18102020 - #ENDINSECURITYNOW : Convenes arrested released in Kano

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PAGE 2, SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 18, 2020

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 18, 2020, PAGE 3

PAGE 4—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 18, 2020 

PROTESTERS REMAIN ON THE STREETS: 

2 die; gov attacked; Lagos, Osun, Benue grounded 

•Ogun, Ekiti, Enugu, Delta raise probe panels on police brutality•I watched helplessly as stray bullet killed my driver 

– Victim’s boss during Sanwo-Olu’s visit •Woman arrested over death of 2 demonstrators 

By Our Reporters 

#ENDSARS protests took 

a deadly turn, yesterday, after 

Governor Adegboyega 

Oyetola of Osun State was 

attacked by suspected 

hoodlums in Osogbo, the 

state capital. 

Two persons were 

reportedly killed during the 

protest in the state. 

One of the victims, a 

motorcyclist, was said to have 

been hit by stray bullet at Oke 

Ayepe area of the state capital 

while the other, yet to be 

identified, fell off his 

motorcycle and died during 

the commotion that attended 

the attack on Oyetola. 

Earlier, yesterday, the 

ruling All Progressives 

Congress (APC) in Osun State 

had raised the alarm that the 

protests had been hijacked by 

members of an opposition 

party. 

In Lagos, residents were 

practically grounded as 

youths, who were protesting 

for the 10 th day, blocked major 

highways in the state. 

As early as 8 am, the 

protesters had occupied the 

roads, forcing motorists to a 

standstill. 

Many motorists had to 

abandon their vehicles to trek 

to their destinations. 

Governor Babajide Sanwo- 

Olu separately visited the 

family and boss of Ikechukwu 

Iloamauzor, a driver, who 

was allegedly killed in 

Surulere area of the state by 

police stray bullet during the 

protest on Monday. 

Emotional boss of the 

victim, Sam Okafor, narrated 

to the governor how he 

watched helplessly as stray 

bullet killed his driver. 

Protesters also shut down 

Makurdi, Benue State 

capital, while Ogun, Ekiti, 

Ondo, Delta and Enugu state 

governments raised panels to 

probe police brutality in their 

respective states. There were 

also protests yesterday in 

Abuja, Kaduna and Port 

Harcourt. 

Reports from Abia State 

said the state government 

warned opposition 

politicians to steer clear of the 

#EndSARs protests by youths 

to avoid violent escalation or 

loss of lives. 

Youths across the country 

have since last Wednesday 

been protesting against 

brutality by operatives of the 

Special Anti-Robbery Squad 

(SARS) leading to the 

disbandment of the 

specialised arm of the police. 

The authorities replaced 

the outfit with what they 

called SWAT which was also 

rejected by the protesting 

youths who listed some 

demands to include sanctions 

for SARS operatives who 

may have erred and 

compensation for victims. 

On Friday, Vice President 

Yemi Osinbajo tendered 

government’s apology on the 

activities of the disbanded 

SARS. 

Before then, Osinbajo and 

the 36 state governors had, 

during a meeting on 

Thursday, agreed that 

judicial panels be set up by 

the governors to investigate 

the activities of SARS and 

other police units in their 

respective states. 

Osun attack 

Oyetola had reportedly 

joined the #EndSARS protest 

in Osogbo before things went 

awry. 

The initially peaceful 

protest, held from Oke-Fia to 

the popular Olaiya Junction 

in the state capital, turned 

violent when some hoodlums 

attacked the convoy of the 

governor. 

CONDOLENCE – From left: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National 

Women Leader, Hajiya Mariya Waziri; Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo 

State, and the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, during 

a visit by the National Working Committee of the party to Makinde 

over the death of his mother, Chief (Mrs.) Abigail Makinde. PHOTO: Oyo 

State Government. 

He addressed the 

protesters but while he was 

rounding off his speech, some 

hoodlums, wielding 

dangerous weapons, 

attacked his convoy and 

damaged several vehicles. 

The hoodlums also injured 

many of the protesters. 

Oyetola was quickly 

ferried away from the scene, 

while those who sustained 

injuries were taken to a 

nearby hospital for medical 

attention. 

The governor, while 

addressing the protesters 

before the attack, said that the 

youth had spoken loud and 

clear, adding that 

government would continue 

to protect their interest. 

Emotional scene 

It was an emotional scene 

when Sanwo-Olu visited the 

family and boss of 

Iloamauzor who was 

allegedly killed in Surulere 

by stray bullet during the ongoing 

EndSARS protest in 

Lagos. 

Speaking to the wife of the 

deceased, Ngozi, and family 

members, the governor, who 

was accompanied by the 

Attorney General of the state, 

Mr. Moyosere Onibanjo 

(SAN), described the incident 

as unfortunate and assured 

the family of the victim of 

justice. 

He explained that he came 

with the Attorney General to 

enable him hand over the 

matter to him, personally and 

immediately directed the AG 

to take over and ensure that 

justice is done, adding that a 

panel set up to investigate the 

incident will be inaugurated 

tomorrow. 

During the governor’s visit 

to Iloamuazor’s boss, Sam 

Okafor, an eye witness to the 

incident, explained that the 

deceased was not 

participating in the protest 

that led to his death. Okafor 

said that they ran into the 

protesters in Surulere on their 

way to Ilupeju. 

He narrated: “We were 

stuck in the traffic caused by 

the protesters, who were 

shouting EndSARS. For more 

than 40 minutes, there was no 

movement. I wound down the 

windshield for fresh air while 

Iloamuazor got down from 

the car to stretch his body. 

After stretching, he put his both 

hands into his pockets and 

was trying to figure out where 

the traffic started. Suddenly 

we heard gunshot three times. 

The next thing I saw was 

Iloamuazor falling from his 

position. His hands remained 

in his pockets as he fell. I ran 

out from the car and 

screamed for help. People 

came and started performing 

all sorts of things to save him. 

The police came to the scene 

and I told them my driver had 

been shot on the spot.” 

Mega rally 

Meanwhile, Lagos 

witnessed heavy traffic 

following protests embarked 

on by #EndSARS protesters 

who occupied many 

highways in the state. 

The protest took a twist as 

demonstrators moved into 

inner roads and other major 

highways. 

The areas occupied by 

thousands of protesters with 

attendant traffic gridlock 

include Lagos-Ibadan 

Expressway, Lagos Abeokuta 

Expressway by Cement Bus 

stop, Ikorodu Road, Funsho 

Williams Avenue, Awolowo 

Way from Ikeja under bridge 

to Alausa Secretariat, 

Gbagada Expressway 

inward Oshodi Bus Stop, 

LASU-Iba,, Yaba, Mainland 

Local Government Area. 

The inner roads occupied 

include Igbogbo-Baiyeku in 

Ikorodu, Shasha- 

Akonwonjo, Egbeda-Idimu- 

Ikotun Road, Igando, 

Capitol Road, Agege, Apple 

Junction, Festac, Okota, 

Ogunnisi Road- Ogba, 

among others. 

The traffic gridlock 

affected an about - to - wed 

convoy along Isheri-Ikotun 

Road,Alimosho as they ran 

into the protest forcing them 

to a halt. 

It took fervent plea from 

guests and passers-by before 

the protesters later cleared 

the crowd to allow the 

convoy who were stuck for 

about 30 minutes have 

access way to their 

destination. 

Makurdi 

shut down 

Thousands of youths 

grounded activities in 

Makurdi, Benue State 

capital. 

The protesters, who 

gathered as early as 6am at 

IBB Square in the High Level 

area of the town, marched 

through major roads in the 

town disrupting vehicular 

movement and creating 

gridlock around the town. 

Most of the protesters who 

bore placards and banners 

with inscription like “End 

Police Brutality”, “End SARS 

Now”, “Reform Nigeria”, 

“Lazy Youths Are Tired”, 

Sack Service Chief”, 

Nigerian Want Their Country 

Back” and “Reform the Police” 

conducted themselves 

peacefully as they walked and 

sang songs of solidarity. 

As they sang and danced 

the protesters also ensured 

that the town was not littered 

as selected members took out 

time to pick all trashes 

dropped in the course of the 

march. 

After marching through the 

town, the protesters again 

converged at the IBB Square 

for a break promising to 

resume the march much later. 

Ondo 

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu 

of Ondo State said he had set 

up a committee to receive 

complaints from members of 

the public on illegal detention, 

extortion and brutality by 

officers of the police as agreed 

during a meeting between VP 

Osinbajo and state governors. 

Akeredolu spoke while 

addressing #EndSars 

protesters in front of the 

Government House, 

Alagbaka, Akure. 

He said that the committee 

is headed by a retired Chief 

Judge and would commence 

work this week. 

Delta 

Delta State government also 

constituted an eight-member 

judicial panel of enquiry to 

investigate allegations of 

police brutality and extrajudicial 

killings in the state. 

A statement by the Secretary 

to the State Government 

(SSG), Mr. Chiedu Ebie, said 

the panel, approved by 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, 

would receive and investigate 

complaints of police brutality 

or related extra–judicial 

killings in the state. 

The SSG said the panel 

would investigate complaints 

from victims of the disbanded 

SARS or any other police unit, 

with a view to ascertaining 

their validity. 

He said that the panel was 

also expected to recommend 

compensations and/or other 

remedies appropriate for each 

case. 

According to him, the panel 

has Justice Celestina Ogisi 

(rtd.) as Chairman and Mr 

Omamuzo Erebe as Secretary. 

Ogun 

In Ogun, Governor Dapo 

Abiodun said he had 

appointed Justice Solomon 

Olugbemi (retired) as 

Chairman of the Judicial Panel 

of Investigation on alleged 

cases of police brutality in the 

state. 

“The committee is to 

receive and investigate 

complaints of police 

brutality, human rights 

violations or related extrajudicial 

killings; evaluate 

evidence presented and 

recommend compensation 

and other remedial 

measures, where 

appropriate”, Abiodun said. 

He also announced a 

Special Security and 

Human Rights Committee 

with himself as Chairman. 

Enugu 

Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi, for the second 

time in two days, addressed 

some youths in Enugu State 

who were protesting against 

police brutality, announcing 

the setting up of a Judicial 

Panel of Inquiry to 

investigate complaints of 

police brutality or related 

extra judicial killings. 

Ugwuanyi, who 

addressed the #EndSars 

protesters amid cheers, 

reiterated his endorsement to 

the state government’s 

position on the demands 

made by the protesting 

youth, disclosed that the 

panel will be chaired by a 

High Court Judge with two 

representatives of the Civil 

Society Groups and one 

retired Police Officer of high 

repute as members. 

Other members of the 

panel, according to 

Ugwuanyi, include one 

youth representative, one 

student representative, a 

representative of the State 

Attorney General and 

another from the Human 

Rights Commission. 

The governor who 

applauded the protesters, led 

by two prominent artists, 

Flavor and Phyno, for the 

peaceful nature of the protest 

expressed the solidarity of the 

government and people of 

the state to their cause. 

Ekiti 

Governor Kayode Fayemi, 

on his part, revealed that his 

administration was taking 

steps to ensure justice for 

victims of police brutality in 

Ekiti State through the 

setting up a Panel of Enquiry 

and Restitution for Victims 

of SARS and Related Abuses 

in the state. 

Fayemi spoke while 

presenting the State of the 

State Address on the floor of 

the State House of 

Assembly, Ado-Ekiti before 

the state legislators and 

other distinguished 

personalities as part of 

activities marking his two 

years in office. 

He said: “In line with the 

recommendation of the 

National Economic 

Council, I have today 

constituted a Panel of 

Enquiry and Restitution for 

Victims of SARS Related 

Abuses in the State. 

“The panel will look at all 

verifiable cases of SARS 

brutality and fatality and 

ensure offending SARS 

officers are identified and 

prosecuted appropriately 

while victims or their 

families are duly 

compensated. 

“Membership of the panel 

will include a retired judge 

of the State High Court as 

Chairperson, and 

representation from Civil 

Society Organisations, 

including youth groups. 

“The Honourable 

Attorney-General will 

publish additional details, 

including giving 

information on how our 

citizens can access the 

panel.” 

Abia warns 

against 

politicisation 

of protests 

While warning opposition 

politicians in Abia State to 

steer clear of the protests by 

youths under the auspices of 

#EndSars to avoid 

escalation or loss of life as 

such could be hijacked by 

hoodlums to unleash 

mayhem on innocent 

citizens, the state 

Commissioner for 

Information, Chief John 

Okiyi Kalu, assured that the 

state government was fully in 

support of young Nigerians 

expressing their views 

through peaceful protests. 

“Abia State Government has 

uncovered plots hatched by 

a certain politician in the 

state to hijack the peaceful 

agitation of #EndSARS 

protesters and turn it into a 

political tool to attempt to get 

what he couldn’t get using the 

constitutional means that the 

ballot box is”, Kalu said. 

“The State Government is 

aware of the funding and 

mobilization of at least two 

Abia born musicians who are 

resident outside the state to 

provide cover for those who 

will be brought in from 

Monday to attack marked 

government establishments 

under the guise of protesting 

against the defunct Special 

Anti Robbery Squad (SARS). 

Bloggers and some broadcast 

media practitioners were also 

funded to launch attacks 

against the government to 

incite the people against the 

government and we have 

turned over the list of those 

involved in the plot to security 

agencies and the Governor 

has directed full protection 

for genuine #EndSARS 

protesters”. 

Okiyi, who assured that 

youths of the state are free to 

join others across the nation 

to protest against extra 

judicial killings and brutality 

by a section of law 

enforcement agents and 

other real or perceived ills of 

the police, appealed to them 

to resist attempts by 

politicians to hijack their 

genuine agitation. He said 

the State Government is 

working with security 

agencies in the state to ensure 

the protection of genuine 

#EndSARS protesters as well 

as identify and question all 

those involved in 

unwholesome plot to 

endanger the lives of the 

protesters including one 

Nwosu, his sponsor and 

accomplices who are behind 

the dastardly plot. 

Lagos 

In a related development, 

Lagos State Police 

Command said it had 

arrested one Mrs Nike 

Lawal, one of the #EndSARS 

protesters, for allegedly 

driving recklessly and killing 

two persons at Ikola Road, 

Alagbado area of Lagos, on 

Wednesday. 

According to the state 

command spokeperson, SP 

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Lawal 

was the driver of Toyota 

4Runner SUV that ran into a 

tricycle and killed the duo of 

Ojo Azeez, 27, and Yusuf 

Sodia, 26, both males of 

command road, Alagbado, 

Lagos. 

Adejobi stated that the 

suspect, who intentionally 

removed the number plates 

on her SUV, as of the time of 

the incident, joined the protest 

at AIT junction, Alagbado, 

and started driving recklessly, 

like many other protesters, 

before the fatal accident.

Arewa leader blows hot: Those promising Igbo 

president in 2023 are deceiving them 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

AREWA leader in the 

South, Alhaji Musa 

Saidu, has asked Igbo to forget 

about presidency in 2023 

if they fail to build bridges of 

peace across the country. 

Saidu, in a chat with the 

Sunday Vanguard, said those 

promising Igbo the presidency 

without the need for 

them to build bridges of peace 

were only deceiving them, 

adding that in Oyigbo, Rivers 

State, Igbo organisations 

had, on several occasions, 

killed several northerners 

NIPOST LAGOS ZONAL AWARDS – From Right: MISS Ugochukwu Tochi, from Grace 

High School Shomolu, who took 4th position in the 2020 UPU Essay Writing Competition, 

Miss Yagazie Faith, from Festac Junior College, who emerged 3rd, Master Arowonle 

Victor, from Uncle Bayus College Ikorodu, 2nd, and Master Donatus Prince, from Royal 

Star College, who came first, during the prize presentation ceremony. 

#ENDINSECURITYNOW: 

Protest in 19 northern states suffers setback 

*DSS arrests conveners in Kano 

By Bashir Bello 

The Coalition of North 

ern Groups, CNG, leading 

the #EndInsecurityNow 

protest, to demand an end to 

insecurity in the 19 states of 

the North, yesterday, halted 

its protest in Kano State. 

This happened as some of 

its leaders were arrested by 

operatives of the Department 

of State Services (DSS), and 

later freed after a meeting that 

lasted about five hours. 

One of the conveners, Dr. 

Muhammad Bello Nawaila, 

who confirmed this to Sunday 

Vanguard, said the 

group decided to stop the protest 

after the DSS could not 

guarantee their safety. Group 

members, however, made a 

short walk from Daula roundabout 

to Bompai where they 

handed over a letter to Kano 

State Commissioner of Police, 

CP Habu Sani, who 

promised to follow up on the 

matter. 

A copy of the letter, signed 

by CNG Chairman, Balarabe 

Rufai, demanded that the 

new outfit, SWAT, designed by 

the police to replace the Special 

Anti-Robbery Squad 

(SARS), be adequately empowered 

and sufficiently funded 

for effective and efficient 

discharge of its primary duty 

of securing the nation and 

restoring law, order and public 

peace, particularly in the 

distressed communities of 

northern Nigeria. 

They urged the “National 

Assembly to urgently provide 

the enabling legislative environment 

for the mandatory 

extension of guarantee of so- 

Youths warn Imo PDP against making 

mockery of Supreme Court 

The lmo State chapter of 

People’s Democratic 

Party (PDP) has been warned 

to desist from impersonating 

and ridiculing the Supreme 

Court in ‘its vain attempt to 

wrest power from Gov. Hope 

Uzodinma’. 

In a statement issued in 

Owerri yesterday, the Coalition 

of lmo Youths for Good 

Governance condemned the 

recent circulation of a fake 

news by PDP purporting same 

to have emanated from the 

apex court. 

The coalition in the statement 

signed by its chairman, 

Comrade Anayo 

Opara, lambasted Imo 

PDP for claiming in its 

WhatsApp platform that 

the Supreme Court has set 

up a six-man panel to hear 

a suit against Gov. Uzodinma 

whereas no such 

thing happened. 

The coalition described 

as regrettable and height 

of desperation, the repeated 

attempt by lmo PDP to 

impugn on the integrity of 

the Supreme Court and the 

justices after they declared 

Uzodinma the rightful 

winner of the 2019 governorship 

election. 

According to the group, 

PDP members,had in the 

WhatsApp platform postings 

falsely claimed that 

the Supreme Court has 

set October dates to hear 

the suit against the governor. 

It noted that the same 

PDP had credited the Supreme 

Court to have set 

October 06,2020 only to 

announce a new date of 

October 22,,2020. 

According to the 

group,it was the height of 

political rascality and 

childish posturing for 

them to portray the highest 

court in the land as 

lacking in integrity, while 

at the same time seeking 

to get justice from it. 

“ We condemn this barefaced 

hypocrisy and undisguised 

insurrection 

against one of the pillars 

of our democracy in our 

country. Those behind this 

show of shame must retrace 

their steps or be prepared to 

face the consequences of their 

ignoble acts”,it submitted. 

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 18, 2020, PAGE 5 

doing legitimate business in 

the area with no word from 

Igbo leaders condemning 

the action. 

“Anybody promising Igbo 

president in 2023 is just 

deceiving them. Your children 

are killing Hausas in 

Rivers. You have not addressed 

this. If they like, 

let them go to Buhari or Asiwaju 

Tinubu, they will not get 

it until they address the need 

for peaceful co existence”, he 

said. 

Saidu, who is also the Damburan 

of Port Harcourt and 

leader of northern community 

in Rivers State, said he loves 

Niger Delta, adding that he 

would not mind if an Ijaw, 

Urhobo, Itsekiri or any other 

tribe from the region is 

brought to complete the second 

term of former President 

Goodluck Jonathan . 

Continuing, he said he was 

Special Assistant to the late 

Niger Delta leader, Chief 

Harold Dappa Biriye, for 25 

years, adding that he had always 

identified with the people 

of the region. 

He said the Igbo should 

know that they (Alhaji Saidu 

and others) are the northern 

masses that would deliver 

votes, stressing that his 

views reflecting the position 

of the northern masses should 

be taken seriously. 

cial security to families of 

slain personnel in the form of 

access to free education, 

healthcare and shelter in addition 

to financial packages 

for starting over.” 

CAC appoints 

new President 

and General 

Superintendent 

Christ Apostolic Church 

Worldwide has appointed 

Pastor Samuel Olusegun 

Oladele as Presidentdesignate. 

Also appointed as General 

Superintendent-designate is 

Pastor Emmanuel Olatoro 

Odejobi. All appointments 

take effect from January 1, 

2021. Odejobi is a dynamic 

revivalist and teacher of the 

Word. He was used greatly by 

God in the last year 61 days 

convention of CAC POWEC. 

According to a statement by 

the CAC Director of Publicity, 

Pastor Ade Alawode, the 

General Executive Council, 

the highest decision making 

body of the church, approved 

the appointments at its meeting 

in Ikeji Arakeji. 

•Pastor Oladele 

We’ll make healthcare accessible to all 

— Sanwo-Olu 

By Chris Onuoha 

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Oluof 

of Lagos State, has 

reiterated his administration’s 

commitment to making 

quality healthcare delivery 

accessible to all Lagosians 

in the next two years. 

Sanwo-Olu, who was the 

Special Guest of Honour at 

the 7th annual public lecture 

of the Foursquare Gospel 

Church, Lagos, noted that 

health and environment were 

very vital to his government. 

The governor, represented 

by his Commissioner for 

Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, 

said: “Presently, we are at 11% 

budget allocation to health 

Monarch blames underdevelopment on 

epileptic power 

By Festus Ahon, ASABA 

sector. However, we are 

working hard to reach the 

stipulated 15% allocation by 

the federal government. 

“Our administration recognizes 

two vital things which 

are health and environment. 

The state is driving the heath 

paradigm with bio-security 

roadmap, and will in the next 

two years ensure that health 

insurance is a priority to 

make healthcare accessible 

to all.” 

Speaking other the theme, 

“Health & Wealth: The global 

impact,” former Minister 

of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, 

said that government 

has not done enough in terms 

of policy implementation 

and funding to the health sector. 

THE Orodje of Okpe 

Kingdom, Delta State, 

HRM Mujakperuo Orhue I, 

has identified epileptic power 

supply as the major cause 

of underdevelopment in Nigeria. 

Speaking at his palace in 

Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government 

Area when the members 

of the House of Representatives 

Committee on Power, 

paid him a visit, the monarch 

listed some of the problems 

bedeviling the power sector 

in the country to include 

estimated billing system, epileptic 

power supply, over 

billing of consumers among 

others. 

He commended the committee 

members for the visit, 

urging them to take tactical 

steps to correct these anomalies 

in the country. 

Earlier, the Chairman 

House Committee on Power, 

Hon Aliyu Magaji promised 

to tackle the problem of epileptic 

power supply in the 

country. 

Thanking the traditional 

ruler for the rousy reception 

accorded them, he also promised 

to present a transformer 

and 30 prepaid meters to the 

Orodje within one month. 

FUOYE gets new Registrar, Librarian, 

Medical Director 

Federal University Oye 

Ekiti (FUOYE) has appointed 

two new Principal 

Officers and a Director. 

The Governing Council of 

the university, according to 

Adeyinka Ademuyiwa, Deputy 

Director, Corporate Services, 

Vice Chancellor’s Office, 

rose from a meeting, last 

week, to announce Mr Olatunbosun 

Odusanya as the 

second substantive Registrar. 

Odusanya was, until his appointment, 

the Director Administration 

and Special 

Duties at the Vice Chancellor’s 

Office. 

He succeeds Mr Adeyemo 

who was relieved of his assignment 

some years ago. 

The Council session, presided 

over by the Chairman, 

Dr Lawan Yahuza, also announced 

Dr I. O. Busayo as 

new Librarian while Dr 

Musbau Olawale emerged 

as Medical Director of 

FUOYE. 

L-R: Dr Ijeoma Maduka; Okey Adichie; Chuks Adichie, 

Prof. Adichie’s widow, Mrs Grace Adichie; Kene 

Adichie, Chimamanda Adichie and Uche Sonny-Afoekulu, 

during the burial ceremony of the late Prof Adichie, 

Chimamanda's father, in Aba, Anambra State.


Viewpoint 

BY Adamu Toro 

Those who knew Ebonyi and its capital city of 

Abakaliki before 2015 will be amazed when 

they visit the place. 

The transformation that has taken place in “The 

Salt of the Nation” has turned the erstwhile rural 

state to envy of anyone that values modernity. 

What used to be a layback setting has been 

transformed into modern glistering state with 

state-of-the-art infrastructure within six years. The 

growing business and leisure will in no distant 

future completely take the shine off the older states 

in the South East and South South. 

The state is now replete with concrete highways, 

more than 13 new flyovers, Mega malls with more 

than 5,000 shops, and 8 international markets 

coupled with the aesthetic layouts, amusement 

centers, new industrial complex. 

Turning Ebonyi to Dubai of a sort is a testimony 

that Governor David Umahi is definitely setting 

the pace of what visionary governance can achieve 

in a very short time. 

Governor Umahi, is an astute and successful 

business man who became a billionaire at the 

age of 25, having successfully operated mega civil 

engineering projects, a few years after graduating 

from the university. He has what could be termed 

“a Midas touch”. 

Umahi’s rise to fame started in 2007 when he 

By Dennis Akpotu 

THE major opposition party in Delta State, 

the All Progressives Congress, APC, seems 

to be in disarray. It ought naught to be so. For 

now, the APC in Delta State lacks vibrancy and 

cohesion. 

True enough, they are in control of the Federal 

Government as the ruling party but their presence 

in Delta State is not been felt. They have been 

factionalised. As the popular saying goes “A 

house divided amongst itself cannot stand.” It 

is this too many factions that is distorting the 

unity of the All Progressive Congress in Delta 

State. 

The inability of the APC party to rally around 

a common leader is the bane of their problems 

all these sundry years. Deltans are generally 

tired of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP. They have been in power in Delta State 

since the inception of the 4th Republic without 

commensurate structures on ground. It is quite 

sad and appalling that Delta State being one of 

the major oil producing states of the country 

stands as a huge joke to its contemporaries as 

regards administration, infrastructure and 

social amenities. Its time for the alternative. 

Deltans cannot know how far they have been 

misruled, mismanaged and robbed of its natural 

EBONYI: A model in leadership 

Umahi’s rise to fame 

started in 2007 when he 

was made the acting 

chairman of the People 

Democratic Party (PDP) 

was made the acting chairman of the People 

Democratic Party (PDP); later served as the 

substantive chairman of the party and was Deputy 

Governor to Martin Elechi in 2011. His stints in 

both private and public sectors earned him 

sufficient experience that propelled him the 

moment he became a governor in 2015. 

Aside being the smallest states in terms of 

landmass, Ebonyi also used to be the poorest and 

with one of the highest poverty rates. In fact, Ebonyi 

is listed as the fourth poorest in the federation 

because agriculture, being the backbone of the 

economy, was still at subsistence level. 

Mindful of this, the Governor unveiled five key 

priority areas for his administration not only to 

lift majority of the people out of poverty but to 

make the state another hub in manufacturing and 

APC IN DELTA: Divided they fail 

endowments until they inevitably seek another 

alternative political platform. The closest 

alternative political platform is the All 

Progressive Congress, APC. Is the APC ready to 

wrestle power from the PDP in Delta State in 

2023? This is the million dollar question that is 

agitating the minds of concerned citizens in 

Delta State. It cannot be business as usual for 

the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. The time for 

change is at hand. The PDP days are numbered. 

That is, if the All Progressives Congress, APC 

can put their house in order before the election 

of 2023. According to the unwritten constitution 

of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Delta 

Central Senatorial district is expected to produce 

the next governorship candidate for the election 

in 2023. There is nothing wrong for the All 

Progressives Congress, APC to align their 

thoughts towards this direction. The 

candidature of Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru 

should not be ruled out despite the fact that he 

had contested severally and lost out. The obvious 

fact that Chief Great Ogboru is a very popular 

man in Delta State should not be lost on 

anybody. They should be no rancour about the 

personality of Chief Ogboru. 

widen the commercial hub for agricultural 

production, ICT and renewable energy. 

The five key areas are infrastructure 

development, quality education for citizens and 

non-citizens alike, robust health care system, 

vocational training for young people and 

modernization of agricultural system. 

One of the major features of the agricultural 

revolution in the state is the complete 

mechanization and processing of produce. It 

acquired 13 bulldozers for land preparation, 40 

tractors for planting and harvesting. It also 

introduced a programme known as “one farmer, 

one hectare” and presently has 53,000 registered 

farmers. 

The government also made it compulsory for 

all civil servants and political appointees to be 

involved in agriculture, the minimum being the 

cultivation of at least one hectare. Under this 

programme, N4 billion was set aside to enable 

the civil servants and political appointees have a 

“second address”. 

To further make agriculture attractive, the 

government procured rice milling machines with 

32 tonnes capacity per hour and six parboiling 

plants of 24 metric tonnes capacity per hour and 

to date, Ebonyi has the highest rice milling cluster 

in the world with 1,500 clusters, a Guinness book 

This is not the time to lay blames on anybody 

in the past. Nobody believed the All Progressives 

Congress, APC would wrestle power from the 

People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the centre 

having ruled since inception of the 4th Republic 

until 2015 when the inevitable happened. It can 

as well happen in Delta State in 2023. All that is 

candidly needed is for the likes of my much 

admired and respected friends, Otega Emehor, 

Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege and 

others to sheathe their swords and bury their 

differences for the overall interest of the party. 

One believes this sacrifice is not too much for 

them to make. 

Great Ogboru has all the paraphernalia and 

structures in place which would be reignited 

seamlessly in 2023. In quoting the holy scriptures, 

it tells us in Proverbs 24:16 “For though the 

righteous fall seven times, then shall rise again.” 

It will be a futile mistake for the All Progressives 

Congress, APC to field another candidate in 

2023 thereby starting all over again. Great 

Ogboru will surely rise again. 

It is not how many times one fails that 

determines success but it is the innate ability to 

rise again. It is said that great people are just 

of record. 

Investment in rice production has turned the 

state to be one of the food baskets of the country. 

One other feature is that Ebonyi achieved a 

production capacity of 5 metric tonnes per hectare 

as against the 3 tonnes per hectare. 

The state has also taken advantage of the Central 

Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers Programme 

to further expand rice value chain that has enabled 

the profiling of 53,000 small holder farmers into 

the programme. This is in addition to investment 

in the establishment of fertilizer blending plant, 

the biggest in the South East, to ensure sufficient 

delivery of fertilizers to farmers is made on time. 

There is a holistic approach to development in 

the state that ensures that the infrastructural 

development, agricultural revolution, human 

capital development in various vocational 

trainings as well as the expansion of educational 

opportunities for the youth and the elderly, in the 

form of access to education for both the young 

and the old, is all aimed at making Ebonyi a new 

Hub of investment opportunities. 

The infrastructural development and the 

environment is seen as sine qua non to the future 

of the state – there is now, concrete roads to all 

parts of the state. 

*Toro is of No. 5 Lord Lugard Street, Asokoro, 

Abuja 

Continues on www.vanguardngr.com 

ordinary people with an extraordinary amount 

of determination. Great Ogboru is a lion heart. 

His passion to see the downtrodden elevated 

knows no bound. This time around, stumbling 

blocks would be turned into stepping stones. 

Chief Ogboru has a very strong desire to serve 

humanity in Delta State, that is probably why 

he has been gunning for the top shot in the state 

to actualise his dreams, that of seeing Delta 

indigenes free from the shackles of abject 

poverty to prosperity. All the obstacles and 

struggles all this while to attain his dreams are 

just merely part of life. 

Those close to Ogboru know too well that the 

man is a dogged fighter, one that never gives up 

on his dreams and aspirations so easily. 

Chief Great Ogboru has been known as a 

business manager, an administrator and a very 

successful industrialist. Also, for his creativity 

and innovation. 

During the last political dispensation he 

promised that funds would be allocated directly 

to local government, and the people would 

decide what and how to utilise the funds for 

speedy transformation of their areas. 

All that is required of the APC in Delta State is 

to mend fences and be united in purpose. Victory, 

I dare say, is on the way. 

*Akpotu lives in Asaba 

By Adeola Adejokun 

Many personalities and institutions are 

showing strength amid Covid-19 

disruptions and the Ake Arts and Book Festival 

is not left out. Like many other projects journeying 

into the air since the pandemic has polluted the 

land, the festival will hold online between 

October 22 and 26. It will be a pragmatic way of 

asserting its ‘African Time’ theme, as writers, 

publishers, scholars, artists and corporate players 

from different parts of the world will converge 

on the virtual arena for the ever-rich and incisive 

feast it offers. 

Nigeria is a peculiarly tough environment for 

art and culture festivals to germinate and endure 

but the Ake Festival is proving that when there is 

will and resourcefulness, trees will flourish even 

in a desert. It may be too early to put the festival 

in the iconic perspective but the waves it has 

made in the eight years of its existence is symbolic 

enough to not only acknowledge its impacts but 

also highlight the factors that have accorded it 

sound footing. 

Among such is its often-thematic assertiveness 

and diversity. This is in line with the festival’s 

manifesto of, according to its founder Lola 

Shoneyin, creating “a place where intellectuals 

and thinkers can come together and talk about 

African issues on African soil.” Year after year, the 

festival discusses fundamental issues that cut across 

disciplines, ethnic boundaries, and races. Although 

its primary focus is cultural, artistic educational 

Reflecting on swift growth of Ake Arts and Book Festival 

development, it is never shy of interrogating issues 

in governance, business, gender, and all. Last year, 

for instance, it explored various aspects of 

humanity under the theme, ‘Black Body, Grey 

Matters’. 

Another key factor in the swift evolution of the 

Ake Festival is the expansive voice it gives to 

women and other segments of society who are 

often marginalised. The festival accommodates 

all genders, but it seems to appreciate the fact 

that society tend to suppress some. It has thus 

been able to promote such while also engaging 

the voices and passion of others, whom other 

similar festivals might have isolated. In this sense, 

it has positioned itself as a festival of all cultures, 

sub-cultures, philosophies, and ideas. 

Youths are the jokers of the future. Any idea that 

they buy into has a date with history and the future. 

The disposition of the festival organisers 

exemplifies this thought. It commands the 

attention of many young writers, poets, artists, 

and enthusiasts, who exude a sense of belonging 

when they attend each season. This is one trait 

that is a big plus for its essence, compared to 

some other book projects in Nigeria, which appear 

to subsist on the participation of what some would 

describe as the ‘core’, conservative veteran 

stakeholders. 

The Ake Arts and Book Festival is also ‘blessed’ 

in terms of the dynamism of its sponsorship. Unlike 

The festival accommodates 

all genders, but it seems to 

appreciate the fact that society 

tend to suppress some 

some other similar outfits that depend on lone 

funders, it boasts several, though some are more 

major than others. It has enjoyed support from 

governments, especially the government of Ogun 

State. But equally pragmatically backing the 

festival are corporate groups and international 

organisations, which lend it credibility and depth 

apart from other forms of concrete support they 

might be giving. Compared to the now suspended 

Garden City Literary Festival, which flourished 

for about seven years when a government 

favourable to it sponsored it, but has been suffering 

lull since the coming of a new government, Ake is 

balanced in the diversified sponsorship equation, 

a feature that should be instructive to similar future 

initiatives. 

Shoneyin and her team will particularly find 

precious the commitment of its principal partner, 

Sterling Bank, which is prepared to continue to be 

with her. During the 2019 edition held at the 

Goethe Institute, Ikoyi, Lagos, the bank’s Chief 

Executive Officer, Suleiman Abubakar, recalled 

how it (Sterling) bought into the dream, saying 

the journey had been mutually fulfilling as arts 

were significant and encompassing. 

He said, “People treat art as if it is what we do 

when we have done everything else or in some 

way what we do when everything else has failed." 

Everything we understand is understood in 

context sand that context is the work of our 

creative people. 

“Take away the context and the story changes 

completely. Last year, I spoke a little bit about 

how the greatest story tellers in the world were 

able to give us the Bible and the Quran because 

those who told the stories told such compelling 

stories that, centuries later, our everyday life is 

being determined by the stories they presented. 

Stories are still a reason for people to go to war 

today, the reason for people to give up their 

wealth. They are still the reason for people to do 

other important things. So, truly, storytelling is 

much more than what we do when we have done 

anything else.. 

