security outfit. 

“One should not quickly forget the 

controversy Amotekun generated between 

the government of the region and its 

federal counterpart. 

“A group we do not know woke up in 

Kaduna or Abuja and formed a security 

outfit and you want a responsible 

government like ours to belong to such a 

group, no way.’’ 

Operation Farauta 

The governor’s spokesman declared that 

already, the state government has a 

security outfit named, Operation Farauta. 

The outfit, he added is made up of 

soldiers, Airforce, Navy, Police, 

Department of State Security Services, 

DSS, and other paramilitary bodies. 

“The group is doing everything needed 

as far as security of lives and property of 

the citizens is concerned. They have 

succeeded in reducing the menace of 

kidnappers and other criminals. 

Government will not want to be associated 

with the faceless group.” 

A Security analyst in Adamawa, Colonel 

Idakpetu Atuma,retd, urged promoters of 

the outfit to join hands with government to 

end insecurity in the north. 

Similarly, Gombe State government 

dissociated itself from the outfit, saying it 

was not consulted before the 

formation of the 

organisation. 

We have nothing to do 

with it—Gombe State 

Senior Special Assistant 

on Media and Publicity to 

Governor Yahaya Umaru, 

Ismaila Uba Misilli, said: 

“Our government is not a 

party to it. We were never 

consulted for the formation 

of any security outfit. It is 

the idea of a group of people 

who wanted to counter 

Southwest’s Amotekun. So 

our government has 

nothing to do with it.” 

Sayeed Uthman, one of 

the religious leaders, who 

spoke to Sunday Vanguard 

said he was not in support 

of the idea, saying arms 

would end up in the hands of miscreants. 

Senior Special Assistant on Media to the 

governor of Bauchi State, Muktar Gidado, 

did not respond to Sunday Vanguard’s 

message to his phone. 

Governor Bala Mohammed has always 

voiced support for community policing as 

one of the solutions to crime. 

We don’t need Shege Ka Fasa in 

Kano—Gov Ganduje 

Also, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of 

Kano State disowned the outfit, describing 

it as unnecessary in his domain. He 

maintained that Kano preferred working 

with existing security outfits to supporting 

Operation Shege Kafasa. 

Director-General, Media to Governor 

Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, 

Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, said the 

governor had no comment on the 

development when Sunday Vanguard 

contacted him. 

“The Governor has no comment to make 

for now, please,” Labaran said. 

Spell doom 

Chairman, Coalition of Civil Society 

Organisations, CSOs, in Katsina State, 

Bashir Ruwangodiya, expressed fears that 

the formation of various security outfits, 

may spell doom for the nation. 

President, Kano Civil Society Forum, 

Malam Ibrahim Waiya, faulted the 

formation of more security outfits in the 

country. 

A former member of House of 

Representatives in Jigawa State, Nasiru 

Garba Dantiye, called on government not 

to allow individuals to interfere with 

security matters through the establishment 

of any security outfit. 

Chairman Jigawa State Civil Society 

Forum, Comrade Musbahu Basirka, 

kicked against the formation of Shege Ka 

Fasa, saying those behind the security 

outfit are not familiar with the security 

situation in Nigeria. 

It’s a retaliatory outfit—Benue CAN 

In Benue, State Chairman, Christian 

Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Akpen 

Leva, said: “We do not support the 

formation of Shege Ka Fasa. It is as if they 

are setting up a retaliatory outfit in the 

north to counter Operation Amotekun in 

the South West. After all, there are so many 

security outfits in several northern states 

including Hisbah and Civilian JTF 

assisting the police and military tackle 

security challenges in the north.” 

Similarly, Chairman, tribal leaders of 

Benue State, Chief Edward Ujege, said: 

“No doubt we need local security.’’ 

President of Arewa Youth Consultative 

Forum, AYF, Shettima Yerima, said: “We 

ought to have started it before the South- 

West because we experience insecurity 

daily. So we have the idea. We are thinking. 

We are into the advocacy but good enough 

the South-West has their way of doing their 

things. 

They are faster and more proactive in 

thinking in doing things. Their governors 

brought up the idea and they united, unlike 

the north where the governors are not 

active. Their counterparts in the south are 

more active. So for us, we felt strongly that 

there is a need to have community policing. 

If they cannot initiate anything, let us set a 

template for them. They should move 

because in our case, we must push them, 

unlike in the South-West where governors 

initiated it. We have brought it to them so 

that they can do the needful by ensuring 

that they support it and also enact laws 

around it the way it was done in the South- 

West." 

Sultan should proffer solutions, not 

criticisms—-Yerima 

On Sultan of Sokoto’s position, Yerima 

said: “I don’t think it is proper for him to 

have said that. Let him suggest something 

different. But if actually, that is what he 

said, where was he when the north was 

burning and people are dying on a daily 

basis? What efforts has he made? What has 

he brought to the table? Where was he when 

our people were left stranded because they 

had no other means of livelihood in the 

north and they run down to the south to do 

Okada and today Okada has been 

banned.?"


AFTERMATH TH OF COURT VERDICT: 

We are 

confused 

over RUGA 

— Abubakar, Miyetti 

Allah chief 

By Peter Duru, Makurdi 

Alhaji Shettima Abubakar is the immediate past 

Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association 

of Nigeria, MACBAN, Benue State Chapter. In this 

interview, Abubakar speaks on last week’s Federal High 

Court verdict declaring RUGA illegal, its implication, the 

Benue grazing law and the way forward. Excerpts: 

What is your view on RUGA? 

The policy is a good 

alternative. I said it is an 

alternative because proposals were 

made to the Federal Government by 

the committee set up by the President 

and headed by the Vice President 

while the chairman of the committee 

was the Governor of Ebonyi State who 

had a meeting with us here in 

Makurdi. He also went to Nasarawa 

State with his team where issues were 

also discussed. In fact, they went to 

all the states that had herdsmen 

challenges from where they gathered 

opinions from the people and, from 

their outing, the impression was that 

RUGA is the solution to the herdsmen 

crisis. RUGA was the product of 

consultations by the committee headed 

by the Vice President and the governor 

of Ebonyi. 

Do you think RUGA would have 

been a better alternative to the Benue 

State Open Grazing Prohibition and 

Ranches Establishment Law 2017 

which was a product of the people 

themselves? 

The issue of herdsmen/farmers crisis 

is an issue that has challenged the 

country over a long period of time, 

especially in the North Central 

because the states there are hosts to 

several rivers. It starts from the far 

North down to Benue. There is no 

doubt that every state has the right to 

make laws as far as it does not conflict 

with those of the Federal Government. 

We all know that the far North states 

have Sharia law and all that. And in 

Benue, they have their open grazing 

prohibition law. Where we faulted the 

law is that before making the law they 

should have brought experts who 

would handle the packaging to suit 

all parties. Moreover, before making 

the law, you should 

have everything in 

place, ensure that 

measures are in 

place to take care of 

pastoralists like carving out an area 

for herdsmen where they can stay, 

have temporary area for local herders 

and so on. 

But law entails that you should 

apply for land for the purpose of 

ranching since it is a private initiative 

and the state government has assured 

that such applications 

would be treated with 

dispatch. Are you not 

aware? 

Pastoralists are used 

to moving about with 

their cattle, so it will 

take them time to get 

used to ranching. 

So you prefer 

RUGA... 

I must say that the 

RUGA policy is a 

welcome development; 

it is a very good policy. 

If you study the 

proposal, you will 

discover that it made 

provisions for 

pastoralists to live in a 

particular setting. It is 

a form of indirect 

ranching that has well 

laid out plans to carve 

out certain areas where 

amenities are provided for herdsmen 

to reside and graze their cattle freely. 

It does not allow wild grazing. With 

RUGA, Fulani herdsmen will not move 

around grazing openly. They will be 

confined to the RUGA area. Even if 

they are coming from any part of the 

country, they will move to the RUGA 

We are at the 

confusion stage 

since we are not 

going to have 

RUGA and grazing 

law is not very 

effective; so we 

have been caught 

in the middle of 

the two 

and stay there because they will have 

water and everything they need for 

their business including security. I 

recall that the Benue State 

government, traditional rulers and 

stakeholders had agreed that they will 

accept the policy only when it 

conforms with the provisions of the 

Open Grazing Prohibition and 

Ranches Establishment 

Law 2017. 

Are you aware that a 

Federal High Court In 

Makurdi has declared 

the policy illegal and 

unconstitutional? 

I saw something like 

that on social media 

and you know that you 

cannot believe 

everything you see on 

social media. 

But for us in 

MACBAN, we believe 

that policy would have 

brought sanity and 

restored confidence 

between herdsmen and 

the locals. We are 

prepared to work with 

the Federal 

Government and we 

also want the state 

government to work 

with the Federal 

Government so that we can have a 

solution to the problem. 

But the people are suspicious of 

policy, they are saying it is a ploy to 

forcefully take their land and hand 

same to herdsmen. Could that be the 

plan? 

That is not true. But even as it is 

now, the grazing law is still in force 

but herdsmen are still coming into 

Benue and they are being arrested. I 

think that has not solved the problem. 

So what is the implication of the 

ruling against RUGA? 

We all know the implication which 

is confusion. Firstly, as I speak to you 

as a learned person, the grazing law 

is not being implemented effectively 

and it is not the fault of the Federal 

Government or herdsmen. 

How do you mean? 

Now the 

F e d e r a l 

Government 

came with RUGA 

policy and the 

state rejected it 

and asked that it 

should be 

amended, it was 

taken back and 

amended and 

when it was 

brought back, 

the state insisted 

that RUGA will 

be accepted only 

if it conforms 

with the grazing 

law of the state 

and it has been 

rejected again by 

the court. We are 

at the confusion 

stage since we 

are not going to 

have RUGA and 

grazing law is 

not very 

effective; so we 

have been 

caught in the 

middle of the 

two. What we are saying is that the 

state government should review the 

open grazing prohibition law and 

allow herdsmen time to get used to 

the law before enforcement. 

But you made inputs when the law 

was being made. I recall that your 

national leaders were in Benue for 

that purpose. Moreover after the 

governor signed the bill into law, you 

were allowed six months window 

period before enforcement began. 

Are you now asking for a review of 

the law simply because the court 

nullified RUGA? 

No we were not part of the process 

of the making of the law. 

But the people of the state have 

repeatedly said that they enacted the 

law to stop killings? 

I agree totally with that. But even 

after the coming of the law, there were 

also series of conflicts and attacks that 

took place. Though it has abated, there 

are complaints on the side of 

pastoralists. 

What is the complaint about? 

All we are saying is that we should 

have a review of the grazing law to 

accommodate the interest of everyone. 

But the people have repeatedly said 

that the law takes care of the interest 

of all and that it has nothing against 

any herder, ethnic group or farmer 

but meant to protect the interests of 

all. Why the call for a review? 

We are not comfortable with the way 

the law is at the moment, we are 

pleading for a review.

PAGE 30—Vanguard, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 

Joyfulhomes2015@gmail.com 

Start working for a miracle 

roverbs 8 vs. 17 “ I love 

Pthem that love me; and 

those that seek me early shall 

find me”. 

Brethren, this verse of the 

Holy Bible throws more light 

on our topic of last week which 

was about having a cordial 

relationship with the Lord. 

In the passage quoted 

above, the Holy Bible tells us 

that love is reciprocal. In other 

words, God loves those who 

love him. Perhaps you ask, but 

what about the word of God 

in John 3 vs. 16 ( KJV) “ For 

God so loved the world, that 

he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in 

him should not perish, but 

have eternal life”. 

Indeed that is true but the 

proportion of love varies. 

As we take another step into 

the New Year, you need to ask 

yourself, what is your attitude 

to issues of God? Do you in 

any way demonstrate your 

love for God? You may be regular 

in the church but what 

time do you get there? How 

often do you attend church 

services and prayer meetings? 

Are you still one of those who 

think that once you are friendly 

with people, you are on the 

right side with God? 

One can continue asking 

these questions but remember 

that God said, “ I love them 

that love me”. 

First, is that a lot of people 

cry unto God daily but God 

decides who he answers first. 

However, the same Bible 

passage we first quoted reminds 

us that whoever seeks 

God early will find him. 

Are you prepared to seek 

him early? If yes, by now, you 

should have started taking 

steps to seek him early by devoting 

more time for prayers. 

You need to develop some intimacy 

with God and one of 

the ways of communicating 

with the Almighty God is 

prayer. 

Our Lord Jesus began his 

ministry with fasting and 

prayer, thereafter, he began to 

do amazing miracles. You 

need to emulate Christ. Many 

churches have started the year 

with prayer. May I ask, for 

how many days have you fasted 

and prayed? If you haven’t 

then, you are not seeking God 

early. The good news is that it 

is not too late. 

Lent begins on February 26 

but a good Christian does not 

have to wait till then to commence 

fasting. Do you think, 

we are over flogging the issue 

of fasting? Not at all. Fasting 

and praying are so crucial 

to our spiritual life that it 

brings us closer to the Holy 

Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. 

Our Lord Jesus revealed to 

us one of the attributes of the 

Holy Spirit. John 14 vs. 26 ( 

NIV) “ But the Holy Spirit, 

whom the Father will send in 

my name, will teach you all 

things and will remind you of 

everything I have said to you”. 

Brethren, when the Holy 

Spirit teaches you, you will 

never go wrong. People will 

only see you soaring to greater 

heights but you know that 

the secret is Jesus. 

When the Holy Spirit reveals 

to you, be assured that the 

expiry date of that challenge 

you are passing through is 

near. The Holy Spirit can even 

tell you which church you 

should worship. 

I’ll share with you the story 

of a lady, who had been waiting 

on the Lord of years to have 

children. She kept on going 

to a particular Pentecostal 

church. During one the services, 

the general overseer, 

quoted the Holy Spirit as saying 

that for someone who had 

been waiting on the Lord, a 

helper would be sent. 

Our God loves us 

and does not want 

us to suffer 

Everyone said Amen. About 

the same time, God directed 

another man of God to relocate 

his church from a city in 

the South West to Lagos 

where this lady resides. 

One day, the wife of her boss 

who was also waiting, invited 

her to a church. She got there 

and became a regular member. 

One night, she had a 

dream in which the Holy Spirit 

told her that the new church 

she began to attend is her “ 

last bus- stop”. 

She didn’t need anyone to 

convince her to remain there. 

As I write today, she is a mother 

of three children. 

God is able to terminate 

any challenge but we also 

must play our part. 

Our Lord Jesus also taught 

us another method of showing 

love to God . 

John 14 vs. 21 “ He that hath 

my commandments, and 

keepeth them, he it is that 

loveth me: and he that loveth 

me shall be loved of my Father, 

and I will love him, and 

will manifest myself to him”. 

Brethren, when God manifests 

himself to you, you receive 

your miracle. 

Note that our Lord Jesus 

said, “ he that hath my commandments 

and keepeth 

them”, this is a two in one action. 

You need to have knowledge 

of his commandment 

and that can only be obtained 

by meditating on the word of 

God but it is even more important 

to keep the commands. 

In other words, you 

need to abstain from sin. 

Our God loves us and does 

not want us to suffer. Whatever 

we are deprived off is the 

work of the devil many times 

working through human beings. 

I’ll share with you the story 

of a young man who is the first 

child in his family. His siblings 

have gotten married with 

children but he remained single 

not by choice. 

Somehow, he got to know 

that his problem was spiritual 

and he was led into prayers. 

It was revealed to him that his 

own mother didn’t want him 

to have a married life. She 

believed that his marriage 

would deny her care. Prayer 

was intensified and he got 

married but child bearing became 

a challenge. Our prayer 

is that God that set him free 

from the bondage of loneliness 

will make his marriage 

fruitful. 

Life experience has shown 

that the worst cases of challenges 

are those in which 

blood relations are involved. 

Those type of challenges tend 

to last longer because the forces 

involved are close to the victim 

and they monitor closely. 

You don’t believe? Just do a 

bit of reflection on the life of 

Joseph. However, God that 

created every human being 

can set you free. 

Our Lord gives us an assurance 

of this in Isaiah 49 vs. 

24- 26 (KJV)” Shall the prey 

be taken from the mighty, or 

the lawful captive delivered? 

But thus saith the LORD, Even 

the captives of the mighty 

shall be taken away, and the 

prey of the terrible shall be delivered 

: for I will contend with 

him that contendeth with thee, 

and I will save thy children. 

And I will feed them that oppress 

thee with their own flesh; 

and they shall be drunken 

with their own blood, as with 

sweet wine: and all flesh shall 

know that I the LORD am 

thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, 

the mighty one of Jacob.”. 

Brethren, this is the second 

month of the year, in the name 

of Jesus, you will not end this 

year empty handed. 

Your life will overflow with 

blessings. Begin to prepare 

early for the miracle you have 

been expecting and before you 

know it, results will manifest. 

Do not despair. Even when 

friends and relations may 

have failed you, Jesus cannot 

fail you. 

Link up with the Saviour today 

and you shall be saved 

from all troubles in Jesus 

name. 

Good Customer Service? 

Challenging times are 

here and competition 

is real. 

Do you own your own business? 

Have you reviewed your 

customer service technique? 

It is important that more attention 

should be paid to the 

customer service that you 

render your clients, ensuring 

that indeed you maintain service 

quality, in a bid to meeting 

their dynamic needs. This 

for me is key in projecting the 

perfect image both personally 

and professionally. 

Coming off the plane after 

such a long flight I was careful 

to check that I had left 

nothing on the plane, since I 

did not want to revisit my ordeal 

that I once experienced 

after having left my phone on 

board. Satisfied that I was 

good to go I disembarked the 

plane. Just as we all proceeded 

to baggage reclaim we 

could her someone running, 

suddenly a uniformed air hostess 

breathless briskly shouted 

Pondi,others laud inauguration of Jesse Equity Group 

EMBER representing 

MBurutu Federal Constituency 

in the House of Representatives, 

Hon. Julius Pondi 

has lauded the inauguration 

of the Jesse Equity Group, 

JEG, which he said, would 

foster the development of Jesse 

Clan, Ethiope West Local 

Government Area, Delta 

State and makes them political 

ly relevant in the state. 

Inaugurating the ward executives 

of the Jesse Equity 

Group, a political pressure 

group under the PDP, at the 

residence of its National 

Chairman, Chief Anthony 

Akpomiemie, Pondi said the 

decision of the people to rally 

under the group would boost 

the fortunes of the party in the 

area. 

He urged them to sustain 

the commitment to protect 

what they believe in and called 

on clans and kingdoms to 

emulate the political consciousness 

of the Jesse people. 

Also speaking during the 

janet.adetu@gmail.com 

Sir, you forgot your IPad and 

presented it straight to passenger. 

He was shocked and relieved 

at her kindness. Sincerely 

that was so nice of her 

as she could easily have put it 

in lost and found and that 

would be the end. That Extra 

Added Service really impressed 

me 

Again, I was in the supermarket 

the other day at the 

checkout counter waiting for 

my turn to be attended to. The 

family in front of me had a 

trolley load of goods almost 

as if they were moving into a 

new house, this meant that I 

had to be as patient as I could 

until they were completely 

done. Surprisingly as they 

were leaving the saleslady 

greeted me with a smile and 

apologized for the delay. That 

was a first and immediately I 

smiled back quite impressed. 

She then proceeded to open 

up carrier bags for me and 

asked if I needed help with my 

packing. That is what I call 

customer service. The saleslady 

made me feel very welcomed 

and comfortable. On 

the other hand while in the 

bank the other day just as I 

approached the teller I noticed 

no smile, no greeting and 

interestingly he was busy attending 

to something else as I 

waited for his attention. I wondered 

why he called for a new 

customer if he was not ready 

to attend. When he was ready 

he offered no apology for his 

poor customer service. From 

then on I decided that online 

banking was the way forward 

to avoid this king of rudeness. 

What impression do you 

leave in the minds of your clients/customers? 

Is it one that welcomes 

them back or that should leave 

them impressed, enough to 

want them to come back and 

do business with you? 

Let me share a few tips with 

you on great ways to offer customer 

service that will leave 

your clients/customers with a 

positive impression: 

Customer Service Tips 

1. Smile smile smile 

event, the member representing 

Ethiope Federal Constituency 

in the House of Representatives, 

Hon. Ben Igbakpa 

pledged to stand by the group 

to achieve the set goals for the 

clan. 

On his part, former member 

representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie 

Federal Constituency 

at the House of Representatives, 

Chief Napoleon Gbinije 

also expressed same optimism, 

saying the group was 

starting on a strong foundation. 

From left: Former SSG of Delta State, Hon. Ovie Agas, 

member representing Ethiope Fed Constituency in the House 

of Reps, Hon. Ben Igbakpa, his Burutu Federal Constituency 

counterpart, Hon. Julius Pondi, Hon. Napoleon Gbinije, National 

Chairman, JEG, Chief Anthony Akpomiemie and others 

, during the ward inauguration of JEG. 

Earlier, Chief Akpomiemie, 

said the 

group aims amongst 

other objectives to enhance 

and strengthen 

PDP in Jesse Clan, act as 

a tool to draw government’s 

attention to the 

development of the area, 

promote the principle of 

equity in the distribution 

of democratic dividends 

and work for future successes 

of the PDP in all 

elections. 

Chief Akpomiemie expressed 

the people's appreciation 

to Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta 

State for his developmental 

strides in the 

clan, pledging to sustain 

their support for him for 

more. 

The people came together 

from wards 3,4, 5 

and 6 in Jesse Clan for 

the inauguration of the 

ward executives of the 

group with solidarity 

from key actors in the 

politics of Delta State, 

Every customer has to see 

the best side of you. You are 

face of your organization the 

impression you leave in their 

minds should be a lasting one. 

2. Eye Contact 

This does not come naturally 

to some but with constant 

practice along with a smile 

this gets easier. In every situation 

look into the eyes of the 

person you are talking to. 

Maintain your gaze for 3 minutes 

at a stretch or more. 

3. Body Language 

We are all aware of the adage 

that says that actions 

speak louder than words. Your 

body positioning expresses 

your level of approachability 

and sincerity in speech. You 

need to appear genuinely concerned 

and willing to assist 

your customers to resolve every 

need. 

4. Composure 

The customer they say is always 

right. With every angry 

and difficult customer the objective 

should be to keep them 

calm and find a solution to 

their concerns. Under no circumstance 

should you join in 

with a hot temperament, as 

you leave a worse impression 

in the mind of the client. 

5. Appearance 

To command a decent level 

of respect from your clients 

you must dress the way you 

would like to be addressed. 

Pay attention to detail in your 

choice of clothing including, 

size, fit, colour and appropriateness. 

Where you may have 

to wear a daily uniform neatness 

and cleanliness is uppermost. 

6. Conversation 

Try to make your conversations 

be brief and non-personal 

beginning with a pleasant 

greeting or compliment. 

7. Listen and Learn 

Listen to your customer attentively, 

taking note of the issue 

on ground. The tone and 

pace of your client’s voice will 

determine the level magnitude 

of your response and level 

of seriousness required. 

8. Express Apology 

Customers like your apology 

as it shows you align with 

them. Make your customer 

feel appreciated and comfortable. 

9. Phonetalk 

You should respond to calls 

within the first three rings. Be 

audible, polite and responsiveness 

when responding. 

10. Friendliness 

Acknowledge your customers 

at all times, treat your customers 

in a friendly and cordially 

way. Especially when 

your loyal customers are 

present let them feel like part 

of the family. 

Above all it is always important 

to know that your business 

thrives on your customers 

/ clients. It takes a positive 

impression and a satisfied 

customer to keep and maintain 

your client base, this in 

turn will win you more customers, 

more business, more 

money. 

Concerned citizens give awards 

to indigent students 

By Tony Nwankwo 

The Idima Concerned Citi 

zens (ICC) Educational 

Awards ceremony held recently 

at the country home of Arc 

Jude Uche in Idima Abam, Arochukwu 

LGA, Abia State. The 

event which attracted the cremede-la-creme 

of the area, featured 

the presentation of Academic 

Awards to deserving individuals. 

The organisers say the concept is 

intended to elevate educational 

standards of Idima Abam students 

by rewarding excellence, 

thereby creating competition 

amongst students. 

Speaking to journalists after 

the event, Architect Uche, who is 

Chief Operating Officer of all 

Solarcity Estates in Nigeria, said 

the initiative was intended to create 

awareness and empower indigent 

students of Idima Abam. 

According to Arc. Uche, “We realise 

that in our community, we 

have brilliant boys and girls who 

drop out of school, young men 

who roam the community 

hopelessly because they have 

no one to pay their bills 

through school and this creates 

juvenile delinquents in 

Idima Abam. The objective 

therefore is to fish out these 

exceptional individuals, those 

who leave school due to the 

inability of their parents or 

guardians to foot the bills for 

their education. We want to 

ensure that these individuals 

make something of their lives 

by encouraging and assisting 

them”, he said. 

The annual ICC awards is 

in association with the National 

Association of Idima 

Students (NAIS), whose role 

is to identify deserving students 

in the various categories 

drawn from primary to tertiary 

institutions and includes 

presentation of certificates 

and cash incentives of up to 

N30,000 each.


FAVOUR DALEY-OLADELE: 

Men who seek 

demons’ cash 

• Weird world of money ritualists 

By Esther Onyegbula 

In the last two years, ritual killings have 

been on the increase. 

Although ritual crimes cut across almost 

all regions in the country, they are more 

pronounced in western and eastern states of 

Nigeria. 

Every week, there are reports of one ritual 

killing or the other. 

Some suspects are arrested and prosecuted 

while others arrested are not prosecuted as 

investigations are marred by lack of evidence 

or police compromise. 

Last month, newspapers were awash with 

reports of how Favour Daley-Oladele, a final 

year student of Lagos State University, LASU, 

who went missing on December 8, 2019, was 

killed allegedly by her boyfriend, Adeeko 

Owolabi, who was said to have connived with 

a self-acclaimed pastor, for ritual purpose in 

Osun State. 

Owolabi and his mother allegedly engaged 

‘Pastor’ Segun Philips to end Favour’s life in a 

gruesome manner. 

The boyfriend allegedly tricked the victim 

from Lagos to Ikoyi-Ile, Osun State with the 

promise that he wanted her to meet his parents 

to approve their relationship. 

But unknown to Favour, she was on her last 

journey on earth as she was led to the church 

where her head was smashed with a pestle 

allegedly by Owolabi and butchered by the 

‘pastor’, who later removed her vital parts for 

money ritual. 

Narrating how he killed the 

victim, Owolabi said, “I lured 

the deceased to Ikoyi-Ile and 

lodged her in a hotel before 

killing her. After I lodged her 

in a guest house, I took her to a 

house which I claimed to be my 

uncle’s house, but knowing 

that the place was a den of 

ritualists. 

“I smashed a pestle on her 

head and she collapsed. The 

prophet thereafter used a knife 

and cutlass to dismember her 

body which was divided into 

breasts, head and legs and 

other vital parts. 

“We buried the remaining 

parts of her body beside 

Prophet Philip’s Church called 

‘Solution Salvation Chapel’, 

while some vital parts were 

given to my mother to eat for 

spiritual cleansing”. 

Owolabi isn’t the first young 

man who has been arrested for 

killing his lover in recent past. 

In 2018, Seidu Adeyemi 

killed and buried his 

girlfriend, Khadijat Oluboyo, 

the daughter of a former 

Deputy Governor of Ondo 

State, Mr Lasisi Oluboyo. 

After we would 

have done this, 

some weird 

creatures, who 

we generally call 

demons, will 

bring money to 

us — usually at 

night 

Adeyemi murdered 

Khadijat, a student of 

Adekunle Ajasin 

University, after inviting 

her to his house in July 

2018. 

After the killing, 

Adeyemi buried the 

deceased in his room for 

five days before he was 

exposed by his father who 

reported to the police. 

At Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha 

local government area of 

Edo State in November 

2018, a teenager, 

Akpobome Samuel, 

allegedly strangled his 

mother to death and had 

sex with her corpse for 

ritual. 

According to Samuel, 

who was paraded by the 

police, “I acted on the 

instructions of a witch 

doctor who I contracted for 

money ritual. 

“The voodoo doctor told 

me that after killing my 

mother, I should sleep 

with her corpse in order to 

get rich. 

“That is why I complied 

with his instruction and 

killed her. 

“I was caught by my grandmother who came 

to knock on the door having waited patiently 

for my mother to accompany her to church. She 

caught me having sex with my mother. 

“The native doctor told me to kill my mother 

and sleep with her corpse, but he did not tell 

me the number of days to sleep with her. 

“He told me to keep her dead body inside 

the room for two days but I was caught when 

I could no longer keep it. 

“I did not know that my grandmother was 

sitting outside. She opened the door and 

sighted me on the corpse inside the room and 

raised the alarm that drew the attention of 

neighbours. 

“My mother did not offend me. I killed her 

because of money”. 

Apart from people using their loved ones 

for ritual, there are instances where innocent 

persons have been used for ritual purposes 

by people they didn’t know. 

Recently, there was an allegation by some 

residents of Kwara State that some policemen 

in Adewole Police Division, Ilorin had been 

selling suspects detained at the station to ritual 

killers for N 80, 000 per person. 

Although the state Commissioner of Police, 

Lawan Ado, said the allegation was false, the 

state Police Command redeployed policemen 

at the station. 

Ado added that no one had come forward 

with information to indict any police officer at 

the station for selling suspects to ritual killers. 

“But we have been redeploying the 

policemen there. More than half of them have 

now been transferred and, soon, the other half 

will be redeployed so that even if there is 

anybody who is involved – which no 

information has established – we will at least 

remove him from the area.” 

But a frightening dimension was recorded 

in suspected cases of ritual killing in Ilorin 

last year when commercial motorcycle 

operators allegedly became targets of alleged 

ritualists. 

Motorcyclists were said to have been lured 

into the Government Reservation Area (GRA) 

of the town by ritualists posing as passengers 

only to be mowed down by members of the 

group. 

Apart from the commercial motorcyclists, no 

fewer than six women were killed by 

suspected ritualists in the area and their 

breasts removed. 

In July 2019, a young man was caught at 

Corporation Estate, Mile 12, Lagos after he 

allegedly murdered a commercial sex worker 

and removed her private part. 

Back to Ondo State, the killing of an 80-yearold 

woman, Mrs. Kojusola Mogaji, in Arigidi- 

Akoko, created panic in the community. 

It incident got so scary so much so that Oba 

Yisa Olanipekun and the entire community 

Continues on page 35


Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, a 

renowned traditionalist, is the 

Araba Awo of Osogbo, Osun 

State. In this interview, 

Elebuibon speaks on money ritual against 

the backdrop of the recent killing of a 

student of Lagos State University (LASU), 

Favour Daley-Oladele, allegedly by her 

lover, Adeeko Owolabi, on the pretext that 

the ritual there-from will get demons to 

bring him wealth. The suspect and his 

alleged collaborators: his mother, Ruth, 

and prophet, Segun Philip, are in police 

custody, talking to detectives on what they 

know about the cold blooded murder. 

Christian leaders have been regaling 

us with messages purportedly from 

God for the New Year. What is Ifa 

message for 2020? 

Not all the messages people give out are 

sent by God. Meanwhile, traditionally, 

Ifa priests don’t usually come out to give 

prophecies unless they are consulted by 

the community or individuals. A Yoruba 

adage says ‘wiwa ni won wa ba babalawo 

ko to di wipe o nda ‘fa fun won, meaning, 

you will have to seek Ifa priest to consult 

the oracle. An Ifa priest won’t just come 

out to say, “This is what Ifa said”. Ifa 

prophecies for Osun State for this year, 

after divination, include that the people 

should stop seeking materialism; parents 

should take care of their children; and 

civil servants should be more interested 

in the development of the state and not 

just the money they would make. The 

divination also emphasised the need for 

the state government to entrust 

assignments to only those it trusts to avert 

calamity. These are the messages that 

came out for this year. 

Ifa among other traditional African 

religious would appear to have been 

relegated to the background. What is 

our society missing by this 

development? 

First, African traditional religion 

suffered relegation due to the 

propaganda against it over a very long 

time. It endured a lot of abuse. However, 

in recent past, people are beginning to 

be aware of its relevance and advantages. 

The beauty of our cultural heritage is 

imbued in the religion. Many elites today 

understand the importance of not just our 

culture but also our religion, but we’re 

always scared to come out publicly to 

give credit to it. 

However, it is time we stopped being 

over religious in Nigeria to the detriment 

of hard work. In Nigeria, we need to stop 

discrimination based on religion. In 

places like the UK and the USA, people 

work hard than spending every minute of 

the day praying. Even some people, when 

they go to office, instead of using office 

time for official work, they would rather 

engage in crusade, some run to religious 

camps when they ought to be at work. It 

is only in this country that you have more 

churches and mosques than schools and 

I wonder what would be our gain because 

God will not come from heaven to help 

us do what we are supposed to achieve 

through hard work. 

Our society is enmeshed in crisis. You 

have upsurge in crime; kidnapping, 

banditry and insurgency are common 

place. Even the economy gets 

progressively worse. And we have 

leadership problem at the various 

levels. In what ways can a traditional 

religion like Ifa help to resolve the 

challenges? 

Occasionally in every town, country, 

state, there is the tendency to always 

experience natural disaster or calamity 

and propitiation, prayer can be used to 

mitigate that, but when calamity 

becomes so frequent as in the case of Boko 

Haram and banditry, you know it is no 

longer natural but self inflicted. Many of 

the problems of Nigeria were selfinflicted. 

Boko Haram and banditry are 

as a result of proliferation of arms by 

politicians in their quest to gain power 

at all costs, so some of our problems are 

not an act of God. You can use prayer to 

Yoruba got the 

notion of 

demons giving 

money from 

Nupe, Ghana 

—Elebuibon, traditionalist 

There is no place 

you do not find 

good and bad 

characters. 

There are fake 

doctors, fake 

pastors, so it is 

everywhere 

•Elebuibon 

solve problems or calamities that are 

natural, but the ones created by humans 

such as banditry, insurgency persist 

because it is our doing. Problems that are 

natural can be controlled through 

propitiation, but if they are created by 

people, they require human efforts to 

resolve. 

With the rejection of the African 

traditional religion by most of our 

people in favour of Islam and 

Christianity, there is the fear that 

African traditional religion may die. As 

an Ifa worshipper, are you worried? 

Traditional religion is not going to die. 

If traditional religion dies, that means 

Yoruba race has died. It cannot die 

because it has a deep root and it was 

sanctioned by God himself. If it is manmade, 

it would have been eradicated long 

time ago because there is too much 

propaganda against it. For example, 

people have been saying it would go into 

extinction for the past 20 years. A 

university student wrote a thesis about this 

topic and told me traditional religion, 

within 10 years, would go into extinction 

in Nigeria. One of my arguments then 

was that as long as African traditional 

religion is solving human problems, it 

would never go into extinction. People go 

to church and mosque, they fast and pray, 

yet, they come here seeking solution to 

their problems. We have a lot of pastors 

and imams who still consult Ifa and 

making Ebo (sacrifice). They may not tell 

their congregation but some pastors are 

bold enough to tell their members that 

there is always a way out. But a lot of 

them are hypocrites, and as long as they 

continue to consult Ifa to solve their 

problems, traditional religion is not 

going to die. If you are worshiping Ifa 

and Ifa is not helping you, what is the 

essence of doing it? But when you worship 

Ifa and it blesses you and answers your 

prayer, it would be continue to thrive. 

Reports say Americans and Europeans 

are embracing African traditional 

religion. Can you share your experience 

if there is any? 

That is even a challenge to us in Africa 

because we see a lot Americans now 

admiring and embracing our culture and 

want to speak our language fluently. They 

now study Yoruba and Ifa while a Yoruba 

man cannot even recite oriki. One of our 

students, Aikulola, is an African- 

American; if you see him on video, he 

speaks Yoruba fluently. That is a shame 

on us that we neglected our culture. One 

day, if we didn’t change our attitude, may 

be they are going to overtake us and will 

be teaching us Yoruba language and 

culture. 

So we should use Yoruba as a 

language to teach our students in 

schools 

It is very important; we have always 

implored government and individuals to 

speak our language. Every parent at 

home needs to speak Yoruba language to 

his children. Language is like a road, if 

you abandon a road it would grow weed. 

If we don’t speak our language, it may be 

killed, but if we speak it regularly, it 

would grow. At home, we should allow 

our children to prostrate in the morning 

and greet and we should call their oriki, 

Aduke, Ajoke Amoo, and pray for them in 

Yoruba. All of this is important, if you 

send your children to nursery school, they 

don’t allow them to speak Yoruba 

language, but make sure that when they 

get home, speak Yoruba to them. That is 

what Indians, Chinese do. There is no 

place where you find Indians and 

Chinese, they may be born in the UK or 

America but they speak their language. 

It is only in Africa that we are ashamed 

of our culture. 

Do we have fake Ifa priests? If yes, 

how do we know them? 

There is no place you do not find good 

and bad characters. There are fake 

doctors, fake pastors, so it is everywhere. 

It is not all those people who claim to be 

priest that are genuine Ifa priests and 

knowledgeable but once you see them you 

will know them. 

How do we know them? 

By their performance and appearance. 

There is of late an upsurge in ritual 

killings and people involved tell us 

there are demons that bring money after 

doing ritual. As a traditionalist, what is 

your perspective? Some people say 

there are no such demons. 

There is one of my white friends who 

asked me to go in-depth into what is 

called money ritual, to know if it is Yoruba 

concept of belief. People used to believe 

that we have supernatural power to 

Continues on page 33

SUNDAY VANGUARD,FEBRUARY 9, 2020, PAGE 33 

Demons truly give e money y to 

ritualists —Olalekan, cleric 

Alhaji Junaid Yunus Olalekan, 

lslamic cleric and social analyst, 

speaks on money rituals. 

What is your take on the view that African 

traditional religion may die 

as Christianity and Islam 

flourish? 

African traditional religion 

is as multifaceted as the 

population of Africans. I 

don’t think that it will die as 

soon as it is being envisaged. 

Rather, it will continue to 

hide under Islam and 

Christianity. In actual fact, 

most Africans are still 

believers in traditional 

voodooism rather than 

Islam and Christianity. 

They just prefer to wear the 

garment and facade of 

Islam and Christianity in 

order to ‘belong’ or to look 

modern. So, I am not in the 

least worried because, in all 

sincerity, I wish traditional 

African religion should go 

into extinction just like 

mounting on camels for a 

long journey is going to extinction. 

Why do you think people get involved 

in ritual killings? 

The spate of ritual killings is the product 

of African superstition, hence the belief that 

some parts of humans can bring money. 

This belief negates the core value of Islam 

and Christianity. However, the irony of it 

all is that most of these ritualists profess 

either Islam or Christianity. The most 

painful part is that the 

most notorious of these 

ritualists are clerics. If 

you asked me the 

However, the 

irony of it all is 

that most of 

these ritualists 

profess either 

Islam or 

Christianity. The 

most painful part 

is that the most 

notorious of 

these ritualists 

are clerics 

position of Islam in all 

of this, I will tell you that 

Islam abhors the killing 

of humans for whatever 

reason. God warns in the 

Qur’aan, suratul 

Maidah (chapter 5) 

VERSE 32 that 

whoever kills a 

soul is as if he has 

killed the entire 

humanity and 

whoever saves 

a soul has 

saved the 

e n t i r e 

humanity. 

However, demons truly 

bring money to some of 

those perpetrators in 

order to make them 

believe that human part is responsible, 

whereas it is just deception. The wealth 

will have sorrowful end. 

How do we stem ritual killing over the 

belief that there are demons that bring 

•Alhaji Junaid 

Yunus Olalekan 

money? 

People get involved in ritual killing 

mainly due to greed: people can go to the 

extreme in their quest for quick rich; and 

bad associates: some people are used to 

carrying out such nefarious acts due to 

the influence of friends and poor 

mannered family members. And to stem 

it, we need to strengthen our security 

architecture: The red spots should be 

covered by serious surveillance. 

Uncompleted buildings, remote 

hamlets, villages and isolated buildings 

are fertile lands for ritualists. I also 

recommend death penalty for 

ritualists. Ritualists must be taken to 

the gallows, enough of the excuse that 

there is shortage of hangmen. Death 

is death. Let us employ the services of 

infantry men to neutralize these 

killers. They do not deserve pity or 

second chance. Let them have their 

second chance in their graves. This will 

serve as deterrent to other evil minded 

felons. Advocacy should be encouraged 

to educate the people about the evil of 

ritual killing while enlightenment of 

the vulnerable people should be 

intensified to be more 

conscious of their 

security. 

Why are albinos, 

hunchbacks, bald 

headed people 

targeted for ritual 

killings? 

Albino and 

other special 

people are soft 

targets for 

ritualists. This 

stems from the 

belief in 

superstition that those people’s spirits 

bring money faster than others. 

What is the role of movies in 

encouraging money ritualists? 

Nollywood, which is supposed to 

educate against this evil act, is 

propagating African traditional 

voodooism. 

'Notion of demons giving money imported from 

Nupe, Ghana' 

Continues from page 32 

produce money, that African science can 

do that. But what African science told us 

is that if you are a businessman, you can 

use awure. Awure is lucky charm that 

helps you to have good sales in your 

business. We also have oshole, which has 

its dos and don’ts but has nothing to do 

with blood. Oshole is a kind of ritual that 

can help people that use it to have money; 

it must be done at age 40 and above 70 

before you use another one. Nowadays, 

haaa!! Ritual killing is too much, they 

cut the victim’s head, private part and 

everything. I read one paper where one 

man said “I regret killing my girlfriend”. 

Some ritualists even eat human heart. I 

want to ask people that use human parts 

to make money whether they actually get 

rich. The use of human and body parts 

purportedly to make money is not Yoruba 

culture, it is a culture that was imported 

from Nupe, Ghana and other parts of 

Africa. It has been incorporated to our 

own culture but it is alien to us. 

So why do people get involved in 

ritual killing? 

I may not know why people get involved 

in ritual killing because it is not in our 

culture. Ritual, if you did not use pig, 

goat, I don’t know anything about it. 

How do we stop ritual killing over the 


money? 

Won ni e ma da won lekun (You don’t 

have to caution them). Anyone that is 

caught should be arrested and put in jail 

or even killed, that should serve as a 

lesson to others. We may preach or appeal 

but if they are made to face the wrath of 

the law, it would deter others. 

•Elebuibon 

Sometimes albinos, hunchback, bald 

headed people are targeted for ritual 

killings. Why? 

We discussed that long time ago. It is 

true that albinos, hunchbacks, dwarfs are 

usually targeted is because people think 

hunchbacks can produce money. One of 

my books, the Adventures of Obatalas 

discusses it. Hunchbacks, dwarfs and 

albinos are servants of Obatala. Obatala 

is a god-king and he had power that 

Eledumare (God) gave him which he used 

to sanction anything that he wanted. 

There was one hunchback that Obatala 

used to send on errand from Ironje Ile to 

Ironje Oko, and there was also one man 

named Ojugbe. Ojugbe was a kind and 

generous man. They did divination for 

him that one particular year he was 

going to be successful but that he needed 

to be more generous. So, each time the 

hunchback passed through his area, he 

will give him food and other things. The 

hunchback told his master, Obatala, that 

there was this particular man that 

whenever he (hunchback) passed his area, 

he was always generous to him. Hence 

Obatala decided to bless Ojugbe. Obatala 

used his power to command the 

hunchback to open, so he poured different 

kinds of beads, cowries and many other 

precious things into his back and closed 

it. He then instructed the hunchback to 

tell Ojugbe to rub his back, it will open 

and all the goodies would be his. 

When he got to Ojugbe and informed 

him about what Obatala said, he kept 

rubbing the back and everything therein 

came out, the back then closed up. 

Afterwards, Ojugbe became rich and 

prosperous with all the good things of life. 

People began to wonder how it happened. 

A friend inquired about his sudden riches 

and he told him how he rubbed the 

hunchback and became rich. 

Ojugbe’s friend called the hunchback 

and asked how he made his friend rich, 

but the hunchback didn’t tell him 

anything. So he forced him down and 

started rubbing his back till the 

hunchback died. He then threw his body 

into one of Ojugbe’s farm. The news of 

his death spread and Ojugbe was arrested 

since the body was found in his farm, but 

his younger brother went to another priest 

who consulted Ifa and told him to use a 

costly bead and go about singing that “mo 

pa abuke oshin, mo ri re o, mo pa abuke 

oshin, mo ri re o, mo pa abuke oshin 

obajinmi, mo pa abuke oshin, mo ri re 

o”, meaning, “I killed hunchback man 

and got rewarded, I killed him and got 

rewarded by the king”, and was dancing 

round the village. So the real culprit felt 

the wrong man was rewarded for his act, 

he came out and confessed his act and 

that was how Ojugbe was freed. However, 

since that time, people have erroneously 

believed that hunchback has the capacity 

to produce money and began to target 

them for rituals. 

It’s been argued that movies people 

watch, especially as in Nollywood, 

reinforce the belief that there are 

demons that bring money and this tends 

to motivate potential money ritualists. 

What do think? 

That is another problem. Those in 

Nollywood, most of them do not usually 

do research before they produce movies. 

It is a shame that most of Yoruba movies 

were not even produced with proper 

Yoruba language. They can’t even project 

real culture, and most of it lack proper 

content. A lot of the producers do not have 

time to research before going into 

production. 

Do you think censors’ board can help? 

There has always been a censors’ board 

but things remain the same. Those 

manning it also lack the wherewithal to 

ensure quality movie production. 

What advice will you give to youths of 

today on African culture? 

The youth need to respect and embrace 

their culture, though everything rests with 

their parents. A Yoruba adage says “ile 

lati nko eso ro de”, that is, charity begins 

at home. The way children behave 

depends on the parent; parents should 

teach their children the language, teach 

them the culture; not all of us can be 

Africa religion practitioners, but we must 

respect it. You may be a Christian or 

Muslim but there is no compound in 

Yoruba land that does not have its root in 

African religion. Also, culture is like 

orisha (god), it is in our blood, we can’t 

do without it; that is, we must respect it.


Those who say there are no 

demons that give money are 

ignorant —Prof Olagoke 

By Adeola Badru, lbadan 

P 

rofessor Sabit Ariyo Olagoke is the founder and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen 

in Islam Worldwide located at Wakajaye, Ibadan, Oyo State capital. Olagoke, 

a chemical and industrial 

Engineer, is also the President of Ajagun Esin Consultative Forum (AECF). He 

speaks, in this interview, on money rituals and the attendant killings. 

Excerpts: 

ith the rejection of the African 

Wtraditional religion by most of our 

people in favour of Islam and 

Christianity, there is the fear that African 

traditional religion may go into 

extinction. What’s your view? 

African traditional religion ought to have 

gone into extinction to be replaced by the 

world of science and technology but for 

the utter failure of Christians and 

Muslims in their propagation, laden with 

defective strategies. It remains stronger 

than before because Christianity and 

Islam are propagated through deceit, 

whereby many of the leaders source their 

power from the so-called traditional 

religion. 

While most of our Christians and 

Muslims are hypocrites, traditional 

religion continues to spread abroad and, 

at the home front, they intensify on their 

frantic efforts to modernise the practice. 

There is of late an upsurge in ritual 

killings and people involved tell us there 

are demons that bring money after doing 

ritual. As an Islamic leader, what is your 

perspective? Some people say there are 

no such demons. 

Those who say there are no such demons 

are either scientifically biased or bereft 

of the esoteric knowledge embedded in 

traditional religion which Christianity 

and Islam stand to condemn. All religions 

recognise the power of the devil to be 

highly effective when it comes to the idea 

of power sourcing or money ritual. For 

example, in the Bible, the Witch of Endor 

invoked the spirit of Samuel from the 

grave to talk to Saul on his dying day. 

The Holy Quran, Chapter 4 vs.119 

attests to the power of the devil in 

transforming man into animals or birds. 

It is unfortunate that our religious 

By Dayo Johnson, Akure 

rof Kamorudeen Bello, an Islamic scholar, is 

Pthe Mudeer and Chief Imam Daru Salaf 

Islamic Centre, Ikare-Akoko, speaks on money 

rituals. 

A school of thought believes African 

traditional religion will not survive the 

onslaught by Christianity and Islam. What 

is your perspective? 

African traditional religion (ATR) is believed 

by many to be indigenous to Africa. It deals 

with their belief systems concerning the cosmos 

and rituals. It also involves their arts, social 

and cultural practices. But a close study of 

ATR reveals that its belief systems and rituals 

closely resemble those of the early Greeks and 

Romans. Chinese and Indians also have 

similar belief systems such as ancestral 

worship, rituals and human sacrifice. Hence, 

it can be said that ATR is not restricted to Africa. 

Although the existence of the supreme deity 

called God in English is acknowledged in ATR, 

the belief is that He can be reached through 

other gods or demigods. It is a fact that some 

adherents of ATR, prior to the coming of 

Christianity and Islam, are not aware of such 

God, rather they believed only in their own 

gods which were inherited from their ancestors. 

In recent times, many traditionalists and 

some elites in Nigeria have raised the alarm 

that ATR may eventually go into oblivion. 

Their fear is not far-fetched, judging by the 

proliferation of churches and the 

establishment of faith based schools and 

institutions. From the above background, we 

are not worried that ATR may eventually die 

because the acceptance of Christianity and 

Islam initially was as a result of the rejection 

of some bad practices by the adherents of ATR 

such as human sacrifice and the killing of 

twins which was abhorred by the ‘new found 

religions’. The bad practice of human sacrifice 

on the part of priests and adherents of ATR 

still abounds. This is obvious from official 

announcement of curfews in the media 

resulting from rituals to be performed 

practices fail to address these areas to 

annul their effect. The demons live in the 

spiritual plane to torment humans in the 

physical plane of life. The Holy Quran 

Chapter 72 also attests to this possibility. 

Let our religious 

leaders be upright in 

their operation and 

teach the scriptures 

to salvage the cause 

of their followers by 

being highly 

protected from the 

devil and his plots. 

Tell us what you 

know about money 

ritual and the 

attendant killings 

Some people are 

experts in the 

esoteric exploration 

of a research that 

allows them to 

astral travel, 

hoodwink or easily 

connect into 

telepathy, which can 

easily train or 

initiate them into 

the cult. 

When, therefore, 

possessed, the 

teachings about 

Those who say 

there are no such 

demons are either 

scientifically 

biased or bereft of 

the esoteric 

knowledge 

embedded in 

traditional religion 

which Christianity 

and Islam stand to 

condemn 

relevant human 

parts for ritual will follow. 

Quran Chapter 72, verse 6 attests to how 

human beings in the occult circle easily 

source power from demons. 