•Adejokun writes from Lagos 


Christ Army Church ends 40 days vigil, to host Dein of Agbor 

The Greater Light Diocese 

of St Peter’s Christ Army 

Church of Nigeria, Agbor 

Diocesan Headquarters is 

rounding of its 40 days vigil 

today with a thanksgiving 

service at its cathedral. 

The Guest of Honour at 

the occasion is the Dein of 

Agbor while the chief hosts 

are The Rt. Rev. and Bishop 

(Mrs) P. I. Dibie. 

The Rt. Rev. Dibie told 

Sunday Vanguard that the 

40 days fasting was a call 

on believers to emulate 

Jesus Christ after he fasted 

for 40 days and nights to 

prepare himself for ministry 

and to overcome the 

temptation of the devil. 

“In our own case, God 

Dein of Agbor(left), with The Rt. Rev. Dibie 

instructed us to make it 40 

days night vigil to prepare 

us and many persons that 

will join us in faith for the 

‘ember months’ 

(September-December) 

and to be able 

to conquer the 

temptations 

inherent in the 

last quarter of 

every year”, 

he said 

“ M o r e 

importantly, 

the fasting 

programme is 

to collectively 

call on God to 

remember us 

concerning 

certain areas 

of our lives since the theme 

is ‘Remember Me Now Oh 

Lord’. 

According to him, many 

anointed men and women 

of God, including Bishops 

Sunday Ikiedemhe, 

Sunday Dierunaba, Sam 

Oyede; Apostle 

Nwachukwu and 

Prophetess Favour Davies, 

graced the vigil. 

Speaking on today’s 

service, the cleric added, 

“The reason is to show God 

appreciation for answered 

prayers. Many people don’t 

know how to show gratitude 

to God hence their 

testimonies and healing is 

never perfected. 

“The case of the ten 

lepers in the Bible is a clear 

example of what I am 

talking about. Psalm 100 

also gives credence to what 

I am talking about when 

you study the Bible”. 

From left: Prof Egwunyenga,VC; Prince Nwoko, 

Awardee, Prof Mrs Ogwu, DVC, Academics, 

and Mr Egbaire, Bursar at an award ceremony 

in Abraka where Hon. Ned Nwoko was 

conferred with the Distinguished Service Award 

by the Delta State University, Abraka.



SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 18, 2020,PAGE 9



#ENDSARS, #ENDSWAT… 

Why police reform 

failed twice —Ex-Police 

•'How President, govs undermine police' 

•Reveals how rights’ abuse victims, families of extrajudicial killing 

casualty can get justice 

By Esther Onyegbula 

Former Chairman, Network on Police Reforms, NOPRIN, 

Okechukwu Nwangwuna, in this interview, speaks on the 

type of reforms needed for a better policing system in Nigeria. 

With hindsight, he reveals why past efforts at reforms didn’t 

have impact, identifying failure of state actors as one of the 

major reasons. Nwangwuna is the founder of Rule of Law Accountability 

Advocacy Centre. 

Given the latest demands for police 

reforms, what kind of reforms do the 

police need? 

The new Police Act, which repealed and 

replaced the Colonial Police Act, provides 

the new legal framework that should drive 

comprehensive and far-reaching police 

reforms to transform the Nigeria Police from 

a repressive colonial police to democratic 

police. The focus of the colonial police was 

‘force’, hence it was created to repress and 

subdue, not to serve and protect. A 

democratic police force works in 

partnership with the community. It polices 

with consent, not coercion. Hence, the new 

Police Act starts with a purpose statement 

and general principles which espouse 

democratic principles of transparency, 

accountability, respect for human rights, 

rule of law and partnership with the 

community in providing safety and security. 

The Act also provides elaborate due process 

safeguards that regulate the exercise of 

police powers of search, investigation, 

arrest, warrant and detention as opposed 

to the old Act which left the exercise of such 

enormous powers to the discretion of police 

officers. The Act expressly prohibits 

inhumane treatment and mandates the 

Inspector General of Police, IGP, to 

facilitate access for arrested persons to free 

legal assistance. The Act incorporates 

sections of the Administration of Criminal 

Justice Act that dwells on fundamental 

human rights under the Constitution. 

Underfunding 

Perennial underfunding of the police is 

one of the reasons police officers rely on 

complainants and accused 

persons for funds to carry out 

basic investigations. This 

creates the opportunity for 

extortion, torture and 

extrajudicial killings. The 

Act provides a funding 

framework for the Nigeria 

Police which attempts to 

address the police budget 

process and the management 

and accountability for police 

funds. There is also the Police 

Trust Fund which fills the gap 

in police funding. Lack of 

security of tenure and 

operational autonomy for 

the IGP has been a major 

bane of leadership stability 

and long-term visioning and 

planning. The Act provides 

for a secured tenure of four years for the 

IGP and requires him to come up with an 

annual budget which captures the actual 

needs of the police from bottom to top, as 

well as an annual policing plan by which 

the achievement of the plan at the end of 

the year can be easily assessed. 

Nothing 

serious has 

been done to 

implement key 

recommendations 

to bring about 

reform 

Recruitment 

Police recruitment process is 

compromised by corruption and political 

interference. The recruitment process needs 

to be fixed to ensure that candidates who 

lack the basic qualification and are 

unsuitable are not recruited. When untrainable 

candidates with criminal mindset 

are recruited, it makes training useless and 

ineffectual. It is such candidates that 

constitute the bulk of rogue elements that 

commit the atrocities that discredit the 

police which, otherwise, boast of excellent 

officers. Training and retraining are crucial 

to enhancing professionalism. Forensic 

capabilities must be increased if crude 

methods of investigation such as torture are 

to be eliminated. 

Accountability is important to stamp out 

impunity. The Complaints Response Unit, 

CRU, which has been recognised and 

codified in the new Police Act, must be 

strengthened and properly funded and 

equipped to receive and process public 

complaints. With little resources, CRU has 

done so well under its current leadership. 

With better funding, it will address the 

accountability and discipline deficit in the 

Nigerian Police Force, NPF. Nigeria is a 

signatory to several regional and 

international human rights instruments 

which mandate is to ensure prompt, 

impartial and effective investigations into 

all acts of torture and extrajudicial killing, 

to ensure that perpetrators are brought to 

account and victims adequately 

compensated. The welfare of police officers 

must be radically improved as a means to 

fight corruption, boost morale and 

humanize the police. 

In terms of retraining 

personnel for better 

policing, people have 

argued that the police 

should not drive the 

process... 

Police training is a joint task 

between the police and other 

critical stakeholders in 

policing and human rights. 

Apart from the initial training 

for recruits and cadets, police 

officers need constant 

retraining to refresh their 

knowledge and to increase 

their professional 

competencies and 

capabilities, as well as for 

specialization. Police 

training requires the inputs of human rights 

experts, psychologists, sociologists, mental 

health experts, public and human relations 

experts, and forensic experts among others. 

Under the current circumstance when 

psychological evaluation is warranted to 

ascertain the state of mental health of the 

operatives of the disbanded SARS and other 

tactical squads, the role of psychologists 

Reform Chair 

and mental health experts becomes handy. 

Many panels were set up in the past 

on police reforms, and they 

submitted reports that were not 

implemented. Can you remember the 

key recommendations of some? 

There were several police reform panels 

set up under successive administrations 

between 2006 and 2012. They all did go 

through the same cycle: spent time and 

public resources to travel around the 

country, organised public hearings, received 

public memoranda, wrote reports with 

recommendations, submitted their reports 

to the President at the time. In some cases, 

a new committee would be set up to review 

the report and produce a white paper. 

Another committee would also be set up to 

‘implement’ the white paper. And then, 

everything is shelved. Nothing serious has 

been done to implement key 

recommendations to bring about reform. 

However, in the course of working on the 

Police Bill that was recently passed into law 

as the new Police Act, attempts were made 

to incorporate some of the key 

recommendations in the reports of the 

different committees. 

One of the key recommendations that 

were common to all the reports is the 

appointment of the Inspector-General of 

Police. This was the most contentious 

provision during the public hearings on the 

Police Bill. The Police Council is a 

constitutional body charged with policy and 

general administration of the police. It is 

composed of the President (as Chairman) 

and governors of the 36 states and the FCT 

as well as the Chairman of the Police Service 

Commission and the IGP. The Council is 

supposed to meet periodically to receive 

and deliberate on reports of the security 

situation across the states and to advise the 

President on measures to address insecurity. 

The Council is also required to advise the 

President on the appointment of a new IGP 

when there is a vacancy. But in practice, the 

Council does not sit and consequently leaves 

the President to solely exercise the power of 

appointment of the IGP. The new Act 

mandates the Council to meet on a definite 

number of times in a year to receive and 

deliberate on reports on the state of security 

from the states and to advise the President 

on security and appointment of the IGP. 

The other recommendations are on 

welfare, funding and equipment, 

recruitment, promotion and ranking, 

discipline and accountability and 

decentralization among others. 

Some people have argued that 

instead of constituting another 

panel, the President ought to have 

ordered immediate implementation 

of reports of past panels… 

The previous panels did not make 

recommendations for discipline on specific 

•Nwangwuna 

cases of human rights abuses. However, 

many new cases of violations have been 

recorded over time which has not been 

investigated. There is the need for victims 

or family members or other representatives 

of victims of extrajudicial killings, enforced 

disappearance, torture and extortion to 

have the opportunity to testify and seek 

redress and justice. Perpetrators also ought 

to be made to face the lawful consequences 

of their unlawful actions 

Are you optimistic that the latest 

move to reform the police would be 

fruitful? 

As I said, the new Police Act provides the 

framework to drive police reform. Many 

stakeholders have different roles to play to 

ensure the full and effective implementation 

of the Police Act. It requires the commitment 

of all stakeholders to ensure that they play 

their different roles. For example, 

magistrates and judges have supervisory 

roles under the Police Act. They must be 

active in monitoring police compliance 

with sending monthly records of arrests. 

State governors must call for regular 

meetings of the Police Council and also play 

their role in the appointment of the IGP 

when there is a vacancy and not live it only 

for the President who often appoints persons 

of his choice not based on merit or 

competence. There is a need for the police 

to work with civil society, the National 

Human Rights Commission and the Police 

Service Commission to produce a new 

Standard Operating Procedure, SOP, from 

the Police Act and other relevant laws which 

will regulate the conducts and operations 

of Police officers and on which they must be 

held accountable. 

The current protests demonstrate the 

power of the people to drive and force 

change. Eternal vigilance is the price of 

liberty. If citizens remain vigilant and 

steadfast in demanding reforms, then 

reforms must happen. Civil society must 

continue to lead the charge in pushing for 

far-reaching reforms. 

The IGP announced the birth of 

SWAT as a replacement for SARS, 

and it doesn’t seem to go down well 

with Nigerians, who feel it’s as good 

as nothing... 

It will not make any difference if the same 

rogue elements from the disbanded SARS 

are deployed to the new outfit. An audit of 

all the SARS operatives is required to know 

those with cases of murder and must be 

made to answer for them. A psychological 

evaluation is needed to isolate those with 

mental health issues. Clear criteria must 

be spelt out for selecting those to join the 

new outfit. They must be specially trained, 

professional operatives with clean criminal 

and human rights records.

PAGE 12 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 18, 2020 

Despite my ordeal, no 

regret for my actions 

– Man whose viral video 

sparked #EndSARS protests 

•Tells his story of arrest, detention 

By Perez Brisibe 

He obviously didn’t know that 

the video he was shooting at 

Ughelli, Delta State would 

trigger an outrage that would reverberate 

across the country. 

Prince Nicholas Makolomi merely felt 

he owed it a duty to alert the authorities 

and Nigerians to the illegal activities of 

some policemen. 

But once uploaded on the social media, 

the video went viral as it generated 

interest especially among activists 

opposed to the Special Anti-Robbery 

Squad (SARS) of the police. 

The development sparked tension 

across the country and led to a mob attack 

on an off-duty SARS operative, Sergeant 

Ohwovwiogor Fidelis, at the Ughelli 

Central Garage axis with the mob him 

attempting to set him ablaze but for the 

intervention of a Good Samaritan 

Makolomi was subsequently arrested by 

the police but not before he had told his 

story. 

He had told Sunday Vanguard: “After 

the boy (Joshua Ambrose) was arrested 

on that Saturday, he was kept at the 

passenger’s side of the car behind the 

front seat. 

“While we were driving in our car 

behind the police vehicle, 

suddenly the boy jumped 

from the car and fell on the 

roadside after which 

we chased after the 

police car while 

making the 

video.” 

The video 

gained 

widespread 

traction 

before 

exploding 

i n t o 

#EndSARS 

protests 

s i n c e 

penultimate 

Wednesday. 

The antipolice 

campaign 

has inevitably claimed lives in Lagos and 

Ogbomoso in Oyo State. 

Speaking to Sunday Vanguard on the 

turn of events, Makolomi, who regained 

freedom penultimate Friday from the 

custody of the police, which had 

threatened to prosecute him for allegedly 

inciting violence and distributing false 

information contrary to the cyber law, 

said although he felt he made a 

mistake by shooting the video 

and uploading it on social 

media, he had no regrets for 

his actions. 

The 

business 

administration graduate 

from the Institute of 

Management and 

Technology, IMT, Enugu 

and father of two said he 

shot the video and 

uploaded it on the social 

media in a bid to alert 

Nigerians, the police 

authorities and government 

on the unwholesome 

activities of some 

policemen. 

Giving 

details of 

how he was 

arrested, 

Makolomi, 

a member of 

the royal 

family of 

Ughelli 

Kingdom, 

said: “I was 

at home in 

Ughelli 

•Makolomi 

when I 

received a 

call from a 

friend that I 

should meet 

him at the 

popular 

Delta Mall in Effurun. 

“But as soon as I got to the mall, by the 

gate, I was accosted by a team of 

policemen who took me to the Ebrumede 

Police Station.” 

Describing himself as an entertainer and 

sound engineer, he debunked reports that 

he shot the video to spite the police. 

“When I shot the video, I actually meant 

no harm. I honestly did it as a concerned 

citizen on the actions of some policemen 

even though I later came out to the public 

through my social media handle to say 

the victim in question (Joshua Ambrose) 

was still alive and not dead as earlier 

portrayed” Makolomi said. 

“From Ebrumede Police Station, I was 

taken to the ‘Safe Delta’ Headquarters at 

Isele-Azagba where I was held for three 

days before I was taken to the State Police 

Headquarters from where I was taken to 

court. While in custody, I was never beaten 

or assaulted by the police.” 

Asked if he regretted his actions, 

Makolomi, who described himself as the 

face of the #ENDSARS campaign, said: 

“I actually felt I made a mistake with the 

video which went viral, but I never 

realized that the average Nigerian youth 

were already vexed with the activities of 

the average police personnel as reflected 

in the outcry that trailed the video. 

“Despite my ordeal and my subsequent 

release, I do not have any regret for my 

actions because Nigeria has to be great 

again and what I did was what every citizen 

will do. 

“My advice to the average Nigerian youth 

especially those participating in the 

#ENDSARS protest is that they should not 

allow themselves to be provoked and 

pushed into taking the law into their hands 

as long as they are fighting for a just cause.” 

Commending the Minister of State for 

Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, 

and the Ughelli North council chairman, 

Chief Godwin Adode, for facilitating his 

release, he said: “For the Nigerian 

government, I want to appreciate them for 

rising up to the challenge by quickly 

responding to the demands and agitations 

of the youths having be made aware of the 

nefarious activities of some police 

operatives in the country and I also thank 

Chiefs Keyamo and Adode for facilitating 

my release.” 

By Yemie ADEOYE 

IT is no longer news that after 

almost a week of intensive 

national protests against the high 

handedness and reckless impunity of 

members of the Nigeria Police Special 

Anti-Robbery Squad, popularly called 

SARS, the Inspector General of Police, 

IGP, Mohammed Adamu, finally 

disbanded the killer squad to the applaud 

and relief of many Nigerians. 

It is also not news that the IGP hurriedly 

announced the emergence of a new team 

to be called SWAT or Special Weapons 

and Tactics in full, apparently named 

after the United States special police unit, 

SWAT. This is to the chagrin and disdain 

of many Nigerians who believed that 

the decision was unilaterally and 

hurriedly made. 

What is, however, news, and 

somewhat disturbing is the fact that 

the whole policy decision seems weak, 

unilateral, baseless, unfounded, lazy, 

lacks planning and tact, stakeholders 

input and even seriousness. 

The United States, from where 

Nigeria apparently copied the name 

change of SWAT from SARS, started 

its own special police for very strategic 

reasons in 1964 as a 100-man 

specialized unit. It was started by the 

Philadelphia Police Department in 

response to alarming increase in bank 

robberies and was code named 

‘SWAT’, which stands for Special 

Weapons and Tactics. 

The purpose of this unit was to react 

quickly and decisively to bank 

robberies in real time or while they 

were in progress, by utilizing a large 

number of specially trained officers 

who had at their disposal a great 

amount of military style firepower. The 

tactic worked and was later soon to 

resolve other types of incidents 

involving heavily armed criminals. 

After the recorded success of the 

Philadelphia Police SWAT Unit, the Los 

Angeles Police Department, LAPD, started 

their own SWAT Unit three years later in 

1967, with the basic aim of tackling riots, 

especially the racial Watts riots. Since that 

moment, virtually all cities and states in 

the United States have developed their 

various SWAT Units, including big cities 

SWAT: US elite law 

enforcement Nigeria 

wishes to emulate 

like New York, Las Vegas etc. 

In today’s America, the federal police, 

popularly called the FBI or Federal Bureau 

of Investigation in full, owns the largest 

SWAT Department in the country, with a 

division in each of its 56 field offices. The 

FBI is followed closely by large state police 

departments and county sheriffs’ 

departments with their very sizable SWAT 

Divisions. 

•US SWAT team 

Members of SWAT can only be deployed 

to quell strategic issues and upheavals. They 

aren’t to be seen at all times around cities 

and towns getting involved in civil matters. 

That was neither the plan nor the training 

and Nigeria’s IGP must take very serious 

note of the following. 

SWAT teams are very well remunerated. 

SWAT teams are deployed mostly as a back 

up and not as first line of defense. They are 

arranged in units almost similar to the 

military. They are well and dangerously 

equipped, better than some of the world’s 

military. From weapons, to 

communication gadgets, vehicles and 

protective gears, SWAT officers are well 

trained and are paid anywhere between 

$61,000 annually for entry level positions 

and $132,000 for those in the most senior 

SWAT categories. That is N23, 180,000 and 

N50, 160,000 respectively. Now, this is 

huge investments and little wonder why 

these men will face any situation no matter 

how daring and dangerous, on behalf of 

public peace and safety. Now we know and 

understand how impossible this could be 

in a country where the IGP himself nets 

about N800, 000 monthly or N9, 600,000 

annually, that is our sad state as a nation. 

The relative infrequency of SWAT callouts 

in the United States means these 

expensively trained and equipped officers 

cannot be left to sit around, waiting for an 

emergency. In many departments, the 

officers are normally deployed to regular 

duties, but are available for SWAT calls via 

pagers, mobile phones, or radio 

transceivers. Simply put, these officers are 

placed on or assigned to regular duties, and 

immediately mobilized for SWAT duties 

whenever the need arises. 

So, this is the elite group of law 

enforcement personnel that Nigeria wishes 

to emulate. While it is okay to copy and 

paste, it is also of essence to understand 

and appreciate the essence and foundation 

of whatever we may wish to copy, lest it 

crumbles almost before it get started. 

It is pertinent for the Federal Government 

to seize the opportunity of this moment to 

call for a stakeholders hearing that will 

involve the civil society, national assembly, 

students and labour unions on a practical 

way forward with the Nigeria Police. The 

reform is of essence and the time is now. A 

lot of this reform should and must be 

centered on these three things if we don’t 

want to emerge as the joke we have always 

portrayed: Remuneration, Training, and 

Equipment. 

Without these three factors given the 

seriousness it requires, everything that has 

been done including the protest is an 

attempt in futility. 

* Adeoye, a radio talk show host, 

lives in Houston Tx, USA.


Protesting nursing mother. Source: Facebook 

By Charles Kumolu, 

Deputy Editor 

So many things about the ongoing 

nationwide #EndSars protests are 

mind-blowing in this clime. Its 

origin, thrust, longevity, modus operandi 

and even direction are incredible.—never 

been seen. For a development, whose 

immediate causative factor could be traced 

to an incident in Ughelli, Delta State, to have 

had this mass following and nationwide 

impact suggests that it had been a long time 

coming. It is such a unique occurrence that 

leaves anyone amazed at its mass appeal 

and life-span. This conversation, with Mr. 

Leo Abuja, a key protester, who like many 

others, said the protests are leaderless, 

provides a clear picture of what has kept the 

mass action going. 

We want to know where the 

inspiration to lead the protest comes 

from… 

First, I have to correct the impression that 

anyone is leading the protest. Everyone is a 

protester and a leader. They are all 

independent people who have decided to join 

a fight for their lives, their future and 

posterity. No one is following anyone. 

Everyone came on his or her volition. 

Everyone is responsible for himself. There 

are no leaders in this protest. 

Obviously, the protest has a life of its own 

across the country. What has kept it going? 

What has kept it going is the distrust of 

government. We are like children who have 

been told lies many times by their parents. 

It is just like a situation where parents keep 

telling their children to take their shoes that 

they are going out and the parents are 

nowhere to be found. That is the analogy I 

am using. This time, we are waiting with 

our slippers. Nobody is going to tell us to 

pick our slippers and follow him. We have 

been waiting for government for a very long 

time. They have cancelled and disbanded 

SARS for a long time in the last five years, 

in different ways. We are not taking that for 

an answer anymore. We are going to stand 

firm and decide because for every one of us, 

our children are going to ask us what we did 

when it mattered most. We have asked our 

parents what they did in their time and they 

said they had to run for their lives because it 

#ENDSARS AND PEOPLE POWER: 

FG gets new condition 

for protests to end 

* ‘Key protester’: Govt must earn our trust, we can’t be fooled anymore 

* Says police making more people join protests 

was a military era. Now, we are in a 

democratic setting and we have experienced 

many years of democracy more than any of 

our parents. We are going to exercise our 

democratic rights. If government starts 

making us trust them, perhaps, we would 

start listening to them. For now, the only 

thing motivating us is the fact that 

government keeps giving us reasons to 

distrust them. 

Despite the disbandment of 

SARS in line with your 

demands, the protests have 

continued with increasing 

momentum. Can you explain 

this? 

The reason the protests are 

spreading despite the 

disbandment is the distrust. You 

can’t say you have disbanded 

something and you are giving it a 

new name. They would have to 

actually show us some new things 

happening. The Federal 

Government through the police 

decided to create a SWAT team. A 

SWAT team is nowhere near where 

a SARS team is. We know what a 

SWAT team requires. Nigeria does 

not have that capability yet for a 

SWAT team. Copying the name and telling 

us it is a replacement for SARS is not 

acceptable. We can’t be fooled like that. 

Some of our demands are very simple: We 

want community and state police. 

We want better welfare for officers. These 

things I have just listed now would make the 

police better. We are not saying end the 

police, we are only saying that the system 

should be made better. If they are reformed, 

they can’t brutalise anybody. If a policeman 

arrests you, he would be civil in his attitude 

rather than using excessive force. That is 

For now, the 

only thing 

motivating us 

is the fact that 

government 

keeps giving 

us reasons to 

distrust them 

what we are demanding. If a policeman lives 

among you and he is told that someone stole, 

he knows how to arrest the person instead of 

arresting boys from the street. Besides 

community policing, better welfare for the 

police, we want a public apology from 

government. We want families of those killed 

unjustly by SARS to be compensated. It 

cannot replace their lives but they need to 

be compensated. Let’s see how sorry 

government is. 

It seems that as the tempo of 

the protests increases, your 

demands also increase. The 

situation is giving the 

impression that there is no 

quick end in sight… 

I will keep on using the 

analogy of a parent to describe 

what government is doing. 

What does a parent who keeps 

beating his child rather than 

talking to the child expect the 

child to do? The child would 

get accustomed to the beating, 

thereby making it look as if it 

no longer works. It would get 

to a point where you would ask 

the child to bring your cane 

and he would ask you if it is 

the long or short one. Instead 

of government to listen to us 

and actually try to meet the demands, they 

are doing something else. They claimed to 

have addressed the demands, but you don’t 

just set up a committee just like that. The 

committee is supposed to be a composition 

of key stakeholders like the human rights 

community. Nigerian laws are perfect and 

there are so many things they should have 

easily taken care of but the loopholes in the 

system do not allow the laws work. The 

protests are gaining momentum because 

when people protest, the police respond with 

brutality. As a result of that, more people 

who wouldn’t want to sit and watch other 

human beings brutalised, are joining the 

protests. We are thanking the police for 

making more people come out. If not for 

them, we wouldn’t have had our numbers. 

Before now, this generation had 

been described as the phone-pressing 

generation, millennials, and even 

Indomie generation. Now, people 

like you are standing in the gap for 

your generation. What does it feel like 

standing up to be counted when it 

mattered most? 

Whenever they call us the phone-pressing 

generation or Indomie generation, I laugh. 

Our generation is the first that saw the 

advent of technology that has brought us a 

lot closer than ever. Our generation is the 

generation people can get things easily done 

without leaving their houses, and without 

having to go anywhere. Ours is a generation 

whose parents have taught us high moral 

values, yet we live in a bad system that lacks 

values. We are talking about a generation 

that knows what is right but has not expressed 

what is right. Now that we have the 

opportunity, you think we would not express 

what is right? This is the generation that 

went out to protest and made sure 

everywhere we went to protest was kept 

clean. 

This is the same generation that was 

attacked by hoodlums and despite being 

attacked we took the hoodlums to the 

hospital. We got them treated and even gave 

them food. This is the generation that would 

stop and explain to the uninformed the 

reason we are protesting. We are not just out 

to create chaos or civil disobedience, we are 

only trying to get Nigeria working. This is 

the generation that pays their taxes. We are 

the most taxed generation ever in Nigeria. 

The unemployment level is 27 percent yet 

the federal government still found a way to 

collect taxes from people who don’t work. 

This is the best generation Nigeria would 

ever have because we know what is right 

and wrong. And we would not for any reason, 

become religiously biased or become biased 

based on age and ethnicity. My generation 

is a generation that would tell you it is not 

about your age, but the respect you can earn. 

And that is what determines the respect you 

earn. 

What is going on across the country 

is novel and has even attracted 

admiration from the old guard, that’s 

the exiting generation as some say. 

To a lot of people, this is a precedent 

that should serve as a model for 

future engagements. Since 

consistency for the common good is 

a luxury here, there are concerns that 

Nigeria may not witness this kind of 

protest again when government goes 

south… 

Consistency might a huge problem in 

Nigeria but my generation would not have 

that problem. Unfortunately, the generation 

of the Azikiwe and Murtala Mohammed 

that made Nigeria great, had one thing in 

common with our generation, which is the 

advancement of the country. Their time was 

a period of change like our own time. And 

they practicalised the new things of that era 

the same way we are learning about the new 

things of this era. And we are ready to 

practicalise them. We would not have any 

reason to protest again if government keeps 

doing good. If government becomes youthcentred, 

we wouldn’t have a reason to protest. 

This generation is no longer waiting for 

government. Three years from now, 

Nigerians would see more youth leaders and 

youth voters. I wouldn’t call this a 

revolution, this awakening had been a long 

time coming and everybody wants someone 

who can speak for them. A 75-year-old man 

cannot speak for me. A 60-year-old man 

cannot speak for me. He can only see 

things from his perspective.


Email:biolasobowale@yahoo.com 

Phone Number: 08055069026 

Twitter:@DrDeleSobowale 

Instagram:delesobowalefranklyspeaking 

Website: www.delesobowale.com 

Confession of failure on 

Nigeria’s 60th anniversary 

“And nothing to look back to 

with pride 

And nothing to look forward 

to with hope” - Robert Frost, 

1874-1963 

President Buhari has my 

sincere sympathy. Those 

who handed him the October 

1, 2020 address did him a 

disservice. They exposed one 

of his deepest faults for the 

world to see. A more modern 

national leader, who had read 

widely, would have known 

that the address he delivered 

to the world, apart from being 

badly written, was also totally 

empty of ideas. An occasion, 

which more astute leaders use 

to catalogue their 

demonstrable achievements 

and exhort the citizenry to 

follow them into a glorious 

future, was characterized by 

boring repetition of 

grievances against his 

predecessors who achieved 

something. So far, Buhari has 

achieved nothing; and there 

is no hope for the future. Our 

President seems to possess one 

idea about governance – 

grumbling about the past. 

“A statesman is judged by 

results. If his policy fails, he 

goes. It may be unfair, but 

there is a kind of rough justice 

about it” - Baron Robert 

Boothby, 1932. 

All over the world, 

democracies are 

differentiated from other 

forms of government by the 

fact that, even after being 

overwhelmingly elected, a 

government still serves 

everyday at the pleasure of the 

people. In nations where 

politicians have developed 

appropriate levels of shame, 

Presidents and Prime 

Ministers have even been 

known to voluntarily quit 

when their failures and 

incompetence became selfembarrassingly 

apparent. 

Africa is the most backward 

continent because we are led 

stubbornly by failures who still 

refuse to leave and allow the 

nation to move on. Nigeria is 

now stuck with a leadership 

hell bent on ruining the 

country beyond repairs by the 

time this government departs 

in 2023 – which seems like 

eternity right now. Here is why. 

“GDP growth is projected to 

be negative in the third quarter 

of this year. As such, our 

economy may lapse into the 

second recession in four years, 

with significant adverse 

consequences” - President 

Buhari, delivering the 2021 

Budget to the National 

Assembly, NASS, October 8, 

2020. 

Next to a full-blown 

economic depression, which 

the world last experienced in 

the 1930s, a recession is the 

worst indication of economic 

policy failure a government 

can present to the nation. Few 

elected governments last 

much longer than the 

duration of the first one; it is a 

We need to 

restructure first 

– evolve into a 

confederacy, 

parliamentary 

system, etc – 

before Igbo 

Presidency can 

be considered 

rarity for the same leader to 

stand before the NASS and 

announce “the second 

recession in four years”. Did 

the NASS explode into 

applause? Or were they so 

shocked they wept quietly? 

Readers need to be 

reminded that Nigeria has 

experienced recession only 

thrice in our history. The first 

was in 1984; and the military 

Head of State then was one 

Major-General 

Muhammadu Buhari. So, as 

the third recession rolls in, 

“with significant adverse 

consequences”, history will 

forever record three recessions 

against the name of one 

leader – Buhari. That is a 

terrible way to enter the 

history books. But, the fault is 

not entirely Buhari’s. There 

are many individuals and 

groups waiting to share in the 

blame for what will appear to 

posterity as a period when the 

entire country lost its bearing. 

There must be something 

wrong with Nigerians if all 

elected officials of the NASS 

sat glued to their seats to listen 

to another drivel. One 

example will illustrate why 

the joint sitting of the Senate 

and the House of 

Representatives was a bloody 

waste of everybody’s time. 

“However, we are working 

assiduously to ensure a rapid 

recovery in 2021. We remain 

committed to implementing 

programmes to lift 100 

million Nigerians out of 

poverty over the next ten 

years.” 

The NASS listened to that 

laughable declaration with 

rapt attention. Those who 

scripted that statement for 

Buhari were once again 

doing the President a 

disservice as will be 

demonstrated shortly. But, 

Buhari did himself worse 

damage by delivering it. 

Perhaps, if the President had 

been able to observe the 

political-economic 

absurdities involved in that 

statement, he would have 

struck it out of the draft 

presented. 

After 2021, Buhari will not 

have ten years to lift 100 

million out of poverty. He 

would have only two years and 

it is doubtful that he would 

have reduced the number of 

those living in poverty by one 

soul. On the contrary, his 

policies will most probably 

add more than we have now. 

Again let me explain. 

“Buhari said the exchange 

rate would be based on N379 

per dollar, GDP growth 

projected at 3.0 per cent” - 

PUNCH, October 9, 2020 

Before returning to the past, 

we need to take a quick look 

at the projections in the 2021 

budget to answer the 

question: Will this budget, 

even if implemented fully, lift 

10 million out of poverty by 

December of next year? The 

clear answer is NO! It is an 

abiding axiom of economics 

that if a nation’s GDP growth 

is equal to, or lower than, the 

population growth rate, then 

it is impossible to reduce 

poverty. As it is, the Nigerian 

population is estimated to be 

growing at 3.2 per cent every 

year. So, count 2021 out of the 

ten years Buhari is talking 

about. What is left after that? 

Only two full years. 

Imagine, if you can, a head 

of family, known to the entire 

community, including his kids, 

for promising monthly more 

than he/she can deliver from 

legitimate income. Debts, 

which keep piling up, are 

sought to make up the 

shortfall all the time and, for 

five years, loan servicing 

consumes rising percentage 

of revenue. His household is 

becoming more threadbare 

every year. Then, on the sixth 

year, he promises a bigger 

package of benefits. Who on 

earth will believe him? Yet our 

President stood before the 

NASS and did just that in 

2020. 

You can easily see why 

Buhari and his speech writers 

– obviously economic 

illiterates – can only render 

cheap propaganda as budget 

presentation. Unfortunately 

for the President, nobody 

knows who wrote that 

fraudulent statement which he 

delivered with a straight face. 

History will remember it as a 

big deception or a 

presidential joke which was 

totally uncalled for on such a 

grand occasion…. 

To be continued 

MORE ON IGBO 

PRESIDENCY 2023 

“2023: Igbo must be on the 

same page to actualize 

ambition – Ezeife, Kema 

Chikwe” - VANGUARD, 

October 6, 2020, p 13. 

Dr Kema Chikwe, a former 

Minister of Aviation, 

summarised the situation 

better than I can. So, permit 

me to render it without editing 

before making my own 

comments in support. 

“If indeed the Igbo want to 

produce the President, they 

must show commitment to 

the project. It should be seen 

as a communal project and 

not as a personal one. The 

Igbo must integrate other 

parts of the country by 

building good relationships 

with them and counting on 

their support. Women and 

youths must also be carried 

along in the quest for Igbo 

presidency in 2023.” 

Madam, I doff my hat for 

what must be a heartfelt appeal. 

I cannot agree more. I 

am not waiting for our Igbo 

friends to come looking for 

me. I am on the lookout for 

them. All Nigerians must 

participate in this project. At 

the risk of being accused of 

repeating myself, we are 

seeking to elect a Nigerian 

President who is an Igbo. He/ 

she will be my President as 

much as that of Dr Chikwe. 

“Charity begins at home.” 

That said, I need to start my 

own integration from 

VANGUARD; and with my 

Igbo colleagues who have 

expressed various views on the 

issue. Surprisingly, almost 

without exception, they have 

given less than total support 

for the project. One even gets 

the feeling that one or two 

don’t support the idea for 

various reasons. That is most 

unfortunate. Without naming 

the authors of the positions, I 

hope they will consider my 

alternative views. Their 

opposition to the Igbo 

presidency 2023 project can 

be summarised two ways. 

1. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, 

who was the best qualified 

candidate to be Prime 

Minister in 1959, was shunted 

off to the ceremonial role of 

President. Then Dr Alex 

Ekwueme, who was President 

Shagari’s Vice President, was 

denied succession in the 1980s 

and then had the PDP ticket 

snatched from him in 1998/9. 

Consequently, there is no point 

trying to get an Igbo 

candidate elected in 2023 

because the North will not 

agree. 

2. We need to restructure 

first – evolve into a 

confederacy, parliamentary 

system, etc – before Igbo 

Presidency can be considered. 

There are other reasons 

advanced for not giving total 

support to the project. But, let 

me try to persuade my 

colleagues holding out to reconsider 

their positions. 

Continues on 

www.vanguardngr.com 

It’s time to walk in the Spirit 

Brethren, we are in the 

ember months, a time 

that physically many of us feel 

that having worked hard in 

the earlier part of the year, it is 

time to slow down. 

However, this year, we all 

know has been quite different. 

The whole world was on a 

forced holiday. The forced 

holiday caused by the global 

pandemic, CoVid 19 did not 

spare the church buildings. 

Everywhere was closed. But 

now, the only One that can 

close and no one can opening, 

God Almighty in his mercy 

has started to re-open and life 

is gradually returning to 

normalcy. 