How do we stop ritual killings over the 


money? 

Well, ritual killing has been in existence 

since Cain killed his brother, 

Abel. Over the years, efforts to 

stop ritual killings have been 

ineffective because of the 

diversionary actions of 

religious people –Christians or 

Muslims - from the cause of the 

truth as they join in the race to 

make quick money, even though 

they are religious leaders. What 

exactly then do you expect from 

the adherents or followers of 

such people? To effectively stop 

the bad act, religious people 

must go back to the 

fundamentals of implementing 

the provisions of the scripture 

to offer a just worship and live 

exemplary lifestyles. They also 

need to source power directly 

from God through developing 

the ability to supplicate unto 

God over any issue or matter 

surrounding them. They must 

equally accept God as holy and 

make Jesus Christ and Prophet 

Muhammed (SAW) their role models – 

John 4 vs. 34, Q12 vs. 108, Q2 vs. 208- 

209, Q16 vs. 98-100. 

Sometimes albinos, hunchback, bald 

headed people are targeted for ritual 

killings. Why? 

(Laughs) It has been observed that 

Movies reinforce belief that demons give money —Prof Bello 

Well, it’s quite 

unfortunate that 

many movies, 

especially in 

Nollywood, 

reinforce the 

widely held belief 

that there are 

demons that bring 

money 

whenever a king passes on or a new one is to 

be installed. Also, during some traditional 

festivals and rites, people are generally 

warned that their lives are at risk if they defy 

such curfews. 

How do people get involved in ritual 

killings? 

People get involved in ritual killings through 

the following: 

1- Being coerced to do so: Many young 

school leavers fall into the trap of ritual killers 

through adverts for jobs. Many youths are 

recruited as killers while some are used for 

rituals. Such youths may not be able to get 

themselves out of ritual killings because they 

would have been made to swear or make oaths 

while being threatened with death if they 

reveal such secret under any circumstance. 

2- Peer group influence 

3- Cult members within and outside higher 

institutions of learning are offered cash 

rewards for getting humans for rituals. Also, 

•Prof Olagoke 

it is sometimes part of cultism to carry out 

rituals involving human sacrifice to appease 

gods 

4- Get-rich quick syndrome 

5- The insatiable desire of politicians to be 

in power and control has led to many of them 

resorting to ritual killings. 

6- The use of thugs by politicians during 

campaigns and elections has encouraged 

many youths to embrace thuggery. Many thugs 

and prospective ones look for supernatural 

powers which often involve human sacrifice 

7- ATR: It could be said that one of the major 

factors that has sustained the existence of ATR 

itself is ritual killings else it would have gone 

into oblivion. Many people who needed 

supernatural power for money, position, 

control and fame do consult ATR priests and 

the heterodox mallams, pastors and prophets 

for such powers. The quest often involves ritual 

killings. 

8- Some people out of frustration, maybe as 

a result of their long search for power and 

prosperity which has become elusive despite 

all efforts, may resort to ritual killing to fulfil 

their long term desire. 

9- False belief: Some people erroneously 

believe that without ritual killing one can 

never be prosperous, that all those who are 

prosperous have one way or the other been 

involved in ritual killing. 

How do we stem ritual killings over the 


money? 

Ritual killings can be stemmed through 

intensifying preaching against such by priests 

and religion scholars in mosques and 

churches, awareness campaigns in the media, 

organisation of workshops, seminars and 

conferences on the evil of ritual killing, 

formation of clubs and societies in schools for 

awareness against ritual killing, and 

legislation (The Murtala Muhammed 

government in 1976 banned a notable cult 

and retired its members from the civil service. 

This led to the formation of a similar group 

which members then claimed to have 

abrogated bad practices and rituals in the 

people with one form of disability or 

the other have special grace from 

God which able -bodied people 

cannot lay claim to. This is why, 

traditionally, people look for them 

in form of giving alms to have the 

favour of God. Apart from this, our 

tradition recognises people with 

disabilities as being very close to the 

gods and goddesses; hence they are 

revered on the platform of spiritual 

importance. However, the belief 

in using them for diabolical 

purposes is super wicked 

and can be misleading in 

many cases. For 

example, in South 

Africa, when the issue 

of HIV/AIDS 

e r u p t e d , 

traditionalists 

suggested that 

w h o e v e r 

contracted HIV/ 

AIDS should look 

for a virgin to 

deflower. This 

primitive act 

led to many 

casualties. In 

the 21st 

century, 

emphasis is 

now on 

empathy for people with disabilities. This 

is in line with the provision of the Holy 

Quran Chapter 9 vs.60 and the 

operational goal of zakat principles. 

Government and the society must initiate 

a high level of sensitisation effort to stop 

such barbaric act. 

It’s been argued that movies people 

watch, especially as in Nollywood, 

reinforce the belief that there are 

demons that bring money and this tends 

to motivate potential money ritualists. 

What do you think? 

The use of illustrations in teaching 

methodology makes learning highly 

practically effective. Although movie 

people translate oral traditions into 

movies to teach people and discourage 

them from falling into such act. 

Unfortunately, it does not work that way 

but ends up motivating potential money 

ritualists. Film censorship and 

government sensitivity to what comes out 

in plays or movies will help us out. From 

the religious angle, this bad method has 

always been used to market power in 

religion as being of super value to that of 

traditional religionists. Unfortunately, 

they end up producing more ritualists than 

discouraging it. Churches and mosques 

need to use their scriptural texts to 

disabuse the minds of their followers in 

order that we should jointly sanitise the 

society to be free of satanic influences. 

newly formed one. Thus government can 

legislate against ritual killing by banning 

societies and clubs where such practices are 

suspected to be taking place. This is preemptive. 

Shrines in remote areas should be 

closed down. Owners of such shrines should 

be told to relocate to town or close vicinity. 

Also, such shrines should be registered and 

activities therein closely monitored by relevant 

agencies like the Nigerian Security and Civil 

Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Inter- 

Religious Council (NIREC) and the National 

Youth Council of Nigeria). 

Why do you think albinos, hunchbacks, 

bald-headed people, among others, are 

targeted for ritual killings? 

Albinos, hunchbacks, bald-headed people 

and some other physically challenged 

individuals are targeted for ritual killings 

because such persons are the specific people 

requested by demons or spirits for rituals to 

achieve one thing or the other through the 

human mediums who consult such demons 

and spirits on behalf of those requesting for 

specific favours. This is a widely held belief in 

the African traditional religion. 

What is the role of movies in fuelling ritual 

killings for money? 

Well, it’s quite unfortunate that many movies, 

especially in Nollywood, reinforce the widely 

held belief that there are demons that bring 

money. 

Although the producers of such movies do 

claim that their objective is to show and tell 

the public the evil consequences of such money 

or wealth acquired through rituals involving 

human sacrifice, the reverse is the case. 

Viewers who have the tendencies for such 

ritual wealth think of avoiding the error 

committed or the mistake made by the one 

upon whom the evil consequence of such 

wealth acquired through human killing fell. 

Some also think that the little time they will 

spend on earth to enjoy their wealth is better 

than many years they will spend suffering in 

penury. This is so because most of the movies 

portray short life as the evil consequence of 

making money through ritual killings.


Nigerians see the police as enemies, crime collaborat 

ator 

ors —Prof Aderinto, 

criminologist 

By Chris Onuoha 

Professor Adeyinka Abideen Aderinto 

says Nigerians view the police with 

suspicions, a pariah of some sort while 

perceiving them to be unfriendly, brutal, 

trigger-happy extortionist and crime 

collaborators. 

Aderinto, former Deputy Vice Chancellor 

(Academic), University of Ibadan (UI), 

criminologist and deviance studies expert 

spoke while delivering an inaugural lecture 

at UI entitled, ‘On the Fringe of Society.’ 

“The rising crime rate, especially, violent 

crimes involving kidnapping, armed robbery, 

ritual murders, political assassinations ethnic 

and religious violence and election violence, 

has dampened the hope of the public on the 

capacity of the police to ensure the safety of 

people’s lives and property”, he said. 

The inaugural lecture was attended by the 

Vice Chancellor of UI, the Deputy Vice 

Chancellor (Administration), Deputy Vice 

By Osa Mbonu-Amadi, Arts Editor 

t a time when almost all parents want 

Atheir children to pursue careers in the 

sciences without taking into consideration the 

child’s interests and innate abilities, programs 

that guide young people in choosing careers 

are necessary. That was why Evangel College 

Okokomaiko, from 29 to 31 January, 2020, 

organized for its students a career week titled 

“Providing Career Guidance & Direction for 

the 21st Century Child”. 

Friday, 31 January, third day of the program, 

was set aside for students categorized as 

commercials – those aspiring to take careers 

in banking, finance and related professions. 

Two guest speakers took turns to speak – Mr. 

Christian Marcus Onyebuchi, an 

accomplished entrepreneur who spoke on 

“Entrepreneurship/Career in the 

Commercial”, and Mr. Agha Albert who 

treated the theme, “Empowering Youth with 

Tech Skills/ICT”. 

Introducing Mr. Onyebuchi, the Principal 

•Prof Aderinto 

Chancellor (Academic), Deputy Vice 

Chancellor (Research, Innovation and 

Strategic Partnerships) and the Registrar 

among other members of the University 

community and the general public. 

According to Aderinto, who is of the Faculty 

of the Social Science, department of 

Sociology, University of Ibadan, the general 

feelings among Nigerians is that the police 

can neither solve crimes through arrests and 

successful prosecutions, nor prevent or at least, 

reduce the incidence of crimes. 

He stated that data gatherings from his 

research work from relatives of victims of 

kidnapping and other crimes point to a very 

negative perception about criminal justice. 

“In fact, their views on criminal justice 

pointed to a broader confidence problem for 

the police whom many accuse of being 

corrupt; the court, whom many see as a place 

where justice is for sale, and the correctional 

centre, seen by many as a breeding ground 

and a centre of future criminals,” Aderinto 

said. 

“Beside armed robbery and kidnapping, 

other social vices like the case of street 

children, the phenomenon of child domestic 

servitude including matured house help, 

human trafficking and domestic violence were 

some of the vices included in his research work 

that the society is struggling to contain. 

“These members of the society are those 

affected by the structure of society and have 

fallen victims of its culture, traditions and state 

Certificates alone can no longer bring food to the table, Principal tells students 

Evangel College students aspiring to be 

journalists, writers and media practitioners. 

Photo: Osa Mbonu-Amadi. 

of Evangel College, Mrs. Mercy 

Okorie recalled for the students 

that “even in choosing your 

subjects, we always emphasize 

on entrepreneurship. Because of 

the way the country is today, 

certificate alone is no longer 

bringing food to the table. There 

are now people coming out to 

show us the things we can do so 

that even after our university 

education, having discovered 

our passions, interests and 

strength, we go for skills that 

will empower us to stand on 

our own.” 

Earlier, the principal had 

told the students that “after 

today’s program, there are 

some of you here that will 

imbibe skills that will enable 

you at this level to start 

making money and 

of normlessness and for whom nothing 

protective seems to be on the country’s 

national agenda. They are socially excluded 

from the scheme of things and it is these 

members that I refer to as being on the fringe 

of society.” 

The university don said greed, inordinate 

ambition to amass wealth to crass 

materialism, loss of societal values, people 

being desperate to do anything to get rich and 

be celebrated in society are among the causes 

of kidnapping. 

“Many Nigerians are not living well; they 

only take solace in the life hereafter. It is my 

position in this lecture that a lot of Nigerians 

are living on the fringe of the society and are 

subjected to the vicissitudes of life. 

“Noticing that poverty is not the only factor 

fuelling the many social problems, 

government needs to be more sincere about 

the policies that aim to create job opportunities 

for the skilled and unskilled in the society, 

intensify awareness about the gross danger of 

human trafficking, the informal nanny system 

crudely referred to as housemaid recruitment 

should be regulated to prevent child and 

woman slavery among others.” 

becoming relevant. So, tell 

yourselves that I am one of those 

that will set up after today’s 

program…and in everything we 

doing, we must put God in the 

center of it all, that’s the only way 

to success…” 

Mr. Onyebuchi, in his lecture, 

said although everyone wants to 

be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc., 

a cleaner could make more 

money than those in that 

professions. He said it all 

depends on how good one is at 

what one does. He gave nine keys 

to success in entrepreneurship: 

Perseverance, readiness to absorb 

failure, resourcefulness (frugality 

or thrift), sociability, organizing 

the business in such a way that it 

can run even in the absence of the 

entrepreneur, innovativeness, 

modesty, risk taking and 

emotional stability. 

Weird world of money ritualists 

Continued from page 31 

embarked on interdenominational prayers 

and fasting, traditional rites while a vigilance 

group was raised to unravel ritual killings in 

the area. 

Even the dead are not spared 

It is not only the living that are gruesomely 

murdered and body parts harvested for ritual; 

the dead are also not allowed to rest in their 

graves as suspected ritual killers and skull 

miners exhume remains of dead people which 

are prepared for ritual. 

Three young men, who were arrested by the 

Oyo State Police Command for being in 

possession of fresh human parts, confessed 

that their unbridled desires to get rich quick 

prompted them to get the body parts for money 

ritual. 

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. 

Abiodun Odude, said the suspects were 

arrested after a tip-off by a member of the 

public. 

Odude added that the suspects confessed 

to have removed the body parts from corpses 

at a Muslim cemetery in Isale General Area 

of Ogbomoso. 

One of the suspects claimed this was his 

first attempt at using human parts for money 

ritual. 

Another said: “We went to Isale General at 

Ogbomoso to exhume the bodies at about 

8p.m. On our way back, two inquisitive boys, 

who accosted us on the road, demanded to 

know where the offensive odour was from. 

“We tried to deceive them, but they were 

insistent. So we had to run. They caught one 

of us before the police arrested us at our 

homes. 

“We wanted to use the parts for money 

ritual. If we had succeeded in taking the 

corpses to our place, we would have dried and 

burnt them. 

“After burning the parts, we will grind same 

to powdery substance and mix some of it with 

soap to take our bath in the morning and to 

take pap at night. 

“After we would have done this, some weird 

creatures, who we generally call demons, will 

bring money to us — usually at night.” 

In another case reported in November 2019, 

a cemetery vault builder, Kazim Olarewaju, 

who worked at Okesuna Cemetery, Adeniji 

Adele area of Lagos island, revealed that he 

sold two human skulls for N12, 000. 

Olarewaju, who was arrested by policemen 

attached to Adeniji Adele Division, alongside 

two other suspects, Muritala Salami and 

Amidu Kazeem, explained that this was the 

second time he was trading in human parts. 

Narrating how he got involved in the act, 

Olarenwaju said, “I work at Okesuna 

Cemetery. In September, Mr Muritala Salami 

and his relatives came to the cemetery to bury 

a relative. 

“After the burial, he said I should help him 

to get biscuit. I told him I didn’t know what 

he was talking about. He said it was a human 

skull. 

“I told him immediately I couldn’t. He 

collected my telephone number and left but 

continued to call me till I bulged. 

“Initially, I asked him to come to the 

cemetery and take it himself. When he came, 

I helped him to take the bag outside the 

cemetery gate so that security guards won’t 

suspect anything. 

“The first time he paid me 12,000 for two 

skulls. 

“Last week he called me again and I told 

him to steer clear but he kept threatening me 

till I agreed to help him get two more human 

skulls. 

“It was while I was taking delivery of his 

order that I was arrested by the police.” 

Explaining further, Kasim said, “I started 

working at the cemetery two years ago and I 

have never been involved in a thing like this 

before I met Muritala”. 

Explaining what he was doing with human 

skulls, Salami, who said he was a dealer in 

herbal preparation, said he used them to 

make charms to enable him get more clients. 

“I grind the dried human skulls, mix it with 

pepper and take it with local gin first thing in 

the morning. Before I began to do this, I was 

making about N30, 000 daily but afterwards 

I began to make between N80,000 and 

N100,000” 

Confirming the arrest, spokesperson for 

Lagos State Police Command, DSP Bala 

Elkana, said the investigation was ongoing 

and that the suspects will be charged to court. 

From the foregoing, it would appear that 

native doctors, fake pastors, Muslim clerics 

and cemetery workers usually work with 

suspects in the business of ritual killing. 

Worried by the spate of ritual killings and 

bodies’ exhumation from graveyards, then- 

Assistant Inspector General of Police in 

Charge of Zone 2, AIG Lawal Shehu, declared 

war on native doctors and human parts’ 

dealers in Lagos and Ogun states. 

Shehu said each time suspects were 

apprehended, they usually claimed they were 

herbalists, adding that some native doctors 

were aiding and abating the practice. 

He made the declaration after four suspects, 

identified as Lukmon Bayewunmi, Kabir 

Badmus, Victor Nnacheta and Nurudeen 

Sogaolu, were arrested with dried human jaw 

and scalp. 

Compromise 

Meanwhile, the police have been accused 

of compromise on some cases of ritual killing. 

For instance during the tenure of CP 

Imohimi Edgal as Commissioner of Police in 

Lagos State, precisely in August 2018, two 

suspected ritualists, Folake Falade and 

Emmanuel Gbenga, were arrested under the 

Cele Nicer Bridge, Ijanikin, by the police. 

Folake, who was almost lynched by irate 

mob, said she had been there (Cele Nicer 

Bridge) for nine years and that her business 

was to sell human parts to ready buyers. 

She said her customers usually parked on 

the bridge at night with their vehicles bonnets 

opened, pretending that their vehicles had one 

fault or the other, but unknown to people that 

they were waiting to buy human parts. 

According to her, her boys would be 

beneath the vehicles pretending to be 

carrying out repairs to douse any suspicion 

and, in the process, hand over nylon bags 

containing human parts to the clients. 

A resident, Lawrence Oke, claimed that 

Folake revealed that “whenever she failed to 

find preys to meet the demands of clients, she 

would dress seductively and head to a nearby 

hotel at night”. 

Oke went on, “Any man that picked her for 

the night would become a prey as he would 

end up in her den where his body parts would 

be harvested and sold off to waiting clients.” 

The resident further narrated that Folake 

confessed that she had boys that worked for 

her. 

He added, “She said that once her hands 

touched someone, that person would lose his 

senses and follow her sheepishly.” 

However, despite what many believed was 

compelling evidence against the suspect and 

initial police stand, nothing was heard about 

the case after arrest. 

Meanwhile, the belief that invoking spirits 

or demons can bring cash after performing 

some rituals obviously is what is fuelling 

ritual killings in parts of the country. 

Sunday Vanguard spoke to some of those 

who should know in this special report.


We cannot blame Trump, at all 

First published in this column 

on January 14, 2018. 

When Donald Trump, 

the president of the 

United States America allegedly 

last week (January 

11, 2018) employed derogatory 

words to describe some 

countries, one cannot debate 

the fact that Nigeria was on 

his mind. Although he did not 

disclose this, no one should be 

in doubt on Trump’s real evaluation 

of the country. 

Trump, who is under fire 

right now made the comments 

at the Oval Office, his 

official office in Washington. 

The world instantly rose in 

unison to condemn this man 

who is gradually turning himself 

into the greatest joker of 

the century. In a reaction, the 

spokesperson of the United 

Nations Office of the High 

Commissioner on Human 

Rights, Rupert Colville lashed 

at Trump for referring to Haiti, 

El Salvador and African 

nations as “shithole countries.” 

He said: “There’s no 

other word one can use but 

racist” to describe the remarks 

and not“ just a story about 

vulgar language, it’s about 

opening the door to humanity’s 

worst side.” 

The African Union (AU) 

mission to the UN on Friday 

also called for an apology 

from Trump. In a statement, 

the union expressed it’s “infuriation, 

disappointment and 

outrage over the unfortunate 

comment” and demanded “a 

retraction” as well “as an 

apology, not only to the Africans, 

to all people of African 

descent around the globe.” 

While Trump had not mentioned 

Nigeria by name in the 

comments, he has a history of 

unflattering words about the 

country and the citizens. During 

his campaign for the office, 

he was called out many 

times to have singled out Nigerians 

as part of the group of 

immigrants he would turn his 

searchlights on. As recent as 

some months ago, he was reported 

to have said that Nigerians, 

in their thousands 

would never “go back to their 

huts” once they saw his country. 

This was denied by the 

White House at the time; however, 

these recent remarks 

seem to have confirmed this 

trail of thoughts. 

But who will blame Donald 

Trump if he had indeed made 

the comments about Nigerians? 

Despite the various invaluable 

contributions of many 

Nigerians in the US and all 

over the world, recent events 

back at home can propel any 

man or woman to make untoward 

comments on the 

country. And unfortunately, 

the opinion of other world 

leaders about Nigeria does 

not seem any much different 

from the eccentric Trump’s. 

There is no worse (or better) 

time to further tarnish the image 

of the supposed “giant” 

of Africa than now. The news 

coming out of the country is 

not pleasant at all. To be honest, 

it’s been a while any good 

news or development that has 

cheered the world come out 

from there. It is as if this naturally 

blessed populated country 

is wired to move from one 

image disaster to another. Can 

we, therefore, blame Trump, 

based on happenings in the 

country? 

The magnitude of violence 

reported in the latest Benue/ 

Taraba farmers and nomadic 

herdsmen clashes seem to 

be a good reason to think our 

country actually exists in the 

past century. The scale of the 

killings by the herdsmen has 

been on the rise for some time 

and it is not abating. The images 

of herdsmen with AK47 

grazing cows have become 

part of our national identity 

now. Gone are the days when 

they are identified with their 

bows and arrows. Currently, 

It is not yet the end for 

BREXIT, but it is the 

start to the end. 

Officially, the UK is out 

of the EU, but 

technically, it is still 

part of it 

they are armed to the teeth as 

they shepherd their flock from 

the drylands of the north 

through the middle belt to the 

green southern fields. 

We cannot play ignorance 

to the rate at which these 

herdsmen have been killing 

innocent citizens that resist 

their cows devastating their 

crops. The world’s attention 

once again was turned to this 

region as the clash in the 

death of eighty people. This 

figure, I hasten to say, should 

be taken with a “pinch of salt.” 

There is the likelihood that the 

fatalities experienced were 

more than the official numbers 

reported. 

I am not unnecessarily being 

mean here, but it is a fact 

we all recognize – official figures 

are not usually accurate 

in Nigeria. Ask the staff at the 

National Office of Statistics, 

the population figures for 

each state of the federation and 

you will be shocked that what 

they have are either estimates 

or conjured up figures. 

On Thursday our eyes 

welled up with tears once 

again, when seventy-three of 

the causalities were committed 

to mother earth. It was 

such a sight to behold the coffin 

lined up and conveyed to 

their final resting places. This, 

once again, has reminded us 

all of the dangers and insecurity 

that Nigerians live with 

every day. It is unfortunate that 

these needless deaths have 

now become part of us. 

These represent the types of 

images that come up in the 

heads of world leaders, such 

as Trump. He, like others, 

would wonder what is going 

on in a country with a constituted 

army, police, and other 

security apparatus. Yet these 

killings go on daily with no 

arrests or prosecutions. What 

image do you think a leader 

such as Trump has of our country? 

It was not long ago that the 

image of the Boko Haram 

group leader, Abubakar Shekau 

became synonymous with 

the highest authority in the 

country. At that time foreign 

media were routinely using 

Shekau’s image to illustrate 

Nigeria. As funny as this may 

seem, it was the reality when 

our security agencies struggled 

for so many years to “conquer” 

the ragtag “army” 

called Boko Haram. And you 

expect Trump to rate us highly. 

Do you? 

Where else on earth have we 

heard hundreds of sleeping 

students kidnapped in a 

school hostel? No other country 

has reported such a large 

scale kidnapping of innocent 

citizens. Where else on this 

earth do people start counting 

the number of days in captivity, 

rather than make efforts 

to free them? It only happened 

in Nigeria. Where else, apart 

from Nigeria, are funds meant 

for the fight against terrorism 

mismanaged while individuals 

corruptly enriched themselves? 

Yet, we expect Trump to respect 

us as a country when we 

can barely manage our refineries 

because of corruption? 

Long fuel queues are routine 

in the country that rank as one 

of the leading producers of 

crude oil, and we still have the 

temerity to denounce Trump 

for his comments. It is a country 

where workers go for many 

months without being paid 

their wages. Where people die 

because the government rather 

than provide basic health 

facilities would commission 

elephant projects to compensate 

individuals for political 

patronage. 

Yet we all blame Trump for 

his comments. Now we can 

guess why the government 

may not find words to condemn 

Trump. The citizens are 

outraged, but not for how 

Trump has described their 

country. They are angry because 

Trump took the words 

from their mouths and declared 

it to the whole world. 

They describe Nigeria with 

more harsh words than Trump 

had used. 

Don’t blame Trump. Blame 

our visionless leaders. 

First published in the Sunday 

Vanguard of January 14, 

2018. 

Death and the Horseman 

Several years ago, I was 

doing a story around 

Christmas. My boss then had 

asked me to go to places where 

people were having issues 

about life and ask them if they 

knew it was Christmas. So, I 

took off to peculiar places: 

under bridges, hospitals and 

the worst place I encountered 

was the Orthopedic Hospital 

Igbobi. 

There I met accident victims 

of different shapes and mostly, 

victims of okada accidents. 

It was a very sad situation to 

see people whose legs were 

amputated by accidents and 

people whose legs have been 

hanging up for months and 

those whose entire body have 

been in POP and they have not 

been able to come out of coma 

to say who they are and where 

they are coming from.And 

who was talking about Christmas 

under their situation? 

If you are having issues 

about the ban of okada, visit 

the orthopedic hospital and 

see the victims. 

If you are worried about the 

ban on okada, come to Mile 

2 expressway leading to Oshodi 

and see what okada men 

are driving on Oshodi-Apapa 

expressway. 

If you are having issues 

against the okada ban, go to 

Apapa, a once serene community 

occupied by white expatriates 

and businessmen and 

now turned into a dustbin by 

okada rivers who now hold 

sway and have turned the 

place to a shit-hole. Instead 

of a community of white expatriates 

and genuine businessmen, 

you now have a different 

cadre of businessmen 

and expatriates from Chad, 

Mali, Niger, Togo who lawlessly 

took over the community 

and made nonsense out 

of it with their okada. 

It is only in Nigeria that aliens 

will invade a community 

with impunity and operate 

lawlessly in all they do. Anywhere 

these okada men are 

in a country that is not theirs, 

they are armed with weapons 

to threaten the indigenes and 

we think that is cute. 

So, we should let these aliens 

continue to dominate the 

society, threaten the indigenes 

and occupy the land ; break 

our traffic laws with impunity 

because they drive bikes and 

we patronize them and so, our 

economy is now an okadabased 

economy and we should 

live under the control of alien-okada 

riders who threaten 

us and attack us under the 

If you are having 

issues about the 

ban of okada, 

visit the 

orthopedic 

hospital and see 

the victims 

slightest provocation and we 

think that is cute? 

So, we are now protesting 

the ban and taking the laws 

into our hands? The alien bikers 

are right; the chaotic situation 

they cause is right; the 

deaths and mutilations 

through Okada accidents are 

right? Only the Lagos government 

and the ban are wrong? 

We should wake up and ask 

ourselves salient questions. Is 

it right for our country to be 

invaded by aliens who even 

threaten us? Are we aware of 

the number of aliens who invade 

our country everyday 

with truck-loads of okada? 

Are we even aware of the 

number of aliens who invade 

the country on daily basis 

from nowhere and are quickly 

handed the bike they ride 

and some of these aliens learn 

to drive the bike on the expressway 

with you as the passengers? 

Yes, we appreciate the problem 

that the ban created. 

Some members of the public 

were not happy with the 

ban and some of the operators 

are making frantic attempts 

to get the government 

to reconsider its decision. 

There were even protests 

across the state to drive home 

this point with those affected 

by the ban calling on members 

of the Lagos State House 

of Assembly to intervene in the 

matter. But the lawmakers 

responded by asking the protesters 

to obey the law. 

In a bid to clarify its position, 

the Lagos State government 

through the state Commissioner 

for Information 

Reps give NNPC ultimatum to employ 700 WRPC casual workers 

By Victor ‘Tunde Oso 

The House of Representatives 

has given the Warri Refinery 

and Petrochemical 

Company, WRPC, a two-week 

ultimatum to convert its entire 

casual workers into the 

mainstream workforce and 

accord them all their rights 

as bonafide employees of the 

company. 

Chairman, House Committee 

on Public Petitions, 

Hon. Jerry Anagboso issued 

the directive Thursday, after 

the Committee waded into the 

labour dispute between the 

WRPC, its parent company, 

the Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation (NNPC) 

and WRPC’s casual workers, 

most of whom have been 

working between 15 and 18 

years without being considered 

for permanent employment. 

he Reps’ pronouncement 

Tis coming on the heels of 

a long-drawn battle between 

WRPC and the workers, who 

accuse the former of treating 

the workers unfairly, which 

prompted the leadership of 

the casual workers led by its 

Consultant, Value Rebirth and 

Empowerment Initiative 

VREI, to send an SOS to the 

House of Representatives, to 

intervene in the workers’ 

plight after several efforts at 

resolving the feud by critical 

stakeholders failed. 

The workers alleged that 

year in, year out, the management 

of the company had 

failed to formalize their employments, 

and rather allegedly 

employed outsiders, who 

knew nothing about the operations 

of the refinery without 

due consideration to the existing 

workers, who in turn 

train same workers for the 

company while they have remained 

casual staff over the 

years. 

Edewor Egedegbe, the Executive 

Director of VREI, narrated 

how the ‘impoverished 

casual workers’ travelled 

from Warri, Delta State to 

Abuja hoping to get the matter 

resolved alleging; “unfortunately, 

the adamant WRPC 

management refused, on 

three occasions to honour 

National Assembly invitations.” 

The Group General Manager, Human Resources, 

Mrs. Tolulope Ladipo (left) and the 

NNPC management team at the plenary. 

Members of the Committee 

resolved that all the over 700 

casual workers be immediately 

converted to permanent 

staff on their merit within two 

weeks starting from the moment 

the ultimatum was issued 

to the WRPC, noting that 

the company owes its host 

communities ‘huge responsibilities’, 

which includes, but 

not limited to gainfully hiring 

the productive population 

of their operating environment 

into their workforce. 

The lawmakers in addition 

ordered that the management 

of WRPC should return within 

two weeks to give the Committee 

feedback on the modalities 

for meaningfully engaging 

the casual workers. 

Representing the Group 

Managing Director, NNPC, 

Mele Kyari, before the Committee, 

NNPC Group General 

Manager, Human Resources, 

Mrs. Tolulope Ladipo, who 

replied when asked by the 

lawmakers if her presence 

before the Committee was 

strong enough to cause the 

Corporation to implement the 

resolutions of the Committee, 

2nd right, Executive director, Value Rebirth 

and Empowerment Initiative, VREI, Edewor 

Egedegbe with representatives of the 

casual workers. 

to which she answered in the 

affirmative: that any decision 

reached shall be binding on 

the NNPC since was representing 

the GMD. 

In attendance was the legal 

team to casual workers led by 

C. Oparaugo Esq. U. Smart, 

Chief Otomiewo Victor, 

Chairman, Uvwie LGA, Hon. 

Ramson Onoyake, Executive 

Chairman of Warri South 

LGA, Dr. Michael Tidi, representative 

of Uwvie kingdom, 

Dr. Samuel Eshenake, 

Secretary to the Council of 

Chiefs, Itsekiri National 

and Strategy , Gbenga Omotosho 

said the government 

had had enough of fatal accidents 

caused by the operators 

of these bikes. 

According to him, “The figures 

are scary. Between 2016 

and 2019, there were more 

than 10,000 cases of accidents 

recorded at General Hospitals 

across the state. This 

number excludes unreported 

cases and those recorded by 

other hospitals. The total 

number of deaths from reported 

cases is over 600 as of 

date. These riders often violate 

the Transport Sector Reform 

Law 2018 and contributed 

to the crime rate in the 

state.” 

We appreciate the problems 

created.The number of people 

who trek to and fro work 

is incredible. But there is hope 

that the Lagos State government 

is also coming up with 

palliative measures to cushion 

the effects of the sufferings 

created by the ban. 

There should be a Plan B. 

But the ban is inorder. 

Youth Council, Warri South 

Chapter, Jemi Mene-Ejegi; 

Chairman Aja-Ekeren Community, 

CRC, Tosanwumi 

Adolphus, Comrade Friday 

Enaefuan community leader 

and others. 

The representatives commended 

members of the 

Committee, whose actions 

were said to be thorough 

against the ‘stubborn NNPC.’ 

Adolphus said members of the 

Committee have rekindled 

the hope of the common man 

in their intervention, noting 

that the decision has renewed 

the lives of the casual workers, 

who he described as the 

oppressed. 

Speaking after the plenary, 

Egedegbe noted that the 

member representing Ethiope 

Federal Constituency, Hon. 

Ben Ibakpa, who is also a 

member of the Committee 

played a major role in the successful 

outcome of the intervention 

by the lawmakers, 

adding that Deputy Senate 

President, Senator Ovie Omo- 

Agege also leveraged on his 

position for his people. Recall 

that Ethiope Federal Constituency 

falls within the Delta 

Central Senatorial district 

represented by the Senator, 

Omo-Agege.

HE National President of the Christian 

TAssociation of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Samson 

Ayokunle on Friday blamed the failure of 

Christians to counter the threat of dumping 

the Holy Quran in the Atlantic Ocean by giving 

a Holy Bible in the hands of every Nigerian 

youth in the nation for the unending regime 

of violent killing of innocent Nigerians 

across the nation. 

In his reaction at the 12th Founders’ Day 

annual lecture and awards ceremony of the 

Bible Society of Nigeria at the MUSON Centre 

in Lagos, Ayokunle with his wife and an 

army of adherents of Baptist Conference of 

Nigeria in tow, he thanked the leaders of the 

BSN for the award which he described as an 

unmerited honour. 

According to him, he is been working to 

promote the Bible which is his prime assignment 

that doesn’t deserve any award, stressing 

that his urgent engagement is the minimum 

he can do for the cause of kingdom of 

God in this part of the world which doesn’t 

merit any encouragement by the Bible Society. 

He however noted: “For still encouraging 

me to do the work I am called to do, I am still 

grateful to you and thank you very much.” 

Responding the topic of the lecture: ‘Curbing 

communal conflicts and terrorism for sustainable 

national growth and development’ 

which was delivered by chief executive officer 

of Halogen Group, Mr. Wale Olaoye, the CAN 

president averred that if we want to overcome 

the scourge of insurgency in this country we 

need to get the Word of God to the hand of 

every Nigerian. 

“The consequence of not allowing the Word 

to be in the hand of every Nigerian is the unrest, 

the violence that we are witnessing today 

in Nigeria. Boko Haram would not grow up 

to be Boko Haram bandits if they have had 

the Bible and they had been taught the Word 

of God, they would do what they are doing 

today,” Ayokunle said. 

Continuing the CAN president said the challenge 

before the nation’s Christians is unending 

comprehensive Evangelism, more outreach 

and missionary works that will engage 

the unemployed and vulnerable youths in the 

country. 

Curbing insecurity, according to him, “will 

begin with possessing the hearts and minds of 

the youth with the Word of truth. Every evil 

thought begins from the heart and the Bible 

says that the Word of God is perfect...it chang- 

The Voice of the Lord 

Contact Address: 

The Sword of the Spirit Ministries, 

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

Agodi-Ibadan,Oyo State 

Telephones: 

0813 128 4001, 08186991467 

Email: ootpbsotsm@gmail.com 

& info@sotsm.org 

Website:www.sotsm.org 

facebook.com/franciswaleoke 

Twitter:@franciswaleoke 

Instagram:@franciswaleoke 

BISHOP WALE OKE 

By Sam Eyoboka 

Hope now and always 

OIsrael, put your hope in 

the LORD, now and always 

(Psalm 131:3 NLT). 

Human beings are creatures of 

hope. That there is something positive 

and glorious we look forward 

to keep us alive and vibrant. When 

hope is high, joy overflows. When 

hope is at low ebb, discouragement 

sets in: it may even lead to depression. 

When hope dies, the man dies; 

a hopeless person is as good as 

dead. 

As a believer in Christ your hope 

should be in nothing else than the 

Lord Himself, not in any shifting 

sand of time. 

Do not put your hope in things, or 

stuff. “And this world is fading 

away, along with everything it 

craves. But if you do the will of God, 

you will live forever.” (1 John 2:15- 

sam.eyoboka@gmail.com 

08023145567 (sms 

Insecurity: CAN chides Christians over 

failure to evangelise 

•Ayokunle 

17, NLT). 

Do not put your hope in your 

wisdom, your might or your riches 

(Jeremiah 9:23-24). Unless 

the Lord is with you, these cannot 

sustain you in the time of real 

crises, and the battles of life. 

Neither should you put your 

hope in people, “whose breadth 

is in their nostrils,” and can die 

at any given time. 

Put your hope in the Lord now; 

put your hope in the Lord always: 

and you will never be disappointed, 

at any time. He will 

make your face to shine, and you 

will be far from shame. 

They looked unto him, and 

were lightened: and their faces 

were not ashamed (Psalm 34:5). 

•PASTOR IGHODALO 

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 , PAGE 37 

As patriotic citizens we all have 

a role to play in terms of 

supporting the government 

especially officers and men of 

the Armed Forces, a number of 

who have lost their lives in the 

war front 

es the heart. Without a change of heart in this 

nation it will be difficult to curb insurgency in 

the country. 

“The Bible says let this mind be in you which 

was also in Christ Jesus. So let’s change the 

mindset of people through the Word of 

God....making it available and accessible to 

all,” he maintained. 

Ayokunle further maintained that depending 

on foreign aids or help to eradicate the 

scourge may work to some extent, but “let me 

tell you that their hypocrisy in the International 

community is unequalled. In 2018, as 

an executive member of the World Council of 

Churches, I made a strong point in Sweden 

for the WCC to respond to the situation in 

Nigeria because we know Christians were under 

persecution...you say that it’s not only Christians 

thhe at are being persecuted...I know that. 

“But this my logic; all the groups troubling 

Nigeria are Islamic groups in different names 

and I have spoken to Islamic leaders...that if 

your children are killing you, that must be the 

way you brought them up. It’s about upbringing. 

If your children are killing you, let them 

limit their foolishness to you. They must not 

extend it to your neighbor, because your neighbor’s 

child is not troubling you. 

“They have crossed the red line by going to 

your neighbor to trouble him. A Yoruba adage 

has it that ‘if you give birth to a recalsitrant, 

you will back that child’ because nobody 

will back the child for you. 

“Your children are persecuting us, they have 

no right to cross the line to trouble us. We sympathize 

with you that the children you brought 

to this world are troubling you, but they must 

not get to us because that is unnecessary provocation. 

“This is my position especially those of you 

who are security experts, they came up with 

the plan to plant the Quran in the Atlantic 

Ocean....though they have not succeeded in 

that enterprise. They can not deny that when 

their children are killing people they quote 

the Quran and some Arabic words and you 

saying they are not Muslims. 

“Are they Christians? So, if they are killing 

us on the basis of their religion, it’s 

persecution...even if it’s only one Christian they 

kill. The international community that should 

have acted before now they didn’t. They ran to 

Syria where the number of persons killed is 

not as much as the number of victims in Nigeria. 

You ran to Iraq and Afghanistan, are Nigerians 

less human than these people? I have 

cried to them several times. 

“Why should deaths be happening everyday 

and the International media are not reporting 

it and you are not concerned. That is hypocrisy! 

If the international community has 

risen up for us, what is happening now would 

have been stopped long ago,” the CAN helmsman 

noted. 

According to him, the latest seeming intervention 

by the Federal Government is as a 

result of our cries, but I don’t know the mentality 

of some Christians who will think that 

they know what’s happening more than those 

of us who are leading the pack. I don’t know 

what informs that. If you cannot help us keep 

your mouth shot. Stop all the foolish comments 

that will discourage some of us who 

are trying to avert the danger. The situation of 

Christians can be likened to that man who is 

*Ituah Ighodalo is 

the Senior Pastor, 

Trinity House, Trinity 

Avenue, Off Ligali 

Ayorinde Street, 

Victoria Island, 

Lagos. 

+234-808-895-6162 

info@trinityhouseng.org 

Living the will of God 

And he went a little further, and fell on his 

face, and prayed, saying, “O my Father, if it 

be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless 

not as I will, but as thou wilt.” 

Matthew 26: 39 KJV 

Bible passage: Matthew 26: 36 – 42 

Gethsemane means a place of pressure. 

Pressure does not necessarily have to 

be a bad thing; sometimes pressure is 

good because it brings out the best in us. Pressure 

shows what we can take and in some people, 

it brings about the capacity to think creatively 

on our foot. When we are put under 

pressure by the challenges of life it brings to 

fore the growth level we are at. 

Jesus Christ came to earth to do the will of 

God and was under pressure to succeed. He 

took His disciples with Him to Gethsemane for 

them to pray with Him, help and encourage 

Him. What is most important here is that Jesus 

Christ fell on His face and said, “if it be possi- 

imprisoned but wouldn’t know who is fighting 

for his freedom. 

“Beloved, we don’t hate this government but 

want this government to rise up to its responsibility. 

The entire commonwealth of the nation 

is the hands of the government so they 

have the duty to make sure there is security. 

For me, I will not keep quite until there is all 

round security in the country,” he said pledging 

that he will table a motion before the next 

CAN executive council to set aside one Sunday 

in a year as Bible Society week where all 

collections for the day would be plowed to 

BSN. 

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu commended the Bible Society for 

the annual lecture/award ceremony and was 

particularly delighted that it has always chose 

topics that address current and relevant issues 

that are not necessarily faith based but of 

national importance. 

Represented by Rev. Bukola Adeleke, the 

governor said this year’s topic could not have 

come at a better time than this, noting that “it 

will be an understatement to say that communal 

conflicts and terrorism constitute a major 

clog to socio-economic development of the 

nation. We are all witnesses to the devastating 

effect of terrorism particularly in the north 

eastern part of Nigeria. As a result of the activities 

of Boko Haram, many lives have been 

lost and properties have been destroyed while 

millions of persons including children have 

been rendered homeless. 

“Our nation has been ranked as one of the 

busy nations of the world with the highest population 

of IDPS and out of school children. In 

the same vein, a good amount of resources 

which could have expended on the provision 

of social and infrastructure are now being 

used to prosecute the war on terrorism. 

“As patriotic citizens we all have a role to 

play in terms of supporting the government 

especially officers and men of the Armed Forces, 

a number of who have lost their lives in the 

war front. As we all know communal crises 

and terrorism create unfavorable climate 

which is not conducive for investment drive,” 

the Lagos governor posited. 

According to him, “peace is a universal phenomenon 

that everyone desires and wish to 

enjoy endlessly. Wherever and whenever there 

is peace there tends to be development and 

longevity. To this end Christianity which is one 

of the predominant religions in the world 

teaches peace and encourages all adherents 

to the faith to pursue peace and live peacefully 

with one another. 

“It’s therefore incumbent on us as children 

of God to always seek peace and encourage 

peaceful resolution of conflicts before it degenerates 

to loss of life and loss of property. 

On our part as government we are committed 

to ensure that Lagos State remains peaceful 

and conducive for everyone including investors. 

Security of lives and property remains 

topmost priority agenda of my administration. 

We will continue to give necessary support 

to security agencies and will enhance 

their capacity to ensure that Lagos State is 

conducive for law abiding citizens,” Gov. Sanwo-Olu 

pledged. 

Besides Rev. Ayokunle, Engineer Joseph Olaleye 

Duntoye and the chairman of GTBank 

Plc, Mrs. Osaretin Demuren were also honoured. 

ble that the cup pass him by but 

not as I will but as you will Matthew 

26: 39”. What this tells us 

is that what we do each day 

must be the will of God for our 

life. 

We may have the opportunity 

to do other things or do things 

in other ways that may result 

in fame, greatness, and a lot 

more but these ways may not 

be the will of God. It is important 

that our ways follow the will 

of God. 

We must find out the will of God for 

our lives and the truth is this will is 

not hidden from us. The will of God 

for us is made visible in His words to 

us in the bible. The will of God is not 

pleasant all the way, because it is 

God’s will does not mean breakthrough 

all the way. Sometimes there 

is break down as well. The bible says, 

“He that endureth to the end will be 

saved. Matthew 24: 13”, so the most 

important is enduring to the end and 

standing firm in doing the will of God 

irrespective of whatever comes our 

way. 

If you believe that where you are is 

the place to live under the will of God, 

then do His will in that place. If not, 

it is important that we make our way 

back to God. It may not be pleasant at 

the start but at the end of life it will 

end well. At the end of the life here 

on earth we would be assured of eternity.

PAGE 38 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 

The Wonder of turning Bitter to 

Better Life (2) 

By William Kumuyi 

Yet, God is giving us a 

promise of a greater tomorrow 

that man cannot 

equate and equalize and as 

you follow through in meeting 

His demands, His infallible 

promise will change 

that bitter situation in your 

life, family, and community 

for the best in Jesus name. 

Let me put you in the know. 

A time of great change has 

come and God is ready to turn 

your bad ill-fated situation 

around into breakthrough 

because the supernatural 

manifestation of the divine 

plan of God for your life is 

bound to take place. It will 

happen in Jesus name! 

God is going to turn your 

bitter sorrowful moment of 

lamentation to better sweetened 

moment of laughter 

when you rely in His supernatural 

ability to deliver you 

in your hopeless state. 

Before the final Amen, you 

will realize something because 

power will change 

hand and the anointing from 

heaven will drive away every 

bitter thing out of your life, 

and your life will become 

better from tonight in Jesus 

name! 

In order for you to move 

from the bitter life into a better 

life, you have to follow the 

right principle. 

Ezekiel 18:23 "Have I any 

pleasure at all that the wicked 

should die? saith the Lord 

GOD: and not that he should 

return from his ways, and 

Pulling down of Satanic 

strongholds (1) 

IN view of need for the believer to realize, in personal life, 

the victories that have been roundly won by the Redemption 

of Jesus Christ through His death on the Cross, we must 

learn to take on the adversary in the domain where he is now 

entrenched. The complete defeat of Satan at the Cross is not in 

question because – "He (Jesus) stripped all the spiritual tyrants 

in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched 

them naked through the streets." Colossians 2:15. 

However, the vestiges of satanic rebellion and oppressions 

still hold sway over the life of the believer, whose mind has not 

been enlightened. This condition greatly militates against the 

redemptive grace of God in our lives and tends to negate it. The 

prayer of the apostle Paul for the Church, gives credence to this 

fact - "I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. 

Then you will know the hope that he has chosen us to have. You 

will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people* 

are rich and glorious." Ephesians 1:18. 

The reason behind this is because Satan, as a strategist and 

an intelligent being, has found in the human nature a freely 

given faculty which he can manipulate to his advantage – the 

human mind. Your mind is the most potent force that you possess. 

Just consider all that we have achieved as humans in 

terms of science and technology, in the arts and human social 

ingenuity. 

All these are traceable to the power of the human mind. It has 

been said that anything that the human mind can conceive 

man can achieve, and God attests to this – "And the Lord said, 

Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and 

this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from 

them, which they have imagined (conceived) to do." Genesis 

11:6. 

This human arsenal in the hands of Satan, is deadly and 

destructive both to the individual and humanity. On the other 

hand, can you imagine the glorious and beautiful impact that 

a redeemed and spiritually renewed mind would have upon 

your life and humanity, only because it has been freely and 

fully handed over to God. 

Your mind is the very centre of your consciousness, it is that 

very factor that makes you aware of yourself and environment, 

it is that human instrument that enables you to generate the 

forces to choose and act in line with your choices and decisions. 

This is the faculty that identifies you as a person and 

defines your attitudes, interests, behavioural patterns and a 

whole lot more, concerning your personality. 

Your mindset defines you – "For as he thinks in his heart, so is 

he...." Proverbs 23:7. It is instructive to learn that God respects 

and acquiesces to the position adopted by us through this powerful 

faculty, He said: "Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly 

bring calamity on this people — The fruit of their thoughts,...." 

Jeremiah 6:19. 

*To be continued. 

Pastor Kumuyi 

will attract the judgment to 

God to all those who commit 

it. That is why God wants you 

to repent and turn away from 

the life of wickedness so that 

sin will not become your ruin. 

This is because sin and bitter 

experiences of life are intertwined 

and connected. 

Ezekiel 18:30 "...Repent, and 

turn yourselves from all your 

transgressions; so iniquity 

shall not be your ruin." 

Better life is in Jesus and if I 

were you, I will take my chances 

with the Creator who knows 

the antidotes for your wellness, 

especially now that things are 

working the way they are in a 

society ruled by unfulfilled political 

pledges. 

You can come to Jesus by 

casting away that life of sin 

society and Satan want you to 

exhibit to your detriment. 

Ezekiel 18:31 "Cast away 

from you all your transgressions, 

whereby ye have transgressed; 

and make you a new 

heart and a new spirit: for why 

will ye die, O house of Israel?" 

Bundle together all those evil 

actions and utterances that 

have made you to transgress 

the word and commandments 

of God and cast them away 

from your life. 

To be continued 

Rev. Emmanuel Awazie 

*Assemblies of God Church 

Nigeria, 111 Clegg Street, 

Surulere, Lagos. 

live?" 

Sin is 

the architect 

of 

misdemeanour, 

and ultimately 

it 

Faith in the Redemptive names of God (32) 

Jehovah-Kanna (The Lord 

Who is jealous) 

Text: Exodus 20:5 

INTRODUCTION 

EXODUS 20:4-6 (NLT) 

You must not make for 

yourself an idol of any kind or 

an image of anything in the 

heavens or on the earth or in 

the sea. You must not bow 

down to them or worship 

them, for I, the Lord your God, 

am a jealous God who will not 

tolerate your affection for any 

other gods. I lay the sins of the 

parents upon their children; 

the entire family is affected 

even children in the third and 

fourth generations of those 

who reject me. But I lavish 

unfailing love for a thousand 

generations on those who love 

me and obey my commands. 

Exodus 34:13-14 (NLT) Instead, 

you must break down 

their pagan altars, smash their 

sacred pillars, and cut down 

their Asherah poles. You must 

• J.K. Akinola. (Senior Pastor) 

worship no other gods, for the 

Lord, whose very name is Jealous, 

is a God who is jealous 

about his relationship with 

you. 

Deuteronomy 4:23-24 (NLT) 

So be careful not to break the 

covenant the Lord your God 

has made with you. Do not 

make idols of any shape or 

form, for the Lord your God 

has forbidden this. The Lord 

your God is a devouring fire; 

he is a jealous God. 