As the Lord lives, everything 

that has been dead in your life, 

will receive the breath of the 

Holy Spirit and come alive in 

Jesus name., 

Do you know that you and I 

are not the first to experience 

a lock down, if you don’t 

believe, read the story of Noah 

and his family in the ark but 

that isn’t the focus now. 

Our focus is what happens 

to us after the global 

pandemic and how to go 

about it. 

Brethren, you probably 

didn’t realize that you have 

been crawling in the Spirit 

though you were walking 

physically. How do I mean? 

The social economic effects of 

the global pandemic has left 

many of us so worried about 

physical issues, that the mind 

was not focused on the 

Spiritual yet the Spiritual 

controls the physical, that’s 

what we are taught as 

Christians. 

The question now is, how do 

we walk in the Spirit?. 

Walking in the Spirit is simply 

about getting closer to God. 

Imitating the ways of the Lord 

and living our lives in a 

manner that God wants us to 

live. In other words, 

abstaining from sin, showing 

love to our neighbours, 

striving to keep the peace at 

all times among other issues. 

Brethren, has there been a 

change in our prayer life this 

season? If you have slowed 

down, you missed it but it is 

not late to pick up your prayer 

life with speed again. This is 

a decision that only you can 

take. I pray that the Holy 

Spirit will revive your prayer 

life this season in Jesus name. 

Brethren, when the Spirit of 

God is in you, even 

unbelievers will see it. The 

glory of God in the life of a 

person cannot be hidden. 

Let’s see the comments of 

Pharaoh an unbeliever to 

Joseph who interpreted his 

dream. Our authority is found 

in Genesis 41 vs. 38 (KJV) : “ 

And Pharaoh said unto his 

servants. Can we find such a 

one as this is, a man in whom 

the Spirit of God is? 

Brethren, how do you 

manifest the Spirit of God in 

you? . It isn’t only by praying 

for yourself but also how you 

relate to others. When last did 

you visit an orphanage to 

donate items, when last did 

you show kindness to a 

widow? 

When last did you preach 

salvation of soul to someone? 

These were the things Christ 

did. We need to take some of 

these steps for our prayers to 

be answered. 

Enough of your crawling in 

the Spirit, rise up in your 

Spirit. Spend quality time to 

pray. Sleeping all through 

the night isn’t the best. As 

often as you wake up, spare 

some time to communicate 

with the Lord. The Holy Spirit 

When you walk in 

the Spirit, your 

strength is renewed 

and you develop a 

higher capacity to 

wait on the Lord 

will guide you. The Spirit of 

God will give you that prayer 

point you need at that crucial 

time and sooner that you 

expect that miracle you have 

been expecting will manifest 

in Jesus name. 

Brethren, when you decide 

to walk in the Spirit, the Spirit 

of God will work in you. 

Walking in the Spirit will give 

you a total turn around that 

would make you rejoice. 

Are you so overwhelmed 

with the challenge of 

barrenness that you don’t 

bother to show kindness and 

love to others? If you are in 

this state of mind, you need to 

change immediately. 

Walking in the Spirit means, 

taking control of the flesh. It 

is one’s ability to subdue the 

flesh. May God give us that 

special grace to subdue the 

flesh in Jesus name. 

The Holy Bible tells us in 

Galatians 5 vs- 16-18 : “ This 

I say then, Walk in the Spirit, 

and ye shall not fulfill the lust 

of the flesh. For the flesh 

lusteth against the Spirit, and 

the Spirit against the flesh: 

and these are contrary the one 

to the other: so that ye cannot 

do the things that ye would. 

But if ye be led by the Spirit, 

ye are not under the law”. 

Brethren, you may have to 

sacrifice some things, time, 

sleep, and those things you 

love to do in the physical to be 

able to walk in the Spirit. 

The book of Galatians 5 vs. 

19-21 helps us to identify those 

things of the flesh. It states: “ 

Now the works of the flesh are 

manifest, which are these; 

Adultery, fornication, 

uncleanness, lasciviousness, 

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, 

variance, emulations, wrath, 

strife, seditions, heresies, 

Envyings, murders, 

drunkenness, revellings, and 

such like: of the which I tell 

you before as I have also told 

you in time past, that they 

which do such things shall not 

inherit the kingdom of God”. 

In the same vein, those who 

engage in such activities may 

unconsciously be widening 

the gap between them and 

their miracles. Brethren, the 

choice is yours. It is not that 

of your Pastor, it is yours. 

Once we are able to walk in 

the Spirit, our faith is lifted up. 

When our faith is lifted and 

we overcome all challenges. 

Our Lord Jesus told us in 

Mark 9 vs. 23: “ Jesus said 

unto him, If thou cast believe, 

all things are possible to him 

that believeth”. 

God will help our unbelief 

this season in the name of 

Jesus. 

Brethren are you receiving 

treatment for a health issue 

or infertility? Do you know you 

might be in the wrong place? 

When you walk in the Spirit, 

the Lord will lead you to the 

right place. 

At other times, the Spirit of 

the Lord goes ahead and tells 

the doctor what to do about 

your case. 

This sometimes explains 

why IVF is successful for some 

persons and unsuccessful for 

others. 

Do you doubt this? I’ll share 

with you the testimony of a 

lady that I know. 

This lady went to the doctor 

feeling feverish with all the 

symptoms of a fever. The 

doctor commenced 

treatment but the very night 

the patient commenced 

treatment, the doctor had a 

dream in which the Holy 

Spirit told her to stop malaria 

treatment for the lady, as she 

is pregnant. Neither the 

woman nor her doctor knew 

she was pregnant but the allknowing 

Spirit of God knew. 

It was after that dream that 

the doctor conducted a 

pregnancy test that turned 

positive. The patient later put 

to bed a set of twins. 

That is what walking with 

the Spirit can do. 

When you walk in the Spirit, 

your strength is renewed and 

you develop a higher capacity 

to wait on the Lord. 

Walking in the Spirit gives 

you confidence that your 

miracle is on the way. 

Psalm 130 vs. 5 : “ I wait for 

the LORD, my soul doth wait, 

and in his word do I hope”. 

Brethren, the ember months 

are months of intensive 

prayer and praise worship and 

thanksgiving. When we do 

this, heaven will surely 

respond. 

The Peace of the Lord be 

with us at all times in Jesus 

name.

LAGOS-BENIN-DELTA HIGHWAY: 

100 horror points 

•Chaos. Extortion. Accidents. Even Deaths 

By Omasan Okere 

Strewn across the major 

highways of the country are 

thousands of checkpoints with 

the potential of increasing the duration 

of journeys by travelers and other road 

users. 

From travelers/motorists 

experiences, a journey from Warri 

(Delta State) to the nation’s 

commercial and business capital, 

Lagos, which ordinarily should last 

around six hours, now takes over 12 

hours, no thanks to the ubiquitous 

‘cheque points’, sorry, checkpoints on 

the highway. Checklist: On the everbusy 

Warri to Sapele highway, there 

are no fewer than four police 

checkpoints. Sapele to Benin starts 

with a checkpoint mounted by the 

personnel of the Nigerian Security 

and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). 

The checkpoint area is interspersed 

with big logs functioning as barriers 

which had caused many deadly 

accidents on the road. 

After this appears a cavalcade of 

articulated vehicles and trucks which 

cause mindless traffic gridlock since 

vehicles, more often than not, run into 

the logs and into a ditch. 

Before the university town of 

Oghara, there is one police 

checkpoint. 

After the poky town, there is a ‘Civil 

Defence’ checkpoint. Before Koko and 

after Koko Junction, there is a ‘Civil 

Defence’ checkpoint each. 

Ologbo is equally burdened with 

police and military checkpoints on 

each side of the road. 

Before Benin-City, the Edo State 

capital, there is another ‘Civil 

Defence’ checkpoint. 

And, especially because of the 

inherently bad road, vehicles resort to 

driving against traffic and this ugly 

development causes accidents, with 

many ending fatal and claiming 

precious lives. 

Before getting to the bypass, by the 

bypass and after, there are no fewer 

than three military checkpoints, 

deployed there ostensibly because of 

the pervasive insecurity in the country, 

especially Boko Haram insurgents 

and herdsmen incessantly marauding 

southern Nigerian farmsteads as well 

as the ransom-angling kidnappers. 

Curiously, the personnel of the 

Federal Road Safety Commission 

(FRSC) are also in this unwinding 

bypass. 

Fact is that policemen are even the 

present threat, 

not the soldiers 

who generally 

mind their 

business and 

restrict the scope 

of their 

surveillance. 

But the police, 

in their bid to 

collect bribes, 

would delay 

vehicles and 

their owners and 

often take them 

out of earshot 

Between Warri and 

Lagos, there are no 

fewer than 109 

checkpoints: 

Army (18) 

Vigilance (1) 

Civil Defence (7) 

FRSC (9) 

Customs (5) 

police (73) 

into the 

surrounding 

forest for 

m a x i m u m 

bargaining and resultant exploitation. 

They even log into, especially, 

expensive cellular phones ostensibly 

looking for so-called ‘Yahoo Boys’ and 

‘Yahoo Girls’ when their game plan is 

to delay and exploit the impatience of 

their quarries to jack up their bribes. 

All these create endless gridlocks. 

What is even curious is that these 

policemen appear in mufti, and 

unkempt, making it rather difficult to 

differentiate the regular policeman 

from a masquerading armed robber or 

hoodlum or even a Yahoo Boy. 

From Benin-City one gets to the 

rather sleepy village of Ofosu, where 

there is a mind-boggling infinity of 

long trucks, whose incidental 

immobility, caused by the bribecollecting 

policemen, results in 

gridlock and, at their climaxes, 

accidents. 

Welcome to Ondo State. There is a 

strategic police checkpoint before Ore, 

as well as police and ‘Civil Defence’ 

checkpoints at Ore Roundabout. 

There is no checkpoint at the 

immediate suburbs of Ore; however, 

at the remote 

surroundings, there 

are no fewer than 

seven police 

checkpoints, left and 

right, causing ghastly 

accidents. 

There was a 

particularly fatal one 

that crushed a woman 

who was hit by a 

motorist who was 

driving against 

t r a f f i c … a n d 

immediately after, we 

witnessed a gory sight 

as two buses were 

involved in a head-on 

collision while 

attempting to avoid the 

police by driving against traffic. 

The two drivers died instantly while 

the passengers in both vehicles 

suffered various degrees of injuries. 

Some were seen writhing in pains 

and had to be helped to the nearest 

medical facilities for treatment. 

At Omotoso Town, there are military 

and police checkpoints. 

At this somnolent outpost, there is a 

subsisting road maintenance 


programme that has consequently 

collapsed the road into an inductile 

one way, which vehicles are using, 

wittingly or unwittingly, causing 

accidents to their peril. 

Between this village and another 

one on the road, Oniparaga, there are 

four, within a distance of 500 metres 

to one another! 

Worse still, at Ajebandele, there is a 

Vigilance Group checkpoint, again 

duly slamming barriers on the road. 

The Vigilance Group, whose blithe 

operatives wore brown uniforms, 

about four of them, actually, stopped 

and checked vehicles. 

After that point, military, FRSC and 

police checkpoints littered the rather 

bucolic landscape, spacing 

themselves along the expanse of road. 

In Ogun State, the ‘Gateway State’, 

specifically in Ijebu-Ode, there are 

two police checkpoints. 

Much to one’s relief, there is none 

in Sagamu, but on the Expressway in 

Ijebu-Ode there are four! 

Conservatively, between Warri and 

Lagos, there are no fewer than 109 

checkpoints: Army (18), Vigilance (1), 

Civil Defence (7), FRSC (9), Customs 

(5) and police (73)! 

Notorious in using the checkpoints 

to fleece travelers of their hard-earned 

money are the personnel of the police. 

The general belief among Nigerians 

is that the police of our dear country 

are “fantastically dishonest and 

corrupt”. Demonstrably toting 

everlastingly itching palms, our 

policemen and, of course, women, use 

every conceivable, and even 

inconceivable, means to deprive, 

especially the poor and hapless 

citizens, of their hard-earned money 

at every turn, and at every legal or 

illegal checkpoint all over the country, 

extorting, bamboozling and 

browbeating motorists and travelers to 

part with their money. 

To bring this ultra serious and, in 

fact, life and death problem 

graphically home, a Nigerian 

professional who recently traveled 

from Lagos to Sapele in his native 

Delta State narrated his experience. 

Ordinarily, this journey would not 

take more than six or seven hours in 

the maximum. 

The middle-aged man said he 

started out as early as 10am in a 

commercial bus, but arrived his 

destination around 10pm. 

He narrated that on that particular 

day he counted no fewer than 103 

checkpoints even as the vehicle had 

to stop at almost all of them and the 

driver had to pay the particular 

detachment concerned personally for 

doing the work for which they take 

salaries. 

According to him, remarkably, no 

group of motorists is spared this stylish 

robbery. 

Whether it is a private vehicle or 

public, all must stop and pay the 

police illegal toll. 

“If you told them you don’t have 

‘change’ they would tell you they did. 

And sure enough, if you gave them a 

thousand Naira note, they would 

instantly return the balance without 

batting an eyelid”, he stated. 

“In the act of extorting all kinds of 

motorists, they unleash a devil-maycare 

traffic gridlock”. 

On account of the ubiquitous 

checkpoints, he wondered if the 

nation was in a war situation. Or 

whether the nation was about to 

experience what Liberia and Sierra 

Leone went through in the early 90s. 

The professional quipped, “Are we 

under a siege or an emergency? Is it 

more than to eat and live that all kinds 

of strategies, from the simplistic to the 

utterly ingenious, are being 

configured and deployed to separate 

poor and innocent Nigerians from 

their hard-earned money? 

“What do policemen and women do 

with the salaries that they are broke 

even at the beginning of a new month? 

“Why is the whole gamut of ranks in 

the police so famously, or rather 

infamously, venal, greedy and base, 

indeed rotten to the core that they now 

even broadcast their illegalities brazenly 

in the public glare when they used to do 

Continues on page 16

PAGE 16— SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 18, 2020 

Checkpoints are a product of security 

assessment – Frank Mba, Force spokesman 

By Kingsley Omonobi, Abuja 

Force Public Relations Officer, 

Deputy Commissioner of 

Police, Frank Mba, spoke on 

the proliferation of check points along 

Lagos-Ore-Benin-Delta road. 

Investigation reveals that 

there are more than a 

hundred check points on 

Lagos - Ore - Benin -Delta 

road. Why? 

It is a known fact that 

‘checkpoints’, ‘stop and search’, 

‘pin-down points’ etc are strategies 

to ensure visibility policing towards 

checkmating crimes and criminal 

activities world over. 

Checkpoints are mounted by the 

police in strategic points across the 

country for varying reasons. These 

include prevention of crime and 

the need to instill confidence in the 

people especially on our highways and 

crime prone areas. The checkpoints 

should, therefore, not be considered 

indiscriminate or numerous as 

deployment of police personnel at 

checkpoints is a function of security and 

threat assessment of the areas. 

Continued from page 15 

the same with a remarkable degree of 

self-consciousness and shame in the past? 

“Or is there a new morality and 

professional conditioning in the force which 

sees extortion and corruption in terms of 

the legitimate due for wearing uniforms 

festooned with brass buttons and 

epaulettes?” 

To the traveler, all these and many more 

questions are circumstantially pertinent. 

Quite apart from their generic and 

patented proclivities for greed and graft and 

their stereotypical channels for corruption 

and extortion, our policemen and women 

are simply notorious for subverting and 

inverting even nationally instituted 

policies and programmes for personal 

aggrandisement and indeed enrichment, 

to the consternation of the masses. 

What about allegations of abuse 

by the personnel at the 

checkpoints? 

We must agree that we do not have a 

perfect system; however, we have 

internal mechanisms and standard 

operating procedures 

emplaced for 

checkmating excesses 

and unprofessional 

We must 

agree that 

we do not 

have a 

perfect 

system 

100 horror points 

conduct by some of our 

men deployed to the 

various checkpoints. 

Where any of our 

personnel have been 

found wanting, they 

have always been 

brought to book 

expeditiously. 

Considering the 

negative tendencies 

displayed on the 

general public and if unnecessary, 

can these checkpoints be reduced? 

As earlier stated on what informed the 

setting up of checkpoints at various 

locations across the country, these security 

assets are withdrawn whenever the need no 

longer suffices in a given area and 

A case in point was the evanescent 

economic lockdown and the resultant 

curfew imposed on the whole nation. 

At the crack of dawn of this rather tragic 

debilitating development, some smart 

Alecs (policemen) instantly hijacked the 

facemasks imperium and the curfew to help 

burden their wallets. 

The officio-personal rip-off worked this 

way. Some cops striving to benefit fiscally 

from the collective misery of long-suffering 

Nigerians instantly and shrewdly became 

accredited agents of the fat cats and 

moneybags of Nigerian businesses, who 

prudently calibrated the prices of facemasks 

and liquid sanitizers in the directional 

propinquinty of the seventh heaven, just to 

weigh down their individual wallets. So 

these street-smart Mammon-enamoured 

cops prudently procured tons of these 

pandemic-distancing auxiliaries on 

credit, shipping them to their wives and 

redeployed to other areas of importance. 

What are the authorities doing 

about alleged extortion by officers 

in uniform? How are these excesses 

checkmated? 

The Force frowns at every act of extortion 

or demanding with menace by our officers. 

Officers deployed to checkpoints are 

strictly being monitored by the Police X- 

Squad and other monitoring units. We 

also have channels such as the 

Complaint Response Unit and the 

Public Complaint Bureau to receive 

and resolve complaints from members 

of the public against police actions. 

How can motorists or road users 

extricate themselves from such 

situation when confronted? 

We beseech members of the public to 

always be calm and allow officers do their 

job. When there are perceived indiscretions 

and tendencies of unprofessionalism from 

the officer (s), do not engage the officers, 

rather request to speak with the most senior 

officer on ground. When you are not 

satisfied with response from the most 

senior officer on ground, report to the 

nearest police station or through the 

following hotlines: The CRU: Calls only 

08057000001, 08057000002, SMS/ 

sometimes sensually-obliging house help 

deployed instructively to strategic 

checkpoints on our bustling expressways. 

The strategy was to arrest any hapless 

and helpless passenger who didn’t wear 

the facemask and force same to buy one 

from an opportune source providentially 

close to the scene, thereby raking in good 

money. 

And for some others, before the 7 o’clock 

commencement of the curfew period, they 

were already apprehending 

circumstantially pedestrians and 

charging them thousands of Naira each. 

And if they could not pay, they were soon 

brusquely herded like cattle into their 

malventilated catacombs that went by the 

name of cells. 

I know many people reading this may be 

blaming President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Please, let’s leave the President out of this. 

He is trying in his own way to ensure peace 

and safety. 

Fact is, he can’t be everywhere. So let us all 

strive to make our country an enjoyable place 

Nigeria missing at AfCTA trade, investment facilitation class 

By Princewill Ekwujuru 

Nigeria was missing at the African 

Continental Free Trade Area 

(AfCTA) which had over 25 African 

countries trade and economic officers in 

attendance, and organized by Nazaru LLC, 

a United States (US) based trade 

facilitation company, to receive a 

masterclass to boost their capacities in trade 

and investment. 

The free online training, ahead of the 

planned takeoff of the AfCFTA in January 

2021, saw an African Union Policy Officer, 

Togo, Madagascar, Libya, Kenya, 

Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Somalia, 

Mozambique, Algeria, Eswatini, Uganda, 

Lesotho and Egypt participating. 

According to the Chief Executive Officer 

of Nazaru, Mrs. Toyin Umesiri, who is also 

the resource person, the aim of the program 

was to enhance the skills of participants to 

effectively drive the AfCTA. 

Umesiri, a Nigerian, said there was a skill 

gap among stakeholders as regards the 

strategic vision of the trade pact. 

“A lot has been said about AfCTA 

including its benefits and technicalities but 

one thing I have observed is a skill gap on 

how to personalize the agreement”, she 

said. 

“For everybody listening to me, the big 

question is, now, what does the agreement 

mean to you? What does that mean to your 

role and responsibility as a stakeholder? 

“For several years now, we have been 

bringing global stakeholders together and 

we find that, that is not enough. 

“What we are seeing is that there is a skills 

gap of taking the strategic vision and 

implementing it. 

“That skill is what we need to maximize 

at AfCTA for the industrialization and 

development of Africa of the future”. 

She noted that the trade pact would end 

as a pipe dream without the required 

human capital to manage investments in 

By Princewill Ekwujuru 

Experts in hi-tech and data 

management have said that 

concerted efforts must be made by 

government to ensure that all citizens have 

official identity, especially the 

economically challenged. 

They also said that additional incentives 

have to be created to motivate and attract 

citizens in order to participate fully in the 

digital economy that will be propelled by 

the national identity program. 

This recommendation was based on data 

from the National Identity Management 

Commission (NIMC) that showed the 

agency’s database had only captured about 

42million of approximately 200 million 

citizens and residents in Nigeria. 

the initiative. 

Umesiri, whose drive increased US 

commercial interest in Africa, cited the 

“somewhat failed” African Growth and 

Opportunity Act (AGOA), saying AGOA is 

a preferential trade policy enacted by the 

US government in 2000 to open the 

country’s market to eligible Sub-Saharan 

African countries. 

Many African countries have not been 

able to take advantage of the opportunity 

Co-Founder/Chief Executive Officer of 

Verifyme Nigeria, Esigie Aguele, speaking 

at the Digital Identity Matters held via 

webinar to commemorate the second 

edition of the International ID-Day in 

Nigeria, said that identity was a core issue 

in people’s lives, while stating that concerted 

efforts must be made to ensure that all 

citizens have an official identity, especially 

the economically challenged who need to 

be supported. 

He said: “As a developing nation, the focus 

right now should be on social and financial 

inclusion so people who are not 

documented can get access to services. 

“Digital identities are a key component 

to transforming the informal sector and 

providing growth opportunities for 

business. 

“With digital IDs, they can grow into small 

•Frank Mba 

Whatsapp 08057000003. 

How do we make the roads safer 

and less hectic to travel on? 

Road safety is not just about law 

enforcement. Other non-law enforcement 

departments have important roles to play 

in building, fixing and maintaining roads 

and bridges; creating speed breakers and 

providing street light; and providing 

ready and appropriate responses to 

challenges on the high ways. For 

motorists, the appropriate documents 

and permits are required. Driver’s 

license, insurance, vehicle 

registration, and other documents are 

required by law. 

to be. So, help us oh God! 

Chairman, National Association of Inter- 

State Transporters, NAIST, Chief Mathias 

Uzondu, said: "We have never had it this bad 

as an association. Daily, we are fed with reports 

and complaints by our members on how 

security agencies exploit them on the roads. 

This has made a bad situation worse because, 

in some ways, it influences the cost of 

transportation. 

"We understand that they are there to ensure 

safety on the roads, but they should stop 

making Nigerians regret calling for their 

presence on the roads. We have no problem 

with them on the roads, what we are worried 

about is the inconvenience their actions pose 

to road users. I am using this opportunity to 

call on state commissioners of police to caution 

their men against their reckless attitude on 

the roads." 

*Report filed before the suspension 

of police checkpoints across the 

country in the wake of ongoing anti- 

SARS protest. 

due largely to their inability to navigate 

the non-tariff barriers, according to experts. 

Umesiri stated: “We all know that 

eliminating tariff is one step, we also have 

non-tariff barriers, which is where the real 

work lies. 

“Coming together, partnering, improving 

our skills and collaborating are part of the 

things that will move us forward. 

“Along that line, we at Nazaru have made 

a commitment over the next one year to 

train our policy makers and business 

executives in terms of trade and investment 

facilitation''. 

Government must ensure citizens have official identity for 

economic viability —Experts 

and medium-sized businesses able to 

access microcredits, small loans and 

insurance to scale even further. 

“Let’s take the fisherman who is most 

likely in the informal business 

demographic. 

“His incentive may be to grow his business 

and make more money. 

“Having become digitized, he can 

increase the types of payments he can collect 

because not everybody deals in cash. 

“He can also take his business to areas 

where he is not physically present, and now 

he is no longer a person-to-person business. 

“Maybe, he even wants to buy a bigger 

boat to get more fish, so he needs a loan. 

“These are all financial incentives for him 

to get into the digital economy. 

“There is also the social inclusion 

incentive which relates to government 

social protection and social investment 

programmes''.

At long last, ‘Democracy’ 

visits Nigeria!! 

In 2015, when the then 

US President, Barrack 

Obama visited a 

handful of African 

countries, Nigeria was 

excluded, though he got as 

close as neighbouring 

Ghana. Later in the year, at 

an International 

Conference on Media 

Development and 

Sustainability in Africa 

organized by the University 

of Neuchatel, Switzerland, 

one participant engaged 

me on the visit suggesting 

that Obama was probably 

persuaded into believing 

that Ghana was a more 

stable democracy. While I 

was inwardly sure that real 

democracy was yet to get to 

my country-Nigeria, it did 

not appear rational that the 

visit of an American 

President to an African 

country was a sufficiently 

well-thought out criterion 

for determining the degree 

of adherence to democratic 

practices in such a country. 

My inner feeling that things 

would change soonest for 

Nigeria has painfully, not 

happened 5 years down the 

line because Nigerian 

politicians like my 

colleagues at the 

Switzerland conference, 

did not appreciate the 

difference between the 

object and the subject of 

democracy. 

Perhaps, because military 

intervention in Nigeria’s 

political life lasted far 

beyond what makes sense, 

many people in the country 

have erroneously come to 

see democracy as a system 

of government by civilians 

as distinct from 

militocracy. In reality, 

democracy is not about the 

absence of uniformedpeople 

in positions of 

power and authority, it is 

instead, a system which 

institutionalizes freedom - 

free speech, free movement, 

free association etc. It is a 

world-wide recognized 

system of government 

premised on 5 pillars 

namely: a) sovereignty of 

the people, b) rule of law, c) 

free and fair elections, d) 

majority rule and e) 

protection of minority 

rights. In other words, 

democracy is not about the 

rule by civilians but by 

leaders who recognize the 

expedience of adhering to 

the 5 pillars. So far, it has 

not been easy to see 

Nigerian politicians who 

would comfortably allow 

the minority to even have a 

say because their 

disposition is that 

democracy is a game of 

numbers. 

As for majority rule, no 

one is sure who genuinely 

obtains the highest number 

of votes in a typical 

Nigerian election which is 

never free or fair. Even if 

some contestants are not 

assured of public support in 

our elections, both the 

police and the judiciary can 

get them to be declared 

elected. Put differently, the 

existence in Nigeria of 

judicial institutions that are 

charged with the mandate 

of appropriately resolving 

political and electoral 

disputes, does not translate 

to the presence of rule of 

law in the country. For long, 

many contestants have been 

smartly edged out of their 

electoral victories through 

legal technicalities or 

brutally terminated for 

unconvincing reasons. One 

of such bizarre outcomes 

was the emergence of a 

governor in Imo state that 

was credited with more 

votes than voters thereby 

placing our bogus 

democracy outside the 

precincts of the rule of law. 

The undemocratic routes 

through which people got 

into power to enjoy huge 

perquisites of office 

converted the methods of 

getting into office to the 

goal of governance. This 

explains the lack of 

accountability by office 

holders and their 

preoccupation with 

arrangements to snatch 

their next tenure. To them, 

every opportunity was for 

electioneering and none for 

governance. Private armies 

were organized to guard 

political leaders thereby 

leaving the nation with a 

law enforcement 

framework that had 

nothing to do with the 

people. Every opportunity - 

jobs, school admissions and 

even palliatives during the 

recent pandemic were for 

politicians and their 

friends/families. Thus, 

elections were fought as 

battles while incumbency 


was stretched to the point 

of ridicule. Whereas there 

was a reduction in 

impunity in the recent 

elections in Edo and Ondo 

states, it was occasioned by 

Many in my 

generation may not 

have agreed with the 

modus operandi of 

the youths but they 

seem to have proven 

that Nigerians can get 

more from 

democracy 

threats of visa ban and 

forfeiture of assets on some 

of our political actors by 

some foreign countries. 

The major obstacle to the 

coming of democracy to 

Nigeria is the failure of our 

people to recognize the 

sovereignty of the people as 

the most important pillar 

of democracy. It is easily 

forgotten that it is people 

who vote at elections for 

other people to become 

political leaders. It is also 

people who form 

governments, it is people 

too who undertake 

governance to improve the 

living conditions of people. 

Whether or not a 

government succeeds and 

gets reelected is determined 

by people. Accordingly, 

government ought to be for 

the people and by the 

people. A country where 

government is for 

politicians rather than the 

people is not a democracy. 

Some patriots shouted 

themselves hoarse that 

except Nigeria stopped 

functioning as if 

government was a 

profitable venture by the 

elected segment of society 

instead of as a service to the 

generality of the people, she 

cannot have sustainable 

democracy. Luckily, from 

nowhere, a glimpse of hope 

emerged; democracy 

suddenly boarded a flight 

and arrived at the Murtala 

Mohammed International 

Airport 12 days ago. The 

flight was carrying 

Nigerian youths who 

having become fed up 

decided to take their destiny 

in their own hands by 

engaging in a non-stop 

protest against the 

statusquo. 

Since then, those 

courageous youths have 

remained in the streets 

making several demands 

beginning with the call for 

an end to SARS- a team of 

fearful law enforcement 

operatives notorious for 

inflicting bodily harm on 

innocent citizens while 

criminals operated 

unhindered. Many in my 

generation may not have 

agreed with the modus 

operandi of the youths but 

they seem to have proven 

that Nigerians can get more 

from democracy. If truly 

things have become so hard 

for the nation particularly 

economically why are we 

all not part of the pains, 

instead of the ordinary 

people alone bearing the 

entire brunt? With such 

undaunting and unending 

narrative, some governors 

took steps to reduce the 

tension. Sanwo-olu of 

Lagos quickly picked up 

the list of demands of the 

protesters in his location 

and handed them 

personally to President 

Muhammadu Buhari in 

Abuja. Other governors, 

notably Wike of Rivers and 

Abdulrazaq of Kwara 

virtually joined the 

protests. Indeed, the 

protesters ferried the Kwara 

governor by Okada to the 

office of the Commissioner 

of Police. The lesson here is 

that if it has become so bad, 

we needn’t buy cars for our 

leaders as they too like us 

can use Okada and cut off 

all the expenses of their 

motorcades. 

From the protests, the 

lyrics of democracy easily 

reached many parts of the 

nation. It helped our Senate 

to call for a reconsideration 

of the nomination of a 

presidential media aide to 

serve as an electoral 

umpire because our 

constitution does not allow 

a card-carrying member of 

a political party to serve in 

INEC. Those who are 

unwilling to see such a 

change of heart as a 

product of the protesters’ 

sermon, should remember 

that such partisan 

nominations successfully 

passed through in the past. 

Only last month when 

Nigerians including this 

writer raised eyebrows over 

the electoral commissioner 

in Edo, no one listened. 

Even INEC dismissed the 

matter with the argument 

that the appointment was 

not made by the 

commission. Although, 

democracy is about 

freedom, our legislators 

have been anxious to 

increase the laws which 

frighten everyone off from 

freedom of speech. While 

thanking God for the visit 

of the democracy flight, for 

how long will the 

passengers remain here? 

PhD,Department of 

Philosophy, 

University of Lagos 

08116759758 

opuruiche2000@gmail.com 

The tragic experience of Dr. Ezekiel 

Izuogu and its corollaries (1) 

As everyone knows, the 

topic that is trending 

most in Nigeria today is 

“EndSars,” the catch-phrase 

for spontaneous protests 

especially in the south against 

police brutality and atrocious 

activities of the Special Anti- 

Robbery Squad (SARS) 

against the people. However, 

the issue will not dealt with 

here today not because it is 

unimportant but because I 

consider it very urgent to draw 

the attention of my readers to 

the very troubling but almost 

forgotten story of Dr. Ezekiel 

Izuogu which emblematises 

not only the Igbo predicament 

in the asphyxiating Lugardian 

contraption we live in but also 

underscores the heart-rending 

persistent failure of leadership 

that tends to cripple the best 

and brightest in the country. 

Although few news outlets 

carried the news of Dr. 

Izuogu’s demise about three 

months ago with a brief 

account of what happened to 

the locally-made car he 

pioneered, the historical 

significance of that event was 

lost on most people. 

That Nigerians collectively 

are 

historically 

pachydermatous is beyond 

dispute, which is why they 

often chase shadows instead 

of spending time and effort on 

things that really matter. That 

said, no right-thinking 

human being who reads 

about what happened to his 

fundamental contribution to 

automotive engineering 

would not be thoroughly 

embarrassed and ashamed of 

belonging to a country that 

wastes its most creative talents 

as a result of sheer wickedness, 

toxic ethno-religious bias and 

plain stupidity. Also in the 

category of wasted talents 

aside from the scientists and 

engineers responsible for the 

Biafran technological 

achievements during the civil 

war were Profs. Ayodele 

Awojobi and Gordian Ezekwe 

whose engineering genius was 

neglected by the ruling elite 

till they died partly due to 

frustration caused by a system 

that elevates mediocrity over 

competence and ability. The 

tragic experiences of these 

scholars are classic examples 

of how hideously 

incompetent leadership 

destroys the most brilliant 

minds upon which every 

society depends for 

innovation, creativity, wealth 

creation and, ultimately, selfreliance. 

Dr. Izuogu, an indigene of 

Akokwa, Imo state, was a 

brilliant electrical engineer 

and lecturer at the Federal 

It seems that the 

target of this robbery 

is to stop the efforts 

we are making to 

mass produce the 

first ever locally 

made car in Africa 

Polytechnic, Nekede. 

In 1997 he designed and 

developed Z-600, the first 

indigenous car manufactured 

in Africa. The car was 

described by the BBC as the 

African dream machine given 

that 90% of its parts were 

sourced locally. At a projected 

sales cost of 2,000 dollars, Z- 

600 probably would have 

attracted worldwide attention 

by becoming the cheapest and 

most affordable car on earth. 

With mass production of the 

vehicle envisaged under 

Izuogu Motors plant in Naze, 

Owerri, the prospects of an 

industrial revolution in 

Igboland and Nigeria seemed 

a distinct possibility. Z-600 

was equipped with a locally 

made 1.8L four cylinder 

engine that generated 18 mpg, 

which allowed the car to 

achieve a top speed of 140 km/ 

h. Front Wheel Drive (FWD) 

was preferred to Rear Wheel 

Drive (RWD) because the 

transmission tunnel 

necessitated by RWD would 

be more expensive to 

fabricate. One of the most 

encouraging aspects of this 

sad story as indicated earlier 

is that 90% of the car’s 

components were 

manufactured in the country, 

making it a truly Nigerian 

automobile. Gen. Sani 

Abacha the military dictator 

at that time set up a panel of 

inquiry comprising 

professionals in the relevant 

disciplines to ascertain the 

roadworthiness and 

authenticity of the car. After 

painstaking investigations the 

committee endorsed Dr. 

Izuogu’s car and 

recommended that more 

work should be done 

especially to smoothen the 

body of the vehicle. It is 

important to observe at this 

point that all this happened 

five years before Indians built 

their first car called Indi. Now, 

at a well-organised unveiling 

ceremony attended by Lt. Gen. 

Oladipo Diya who 

represented Abacha, in 

addition to over twenty 

foreign diplomats and 

thousands of people, the 

federal government promised 

a grant of two hundred and 

thirty-five million naira to Dr. 

Izuogu who, understandably, 

was excited. But his 

excitement later turned to 

despair and disillusionment: 

Abacha did not fulfil his 

promise before his sudden 

death in 1998, and his 

immediate successors 

completely ignored the 

subject. 

In 2006, after realising that 

Nigerian leaders were not 

serious, the South African 

government invited Dr. 

Izuogu to display the car in 

the presence of world-class 

engineers. The presentation 

was very successful, 

consequent upon which he 

was requested to set up a plant 

in South Africa and 

commence production of the 

vehicle. He reluctantly 

agreed, although as a patriot 

he was unhappy that South 

Africans rather than the 

people of Naze and Nigerians 

in general would enjoy the 

benefits of employment 

generation arising from his 

invention. 