Isaiah 48:10-12 (NLT) I 

have refined you, but not as silver 

is refined. Rather, I have 

refined you in the furnace of 

suffering. I will rescue you for 

my sake, yes, for my own sake! 

I will not let my reputation be 

tarnished, and I will not share 

my glory with idols! Listen to 

me, O family of Jacob, Israel 

my chosen one! I alone am 

God, the First and the Last. 

EL-KANNA: JEALOUS 

When defining the word jealous, 

we often think of words 

like envy, resentment or rivalry. 

But it also means vigilantly 

guarding something, intolerant 

of unfaithfulness, or righteous 

zeal. The name El-Kanna 

expresses God’s desire to 

be first in our hearts and lives. 

He desires for us to vigilantly 

guard our relationship with 

Him and to remain faithful to 

Him as He zealously pursues 

us! El-Kanna alone is worthy 

of ALL our devotion and 

praise; of being number one. 

He is jealous for us because 

He made us, loves us, and 

wants us for His own! It also 

suggests that God looks at us 

with love and attention, as a 

faithful and passionate bridegroom 

looks after his bride. 

IMPLICATIONS FOR 

OUR DEVOTION TO GOD 

The first four of the Ten 

Commandments talk about 

our duty to God. The first 

command refers only to the 

subject of worship, JEHO- 

VAH. It is forbidden here to 

worship any creature, but the 

command goes beyond that. 

It is forbidden to love, desire, 

delight or expect something 

good from any sinful complacency. 

Whatever you do, do all 

to the glory of God. If you are 

a believer, the Lord is jealous 

of your love. He cannot stand 

that something else takes the 

first place in our lives. 

J.K. Akinola. (Senior Pastor) 

The Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), 

Living Word Cathedral, Oluyole Estate, beside Total Petrol 

Station, off Ring Road, Ibadan. (Telephone: 08033376660, 

08055405095) 

Whom shall He make to understand doctrine? 

ESUS said in Matthew 

J13:11: “Because it is given 

to you to know the mysteries 

of the kingdom of heaven, 

but to them it is not given.” 

The mysteries of the kingdom 

of heaven are the hidden truths 

in the scriptures or the hidden 

doctrines of Christ which are 

of God, the Father. John 7:16 

says: “Jesus answered them, 

and said, My doctrine is not 

mine, but His that sent me.” 

Unfortunately only a few 

righteous nation are given to 

know these hidden truths or 

these hidden doctrines in the 

scriptures. And Jesus said 

many righteous men and 

many prophets of God have 

desired to see and to hear these 

hidden doctrines but have not 

seen them, neither have they 

heard about them. (Matthew 

13:17). 

As written in John 1:17, 

grace and truth came by Jesus 

Christ. Even though, grace 

brought salvation to all men, 

yet the righteous nation, who 

are saved by this grace, must, 

as written in I Timothy 2:4, 

come to the knowledge of these 

hidden truths, which will teach 

them to deny all ungodliness 

and worldly lusts, and how 

they will live their lives in this 

I am enough in the more than enough God, says Mama Oritsejafor 

By Sam Eyoboka 

THE delectable wife of the 

immediate past National 

President of the Christian 

Association of Nigeria, CAN, 

Pastor (Mrs.) Helen Oritsejafor 

has declared that God 

has the capacity to do the irreversible 

in the lives of all those 

who believe and whatever He 

had done before He can do 

all over again. 

Speaking on a topic titled; 

“The power of knowing! I am 

enough in the More Than 

Enough God!” with inspiration 

from the Bible book, II 

Kings 4:1-7 during a service 

at the Word of Life Bible 

Church, Warri in Delta State, 

the martriach of the Church 

the beauty of God is that, 

“whatever He did yesterday, 

He can still do it again! What 

makes God God, is the fact 

that, He does what no man 

can do.” 

Breaking down every syllable 

of the topic, the preacher 

popularly known as Mama 

Helen averred that “power is 

the ability to know. When you 

have a knowledge about 

something, you are well prepared 

and you possess. 

Enough simply means to have 

in abundance, to have in sufficiency, 

it's a determiner that 

makes you to have what you 

are looking for.” 

present world, as written in 

Titus 2:11-12: “For the grace 

of God that bringeth salvation, 

hath appeared to all men, 

teaching us that denying ungodliness 

and worldly lusts, 

we should live soberly, righteously 

and godly, in this 

present world.” 

It is true we are saved by 

grace, but we cannot continue 

in sin that grace may 

abound. God forbid. (Romans 

6:1). 

Isaiah 28:7 says: “But they, 

(righteous men) have erred 

through wine, and through 

strong drink, are out of the way 

(the narrow way); the priest 

and the prophet (men of God) 

have erred through strong 

drink, they are swallowed up 

of wine (wine of the fornication 

of the great whore); they 

are out of the way through 

strong drink; they err in vision, 

they stumble in judgment.” 

This wine or strong drink of 

this great whore, also known 

as Mother of harlots in Revelation 

17:5, has made many 

righteous men and many men 

of God, who are supposed to 

be soldiers of Christ, to go out 

of the way, by getting them 

entangled in the affairs of this 

life, especially in politicking, 

Pastor Helen Oritsejafor 

Continuing with the narration 

of the widow’s pot of oil, 

she maintained that there are 

two things responsible for the 

debtor coming after the wife 

of the dead man; saying he 

didn't know God enough, 

stressing “In order for the tragedy 

of life not to hold you 

down, you must know God in 

total because you can't tap 

from what you don't know. 

“He (the debtor) has no 

knowledge of himself. He was 

once a pastor and had nothing 

to show because he doesn't 

know who he is in God. Never 

put on a dress or drive a car 

because you want to burst 

yourself esteem or impress 

people, feeling that you are not 

enough. Never allow any man 

make you feel that you are not 

enough. 

“Husband, wife, children, at 

place of work you are more 

contrary to II Timothy 2:4. 

Through this wine, they have 

become adulterers and adulteresses 

and enemies of God, 

having gone out of the way into 

friendship with the world. 

(James 4:4). 

This wine has made many 

men of God to err in vision and 

to stumble in judgment, hence 

in their ignorance of the truth, 

they preach strange doctrines, 

like “Christmas” being the celebration 

of the birth of Jesus 

and “Easter” being the celebration 

of the risen Christ. This 

is the preaching of another 

Jesus. “Christmas” “Easter” 

Valentine etc. are idolatrous 

festivities, and they are some 

of the doctrines of the Great 

whore, who sits upon many 

waters, which symbolize the 

peoples, the multitudes, nations 

and tongues, who have 

become drunken with the 

wine of her fornication. (Revelation 

17:1,15). 

CHRISTIAN GOSPEL CHURCH 

(The Truth Centre) 4, Christian Gospel Avenue, 

Beside Psychiatric Hospital, 

Uselu, Benin City, Edo State. 

Email: cgc.com.ng@gmail.com 

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

Website: www.cgc.com.ng 

The celebration of birthdays, 

is another doctrine of 

this Great whore, and the cakes 

made in celebration of these 

ceremonies, are to this Great 

whore, also known as the 

queen of heaven, in Jeremiah 

7:18. This provokes God to 

anger. King Pharaoh and 

king Herod were heathen 

kings, who celebrated birthdays, 

as recorded in Genesis 

40:20-22; Mark 6:24-28. Two 

people were killed during 

their celebrations, a proof that 

it is not of God but of the devil. 

Now, whom shall the Lord 

teach knowledge of the mysteries 

of this kingdom of 

Heaven and whom shall He 

make to understand these hidden 

doctrines of Christ? They 

are the righteous nation, who 

are weaned from milk of the 

word of God, and who are 

drawn from the breasts of 

Mother of harlots. (Isaiah 

28:9). 

than enough. The only reason 

that will make a man marry 

another woman, is because he 

feels that his wife is not enough. 

He feels so, because he too is 

not enough! 

“The only way you feel that 

putting on a dress makes you 

feel enough, is because you feel 

within yourself that you are not 

enough. Whether you are fat, 

thin, short, tall, fair or dark you 

are more than enough. Don't 

allow what you are putting on 

wear you, wear what you are 

wearing! Cherish or be proud 

of who you are and what you 

have!” she further counseled. 

According to Mama Helen, 

“when you know that you are 

enough, you experience the 

following: Peace of mind: 

Don't try to dance to people 

tone; you won't struggle to be 

someone else, you can only be 

comfortable in who you are; 

you will always follow your 

purpose and achieve it and 

don't get distracted.” 

Reeling out more nuggets of 

a contented life, she said: “You 

will stop being envious of others. 

Envy means being angry 

of what someone have that you 

don't have. Celebrate yourself 

in whatever level you are. You 

will be comfortable in your 

scale. You will use what you 

have to get what you need. 

“Continue to Improve yourself, 

knowing that the purpose 

of life is to discover your gifting 

and use it to affect your 

world. You might be identical 

twins but you aren't the same. 

“You must acknowledge 

that the most important thing 

in life is to use your gifts to 

serve your world. You will live 

a grateful life and not trying 

to be like someone else or impress 

people,” she said, stressing 

that when you appreciate 

what you have, it will appreciate 

in value. “Let's begin to 

appreciate our wives, husbands, 

children, friends, 

Church family, people around 

us, job. Whatever gifts God has 

put in our lives, always be appreciative 

and say, Lord, 

Thank you for making me 

who I am.” 

Instead of lamenting, she 

urged her listeners to always 

make some declarations thus: 

“In this year 2020, you will be 

sufficient, He will turn your 

small-ness to become big. You 

are a enough in the more than 

enough God. 

“Whatever it is that you don't 

have before, I see it coming 

your way. May the Lord supply 

all your needs according 

to His riches in heaven. May 

it not be your portion that you 

serve God and you have nothing 

to show forth. As you use 

what you have, it will multiply 

in your hands!” she proclaimed 

and the people resounded 

A-M-E-N like thunder.


Aman asked his rich 

father for money to 

buy a car. The father 

wrote him a cheque and he 

bought a Jeep. Later he went 

to his father and asked him 

for money to buy a house. 

The father wrote him another 

cheque and he bought a 

beautiful mansion in an exclusive 

neighbourhood. 

Then the son came back 

again to his father with the 

request for a rose garden in 

the back of the house he 

bought. The father brought 

out his cheque book again 

and asked him how much the 

garden would cost. But he 

told his father this one is not a 

matter of cash. This one requires 

his father to come and 

work with him in planting the 

garden. 

Therefore, the father came 

every day to work in his son’s 

garden. After 3½ years of 

hard labour, he said to his son: 

“It is finished.” He then left 

and went back home. 

Indescribable gift 

What was the most expensive 

gift that the father gave 

his son? Was it the Jeep, the 

mansion, or the rose garden? 

The rose garden was clearly 

the most expensive for the 

simple reason that it required 

the father to give of himself. 

For the Jeep and the mansion, 

all the Father had to do 

was write two cheques. But 

for the rose garden, he had to 

labour. He could not just hire 

a gardener because his expertise 

was what was required. 

The father had to come 

down and work in the garden 

It is the project of God 

JOHN 15:16 says: 

“Ye have not chosen 

me, but I have chosen 

you, and ordained you, 

that ye should go and bring 

forth fruit, and that your 

fruit should remain: that 

whatsoever ye shall ask of 

the Father in my name, he 

may give it you.” 

Beloved, what we are into 

as Christians is the project 

of God for we are chosen to 

do is a divine project, and 

an assignment of God. Any 

Christian who doesn’t see 

the work of God in this perspective 

cannot please God 

or do the work according to 

the will of God. Such a person 

will approach everything 

about the work with 

carnality. Of course, carnal 

mind in a spiritual project 

cannot do anything to the 

glory of God and thus cannot 

please God. 

Romans 8:7-8 says, “Because 

the carnal mind is enmity 

against God: for it is 

not subject to the law of 

God, neither indeed can be. 

So then they that are in the 

flesh cannot please God.” 

So, such person or persons 

will work with contention, 

strife and will always 

work according to the dictate 

of his mind and not as 

divinely directed. His laboring 

is not because it is the 

will of God but because he 

himself and get his hands 

dirty. Writing cheques are 

simple one-off protocols. But 

planting a rose garden entailed 

3½ years of blood, 

sweat and tears. 

And so, the Lord said to me: 

“Femi, I have planted this 

garden in your mind. I want 

you to tend the garden, to 

keep it and to dress it. Every 

plant that I have not planted 

must be uprooted.” 

Thank God for 

Jesus 

The most expensive gift 

that God ever gave was his 

son Jesus Christ. The most 

taxing work that God ever 

did was the redemption of 

sinful man. 

In order to create the heavens 

and the earth, all that God 

had to do was to speak and 

they came in being. God said: 

“Let there be light,” and there 

was light. “He spoke, and it 

was done; he commanded, 

and it stood fast.” (Psalm 

33:9). 

But in order to redeem 

man, God had to do more 

than speak. In order to redeem 

man, God did not say 

let there be redemption and 

there was redemption. In order 

to redeem man, God had 

to empty himself. He had to 

Thanks Living(2) 

Everything that is of 

Christ is, of necessity, 

anathema to the world 

make himself of no reputation. He 

had to take on the form of a servant. 

He had to come down to the 

earth in the likeness of men. As a 

man, he had to humble himself 

and become obedient to the point 

of death; even the death of the 

cross. In order to perfect the redemption 

of man, “(Jesus) was 

wounded for our transgressions, 

he was bruised for our iniquities: 

the chastisement of our peace 

was upon him; and with his stripes 

we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5). 

Our redemption required God 

to work like as at no other time. It 

required God to come down and 

be made man. It required God to 

humble himself and come 

through the womb of a woman. 

It required God to crawl on the 

ground, to learn to walk and to 

talk. It required God to allow 

himself to be vilified despised and 

rejected. It required God to allow 

himself to be crucified and to resurrect 

on the third day. 

When God finished this work, 

he said: “It is finished.” He then 

went back to heaven and sat 

down. He became our Sabbath. 

sees it as means of ekking a 

living. The person will be 

proud, envious, and contentious. 

I Corinthians 3:1-3 says, 

“And I, brethren, could not 

speak unto you as unto spiritual, 

but as unto carnal, 

even as unto babes in Christ. 

I have fed you with milk, and 

not with meat: for hitherto 

ye were not able to bear it, 

neither yet now are ye able. 

For ye are yet carnal: for 

whereas there is among you 

envying, and strife, and divisions, 

are ye not carnal, 

and walk as men? For while 

one saith, I am of Paul; and 

another, I am of Apollos; are 

ye not carnal? Who then is 

Paul, and who is Apollos, 

but ministers by whom ye 

believed, even as the Lord 

gave to every man?” 

Apostle Paul was rebuking 

the Corinthians Church in 

the above context because 

of the carnality which they 

exhibited among themselves. 

The spiritual deficiency 

in the life of the 

members of the Church in 

Corinth manifested when 

they started working in divisions, 

conflict, strife, contentions 

as they made 

choice on who to align 

themselves with or not. But 

as Paul observed their 

worldly behavior which negated 

the principle of godliness, 

he rebuked and 

told them that such attitude 

was a work of carnality 

and should be abhorred. 

So, if we are to 

take into cognizance of 

such counseling, we 

must follow our Lord 

Jesus Christ and the 

apostles’ examples in 

order to fulfill His will 

and not our wills, and 

to finish His project 

and not our project so 

that our labour shall be 

rewarded at last in 

Jesus name. 

It is only when we begin 

to see or realize that 

the project which we 

are chosen to do is a 

divine project, shall we 

then do it with the fear 

of God, with all our 

hearts, righteousness 

and the determination 

to finish it. 

We should ensure 

that all that came our 

way are born again, 

growing in His grace, 

zealous for God and 

His work. We must also 

ensure that all the people 

committed into our 

hands are growing spiritually 

and living right 

and are people that will 

make rapture. And as 

we do this, we shall be 

blessed in Jesus name. 

He earned us rest. Therefore, 

when we give thanks, 

we are showing appreciation 

for the onerous 

work that God has done 

for us. 

From dessert to 

spring 

Pastor Oloruntimilehin 

Joshua Daramola 

MAN should reject what 

ever is to be rejected at 

the right time. He 

should starve himself because he 

wants to reject insult. If a man 

should eat food that came with 

insult, he does not have authority. 

If a woman should bring forth 

food in improper manner with 

biased mind the Bible say it 

should be rejected. 

Proverb 23:6-8 says: “Do not 

eat the food of the stingy man, do 

not crave his delicacies, for he is 

kind of man who is always thinking 

about the cost. Eat and drink, 

he says to you but his heart is not 

with you…” 

It does not mean the man 

should quarrel with the woman 

but utter one or two statements: 

“Is this food for me?” She might 

be raking and shouting but do 

not eat the food. If the man eats 

the food he has eaten an abomination. 

But if the woman is good 

she would come to her husband 

and beg. She would do the proper 

thing even if she used her mon- 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

arri Diocese of the Church 

Wof Nigeria (Anglican 

Communion) celebrated its 40th 

anniversary with gratitude to 

God while honouring about 26 

parishioners with knighthood. 

Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. 

Christian Ide who spoke at the 

closing ceremony of the celebration 

at the St Andrews Cathedral, 

Warri, Delta State urged Christians 

to remain faithful in their 

service to God, adding that the 

Warri Diocese which was established 

in January 1980 had given 

birth to Ughelli, Oleh, Western 

Izon and Sapele dioceses. 

According to him, the Warri 

Naomi went away to 

Moab full: but she came 

back empty. She went to 

Moab with a husband 

and two sons. She came 

back to Bethlehem without 

a husband and without 

any son. All three had 

died in Moab. 

When she returned from 

Moab, there was a 

thanksgiving service in 

her church. But what 

kind of thanksgiving can 

one expect from Naomi 

given all the deaths in her 

family? Naomi was not 

thankful but bitter. 

She said to her friends 

and relations: “Do not 

call me Naomi; call me 

Mara, for the Almighty 

has dealt very bitterly 

with me. I went out full, 

and the LORD has 

brought me home again 

empty. Why do you call 

me Naomi, since the 

LORD has testified 

against me, and the Almighty 

has afflicted me?” 

(Ruth 1:20-21). 

But can Naomi turn her dessert 

into a spring? The psalmist 

says to God: “Blessed is the 

man whose strength is in you, 

whose heart is set on pilgrimage. 

As they pass through the 

Valley of Baca, they make it a 

spring; the rain also covers it 

with pools. They go from 

strength to strength; each one 

appears before God in Zion.” 

(Psalm 84:5-7). 

Matthew Henry, the famous 

bible scholar, was once accosted 

by thieves and robbed of his 

wallet. Nevertheless, he wrote 

these words of thanksgiving to 

God in his diary: “Let me be 

thankful first, because I was 

never robbed before; second, 

because, although they took 

my purse, they did not take my 

life; third, because, although 

they took my all, it was not 

much; and fourth, because it 

was I who was robbed, not I 

who robbed.” 

The Christian 

difference 

The cross of Jesus Christ 

crucifies us from the world, 

and it crucifies the world from 

us. (Galatians 6:14). Therefore, 

everything that is of 

Christ is, of necessity, anathema 

to the world. So, when a 

believer gives thanks should 

be fundamentally different 

from when an unbeliever 

gives thanks. 

Unbelievers give thanks 

when their wine and corn increase. 

They give thanks 

when they receive something, 

or when something is 

added to them. They give 

thanks when they celebrate 

one more year on earth 

away from God. 

But believers do not conform 

to this world but are 

transformed by the renewing 

of our mind, that we may 

prove what is that good and 

acceptable and perfect will 

of God. (Romans 12:2). 

Accordingly, Paul enjoins 

us saying: “In everything 

give thanks: for this is the 

will of God in Christ Jesus 

concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 

5:18). Certainly, 

unbelievers don’t give 

thanks in everything. They 

don’t thank God in afflictions, 

in tribulations or in 

persecutions. But believers 

do because we have understanding. 

We recognise that 

God uses everything for the 

perfecting of the saints. 

For this reason, we don’t 

curse God and die in adversity, 

as Mrs Job prescribes. 

(Job 2:9). Instead, we do all 

things without murmuring 

and complaining. (Philippians 

2:14). We do this knowing 

that in all things and at 

all times the grace of God is 

sufficient for us and God’s 

strength is made perfect in 

weakness. 

We know that God creates 

good out of evil: “We know 

that all things work together 

for good to them that love 

God, to them who are the 

called according to his purpose.” 

(Romans 8:28). 

Upholding your dignity and respect 

as a man (2) 

ey to prepare the food; she 

would realize that her husband 

has authority. 

A man without authority 

would eat the food claiming 

that he owns the money used 

and would not want his money 

to be wasted. When your wife 

is bringing forth food with a 

frown do not eat the food. If 

she winks her face, do not eat 

the food but be calm. Do not 

fight but insist not to eat the 

food. 

By the action of the man, the 

wife would realize that her 

husband is a man of authority. 

She would learn to behave 

properly and wisely. She would 

let her friends know that her 

husband is a man of authority 

and does not tolerate nonsense 

from any woman. 

A man of authority would 

command his rich and noble 

wife and regardless of her 

money. A lot of women have 

stumbled and fall because of 

their pride that they are rich. 

They forget that it was the creator 

of their husbands that 

made them rich while they 

were with their husbands. 

Therefore I implore wives 

that are blessed to be careful 

and avoid unnecessary pride 

to come over them because 

they would suffer if they leave 

their husbands. Be absolutely 

submissive to your husbands. 

A man of dignity must uphold 

his dignity and respect 

himself. Women are very 

fragile. If you do not know 

how to handle them then 

your prayers would encounter 

obstacles. I Peter 3:7 

says: “Husbands, in the 

same way be considerate as 

you live with your wives, and 

treat them with respect as 

the weaker partner and as 

heirs with you of the gracious 

gift of life, so that nothing 

will hinder your 

prayers”. 

Men should not be callous 

to their wives. Do not beat 

your wives because you own 

her and authority. A man 

that beats his wife is a useless 

man. A man or a woman 

that always realizes his 

or her wrong doings and accepts 

correction both are 

good. 

Finally I implore every 

man to endeavour to have 

authority and be wise in 

dealing with issues with their 

wives particularly and people 

in general. 

Warri Anglican Church at 40, honours members 

diocese had remained committed 

to its mandate of 

spreading the light of the gospel 

to the dark places, but appealed 

to the government and 

public spirited individuals for 

the diocese to continue to continue 

with its lofty projects. 

Continuing, Bishop Ide said 

the Diocese would need a cancer 

radiation therapy machine 

for its St Andrew’s hospital, 

pointing out that it would also 

need support to renovate the 

Anglican Grammar School, 

Okpara Waterside and expand 

its five-hectare farm at Okulobe, 

Orerokpe local government 

area. 

Delta State governor, Senator 

Ifeanyi Okowa unveiled 

a book, Warri Diocese at 40 

alongside the Speaker of the 

state House of Assembly, 

Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, 

other bishops present and 

other leaders. 

Meantime, 26 parishioners 

in the Diocese were 

knighted at one of the events 

of the anniversary. They include 

Sirs and Ladies Jimitota 

Onoyume, Ovie Abenabe, 

Forae Ovie Felix, Iwuoha 

Jonas, Onovwie Rowland, 

Okode Ekpokpobe 

Isaac, Francis Osogolo, Elijah 

Temile, Anigboro Endurance, 

among others.

PAGE 40 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 

PASTOR PROMISE NNADIASO 

WISDOM OF GOD'S WORD 

EVANGELICAL MINISTRY INT'L 

Area 2, Plot 4, Road 202 New Haven Estate, 

Igbihadun off Victory Estate by Summit Road, 

Iyana-School Bus Stop, Iba, Lagos. 

:08028975996,08039248562 

Lack of knowledge of the 

benefit of Christ 

TEXT: 

S 

ROM- 14:1-14 - 

o many people in 

church today are hyp 

ocrite, and the word 

“hypocrite” means the mask 

one. It means something or 

someone that the face is not 

real. 

1. Jesus lives in the word and 

he works on the word, his 

apartment is in the word and 

until a believer lives and 

works on the word such a believer 

will have no direction. 

2. Everybody on earth is 

searching for knowledge. The 

genuine people are busy looking 

for the word, I was in a 

revelation this morning and 

I saw a mad man where people 

dump waste bin, then 

while the mad man was picking 

all kinds of dirt he saw 

bread hanging a little bit high 

just close to the waste bin, immediately 

he saw the bread, 

he quickly left all he was doing 

and jump up to grab the 

bread and he quickly tore off 

the nylon and took the bread 

to eat which is the bread of 

life which also is the word of 

God. Without knowledge we 

can never stand sure. Rom. 

14:1-14. This chapter was 

written to the Romans as a 

result of conflict in the body 

of Christ in Rome. When Paul 

brought the gospel of Jesus 

to them, they received it but 

they were still practicing 

some beliefs. Such beliefs as 

what we hear today that dog 

meat, pig, snake and other 

meats are unclean arid Apostle 

Paul wrote from prison to 

them that they should not 

judge one another in meat just 

because they are not eating 

it, He made them to know 

that those little things are not” 

the sin we should be looking 

at because even Jesus himself 

said that it is not what goes 

into a man that defiles the 

man but what comes out of 

the man. There are some people 

that are weak while others 

are strong in spirit. In 

Christianity we don’t count 

age, but knowledge. There are 

many things that Christ has 

abolished for us but people 

still hold on to it.I understand 

that his birth, burial and resurrection 

has offered us redemption 

and sanctification. 

Apostle Paul said that there is 

a way to treat weak people in 

Church and a way to treat 

those who are strong in the 

spirit. Last time I said that 

every action of a man is a 

product of his thought so it is 

right in your mind that the 

whole sin generate.Our heart 

is like a field that anyone-can 

come and play at anytime but 

the manager of the field is the 

one who will allow the person 

he wants to play in his 

field so you are the manager 

of your heart and you have 

the right to choose who-plays 

in your mind. Apostle Paul 

said we should follow others 

gently, with understanding 

and love and by so doing the 

person will grow. He talked 

about two categories of people 

(1) clean persons (2) unclean 

persons. These people 

can’t be detected by their facial 

looks but by the thought 

of their hearts. In the standard 

of Christ, man is not 

made up with the heart but 

man is a spirit that has the 

heart. “The inner man” but it 

lives in the reign of the man. 

(1) Unclean person - Luke 

11:39-41. Jesus said that 

these people keep everything 

on the outside clean but their 

inside is dirty. This place tells 

us about the character of people 

that filled the church and 

you need to run away from 

such people. (2) The clean 

person Rom. 14:14, 20, 23, I 

Cor. 6:12, I Titus 1:15. Paul 

said all things are lawful but 

you that is clean must not , do 

all things. Everyone that 

wants to succeed must jealously 

guard his heart. The bible 

says that evil communication 

corrupts good manners 

this is because the heart 

is easily influenced by evi- 

Uftan good. Titus 1:15. How 

can you have God almighty 

and still go to a seer or a native 

doctor to see for you. Prov. 

4:23, 23:7. 

Jesus Teaching about the 

Mind 

Mark 7:20-23. Jesus gave 

these teaching while he was 

with his disciples who were 

hungry and Because of that 

ate without first washing their 

hands, but Jesus told them 

that it is not what you eat that 

will take you to hell but your 

sin, your dirty mind. It is what 

comes out of you that kills 

you. That word lasciviousness 

means lust, James 6:5, Gen. 

8:21, Matt. 15:19, Ps. 14:1, 

53:1, 3, Jer.~17:l. Every man. 

needs a surgery in his heart 

and if it is not 

Moving from privilege to purpose (2) 

od is always purpose 

Gful! In the last edition, 

we discussed intensively on 

the supremacy of God. He is 

the only authority in the entire 

universe that finishes planning 

for a cause, a purpose, 

before He brings it to existence. 

Lesson: Though bright and 

beautiful, live-coal is a dangerous 

gift 

An earthly father, notwithstanding 

the depth of his love 

for his child, cannot grant 

him the request for a livecoal. 

That child might as well 

cry his or her eyes out in the 

process of asking for such a 

gift. But the father, knowing 

that granting the request 

would untimely burn and disfigure 

the skin of his precious 

child, would deny the request. 

It doesn’t mean the father no 

longer loves his child. 

Sometime, a father’s refusal 

to grant the tearful pleas of 

his child is a deep demonstration 

of his love for him. Every 

‘’yes’’ or ‘’no’’ respone to our 

prayers is a perfect pointer to 

our father’s willingness to 

love us, though we may not 

know it at the material time. 

If you were to have all of 

our requests granted by our 

earthly fathers, we would indeed 

die faster than God intends 

for us. And most fathers 

knowing this, say ‘’no’’ when 

necessary in order to prolong 

the lives of their offsprings! 

Likewise, every of God’s instruction 

to us – to do or to 

refrain – is indeed for our own 

good and is in line with his 

purpose for us. 

The fact that God does everything 

for a purpose can be 

explained with the creation 

story in Genesis 1 and 2. In 

that story, the earth was said 

to be void {that is empty}. So 

God had to create things to 

fill up the emptiness. In the 

The escapist theory of humans 

going to live in Heaven 

AN has had this erro 

Mneous belief of home 

in heaven after life on earth 

Nigeria in dire need of good leadership ---- Methodist Prelate 

By Olayinka 

Latona 

PRELATE of Method 

ist Church, Nigeria, 

His Eminence Samuel 

Chukwuemeka Kanu 

Uche, 67, has declared that 

Nigeria is in dire need of 

visionary and good leaders 

in all sectors, describing 

Nigerian politicians as 

rogues and thieves who 

have no other mission for 

aspiring for public office 

other than to loot the nation’s 

commonwealth. 

Prelate Uche made the 

declaration while celebrating 

his 67th birthday 

with the children of Heart 

of Gold Children's Hospice 

where he and his wife 

donated materials and 

cash to the Hospice home, 

saying that his visit aligns 

with his philosophy of life 

which does not support 

wasting money on throwing 

lavish parties while celebrating 

birthday. 

The prelate said despite 

not having abundance of 

resources, he and his wife 

chose to share from the little 

they have with the 

downtrodden and appealed 

to those in leadership 

positions to put the 

welfare of the masses first 

and not just how to enrch 

themselves. 

“My journey in life has 

not been rosy. I went 

through thick and thin. I 

witnessed the bad, good 

and the ugly. And because 

I did not have that rosy 

background, I was not fed 

with golden spoon and that 

is why I align myself with 

the downtrodden. 

“That is one of the major 

reasons I always visit 

those with down syndrome, 

motherless homes, 

aged people's homes and 

other centres where we 

have people with one challenge 

or the other. Also my 

philosophy about birthday 

is that its not for wasting 

money, dancing or funfair 

but I and my wife have decided 

that by God's grace 

we will continue to empower 

those who are in 

need and this is what we 

have been doing since we 

came on board. 

“We have been empowering 

young people, those 

who need cash for their 

businesses were also assisted. 

There are students on 

our scholarship scheme 

and some of them have 

graduated from different 

fields of learning and we 

bless God for making the 

provision for us through 

people's goodwill. 

“I appreciate God for 

preserving me for the past 

67 years. I am happy for 

the gift of life and pray 

that God will continue to 

preserve my life. I believe 

God created us to bless 

humanity and I thank God 

that He blessed me with a 

wife that understands my 

vision and she has been of 

tremendous support in my 

life journey,” he stated. 

The prelate’s birthday 

message to Nigerians: “I 

am pleading to Nigerians 

who want to assume leadership 

positions to think in 

favour of the masses and 

not about themselves or 

their families alone. The 

current happening in Imo 

State is a very sad one. 

These politicians are in 

one party, another candidate 

came in through court 

rulling and immediately 

party members started decamping. 

It shows that majority 

of these politicians 

are there to loot the treasury 

and plunder people's 

wealth and Nigeria cannot 

grow under this situation,” 

he noted. 

According to him, most 

leaders in power today 

lack idealogy, vision and 

only look for what they 

will loot, saying: “I weep 

when I remember the challenges 

we are having in 

Nigeria because the insurgency 

we are having in our 

nation today is a clamour 

of people that were neglected. 

The Biafra 

shouldn't have arisen if 

there was fair play, the recent 

Amotekun will not 

surface if there is security 

PASTOR MICHEAL NWIMOH 

Arrowseed Ministries International 

Urualla Town Hall, Onitire Road, Off 

Grandmates Road, Ago Palace Way, Okota 

Lagos. 

Pastormike297@Yahoo.com, Pstmikenwimoh@Gmail.com 

08187590731, 08023447708 

thus, like Prophet Isaiah 

said in Isaiah 1:18, “Come 

now, and let us reason together.’’ 

We invite you to 

let’s reason the following 

scripture below. 

WHAT IS EARTH? 

Is one of the planetary 

bodies that makes up the 

universe. It is the only 

known place that sustains 

life. There is a supernatural 

energy or force that designed 

it so, and He is the 

Lord God. 

God called forth founded, 

created or formed the earth 

from the waters. (Genesis 

1:2:1-7 10-15; Job 

26:7:28:5-11, Psalm 24:1- 

28; 9;11. In all of the quoted 

scriptures, earth is one. 

It is written in the singular 

tense, while heaven is in the 

form, indicating that there 

are many heavens. 

INTENTION AND PUR- 

POSE OF EARTH BY GOD 

The all wise and knowledgeable 

God formed the 

earth for man to perpetually 

live and dwell on (Genesis 

1:26-31; 2:15) He gave 

man absolute and total 

charge for earth, to create a 

type of heaven on earth. God 

Insecurity has no religion, Catholic priest tells Nigerians 

and the economy is good. 

“All the agitations you 

see today are as a result of 

bad leadership. Nigeria 

has been suffering for decades 

due to endemic, 

chronic, evil bad leadership. 

For our country to 

develop, we need a commmited 

and courageous 

leader. If the leadership is 

callous, cancerous and 

lack vision there will be 

problem. 

“Government at all levels 

should please let the 

welfare of Nigerians be 

their priority, because 

most Nigerians are suffering. 

The security challenges 

we are having today is 

metamorphosis of children 

who are roaming the 

streets neglected and begging 

and if care is not taken, 

we can experience 

something worse than 

Boko Haram,” he warned. 

By Olamide 

Ogunjimi 

Amid current insecuri 

ty across Nigeria, 

Christian and Muslim 

religious leaders have 

been urged to desist from demonising 

any religion. 

A Catholic priest of Abuja 

Catholic Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. 

Tom-Ave Omiunu, said this at 

an interfaith dialogue workshop 

organised by the King 

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International 

Centre for Interreligious 

and Intercultural 

Dialogue (KAICIID) and the 

Interfaith Youth and Peace 

Building Network of Nigeria 

in Abuja recently. 

Fr. Omiunu said: "It is individuals 

who have sown this 

seed of discord. That is why 

there is no development in 

our nation today. '' 

He also accused politicians 

of fanning the embers of insecurity 

in the country under 

the guise of religion. 

In addition, he urged the 

youths to desist from being 

tools in the hand of politicians. 

“If the youths decide that 

they will not follow these leaders, 

and will speak with one 

mind as young people, they 

will surely be part of the movement 

that will bring lasting 

peace to our country, ” Fr. 

Omiunu added. 

The priest, who insisted that 

TEACHER FRANKLIN 

Glorious Friends International Ministries 

51, Alawode Street, Kilo Bus Stop 

teacherfranklin93@gmail.com 

08068168188 

no religion preaches violence 

also asserted since Nigerians 

are very religious, the country 

should be the most peaceful 

and developed country in 

the world. 

An Islamic scholar, Faisal 

Umar, who spoke at the forum, 

also urged Nigerians to 

move beyond religious tolerance 

to religious understanding. 

He said: “When you talk of 

religious tolerance, are you 

saying if given an opportunity 

you would want to push 

away the other religions or 

you intend to respect the value 

that the other religions 

stand for?” 

same vein, there was all over 

the earth at that time an untold 

darkness; so God began 

creation with the creation of 

light to dismiss the pervading 

darkness. 

We are told in the scripture 

that “….The light shone upon 

the darkness and the darkness 

could not stand the light ….’’ 

(John 1-5). The purpose of the 

light was to fight and overcome 

the darkness. Every of 

God’s creation has its peculiar 

duty in this world. This duty or 

assignment is what we shall 

refer throughout this volume 

as The Purpose. 

When God created man, He 

handed him his purpose for 

existence – to represent God 

in administering the earth. In 

order for man to execute his 

duties, God gave him the authority 

and power over everything 

He Had created and for 

him to exercise dominion over 

every created thing without 

hindrance. (Psalms 8:3-8; 

Genesis-29) 

The redemption of man by 

God further illustrates that 

every of God’s action is purpose-driven. 

Even a casual 

study of the process of our salvation 

reveals the planned 

purposes of God which will be 

discussed in our next edition. 

God bless you. 

hadn’t an afterthought. And 

never a time did God purpose 

for man to come and 

dwell with him in his villa 

(heaven) Otherwise, all citizens 

of every nation will 

want to go stay in their president’s 

villa. (Psalm 115:14- 

16B; Isaiah 45;12A 18). The 

concluding phrase is, ‘’For 

thus says the LORD, who 

created the heaven. Who is 

God? Who formed the earth 

and made it? Who has established 

It? Who did not 

create it in vain? Who 

formed it to be inhabited? I 

am the LORD, and there is 

no other’’ (Isaiah 45:18) 

THE DESIGNING 

ROOM 

There is a designing room 

in every standard factory, 

and establishment and on 

the the door is written ‘’Out 

of bounds’’ There the Almighty 

dwell to design all 

the creation and it is exclusive 

to him and the God 

hand not other can get close. 

Here is the first heaven. 

(Genesis 2:1; Isaiah 42:5; 

45:12b-13: 18a Daniel 

4:13,17,23-26 Matthew 

11:25-27 John 1:1-4, Nehemiah 

9:6 18:3,12-13,31- 

32;6:46 

THE SECOND HEAVEN 

Genesis 1:26; Psalm 139: 

13-18; Ezekiel 28:1-15. 

This strater of heaven could 

be said to be God’s workshop 

as it were, where he 

meet with other hosts of 

heaven for fabrication, assembling 

or fitting in place 

all the parts secretly provided 

for by God. These includes 

the Pleiades, Orion's 

the seven stars or constellations 

which have direct effect 

on the earth where man 

dwells (Job 9:9;38:31:34: 

Psalm 104:20 Amos 

4;13,5:8) 

THE THIRD HEAVEN 

The sky, cloud, mood, 

stars, sun which are visible 

to earthman. These to have 

direct influence on man. 

These could be said to be the 

show room for all that have 

been designed in the secret 

and crafted for man to see 

the power and beauty of 

God. (Jeremiah 10:2, Isaiah 

26:13, Matthew 16:2-3.) 

Authority have been given 

to man to take charge of 

the second and third heaven, 

but, man has from creation 

violated and destroyed 

God’s plans for the 

earth.


Ugwuanyi and his 

legacy projects 

By Louis Amoke 

Development is at the heart of good 

governance. Hence, the renewed 

vigour, zeal and sustained pace of 

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s 

administration in delivering more 

dividends of democracy to the good 

people of Enugu State, following his reelection, 

remain awesome and tell a vivid 

story about his focused leadership style 

geared towards the wellbeing of the 

people of the state. 

Away from rhetoric and flattering 

political remarks, Gov. Ugwuanyi, 

through his actions and inactions in the 

last eight months of his second tenure, 

has proved beyond reasonable doubt that 

he is in governance to alleviate the 

sufferings of the people and impact their 

lives positively. 

Having earned the confidence of the 

electorate who overwhelmingly gave him 

their massive support to win his 

reelection with unprecedented 95.54 

percent of the votes cast, the highest in 

the history of the country, Gov. Ugwuanyi 

remains grateful to the people of Enugu 

State, reiterating his vow to continue to 

reward them with good governance as the 

true heroes of democracy. 

In fulfilling this, in spite of the nation’s 

security and economic challenges, the 

governor has taken decisive actions that 

have brought meaningful development to 

the state. His administration’s peace and 

grassroots development initiatives have 

ensured rapid transformation in the rural 

communities where the dwellers had 

hitherto been neglected and denied their 

right to enjoy democracy dividends. 

This development strategy was no 

doubt largely responsible for the 95.54 

percent votes Gov. Ugwuanyi got from the 

electorate to win the last governorship 

election. The landslide victory was indeed 

a referendum on his first term 

achievements. 

The victory became a 

motivation for the governor 

to bountifully reward the 

people with more 

dividends. Consequently, 

immediately after his 

second term inauguration, 

he constituted 12 Sectoral 

Adhoc Committees that 

reviewed all sectors of 

governance for effective 

service delivery. 

Upon inaugurating the 

State Executive Council 

(EXCO) to drive the weighty 

recommendations of the 

committees, Gov. Ugwuanyi 

charged members of his 

cabinet to hit the ground 

running as he was in a hurry 

to fully deliver on his 

promises to the people. 

Eight months down the 

line, it is worthy of note that 

Gov. Ugwuanyi’s 

administration has 

sustained the tempo of 

peace and good governance 

in the state, awarding 

multiple contracts for 

execution of more critical 

infrastructural development 

across the state, worth over 

N9 billion. 

The state government also 

approved the sum of N1.5 

billion, N244 million and 

N200 million for payments 

of required counterpart 

funds for the Universal Basic Education 

scheme for construction and renovation 

of more primary and junior secondary 

school buildings, the APPEALS 

programme for women and youths 

agricultural empowerment and the 

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for 

comprehensive basic health services for 

every eligible resident in the state, 

respectively, totaling over N1.9 billion. 

State workers 

and retirees 

have 

continued to 

receive their 

salaries and 

pensions 

regularly, 

even without 

the receipt of 

federal 

allocations 

This is in addition to the N4.9 billion 

and N100 million counterpart funds paid 

by the present administration for the 

Universal Basic Education and Universal 

Health Coverage, respectively, during its 

first tenure. 

Still on infrastructure, the projects 

awarded within the eight months period 

under review, which are ongoing with 

some concluded, include the completion 

of the Nike Lake junction - Harmony 

Estate Road - Amorji Nike - Adoration 

Pilgrimage Centre, Phase II and III, in 

Enugu East LGA, which will link Abakpa 

and Emene and serve as a critical bypass 

that will decongest traffic gridlock at 

Abakpa T-junction; the asphalting of a 

22.443km inter-community link road - the 

Neke-Mbu-Ogbodu Aba-Obollo Etiti 

road - that connects Isi-Uzo and Udenu 

LGA, under the Rural Access and 

Mobility Project II (RAMP II); 

rehabilitation of numerous internal roads 

in the University town of Nsukka and the 

flood routing/erosion control works at 

Achi Street, Independence Layout, 

Enugu. 

Others include the construction of 

access and internal road networks at Golf 

Estate Annex, located at Abor, in Udi 

LGA, which will cost the state 

government a whopping sum of N2.08 

billion; the rehabilitation of Orie 

Market-Nkwo Ida-Afor Inyi road 

junction in Igbo-Eze North LGA; the 

Agbalaenyi junction-Enugu-Onitsha 

Expressway link road at Oji River LGA; 

the Amaeze Street outflow to Enugu Road 

catchment box culvert and the New 

Anglican Road - Obechara Road junction 

in Nsukka; the Akpabio Street, GRA, 

Enugu (completed) and access/internal 

road at the old Governor’s Lodge, GRA, 

Enugu (completed). 

Others also include the beautification, 

fencing and provision of works of arts in 

major roundabouts in Enugu City as well 

as in the forest reserve adjacent to the 

Michael Okpara Square, 

Enugu, now known as 

Unity Park, to serve as a 

tourist attraction and 

centre for relaxation and 

recreation. 

Parts of the critical 

infrastructure also 

include the construction 

of the Nsukka Township 

Stadium (Phase One) in 

the University town of 

Nsukka; remodeling and 

renovation of the Abuja 

Building, Government 

House, Enugu 

(completed), to ensure 

efficient administrative 

service delivery; 

construction of fence, 

pavement, surfacing, 

landscaping and 

beautification of the 

newly constructed State 

Customary Court of 

Appeal headquarters, 

Independence Layout, 

Enugu; massive 

renovation of the State 

Judiciary Complex, 

Enugu and supply of 300 

units of bicycles to 

complement the 260 

vehicles as well as 

motorcycles purchased 

by the state government 

for Forest Guards’ 

operations in the rural 

areas, which are being 

distributed to the 260 

electoral wards in the state for effective 

security engagement. 

Also within the eight months of this 

second tenure, Gov. Ugwuanyi’s 

administration equally purchased 100 

units of Innoson patrol vans equipped 

with communication gadgets, which were 

distributed to security agencies in the 

state to aid their operations. It engaged 

•Ugwuanyi 

1,700 Forest Guards, repositioned the 

Vigilante/Neighborhood Watch groups 

and purchased 260 security vehicles for 

their operations. 

The state government recently handed 

over five newly procured Innoson Vehicle 

Manufacturing (IVM) fire-fighting trucks 

to the state fire service, for the five newly 

constructed fire service stations across the 

three senatorial districts of the state, to 

enhance their efficiency and effective 

response to emergencies. Further, the 

deployment of automated drones for 

surveillance is underway. 

Other legacy projects commenced 

during the last lap of the first term, such 

as the State Secretariat Annex in 

Nsukka, the 10-unit Guest Houses, 14 

new Court Buildings and Open Registries 

in the Judicial Divisions and Magisterial 

Districts across the state, 34 Customary 

Courts, two per local government area, 

and the first ever Enugu State Customary 

Court of Appeal Headquarters complex 

as well as the Court of Appeal Annex in 

Enugu, etc, are nearing completion. 

These great feats are in line with the 

state government’s urban renewal drive, 

rural development policy and 

transformation agenda in the State 

Judiciary, which the governor has 

pursued vigorously to give every citizen 

and resident of the state a sense of 

belonging irrespective of class, political 

affiliation or religious status. 

One fundamental aspect of contract 

execution under Ugwuanyi’s 

administration is the start-to-finish 

policy, which ensures that projects are 

duly awarded and backed up with funds 

for timely completion - a scenario that has 

dissuaded the ugly experience of 

abandoned projects in the state. 

Only recently, the state government 

approved the report of the joint 

committee for the negotiation of 

consequential adjustment for payment of 

N30,000 Minimum Wage for state civil 

servants, which according to the 

Commissioner for Finance and Economic 

Development, Mrs. Adaonah Kene- 

Uyanwune and the state leadership of 

Organized Labour, was a product of 

collective bargaining, based on the 

economic indices of the state, which the 

union leaders said they were comfortable 

with. State workers and retirees have 

continued to receive their salaries and 

pensions regularly, even without the 

receipt of federal allocations. 

Going by the highlights of the key 

deliverables of the 2020 capital budget, 

the state government, among other legacy 

projects, proposes to construct the first 

Enugu Underpass/Flyover at Nike Lake 

Resort/Nike Road T-junction, Enugu; 

construct and reconstruct more urban and 

rural roads; establish small and medium 

scale industries in the 17 LGAs; construct 

the Adada Campus of Enugu State 

University of Science and Technology 

(ESUT) Nsukka; ensure the 

operationalization of the Enugu Medical 

Diagnostic Centre and full 

implementation of the Universal Health 

Coverage in the state; and complete the 

construction, landscaping and furnishing 

of the International Conference Center 

(ICC), Enugu, among others. 

From the foregoing, it is therefore 

crystal clear that Ugwuanyi’s 

administration is truly poised to reward 

Ndi Enugu with more dividends of 

democracy in keeping with his vision and 

in appreciation of their love, goodwill, 

solidarity and overwhelming support all 

this while. Enugu State is truly in the 

hands of God!


Why we suspended Delta 

APC Dep. Chairman, others 

By Lucky Oji 

The Delta State All Progressives Congress, 

APC, has been in crises leading to allegations 

and counter allegations which have led to the 

suspension of some members of the state executive. 

In an interview with Sunday Vanguard, 

the Delta Central Vice Chairman of the 

party, Barr. Adelabu Ejiroghene Bodjor, speaks 

on what led to the crisis and his position on 

the issue. 

Excerpts: 

There was a call on the state 

Chairman, Prophet Jones Ode 

Erue, to step aside from his position 

for investigation by a five-man committee set 

constituted by the State Deputy Chairman on 

an allegation of gross misconduct and other 

issues raised by the State Working Committee. 

What is your take on this? 

We have only one head and the head of the 

State Working Committee, SWC, is the Chairman 

of the party in the state and he is 

Prophet Jones Ode Erue. As we all know, the 

Deputy Chairman can only act when he is delegated 

to do so, the Chairman never delegated 

responsibility to the Deputy Chairman, 

and l can tell you that all he is doing is mere 

display of political naivety. 

As you are aware, on the 18th of January, 

2020, the State Working Committee, SWC, 

under the able leadership of Prophet Jones 

Erue held a meeting in which several issues 

were discussed and at that meeting, there was 

a unanimous passing of vote of no confidence 

on the State Deputy Chairman, State Woman 

Leader, the Vice Chairman, Delta South and 

others. 

And if after having received their suspension 

letters, the suspended persons now considered 

themselves a resistance group, then, 

they are on their own, hence, and a man that 

•Bodjor 

is suspended is no longer known to law and 

has no locus standi to now say he was setting 

up a committee to probe the chairman of the 

party. 

Whether you call it State Working Committee 

or State Executive Council, SEC, nobody 

is authorized to call such a meeting at the absence 

of the party state chairman, so, it is laughable 

for the State Deputy Chairman of the 

party who, with others suspended, to come 

from nowhere to say the state party chairman 

should step aside and face five-man probe 

committee, so who will they report to on their 

findings 

You are aware of the recent case between the 

national chairman and some members of our 

party in Edo State who, under suspension, took 

the national chairman of the party to court, 

they lost, because before they went to court, 

they have been suspended, and so have no 

right, so, their action is medicine after death. 

They are suspended and they remain suspended. 

Those the Erue led exco had alleged to 

have been suspended in their last meeting 

had come up with a communiqué, describing 

their suspension by the state Chairman 

as illegal, null and void, do you subscribe to 

it? 

The party has a constitution and it takes a 

number to form a quorum to have a meeting 

of the State Working Committee. Invitation 

was extended to everybody, and as at the time 

we formed a quorum, the meeting commenced 

and decisions were taken. So nothing 

that we did at that meeting that was not in 

line with the party, so, their claim that their 

suspension is illegal is mere political exercise. 