Sadly, before he could set up 

the plant, on Saturday March 

11, 2006, around 2 am about 

twelve heavily armed men 

broke into his factory in Naze 

and took away various 

machines and tools, including 

the design history notebook of 

Z-600, the design file Z-MASS 

containing detailed design 

descriptions for mass 

production of the car, and the 

moulds for various parts of the 

vehicle. According to the 

heartbroken Dr. Izuogu, “It 

seems that the target of this 

robbery is to stop the efforts 

we are making to mass 

produce the first ever locally 

made car in Africa. 

Other items stolen included 

locally produced timing 

wheel, locally produced 

camshaft, locally produced 

crankshaft, locally produced 

engine tappets, all twenty 

pieces each. Also stolen were 

ten pieces of locally produced 

Z-600 engine blocks, ten 

pieces of locally produced 

pistons, four pieces of engine 

block mounds, four pieces of 

top engine block moulds, ten 

pieces of engine flywheel, and 

two pieces each of rear and 

front mudguard moulds.” He 

regretted that not only did he 

and others involved in the 

project lose over one billion 

naira, but also the time (about 

ten years) and energy spent in 

designing and producing the 

moulds. “To worsen matters,” 

he says, “our design notebook 

was stolen. In my opinion, Dr. 

Izuogu was justified in 

regarding the robbery as a 

national economic disaster 

because the country had lost 

a significant intellectual 

property. Unfortunately the 

Nigerian press did not give it 

the publicity it deserved and, 

as usual, Nigerians moved on 

as if nothing significant had 

happened. 

Years after his dream of 

helping “Nigger Area” to join 

the comity of car 

manufacturing countries was 

blown to smithereens by 

Abacha, Gen. Abdulsalami 

Abubakar and Chief Olusegun 

Obasanjo, Dr. Izuogu unwisely 

stepped into the corruptioninfested 

murky waters of Imo 

politics by participating in the 

gubernatorial primaries for 

the All Progressives Grand 

Alliance (APGA). The 

bohemian historian, 

philosopher and writer, 

Chinweizu, remarks, correctly 

in my view, that Izuogu’s case 

is a paradigm example of Igbo 

brilliance without wisdom, 

cleverness without common 

sense; an example of Igbo 

dreaming 

about 

industrialisation without 

political autonomy. 

Furthermore, “Some Igbo 

boast that they will do a 

Singapore, Taiwan, South 

Korea, Bavaria or California 

without recognising that they 

first have to achieve the 

political autonomy that made 

such models possible. Isn’t that 

putting the cart before the 

horse? Didn’t our precolonial 

Igbo ancestors say: ‘ana 

azotagodu ala tupu azowa 

ute?’ But our brilliantly 

certificated modern Igbo are 

too brilliantly blind to see 

wisdom in such folk sayings.” 

Chinweizu affirms that only 

“an Igbo clever fool” would try 

to build a manufacturing plant 

without having the political 

and security forces to protect 

it. 

To be concluded.


No going back on protests in 

19 northern states — CNG 

•Says govs anti-North 

By Charles Kumolu, 

Deputy Editor 

Motivated by the momentum and 

success of the #EndSARS 

campaign, Coalition of Northern 

Groups, CNG, last Thursday, convened 

protests across northern states to demand 

drastic actions on the insecurity in the North. 

The action was on the heels of a similar one 

held in June. Discussing the issues around the 

latest development, in this interview, 

spokesman for CNG, Abdulazeez Suleiman, 

tells Sunday Vanguard that the protests would 

continue until President Muhammadu Buhari 

and northern governors take decisive steps at 

ending insecurity in the region. 

You are protesting again after the last 

protests which seem not to have been 

fruitful. CNG’s consistency on this 

path gives the impression that it feels 

more concerned about the insecurity 

in the North than even northern 

leaders… 

We have always said that we 

have insensitive northern elites. 

The elites always take a different 

path from the one taken by the 

majority of the populace. That is 

why the North has remained 

relatively backward. We don’t 

want that any more. That is what 

the CNG is all about. We want to 

change that perspective. We want 

the ordinary northerner to know 

that his main problem is not the 

southerner but his leader. We 

want to emancipate the ordinary 

northerner from the insensitivity 

of his leaders. Everybody can see 

the contradiction. While 

representatives of the 

southerners at the National Assembly and 

southern governors are all with the #EndSars 

protesters, northern governors are anti-North. 

Could you explain? 

When they met, we thought they would take 

a position that would be favourable to the 

Many northern 

leaders have 

taken the 

laxity and 

docile nature 

of the ordinary 

northerner for 

granted 

North but instead they took a position that is 

neither here nor there. They are 

always compromising, which 

is what brought us to where we 

are today. To a large extent, the 

banditry and terrorism in the 

North were brought about by 

frustration. Northerners are 

frustrated by their political 

leaders, religious leaders and 

cultural leaders. That is one of 

the main problems. Part of the 

resolutions is that we are going 

to really stand up and call out 

these leaders because they don’t 

own the people. The people 

own the power they are 

wielding. The people have to 

start talking now. The 

northerner is not used to protest, 

particularly when it is an organized protest. 

They are more used to disorganized protest 

that has to do with religion. This one is quite 

different. We are really satisfied with the turnout 

going by what happened in Zamfara, Kaduna 

and other states. It shows that our people have 

started talking. In Kano, thugs suspected to 

ANNUAL HERDERS’ ATTACKS: 

How Ortom saved Makurdi 

— Residents 

By Peter Duru, Makurdi 

Residents on the outskirts of 

Makurdi main town may have 

been saved from yearly armed 

herders’ attacks as ambitious 24km 

road opens up forested communities 

thus sending attackers packing. 

The greatest challenge the Governor 

Samuel Ortom administration had to 

face on assumption of office in 2015 was 

armed herdsmen crisis. 

That crisis left about 18 of the 23 Local 

Government Areas of the state in 

shambles after coming under persistent 

attacks by armed marauders. 

But the troubling aspect of the crisis was 

the intermittent siege on parts of 

Makurdi town by the armed invaders 

leading to the displacement of residents, 

especially those on the outskirts of the 

town who were always forced to flee for 

safety with their families into the main 

town whenever the herders struck. 

The attacks on these communities on 

the fringes of the city centre were always 

reportedly launched from the inaccessible 

forested communities in the several 

kilometers stretch habouring 

communities from Adeke up to Welfare 

Quarters area, down to Yaikyo-Terwase 

Agbadu axis of the town. 

But the recent completion of an 

ambitious 24 kilometer road project by 

the state government which has opened 

up the forested areas and hideouts of the 

armed herdsmen who yearly invade 

Makurdi outskirts has brought respite to 

the people who had lived all their lives in 

fear. 

This was the tale of the obviously elated 

traditional ruler and the most senior Clan 

Head in Iorbee Lada Kindred of Genabe 

District of Makurdi town, and Head of 

Kighir village, Chief Fateh Achaku. 

His words, “I was born here in Kighir 

and lived all my life here in this 

community. 

“We lived here as if ours was a different 

We lived here as if 

ours was a different 

town from Makurdi 

town from Makurdi because we could 

hardly connect with the main town. 

“We were cut off from the rest of the 

world but only accessed our homes 

through any narrow paths we were able 

to create on our own. 

“And then there was the serious threat 

of armed herders. These are people who 

like to take cover in secluded areas where 

people cannot easily access. 

*Suleiman 

be agents of the state government, disrupted 

the protest but we are mobilizing massively 

for another protest in Kano. 

Having cited the success recorded by 

#EndSARS protests, do you plan mobilising 

to ensure that #EndInsecurityNow protests 

garner the kind of momentum being 

witnessed in #EndSARS? 

The momentum is building gradually. 

During the protest in Kaduna, people started 

coming out in droves in the afternoon. 

However, due to the largely unenlightened 

nature of the area, it wouldn’t be possible to 

get a huge crowd. If we do it that way, people 

would come out without knowing the essence 

of the protest and end up causing trouble. That 

is why we are using the few we can mobilise 

and those who understand our cause. In the 

North, if you can pull a crowd of 10 people for 

a protest, you can consider that a success. With 

the level of poverty in the area where people 

are looking for what to eat, they can’t afford 

to protest for too long. But you can see how 

the southern elites supported the #EndSARS 

protests. They feed them, shelter them and even 

protect them. The comments from their elites 

even show that they are supporting the 

•Gov Ortom 

“So they used to camp in the thick 

forests along the Adem axis from where 

they terrorized those of us on this stretch 

of the outskirts of Makurdi town. 

“At the peak of every dry season we all 

live in fear because our communities 

always come under attacks from the 

armed herders who usually strike and 

after which they withdraw into the forest 

and nobody including security personnel 

would be able to access the area because 

there was no road to get there in the first 

place. 

“We did not know peace, we lived in 

fear, we lived as if we were in a war zone 

because of the persistent firing of gunshots 

in our communities by the arm men who 

somewhat held us hostage if I may use 

the word. 

“They chased us from our homes and 

forced families to seek safety elsewhere 

in the main town. On several occasions 

protesters. I am quite sure that if we were to 

talk to the so-called northern elites, they would 

even challenge us. People are being killed daily 

and they are unconcerned. We always ask them 

if we are telling lies that people are being killed. 

Are people not being killed daily in large 

numbers in the North? If people are being 

killed, then these are our suggestions. We are 

definitely out to stop the killings. 

If after the protests the situation remains, 

what should Nigerians expect? 

If actions are not taken and the killings 

persist, we would continue protesting. The 

protests would continue until we see that 

satisfactory steps have been taken. If our 

demands are not met and the killings 

continue, we are going to shut down the entire 

19 northern states. 

Many Nigerians think President Buhari 

hasn’t done more than praising the Service 

Chiefs, warning them and occasionally 

condemning killings whenever they happen. 

To them, it is surprising that the President’s 

region is now under the siege of bandits, 

kidnappers and insurgents… 

Many northern leaders have taken the laxity 

and docile nature of the ordinary northerner 

for granted. It is now that we are waking them 

up. For instance, if one man is killed in the 

South, the President would either send 

condolences or words of condemnations. He 

would even promise fire and brimstone. But 

when hundreds get killed in the North daily, 

he would not say anything. He would even 

pretend as if nothing happened. For instance, 

when a delegation visited him from Niger, he 

said he was not aware people were being killed. 

He said he was not aware it was that bad. 

When he went to Katsina, his home state, he 

pretended that it was the first time he was 

hearing about that scale of insecurity. I think 

what is happening is that the ordinary 

northerner is paying for his ignorant choice 

of leaders. 

Some voices from the North-East are 

demanding that the disbanded SARS 

personnel be sent to the region… 

That does not make sense to us. What we are 

saying is that the entire police force should be 

repositioned for better policing. Our demands 

are clear. The type of quick response given to 

the #EndSARS protests should be extended 

to the #EndInsecurityNow protests. Our 

leaders should not pretend as if the North is 

safe. People have made suggestions on how to 

end insecurity, but the President is 

comfortable with the Service Chiefs. We need 

satisfactory steps on the insecurity in the North 

now. 

my wife and children left me here and ran 

into the main town, same for others. It 

was that bad. 

“But all that has changed with the 

construction of this 24km road. 

Governments in the past came and made 

promises to open up all the forested 

communities on this axis but non was 

courageous enough to do it until about 

three years ago when a contractor erected 

a signboard signaling the commencement 

of work on the road and today our story 

has changed and we’re grateful to the 

present government.” 

One of his subjects, Mr. Terna Ai, said, 

“With so much joy I can tell you that the 

road tore through the forests, more like a 

ring from Kighir community to Tionsha 

through to Mobile Barracks to Adem 

community at Utur through to Mbangur 

up to Welfare Quarters Area/Kanshio 

kindred. 

“From that point the road linked up to 

Yaikyo in Ugondo district linking Terwase 

Agbadu road. That is what this 

government has done for us. 

“It is a project we never believed could 

be completed so soon but the government 

heard our cry and by so doing also 

succeeded in checking the incursion of 

armed herders into Makurdi main town. 

“We gathered that layouts are being 

created by the government in these areas 

now so as to have people move into the 

virgin communities and occupy them. 

That will obviously bring development to 

our communities. 

“In fact we owe the government a lot of 

gratitude because apart from checking 

herdsmen incursions, the road has 

opened our communities and linked 

us up and also made it possible for 

security team like the military 

operation named Operation Whirl 

Stroke, OPWS, to easily access our 

communities to ensure our security”.

Tribute 

JP Clark not dead, his 

spirit lives on: Akachi- 

Ezeigbo, Tomoloju, 

Jahman, others speak 

By Chris Onuoha 

rofessor John Pepper Clark 

PBerekedemo, who passed on, last week, 

was a renowned poet and playwright. 

Born in Kiagbodo to an Ijaw father and 

Urhobo mother, the deceased, fondly called 

JP Clark, received primary education at a 

native school in Okirika, Burutu local 

government in former Western Ijaw and 

proceeded to Ughelli Government College 

for his secondary education. 

He obtained his first degree in English at 

the University of Ibadan in 1960 and 

worked as Information Officer at the 

Ministry of Information in the Old Western 

Nigeria. 

He served for several years as a Professor 

of English at the University of Lagos 

(UNILAG) and retired in 1980. 

In 1982, with his wife, Ebun Odutola, also 

a Professor and Director of Cultural Studies 

at UNILAG, he founded the Peck 

Reportorial Theatre at the university. 

Clark was widely travelled and held 

visiting professorial appointments at 

several colleges including Yale and 

Wesley University in US. 

His notable poems include Mbari, A 

reed in the tide, Casualties, A decade of 

tongues and State of the union man. 

The erudite and emeritus professor has 

bided the mother earth bye but lives on. 

Talking about living on, some of the 

people in the literary community who 

spoke about him affirmed that Clark is 

not dead but had dropped the pen for the 

younger generation to continue. 

Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, a former 

Head of Department, UNILAG, is one who 

doubled as JP Clark’s former student and 

colleague, as a staff member at UNILAG. 

In her reaction, she says JP Clark may 

have journeyed to his Kiagbodo root but 

his legacies live on. 

“I feel so sad to learn that JP Clark, my 

mentor, my teacher and somebody who 

inspired me to be a writer is gone”, 

Adimora-Ezeigbo said. 

“But I feel so happy that his works live 

after him. Writers don’t die. Those of us 

who have been shattered by this news 

should take heart because his works will 

By Kenechukwu Nnabueze 

igh Chief Daniel 

HEzeamaku (Oranyelugo Achina) was 

born into Umuezeanum kindred in Ebele 

village, Achina now Isi-Achina on 

December 26, 1936, to the late Chief Mark 

Udeozor Ezeamaku and the late Regina 

Nwabuaku Ezeamaku (Nee Umeodinka) 

of Ofeama, Okohia Village Uga. 

He was the third of five children from 

his mother. He had his early education at 

CMS Central School, Achina. When he was 

mature enough, his father sent him to Benue 

State as a young boy to serve as an 

apprentice trader to Mr. Benneth 

Ezechukwu of Akukwa, Umuchu, who was 

a trader of cosmetics at the time. When the 

cosmetics business started experiencing a 

downturn and Mr. Benneth decided to buy 

an Austin lorry, young Daniel was assigned 

to the Austin Lorry fondly called 

“Ezechukwu Chiri,” which was driven by 

one Mr. Emmanuel from Enugu-Ukwu. 

It conveyed passengers along the 

Oturukpo-Ojantele-Oweto-Obagaji routes 

in Benue State. Daniel became friend with 

Mr. Emmanuel, who thereon taught him 

driving. 

Upon realization that the job may yield 

huge returns to him, Benneth told 

Oranyelugo how Idoma people travel to 

Ghana yearly to market cocoa and come 

back with big profit, asked him if he would 

be interested in joining them. Oranyelugo 

agreed and Benneth arranged for him to 

travel with then to Ghana with other 

villagers. 

Upon arrival in Ghana with the trade 

party at Fafuede, an extremely remote 

Ghana village, he was highly 

disappointed. 

After a long and arduous journey, he 

arrived in Accra, Ghana’s capital in 1957 

live. It’s a legacy he kept with us into 

generations and he would continue to be 

read. 

“For the family, they had a great father 

and for Ebun Clark, she had a great 

husband. 

“He was a mentor. He taught me as an 

undergraduate in University of Lagos and 

he was there when I joined as a staff in the 

institution. 

“I have a lot of respect for him. I was 

just young when he was teaching us. I had 

read him in secondary school and then, 

to come to UNILAG and met him in 

person, you know it was like heaven on 

earth. 

“And I said to myself, ‘Is this 

the JP Clark I read his book, 

‘The night rain’ and ‘Agbor 

Dancers?’ 

“His poems are simple but 

typically satisfying. He wrote 

well. When you read him, you 

wonder how poetry could be 

simple and at the same time, 

fascinating and lyrical. 

“I think he was one the best 

poets we had in Africa. He will 

live forever. 

“Thank God that there is 

already an edifice called JP 

Clark Center in the University 

of Lagos. 

“That centre should become 

active now with stage plays and 

workshops where his poetry 

would be taught and read. 

“I also want to encourage 

those of us who lecture and are 

still in the system, to teach his 

books. These are great works of art. 

“The succeeding generations should be 

taught his works, so that he continues to 

live in the memory of his contemporaries 

and those coming after. He deserves an 

honour. 

“Lastly, I will remember him as a very 

quiet, principled and reserved person who 

never showed flamboyancy in his lifestyle. 

“I am not surprised that his burial was 

done according to his will. 

“Sometimes you wonder about all the 

noise people make about burial. 

“It is not the ideal thing. I admire his 

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 18, 2020,PAGE 19 

•Clark 

personae, and having that kind of principle 

that money should not be wasted on his 

burial, he saved his family from trauma and 

unnecessary expenditures.” 

Jahman Anikulapo is a vibrant literary, 

arts and culture resources person and 

former Arts Editor at The Guardian 

Newspapers. 

To him, JP Clark was an old man worth 

celebrating, but, according to him, when 

someone of that caliber sleeps, it is like a 

mighty Iroko that fell. 

“JP Clark in 1998 made a last wish that 

was captured in his poem, ‘Now that where 

I am going is nearer than 

where I began, may I...’ People 

like JP Clark are the ones you 

call literary octopus, in the 

sense that if you check the 

volume and brevity of his 

works, you sometimes 

imagine the level of resources 

deposited in him”, he said. 

“JP Clark, apart from being 

a teacher, was a poet, 

dramatist and was very 

exponential in the play ‘Ozidi 

Zaga’ in the University of 

Ibadan. 

“You can recall JP Clark 

and the old civil war story and 

also his effort at the State 

House to make pleas before 

the hanging of Mamman 

Vatsa and Ken Saro Wiwa 

alongside 

his 

contemporaries, Chinua 

Achebe and Wole Soyinka. 

“He was a teacher and someone that had 

lived in what you can call the better Nigeria 

time. 

“These groups are not passive and are 

parts of the story of this country. If you 

live through that kind of life, you could 

imagine the kind of regrets. 

“Lately, sitting with him, he narrated the 

kind of disappointments in the way the 

country is being run. 

“Recently, in one of his books, 

America, Their America’, which he wrote 

when he was in the US, he reflected and 

saw what the President is doing now in 

'MU NA CHIM DI NA MMA': Fulfilling life of Daniel Ezeamaku 

*Ezeamaku 

and worked with Coca Cola Distribution 

Company. He saved enough money to 

acquire a ticket back to Lagos. Upon arrival 

in Iddo Lagos, he heaved a sigh of relief, 

for, during those years in Ghana, he felt 

enslaved. 

After some years abroad, he returned 

home to Achina. When he arrived at 

Achina, there was a mixture of emotions 

for everyone at home. 

His family was overjoyed to see him, 

notwithstanding the fact that he appeared 

malnourished, gaunt, unwell, and generally 

unkempt. 

His mother cried uncontrollably at his 

appearance and his father screamed at the 

top of his voice, saying “Benneth 

Ezechukwu; in whose care he was entrusted 

He is 

incomparable. 

Like his 

distinguished 

peers, he 

stands on a 

pedestal of 

pioneers, and 

pathfinders 

would answer for this.” Oranyelugo; on the 

other hand, was just overcome with joy at 

the sight of his mother; who quickly 

nurtured him back to life. 

Some days after, he informed his father 

that he wanted to go to Onitsha to join 

Sylvanus Ugochukwu, his mother’s cousin. 

As a teenager, he felt that he would have a 

brighter future in the city compared to the 

village. 

His father agreed, gave him some 

money, and allowed him to go. Oranyelugo 

was introduced to one Chief F.E. Egbue, 

whom he served faithfully as a private driver. 

Young Daniel later acquired his own vehicle 

and became a highly successful taxi driver 

and subsequently established a driving 

school with registration name: Makus 

Driving School. 

The driving school grew rapidly and soon 

had many vehicles in its inventory including 

Peugeots, Austin, a Willis Jeep and others. 

When the opportunity arose for private 

businesses to service inter-city bus routes, he 

bought more buses to ply the new routes. The 

business was called Ramblers Bus Service and 

it serviced Ochanja - APZ - Ose - Main Market 

routes. He was very successful and was soon 

made President General of Township Bus 

Owners Association in Onitsha with 

Ifesinachi Motors, the late Igwe James 

Mama, his deputy. 

The war had destroyed many a business 

and upon this return to Onitsha, there was 

no petrol in Onitsha and its environs. To get 

petrol, one would have to travel to Delta 

State from Onitsha by canoe and purchase 

petrol, diesel and engine oil in drums as the 

Niger Bridge was destroyed during the Civil 

War. He dabbled into this business and was 

very successful in it because the product was 

scarce and there was high demand for 

them. 

the case of ‘Black lives matter’, and was 

surprised that what he said about 50 years 

ago just manifested. 

“These are writers who are like seers, 

who saw what could be. He was like 

another father to me and I wish him a 

peaceful passage”. 

For Ben Tomoloju, his fondest memory 

of JP Clark was as a literary juvenile, he 

literarily fed on JP Clark’s poems. 

“In those days as a teenager, I chanted 

his ‘Night rain’, ‘Olokun’, ‘As tides through 

the weeds of the sea’, ‘Abiku’, ‘Coming and 

going,’ and also his other works in poetry 

and essays”. 

On the vacuum his death has created in 

the literary world, Tomoloju said that his 

spirit and inspiration is much stronger 

because he has planted seeds that need to 

grow in terms of literary acumen and has 

influenced over four generations. 

“He was an emeritus professor who 

produced many professors, outstanding 

poets and dramatists. Poets don’t die. “We 

can possible call him Immortal JP Clark 

Bekederemo. 

“He is incomparable. Like his 

distinguished peers, he stands on a 

pedestal of pioneers, and pathfinders in 

the literary word. 

“He was a global icon in drama and he 

has used his works, not only to analyse 

the state of affairs of our country but also 

to prophesy the future of the country. 

“In one of his works, ‘The Raft,’ he spoke 

about the dismemberment of raft on a 

turbulent sea and the metaphor goes to a 

nation called Nigeria. 

“Such people don’t die. They live with 

us in the spirit. We miss him in person but 

his works will continue to inspire us. 

That’s what I call greatness.” 

For Professor Mabel Evwierhoma, a 

theater art teacher, her reaction was that 

of pain because she wished he was still 

around to read her book submission 

taken from a part of his poetry. 

“I was very sad because four weeks ago, 

I submitted a book chapter on one of his 

plays and many of us thought we were 

going to have him, at least, read one of 

our submissions”, she said. 

“Many people read his poems and see 

him as a militant poet and a true spirit of 

African renaissance. 

“But in his plays, you will see some quiet 

characters who fight for the attainment 

of liberty, for the freedom of human spirit. 

“Prof JP Clark was special because, in 

his works, you will find that path-finding 

spirit that cuts across poetry, prose, 

drama and folklore. He was an engaged 

political writer. 

“His poems are quite lyrical but in plays, 

he will find that spirit that is in quest of a 

better life for the community beyond 

individuals. 

“When his characters discuss politics, they 

do so from a very deep understanding of 

leadership and governance to yield 

dividends to the people. 

“He should be remembered for his 

pioneering, creative spirits that counts. 

“He was a creative artist who went into 

theater entrepreneurship and journalism. 

The present generation should tap into this 

ebullient spirit that is very rich in 

creativity”. 

King Petrol Ltd 

With the success of the oil trade in Onitsha, 

he decided to explore the possibility of retail 

petrol business by going into establishing 

filling stations. 

His dream and vision were actualized 

when Nigeria National Petroleum 

Corporation (NNPC) inspected, approved and 

granted D.I. Ezeamaku & Sons Nigeria, 

license to operate as an indigenous oil 

marketer in Nigeria. He was among the first 

to be granted license by NNPC. 

D.I. Ezeamaku & Sons later changed its 

name to King Petrol Ltd and it grew to become 

a frontrunner in the business of petroleum 

marketing till date. 

Oranyelugo was a key actor in the 

realization of the current Community 

Secondary School, Achina (formally Girls 

Secondary School, Achina) when he took it 

upon himself to bulldoze the evil rainforest of 

Ezekoro shrine situated where the current 

community secondary school is located today. 

The site now also includes the Isi-Achina 

Eke Market and oil palm processing facility, 

water borehole and part of St’ Mary’s Catholic 

Church. Oranyelugo was chairman of Ebele 

Development Union and he held the position 

for 10 years. 

He was a director in some public 

company including NIPCO Plc until his 

passage and a pioneer member and patron 

of the Independent Petroleum Marketers 

Association of Nigeria,IPMAN. He has 

been honoured both locally and 

internationally for his various selfless 

service to humanity. Oranyelugo was a 

great family man to the core. He was 

devoted to his family responsibilities. He 

laboured for the growth and establishment 

of his siblings. He strived to train his 

children in education and a disciplined man 

to the core, ensuring his children followed 

in his footsteps. 

Read more on www. vanguardngr.com


I lost my dad, 

my brother to 

police 

—Actress Nsikan Isaac 

Nollywood actress, Nsikan Isaac is one of 

thousands of youths who charged the streets 

of Lagos to protest against police brutality 

during the week. Unlike many who were only 

imbued by the allure of the protests, Nsikan has a 

valid reason, not only for the #ENDSARS vibe but 

for the total reform of the Police Force. 

According to her, in a post on her Instagram page, 

she was lending her voice to the struggle because 

she had faced the pain of losing loved ones to the 

so-called people who are supposed to protect the 

people. 

Hear her : “22 years ago I lost my dad to a stray 

bullet from a police officer. 20 years later I lost 

my elder brother to a gunshot in front of my 

parents’ house from the police too.” 

“I have personally felt the pain. It has been 

there for many years. It has been a struggle, I 

have had my silent cries and I have picked myself 

back up. It took a while but thank God the 

revolution has begun,” she added. 

Nsikan Isaac is the creative director of Leia Cole 

Studios. An alumni of Atlanta School of 

Photography. She’s a petroleum engineer, actress 

and producer. She also has a certificate in the 

Business of Film (The Open University). 

Why I am rated 

Africa’s number one 

DJ — DJ Right 

The trade of disc jockeying is one 

which has grown in prominence 

over the years. With DJs now regarded 

as an integral part of the music industry, 

the competition among jockeys appears 

to have grown proportionally. 

Ghana-born disc jockey and 

producer, Stanley Wright, popularly 

known as DJ Right, is widely regarded 

as one of Africa’s finest hands on the 

wheel of steel. 

In the past few years, DJ Right has 

shared the stage with the likes of Nipsey 

Hustle, Cardi B, Migos, Kodak Black 

and many more music stars. 

He dominated conversations on 

social media for the experience he 

reportedly created with Burna Boy on 

stage during the ‘African Giant’ Tour at 

the Fillmore Silver Spring in the United 

States. 

Speaking on his rise to stardom, 

Wright, a graduate of Bowie State 

University, Maryland, disclosed that he 

started his music career by producing 

music for TV shows, movies and 

commercials before rising to get 

international acclaim for producing 

Lightshow’s ‘Sleep When I Die’ album 

and co-producing on Carolyn 

Malachi’s album. 

When it comes to disc jockeying in 

Africa, DJ Right believes that different 

elements including production style and 

disc jockeying skills set apart a DJ, and 

it is what sets him apart from the vast 

majority. 

For him, the best is yet to come as he 

expressed that there are still more 

heights for him to climb in order to keep 

being regarded as one of Africa’s finest. 

“I feel good about what I have 

achieved with my career. The journey 

has just begun and we are already 

taking over the music space in Africa. 

Now, we are taking it a step ahead with 

the release of new contents and 

collaborations. The journey to greatness 

starts now,” he stated. 

•DJ Right 

•Nsikan 

Isaac 

By Juliet Ebirim 

After a whirlwind three 

months, the Big Brother 

Naija, ‘Lockdown edition’ finally 

came to an end. We saw the lights 

go out in the house and the firstever 

in-house salon, in the history 

of Big Brother Naija - the Darling 

hair salon. 

On Wednesday, October 7, 

2020, the winning 5, Laycon, 

Dorathy, Nengi, Vee, Neo, star 

stylist Prince and Tricky Tee paid 

a courtesy visit to Darling 

Nigeria. 

The former housemates were 

welcomed warmly by Chitwan 

Singh (MD, Darling West Africa), 

and a select few members of the 

team. Ayodele Otujirin (Head of 

Marketing, West Africa) spoke 

about the company’s mission to 

help the African woman find her 

beauty by providing her stylish 

and affordable hair extension 

options. 

The visit also provided an 

avenue to present winners of the 

“Darling Black is Beautiful” task, 

and the Darling Hairstyling 

prize, their cheques for the prize 

money. 

The winners of the Darling 

“Black is beautiful” task were; 

Nengi, Triky Tee and Prince. 

They went home with one 

million Naira each, save for 

Prince who also bagged the 

Darling hairstyling reward, 

which gave him an additional 

one million Naira alongside Vee, 

who was awarded two million 

Naira for being the most 

consistent housemate that used 

Darling products all through the 

show. The housemates were 

gifted also with boxes of their 

favourite Darling products. 

Genevieve Nnaji reveals 

personal experience 

with SARS 

S 

ince the #ENDSARS protests began 

N o l l y w o o d ’ s 

leading lady, Genevieve Nnaji has not kept 

quiet. While she has not made any physical outing 

anywhere, she has made sure her voice was loud and 

clear. First to feel her wrath is the governor of Rivers 

State, Nyesome Wike, who warned against any form 

of protest in his State. Next was President 

Muhhamadu Buhari, to whom she wrote an open 

letter which she posted on her Instagram page. 

In the five paragraph letter, Genevieve gave an 

account of how she came to know of SARS and 

their unfriendly tactics. 

“My niece was harassed by SARS for carrying a 

laptop. Her own laptop. She was slapped across 

the face for simply asking why her laptop was being 

seized. At only 13, she had to deal with police 

brutality. Complaints were made and nothing was 

done. No one is spared and we are all affected,” 

she writes. 

To the President, she continues, “ Mr President, 

this is the current state of your country. The stability of 

a nation is largely dependent on leadership. And every head 

of house has one chance to build their legacy. Sir, you have 

had two. What our country is today is a reflection of your 

leadership, your legacy. I’m getting weary and tired of being 

optimistic about change but even then I can’t complain. I am 

one of the privileged few but that doesn’t mean that I get to 

give up now.” 

BBNaija: 

Finalists pay y courtesy visit to Darling 

Nigeria 

We’re ready to light up the music 

industr 

try – Shuavy 

By Ekaette Bassey 

With a newly-released fourtrack 

EP, fast-rising duo, 

Joshua and Victor Onodu, 

otherwise known as Shuavy, have 

made a statement about their 

talent as they continue to climb the 

ladder steps of the music industry. 

As they appear to be catching the 

attention of music enthusiasts, the 

duo disclosed that it was only a 

matter of time before their music 

started commanding widespread 

attention because it is their 

•Shuavy 

•Genevieve 

passion, not business. 

According to them, the mission 

is to light up the music industry 

with their music and videos as 

they rolled out plans to take over. 

“Making music is what we have 

been doing since our childhood. 

I remember my brother and I 

would always gather our siblings 

at night and mime to them songs 

of popular artistes such as 

D’banj, P-Square and 2face. They 

would laugh and cheer us on. We 

performed break dance and 

stunts at several university shows. 

So, sooner or later, we’ve had the 

belief that the big break would 

come.” 

Speaking on their new EP, 

‘Space Lane’, 

S h u a v y 

expressed 

t h e i r 

excitement 

about the 

project and 

how it makes 

them unique 

in the world 

of Afrobeats.

End SARS 

In July 2018, I published 

an essay on my Orbit 

column in the Sunday 

Vanguard titled, “The State 

Police,” in which I outlined the 

contradictions of the Nigerian 

Police Force, its history of 

brutality and disrespect for the 

civil rights of Nigerians; its 

history and character as a 

colonial constabulary force 

unsuited for a sovereign nation 

of free citizens under a 

constitutional democracy, 

and of course the structural 

impediments that makes it 

necessary for a serious police 

reform. In the body of that 

essay, I described the pattern 

of that necessary reform. 

Events in the last week lend 

credence, and indeed 

amplifies the spirit of that 

essay. 

More than ever, it has 

become rather too obvious 

that the Nigerian police system 

has failed and must, at the 

minimum be reformed. A 

broad overhaul of its 

conceptual principles and 

mission must match the new 

structures on which it must 

operate. The END SARS 

movement has made police 

reform urgent. Arrowheads of 

that movement used the 

incident of police brutality 

and an angry youth response 

to it to mobilize what is now a 

nation-wide movement. But it 

is unlikely to end there. An 

agglomeration of factors 

seems to suggest that we are 

at the very beginnings of a 

“Green revolution,” Nigeria’s 

own version of the “Arab 

Spring” whose impact might 

have deep political 

consequences for West Africa 

in the long and short term. But 

let me contextualize this: 

cosmetic police reform is not 

enough. It will not even scratch 

at the very surface of the 

problems of the Nigerian 

Police Force. The problem 

with the Nigerian police 

system is that it was never 

designed for a civil society. It 

was always a colonial 

constabulary police whose 

operation, mission and 

philosophy was containment 

and suppression. Its chief 

tactics was the humiliation of 

the African colonial subject. It 

accorded very little regard to 

the dignity of the citizen, 

because at the time it was 

conceived, all those who came 

under its purview were 

“colonial subjects.” None was 

a full citizen of a sovereign 

nation. Nigeria inherited this 

police system. 

As a constabulary force, it 

became increasingly brutal 

with the change of its 

orientation under the military 

regimes. The National police 

is in charge of a nation’s 

domestic security. But in 

Nigeria, much of police 

powers were stripped, 

fragmented, and made 

diffuse. Police duties were 

basically reduced to directing 

traffic, and collecting “Roger” 

at police checkpoints. But at 

the very core of its operations 

was the subduing and 

humiliation of Nigerians. Just 

like the soldiers who also 

began to do emergency police 

duties, the policeman had 

leave to whip Nigerians, frogjump 

Nigerians, extort 

Nigerians, lie against 

Nigerians, arrest and detain 

Nigerians even against the 

express orders of the court, and 

in many instances kill 

Nigerians with little 

consequence. 

In Nigeria, such phrases as 

“accidental discharge,” and 

“kill and go” became routine 

ways of describing police 

actions against citizens of 

Nigeria. Every Nigerian has 

a story of a humiliating 

encounter with officers of the 

Nigerian police. I have 

suffered undignified 

encounters with the police in 

Nigeria. One day in 1996, 

during the Abacha years, I was 

strolling down a street in the 

Ikate area of Surulere, Lagos 

with my friend Sanya Osha. I 

was on the editorial staff of 

the Vanguard newspapers, 

and Sanya had just 

commenced his doctoral 

work in Philosophy at the 

University of Ibadan. We were 

going to visit our friend – 

“Mad Maxim” – Uzo Maxim 

Uzoatu on that street. In fact, 

we were just two poles away 

from Maxim’s apartment 

when we encountered the 

Nigerian police: officers of the 

police force alighted briskly 

from an unmarked bus and 

were arresting passersby in 

some kind of random mop up 

operation. I took out my 

notebook instinctively to 

record the scene for a possible 

story. It was the reporter’s 

instinct for a story. Bad 

mistake. The policemen led 

by an Assistant 

Superintendent of Police 

accosted Sanya and I; seized 

our identifications – my 

Vanguard identity card and 

Sanya’s University of Ibadan’s 

ID card – and my reporter’s 

notebook, and in spite of our 

protestations forced us into 

the bus, and drove us to a 

police station in Surulere. It 

was all very weird. The 

humiliation continued at the 

station when we were made 

to strip to our boxers, and 

given a pre-written statement 

to sign. I took a quick glance 

at it, and refused to sign 

because it did not by any 

stretch reflect our experience 

of the event. It was basically a 

statement accepting guilt of 

some kind of crime, the details 

of which now escape me. 