Like some people may ask why we suspended 

the State Deputy Chairman, Mr. Elvis Ayomanor, 

State Woman Leader, Delta South 

Vice Chairman and others, was clearly on 

their resistance to attend meetings, when such 

meetings are called, rather, they are on the 

course of creating parallel executive and an 

allegation leveled against the State Deputy 

Chairman over money received on behalf of 

the party but were not remitted, which led to 

his first suspension by his party members from 

his own local government area 

There was allegation that Prophet Jones 

Erue-led exco never convened any meeting 

and has not also paid security guards and 

staff working at the state secretariat for 

about 16 months. How do you react to that? 

If any of them opened his mouth to say that 

the chairman has not called a meeting, it is 

pure fallacy. We have held several meetings 

both in Warri, Asaba and chairman’s country 

home. By virtue of his position as the chairman, 

he is very free to call meetings, anywhere, 

at any particular time, and we will all 

obliged to attend. 

He has called about three caucus meetings 

after the elections, so when people talk sometimes, 

or tell stories to make people believe 

that their actions is genuine, l begin to wonder, 

and l imagine what telling lies gives to 

them or save them from. 

How do you now react to this five-man committee 

constituted by the state Deputy Chairman 

to probe the state Chairman, on allegation 

of misappropriation of funds and other 

issues? 

A suspended man has no right to call a 

meeting, or could a man suspended say he 

wants to probe the state party chairman, that 

is to be a judge in his own case, it is not done 

anywhere, you cannot be a judge in your court. 

The Deputy Chairman that has been suspended 

put up a committee, where he is the 

head of the committee to pass judgment on 

who? It is laughable. Until the party finds the 

State Deputy Chairman and his co-travelers 

not guilty on allegations against them, they 

cannot and don’t have any right to claim to 

have powers to do. 

There is also allegations that the state 

Chairman had from 2014 till date have been 

using party leaders against each other and 

this they said has caused major setback on 

the party. What is your take on this? 

I am a foundation member of APC, l was 

member of APC before it was registered, so 

nobody can come and tell me the story of APC. 

Some of them know little or nothing about 

APC, they joined the party mid way, l can confidently 

show you documents. Because the 

state chairman does not like injustice, always 

ensuring he plays by the rules, they just come 

out and say the man is not good. 

We have seen several times after the state 

Chairman, Prophet Jones Ode Erue, has 

worked tirelessly for the party, then they 

would want to push him away not to enjoy 

what he has laboured, and that is the genesis 

of the whole issue. We will not listen to their 

lies that he has done this, he has done that 

and they should not push me to open any cankerworm 

because if it explodes they will not 

be comfortable. 

What would you say about funds that 

the party has generated either through 

purchase of party forms or other means 

that the state chairman has not accounted 

for over time 

Nobody has called for an audit and the state 

Chairman neglected or refused to give account. 

The man has his record up to date. Let 

them bring external auditors and lets see who 

shall be indicted. We have the secretary, treasurer 

and the chairman, who are privy to the 

account, or can money leave the account 

swithout these people, so you can see all they 

are saying are mere fallacy. And remember 

there is no subscription from anywhere in 

running the party, we are suppose to appreciate 

the chairman instead they are attacking 

him for no just course. 

The forms that were sold were directly paid 

to the national through bank, so what do you 

want him to account for, the money that has 

been paid into the purse of the national executive, 

it is baffling when some persons are raising 

issues that are insignificant. Would any 

one come out and say this is the person sponsoring 

the Delta State APC. 

Access Bank Lagos City Marathon 2020 in Pics 

Photos Akeem Salau and Bunmi Azeez 

From left: Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank Plc, Herbert 

Wigwe, runner-up, Debeko Dakamo from Kenya, winner, David Barmasai Tumo also from 

Kenya, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo- Olu and second runner up, Paul Waweru 

Chege from Ethiopia. 

From left Mrs Yemisi Deji-Tinubu, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State and 

Mr Tunji Bello, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment. during the presentation of 

prizes to the winners of the 2020 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon held on Satuurday in 

Lagos. 

The winner at the arrival point 

From left: Winners of the male category, 2nd Prize - Debeko Dakamo from Ethiopia; 

1st Prize - David Bamasai Tumo from Kenya and the 3rd Prize - Paul Waweru 

Chege from Kenya

Ephraim Oseji 

08023542350 

Five youths win $5,000 in ‘#StyledByInfinixS5’ 

competition 

ive Nigerian youths have won 

F$5,000 worth of wardrobe 

allowance for emerging top of the 

#StyledByInfinixS5 challenge 

organized by Infinix Mobility, 

Africa’s premium Smartphone 

Great Crush 

relationship 

magazine debuts 

B 

e Wise Professor, a relationship 

and lifestyle website, has 

launched a publication, Great 

Crush magazine. The magazine, 

according to its publishers, seeks to 

bring couples closer together, 

providing tips for healthy 

relationships and preserving the 

marriage institution. 

Published by Anambra-based Dom 

Chris Web Digital, the magazine, 

which is presently being distributed 

in the Eastern and some parts of 

Western Nigeria, seeks to serve both 

men and women with the best of 

relationships, marriage, health and 

life advice. 

The Editor-in-Chief, Mbadiegwu 

Nnamdi, said that the vision of the 

magazine is not just to be known 

nationwide but also to be the 

number one authority on 

relationship issues in the country. 

In his words, ‘’marriages today are 

under a lot of stress and most are 

known to pack up within a few 

years. That is why the magazine is 

timely, especially as it boasts of 

quality content. 

“We have designed it as a monthly 

magazine. Because of its thrust, the 

target of the magazine is young 

people in relationships, and newly 

married couples. The elderly and 

experienced are not left out as they 

can gain a thing or two from the 

rich content of the publication,” 

Nnamdi said. 

The magazine is a spinoff of the 

website, which gives out relationship 

and health tips. One of the aims of 

diversifying into a hard copy 

magazine is to reach more people’’, 

Boniface added. 

“In putting this first edition together, 

we dwelt a lot on quality, and it is 

something that we have promised 

to continue with in subsequent 

editions. All of our writers are 

experts in their respective fields and 

so the content we put out can serve 

as some form counselling for our 

readers,” he explained. 

Okowa’s aide, 

Ossai pays for 

release of inmates 

By Olamide Ogunjimi 

n aide to Governor Ifeanyi 

AOkowa of Delta State, Ossai 

Ovie Success, has paid for the release 

of two prisoners from Ogwashi-Uku 

Correctional Centre. 

Ossai, who performed the gesture 

on his birthday, said the action was 

informed by the need to assist the 

vulnerable. 

The two prisoners, whose fines were 

paid, are Ikechukwu Ala and 

Emmanuel Jonah from Ndokwa 

West Local Government Area of the 

state. 

Speaking after visiting the Centre, 

Ossai said: “Life is for the living. 

When I clocked 28 this year, I thought 

of the freedom I enjoy as a person. I 

also thought of people in prison. 

“On social media, I have been 

preaching that money is not 

happiness. Sometimes, some people 

think money is happiness. That is 

why they go into crime. But in the 

end, you find out that they are not 

really happy,” he added. 

According to the organizer, the 

winners, Kayode Joshua 

Oluwarotimi; Stephanie Oduwa 

Imarhiagbe; Aniekwe Onyinye 

Jessica; Yakndara Joseph Etim and 

Gbadamosi Mohammed Adeniran 

who were selected at the end of five 

Lagos State and perhaps, deliver 

Nigeria from the ruling government 

in 2023. 

He, however, charged the 

committee members to remain 

focused and committed to the cause, 

adding that Lagos is very important 

both to Lagosians and Nigerians at 

large. 

Speaking further Chief Nwosu 

appealed to the chairman of the 

committee to be magnanimous and 

open to work with people. But at the 

same time, should not allow anybody 

to derail his focus. 

In his words: “ We want to work with 

everybody but nobody should derail 

our focus. Our focus is that we want 

to deliver Lagos from bad 

leadership.’’ 

According to him, if quality 

leadership is put in place in Lagos, 

in the next 10 years, Lagos will 

complete with Singapore, because 

nothing is lacking in the city. 

“ We have a clueless government in 

place and we must stop them. We 

have set up the system from Lagos. 

From here now, you will be hearing 

ADC, until that mass movement is 

formed, so that we can take country 

back from them,’’ Nwosu noted. 

Speaking in the same vein, the 

chairman of the caretaker 

committee, Hon. Olayiwola 

Abisowe, said ADC is working 

towards taking over Lagos in 2023. 

According to him, the party’s 

common strategy is to mobilize 

oseji16@yahoo.com 

week competition will receive 

$1000 wardrobe allowance each 

PR Manager, Infinix Mobility 

Limited, Seyi Ajibogere, said: ‘’The 

styled by Infinix S5 challenge was 

set in motion in November last year, 

after the launch of the brilliant S5. 


FGGC Onitsha Alumni Association flags off 

Okobi Lodge 

By Okenwa Kennedy 

Onyema (Onitsha) 

he ground-breaking and 

Tfoundation-laying ceremony 

of the residential facility for the 

teaching staff of the Federal 

Government Girls College, Onitsha, 

christened Okobi Lodge in honour 

of the pioneer and longest serving 

principal of the school, the late Mrs 

Mary Okobi, was held on Tuesday, 

February 4. 

In her address, the President of the 

association, Chief (Mrs) Chioma 

Okey Agugia, called on members 

of the association to support the 

project. 

“My message to the Old Girls with 

reference to Project 40: Mary Okobi 

Lodge is that we should strive to 

continually give back to our great 

alma mater to the best of our 

ability”, she said. 

“There is so much to be done to 

upgrade the various facilities and 

amenities in the school so as to 

improve the quality of life in the 

school for the students, teaching and 

non- teaching staff. 

“It is a fact that government, at 

the federal and state levels, cannot 

bear the responsibility of providing 

all the amenities needed for a 

wholesome experience by students 

and staff. 

“This means that all relevant 

stakeholders, of which the alumni 

association is a critical component, 

must rise up to the challenge of 

ensuring that academic and living 

ADC Lagos State Chairman, Hon Olayiwola Abisoye; Mabel 

Oboh, Media and Publicity ADC; National Chairman ADC, 

Chief Ralphs Nwosu and other members during the inauguration 

A cross section members during the flag off 

standards are not only maintained 

in the school but also taken a notch 

higher. 

“I call on the entire alumni body 

in Nigeria, Africa, United Kingdom/ 

Ireland, US and Canada to support 

this laudable project and other 

projects which the association will 

be undertaking in the school 

between 2020 and 2022. 

“As alumni, we are committed to 

and live up to our project motto 

which is ‘We Can DO This, So Let’s 

Do It!!’” 

Also speaking at the occasion, 

Chief (Mrs) Jane Nnanyelugo, an 

alumnus, appealed to all the old girls 

to join hands to achieve the goal of 

completing the building “as this is 

a way of giving back to humanity 

and showing love to our 

neighbours”. 

Nnanyelugo added, “FGGC 

Onitsha made us what we are today 

and we cannot thank the school 

He added: ‘’Infinix devices are 

widely known for their fashionable 

outlook that appeals to young 

smartphone users. The brand places 

emphasis on its use of fashion 

elements to accentuate the premium 

looks of its devices and make it stand 

out amongst others. Hence, the 

challenge was centered on 

contestant’s ability to make 

outstanding fashion statement, 

capture their unique outfits through 

the eyes of their smartphone 

cameras and share with others 

across social media platforms. 

ADC promises good governance, inaugurates Lagos chapter 


& Ephraim Oseji 

he African Democratic Congress, 

TADC, National Chairman, Chief 

Ralphs Nwosu yesterday, 

inaugurated a 14-member 

caretaker committee to oversee the 

party’s affairs in its Lagos State 

chapter. 

Inaugurating the committee, 

Nwosu said the decision was taken 

following obvious need for the party 

to restrategize on how to capture 

from the grassroots and sensitize 

people of integrity with the aim to 

actualize its dream of capturing 

Lagos in 2020. 

He added that APC did not have the 

people’s mandate to be in 

government. 

Other committee members include, 

Hon. 

Olayiwola 

Abisoye(Chairman), Mr. Demola 

Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi welcoming the new Delta State 

Police Commissioner, Hafiz Inuwa to Delta State 

Oladimeji(Deputy Chairman), 

Hon. John Kome(Secretary), Hon. 

Tolu Akinwonmi(Treasurer), Dr. 

Nkemdi Mordi(Finance Secretary), 

Mabel Akomu Oboh(Media), Hon. 

Elkanem Idara, (Welfare/Social 

Secretary, Mrs. Helen 

Animashaun(Women Leader), 

among others 

RCCG Region 1 Set to hold ‘The Outpouring’ 

Olayinka Latona 

he Redeemed Christian 

Church Of God, RCCG, 

T 

Region 1 is set to hold the 2nd 

edition of her City-wide annual 

crusade known as ‘The 

Outpouring’ on Sunday, 9th 

February, 2020 at the Main bowl 

of Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS , 

Lagos Island. 

Addressing journalists on the 

spiritual event, the Pastor in charge 

of the Region, Pastor Johnson 

Odesola said the programme 

themed: ‘Victory without a fight’, 

was born out of the vision of the 

General Overseer of the church to 

reach out to the unchurched 

population in the city. 

And also to bring salvation, 

healing and deliverance to as many 

as possible in line with the vision/ 

mission of the RCCG and to prepare 

them for the second coming of Jesus 

Christ. 

The event according to Odesola 

would have in attendance Pastor 

Enoch Adeboye the General 

Overseer of RCCG and other 

important personalities. 

enough, so this is one of the ways of 

saying thank you”. 

On her part, Mrs. Rosemary Ngozi 

Obi said that the project is laudable. 

“This is one way of giving back to 

our alma mater. All old girls, home 

and in the Diaspora, should ensure 

the completion of not just the May 

Okobi Lodge, but also help in future 

projects that will benefit the school”, 

Obi told her colleagues. 

Earlier, the Chairman, Project 

Implementation Committee, Engr. 

(Mrs) Rosslyn Samuel, said it was 

not enough to just reminisce about 

the good things they gained from 

school. 

“We need to give back knowing 

that the foundation of our lives was 

formed in this school. Giving back 

is therefore, not just right but a 

necessity”, Samuel said. 

“This is even more so because it is 

a girls-only school where education 

of the girl-child is delivered at the 

PDP’ll rule Delta 

for decades, 

party chieftain 

declares 

P 

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

chieftain and former 

governorship aspirant in Delta State, 

Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has 

declared that PDP would rule the 

state for decades. 

Speaking to party loyalists who 

paid him a courtesy visit in his 

country home in Agbarha-Otor, 

Ughelli North Local Government 

Area, Onuesoke disclosed that with 

the party structure firmly on ground 

from the grassroots to state-level 

there is the possibility that the party 

would continue to rule the state 

unchallenged for years. 

He said the rotation policy of PDP 

in the state has contributed to the 

stability in the party. 

In addition, Onuesoke said the 

qualities of party leaders from the 

ward, local government areas, and 

zones to the state have contributed 

immensely to the party’s presence 

in the state. 

His words: “I am saying it with 

confidence that it will be an uphill 

task for any party in Delta State to 

defeat the PDP. The reality on the 

ground is that PDP is in every ward 

and local government area in the 

state and the members are 

assiduously working round the 

clock to get victory in any election. 

Some people may not like the 

sentiment, the truth is that the 

opposition parties in the state are 

media-creations and their leaders 

are divided. 

“Furthermore, the Ibori factor 

cannot be dismissed by any political 

observer. Chief James Ibori, the 

former governor is popular because, 

during his eight years in power, he 

empowered a lot of people in the 

three senatorial districts and these 

people are ready to swim or sink 

with him. The present governor, 

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is equally 

towing Ibori’s line in terms of 

empowerment and development. 

“ It is on record that for the past 

years there has not been any internal 

crisis in Delta PDP.” 

LG supports 25,000 

customers in Kano 

By Bashir Bello 

s part of its efforts to give back 

Ato the society, global leader in 

consumer electronics, LG 

Electronics says no fewer than 

25,000 customers and members of 

its host communities have benefited 

from services rendered. 

The Head of Corporate 

Marketing Division, LG West Africa, 

Mr. Hari Elluru disclosed this at the 

weekend while commissioning its 

third free wash center in Kano State. 

Elluru said the company had 

earlier launched similar outlets in 

Lagos and Port Harcourt in 2018 

and 2019 respectively where the 

25,000 customers benefited from 

the services, adding that 190,000 

sets of clothes were washed. 

He further said the facility was 

borne out of the company’s decision 

to provide support to communities 

lacking adequate water to 

efficiently carry out laundry 

activities. 

According to him: “LG 

Electronics, a global leader in 

consumer electronics has reiterated 

its commitment to driving 

sustainability through its 

nationwide Corporate Social 

Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and 

extension of its ‘Life’s Good with LG 

Wash’ intervention to Kano State. ‘’ 

highest level by competent teachers. 

“This legacy needs to be 

maintained through the continuous 

encouragement and motivation of 

students and teachers. “Projects such 

as this tell the school community 

that they have not been forgotten. 

“I, therefore, call on all alumni of 

our great school to participate 

actively in completing this project 

and others that we will embark 

upon”. 

The ceremony started with an 

opening prayer by Rev. Ogbogu and 

ended with closing prayer by Rev 

Fr. Udezuo. 

The PTA Chairman of the school, 

Barr Ikeh, thanked the old girls for 

their magnanimity and encouraged 

the alumni to join hands and ensure 

the speedy completion of the project.

PAGE 44—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 

Viewpoint 

By Royce Okoro 

he journey of Senator Ifeanyi 

TUbah, Chairman of Capital Oil, 

to the Nigerian Senate came to 

many as a shock but for me, it wasn’t, 

despite contesting the 2019 general 

election on the platform of an 

unpopular political party, Young 

Progressives Party (YPP). 

Ubah was the only candidate, who 

took his campaign to the grassroots. 

The Anambra South Senatorial 

District election was no doubt, a very 

tough contest having the likes of 

Senator Andy Uba of the All 

Progressives Congress (APC), Chris 

Uba of Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP), Nicholas Ukachukwu of All 

Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) 

and YPP’s Ubah as candidates. 

After a very difficult contest and 

having satisfied the requirements of 

the law by scoring the highest 

number of votes, YPP candidate was 

declared the winner of the poll. 

He scored 87,081 votes, defeating 

his closest rival, Chris Uba who got 

62,462 votes. 

Ukachukwu polled 51,269 votes 

while APC candidate, Andy Uba, got 

13,245 votes. 

Ubah’s victory was no fluke. He 

By Benson Akpotu 

or the people of Emevor in 

FIsoko North Local 

Government Area of Delta State, it 

was time for them to select a new 

king (Odion) after the demise of the 

former Odion three years ago. 

It was a new beginning in the 

morning of January 28, 2020. The 

Odion stool is a heritage for all sons 

of the kingdom and can be aspired 

to, through initiation into the edhe 

kingship. That is, you must have 

been “age marked”during the reign 

of a particular Odion. In this 

dispensation, the new Odion will 

emerge from Ebu (Abu) 1943-1953 

ruler-ship and would become the 

19 th Odion of Emevor kingdom in 

line with rotation. It is also pertinent 

to know that once a king evolves 

from any of the sons initiated into 

the “edhe”kingship under any king, 

no other initiate or person from that 

group can be made a king again in 

the event, of the death of that king. 

The kingship automatically moves 

to the next edhe group. 

The king makers known as 

By Sunday A. Aniyi 

hen he was born on February 

W9, 1965 to the illustrious 

family of Falade Fayemi, the family 

did not think twice to decide his 

name. He was christened 

Olukayode Folorunso, two names 

signifying the mood of the family. 

He was the one who has brought a 

redemptive joy, especially to a boyseeking 

mother. 

Right from his adolescence, he had 

the comportment of an elder and 

the intellect of a scholar. Rather 

than mingle with boys to have a taste 

of boyhood, young John Kayode 

Fayemi dedicated himself to the 

Catholic altar where he diligently 

assisted the priests in their 

ecclesiastical Eucharist and other 

pastoral duties. At Christ School, 

Ado-Ekiti, he was the mobile 

encyclopaedia of a current affairs 

and was indeed nicknamed 

“Current Affairs” because of his 

capacity to precisely recall current 

affairs issues of profound political 

By Norbert Chiazor 

was filling car at Asaba newest 

I station when a fleet of gleaming 

Jeeps and mini luxury buses 

attacked my attention. Seconds 

later, the convoy meandered into an 

expansive building by Maryam 

Babangida Way. 

I thought Governor Okowa was 

on the move. Oh no! I was casual - 

blue jeans on a T shirt.Dressed for 

Sunday afternoon travel. But then 

my spirit waxed as I looked at my 

torso. The T-shirt, a gift came two 

weeks ago from Dubai,made in 

America! Beaming with smiles , I 

parked at the right edge of the fuel 

facility and sauntered towards the 

subject of my curiosity. 

It was not Okowa .The 

President,Court of Appeal, Justice 

Zainab Bulkachuwa had just arrived 

to see the new court of Appeal 

scheduled for inauguration on 

Monday 3rd February 2020 at 

ANAMBRA SOUTH: Why mission against Sen Ifeanyi Ubah’ll fail 

•Ifeanyi Ubah 

was no doubt the choice of the 

people of Anambra South because 

while other candidates were busy 

working on how to manipulate the 

election, he was busy touring all 

communities canvassing for votes. 

Ukachukwu of APGA and Andy 

Uba of APC had long accepted 

defeat and allowed Ubah to work 

toward actualising his electoral 

promises while Chris Uba of the PDP, 

who proceeded to court, was 

defeated at the court. 

Surprisingly, Dr. Obinna Uzoh, 

who never campaigned for a day is 

seriously pushing to foist himself on 

the people as a Senator of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria by 

parading bogus NECO results and 

sponsoring unsubstantiated 

propaganda against Senator 

Ubah. 

Obinna Uzoh alleged that Senator 

Ubah forged his NECO results 

because his certificate has seven 

credits without failure (F9) in 

biology, which is clearly contained 

in the statement of result. 

This vividly shows that Obinna 

Uzoh and his cronies are not in tune 

with the conventional practices of 

National Examination Council ( 

NECO) in this case, and West 

African Examination COuncil 

(WAEC) also. 

Recent events have further 

unveiled the fact that he does not 

know the difference between a 

“Statement of result” and 

“Certificate of Result”. 

It is also crystal clear that he does 

not know that INEC requires 

candidates to submit only 

“Certificate of Result” and not 

“Statement of Result”. 

It is a well-known fact that his 

accuser and the claimant; Anani 

Cletus through their lawyer swore 

an affidavit before the court stating 

that the missing F9 was the basis of 

their allegation. 

NECO officially responded and 

punctured their false claim with a 

letter authenticating and clearing 

Ifeanyi Ubah of the forgery 

allegation by stating that they do 

not include failed (F9) subjects in 

their certificate. Obinna Uzoh 

seeing that he has landed himself in 

another dilemma has once again, 

shifted the goal post. 

This time, a questionable NECO 

certificate was brought. 

Why has Ubah’s accuser resorted 

to propaganda instead of writing to 

NECO to authenticate his claim? 

What is stopping him and his 

lawyers from applying for a CTC 

from NECO? 

Why has he not come out publicly 

like Senator Ifeanyi Ubah to make 

an official press statement or use his 

lawyers, supporters or family 

members to issue an official 

EMEVOR: The new Odion’s journey to the throne 

Ukpedion are the custodian of the 

kingship, they hold a joint 

consultation and meeting with the 

chief priest (Orheren) to kick-start 

the process. 

Surviving male persons who were 

initiated into the edhe kingship of 

the Odion stool attend the meeting. 

One of the most difficult experiences 

of the king makers and the chief 

priest at this point is usually the 

rigorous process of determining the 

most senior amongst the contestants 

for the stool. However, the senior is 

usually known when all the 

contestants with the mark of records 

either naturally or otherwise are 

able to prove his seniority, hence he 

is automatically crowned as the 

Odion. 

Prior to this, a town crier 

announces that those who 

performed the edhe during the reign 

of Ebu (Abu), the odion who reigned 

in 1943-1953, should come out. In 

this particular event, nine 

contestants came out and, after 

rigorous questionings, seven were 

eliminated thereby remaining two. 

One other bowed out. Thus in the 

morning of January 28, 2020, there 

was only one contestant left for the 

pristine throne of Emevor Kingdom. 

Therefore, Pa Johnson Ologho 

Erieyovwe was presented as the last 

man standing to the most eldest man 

in the community who made the 

pronouncement by confirming him 

to be the 19t Odion. Johnson walked 

with a rolling gait to greet members 

of the community there present. 

The 19th Odion was born into the 

family of Erieyovwe Inyenyo. He 

was the last of three children of the 

Inyenyo family, having being born 

on April 4, 1918. He attended St. 

Michael’s Primary School in 

Emevor before proceeding to Benin 

City to complete his education at a 

Muslim Primary School where the 

father of the popular elder 

statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro, 

was the headmaster at that time. 

After his primary education, his 

elder cousin, Pa Obuwo, took him 

to Warri for tailoring 

apprenticeship. He thereafter 

established his tailoring shop at the 

popular Warri main market and 

from there ventured into buying of 

textiles and selling merchandise. 

This made him to traverse the nooks 

and crannies of Nigeria. 

KAYODE FAYEMI @ 55: A life dedicated to humanity 

significance globally. 

As he grew older he began to pick 

his way to where his passion was 

greater: the desire for social justice 

and egalitarian society. He was 

already becoming radical in his 

conviction that oppression of any 

kind ought to be vehemently resisted 

by those who want to live in a just 

society. 

At the University of Lagos he found 

an even more arable ground to 

cultivate his passion. He joined a 

group of radical student-journalists 

to publish The Watch magazine, 

which was dreaded by the university 

management because of its critical 

and acerbic position against the 

management, especially as it 

concerned the students. Of course, 

he and his colleagues regularly got 

threatened with rustication and 

expulsion. But, he remained 

unwavering and somehow, 

miraculously and against the fear 

that he might lose his studentship, 

he pulled it off. 

He was deeply involved in the 

students’ union activism. JKF was 

not only one of the radically 

ideological students, he was the 

secretary of Eni Njoku Hall and 

member of the Senate of the 

Students’ Union where he was a 

major integer in the political 

calculus of the students’ union 

politics. He was also involved in the 

liberation movement to get the 

South African people free from 

apartheid and colonialism. Dr. 

Fayemi was wrought in the furnace 

of struggle for social good and 

human development. By the time he 

left the university, his leftist political 

tendency was no longer in doubt. 

Some years later, during the 

Babangida junta, the interminable 

transition to democracy got 

underway but at the climax of the 

serpentine electoral journey, the 

process became jinxed as the 

military administration of Gen. 

Okowa and legacy of Appeal Court Asaba 

Asaba. 

I breezed into the building dotted 

by a battalion of security. I was not 

scared. The natty policemen on 

guard wore relaxed mellow looks 

that toned down their ugly riffles. 

Inside the complex, I ran into 

youthful Delta SSG, Chiedu Ebie, 

busy in motion. Then I strolled and 

took pictures. The court Chamber 

is wondrous to human eye. Elevated 

and furnished to superlative 

elegance. Most Nigerian courts are 

hot like hell. Ruling in Asaba court 

of Appeal would be like judgement 

in heaven. Fair and fine. We hope 

fervently. 

On Inauguration Day, President, 

Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab 

Bulkachuwa, said it was the 17th 

Court of Appeal division in Nigeria. 

The jurist said it followed a deluge 

of requests from the Nigeria Bar 

In 1996, he retired and 

returned to Emevor where 

he also established his 

tailoring business; he 

joined the Christ Saviour 

Ministry in Emevor where 

he was baptised. 

Association and the Delta State 

Government for the Asaba Division 

of the Court of Appeal to be 

established .Then the Chief Judge 

of Nigeria approved . 

Bulkachuwa explained at the 

ceremony, witnessed by Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa that “ at inception 

in 1976, the Court of Appeal had 

three divisions namely, Kaduna, 

Lagos and Enugu and in 1976, the 

number was increased to five, with 

the establishment of Benin and 

Ibadan divisions, and subsequently 

other divisions were added.” 

She said the Court increased the 

number of its divisions to reduce 

difficulties of long distance travels 

to courts, cost of transportation and 

delays in justice delivery. 

She acknowledged Okowa 

for”prompt and result-oriented 

response which saw to the 

establishment of the Court of 

Ibrahim Babangida did the 

unthinkable by annulling the results 

already announced at the state level, 

awaiting only national collation 

and declaration. 

The whole nation was jolted and 

flames of anger burnt on the streets 

in the spontaneous protests that 

greeted odious decision. It is said 

that people do not make history, 

history make people and 

circumstances define them. This 

moment brought out the character 

of many. It raised a new set of heroes 

and villains in same measure. One 

of the young men that the moment 

threw up was Dr. Fayemi, who 

though had very little to personally 

gain in the revalidation of the 

presidential election, threw 

everything to the fight for the 

actualisation of the June 12 

election. This moment was a 

defining moment in the life of 

Kayode Fayemi. He was there with 

the pro- democracy forces in 

Appeal in Asaba.” 

She also thanked the people of 

Delta for creating the enabling 

environment for the establishment 

of the Court. 

Bulkachuwa gave assurance that 

the court”will maintain effective 

presence in Asaba and said her 

prayer is “that those who come to 

seek justice will always leave this 

temple of justice fully satisfied “. 

When Governor Okowa spoke he 

was upbeat - “The opening of this 

court further demonstrates our 

commitment to the rule of law and 

social justice. I wish to state that 

this administration is delighted to 

have this additional federal 

presence in our state. “Aside the 

Court of Appeal providing speedy 

access to justice in a cost-effective 

manner, the presence of such a 

federal institution enhances the 

statement to this effect? 

However, there is a letter from 

NECO authenticating the serial 

number which matches the same 

certificate submitted to Independent 

National Electoral Commission 

(INEC) by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. In 

this letter, the serial number was 

clearly stated twice including seven 

credits and excluding the F9 in 

Biology. 

As an Ihiala indigene, I am quite 

sure that my fellow Ihiala brothers 

and sisters will not want Uzoh to 

represent them at Anambra State 

House of Assembly let alone in the 

Senate. 

My candid advice to him and 

others trying to oust for no genuine 

reason is to desist from what they 

are doing. 

Senator Ubah should be allowed 

to work toward attracting 

democracy dividends to the people 

of Anambra South Senatorial 

District, who came out en masse to 

vote him as their representative in 

Senate. 

*Royce Okoro, a social 

commentator, writes from Ihiala 

In 1996, he retired and returned 

to Emevor where he also established 

his tailoring business. 

He joined the Christ Saviour 

Ministry in Emevor where he was 

baptised. 

His emergence as the Odion 

triggered jubilation in Emevor. 

Perhaps, what prepared him for this 

enviable position is his amiable and 

gentle nature. Johnson is blessed 

with eleven children comprising five 

boys and six girls amongst whom is 

the crown prince, Dr. John Holt 

Ologho, a business mogul. The 

Odion promised to build bridges, 

secure alignments to position of 

Emevor 1, in its proper position 

amongst the comity of ancient 

kingdoms and empires in Nigeria. 

Evidently, his reign would usher 

in peace, unity, infrastructural and 

human capital development to 

Emevor. It is often said that “God’s 

presence in a man’s life is an 

expression of its grace and not our 

worthiness”. My prayer, heretofore, 

is to see grace and more grace 

multiply in the life and affairs of the 

new Odion. 

* Akpotu lives in Warri, Delta 

State 

London organizing media events, 

networking with other like-minds 

and went every inch in the battle 

revalidate the annulled June 12 

election. 

Young as he was then, he was one 

of the people on the wanted list of 

the Abacha junta. He earned this 

unenviable enlistment in the black 

book of the devilish regime because 

of his activities as one of the major 

diaspora exiles who were absolutely 

committed to the end of military 

rule in Nigeria. Working with the 

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka 

of the NALICON fame, Kayode 

Fayemi traversed different 

countries of the world to mobilise 

the diplomatic world against the 

•Aniyi is Principal Private 

Secretary to Dr. Kayode Fayemi 

and can be reached on 

aikuniyi@gmail.com 

Read more on 

www.vanguardngr.com 

profile of the state, creates jobs and 

impacts positively on the retail 

economy. 

“It is my expectation that this 

temple of justice will stand as a 

beacon of hope for all - the rich and 

poor, the mighty and the lowly, the 

powerful and the weak - who seek 

refuge and protection under the rule 

of law,” the governor said. 

The infrastructure may well be 

one of the finest court buildings in 

Nigeria. Though the government 

of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan 

started the building as Maryam 

Babangida centre , Okowa regime 

remodeled to top notch edifice 

matchless in architectural 

grandeur. 

A world class court. Okowa is 

walking tall in Asaba. I am not a 

media aide! I am a witness to 

history..... 

*Chiazor is Special Assistant to 

Governor Okowa on Media.


We are a family of 

teachers — Awosika 

By Morenike Taire, 

Woman Editor & Florence Amagiya 

Turning 80 is a prospect that quite 

amuses education icon, High Chief 

(Mrs) Winifred Awosika. As family, 

friends and staff members rally round to put 

finishing touches to high octane plans to 

celebrate the big day, she quips, “ I don’t 

know what all the fuss is about; I feel exactly 

the same!” 

Best known as Chairman/founder, 

Awosika (OON) is, at 80, as keen as ever to 

continue to do what she has always done 

best: moulding minds. 

Still, she is very much unable to hide her 

concerns about current affairs and the 

goings-on in contemporary Nigeria. In the 

private garden of her home and permanent 

site of her school, she shares her thoughts 

with Sunday Vanguard. 

You said Nigerians are their own 

problem. Why? 

We are not very united at the moment. 

There are so many killings in the North, in 

Zamfara, in Gombe and everywhere. The 

kidnappings and all the ugly things 

happening in Nigeria are caused by 

Nigerians. Before now, Nigerians have 

always had Christians and Muslims living 

together without issues. I grew up in a home 

where there were Christians and Muslims 

staying together. I am from Owo and even 

though my dad was a Christian; he had 

Muslim relatives and it didn’t stop their 

contributions while we said our prayers then. 

They were equally asked to say prayers in 

family gatherings as well as Christian 

prayers. Today, it is not the same because 

brothers are killing themselves all in the 

name of religion. Who said that anyone is 

more righteous? Haven’t you heard of 

pastors tricking members and molesting 

them sexually? 

Which family is that? 

I come from the Osuporu family of Owo. 

If you know anyone from Owo, ask them for 

the Osuporu family. My father was the 

Treasurer, only next to the District Officer. 

He was very close to the Olowo (the Owo 

traditional ruler) 

He went to the palace everyday after 

returning from the office and resting. He 

wore coral beads on his ankles as a high 

chief. When he was returning at night it was 

the ‘cheke...’cheke’ sound of the corals that 

would tell us he was on his way. We would 

then run off to do our chores or whatever. 

Who gave the discipline at home; 

your father or mother? 

We were afraid of him. If we didn’t attend 

to our chores and our mother says she would 

inform him, we would get scared. Not that 

he would do anything, we just didn’t like 

being reported to him. I don’t have a memory 

of him flogging me as a child, it was always 

my mother and eldest sister who did that. 

Would you say you were trained as 

one would train a male child? 

No. The discipline by parents for the 

female child was different from the male. 

The female was to sweep, fetch water, and 

do general house chores. The boys 

performed different roles 

How was school like in your days? 

In our days we fetched water and did other 

house chores before 

going to school and if we 

ended up getting there 

late we would be caned 

by the headmaster. 

You have so many 

teachers in your 

family. Is this a 

coincidence? 

I wonder because my 

elder sister was a 

teacher and retired as 

headmistress of a school 

in Ibadan before 

opening hers. Her eldest 

daughter was working 

as a teacher with me, my 

other sister is heading a 

school in Ibadan and 

her youngest daughter 

has started a group of 

schools in Asaba. We are 

a family of teachers 

from my mother’s side. 

What were the 

challenges you 

encountered when 

you wanted to go 

into the school 

venture? 

The first was that my 

husband, Dr. Victor 

Awosika, of blessed 

memory had told me 

that the place of the 

woman is the home, that the woman is the 

home. He said the woman is the housekeeper 

while the husband is the breadwinner. I was 

a full-time housewife. Occasionally, out of 

boredom, I would beat my children unjustly. 

It was so until I picked up teaching. I taught 

in one or two schools for some months. 

Uniting my 

family is my 

greatest 

achievement so 

far. I was not 

only able to 

touch other 

people’s lives 

but also my own 

children’s lives 

also 

How did you meet your husband? 

I was a 3rd-year student at the University 

of Ibadan. And a friend had come to tell me 

that a man wanted to see me. She claimed 

he said that he had met me before and I 

asked her where and how. Meanwhile, prior 

to that time, I had two suitors chasing after 

me. One was abroad, but he wouldn’t write 

or call me. The other one was in Nigeria 

and was not only calling but checking on 

me and even sending his siblings to check 

on me but l preferred the one schooling 

abroad. l took out time to pray about it. I 

needed God to give me my husband because 

I didn’t know what life held for me in future. 

I didn’t meet any pastor or anybody. I prayed 

to God who knows all things. I actually 

fasted right there in school and nobody knew 

what l was doing, not even 

my roommates. I would 

break the fast at 3 pm; 

take my meal from the 

dining room to my room 

to eat. When my friend 

came to tell me about this 

friend of her friend, I 

knew that God had 

answered the prayers. My 

husband did not waste 

time beating about the 

bush. He came, proposed 

and did everything. He 

sent me home to tell my 

parents. 

Was that not too 

fast? 

I asked him what l 

should tell them. He 

asked me to tell them that 

l had known him for long. 

it was a short courtship 

and we got married 

eventually. 

At what point did you 

decide to start a school 

considering the quality of 

public schools at that 

time? 

I decided to start a 

school because I knew 

that l could do it better. 

My husband and l had 

just returned from 

England and we went in 

search of a school for our children. The 

attitude we received from the only school 

we saw that had a standard was not 

encouraging. We were treated as though they 

were doing us a favour by admitting our 

children. I watched everything they were 

doing and I kept saying that I can run a 

better school. 

How prepared were you? 

I did training for my postgraduate 

education when I did research on nursery 

education. One of the questionnaires sent to 

parents was on what would be most 

considered when sending their children to 

school and all of them chose quality over 

distance and money. This became one major 

reason we emphasise quality at Chrisland 

school. 

Did you sometimes feel 

discouraged? 

I wasn’t discouraged. People were 

appreciative and supportive of my efforts. I 

didn’t put a signpost or advertise my school. 

I just said it should advertise itself and it 

did. I only wrote the name of the school on 

the gate. If there was a building of five flats 

and one of them had a kid in the school, by 

the next session, other children from that 

building would resume with our school. 

How did you come about the name 

‘Chrisland’? 

I had chosen the name All Saints to be the 

name for the nursery arm, but someone told 

me that someone was already using that 

name in Ikorodu and when l entered this 

place in Opebi for the first time, l received 

an inspiration that this place belongs to 

Christ. It belongs to the Christians. couldn’t 

call it Christian Land, hence I coined 

Chrisland. That is how the name came 

about. 

How did you manage to set a very 

high standard for Chrisland even at 

the very beginning? 

It was easy because l would stand at the 

gate to welcome children from their parents’ 

cars into the school from the very beginning 

and l would tell the child who wasn’t 

properly dressed to follow the driver or the 

parent home. That way, the parents learned 

lessons and dressed the child better in their 

next outing to the school. But when l 

employed a white headmistress, she told me 

that, she wasn’t employed to be at the gate 

to welcome children but to be at her office. 

Meanwhile, I didn’t know I was doing much 

for the children until a white parent asked 

why l wasn’t at the gate anymore. I did it a 

few more times and stopped. But that 

tradition is still at Chrisland till date. 

Chrisland university has now been 

added to the stable... 

It has been the Grace of God because 

when I started it wasn’t easy. Like I said I 

became bored of staying at home. I used to 

be irritable and angry and sometimes I 

would beat my children and start crying 

because they were not troublesome. Then I 

had the inspiration to start the school in our 

boys’ quarters. When we moved to Opebi, 

my husband allocated a portion of land for 

the school. 

You seem to love sitting in your 

garden... 

I love quiet places. I love to listen to birds 

sing. Nature has a lot to say. I love sitting 

under the trees like this, away from the noise 

and think. Most times when my 

grandchildren visit and l close my eyes; they 

feel that l am sleeping but l am not. I am 

only thinking and meditating. I do that more 

these days. 

What would you have done more if 

given the opportunity? 

I would have loved to write my thoughts. 

There is so much l would have wanted to do, 

but l thank God for all He has done for me. 

At 80, what has life taught you? 

To be thankful. Life has taught me to be 

patient. You do not achieve all by too much 

struggling. Sometimes when a road seems 

to be closed, be patient and see what God 

has in store for you. 

What would you say is your 

greatest achievement at 80? 

Uniting my family is my greatest 

achievement so far. I was not only able to 

touch other people’s lives but also my own 

children’s lives also. 

What do you think of the standard 

of education in the country? 

I am not happy about it. When I used to 

write letters to my elder sister in Akure, 

she would correct my letters and send back 

to me. I would write out the correct way of 

writing. But the standard of education now 

is bad. The teachers are not teaching again, 

they are on strike all the time. 

What is the way forward? 

I think we need to be closer to God. When 

we have people who really care then it is 

halfway there. My last child who is a boy 

is married to a Calabar lady and we went 

there for the marriage ceremony. These 

people are nice people; they were nice to 

us. Why can’t we all live in peace?

46 — SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2020

Coronavirus knocks Ighalo out of United’s 

camp in Spain 

Ighalo’s Man U deal, wake-up call 

for Nigerian players — Adejor 

TECHNICAL Adviser of Edo Queens Football 

Club of Benin-City, Gabriel Adejor, has described 

Odion Ighalo’s new deal with Manchester 

United as a good omen for Nigerian players. 

The erstwhile Bendel Insurance player said Ighalo’s 

move has opened doors for Nigerian professional 

players as he called on other players abroad to see 

Ighalo’s signing for Man United as a challenge and 

a wake-call for them to follow suit. 

Osimhen faces injury 

lay off 

THE results of the med 

ical test of injured Lile 

striker Victor Osimhen 

were still being awaited 

yesterday after he was 

stretchered off in their 2-0 

win over Angers on Friday. 

Lille boss Christophe 

Galtier confirmed that Osimhen 

suffered muscle injury 

and the results will revealed 

the gravity of the 

injury. The 21-year-old 

opened the scoring in the 

14th-minute, his 12th 

league strike of the campaign, 

and any sustained 

absence makes him a doubt 

for Lille’s clash with second-placed 

Olympique 

Marseille on Sunday, February 

16. 

“He (Osimhen) has no 

broken femur,” Galtier told 

Canal + Sport. 

“He had to receive treatment 

off the pitch and I 

think he has a muscle injury. 

“The length and severity 

of his injury will be determined 

after tests are carried 

out on Saturday.” 

Lille’s win on Friday was 

their third Ligue 1 success 

on the spin. 

M ANCHESTER 

United striker 

Odion Ighalo, who 

joined the club on loan 

from China’s Shanghai 

Shenhua, will miss a 

training camp in Spain as 

he may not be cleared by 

UK immigration on their 

return should border restrictions 

tighten due to 

the coronavirus epidemic 

Ȯver 700 people have 

died in mainland China 

due to the flu-like virus 

after it first emerged in 

Wuhan, Hubei province, 

late last year and it has 

also shut down Chinese 

cities and forced thousands 

more into quarantine 

around the world. 

More than two dozen 

airlines have suspended 

or restricted flights to 

China and at least 17 

countries have imposed 

travel restrictions on people 

coming from the 

country. 

“Odion will stay in 

Manchester because he 

arrived from China in 

the last 14 days,” United 

manager Ole Gunnar 

Solskjaer was quoted as 

saying on the club’s website 

yesterday. 

“Because of the situation 

in China, we’re not 

sure if he’d be allowed 

back into England if he 

leaves the country again, 

so he’s staying, working 

with a personal coach, 

individual programme 

and his family then can 

settle in England. 

“Of course, he might 

have liked to come with 

the players and got to 

know them but the risk 

(of potential border restrictions 

tightening), we 

don’t want to take that.” 

Conte warns Moses, others ahead of Milan derby 

Moses 

*Ighalo 

ANTONIO Conte 

has urged his Inter 

Milan players to ignore 

the big gap between his 

side and AC Milan in the 

Serie A standings ahead 

of their derby clash today. 

Inter are second, 19 

points ahead of ninthplaced 

Milan. 

But Conte warned that 

the table does not tell the 

full story, with Milan 

unbeaten in five league 

games since the January 

arrival of former Inter 

striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic 

on a free transfer. 

Ndidi happy Iheanacho’s back to 

form 

SUPER Eagles midfielder 

Wilfred Ndidi said he is 

delighted teammate Kelechi 

Iheanacho is back to form after 

a season of dry spells at Leicester 

City. 

Iheanacho has scored six 

goals in his last 12 games for 

the Foxes and Ndidi has 

praised Leicester coach Brendan 

Rodgers for not giving up 

on Iheanacho. “I’m very happy 

for Kelelchi because he’s a 

natural goalscorer. If you give 

Osimhen 

“Milan deserve a lot 

more points than they 

currently have,” Conte 

told a media conference 

on Saturday. 

“They are a great team 

and have added a champion 

like Ibrahimovic, 

who brings confidence 

and experience. He has 

played for both clubs, so 

it will be emotional for 

him. 

“The derby always has 

hidden dangers and the 

extra difficulties are intensified, 

because there 

is this desire to be on top 

him the opportunity like he has now, he will 

deliver,” Ndidi told Leicester Mercury. “I think 

the manager has really helped him too. He’s 

done that with so many players. 

“We have good discipline and understand 

the game better. Every player has really 

changed, in a good way.” 

Ndidi had a spell on the sideline after suffering 

a knee injury in January and missed 

four of Leicester’s last six games, where the 

Foxes failed to clinch victory. “For me, it was 

sad because I was not in the squad. I was 

really sad because it’s a very different feeling, 

watching from the outside instead of playing,” 

he continued. 

in the city.” 

Ibrahimovic is likely to 

feature in despite coming 

down with flu. 

Coach Stephano Pioli 

said Ibrahimovic should 

recover in time to feature 

in the ‘Derby della Madonnina’ 

between the 

city rivals. 

“He has undergone an 

individual training programme,” 

Pioli said. 

“Today he is training 

with the squad and if he 

gets through that, he will 

be available tomorrow.” 

Ndidi (left) Iheanacho (right) 

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 — 47 

Access Bank Lagos City 

Marathon: Kenya’s 

Bamarssai, Cherop emerge 

champions 

THE 2020 Access 

Bank Lagos City 

Marathon reached a fitting 

finale yesterday 

with Kenya’s David Bamarssai, 

emerging the 

men’s champion with 

2:10:23, a new course 

record. 

In the women’s race, 

Sharon Cherop also of 

Kenya topped the field. 

Barmassai was chased 

very closely by Ethiopia’s 

Dekebo Dakamo who finished 

at 2:10:55 to place 

second, while Paul Chege 

from Kenya took third 

place with 2.11.23 seconds. 

The Technical Adviser of 

the race, Norrie Williamson, 

said the timing of the 

race was still in order, given 

the temperature under 

which they ran. 

“The time returned was 

fair enough because of 

the temperature. They ran 

fairly well with a lot of 

energy,” he said. 

The winner, Bamarssai 

gave thanks to God and 

his coach who encouraged 

him. Kenya runners dominated 

the podium, winning 

seven out of 10 

available prize money. 

AFN: Behave yourselves, sports 

ministry warns Gusau’s faction 

IMPEACHED Athlet 

ics Federation of Nigeria 

president, Ibrahim 

Gusau has been sounded 

a note of warning by 

the Sports Ministry over 

his efforts to undermine 

activities of the federation. 

The AFN board has set 

February 14 for its first 

All Comers meet in 

Akure, Ondo State, while 

Gusau and his backers 

have also set a counter 

meet on February 13. 

According to a statement 

signed by the permanent 

Secretary of the 

Ministry of Youth and 

Sports Mr Gabriel Aduda 

“Extant laws confers 

the power of sports development 

with the Ministry 

of Youth and Sports. 

We cannot allow anyone 

to destroy the future of 

the youths or sports in 

the country. Only the 

duly elected President of 

the AFN is recognized by 

the Ministry. The decision 

of the board of the 

AFN to impeach the 

former President to sanitize 

the Federation is in 

the best interest of the 

Sports. We cannot sit by 

and allow anyone to perpetrate 

illegitimacy. 

“We want to focus on 

the task of preparing athletes 

for the African Athletics 

Championships in 

Algeria and subsequently 

the Olympics. No one 

should derail our efforts 

or plans. We are focused 

and we are determined 

to excel at the 

Olympics”,Aduda affirmed 

Edo 2020 countdown: Imo 

wrestler dies during training 

TRAGEDY hit the 

camp of Imo State 

athletes as one their medal 

potentials for the forthcoming 

Edo 2020 National 

Sports Festival 

slumped and died. 

The athlete, Bartlomy 

Nwanchukwu slumped 

as he stepped out for 

training at the Dan Anyiam 

Stadium Owerri. He 

was rushed to the Federal 

Medical Centre 

Owerri, where doctors 

confirmed him dead. Imo 

State sports officials expressed 

shock at the sudden 

passing of the athlete. 

Meanwhile preparations 

are in top gear for 

the festival billed to start 

on March 20 in Benin 

City 

Saka Akin, the North 

Central Zonal Coordinator, 

Federal Ministry of 

Youths and Sports Development, 

said the ministry 

was collaborating 

with the Edo government 

to ensure a hitch-free festival. 

Eagles new Jerseys excite “33” Export 

THE new Super Eagles 

and other national 

team’s jerseys have continued 

to elicit comments from 

both individual and corporate 

Nigerians with “33” 

Export joining in the frenzy 

The quality alcoholic beverage 

known for nurturing 

friendships among Nigerians 

since 1979 has urged 

passionate fans to continue 

to stand with the teams 

in all contests this year and 

many more. 

The euphoria that greater 

the new attire is similar 

to when the immediate 

past was unveiled on the 

road to the last World Cup 

finals in Russia and “33” 

Export is urging Nigerian 

passionate fans to use the 

new attire as a connection 

with the national teams. 

The Super Eagles will be 

the first team to don the new 

attire when Nigeria play 

host to Sierra Leone in 

Match Day-3 and the reverse 

fixture few days later 

in Freetown in the AFCON 

2021 qualifying round of 

matches.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 

SEE SOLUTION PAGE 5 

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

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

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

09022020 - OPERATION SHEGE KA FASA : Northern Govs disown outfit

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