The officer assigned to take 

our statements tried to 

browbeat, threaten, and hint 

at dire consequences if we did 

not sign, but Sanya and I 

stuck to our convictions until 

they brought fresh papers for 

us to write our statements. 

Then we were thrown into the 

police jail. It was a dark, dingy, 

unsettling place. What I 

Ijaw elders sue FG over marginal field bid round 

By Adesina Wahab 

Due to the failure of the 

Federal Government to 

respond to its demand to put 

on hold the 2020 marginal 

field bid round pending the 

determination of some 

contentious issues, Ijaw Elders 

Forum has issued a notice of 

intention to go to court to 

challenge the bidding process 

and seek appropriate redress. 

The group also berated the 

FG for its seeming apathy 

towards the plights of the oil 

producing communities, 

saying it could no longer 

continue to watch its own 

people being dehumanized, 

exploited, humiliated and 

discriminated against 

through the auctioning of 

exploration licenses to the oil 

companies. 

This is just as the group 

accused the oil companies of 

mindlessly raping the Niger 

Delta region through the 

appropriation of 

hydrocarbon deposit. 

The group has therefore 

sought the services of GI&O 

Legal Practitioners and 

Notary Public to seek legal 

redress on the matter. 

Reiterating its 

determination to defend the 

rights of its people by all 

legitimate means, the IEF 

lamented that oil exploration 

and drilling activities 

accounted for the declining 

economic productivity of the 

Ijaw Nation with the 

attendant air and water 

pollution, frequent outbreak 

of pandemic, deaths, and 

environmental destruction. 

A letter written by GI&0 

Legal Practitioners and 

Notaries Public on behalf of 

the group dated September 

21, 2020 and addressed to the 

office of the Honourable 

Minister of Petroleum 

through the Minister of State 

read in part: “We do not think 

that our client had asked for 

too much when they urged 

OLEH KILLINGS: Delta monarch 

urges subjects to embrace peace 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

THE Odiologbo of Oleh 

kingdom, Isoko South 

Local Government Area, 

Delta State, HRM Ovrawah 

Omogha I, has called on the 

people of the kingdom to 

remain calm and embrace 

peace, saying investigation 

into the killing of nine 

indigenes of the kingdom was 

being carried out by 

appropriate authorities. 

The deceased were 

reportedly killed in a farmland 

on Friday, following a 

protracted land dispute 

between Oleh and Ozoro 

communities. 

Reacting to the incident, the 

traditional ruler 

commiserated with the 

bereaved families, describing 

the killings as barbaric and 

highly condemnable. 

Saying that other persons 

were still missing, he said he 

had called "the chairman and 

some members of Oleh 

council of chiefs, the president 

and some notable indigenes 

of Oleh kingdom to meet with 

the bereaved families at Iye – 

Edho, Ota and Ogha Streets 

to commiserate and urge the 

people to remain calm as 


remember still is the smell. It 

is indescribable. The closest I 

would say is that it smelled of 

death and decay. There were 

people detained in that cell 

It would require a 

deconstruction of the 

entire judicial system 

on which 

enforcement and 

sanction are based, 

starting with the 

courts to the office of 

the Attorney General 

who were at various stages of 

suppuration. And I was a little 

worried because I was then 

under the watchlist of the 

State Security Services, and 

feared that the police station, 

as should be expected, may 

have a database that might 

connect the dots. We had no 

way of making a phone call 

and could very easily have 

become “lost” in the very dark 

labyrinth of police abductions 

which is precisely what it all 

was. Especially because we 

refused to pay the bribe. We 

were detained from 10:00 am 

and released fortuitously at a 

little after 6:00 pm that 

evening when it apparently 

became clear that we could 

not be extorted. There was no 

rhyme or reason for our arrest 

and detention, except that we 

were at the wrong place at the 

wrong time. Another 

memorable encounter was 

on a visit home in 2003 with 

my young family – my wife 

and my then one-year old son. 

We had arrived at the Port- 

Harcourt International 

Airport, and turned not too 

long after on the Owerri-Port 

Harcourt road, when we were 

stopped at a police 

checkpoint. 

First thing, as I remember 

clearly when were stopped 

was that the Sergeant peeked 

inside the car and asked the 

driver to pull by the curb side. 

He took the “particulars” of 

the Federal Government of 

Nigeria to, for the sake of lives 

and property of its citizens 

which the head of the 

government had sworn to 

protect, halt the 2020 

marginal field bid round until 

steps are taken to address 

some very basic and salient 

issues. 

government is aware and on 

top of the crisis". 

He urged the people to 

remain calm, go about their 

business as government is on 

top of the situation. He also 

advised the people to abide by 

the restriction of movements 

from 7pm to 6am imposed by 

Ozoro and Oleh by Isoko 

North and South Local 

Government councils. 

the car from the driver, and 

thereafter ignored us for 

another thirty minutes. When 

I could no longer fathom it, I 

approached the man who was 

clearly leading the team at the 

Checkpoint, an Inspector, and 

politely asked why we were 

stopped. He politely told me 

to “do something, and go.” He 

said it as though he was doing 

me a big favour. I of course 

feigned ignorance. As a 

matter of principle, I do not 

bribe the police or anyone 

else. So, I said, “I do not 

understand your expectations 

of me. I have given you all the 

papers. My passport; my 

airport pass….” And he said, 

“Oga, I see say you just land. 

Your grammar too much…” 

At that point, I code-switched 

to my finest pidgin: “officer, I 

nor be JJC. I full ground for 

this Naija!” My wife remained 

characteristically stoic. It was 

not her first rodeo. But my 

poor son was getting antsy 

from the heat. Long to short, 

the police officer and I very 

soon fell to an altercation, 

because I refused to be 

extorted, and he said 

threateningly, “I will disgrace 

you in front of this your 

American wife!” This meant 

forcing everybody down 

under gunpoint, and making 

my younger brother who was 

driving to bring down every 

single luggage which was 

searched one after the other. 

It was a shakedown. I mean, I 

just left customs and I still had 

the customs ticket. 

Besides, the police had no 

authority to search me, or 

detain me without a 

Magistrate’s warrant under 

normal, civilized conditions. 

It was two hours – from the 

moment we were stopped to 

the moment we were let go – 

of dastardly re-entry into 

Nigeria. And I must be among 

the lucky ones, because from 

these encounters with the 

police have come many 

fatalities. There was the case 

of Dele Udo, Nigeria’s world 

class miler, who was shot 

point blank and killed in the 

famous case of an “accidental 

discharge.” There was the case 

of Anita Akpason, a young 

Nigerian woman whose life 

was criminally ended by 

police in the Maitama area 

of Abuja in 2018. We still have 

the case of the Apo 6 which by 

the way must be re-opened 

and re-investigated because 

justice was not served. There 

are too many of these 

incidents. In the last two weeks, 

Nigerians, led by an 

increasingly restless youth 

population finally rose up to 

demand an end to police 

brutality in Nigeria in what is 

now the “ENDSARS” 

protests. This is welcome 

development. In the 1950s, 

‘60s, ‘70s, and 80s, and to a 

very limited extent in the ‘90s, 

the Nigerian youth was led 

from the University campuses 

by the Nigerian students 

movement. They fought 

public issues, from the Anglo- 

Nigerian Defence pact, to 

education reform, to oil 

subsidies, to the anti-military, 

pro-democracy movements. 

Many Nigerian youths – 

students of the universities – 

were martyred on the streets 

for these protests by brutal 

police and military 

contingents sent down to 

suppress them forcefully. 

Police brutality has a long 

history in Nigeria. Now it 

seems Nigerians have had 

enough, and are organizing 

in a sustained protest to end 

it. Many are calling for police 

reform. All kinds of official 

noises are being made about 

“listening.” The Inspector 

General replaced SARS with 

SWAT. None of these will solve 

the problem. The problem is 

deeper than police pay, and 

recruitment. It goes way into 

the foundations of the justice 

system on which a national 

ethos was built. It would 

require not just police reform. 

That would be scratching the 

surface. 

It would require a 

deconstruction of the entire 

judicial system on which 

enforcement and sanction are 

based, starting with the courts 

to the office of the Attorney 

General. It would in short 

require more than the 

ENDSARS demands. It 

would require a Green 

Revolution. Perhaps we are 

closer to it now with a restless 

and desperate youth 

population with nowhere else 

to go. 

PIND Foundation to address youth 

unemployment in N’ Delta 

By Kelechukwu Iruoma 

The Foundation for 

Partnership Initiatives 

in the Niger Delta (PIND) has 

urged state governments in the 

Niger Delta to create 

sustainable demand-led 

models and trust funds to 

address youth employment in 

the region. 

This is following a virtual 

roundtable with Niger Delta 

government stakeholders held 

in July 2020. The goal of the 

learning forum was to provide 

adequate information to 

enable participating state 

governments develop 

practicable strategies for 

investing in youth 

employment interventions and 

adoption of demand-led 

#EndSARS: Anambra lawmaker calls for total reform of police 

By Nnamdi Ojiego 

Following the demand by 

protesting Nigerian 

youths for an end to police brutality, 

the member representing 

Nnewi North constituency in 

the Anambra State House of 

Assembly, Hon. Smart Okafor, 

has called on President Muhammadu 

Buhari, to begin a 

total and thorough reform of 

the Nigeria Police Force. 

Rising under Matter of Urgent 

Public Importance, Okafor 

noted that the Police, which 

is the principal law enforcement 

agency charged with the 

responsibility of securing lives 

and properties, maintaining 

law and order, was in dire need 

of total overhauling to enhance 

efficiency, professionalism and 

effectiveness of the force. 

He said, “the agitation of 

Nigerians especially the youths, 

is not against police carrying 

out their constitutional responsibility, 

but a condemnation on 

the way and manner some of 

the officers kill, torture, brutalize, 

intimidate and other human 

rights violations against 

Nigerians, which have reduced 

the credibility of the 

force. 

“Therefore, for the Nigeria 

Police to be repositioned into 

to a modern and professional 

security agency, it does not begin 

and end in the change of 

nomenclature from Special 

Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to 

Special Weapon and Tactics 

(SWAT), but for sweeping reforms 

that will seriously review 

the process of recruitment, 

training and re-training and 

the welfare and remuneration 

of police officers.” 

models such as the NDYEP 

model. 

During the learning forum 

with state government 

stakeholders on Building Trust 

Funds for Youth Employment 

Programmes in the Niger 

Delta last month, Emeka Ile, 

NDYEP project manager, who 

represented PIND’s Deputy 

Executive Director, Tunji 

Idowu, described NDYEP as a 

project created by PIND 

Foundation to demonstrate 

model pathways from skills 

training of out-of-school and 

marginalized youth between 

16 – 30 years to employment 

and designed to address youth 

job readiness, workforce 

development, and job 

creation. 

According to Ile, “We would 

like to see a more coordinated 

and well-funded youth 

unemployment programme 

in the Niger Delta states.” 

He revealed that the 

learning forum was 

organized so that state 

governments in the Niger 

Delta can work together with 

PIND Foundation to build 

alignment which will 

improve youth employment 

in the states and create jobs 

while assuring state 

governments of PIND 

Foundation’s willingness to 

support job creation 

programmes.


By Josephine Agbonkhese 

08054650907 

Email: jossynovia@gmail.com 

By Josephine Agbonkhese 

The Founder of GalParenting 

Place and Creator of Peaceful 

Parenting Hub, Abimbola 

Olayinka is driven by a desire to see 

peace reign in every home and 

workplace. For her, only peace in the 

home can transform Nigeria into a 

peaceful place. 

A member of the International 

Network for Children and Families, 

INCAF, Gainesville, Florida, and the 

Family Life Coaching Association, 

North Carolina, Olayinka, among 

other international certifications, she 

is an ACPI certified Professional 

Parenting Educator, a certified John 

Maxwell Parenting and Family Life 

Coach, as well as a certified 

Professional Family and Relationship 

Educator/Coach from the Academy of 

Parenting Coaches, Corte Portofino 

Menifee, California, USA. 

She is the pioneer of Peaceful 

Parenting Coaching in Nigeria, as well 

as the only Redirecting Children’s 

Behaviour Instructor in the country, 

representing Redirecting Children’s 

Behaviour International, Florida, USA. 

Olayinka, who holds a Master’s 

Degree in Business Administration 

from the University of Nicosia, 

Cyprus, and a Postgraduate Diploma 

in Business Management, is also 

presently the Managing Director of 

Gabbie’s Alternative Limited with 

subsidiaries including Gal 

Dreadlocks, Gal Consulting Global 

Services and Gal Logistics. 

Parenting is a salient issue in society 

today; what do you think most 

parents are doing wrong? 

We have all believed in the popular 

saying “Parenting is about the 

children.” My dear friends, this is 

nothing but a myth. Parenting is more 

about us, the parents, than the 

children. While growing up, majority 

of us were erased and not raised. We 

were tamed and forced to empty our 

jar of excitement and curiosity, either 

by several severe beatings, carefully 

orchestrated resounding slaps, or 

downpour of overwhelming and heartwrenching 

curses. Can we blame our 

parents? No, not at all. Considering 

the information available to them as 

at then, that was the best they could 

do. Correcting a child by inflicting 

pains and scars was a reminder for 

that child to desist from negative 

behaviours. Now, we know better, and 

it is expected that we do better 

regardless of our societal and financial 

status. 

To redefine parenting, it is 

imperative that we first change the 

faulty parenting belief system. It’s a 

virus in our programming. That’s 

what we help parents do at 

GALParenting Place. 

As we celebrate 60 of nationhood, 

youth restiveness remains a major 

problem in Nigeria; what parenting 

approach, in your experience, can 

effectively address this? 

We have various parenting 

approaches. The most preferable is the 

authoritarian parenting style. 

Authoritarian parents are expected to 

be nurturing, very reasonable, selfdisciplined 

and compassionate. They 

are also equipped with empathy and 

high emotional intelligence skill. They 

set clear expectations, consequences 

for actions, and boundaries with a 

good follow-through approach. They 

practice parent leadership whereby 

consequences for actions are stated 

clearly with reasons as to why. They 

practice active listening with effective 

communications and frequent family 

meetings that allow children to give 

their opinions. Finally, the children’s 

ABIMBOLA 

OLAYINKA 

Redefining 

parenting 

ideas are considered during the family 

decision making process. 

Authoritarians are nurturing by nature 

because of the skills they possess. 

They provide an enabling home for 

children to flourish and thrive. Their 

actions gradually contribute to world 

peace as they raise compassionate and 

effective children. That approach will 

go a long way in addressing most of 

the problems we face as a nation. 

Between poor parenting and a 

harsh economy, which would you 

blame for the incessant breakdown 

of marriages in today’s society? 

I would blame both actually; just that 

I would blame the home front first 

before throwing blames on harsh 

economy. Experience has shown that 

a well nurtured child from a healthy 

and enabling environment with the 

right skills, is likely to last longer in a 

marriage than a child that was not 

exposed to the right psychosocial 

environment during the 

developmental years. This is 

regardless of the effects of a harsh 

economy. 

In my opinion, I think a harsh 

economy should only serve as a test 

for how solid our backgrounds are, in 

the face of recurring difficulties. In the 

absence of solid backgrounds, difficult 

situations amplify our lack of 

emotional intelligence. This was 

probably not nurtured as every child 

had a level of emotional intelligence 

during their early years. This is where 

the job of the parent to help nurture 

and strengthen comes to fore. 

In line with the theme for this 

Independence Anniversary 

celebration, what tips will you 

highlight as pathways to building 

stronger families? 

Building a strong family foundation 

is procedural and therefore requires 

a step by step approach. Like in 

architecture, a sturdy and solid 

structure that would stand the test of 

time starts with a feasible and 

approved building plan; so is building 

To redefine 

parenting, it is 

imperative that we 

first change the 

faulty parenting 

belief system 

a strong family foundation. You 

therefore have to know the 

methodology to explore that would 

begin with the end in mind. 

A few questions to stir up your mind 

are not limited to the following: What 

is the focus of this family? What do 

we want people to know us for? Who 

are we and what do we stand for? 

What is the aim of this family? All these 

questions will not be adequately 

answered without having effective and 

transformational leaders at the home 

front. 

What can you describe as peaceful 

parenting? 

Peaceful parenting is a parenting 

approach that underpins peace as a 

major attribute that parents must 

exhibit. It therefore means that the 

peace in the word peaceful should, at 

all times, come from us as parents. 

Until we come to that self-realisation 

that we must be at peace with 

ourselves in order to be at peace with 

our children, our spouses and the 

people around, our efforts would 

largely remain futile. It is only after 

this self-realisation that we can parent 

with peace and purpose. It is as simple 

as that. 

The lesson to note here is that 

internal peace breeds the required 

atmosphere to help you function at 

your optimum. It is about parenting 

with emotional intelligence. Knowing 

yourself, knowing what works for you, 

what makes you tick, etc. before you 

can have the awareness of others. 

Tell us about your experience in 

managing mental health concerns 

among families... 

•Olayinka 

As a cognitive behavioural therapist 

and an ardent emotional intelligence 

practitioner, it is easy to note that our 

belief system is what stands in the way 

of having a peaceful home in most 

families. This is as a result of our 

psychosocial environment during our 

developmental stages early in life. 

What we do is to provide interventions 

that focus on changing and 

challenging this disempowering 

cognitive distortion and behaviours. 

These interventions would improve 

emotional regulations and also help 

develop coping skills. The resultant 

effect would enable each member of a 

family function effectively under the 

same family climate. By the way, it 

takes intentionality for a family 

member to achieve this new state of 

healthy mental state because real 

learning starts at the unconscious 

level. 

What is the way out of the current 

rape epidemic raging across the 

country? 

It is still the home front; parents 

need to do much more. Consequently, 

this would extend to schools and the 

larger society. If all home leaderships 

were to be effective, by implication the 

society tends to be more peaceful. We 

have to be more intentional about 

creating quality time to nurture and 

connect with our children while 

raising them by exhibiting exemplary 

leadership. Do your part effectively 

and I will also be deliberate about 

mine. Together, we would change the 

phase of our leadership system by 

raising more responsible children that 

will grow up to be responsible adults.

IGBO HALL OF FAME: 

Dozie, Onyema, Arthur Eze, Stella Okoli, Cosmas 

Maduka, Leo Stan Eke, Ibeto, others make list 

In the political hierarchy, the role 

of deputy governors cannot be 

over- emphasized. They are 

oftentimes referred to as ‘spare 

tyres’, but the fact remains that 

they play a critical role in the 

actualization of electoral promises 

made by their bosses, the 

governors. Not just that, they also 

contribute greatly to the 

formulation of policies aimed at 

improving the living standard of 

citizens in their respective states. 

It is as a result of this that the 

governor, who is saddled with 

the responsibility of 

steering the affairs of 

the state, cannot 

ignore the support of 

an agile, challengedriven 

and diligent 

deputy governor to 

ensure that the 

activities of his state are 

well coordinated. 

Thus, it could be said 

that beside every 

successful governor is 

a performing deputy 

governor. The deputy governor, 

who is the right hand man of the 

governor, can be described as a 

•Dozie •Maduka •Chukwuma 

deputy chief executive who 

performs his or her role with 

honesty and loyalty, to ensure that 

the plans and activities of the 

governor are not derailed. Simply 

put, the deputy governor is the 

neck on which the head rests. 

In time past, we have seen 

deputy governors who were at 

BY KENNEDY MBELE 

HIGH profile guests, including diplo 

mats, top government officials, politicians, 

senior judicial officers, religious leaders, 

senior public servants and captains of 

industry, are expected on Saturday, December 

5 at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu for the 

maiden Igbo Business Hall of Fame Awards 

gala and induction ceremony of the 2020 

class of business icons. 

Former President Goodluck Jonathan will 

chair the event. 

The induction, according to Ifeanyi Igwebike 

Mbanefo, President of Champions 

Court, organisers of the award, will be followed 

with the unveiling of photographs and 

intimate personal items of the hall of famers 

in public galleries and museums in the 

South-East. “Eventually, life-like status of 

these business icons and their intimate personal 

items will find a permanent home when 

the Igbo Business Hall of Fame’s permanent 

site is completed”, Mbanefo said. 

“10 entrepreneurs have been shortlisted 

for the maiden edition of the annual Igbo 

Business Hall of Fame Awards. They are 

Dr. Pascal Gabriel Dozie, Chief Allen Ifechukwu 

Onyema, Prince Arthur Eze, Chief 

Samuel Maduka Onyishi, Dr. Stella Chinyelu 

Okoli, Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, Dr. Cosmas 

Maduka, Dr. Leo Stan Eke, Chief Innocent 

Ifediaso Chukwuma, and Chief Cletus 

Ibeto. 

“They emerged from a long list of 70 entrepreneurs 

screened by a panel of economists, 

business analysts, researchers, reporters. 

“It is perhaps a testimony to the quality 

and calibre of entrepreneurs from South-East 

Nigeria and the golden moments’ entrepreneurship, 

especially the famous Igbo apprenticeship 

scheme, is currently enjoying 

that the cull from 70 entrepreneurs to 10 felt 

very painful because of the eminence of the 

men and women on the long list. 

“However, anyone able to get past his indignation 

and partisanship will acknowledge 

that this list is worth celebrating”. 

Saying it is time to bring these leaders and 

accomplishments to public attention, Mbanefo 

said, “A hall of fame is where history lives 

through physical and intimate items - old 

letters, diaries, scrapbooks, medals, trophies, 

trademark caps, walking sticks, autographed 

pictures, etc. - and the stories they contain 

seems to us a more effective way of honouring 

our business champions. 

“A roll of honour of successful Igbo Business 

Leaders along with their trade mark 

personal items will enrich the artistic, historical, 

scientific, religious, and social artefacts 

in the museum and create an invaluable and 

irreplaceable legacy that will be preserved 

for future generations. The presence of Business 

Leaders in Hall of Fame sections embedded 

in public museums and galleries will 

enrich the Igbo family heirlooms and ensure 

that they are available for future generations 

to enjoy. 

“Honouring successful Igbo business leaders 

by displaying their names and personal 

items is a way of tethering the present to the 

past; of making history real through stories 

we save and pass along. 

“The award was created solely for Igbo 

entrepreneurs because despite the region’s 

colourful political history and numerous outstanding 

achievements, in literature, arts, 

music, sports, science and technology, the 

Igbo is defined mainly by business, industry 

and resilience. 

“Because we are determined that the best 

candidates, best ideas, regardless of where 

they come from, should have a chance to be 

heard and to change the world, we made 

merit the only criterion for award of this 

prize. Winners shall be encouraged to take 

thought leadership positions and bring the 

best new ideas directly to public attention. 

“We shall request candidates on the shortlist 

to send written confirmation of their willingness 

to be vetted by our researchers who 

will also interview their employees, community 

members, mentees, and peers. 

“We shall also review important documents 

such as personal income and company tax 

clearance certificates and testimonials of 

charitable giving. 

“Anyone whose tax records are not up to 

date will be dropped from the list. 

“Ranking will be based on the size of candidate’s 

wealth and business empire, location 

and impact of his business in the South- 

East region of Nigeria, his generosity, and 

self-made prowess. 

“An award committee made up of economic 

editors from select national newspapers will 

estimate every candidate’s total lifetime giving, 

from the testimonials from beneficiaries, 

press reports and also determine the percentage 

of wealth a candidate has given 

away to charity. But most importantly, a candidate 

must have invested a minimum of 

USD $10million in his community and other 

charitable causes to be considered for this 

award. 

“The award panel will also be interested 

in the number and names of persons 

groomed and mentored by a candidate. In 

simple terms, the committee will take a head 

count of those who became entrepreneurs 

following in a nominee’s footsteps, mentorship 

or intervention. These protégées must 

be willing to publicly attest to a nominee’s 

support and mentorship. 

“The reason organisers reward philanthropy 

and grooming of entrepreneurs is that it 

takes a village to raise an entrepreneur. The 

lone heroic entrepreneur who launches a 

business with courage and heroism is a myth. 

Every successful entrepreneur was helped 

along the way by countless influences and 

supporters such as mentors, advisers, creditors, 

suppliers, partners, and customers. Every 

business exists in the context and fabric 

of the society”. 

“The highest consideration will go to candidates 

who forged their own path using 

entrepreneurial capitalism as a means to attain 

a vast fortune because they exhibited 

the Igbo CAN DO spirit. 

“It is our earnest hope that this prize will 

spark a conversation about Igbo men and 

women of wealth, visionary entrepreneurs 

with deep pockets and their commitment to 

the public good. 

“Entrepreneurship is celebrated in Igboland 

because it provides an important 

route to success for many of the region’s 

young people. It is their way up and out. It 

has thrown millions of youths a lifeline out 

of poverty; and created jobs where and when 

the government could not. It has given Igbo 

youths a voice, dignity, opportunities and 

recognition. 

“The Hall of Fame for Business Leaders 

will provide a different perspective for young 

people underserved by government policies. 

It will make them realise that it is possible to 

go past the hurdles and barricades hemming 

them in and holding them down. It will allow 

them to see their world not as it is, but as 

it could be. 

“It will help them learn from people who 

rejected the status quo and re-imagined a 

better future by summoning the will and doing 

the work necessary to bring that future 

into being. This project is a call to examine 

how we channel our drive, ingenuity, even 

our pain, into something more meaningful 

than individual success.” 

SPECIAL FOCUS ON OUTSTANDING DEPUTY GOVERNORS IN 

NIGERIA —PART ONE 

A publication of Special Projects Unit 

His Excellency, 

Engr. Benson Ocholuje Abounu, 

Deputy Governor of Benue State 


Alhaji Manir Muhammad Dan Iya 

Deputy Governor of Sokoto State 

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 18, 2020, PAGE 23 


Mr. Moses Frank Ekpo (MFR), 

Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State 

loggerheads with their 

bosses, but recent 

developments across the 

states have shown that 

there are quite a handful 

of deputy governors who 

are playing out their 

roles diligently. These 

are people-oriented 

individuals who are 

more concerned in 

helping their governors 

bring their 

visions to 

reality, rather 

t h a n 

personal 

gains. 

It is against 

t h i s 

backdrop 

that Sunday 

Vanguard 

has decided 

to showcase 

some of 

t h e s e 

patriotic 

Nigerians 

who truly 

believe in 

the spirit of 

true followership irrespective of 

social status in celebration of 

Nigeria’s 60th Anniversary.

PAGE 24—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 18, 2020 

SPECIAL FOCUS ON OUTSTANDING DEPUTY GOVERNORS IN NIGERIA 

In all positions he has found 

himself till date, he has 

carved a niche for himself as 

a selfless leader and purposedriven 

administrator whose 

passion for excellence has kept 

him going when others may be 

getting weary. 

Simply put, his rise on life’s 

ladder of success is no fluke, but 

a reward for hard work, 

discipline and integrity. 

His Excellency, Engr. Benson 

Ocholuje Abounu, the deputy 

governor of Benue State, has 

distinguished himself as a 

reputable public officer whose 

words translate to actions in his 

service to humanity. 

A thoroughbred professional, 

his dedication to working under 

His Excellency, Dr. Samuel 

Ortom, the Governor of Benue 

State, has earned him applause 

and laurels from different 

quarters 

He is indeed a blessing to his 

people and the nation at large. 

Born in Otukpo, Benue State, 

Engr. Abounu obtained a 

diploma in electrical/mechanical 

engineering as well as a Higher 

National Diploma in mechanical 

engineering from Kaduna 

Polytechnic in 1973 and 1975 

respectively. Thereafter, he 

proceeded to the prestigious 

Cranfield University, UK where 

he first qualified to become a 

chartered engineer and 

subsequently obtained a 

master’s degree in industrial 

engineering in 1978. 

Prior to bagging the MSc, he 

had his industrial attachment at 

renowned automobile 

manufacturer, Aston Martin 

Lagonda Limited, Newport 

Pagnell, England in 1977. 

In September 1981, he 

became a chartered engineer 

(CEng) of the London Council 

and also registered with 

Engineers Registration Board 

(ERB) which is the equivalent 

of the Council for the Regulation 

of Engineering in Nigeria 

(COREN) same year. 

His passion to contribute to 

the growth of the engineering 

profession back home brought 

him back to Nigeria with John 

Holt Agricultural Engineers 

Limited being his employers as 

he served as Production 

Manager. 

He later joined Nigerian 

Breweries Limited, Lagos as 

Technical Manager. 

Having proven his worth with 

brilliance and knowing that 

better opportunities lay ahead 

of him, he acknowledged the 

need to sharpen his 

management 

and 

administrative skills by 

enrolling as one of the students 

for the premier MBA 

programme at the University of 

Ibadan where he graduated top 

of class in 1982. 

Armed with both engineering 

and administrative skills, Engr. 

Abounu went on to serve as 

General Manager, Okin 

Bottling Company, Kaduna, 

Executive Director, Nigerian 

Coal Corporation, Enugu and 

Sole Administrator/CEO of the 

Nigerian Mining Corporation, 

Jos before establishing Abounu 

Benson & Company (Chartered 

Engineers and Management 

Consultants). 

Naturally endowed with 

intrinsic leadership qualities, 

his passion and drive for doing 

the right thing and doing it well 

is often misinterpreted for 

I HAVE A LISTENING, 

VISIONARY GOVERNOR 

His Excellency, Engr. Benson Ocholuje Abounu, 

Deputy Governor of Benue State 

intellectual audacity and 

arrogance, but while he is averse 

to the indolent, he is very 

sympathetic and supportive of 

those willing to improve 

themselves. 

One thing stands clear, 

wherever he works; he leaves 

indelible footprints which open 

doors for higher positions. 

This was evident in his 

appointment as the Sole 

Administrator/CEO of the 

Nigerian Mining Corporation in 

1990 as well as his appointment 

as Director on the Board of some 

private and public organizations 

which include NAL Merchant 

Bank, Northern Textile Mills, 

ATMN Limited, Consolidated 

Tin Mines Limited and 

Chairman of the Nigerian 

Television Authority. 

Engr. Abounu is a Fellow of 

the British Institution of 

Production Engineers, a Fellow 

of the Nigerian Society of 

Engineers and the Nigerian 

Institution of Mechanical 

Engineers. 

Traditionally known as the 

Ogbobuluwa K’Idoma (the 

leader or pathfinder of Idoma), 

Engr. Abounu is not the type 

known to shy away from 

responsibilities. As a matter of 

fact, whenever the opportunity 

beckons on him to touch lives 

meaningfully, he wastes no time 

in getting involved and this he 

has been doing since his 

involvement in politics in 1991. 

In a bid to take up the number 

one job in Benue State, he 

contested the gubernatorial 

primary election on the platform 

of the Social Democratic Party 

(SDP) in 1991, but lost to the 

late Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu who 

eventually became the governor 

of the state. 

His huge impact towards the 

victory of the party was 

rewarded with an appointment 

as Special Adviser to the 

governor. Following the military 

takeover in 1993, he returned 

to his professional practice until 

1999 when democratic 

government was restored. 

In the build-up to the general 

elections in 1999, he joined the 

People’s Democratic Party 

(PDP) where his organizational 

and leadership experience were 

openly acknowledged by 

stakeholders of the party and 

he was consequently recognised 

as a leader. 

It was therefore no surprise 

that he emerged as the Director 

General of David Mark Senate 

Campaign Organization. 

Being the resilient go-getter 

that he is, he worked tirelessly 

to ensure the victory of the PDP 

not just in Benue South 

Senatorial Zone, but also in the 

state and at the federal level. 

To afford him the opportunity 

to translate his development 

plans into reality towards the 

growth of the state, Senator 

George Akume, who became 

the governor of the state in 

1999, appointed him as a 

Commissioner. 

He served in three different 

ministries as founding/pioneer 

Commissioner. 

These were the Ministry of 

Water Resources and 

Environment; Ministry of Solid 

Minerals, and the Ministry of 

Science and Technology, 

spanning the two terms of that 

administration. 

During his time as 

Commissioner for Water 

Resources and Environment, 

Engr. Abounu was largely 

responsible for the success 

recorded in the effective 

utilization of ecological funds 

allocated to the state. 

He constructed roads and 

dams as well as executing 

numerous flood control projects 

across the state. 

He also facilitated the award 

of a multi-million naira contract 

for the supply of potable water 

from Otobi Water Works to 

Otukpo town and its reticulation 

round the town - the project in 

turn improved the supply of 

water to the town ten-fold. 

In 2014, he joined the All 

Progressives Congress (APC) 

and became the running mate 

to Dr. Samuel Ortom. 

They won the gubernatorial 

election in April 2015 despite 

strong opposition from the PDP. 

However, due to internal crisis 

within the APC at the state 

level, Engr. Abounu and his 

principal returned to the PDP, 

and they recorded victory at the 

polls. 

Though the result was 

challenged by the APC 

candidate, the Supreme Court 

affirmed their victories as duly 

elected governor and deputy 

governor of Benue State in 

January 2020. 

On how he feels serving the 

people, he said his political 

career and sojourn in 

governance has been with 

mixed feelings. “As the deputy 

governor of Benue State, the 

year 2015 – 2017 was quite 

Coming Into Politics Continues on page 25


'I HAVE A LISTENING, VISIONARY GOVERNOR' 


hectic, not just for me, but for 

everyone involved in 

governance because the 

economy went into total 

recession in 2016 and the 

inability of 27 out of 36 states to 

pay salaries, Benue inclusive 

was a nightmare”, he said. 

“It was a big challenge but we 

were able to paddle through 

because we have a governor who 

is a visionary, and since 2018 we 

have been paying salaries as 

and when due. 

“Also, we have been able to 

deliver other dividends of 

democracy to the people. Aside 

from the challenges, it has also 

been a pleasure serving the 

people of Benue State in this 

capacity”. 

On engagement and 

roles of deputy 

governors 

For those who know him, it is 

very clear that Engr. Abounu’s 

loyalty to Gov. Ortom is no 

pretence as he is never afraid 

of defending the governor 

publicly and as well advising 

him on policies that will 

improve the lives of the 

people. 

To him, a deputy is an 

assistant who is positioned to 

support a superior or act 

when his superior is not 

available. 

He said, “I think those 

craving for certain roles to be 

constitutionally assigned to 

deputy governors don’t 

understand what it means to 

be an assistant to a principal. 

“You cannot have two 

captains in a ship, else it will 

lose direction. 

“If anyone wants to be a 

governor, they should contest 

as governors and shouldn’t 

accept the role of deputy. 

“Those deputy governors 

who have problems with their 

principals are those who 

expect too much. 

“Prior to our swearing-in, I 

sought an audience with my 

boss and I asked him to 

kindly allow me to express 

myself whenever an issue 

comes up, so as to avoid 

being blamed for not 

speaking up when things 

don’t go as the governor had 

envisaged. 

“This has helped the 

relationship between us 

because he is a listening 

governor and I can tell you 

that up to 80 percent of my 

opinion has been accepted by 

him. 

“Once the governor and 

deputy understand each 

other, there won’t be conflict 

and the deputy will find 

himself busy just as I am. 

“The governor assigns 

duties to me and allows me 

to act when he is away 

because he has total trust in 

me, unlike some governors 

who would rather handover 

to their Chiefs of Staff or even 

Commissioners while they are 

away.” 

Engr. Benson Ocholuje Abounu 

Bringing his 

experience to bear as 

a chartered engineer 

A team player with the Midas 

touch in executing projects, 

Engr. Abounu’s 40 years of 

experience as a chartered 

engineer has been of immense 

blessing to Benue in the past 

five years of the Samuel 

Ortom-led administration. 

Whenever he is called upon, 

he brings his training and 

network to bear in advising 

the State Executive Council 

on infrastructural projects, 

project supervision, drawing 

of budgets and formulating 

policies in the best interest 

of the state. 

In doing these, Engr. 

Abounu has helped the state 

government in saving lots of 

money and at the same time 

ensuring that projects are 

executed to the highest 

standards. 

For instance, during the 

first term of the 

administration, the state 

government installed eight 

new reservoirs at its water 

works to help improve water 

supply across Benue but four 

years later all eight 

reservoirs went out of use and 

the governor was presented 

with a bill of N500 million to 

fix them. 

As a technocrat who knows 

his onions, Engr. Abounu 

It was a big 

challenge but we 

were able to paddle 

through because 

we have a governor 

who is a visionary, 

and since 2018 we 

have been paying 

salaries as and 

when due 

offered to lend his experience 

when the governor informed 

him about the situation. 

He promptly visited the site, 

studied the problems and came 

up with a design to have the 

reservoirs repaired. 

The total cost for repairing the 

eight reservoirs subsequently 


was put at N35million, thereby 

saving the state government 

N465million. 

Impact of Covid-19 

on the plans of the 

state government 

The world woke up to a rude 

shock in February 2020 when 

the novel coronavirus (Covid- 

19) was declared a global 

pandemic having found its way 

to most countries of the world. 

It brought with it so much 

panic given its mode of 

transmission, tendencies to 

terminate lives and the fact that 

it has no cure. 

Like most nations of the 

world, the Nigerian 

government declared total 

lockdown on movement across 

the country and this came with 

its devastating consequence 

on the economy. 

Just as most countries of the 

world are still trying to recover 

from the economic damage, 

Nigeria is also not left out and 

this has affected most states 

of the federation. 

However, as the Federal 

Government has rolled out 

palliative, most states have 

also put plans in place to help 

them cushion the effect of the 

pandemic and Benue is not left 

out in this. 

Commenting on the 

situation, Engr. Abounu 

described it as a devastating 

occurrence which has not only 

claimed lives but also brought 

about hunger in the country. 

“We are a bit lucky in Benue 

because we practise 

agriculture, we produce all 

that we eat and we also 

provide for other states in the 

country, so in terms of food, 

we have fared well”, he said. 

“On the other hand, the 

economic downturn is 

prevalent and part of what we 

have done is to key into all the 

Federal Government 

programmes put in place to 

ameliorate the terrible effect 

of the pandemic.” 

Speaking further, he 

informed that the state 

government is also giving out 

palliative across the 23 local 

government areas of the state. 

Also, the Benue government 

has been training people on 

skill acquisition to enable 

them cope with the effects of 

the pandemic. 

“To address the situation, we 

are re-orientating the 

economic plan of the state”, 

the deputy governor said. 

“For instance, we have set up 

a committee on agricultural 

transformation in a bid to take 

care of the value chain of 

agricultural produce in the 

state. 

“The committee is made up 

of experts and the whole idea 

is to veer away from the oil 

dominated economy and 

concentrate more on agriculture. 

“To some extent, we have been 

able to hold forte and confront 

the negative effects of the 

pandemic”. 

Chances of the PDP 

dominating in 2023 

Having been a member of the 

party for over ten years, Engr. 

Abounu is positive that the party 

will come out strong come 2023. 

According to him, the PDP 

has good plans in managing the 

economy and it is up to the party 

to undo itself come 2023. 

“Based on available facts and 

figures as they relate to 

economic indices, it is quite 

obvious that we have a 

government that is bedevilled 

with everything that is negative 

as far as the wellbeing of the 

people is concerned”, he 

stressed. 

“The APC as a government 

has a big challenge, because 

they have not been able to 

effectively take care of the 

economy and, as a result, it is 

only the PDP that can shoot 

itself in the foot. “Otherwise, I 

will say the atmosphere is very 

ripe for the PDP to win elections. 

“The victory in Edo election 

didn’t come as a surprise 

because the PDP has better 

plans for the economy, security, 

educational development and 

social welfare of the citizenry”. 

On Nigeria at 60 

As someone who witnessed the 

independence of Nigeria in 1960 

as a teenager, Engr. Abounu 

stressed that the nation still 

has a long way to go in terms 

of development. 

However, he is glad that we 

have been able to sustain 

democracy for 21 years as a 

nation despite the challenges 

being faced. 

“We have had issues such 

as the civil war which had the 

tendencies of pulling the 

nation apart, but we have 

remained strong as a 

country”, he said. 

“I will give kudos to the 

past and present 

governments since the 

return to democratic rule for 

sustaining 21 years of 

democracy in a country that 

had been riddled with 

truncations by the military. 

“We have done well in this 

regard. We have been able to 

maintain two houses at the 

National Assembly despite 

the fact that it is costly to 

maintain both. 

“I would say we have made 

some progress in terms of 

economic development 

especially during the PDP 

era from 1999 till 2015 when 

the GDP of the country was 

growing at about six to seven 

percent, but today, the story 

isn’t the same because, at a 

point, we recorded negative 

growth. 

“Though the dip in oil price 

led to recession in 2016, the 

good thing is that all the 

states constitute the National 

Economic Council and ways 

are being fashioned out for 

the economic development of 

the country. 

“I will also congratulate 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari for allowing the will 

of the people to manifest at 

the recent Edo election, 

because some presidents 

would have influenced the 

election to favour their 

parties and I hope he will 

ensure that coming elections 

in the country will be free and 

fair”.



he said. 

In successfully discharging 

his responsibilities as the overseer 

of the Local Government 

and Community Development 

Ministry, some of the projects 

completed by the ministry 

across the state since 2015 include: 

• Construction of Semi- 

Urban Water Scheme across the 

various local government councils 

• Construction of roads 

across various local government 

areas 

• Construction of 50 

units of six classrooms building 

and 50 units of administrative 

blocks in schools across various 

local governments. 

• Supply and installation 

of Jean Muller feeder in 

various local government areas 

of the state. 

• Construction of 250 

units of solar-powered boreholes 

with overhead tanks in 

villages across 23 local government 

areas of the state. 

• Completion of Goronyo, 

Shagari and Bodinga Local 

Government Secretariats. 

• Renovation of Tambuwal 

and Wamakko General 

Hospitals. 

• Renovation of schools 

and supply of school furniture 


• Renovation and construction 

of palace for 18 district 

heads in the state. 

• Construction of 12 type 

Abuja Police Station and improvement 

of another 12 police 

stations in the state. 

• Construction of four 

zonal fire stations and purchase 

of ten firefighting trucks for the 

four zonal stations. 

• Construction of solar 

power station for electricity supply 

in Sabon Birni town. 

In the area of healthcare, he 

has ensured timely intervention 

of the ministry in the conduct 

of monthly polio immunization 

campaigns and routine immunization 

of children against the 

polio disease. 

As the overseer of the ministry, 

he equally played a role 

during the lockdown period 

occasioned by coronavirus by 

facilitating the provision of palliative 

to the teeming populace 


In a bid to reduce maternal 

mortality in the rural communities, 

under his leadership, the 

ministry is sponsoring a community 

midwifery course at the 

State College of Nursing and 

Midwifery Sciences aimed at 

providing qualified community 

midwives for the rural communities. 

In the area of security for the 

rural communities, Dan Iya has 

continued to play a significant 

role at facilitating the purchase 

and distribution of 35 Hilux 

vans for security agencies in the 

fight against kidnappers, bandits 

and cattle rustlers. 

In the same vein, the ministry 

played a pivotal role in providing 

accommodation, food 

and medical supplies to internally 

displaced people’s camps 

in Sokoto. 

A devoted Muslim who, himself 

has mastered the reading 

of the Holy Quran having 

bagged Junior and Senior Certificates 

in Arabic from Usmanu 

Danfodio University as well as 

a Diploma in Arabic Studies 

from the same institution, Dan 

Iya has been consistent at sup- 

Tambuwal’s Government is People-Oriented 

porting local and state levels 

quranic recitation competitions, 

a situation that enables 

Sokoto to be adequately represented 

at the national competition, 

consequent upon 

which representatives are selected 

to represent the country 

at the global competition 

which holds annually in Saudi 

Arabia. 

Astute and diligent, his 

excellent working relationship 

with his principal is 

such that Governor Tambuwal 

is always at ease, leaving 

the state in his care 

whenever he is on vacation 

in line with the relevant 

provisions of the constitution. 

His dexterity and selflessness 

has seen him maintain 

an unbeaten record as the 

best commissioner to promote 

the springing up of 

community development 

projects in the state. 

His Excellency, Alhaji Manir Muhammad 

Dan Iya, Deputy Governor, Sokoto State 

HIS antecedents 

speak volumes 

about his personality 

as not just a politician but 

also a thoroughbred professional 

and administrator with 

the skills to make impact in 

any position he might find 

himself. 

His Excellency, Alhaji 

Manir Muhammad Dan Iya 

(Sardaunan Kware), the Deputy 

Governor of Sokoto State, 

is, no doubt, a role model and 

a loyalist who would, under 

no circumstance, betray the 

trust reposed in him by the 

governor and the good people 

of Sokoto State. 

A native of Kware Local 

Government Area of Sokoto 

State, Manir Dan Iya is a direct 

descendant of the famous 

Islamic Jihadist, Sheikh Usmanu 

Bin Fodiyo. 

An accountant by training, 

he attended Audu Gusau 

Polytechnic, Marafa, Zamfara 

State and College of Administration, 

Sokoto where he 

obtained Professional Diploma 

and Higher National Diploma 

respectively in Accounting. 

He later proceeded to the 

famous Usmanu Danfodio 

University, Sokoto where he 

obtained a bachelor degree 

in economics. 

His service to humanity began 

in 1992 as a civil servant 

with Sokoto State Local Government 

Service Commission 

and was, subsequently, 

posted to Kware Local Government 

Area where he held 

various positions in the accounting 

section of the local 

government before he voluntarily 

resigned as Principal 

Account Officer II on Grade 

Level 14 in 2002. 

Going by his love for humanity 

and his interest to impact 

lives by contributing to 

policies that would deliver 

dividends of democracy to 

those at the grassroots, he 

joined politics in 2003 and he 

was appointed the Sole Administrator 

for Kware Local 

Government Council. 

In 2004, he was elected as 

Executive Chairman of 

Kware Local Government 

Area and he held the position 

till 2007. 

He also served as the Secretary 

General of the Association 

of Local Governments 

of Nigeria (ALGON) between 

2004 and 2005. 

Between 2011 and 2015, 

he served as Special Adviser 

to his current boss, while 

he was the Speaker of the 

House of Representatives. 

At the party level, he was 

the Legal Adviser for the All 

Progressives Congress in 

Sokoto State. 

At the emergence of Governor 

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal 

as the Executive Governor 

of Sokoto State in 2015, 

Manir Dan Iya was appointed 

as a member of the State 

Executive Council and Commissioner 

in charge of the 

Ministry of Local Government 

and Community Development. 

In the build-up to the 2019 

gubernatorial election, he declared 

his interest to contest 

in the election on the platform 

of the Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP). 

However, he withdrew from 

the election owing to the defection 

of Gov. Tambuwal to the 

PDP and he was chosen as running 

mate to the governor. 

Given the landmark achievements 

that were recorded under 

his leadership as Honourable 

Commissioner for Local 

Government and Community 

Development between 2015 and 

2018, he was handed the responsibility 

of overseeing the 

ministry and he has left no stone 

unturned at ensuring that the 

objectives of the ministry are adequately 

achieved in specific 

areas which include healthcare 

development, security, religion, 

education and community development. 

A leader extraordinaire, his 

concept of leadership is the ability 

to motivate the people and 

harness them to attain the defined 

goal of development. 

Without mincing words, 

Manir Dan Iya is an absolutely 

brilliant fellow, principled and 

well-informed man of vision. 

His integrity and penchant to 

always seek facts before providing 

insights have made him a 

man worthy of his current position 

in Sokoto State. 

The deputy governor is always 

opened to new ideas that will 

improve and sustain the quality 

of lives of the people as evident 

in his enormous contributions 

at implementing and promoting 

the governor’s agenda 

towards revolutionizing agriculture 

in the state, improved 

healthcare delivery, quality education, 

improved security, resuscitating 

industries, empowering 

small and medium scale 

enterprises and reviving the 

solid minerals sector in a bid to 

diversify the economy of Sokoto 

State. 

Since inception as Deputy 

Governor to Rt. Hon. Aminu 

Waziri Tambuwal, Alhaji Manir 

Dan Iya has been a loyal deputy 

to Governor Tambuwal. He always 

follow his footsteps in discharging 

his role as the number 

two citizens of Sokoto towards 

actualizing the governor’s 

vision for the state. 

The cordial relationship between 

both of them is quite evident 

as they are always seen 

together attending to public 

events around the state and 

whenever the governor is not 

available he has been representing 

him and also attending to 

state matters. This shows the 

good synergy and trust the Governor 

has in his deputy. In return, 

it has contributed largely 

to the successes recorded by the 

deputy governor in his capacity 

as an assistant to the governor 

and overseer in the state’s Ministry 

of Local Government and 

I appreciate 

Governor Tambuwal 

for allowing 

me to be 

his deputy and 

also giving me 

the opportunity 

to be busy as his 

deputy 

Community Development. 

He also noted that the current 

administration led by Governor 

Tambuwal is people-oriented 

which is why a number of infrastructural 

projects have been 

completed across the state in a 

bid to improve the standard of 

living for the citizens and residents 

of the state. 

“He has shaped the way governance 

is done in Sokoto State. 

As a former Speaker of the 

House of Representatives, he 

has used his experience in public 

service to reform governance 

at all levels across the state. In 

Sokoto State today, the civil servants 

act as professionals and 

they are law abiding in carrying 

out their duties. 

“Honestly, I appreciate Governor 

Tambuwal for allowing me 

to be his deputy and also giving 

me the opportunity to be 

busy as his deputy, because if 

he hasn’t engaged me in the 

affairs of the state, all that has 

been achieved in the ministry I 

oversee wouldn’t have been 

possible and the only way I can 

pay back is to be loyal and supportive. 

By loyalty, I mean 100 

percent, because anything short 

of that could lead to distrust”, 

In the area of education, 

the ministry, through the giant 

efforts of the deputy governor, 

has played a significant 

role towards ensuring 

that qualified candidates 

from the 23 local government 

areas of the state assess 

admission into tertiary 

institutions through the 

purchase and distribution of 

UTME forms to eligible candidates. 

In the same vein, admission 

forms into the state 

School of Developmental 

Studies are distributed to 

indigent students to enable 

them remedy their educational 

deficiency at O’Level 

so as to allow them further 

their educational drive in 

higher institutions of learning 

across the country. 

His diligence and purpose-driven 

character has 

earned him recognitions 

and awards at various times. 

These include Award of Excellence 

by the Centre for 

Sensitization against Drugs 

Abuse, Merit Award by Arewa 

Trusted Youths Elders 

Initiative Forum of Nigeria, 

Hero of Democracy Award, 

Award of Excellence from 

the Democratic Youths Association 

of Nigeria, North 

West Zone, Gamji Development 

Initiative Award in 

Youth Development and 

Sokoto State FM Radio Listeners 

Association Award of 

Excellence. 

He is the Patron of the National 

Association of Sokoto 

State Students. He also 

belongs to reputable associations 

which include the 

Chartered Institute of Administrators 

of Nigeria, 

Sokoto State Industrial 

Committee Tours, Arewa 

Consultative Forum, Sokoto 

Chapter, Sokoto Caliphate 

Bicentenary Central 

Committee, Sokoto State 

Development Forum and 

Operation Resuscitate Primary 

Education in Sokoto. 

His Excellency, Alhaji 

Manir Muhammad Dan Iya 

has positively impacted humanity 

and would continue 

to be referenced as a Nigerian 

who would not compromise 

in the service to his 

people.



He is an elder 

statesman, a 

diplomat, politician 

and seasoned 

journalist whose contributions to 

the journalism profession in 

Nigeria cannot be quantified. 

Also, his contributions to 

governance in Nigeria have his 

name written in gold, given the 

fact that he has contributed 

immensely to policies and 

programmes which have 

opened doors of opportunities to 

a lot of Nigerians who might 

never have met him. 

By virtue of his present 

position as the Deputy Governor 

of Akwa Ibom State, you may 

want to refer to His Excellency, 

Mr. Moses Frank Ekpo, as a 

power broker in Nigerian 

politics, but the Abak-born 

politician doesn’t see himself that 

way. His words, “I am a 

Nigerian citizen who is trying 

to make little contributions 

towards the overall 

development of our country; 

particularly, the people of the 

area I have been destined by 

God to come from.” 

A charming character with 

uncommon brilliance, he is full 

of life and ready to get jobs done 

whenever he is called upon. 

Reading through his 

biographical book, titled, ‘Trials 

and Triumphs’, one would have 

a clear understanding of his 

modest lifestyle and why he is 

passionate about his fatherland 

despite going through a horrible 

experience in his service to the 

country. 

Fondly referred to as ‘Uncle 

Mo’, his story is that of a man 

who received the right training 

from home, committed to 

making his family proud by 

living a life of integrity and at 

the same time contributing to 

the growth of the nation through 

his innate skill of writing which 

he discovered as a student at 

Holy Family College, Abak 

where he had his secondary 

education. 

While at Holy Family College, 

he was the official reporter for 

the school magazine called The 

Link. His report was relied upon 

by the school such that he was 

required to follow the school 

team to every competition and 

he subsequently became the 

Editor of the school magazine. 

After sitting for the West 

African School Certificate 

Examination (WASSCE), he 

decided to leave home in the 

quest to get a job so that he can 

assist his parents financially, but 

before he left, his father gave 

him an instruction which has 

played a key role in what he has 

become in life. He recalled, “My 

father said ‘I have given you a 

precious gift which you must 

return untarnished’. I wondered 

what it was because he didn’t 

give me anything, so I asked my 

mother if he gave her some 

money for me, but she said no. 

“I returned to him and asked 

about the gift; then he replied, 

‘I have given you my name and 

you must return with it without 

blemish.’” 

The young Moses left for 

Enugu and the first job 

opportunity that came his way 

was to join the army as a cadet. 

Without waste of time, he 

applied, passed all the tests and 

drills involved in the selection 

process and was eventually 

I AM SUPPORTING GOV 

EMMANUEL’S VISION IN 

UNIQUE WAYS 

His Excellency, Mr. Moses Frank Ekpo (MFR), 

Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State 

selected amongst the cadets that 

would resume for official 

training in Kaduna. However, 

God had other plans in store for 

him. 

The day he was to join the train 

to Kaduna, the Commandant at 

the Enugu camp summoned 

him to his office. 

On getting there, he saw his 

mother sitting at a corner and 

he was told that his mum had 

come to take him home because 

she didn’t want him to join the 

army. 

“At that point, I was confused 

because I didn’t expect to see 

her. I didn’t know how she got 

access to the Commandant, and 

that was how my dream of 

becoming a soldier was 

terminated. As a matter of fact, 

the commandant had to get in 

touch with the District Officer 

at Abak to ensure that I was 

safely returned to my family”, 

Ekpo recalled. 

Job hunt 

After the Enugu experience, 

he decided to take his job hunt 

to Lagos. 

On his arrival in Lagos, he was 

informed about the recruitment 

by the Nigerian Police Force and 

he applied. 

He passed the test and was to 

It was the 

darkest era of 

my life. I 

committed no 

offense yet I 

was taken 

away from my 

family for 30 

months 

resume at the Police College, 

Ikeja by 12 noon the following 

day. 

By the time he returned to 

where he was staying in Lagos, 

he had a letter from the Central 

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 

requesting him to appear for an 

interview the next day by 9am. 

Like everyone who loves to 

explore options, Ekpo decided 

to attend the interview at CBN 

before going to the Police 

College. 

But as fate would direct his 

path, while he was waiting to 

be called in for the interview at 

CBN, news filtered in about an 

on-going interview by a 

newspaper company at 

Apongbon Street, so he decided 

to join some other people to 

attend the interview and that 

marked the beginning of his 

journalism profession at Daily 

Express in 1960. 

Reminiscing on the event, he 

said, “I was the sixth person to 

be called in for interview and that 

was the day I met Alhaji Lateef 

Jakande (a former governor of 

Lagos State and veteran 

journalist) and the late Chief 

Olabisi Onabanjo (a former 

governor of Ogun State and also 

a veteran journalist). 

“They both interviewed me 

and I was offered the job of 

proof reader. 

“I didn’t know what the job 

entailed, but since I needed a 

job, I accepted it. They asked if 

I could start immediately and I 

said ‘yes’. 

“After some months, I became 

a reporter and I was posted to 

Calabar as correspondent. 

“As correspondent in Calabar, 

I covered the independence 

ceremony of Nigeria which is an 

experience I will never forget.” 

During his time at Daily 

Express, Ekpo had the 

opportunity to further his 

education at The London 

Polytechnic and the University 

of Wisconsin, US where he 

bagged a diploma and 

bachelor’s degree in journalism 

respectively. 

He also attended professional 

courses in Public Information 

and Communications at the 

International Institute for Mass 

Communications in Berlin, 

Thompson College of 

Journalism, Cardiff, UK where 

he attended a course in 

Information Management in 

Government, University of 

Indiana, US for a professional 

course in Management for 

Senior Editors and Publishers, 

as well as the University of 

Guadarahajara, Mexico where 

he attended a programme in 

Advanced Management Course 

for Editors. 

He later went on to work in 

various capacities at a number 

of media houses including the 

Daily Times of Nigeria, West 

African Pilot, Western Nigeria 

Broadcasting Service (WNBS) 

and the Eastern Nigeria 

Broadcasting Service (ENBS). 

Civil War Period 

Arrest 

While he was News Editor at 

ENBS, he was also the Country 

Correspondent for the British 

Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) 

and the Voice of America (VOA). 

Diligent and hardworking, 

Ekpo was carrying out his 

routine tasks in the newsroom 

of ENBS when he was arrested 

by soldiers at the start of the 

Nigerian Civil War in 1967. 

His sin was his closeness to 

the late sage, Chief Obafemi 

Awolowo, who was duly 

represented by his son, Segun 

Awolowo, at Ekpo’s wedding in 

Enugu and it was assumed that 

he might be feeding Gen. 

Yakubu Gowon with information 

about Biafra through Awolowo, 

thus he was tagged a “saboteur” 

to Ojukwu’s Biafran army war 

efforts, and he went on to spend 

the entire 30 months of the Civil 

War in various prison cells within 

the South-East. 

“It was the darkest era of my 

life. I committed no offense yet 

I was taken away from my 

family for 30 months”, he 

narrated. 

“I was arrested at the 

newsroom of ENBS at about 

5am and we were 1, 800 in 

number that were taken to the 

Enugu prison. 

“When the cell was full, some 

of us were transferred to Awka 

prison, then Umuahia and later 

Orlu prison. 

“Out of 608 of us that were 

transferred to Orlu, only 23 of 

us made it out alive. It was a 

horrible experience, but I thank 

God for seeing me through”. 

Given his experience as a 

Continues on page 28



'I AM SUPPORTING GOV EMMANUEL’S VISION IN UNIQUE WAYS' 


journalist with nose for news 

and respect for the rules of the 

profession, Ekpo became the 

Editor of the Cross River State 

owned newspaper – The Nigerian 

Chronicle in 1970. 

“By 1975, he was appointed the 

Sole Administrator/CEO of the 

newspaper. 

He became the Chief Information 

Officer to the Cross River State 

Government in 1978 and, 

subsequently, rose to become the 

Chief Public Relations Officer to the 

Cross River State Government in 

1979. Between 1982 and 1983, he 

was Acting Federal Director of 

Information Services and, from 1983 

to 1984, he was the Director for 

Nigerian Information Services in 

the Americas at the Nigerian 

Embassy in Washington DC. 

Ekpo was later appointed to the 

Nigerian High Commission in 

London where he served as the 

Director for Nigerian Information 

Service in Europe between 1984 

and 1985. 

His exemplary service to the 

nation was recognised by the 

military government headed by 

then Major. Gen Muhammadu 

Buhari and he was appointed the 

Director and CEO of the War 

Against Indiscipline (WAI), a 

position in which he served till 

1987. 

He later went on to serve as the 

Commissioner for Information, 

Social Development, Youth, Sports 

and Culture in Cross River and 

Akwa Ibom States before his 

appointment as a Director at the 

Nigerian Copyright Commission, 

where he later served as 

Director General/CEO between 

1989 and 2000. 

Exploits at Copyright 

Commission 

Prior to the copyright reforms 

initiated by him, the situation 

in Nigeria was confusing, the 

legal framework was weak and 

pirates made riches out of the 

sweat of creative artists, but his 

legendary contributions to the 

Copyright Act in Nigeria are 

reflective in the growth of the 

creative industry today. 

When he came on board, Ekpo 

and his team drafted the structural 

framework and laws to protect 

intellectual properties in Nigeria 

which later metamorphosed into the 

Copyright Act of 2004. 

He also led a public 

enlightenment campaign which 

helped in the reorientation of talents 

in the industry. This, he confessed, 

was not an easy task, but by 

engaging veterans in the industry 

such as King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer 

Obey, Dan Mariaya Jos, Ade 

Afolayan, Tony Okoroji, Bongos 

Ikwe and a host of others, the 

commission made a head way in its 

campaign. 

Ekpo’s hard work also saw 

Nigeria enlisting as a member of 

the World Intellectual Property 

Organization (WIPO) – a 

specialized agency of the United 

Nations. 

To achieve this feat, he got Nigeria 

the hosting rights for an 

international conference on 

copyright and intellectual property 

at a time when the West had placed 

a sanction on Nigeria as a result of 

the Federal Government’s 

annulment of the June 12, 1993 

presidential election. 

The event, which was declared 

opened by then Head of State, the 

late Gen. Sani Abacha, turned out 

a success as it was attended by 

delegates from most of the WIPO 

member nations. 

Mr. Moses Frank Ekpo 

This opened the way for Nigeria 

to hold her first arts exhibition at 

WIPO headquarters in Geneva, and 

Ekpo later went on to become the 

President of the WIPO General 

Assembly. 

Influence of 

journalism 

On how journalism influenced 

his interest in politics, the 

charismatic deputy governor 

described it as a natural occurrence 

instinct, having worked as a political 

correspondent/editor at some points 

in his career. 

“For me, politics is serving your 

people and my journalism career no 

doubt influenced my interest in 

politics, because I have what it 

takes to positively impact my 

people. I am fulfilled having been 

given the opportunity to serve, 

because, aside making sure that the 

dividends of democracy get to the 

people, I have also been able to 

engage my people in politics,” he 

replied. 

A man whose dedication and 

loyalty to a just cause cannot be 

faulted, Ekpo explained that he has 

been fully engaged since the Udom 

Emmanuel administration came to 

power in 2015. According to him, 

every deputy governor must be 

ready to serve as an assistant to their 

boss who is the governor and they 

must be sincere in supporting the 

vision of the governor in as much 

as it is for the good of the people. 

“The questions surrounding the 

constitutional role of deputy 

governors shouldn’t arise because, 

being a deputy is to be an assistant, 

and the authors of our Constitution 

made no mistake with that”, he 

said. 

“It is only the governor who can 

assign duties to the deputy, because 

he is the one with the vision. 

“This, however, doesn’t mean 

the deputy cannot advise his 

boss, but he must support the 

vision of the governor. 

Number two 

“I am number two and I have 

a duty to assist number one in 

achieving his plans for the state. 

“Since the beginning of this 

administration, I have been 

engaged by the governor and I 

appreciate him for taking me on 

this journey as his deputy, 

because he is the greatest gift 

God has given to Akwa Ibom 

State and I owe him 100 

percent loyalty”. 

Speaking further on his 

relationship with Gov. Udom 

Emmanuel, he explained that 

the cordial relationship between 

them is based on the fear of God 

in both of them. “If you believe 

in God whose golden rule is 

love, you will show love and 

respect to your fellow human”, 

the deputy governor said. 

“Both of us are Christians and 

we place God above anything 

else. Likewise, we are both well 

trained from home. When you 

We fared well 

when we had 

regional 

governments 

because each 

region was allowed 

to develop with its 

potentials and 

there was 

competition 

among the regions 

are properly trained from home, 

respecting others won’t be a 

problem for you”. 

Of a truth, the Udom 

Emmanuel administration in 

Akwa Ibom has made impact 

in the areas of human capacity 

development, education, health 

and industrial development, 

amongst others as evident in 

landmark projects that have 

been completed in the state. 

Focus 

“The governor’s focus is on 

the people and, in doing this, 

he has set in motion programmes 

aimed at improving the lives of the 

people and this is why he has 

invested so much in education, 

healthcare and industrial 

development”, Ekpo said. 

“I can tell you that in the last five 

years, he has raised the ante as far 

as the history of Akwa Ibom State 

is concerned. 

“Take for instance Ibom Air. It has 

not only changed a lot of things 

about air travel in Nigeria, but has 

also brought investments to the 

state, and has provided employment 

for youths in Akwa Ibom and 

beyond. 

“We are developing a deep 

seaport in partnership with the 

Federal Government. 

“We have improved agriculture 

and, today, we eat our own rice, we 

have a flour mill which is serving 

the state and its neighbours, and a 

fertilizer manufacturing plant 

which has greatly contributed to our 

agricultural revolution. “These are 

projects that have created both direct 

and indirect employment in the 

state. 

“In terms of healthcare, it was as 

if the governor knew a pandemic 

would come from the blues, because 

he has been rebuilding healthcare 

facilities in the state by equipping 

hospitals and recruiting qualified 

medical personnel. “This gave us a 

solid structure when the Covid-19 

pandemic struck and it only took us 

six weeks to set up our first 

isolation centre, because we 

only had to build on what was 

on ground”. 

Credit 

In the course of his journalism 

career, Ekpo also earned 

himself credit for establishing 

The Pioneer newspaper which 

is owned by the Akwa Ibom 

State government and existing 

till date. 

He also had the honour of 

being appointed to the board of 

some national and international 

organizations. 

He served as a member of the 

National Executive Council of 

the Institute of Managers and 

Administrators of Nigeria, 

member of the governing 

council of the WIPO Academy, 

member of the Governing 

Council of Akwa Ibom State 

University, and extraordinary 

congress delegate to the 

International Human Rights 

Commission. 

Ekpo was Chairman of Pro- 

Health International and a 

federal commissioner at the 

National Population 

Commission. In addition to 

other professional programmes 

he has attended, he had an 

internship with the American 

Media Organizations in 35 

North American States under 

the auspices of the United 

States Information Service. 

Things will get better 

Commenting of the 60th 

Independence Anniversary of 

the country, the deputy 

governor is optimistic that 

things would get better even 

though his expectations as a 

young man who covered the 

independence ceremony in 

1960 are yet to materialise. 

His words, “As a young man, 

I was filled with enthusiasm 

when the Union Jack was 

lowered and the Nigerian flag 

was hoisted, but it is not yet 

Uhuru. We have come a long 

way and there is still so much 

to be achieved. 

“We have had 21 years of 

democratic rule, but this hasn’t 

translated to the vision of the 

founding fathers of this country. 

“However, we cannot say the 

future is bleak because we had 

a Civil War and we still came 

together as one nation. 

“Things will be better if we 

look at the proper perspective 

which is restructuring. “We 

fared well when we had regional 

governments because each 

region was allowed to develop 

with its potentials and there was 

competition among the regions. 

“For instance, Cocoa House 

in Ibadan was built by Chief 

Awolowo as Western Region 

Premier without a penny from 

the Federal Government, same 

goes for the Ahmadu Bello 

Stadium in Kaduna which was 

built by the government of then 

Northern Region and the 

University of Nigeria Nsukka, 

which was built by the 

government of the Eastern 

Region. 

“Even as it is, if all the states 

are allowed to develop on their 

own under the umbrella of true 

federalism, perhaps my 

thoughts and hope can be 

achieved.” 

A recipient of the national 

award as Member of the 

Federal Republic (MFR), Ekpo 

belongs to a number of 

professional bodies within and 

outside the shores of Nigeria. 

He is an associate member of 

the Guild of American 

Newspaper Editors, member of 

the Nigerian Union of 

Journalists, British Institute of 

Public Relations and British 

Institute of Journalists. 

He is a fellow of the Nigerian 

Institute of Public Relations 

(NIPR), Advertising 

Practitioners Council of Nigeria 

(APCON), British Institute of 

Management, World 

Intellectual Property Institute 

and the Institute of Managers 

and Administrators of Nigeria. 

He is also a consultant to the 

World Intellectual Property 

Organization (WIPO).


Of legacy building and Fayemi’s five-pillar development agenda 

BY YINKA OYEBODE 

WHEN he was inaugurated as Gov 

ernor of Ekiti State for the second 

term on October 16, 2018, Dr John Kayode 

Fayemi’s main focus was to reposition the 

state by restoring the core values for which 

the Ekitis are known and to lift the state in 

terms of socio- economic, infrastructure 

and industrial development. Whereas this 

sounded a bit ambitious giving the low revenue 

base of the state coupled with the economic 

downturn being experienced across 

the country at that time. 

Apparently undaunted by those prevailing 

factors, Dr Fayemi swung into action, 

and immediately gave a clear direction the 

administration intends to take in realising 

its set goals. He stated this clearly in his 

inaugural speech, which was more of an 

agenda setting document. 

He had declared “Indeed, our mission to 

Reclaim our Land and Restore our Values, 

was not only the slogan of our campaigns 

but a clarion call to all to embark on this 

journey with us. 

“My vision for our great State is that this 

is a place where people can thrive and live 

their lives in dignity. A place where workers 

do not labour in vain. A place where our 

young people do not roam the streets looking 

for jobs that are not there, a place where 

people are not so hungry they resort to pilfering 

food to survive. A place where the 

cycle of generational poverty can be broken, 

and in which our elderly can reap the 

fruits of their labours over their children. A 

place where people are safe, healthy and 

prosperous.” 

Hardly had the sound of these words 

melted into the airwaves than Governor 

Fayemi hit the ground running on five pillars 

of development agenda Vis: Governance, 

Agriculture and rural Development; 

Social Investments; Knowledge Economy 

as well as Infrastructure and industrial development. 

*Gov Fayemi 

Twenty four months down the line, or better 

put half way into the four-year tenure, is 

considered a good time to assess how far the 

Kayode Fayemi-administration has been 

able to walk the talk. The jury of course is out 

there.. 

Governance: 

The Fayemi administration has built a reputation 

as a government whose programmes 

and projects are built around well thought 

out policies. It is the combination of these 

policies and legal framework that differentiate 

Ekiti State from the pack. Part of the policies 

put in place or domesticated by the administration 

include the Implementation of 

the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for transparent 

and accountable revenue generation 

in Ekiti State. The administration also signed 

up to the Open Government Partnership 

(OGP) Global Initiative for fiscal transparency, 

grants, anti-corruption, inclusiveness, 

becoming the first state to do so in the southwest 

zone. 

In ensuring the welfare of workers and retirees, 

the governor ensures that penioners 

are paid same day workers’ salaries are paid. 

He also increased payment of gratuity to retirees 

from N10million to N100million 

monthly and released of N200 million as car 

loans to teachers and N240,703,000.00 as 

Land/Housing loan to 1,999 Civil Servants. 

The administration has also sustained the 

payment of core subjects allowance to teachers 

in public primary and secondary schools 

across Ekiti State as well rural allowance to 

teachers serving in hard – to – reach schools 

in the State. 

The Governor also commenced implementation 

of 180 days maternity leave for nursing 

mothers to promote infant and maternal 

health as well as facilitate work life balance 

for female workers. He also commenced review 

of the Laws of Ekiti State and enacted 

some laws that seek to protect lives and investments. 

These include: Ekiti State Fiscal 

Responsibility Law, No 12 of 2019; State 

Security Trust Fund (Amended) Law, 2019; 

State Sustainable Development Goals Law, 

2019; Passage of the bill for the establishment 

of Ekiti Security Network Agency and 

Amotekun Corps, 2020; Ekiti State Gender 

Based Violence (Prohibition) Law, the Sexual 

Violence Against Children (Compulsory 

Treatment and Care) Law, 2020. 

Agriculture and rural development: 

Governor Fayemi’s plan for agric business 

has led to partnership with some big names 

in agriculture who are in the state to set up 

processing plants in addition to large scale 

farming. Agriculture investments of over $50 

million in rice (by Stallion, Dangote Farm & 

JMK), cassava (by FMS Farms, Promise 

Point and Arog Agro), and dairy processing 

(by Promasidor) have been attracted to the 

state, while government has completed the 

pre-feasibility study for the Special Agro-Industrial 

Processing Zone (SAPZ) which is a 

40,000 hectare area, planned to house processing 

operations focused on rice, cassava, 

dairy, cocoa, cashew and maize processing. 

Other efforts of government include capacity 

training for Livestock farmers across 16 

LGAs; Clearing of 1540 Hectares of farmland 

for agricultural investors in 5 LGAs . 

Utilising his wide contact with the development 

agencies, Fayemi has been able to 

forge some strategic partnerships, notably 


with the African Development Bank (AfDB) 

for the Agriculture Processing Zone Project; 

the World Bank for the rehabilitation and 

tarring of 1,000km of rural roads through 

the Rural Access and Mobility Project 

(RAAMP) which opens up over 500 rural 

communities and farmsteads. 

Social investments: 

The Fayemi administration has made 

substantial social investments in the bid to 

lift the vulnerable in the society. This, the 

administration is doing through diverse 

ways, including loans disbursement to 

500 beneficiaries across the 16 LGAs. Social 

Welfare Fund is a monthly programme 

by the office of the First Lady where citizens’ 

urgent financial needs are met. Target 

beneficiaries are widows, aged and the 

vulnerable. Multiple Births Trust Fund, an 

initiative of the First Lady, run by the Ministry 

of Women Affairs. It provides financial 

and product support to poor families 

with multiple births, while ‘Owo Arugbo’ 

scheme provides monthly sustenance 

cash transfers to senior citizens across the 

state and ‘Ounje Arugbo’ scheme is monthly 

food stuff support for the aged. 

The Governor recently launched Ekiti 

State Health Insurance Scheme, to enhance 

access to health care delivery in the 

state. In addition to this, the administration 

gave out free 10,000 delivery kits distributed 

to all Primary Heath Care Centers. 

It organises quarterly free health outreach 

to all 16 LGAs and core rural areas 

in the State. Free screening and surgery for 

over 500 cataract patients across the State. 

Free health care services for children from 

0-5 years; pregnant women, citizens above 

65 years and people with disabilities. 

The administration also established a 24/ 

7 Emergency Operation Centre to coordinate 

response to the COVID-19 and other 

infectious diseases. It also commissioned 

a molecular laboratory to facilitate COV- 

ID-19 testing in Ekiti State. 

Continues 

www.vanguardngr.com 

SPECIAL FOCUS ON OUTSTANDING SECRETARIES TO STATE 

GOVERNMENTS IN NIGERIA —PART ONE 

A publication of Special Projects Unit 

online: 

The Office of the 

Secretary to the 

State Government 

(SSG) is the engine room 

of government as it plays a 

vital role in the 

implementation of 

government programs. 

Unarguably, the office of 

the SSG cannot be 

overlooked as it is saddled 

with the oversight of 

Ministries, Departments 

and Agencies of 

government and thus 

expected to be managed by 

a result-oriented, 

hardworking and 

incorruptible individual so 

as to keep the ship of the 

state at full throttle. 

More importantly, the 

SSG provides innovative, 

efficient and effective 

support to the State 

Executive Council for the 

seamless coordination of 

policies and programs of 

the state government 

towards achieving set 

goals. This is indeed not an 

office for the mediocre. 

However, only a few can 

be referred to as performers 

as revealed in the activities 

of their state governments. 

These are the ones who 

have proven to be diligent 

and whose lives have 

become a roadmap for 

people who believe that 

hard work and good morals 

are the major ingredients 

for achieving excellence. 

In celebration of Nigeria’s 

60th Anniversary, Sunday 

Vanguard has decided to 

showcase some of these 

patriotic Nigerians who 

have made indelible 

impact in the successes 

recorded in their 

respective states. 

Alhaji Mohammed Sabiu Baba, 

Secretary to Bauchi State Government 

Alhaji Baba Mallam-Wali, 

Secretary to Yobe State Government


SPECIAL FOCUS ON OUTSTANDING SECRETARIES TO STATE GOVERNMENTS IN NIGERIA 


Secretary to Yobe State 

Government, is someone who 

believes so much in the concept of goal 

setting, actualizing set goals and the 

transfer of acquired knowledge into 

practical events that solves the day-today 

problems of the society. 

His resourcefulness and diligence to 

duty is, no doubt, the reason for his 

reappointment as SSG in Yobe in 2019 

by Governor Mai Mala Buni having 

served under former Governor Ibrahim 

Gaidam from 2015 to 2019. 

Born to an Islamic scholar, Mallam 

Shettima Modu, who was responsible 

for establishing schools in Nguru, Yobe 

State between 1930s and 1940s given 

his love for education, Mallam-Wali 

attended Ahmadu Bello University, 

Zaria where he bagged a bachelor 

degree in geography in 1981 as well 

as a master’s degree in rural 

development in 1986. 

He kicked off his career as a 

Planning Officer at Chad Basin 

Development Authority in 1982 and 

thereafter became a Social 

Mobilization Officer at Mass 

Mobilization for Self-Reliance, Social 

Justice, and Economic Recovery 

(MAMSER) in 1987. 

In 1988, he transferred his service to 

Borno State Government as Principal 

Planning Officer at the Governor’s 

Office and later served as Principal 

Secretary to the former Military 

Governor, Col. Lawan Mohammed, in 

1990. 

He subsequently became a Field 

Team Coordinator for the North East 

Development Programme, an 

European Union (EU) funded 

programme and rose to the rank of 

Programme Manager. 

Upon the establishment of the 

National Poverty Eradication 

Programme (NAPEP), Mallam-Wali 

was appointed by former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo as Coordinator 

for Yobe State. 

Mallam-Wali later went on to work 

in various ministries in Yobe State and 

later became a Permanent Secretary 

in 2007. 

In 2014, he became an alumnus of 

the National Institute of Policy and 

Strategic Studies (NIPSS). 

The Yobe SSG, in this interview, 

speaks on how he became passionate 

for public service during his master’s 

degree programme in Rural 

Development, having been exposed to 

the challenges facing rural 

communities across the country and 

Yobe State in particular. Working with 

the NEDP also changed his narrative 

on the need to start developing the 

rural areas. 

How do you feel serving the people 

of Yobe in your present capacity? 

I feel satisfied. The most important 

How I became 

passionate for 

public service 


Secretary to Yobe State Government 

thing and greatest satisfaction for any 

individual is to see that whatever effort 

you are doing in government, you see 

results on ground. And in Yobe State, 

the results are there for everyone to see. 

We have worked together with different 

ministries and agencies as I earlier 

mentioned. We have contributed a lot 

in a manner that has never been done 

in the history of Yobe before. A lot of 

roads and drainage networks have 

been constructed, a lot of water 

projects have been executed, we have 

built several hospitals, poverty has 

been reduced. I am also happy to work 

with good principals; former Governor 

(Senator, Dr.) Ibrahim Gaidam and the 

incumbent, Governor (Hon.) Mai 

Mala Buni have the zeal, the 

enthusiasm to reposition Yobe for 

greater heights. And I am very proud 

to work with them as SSG. 

It is no longer news that Yobe and 

her people have experienced 

gargantuan security challenges 

especially insurgency, but we have 

worked together to address these 

challenges to bring our people, 

especially the displaced ones, back to 

their liberated communities. We feel 

happy and satisfied that there are no 

Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) 

camps in the state. We feel happy and 

satisfied that our people who have been 

ravaged by insurgency and were 

hitherto displaced have all returned to 

their ancestral homes and are doing 

their normal businesses with dignity. 

Indeed all the development strides we 

see in Yobe today were executed 

during the insurgency side-by-side 

where bombs were being detonated by 

insurgents. 

How have you played your role in 

assisting Governor Buni achieve set 

objectives? 

I have had the opportunity to 

undergo a lot of training overseas and 

worked in various capacities in 

government. I led a team of 

professionals on a 25-day study tour 

of rural development projects in Niger 

Republic and Burkina Faso in 1993 

on the North-East Development 

Projects. I was at the King’s College 

London for various training. I was also 

at the University of Reading and 

Thames Valley University. I underwent 

various management and capacity 

building training sponsored by the 

DFID & EU. All these courses and 

training, combined with other 

experiences I had when I was a 

participant at NIPSS, have greatly 

assisted me and I am happy that my 

principals listen to advice. 

How do you describe the 

challenges faced in your role as 

SSG, and how have you been able 

to surmount these challenges? 

The role of the SSG as Chief Adviser 

to the Governor is a very daunting task. 

As the SSG, you are to implement all 

the policies and programmes of 

government, so you have to work hard 

and spend extra time. Sometimes you 

have to work almost 24 hours a day, 

seven days a week. You come to the 

office on Saturdays and Sundays. You 

work during public holidays. So these 

are some of the challenges I face as 

SSG, but I thank God Almighty for 

giving me good health. This has helped 

me to work even under pressure to 

accomplish set goals. 

In doing the work, you have to be 

time conscious, so that government 

does not stop. You have to make your 

family understand and be patient with 

you, because you don’t have enough 

time for them, but thank God my family 

understands, and also my friends. 

At the inception of this 

administration, Governor Buni 

declared state of emergency in the 

education and health sectors. What 

is your take on this, and how has it 

we don’t have 

abandoned 

projects, we don’t 

have too many 

loans, we are 

among the least 

indebted states in 

the country, and 

that is why we have 

never had any 

problem in prompt 

payment of salaries 

and allowances 

impacted on the lives of Yobeans? 

Immediately His Excellency was 

sworn-in, in his inaugural speech, he 

declared state of emergency in the 

education sector as you rightly pointed 

out. Thereafter, a retreat on education 

was arranged under the chairmanship 

of Professor Mala Daura, Vice- 

Chancellor of Yobe State University. 

Professor Daura was also the 

Chairman, Technical Committee for 

the Revitalization of Education in the 

state. The committee has already 

submitted its report and we are 

working assiduously to ensure smooth 

implementation of the report. Similarly, 

we arranged a retreat for the 

revitalization of agriculture and a 

committee was set up under the 

chairmanship of the Honourable 

Commissioner for Agriculture in the 

state. In Yobe, we have four pillars 

which are education, agriculture, 

health and infrastructure. All the four 

pillars, if you are able to handle them 

properly as government, then you have 

addressed most of the challenges of the 

state, because all the other pillars, such 

as youth/women empowerment, 

poverty alleviation and job creation, 

can be addressed through these pillars. 

In the health sector, Yobe has been 

rated as among those with the fastest 

growing health indices in the country. 

We have also focused attention on 

infrastructural development in the 

health sector. In fact, when our airport 

is completed, people from other parts 

of the country would be coming to Yobe 

as the Centre for Medical Tourism. 

That I am assuring you and it will 

happen very soon Insha Allah. 

Our airport will be completed before 

the end of this year (2020), and many 

people would be coming in for medical 

treatment. Our maternal and child 

mortality is reducing, our 

immunization coverage and 

indicators are very well conducted 

which is why we have been rated 

among the best by the Bill and 

Melinda Gate and Dangote 

Foundations. 

Also, in the education sector, despite 

the Covid-19 pandemic, which has 

ravaged all parts of the globe, we are 

doing wonderfully well, and we hope 

that when the Covid-19 curve is 

flattened, our schools will be fully 

reopened. We have also set up 

committee on water revitalization, and 

the committee has swung into action 

to ensure 100 percent water supply in 

all nooks and crannies of the state. 

Yobe is one of the states with 

paucity of funds and has low income 

generation, yet the state pays 

salaries, gratuities and pensions to 

civil servants promptly. What magic 

do you use to achieve that? 

First of all, as a responsive 

government, you cut your coat 

according to your cloth and that is 

what we have been doing here in Yobe. 

As you rightly said, our Internally 

Generated Revenue (IGR) is very low, 

coupled with the insurgency crisis 

which has virtually crippled our 

economy with no industries, but 

whenever we collect our federal 

allocation, there is what we call firstline-charge, 

which means Pay Your 

Salaries. So after paying salaries and 

other entitlements, the balance is 

channeled to developmental sectors 

transparently and judiciously. 

Secondly, we don’t take loans that 

we will not be able to pay back. This is 

the principle which the former and the 

present Governor had and have been 

implementing. Government is 

continuity, so as a government, do 

what you are supposed to do and leave 

the rest to your successor to continue 

from where you stop. That is why in 

Yobe, we don’t have abandoned 

projects, we don’t have too many 

loans, we are among the least indebted 

states in the country, and that is why 

we have never had any problem in 

prompt payment of salaries and 

allowances. 

Nigeria just celebrated its 60th 

anniversary. What is your 

assessment of the nation’s 

development and what do you think 

should be done to further sustain the 

21 years of democratic rule? 

Nigeria as you mentioned is a great 

nation. I was born two years before 

independence. I witnessed civil war 

and military rule from the time of 

General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), down 

to the time of General Abdulsalami 

Abubakar. 

We returned to democratic rule in 

1999 and, up to this present 

administration of President 

Muhammad Buhari, this country has 

undergone different developmental 

challenges, but we have gone very far 

despite the challenges, because we 

have been able to stand as a very 

strong, united nation. President 

Buhari has done wonderfully well right 

from the time he came on board in 2015 

to date. This was the time I also became 

the SSG, and I recall that most states, 

Yobe exclusive, were not able to pay 

salaries. But President Buhari came up 

with a Bail-Out-Fund initiative to help 

states sustain payment of salaries 

promptly. It would interest you to 

know that President Buhari, in 2015, 

came at the time when the economy 

of the nation was completely battered, 

everything was down, so he had to start 

work from the scratch, and now he has 

restored the confidence reposed in him 

by Nigerians. If you recall, we 

depended a lot on food importation 

and, you know, there is no country that 

can sustain itself by importing food 

from other countries. Just like a family, 

you cannot sustain yourself if you are 

unable to feed your household, so you 

have to look inward in order to adjust 

your priorities. And, therefore, one of 

the greatest achievements Mr. 

President has had is to ensure that 

many of our people go back to farming, 

and that is why Nigeria is now 

becoming self-sufficient in food 

production as we no longer depend 

on food import. Another great 

achievement under this Buhari 

administration is in the area of 

infrastructure. Railway is being 

constructed, roads are being 

connected, schools and hospitals are 

being constructed and renovated and 

so on and so forth. 

What is the guiding philosophy 

that has brought you this far in life? 

My guiding philosophy or principle 

is keeping to the truth always, devoid 

of selfish interest or sentiment in 

whatever you are doing. Don’t make 

promise or promises that you cannot 

fulfill. Whatever you do, just do it with 

the fear of the Almighty Allah (God). 

Another important philosophy is 

that, as a human being, keep it at the 

back of your mind that in any position 

you find yourself, consider it as 

temporary and not permanent, so you 

have to always make sure that you 

leave a good legacy that you should 

be remembered for. Do something that 

you know will benefit your people and 

community. 

Finally, as SSG, you have to be loyal 

to your principal and work with him 

in order to achieve the objectives to 

which the people of Yobe elected him. 

What should be expected from you 

at the end of your tenure? 

First of all, I have to thank Almighty 

Allah for giving me the strength. I have 

to thank the Executive Governor, Hon 

Mai Mala Buni, for finding me worthy 

of this appointment and giving me the 

trust. My prayer always is for Allah to 

give me the wisdom to contribute my 

quota to the development of Yobe. As 

a human being and Muslim, you 

cannot determine your future or 

destiny, which is in the hands of 

Almighty Allah. My focus for now is 

to give my maximum support and 

cooperation to the present 

administration to ensure that we leave 

a lasting legacy in the history of Yobe 

State.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON OUTSTANDING SECRETARIES TO STATE GOVERNMENTS IN NIGERIA 

His appointment as Secretary 

to the Bauchi State 

Government (SSG) is a 

classic example of fitting a round peg 

in a round hole. 

Alhaji Mohammed Sabiu Baba is 

one of the political appointees in the 

country whose appointments are 

based on merit and he has been able 

to justify the trust reposed in him by 

Governor Bala Mohammed in his 

one year in office as the right man 

for the job. 

A core technocrat whose 

achievements speak volumes about 

his ability to solve complex 

organizational issues, prior to his 

appointment, he had a sterling 

career at the Nigerian 

Telecommunications Limited (Ntel) 

where he rose through the ranks 

from the position of Territorial 

Accountant in Kaduna to becoming 

the Executive Director (Finance & 

Investment). He later founded 

Benchmark Solutions Limited, a 

consultancy firm responsible for the 

proper utilization of the N15billion 

Syndicated Note Issuance Facility 

by a consortium of banks for the 

expansion of the Ntel network. 

He also coordinated the 

establishment of Premium Pension 

Limited where he served as Pioneer 

Chairman between 2005 and 2011. 

Today, the company has become a 

major player in the pension industry 

managing over N700 billion in 

pension assets. 

Between 2004 and 2013, he served 

as Managing Director of Asset 

Management and Securities 

Services Company (AMSSCO), the 

company responsible for the 

construction of the AMSSCO 

Platinum City located in 

Galadimawa, Abuja with over 300 

tastefully finished houses, as well as 

the AMSSCO Aero Gardens Estate 

at the Aviation Village in Abuja. 

Baba was serving as Chairman, 

Board of Directors at Benchmark 

Homes Limited when he received 

the clarion call to serve in his home 

state. 

A Fellow of the Association of 

National Accountants of Nigeria and 

the Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, 

he is also a member of the Nigerian 

Institute of Management. He 

speaks on what stands his out as 

SSG in Bauchi. 

You come from a humble 

background to become one of the 

power brokers in Bauchi State. Tell 

us about how it all started. 

First of all, I do not see myself as a 

power broker in Bauchi State. I see 

myself as somebody who has been 

invited by the state governor to come 

and assist in the running of the 

administration. It is an opportunity 

that is rare. As you know, the position 

of Secretary to the State 

Government is just one per state and 

if the state governor says “come and 

do this job for me”, it is usually a rare 

opportunity. That is the way I see it, 

I have no political ambition and I try 

to keep it that way and that makes 

my job easier. 

Further to that, I attended primary 

school in a village near Bauchi in 

Liman Katagum up till 1972 before 

I went to Government Secondary 

School in Gombe which is today 

called Government Science 

Secondary School near the General 

Hospital in Gombe. In 1976, I 

proceeded to the School of Basic 

Studies (SBS) at Ahmadu Bello 

University Zaria. After the SBS one 

year programme, I got admission to 

study accounting at the Institute of 

Administration of Ahmadu Bello 

University. I graduated in 1980 and 

did my NYSC between 1980 and 

1981. I worked in a few places before 

settling at the defunct NITEL where 

I rose in the finance group to the 

position of Executive Director, 

Finance. After I left NITEL in 

December 2003, I started a 

consultancy business, Benchmark 

Solutions Limited. We were into 

management consultancy and we 

managed recruitment, project 

management, etc. I remember 

handling a project for a consortium 

which supervised the utilization of 

N15billion Syndicated Note 

Issuance Facility for Ntel to expand 

their mobile network. We handled 

recruitment and training for a 

number of corporate organizations. 

During this period, I got involved in 

the project that birthed what is 

known today as Premium Pension 

Limited. 

At the commencement of the 

company, my friend and associates 

who joined me in the setting up of 

the company decided that I become 

the first Chairman of the Board. I was 

Chairman of the Board for two terms 

I ENSURE THAT GOVERNMENT’S 

MACHINERY RUNS SMOOTHLY IN BAUCHI 

Alhaji Mohammed Sabiu Baba, 

Secretary to Bauchi State Government 

and that was up till 2011. While I was 

Chairman of Board of Premium 

Pension, I was also into real estate 

under the name of AMSSCO 

Limited. There is an estate in 

Galagimawa that is called 

AMSSCO Platinum City, that city 

was constructed under my 

supervision. I was a shareholder and 

Director at AMSSCO till we started 

Benchmark Homes Limited, which 

is also a real estate company in 

Abuja. When power changed hands 

in 2019, I was invited in the third 

week of May 2019 by the governor 

to come and work with him in 

Bauchi. I asked in what capacity and 

he said in the capacity of the 

Secretary to the State Government. 

He said he believes I can do the job, 

so I considered the offer and 

accepted it. 

How do you feel serving your 

people in the capacity of the SSG? 

I am elated that this is an 

opportunity for me to come and work 

in Bauchi. Not many get such 

opportunity. I see it as an 

opportunity to come home and 

contribute my quota to the 

development of my state. I am here 

and my people appear to be happy 

that I am around, especially those 

from my local government area, 

Ganjuwa. They keep telling me that 

I am representing them, but I always 

tell them that my constituency is all 

of Bauchi State. Somehow I agree 

with them, I am from Ganjuwa and 

I have an obligation to participate 

in everything necessary for the 

growth of the area because it’s my 

local government. 

How have you played your role 

as the SSG in helping the governor 

to achieve his set objectives and 

goals? 

The position of the SSG is a 

statutory position, every state 

governor is required by the 

Constitution to appoint one. My 

duties include the coordination of the 

activities of all Ministries, 

Departments and Agencies of 

government (MDAs). This is to say 

that I am coordinating all the 

policies, projects and programmes 

of the government. In addition, I 

serve as the Secretary to the cabinet 

and the security council of the state. 

It is the kind of role that ensures that 

the machinery of government runs 

smoothly and I am glad to be 

contributing my quota to the 

development of the state in this 

position. 

How would you describe the 

challenges you are faced with as 

SSG and how have you been able 

to surmount these challenges? 

In terms of challenges, I can tell 

you that it is not an easy office. I don’t 

want to lie about this. It is an office 

where you can hardly predict what 

will happen in the next hour. Things 

can come up and their magnitude 

can be so enormous, but you have to 

have an open mind and be ready to 

provide solutions. You have to use 

all the skills and experience at your 

disposal to be able to handle issues 

It is the kind of role 

that ensures that the 

machinery of 

government runs 

smoothly and I am 

glad to be 

contributing my 

quota to the 

development of the 

state in this position 

that come before you. I am lucky to 

have a governor that is talented and 

experienced. He worked in the 

public service at the federal level up 

to the level of Director before he 

decided to join politics. He did very 

well there as a seasoned civil 

servant. For me, who never worked 

in mainstream civil service, I have 

learnt a lot from him in the last one 

year of my service under his 

supervision. In a nutshell, I am 

lucky to be supervised by someone 

who knows what we should be 


doing. That takes us to how a 

newspaper with a reputation like 

yours decided that I am qualified for 

recognition. I will say that you 

probably followed what is 

happening in Bauchi State which is 

more of what the governor is doing 

with some of us assisting him. 

We are celebrating Nigeria’s 60th 

Independence anniversary. What’s 

your assessment of the nation’s 

development and what do you think 

we should be doing to sustain our 

nation’s 21 years democracy? 

For Nigeria, we have come a long 

way. 60 years is a very long time. 

We’ve seen so many changes and 

now we have come to a stage where 

we must remain united to move 

forward. Democracy too has come to 

stay in Nigeria. I am glad that at 

least when elections are over, our 

leaders understand that there’s a 

difference between governance and 

politicking. The recent election in 

Edo State is a testimony that the 

Federal Government will not 

interfere or insist that the All 

Progressives Congress (APC) must 

win, this is not to say that the 

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is 

a pushover, but at least, it showed 

some level of neutrality which 

means that, politically, we are 

moving in the right direction. In 

terms of economy, a lot has been 

done by the Federal Government 

and by the Bauchi State government. 

Of course, other states are also doing 

their own thing. What really slowed 

down things is the Covid-19 

pandemic that came at the beginning 

of the year. It has really affected 

government programmes. It has 

made the economy to plummet and 

it has pushed the government into 

borrowing to sustain its activities 

and the economy. It is hoped that we 

will soon see the end of the 

pandemic, we will move again and 

face the path of development for the 

country. 

Of course, a lot of difficult 

decisions are being made at the 

federal level, I can easily see that. 

Sticking to the principle of change 

and introducing change in the right 

direction is usually a very tough 

thing and it is likely to make citizens 

feel the heat of the activities of 

government. I believe that we have 

reached that point and now people 

are not even sure whether they 

made the right choice by voting 

President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Like I told you, I am not a politician, 

I try to see things from the 

perspective of a citizen of this 

country. I believe he has been doing 

well by charting the course of 

progress, but we are taking very 

tough decisions that with time will 

give us stability and lead us to the 

Promised Land. 

Look at the reforms in the areas of 

corruption and how much is being 

done. Of course, there are issues now 

in EFCC. The fact that the 

management itself is under scrutiny, 

shows you that the government is 

not going to allow things to slide. 

But beyond the issue of corruption, 

I believe government is not so 

insensitive to the plights of the 

public, some social investment 

programmes are being reeled out to 

cushion the effect of some of the 

decisions. You will agree that access 

to credit is now quite easy, it has 

been brought down to the level of 

the common man and there is some 

assistance that government is giving 

that is not necessarily credit that 

government will really recover. I 

hope Nigerians do understand and 

I hope that my governor is not going 

to say that I am praising the APC 

government. No, I am not. I mean, 

I’m praising people for what they do 

and if I see where credit should be 

given, credit would be given. 

You say you are not a politician, 

but people see you as a part of PDP. 

In the light of that, your party won a 

resounding victory at the recently 

concluded governorship election in 

Edo State, is that a good sign for your 

party in 2023? 

Definitely, there’s no way that I 

will serve in PDP government and 

not be part of PDP. Talking about the 

victory in Edo, it is a good sign for 

democracy. It shows that our country 

is becoming mature. About the 

chances for PDP in upcoming 

elections, I can tell you that I am 

quite optimistic. The public is 

always looking for who can give 

them that option, which is why 

people compare political parties. In 

Nigeria, I can tell you that the parties 

are not much different in terms of 

policies and what they intend to 

pursue. We are still at the basics of 

trying to provide basic healthcare 

and ensure that there is no hunger 

in the land, as well as the provision 

of other basic amenities like potable 

water supply and infrastructure. We 

are still there, we haven’t passed that 

stage. Some countries that were our 

contemporaries have gone beyond 

that now. Their politics is 

sophisticated because they have 

already found a way of solving those 

issues. Sadly Nigeria is still behind. 

Generally, the blame has always 

been on bad governance. People are 

now critical in looking for somebody 

that can solve these problems. If you 

think you are doing well, you must 

be able to explain and convince 

them that you are really doing well, 

otherwise, the pendulum can easily 

swing. 

What are those guiding principles 

that have brought you this far in life? 

Well, let me say I believe in hard 

work. I believe in dedicating myself 

to whatever I agree to do in life. 

Somehow in my chosen career, I 

have seen that I did well in the 

various places that I worked. Today, 

I can point to concrete achievements 

like Premium Pension and 

AMSSCO Platinum City, these are 

places where you cannot easily erase 

my name, because starting a 

company and being its chairman for 

two terms is not an easy task. About 

AMSSCO Platinum City, I live there. 

Sometimes, I would take a walk 

around the estate. Further to that, I 

am happy that His Excellency found 

me worthy to serve my state as SSG, 

under his able supervision. 

What should people expect from 

you at the end of your term in office? 

After my term in office, I will 

continue to learn the Holy Quran to 

the best of my ability and to practice 

my religion to my best satisfaction. 

If you look at it, Prophet Muhammad 

said the life of a human being may 

end between 60 and 70 years, 

according to Allah’s will. Now I am 

already 62, which means I have just 

a few years to check out. So one 

should concentrate on the hereafter 

and not the little things around us 

here.


, 

The moment you realise you’re no longer in love with your partner! 

It’s supposed to be a 

romantic scene. 

Perhaps, you are in a 

restaurant or a club, or just 

chilling out in front of the 

telly. Your partner reaches 

for you, you gaze into his 

eyes. Then nothing. At that 

moment, completely 

undeniably, you realise 

you’re no longer in love. “I 

was totally appalled when 

it happened to me”, said 

Venessa, 31, and a 

journalist. “I stared at Biyi, 

my lover of four years and 

saw a stranger. Then I 

made an excuse and left the 

room. I just couldn’t face 

what was playing out in 

front of me. I went to bed 

early, convinced everything 

would be fine, but in the 

morning, I felt the same. 

Only Biyi was his usual 

cheerful self. 

“What was going on? I 

looked again at Biyi, this 

man I fell in love with and 

happily moved in with. He 

certainly is still a goodlooking 

man, I said to 

myself, if I’d just met him say, 

at a party, I’d think he 

certainly was a man to rock 

my world. And he did for the 

years we shared together. 

But now the song: Where did 

our love go?’ kept running 

through my mind. I had to 

tell him and it took all my 

courage to face him – 

afterall, I once loved him. 

Like it or not, things could 

never really work out for us. 

When he later realised how 

true it was he no longer 

turned me on, he let me go – 

with a lot of bitterness”. 

So, why does love die so 

suddenly? When we fall out 

of love, say, Leslier 

Cameron-Bandler in her 

book: Solutions, this belief 

shifts. Falling out of love 

doesn’t mean simply feeling 

temporarily bad about our 

partner. When we fall out of 

love, the very way our mind 

works is changed. She calls 

it going over the threshold. 

We might become 

dramatically disillusioned 

or simply bored. We might 

become disgusted by our 

partner or simply realise that 

this is not the relationship 

we originally bought into. It 

can happen instantly after a 

single traumatic occurrence 

or it can happen slowly and 

inexorably. No one is 

involved, the destructive 

emotional spiral comes 

entirely from within the 

relationship. And we know 

that nothing can ever be the 

same again. 

But what happens after 

this dismal realisation? 

There might be children or 

other financial and 

practical ties with our 

partner. Surely, we don’t 

simply walk out on all these, 

just because our feelings 

have changed? Of course, 

we don’t. According to 

Cameron-Bandler, we go 

through a period of 

checking out whether what 

we suspect has really 

happened, a process she 

calls verification. Shade 

and Audu were married with 

a seven-year-old, when Audu 

announced he had fallen out 

of love with her. He was in 

love with someone else and 

might even get married to 

her. 

“It would be unfair if I said 

his outburst hit me like a 

bolt”, Shade said. “We both 

Ijaw celebrate academic icon, Prof. J.P. Clark 

By Tony Nwankwo 

The Ijaw of the Niger 

Delta has described 

Emeritus Professor, John 

Pepper Clark, as African 

giant in the academic 

world. 

In a tribute by Comrade 

Joseph Evah on behalf of 

Ijaw Monitoring Group 

(IMG), the Ijaws stated that 

the feat accomplished by 

clark confirmed that Niger 

Delta is blessed. 

“We are proud that 

Professor Clark stamped 

his personality on the 

academic world map as 

one of Africa’s renowned 

By Akoma Chinweoke 

Billionaire entrepreneur, 

Prince Ned Nwoko, and 

malaria eradication 

champion in Africa cum 

Antarctica explorer has 

expressed optimism that the 

malaria eradication 

campaign would succeed in 

Africa. 

The former lawmaker who 

disclosed this recently in 

Abraka, Delta State, after 

being conferred with an 

award of Media and 

Innovation by the Delta State 

•J.P. Clark 

scholars that shaped the 

teaching of literature, 

worldwide. Many academic 

gurus missed the opportunity 

of having monuments 

named after them in 

University, DELSU, however, 

said he firmly believes that 

malaria is an African 

problem and therefore must 

be addressed by Africans. 

Nwoko, expressed 

gratitude for being honoured 

with Distinguished Service 

Award by the university for his 

dedication to humanitarian 

endeavours, education and 

malaria eradication in 

Africa. He added that he was 

inspired by the recognition 

and pledged that the malaria 

eradication campaign would 

succeed. 

their lifetimes but Prof. J.P. 

Clark got this rare opportunity 

by witnessing the Professor 

J.P. Clark Centre, 

University of Lagos. 

“We want to thank the 

university management and 

the Delta State government 

of former Governor 

Emmanuel Uduaghan for 

their contributions towards 

making the dream a reality. 

We are proud that during his 

80th birthday, the Ijaw 

Monitoring Group launched 

thousands of T-shirts with the 

emblem of the Emeritus 

Professor for youths to tell the 

story of a giant from the N- 

Delta in the academic world." 

I'm confident Malaria will be eradicated — Ned Nwoko 

Also speaking, the Vice- 

Chancellor of the Delta State 

University, Abraka, Prof Andy. 

Egwunyenga. said DELSU 

has been incorporated as a 

research centre in the global 

efforts to address the scourge 

of malaria in Africa and 

commended the awardee for 

his admirable and sustained 

campaign against malaria in 

Africa. He described the 

awardee as one of the few 

persons who have, in 

concrete terms, 

demonstrated love for the 

university. 

Delta community kingmakers refute report on Ewu stool 

By Tunde Oso 

The king makers of Ewu 

kingdom, Delta State have 

refuted claims made by a group 

of people in a section of the 

media. This was revealed in an 

October 15, 2020, statement 

issued by the duo of Solomon 

Omititiri and Olorogun 

Okagbare, Secretary and 

spokesperson, respectively on 

behalf of the king makers of Ewu 

kingdom, advising people to steer 

clear of such an issue. 

The refutal by the elders led by 

Chiefs Unuevworo and 

Omititiri, stemmed 

from what they 

described as a 

publication - Public 

Notice in the October 1, 

2020 edition of a 

national newspaper 

wherein the 

• Chief 

Ohwofaria 

claimants made 

attempts at rewriting 

history of the history 

of Ewu kingdom. 

According to the 

statement: “It’s a trite 

knowledge to the people of 

Ewu kingdom that the 

Ahavwa family is the 

king makers of Ewu 

kingdom, who are 

saddled with the 

responsibility to 

bestow upon the 

people of Ewu the 

King and Osuivie 

respectively. To this 

end, the king and the Osuivie 

becomes the king and Osuivie 

of Ewu kingdom, and not the 

king of Ewu kingdom and 

Osuivie of Ahavwa as published 

that." 

felt his dissatisfaction 

building and I was lucky he 

told me. The day in question, 

we were getting into bed one 

evening and, I said to him 

`if we have to stay awake all 

night, you’re going to tell me 

what’s wrong’. At first he 

tried to calm me, then he 

denied everything, but in the 

end, he dropped the 

bombshell. 

“We still lived together 

after this, though both of us 

expected he would 

eventually leave to be with 

his heartthrob. Yet, once he’d 

stopped looking furtively 

over his shoulder, things 

changed. He relaxed and 

became a lot easier to get 

on with. I knew I still loved 

him, but decided to respect 

his wish to be with someone 

else. It wasn’t his fault that 

he fell out of love with me. 

Then he started staying 

home more and bringing 

back treats he knew I would 

enjoy. When he reached for 

me in the night, I was 

shocked. He asked for my 

forgiveness and we stayed 

up talking very practically. 

He wasn’t in love with the 

other woman, he sobbed. It 

was me he wanted all along. 

He was honest with me at 

first and this second time 

around his honesty was 

touching. I realised that 

being with him was 

something I still wanted, so 

we gave things a go and now 

have three children ...” 

Was he really the 

f a t h e r ? 

(Humour|) 

A man is standing in the 

queue at a supermarket 

when a very attractive 

woman beams at him and 

says: “Hello!” He’s baffled, 

and gives her a `who are 

you?’ Look. Thinking she’s 

mistaken, she says: I’m 

sorry, I thought you were the 

father of one of my children. 

She then walks out. 

The guy s dumbfounded, 

and says to himself: What’s 

FUPRE partners growers on bio-gas production 

The Vice Chancellor of 

Federal University of 

Petroleum Resources, Effurun, 

Uvwie Local Government Area 

of Delta State, Prof. Akpofure 

Rim-Rukeh, has assured 

Jatropha Growers, Processors 

and Exporters Association of 

Nigeria (JAGPEAN), of his 

support through research to 

achieve the bio-gas production. 

Rim-Rukeh who is also the 

South south Vice Chairman of 

FUPRE Vice Chancellor, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh (left), 

receiving a present from JAGPEAN on behalf of the National 

Chairman, Maj. Gen. J. A. Omosebi (Retd.). 

the world coming to when a 

woman can’t even keep 

track of who fathers her son? 

Then he gets a bit panicky. 

What if, during one of the 

wild parties he’d been to in 

his college days, he did 

father her child! He runs out 

and catches up with her in 

the car park. “Are you the 

girl I met at a party in 

college?, he asks. “We got 

really drunk and had wild, 

crazy sex on the pool table 

in front of everyone ...” No, 

she replies, absolutely 

horrified. “I’m your son’s 

geography teacher. 

What a choice! 

(Humour) 

A pompous minister sits 

next to a cowboy on a flight 

across the States. After the 

plane has been airborne for 

half an hour, the air hostess 

pass through the cabin and 

take drinks orders. The 

cowboy asks for whisky and 

soda, which is placed before 

him. The flight attendant 

then asks the minister if he 

would like a drink. He 

replies in disgust. “I’d rather 

be set upon by brazen 

whores than let liquor touch 

these lips”. The cowboy 

immediately hands his drink 

back to the flight attendant 

and says: “Waoh, me too! I 

didn’t know we had a 

choice!” 

the group, gave the assurance 

at his office when the group led 

by its National Chairman, 

Maj. Gen. J.A Omosebi (Retd.), 

National Secretary, Chief 

Lawrence Madaki and the 

Chairman, Delta State chapter, 

Mr. Roman Otite, among 

others paid him a courtesy visit. 

In his welcome remarks, 

Prof. Rim-Rukeh emphasised 

the importance of Jathropha 

plant, pointing out that the 

Jatropha seed is not only 

medicinal but also, contributes 

about 40% of oil reserve. 

"We have a Bio-Gas plant 

located in the University and 

the project is being funded by 

the Royal Academy, London. 

We have also released a portion 

of land to the research group of 

the institutions and have asked 

them to purchase cattle that 

will graze the area, and their 

dumps will be used for Bio- 

Fuel". 

KESHFAMA releases new music project, ‘Westsyde’ 

R 

&B/Afro-Pop music 

artiste, Joshua Nworah, 

better known by his stage 

name, KESHFAMA, has 

released a new song titled 

‘Westsyde’. 

Having honed his music 

skills with heavy musical 

influences from world music 

stars including Chris Brown, 

Tory Lanez, Davido, Beyonce 

and Rihanna, he is poised to 

take over the Nigerian music 

scene with his unique brand 

of music which is an 

admixture of R&B/Afro-pop. 

Speaking on the inspiration 

behind the new song which 

was released on October 9, 

2020, the talented singer said; 

“My team and I were at 

Maldives last year, recording 

music and just putting in 

work. We got to experience a 

different culture but at the 

same time I personally was 

missing home at that point ." 

KESHFAMA, who named 

DMW henchman, Davido, as 

his only Nigerian musical 

influence explained why. 

He said; “I have always 

admired his work ethic. Not 

to knock off any other person, 

because everybody works 

hard but I have always been 

inspired by his work ethic, 

regardless of his background. 

I have also admired how he 

helps when he can, as I love to 

do.” 

Chimamanda’s father, Professor Adichie laid to rest 

P ROFESSOR 

Adichie, father James 

of 

renowned writer, Chimamanda 

Ngozi Adichie, was 

committed to earth in his 

hometown of Abba, Njikoka 

Local Government 

Area,LGA, of Anambra State 

on October 9, 2020. 

This was preceded by a vigil 

mass at his compound, 

Umueri, Ezi-Abba village, 

Abba on October 8, 2020. 

He died on June 10, 2020, 

at the age of 88, after an 

illustrious career as a 

scholar of international 

repute whose impact was felt 

across the continent and the 

world at large. The 

officiating minister during 

his homily, said Adichie died 

a good man. He added that 

Adichie had performed and 

finished his race on earth and 

urged his family and those 

left behind to emulate him. 

He urged everyone to use his 

death as a time for sober 

reflection to become better 

•Joshua 

Nworah 

persons just like Adichie had 

been until his passing. 

Professor Adichie 

received his PhD in 

statistics from the 

University of California- 

Berkeley, and went on to 

become Nigeria’s first 

professor of statistics in 

1976, with his dedicated 

life’s work done at the 

University of Nigeria, 

Nsukka, where he was 

named professor emeritus 

in 2016.


The kingdom of the pastor 

As a young believer at a Lagos church, I 

was appalled at the cutthroat politics of 

the church, all revolving around the pastor. 

After some time, I found it necessary to confront 

him. I went to see him, as Nathan did 

David, and sought his counsel. 

I told him I was thinking of resigning from 

my job because my boss had become a big 

problem. He knocked heads together, stoked 

up conflicts, and seemed to thrive only when 

there was a crisis. We could not get things done 

the way we should.Under the circumstances, 

would he suggest I resign and look for another 

job? 

The pastor advised me to resign. He said 

there was no point in my remaining in the office. 

He was quite confident I would have no 

difficulty in getting another job. 

Then I turned to him and said: “You are the 

one.” I told him I was not talking about my 

office but our church. The church was acrimonious 

and dysfunctional, and he was principally 

responsible for this. 

The pastor was completely taken aback. 

He listened to me respectfully and promised to 

make amends. But soon, we were back to square 

one. 

Success in life and ministry: The knowledge of 

God (2) 

INTRODUCTION 

IN the last discourse, we men 

tioned about renewing our mind 

if we want it to be synchronized with 

God’s will. We must therefore understand 

the destination mind we are to 

be renewed to. This is God’s mind, or 

the mind of Christ. We shall be treating 

this in this article, giving us the 

needed stimulus to desire and have 

God’s mind. 

HAVING THE MIND OF GOD Pastor Akinola 

For “who has know the mind of the 

Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have 

the mind of Christ (I Corinthian 2:16). When 

you have the mind of Christ, you will be able to 

hear the voice of God and appraise all spiritual 

matters (I Corinthian 2:15). 

“Nobody,” he declared, “is 

going to take this church 

away from me” 

Anointing 

Some weeks later, I embarked for personal 

reasons on a hundred-day fast. The Lord told 

me to stop after fifty-five days. During the fast, 

I was burdened about the church and several 

things were revealed to me. I decided to share 

this with the entire church. 

As God would have it, I was asked to minister 

during one of the monthly night vigils, so I 

mounted the pulpit and told the church everything 

that had been revealed to me. It was 

a strange service because the Lord confirmed 

his word with signs. The anointing 

at the service was electric. If I merely 

breathed into the microphone, some of my 

listeners would fall to the ground. When I 

decreed healing, God established it. 

The Lord had me minister to all those 

who were there, and he gave me secret details 

of the lives of every single one of them 

which I shared with them individually and 

personally. The very first person was the 

most dramatic. I stood in front of an elderly 

man and knew instinctively he was covered 

in Juju. The Lord asked me to give 

him the microphone so he can confess to 

the entire church what he had done and 

where he had been. 

The man confessed that he had been to 

a Babalawo seeking protection. As a result, 

he was covered with “protection.” The 

Lord told me to remove this false covering 

with my bare hands and warn him never to 

return to the juju man: “Those who cling to 

worthless idols forfeit the grace that could 

be theirs.” (Jonah 2:8). 

Uproar 

But by the following Sunday, there was 

uproar in the church. The pastor was in 

something of a quandary. He had been 

fully briefed of the miracle service during 

Henry Blackaby, the author 

of Experiencing God, 

has said, ”Find out where 

God is at work and what 

God is doing and join Him”. 

Even there is a Yoruba adage 

that says, It is only what 

God backs that goes easy, 

but difficulties pervade the 

ways of those things that do 

not have God’s backing”. 

This is all that is required 

in having the mind of God. Then it will be 

easy for you to know His mind and subsequently 

follow Him all the way. This is the 

pathway to true success. Some people of 

great faith in the scripture could perceive 

the night vigil. However, the revelation God 

gave me was that he was the principal troublemaker 

in the church. God’s decree was in no 

uncertain terms. The pastor had to repent or 

perish. 

Rather than accept the rebuke, the pastor 

opted for a face-saving response. The decision 

was taken to inform the church that I must have 

been suffering from demonic possession. A 

group of people was asked to conduct deliverance 

on me in an upper room. But when they 

did, I confounded them by becoming drunk in 

the spirit. 

I was then summoned before a group of church 

elders who wanted to know why God would 

choose to talk to a spiritual novice like me. 

One of my inquisitors was the very elderly man 

who the Holy Spirit had revealed was covered 

in witchcraft during the service. Although he 

had confessed at the time that he had gone to 

the witch doctor for protection, he now insisted 

that I must have also been demonically inspired. 

He wanted to know how I got his privileged 

information. “Why,” he asked, “would 

God talk to a nobody like Femi Aribisala?” 

I offered a simple solution: “Let us fast and 

pray for three days and God will confirm the 

same things by revelation to others.” The chairman 

of the elders’ group agreed with my suggestion. 

It was resolved that we should all fast 

for three days and see what the Lord would 

reveal. But someone quickly rushed to the pastor 

to inform him that it had been decided that 

we should go on a fast. 

Therefore, the pastor crashed the meeting and 

declared that no one in the church could fast 

and pray without his permission. I protested that 

it was a bit strange that a pastor would prevent 

people in a church from fasting and praying, 

but he effectively overruled me. The fast was 

canceled. 

Lepers’ colony 

Thereafter, I was treated like a leper in the 

church. I was serially attacked by the pastor 

and his allies every so often from the pulpit. 

My first reaction was to leave the church, but 

the Holy Spirit prevented me from doing so. 

the mind of God and obtained favor from Him. 

ABRAHAM KNEW GOD’S MIND 

Then the men rose from there and looked 

toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them 

to send them on the way. And the LORD said, 

shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing , 

since Abraham shall surely become a great and 

mighty nation, and all the nation of the earth 

shall be blessed in him?” (Genesis 18:16-18). 

Abraham knew that God was going to judge 

Sodom, although He did not reveal this plan to 

him. Abraham’s spirit was so sensitive that he 

could pick up the spiritual realm and he was 

accurate. Are you not our God, who drove the 

inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, 

and gave it to the descendant of Abraham 

your friend forever? (II Chronicles 20:7). His 

spiritual sensitivity was due to his close walk 

with God, like a man relating to his best friend. 

Also, God called Abraham, “My Friend” in Isaiah 

41:8. In the following chapter, God spared 

Lot and his family from His wrath. God adjusted 

His plan of destroying Sodom completely 

Instead, he directed that I must attend every 

church activity without fail and without exception, 

including all the mid-week services. 

This was most uncomfortable because the 

attacks did not let up. Someone taking bible 

study would stop mid-stream and ask the 

church to pray for Femi Aribisala “so that 

demons would stop disturbing him.” The 

Holy Spirit would tell me to get up, go to the 

aisle, and kneel. Church-members would 

then stretch out their hand towards me and 

cast imaginary demons out of me. 

This went on until the next monthly vigil. 

This time, the pastor took no chances; he decided 

to minister himself. But some thirty 

minutes into the prayer-meeting, the Spirit of 

the Lord took control of the daughter of one of 

his allies. She seemed to be in a sort of a 

trance, and she started to prophesy. 

Seeing who it was, the pastor stopped the 

proceedings. He handed over the microphone 

to her and received the shock of his life. The 

Lord started speaking through the lady and 

he was rebuking the pastor for all his shenanigans 

in the church. 

When the woman finished, another lady 

asked for the microphone. She reminded the 

pastor that she had been in his office that 

morning at the instance of the Lord to tell him 

the same things. The Lord had told her that, if 

care is not taken, very few people in the church 

would inherit eternal life. 

The pastor retrieved the microphone in 

tears. He pleaded with us to forgive him and 

promised to make amends. He said again 

and again: “You won’t go to heaven without 

me.” It sounded like he would not allow us to 

go without him. How, I wondered, was he 

going to stop us? 

However, by the very next Sunday service 

a day later, the pastor had changed his mind 

once again. He came to church this time in 

full regalia, which was rather unusual.He had 

on the cloak, the cap, the whole nine yards of 

the pastorate. 

“Nobody,” he declared, “is going to take 

this church away from me.” 

because of one man’s request. Abraham knew 

the mind of God. He gained the favor of God 

to ask for a change in His plan. 

YOU CAN ALSO BECOME A FRIEND OF 

GOD TODAY 

You too can become a friend to the Lord 

today, if you can have His mind. (John 15:14- 

15). The starting point to becoming a friend 

of God is to be His child. When you repent of 

your sins, confess and turn away from them, 

and accept the Lord Jesus Christ into your 

heart as Lord and Saviour, He washes you 

clean with His atoning Blood, and makes you 

a child of God. (John 1:12). 

From this point onwards, the Spirit of God 

leads and guides you as God’s dear child. He 

takes over control, because you were born 

again by the Spirit. (John 3:5-6). 

J.K. Akinola. (Senior Pastor) 

The Gospel Faith Mission International 

(GOFAMINT), Ibadan, Nigeria. (Telephone: 

08033376660, 08055405095) 

Pastor (Dr). E.O. Abina – General Overseer 

Where will you be hereafter? 

MATTHEW 25:31-34 says: “When the 

Son of man shall come in His glory, 

and all the holy angels with him, then shall he 

sit upon the throne of his glory: And before 

him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall 

separate them one from another, as a shepherd 

divideth his sheep from the goats: And he 

shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the 

Pride goes before 

destruction (2) 

IN Ezekiel 17:24, it is written: “And all the 

trees of the field shall know that I the LORD 

have brought down the high tree, have exalted 

the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and 

have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD 

have spoken and have done it.” 

Also, a man’s pride shall bring him low: but 

honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. (Proverbs 

29:23). The Lord God hates a Proud look, 

a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent 

blood. (Proverbs 6:17). 

“Behold, I am against thee, O thou proud, 

goats on the left. Then shall the King say 

unto them on his right hand, Come, he 

blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom 

prepared for you from the foundation of 

the world:” 

Beloved, it is vey clear, and we all know 

that the life we live will come to an end one 

day. There will be death. And that will be 

the end. We all know what it means to die. 

Death is no respecter of persons, the rich 

die, the poor die, the old die, the young also 

die. 

The big question now is, what next after 

death. The bible, the word of God is clear 

on this; “that it is appointed unto men once 

to die, and after this, the judgement’’. Beloved, 

the essence of judgement is to determine 

where one will spend eternity. 

Unlike the world in which we live here, 

which is upredictable, because anything can 

saith the LORD GOD of hosts: for thy day is 

come, the time that I will visit thee. And the 

most proud shall stumble and fall, and none 

shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in 

his cities, and it shall devour all round about 

him.” (Jeremiah 50:31-32). 

For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be 

upon every one that is proud and lofty, and 

upon everyone that is lifted up; and he shall 

be brought low. (Isaiah 2:12) God resists 

the proud but giveth grace unto the humble. 

As Lucifer was brought down to hell, so 

shall the proud, and the haughty in spirit, 

be brought down to hell, if they do not repent. 

(Isaiah 14:15). 

In Matthew 18:3-4 Jesus said: “Verily I 

say unto you, Except ye be converted, and 

happen, and death can come anytime, even when 

we least expect it. Eternity is forever, and ever. It 

is everlasting. It has no end. And it is in heaven, 

or hell. The quation here now is where will you 

spend your eternity? This question is for all of us 

to answer individually. Now, that we are living is 

the appropriate time to find answer this question, 

and know where to spend our eternity. This 

is so because, anyone who is ignorant of this, or 

fails to answer this question, is at the risk of missing 

heaven, and going to hell. 

Heaven is the throne of God. It is a holy place. 

And all that desires to go to heaven must be prepared 

for it. The starting point of this preparation 

is to be born again. Surrender your life to 

our Lord Jesus Christ. Further to this, you must 

be holy, and live right. On the other hand, hell is 

a place of torment, designed for the wicked, the 

unrighteous, the sinners. 

become as little children, ye shall not enter into 

the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore 

shall humble himself as this little child, the same 

is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” 

The day will come, when all the proud and all 

that do wickedly shall become stubble, and shall 

be burnt up by the fire of the fury of God. (Malachi 

4:1) For the proud in heart are abomination 

to the LORD and they will not go unpunished, 

though hand join in hand. (Proverbs 16:5). 

The fall of Lucifer, is a warning to all believers 

in Christ to humble themselves, so that they may 

escape the damnation of hell. 

King Pharaoh of Egypt said to Moses: “Who 

is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let 

Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let 

Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2). The peak of pride is 

Now, beloved, these two extreems, heaven, 

and hell have been designed by our creator 

God almighty for man to spend eternity after 

death. Nothing will stop it. Nothing will 

change it. Not your riches. Not your beauty, or 

hansomeness. Not your fame. Not contacts. 

Absolutely nothing. The only solution is to 

decide now that you are still alive. And work, 

and live towards the choice you make. 

However, it is not the will of God that anyone 

should perish in hell. That was the reason 

He permitted the crusification our Lord Jesus 

Christ at the cross of calvary. That whosoever 

that believes in him, will not perish in hell. 

But, will have everlasting life in heaven. 

Luke 12:32 says: “Fear not, little flock; for it 

is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the 

kingdom”. Beloved, the above bible verse is 

from God, and is an assurance that heaven is 

real for you. 

rebellion or stubbornness to the word of truth 

which is in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 4:21) The 

Lord God said to the children of Israel “Hear 

ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD 

hath spoken.” (Jeremiah 13:15). The pride of 

Pharaoh made him not to obey the voice of 

God, and this led to his destruction! 

The saints of God, who are of the truth, will 

hear the voice of truth, and will humble themselves 

to obey it, no matter how hard the truth 

may be! 

CHRISTIAN GOSPEL CHURCH 

(The Truth Centre) 

Email: cgc.com.ng@gmail.com 

Telephone: +234 (0) 7052061135, +234 

(0) 9030731406 Website: www.cgc.com.ng

PAGE 34 —SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 18, 2020 

sam.eyoboka@gmail.com 

The wonders of freedom from sin (3) 

Do not wait until the slip 

pery slope sinful lifestyle 

you have been used to all these 

while become your downfall 

because at that time you would 

regret the expensive decision 

of relegating the offer of God. 

Now that it is free and the 

hustle and bustle of the consequences 

of sinful pleasure has 

not caught up with you. That 

is why Jesus is calling you to 

come out from the sin inflicted 

life of wasted years! 

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ 

the same yesterday, and to 

day, and for ever." 

God has never seen a sinner 

that He cannot forgive his or 

her mountainous trespasses. 

Even if your sin is as tall as 

Mount Everest and wide as the 

Great Wall of China, the blood 

of Jesus will watch it all away. 

If Jesus did it for others in time 

past, not forgetting the notoriously 

vile thief at the cross, 

then nothing stops Him from 

doing it for you too. In fact, 

the sole business of God is to 

save sinners, which you happen 

to be one amongst many. 

I believe that you can still 

recall that our first parents on 

earth Adam and Eve were not 

born as you and I were born, 

but were created by God in 

His glorious image while the 

rest of us were born by a 

Pastor William Kumuyi 

woman. 

In that case, I want to inform 

you that there is something 

peculiar about anybody and 

everybody born of a woman. 

Whether it is Cain or Abel, yourself 

or myself, the Caucasian, 

Hispanic, or the African. That 

thing is sin. The problem of sin 

has been the bane and headache 

of man kind for thousands 

of years gone by. 

Psalms 51:5 "Behold, I was 

shapen in iniquity; and in sin 

did my mother conceive me." 

The sinful act of disobedience 

on the part of Adam and 

Eve not only caused their excommunication, 

but also had 

them expunged from the nature 

of God; and in exile, outside 

the Garden of Eden, they 

began procreating and multiplying 

the seed of sin, and that 

is how you and I came into this 

world. 

To be continued 

Prayer: Our profitable work, and 

walk with God (7) 

Rev. Emmanuel Awazie 

*Assemblies of God Church 

Nigeria, 111 Clegg Street, 

Surulere, Lagos. 

IN this concluding part of 

our study on prayer it is 

important to know that the 

greatest and most potent force 

available to the believer and 

the Body of Christ can only be 

harnessed, and marshaled in 

and through prayer. The praying 

man knows that he is federating 

with Omnipotence 

both in the shaping and administration 

of the universe. 

In the words of E. M. Bounds, 

prayer puts God in full force 

in the world. 

These truths put paid to any 

speculation to the efficacy of 

prayer. Prayer is a pure, holy 

privilege whereby the Child of 

God can fellowship with Father 

and be transformed into 

His image. 

As beautiful and powerful 

as prayer can be, we must 

know that it is not an end in 

itself. It is not something done 

to be rested in, not something 

we have done, about which we 

are to congratulate ourselves. 

At this point we must know 

that there are a number of factors 

that can obstruct and interfere 

with prayers and render 

them powerless and unproductive. 

These factors include: 

1. Unforgiveness – "And 

whenever you stand praying, 

if you have anything against 

anyone, forgive him, that your 

Father in heaven may also 

forgive you your trespasses. 

26 But if you do not forgive, 

neither will your Father in 

heaven forgive your trespasses." 

Mark 11:25-26. Forgiveness 

is the great message of 

the Gospel; it is the fundamental 

factor of Christianity because 

Redemption is the only 

basis of receiving God's pardon. 

(Ephesians 1:7) Harbouring 

an unforgiving spirit alienates 

the believer from God and 

disqualifies his or her prayers 

before God. (Psalm 66:18). 

2. Unbelief- "But without 

faith it is impossible to please 

Him, for he who comes to God 

must believe that He is, and 

that He is a rewarder of those 

who diligently seek Him." 

Hebrews 11: 6. Unbelief stems 

from Satan, that is why it displeases 

God; it is the most active 

force in operation in the 

earth realm. 

By Sam Eyoboka 

THE Pentecostal Fellow 

ship of Nigeria (PFN) at 

a recent joint meeting of its 

National Advisory Council 

and the National Executive 

Council in Lagos noticed the 

increasing stringent calls by 

well meaning Nigerians for 

restructuring and renewed its 

appeals to government to activate 

necessary mechanisms 

for it. 

Apparently responding to 

the ongoing #EndSARS protests 

across the country, the 

PFN “restates its call for the 

Federal Government to activate 

the necessary mechanism 

08023145567 (sms only) 

#EndSARS: PFN restates its call for restructuring 

and legal backing for the setting 

up of State Police in the 

country. We believe that the 

recent agitation and introduction 

of different variants of 

Regional and Community Policing 

models attests to the fact 

that Nigerians are yearning 

for an alternative approach to 

policing. 

“We believe that with the introduction 

of a different model 

one that not only incorporates 

direct participation by 

other tiers of government in 

tackling insecurity in the country 

but one that will enhance 

the level of security in the 

By Pastor G.C. Osuigbo 

CAC Madaiyese Regional Headquaters 

Plot 701/702 Durumi District 

P.O. BOX 2577 

Garki, Abuja. 

Contact us on: 08155555048, like us on 

facebook @cacdurumi 

The tears of a watchman (1) 

country,” PFN stated. 

A statement by the National 

President of PFN, Rev. Felix 

Omobude and made available 

to Vanguard by Mr. Simbo 

Olorunfemi said the Fellowship 

restates her call for 

restructuring, which has now 

become even more urgent, 

given the increasing push on 

the part of different groups towards 

tendencies that further 

division rather than unity. 

“We note, with concern, the 

restiveness in different parts 

of the country and we are of 

the opinion that concerted efforts 

have to be urgently made 

by the government to reassure 

Nigerians that their interests 

will continue to be guaranteed 

within the Nigerian entity,” 

Omobude stated. 

Continuing, the PFN president 

said: “We restate our belief 

in the unity of Nigeria and 

a commitment to one Nigeria 

where people of different 

faiths and tongues can continue 

to live together as one. 

However, we call on the government 

to do all it can to assuage 

the fears and concerns 

of everyone and ensure the 

practice of Federalism in its 

true form. 

RCCG identifies with protesters…calls for new Policing strategies 

By Sam Eyoboka 

THE Redeemed Christian 

Church of God, RCCG, 

yesterday officially identified 

with Nigerians presently protesting 

against police brutality 

and the abuse of power by 

the very institution established 

to protect them. 

In a letter signed by the 

church's Assistant General 

Overseer in charge of Administration 

and Personnel, Pastor 

Johnson Funsho Odesola 

on behalf the General Overseer, 

Pastor Enoch Adejare 

If I speak in the tongues 

of men and of angels, but 

I do not have love, I am 

a noisy gong or a clanging 

cymbal. 2 And if I have 

prophecy, and know all mysteries 

and all knowledge, and 

if I have all faith so that I can 

remove mountains, but do not 

have love, I am nothing. 1 Cor. 

13: 1-2 NET 

If you are a woman and you 

meet a man that you are not 

ready to submit to as you 

Living Christ Mission's founder makes case for police 

reforms 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

The Founder and lead 

er of the Living Christ 

Mission, Most Reverend 

Daddy Hezekiah, has 

called on President Muhammadu 

Buhari, to holistically 

reform the Nigeria Police 

Force, NPF. 

In a message in Owerri, 

while reacting to the EndSARs 

campaign in the country, after 

his birthday/Award as 

Mayor of Peace of the International 

World Peace Advocates, 

held at his living Christ 

Mission, in Onitsha. 

Hezekiah among other 

things said with the reform of 

the Nigeria Police Force that 

Nigerians would see a new 

begain. 

He said: “It is not dissolving 

SARs is the problem it is 

reforming the Nigeria police 

and the Inspector General 

police should look into the 

many security checkpoints 

and extortions by security men 

especially from our bus drivers 

on the roads. It is very 

wrong to see security checkpoints 

every three poles on our 

roads. The IG should set up a 

body that will monitor the process 

and if sanity is brought to 

the police then our citizens will 

breath a fresh air.” 

He continued: “If there will 

be Biafra let there be no war 

because I don’t support shedding 

of innocent blood that I 

don’t want. I love one Nigeria 

and if you want one Nigeria 

and a particular tribe is being 

killed what it means is that 

there is no need for one Nigeria.” 

For Igbo presidency, “I 

know Igbo are part of their 

woos. The Igbo are part of 

their marginalization. They 

betrayed themselves. I support 

any move for peace and not 

violence. I want Igbo politicians 

to be united so that they 

can achieve their aim.” 

Adeboye, the church declared 

its understanding and appreciation 

of the concerns and 

grievances of the youths and 

the generality of Nigerians. 

RCCG therefore called for 

an immediate end to police 

brutality in every part of the 

country. 

While noting the constitutional 

responsibility of the Police 

to maintain law and order, 

the church emphasized the 

need for the Police to constantly 

align their strategies with 

the needs of the people. 

Acknowledging that many 

*Ituah Ighodalo is the Senior 

Pastor, Trinity House, Trinity 

Avenue, Off Ligali Ayorinde 

Street, Victoria Island, 

Lagos.+234-808-895-6162 

info@trinityhouseng.org 

Perfect Love (1) 

would submit to God, don’t 

marry him! The word is to submit 

to your husband as you 

would submit to the Lord. Love 

means marrying the man only 

if you are ready to yield to and 

accept his leadership; accept 

him as your crowning glory. If 

you are a man and you are not 

ready to die for the woman, 

then do not marry her. This is 

the love Apostle Paul spoke 

about in his letter to the 

church. The confusion of marriage 

comes because a lot of 

us do not understand what 

marriage is about. Love for 

another person that would culminate 

in marriage should be 

one that is selfless and seeks to 

give all. Ephesians 5:21-28 

He that loves his wife loves 

his own body. Why are we 

studying love? The simple reason 

is that love is the solution 

to all ills. For example, if you 

love your neighbor you will not 

innocent lives had been "wasted 

through unnecessary brutality 

and wrong application 

of force, the church calls on 

the Government to, not only 

restructure the Police but to 

also re-orientate the officers 

towards modern ways of policing." 

According to the letter, "the 

church welcomes the disbandment 

of the SARS, and 

notes the establishment of a 

new outfit called the Special 

Weapons and Tactics Team 

(SWAT) but warns that it 

should not become a case of 

covet what belongs 

to him. 

You will do everything 

to 

make him happy 

and be at 

peace with him. 

If you love somebody there 

will be no need for you and 

the person to quarrel and be 

bitter with each other. If there 

is love in the heart of men, the 

home, the family, and the 

community would live in 

peace and tolerance of one 

another. If there is love in our 

life towards the people 

around us we would understand 

them better. 

Love gives and gives the best 

always. It is possible to give 

without loving but we can’t 

love those around us without 

giving. For God so loved the 

world, that he gave his only 

begotten Son, that whosoever 

believeth in him should not 

perish, but have everlasting 

life. John 3:16 KJV. If we say 

we love a person and are not 

ready to give them everything 

that will make them happy, 

we will think of them first and 

always put them first. Love 

old wine in a new bottle. 

"The church reiterated its 

call on Government to take 

urgent steps to tackle the rising 

rate of unemployment, 

decay in the nation's educational 

system and the general 

harsh economic situation in 

the country," it state. 

The church, however, appealed 

to protesters, across the 

nation, to comport themselves 

orderly and eschew violence 

and destruction in the process 

of expressing their grievances. 

TEXT : Jeremiah 9:1, 

“Oh that my head were 

waters And my eyes a fountain 

of tears, That I might weep 

day and night For the slain of 

the daughter of my people! 2) 

Oh that I had in the desert A 

wayfarers' lodging place; That 

I might leave my people And 

go from them! For all of them 

are adulterers, An assembly of 

treacherous men.…” 

The prophet Jeremiah also 

known as the weeping prophet, 

in this text summarizes 

what the 

heart felt condition of every 

true concerned Christian 

should be. A true believer 

should be an extension of 

Gods care and concern for humanity, 

however this is gradually 

not becoming the case. As 

I took out time to study the revivals 

orchestrated by the Holy 

Spirit through the hands of the 

spiritual elders of the Church, 

i discovered that a critical reason 

for the progressive onslaught 

of iniquity in our days 

is that neither our pulpit nor 

pews have been flooded with 

the passionate prerequisite 

tears that in time past provoked 

divine outburst. 

Except for during the dark 

ages, I doubt if there has ever 

been a time of spiritual weariness 

and Lukewarmness 

like in these times. It appears 

as though the Laodicean 

Church better managed their 

own spiritual crises. All 

around I view much celebration 

in the pulpit and the pews 

when there should be weeping 

and wailing for the relapse 

of unrighteousness. 

Our pews are dry only because 

our pulpits are dry. As I 

meditated upon this, I said to 

myself “the pulpits are tearless 

because the spiritual agonizers 

in the church have become 

more of program organizers 

and event managers. 

No revival in time past was 

the result of human ingenuity; 

it had always been the response 

of heaven to the outcry 

of spiritually thirsty souls”. 

Whenever God invaded the 

earth with His presence, He 

first set men in both pulpit and 

pew praying. 

Like pulpit, like pew. The 

pulpit designed by heaven as 

the vital medium through 

which men should be pulled 

out of the pit has suddenly 

been turned into an ignoble 

and inglorious stage for theatre 

and theatrics. Gospel entertainers 

and wet sinners now 

mount the ones sacred altar 

to offer social antibiotics, hoping 

that by putting a smile on 

the faces of the unsaved, they 

won’t be reminded of the perdition 

that awaits all and sundry 

who have not yet professed 

Christ. 

should not be based on conditions 

but must be unconditional. 

We say we love our friend, 

family, or spouse for so many 

reasons. 

We need to talk about love 

because a lot of people have 

forgotten what love is about. 

Love is the only thing that can 

give peace of mind and contentment. 

Most of the time we 

do things not because of love 

but because of what we are 

expecting from the other person 

or what the other person 

gives us. Love gives and gives 

the best; if you love somebody 

you will be ready to give him 

everything and anything. 

Love has character and 

depth: 1 Cor 13:4 tells us that 

love suffers much. It can do 

anything for the object of his 

love. If you do not truly love a 

person do not go into a relationship 

with the person. Love 

bears, tolerates and accepts 

all things. If you truly love a 

person you, can’t be angry with 

that person. Love is not something 

that is reactive, it is a 

choice that we make. We 

make a choice to love and live 

a life of love. Show your 

spouse extra-ordinary love. 

Love supersedes all, so 

make that choice to love today.


When you fool yourself an affair can save your marriage! 

At what point in your 

relationship do you 

come up with the idea that 

an affair could give your love 

life a boost? Simisola’s been 

married for 14 years to a 

man she described as her best 

friend. “And I still love him”, 

she assured me. “Mentally, 

we’re in the same place, but 

there is a problem – our love 

life is virtually non-existent. 

He works away from home 

a lot and in the last few years 

his interest in the physical 

side of our relationship has 

dropped off, making me feel 

desperately unhappy and 

unattractive. 

“Things took a turn for the 

`hopeful’ early last year 

when I went with a couple of 

friends to a new restaurant 

very close to the office. There 

were a lot of men there and 

my friends were friendly with 

quite a few. After lunch, we 

stayed for a few drinks and it 

was soon obvious that the 

men on our table were game 

for anything. They were all 

married and had no 

intention of breaking up with 

their wives, but like me, they 

wouldn’t say no to a nostrings-attached 

sex. This 

was a new, exciting world I’d 

been dying to be part of. 

“I didn’t make any hasty 

decisions. It was obvious my 

two friends were already 

`attached’ and I had to be 

careful not to step on toes. 

Also, if I wanted an affair, 

I waned my lover to be 

understanding and 

intelligent, not sleazy. I 

wanted him to love and 

respect his wife, in the 

same way I loved and 

respected my husband. So 

after visiting the 

restaurant a few times, I 

got to know Andy and we 

later agreed to have a date 

away from the restaurant. 

We met for drinks and we 

both talked glowingly 

about our spouses. We 

both made it clear from 

the outset we wouldn’t be 

leaving our marriages. 

And when we were away 

from each other, there was 

no obligation to call or 

text. 

“Because we’d laid our 

cards on the table right 

from the word go, the sex, 

when we eventually had it, 

was exciting and 

uninhibited. Now, almost 

a year, I still see Andy. Our 

relationship works 

because we’re able to 

distinguish between love 

and sex. I’m lucky I can do 

that. I know a lot of 

women can’t. The affair 

has really boosted my 

confidence and is helping 

my marriage because I feel 

sexy and desirable again. 

It’s like getting foreplay 

from my lover, then sex 

from my husband. Now the 

time I spend with my 

husband doesn’t have a 

cloud of tension hanging 

over it all the time. I’m more 

patient and loving because 

my needs are fulfilled. 

“A lot of relationships fall 

because the physical side 

breaks down – but the 

qualities that made you fall 

for that person in the first 

place are still there. My 

husband and children 

mean the world to me and I 

wouldn’t walk out on that. 

Of course my husband has 

no idea what’s going on, but 

he can see I’m much 

happier, though there are 

times when I wonder if one 

day he’ll ask me why, but 

I’ll cross that bridge if and 

when I get to it. For me, 

having sex with another 

man isn’t about finding 

another marriage – it’s 

about finding an outlet so 

you can make your existing 

relationship work.” 

For the 16 years they were 

married, Paul and Florence 

worked hard to build a 

secured future for their 

children. “As soon as we 

had enough money saved,” 

Paul said, “we got a plot of 

land in a good estate and 

started building a house of 

our dreams. We moved in a 

few years later to a wing of 

the house whilst the other 

wing consisting of two 

three-bedroomed flats were 

let. Our three children were 

healthy and doing well in 

school and it was then it 

dawned on us we’d grown 

apart. We were doing things 

separately and didn’t have 

sex at all. As we had our 

three young children to 

consider, we decided on a 

`non-divorce’ separation – 

we could both stay in the 

same house but lead 

separate lives. 

“It was a hard decision to 

make and I missed the 

closeness of being with a 

woman. So, I let a few of 

my close friends know I was 

up for some loving. It wasn’t 

long before I met women I 

could relate to – 

professionals who don’t 

want clingy men spoiling 

their fun. The sex has been 

eye-opening. I feel like a 

man again. My wife and I 

have a rota that allows me 

to go out whenever I feel 

like it and she knows not to 

contact me on my days out. 

We never discuss what the 

other does, yet she must 

know I’m meeting other 

women. A few of my friends 

know but not many. I want 

to protect my son. 

“I hate affairs and I’m a 

very moral person. But I’m 

not betraying my wife 

because technically, we’re 

not together any more. I 

just enjoy meeting people 

like me who don’t want to 

break up their families. 

Lately though, I’ve noticed 

my wife sprucing herself up 

and going out more on her 

own. I don’t ask for details 

of her outing. All I told her 

was that I didn’t want any 

scandal and that the 

children’s happiness comes 

first. 

But what if she met 

another man and asked for 

a divorce, I asked him. “I 

don’t think things would get 

to that stage. I mean, how 

many men would want to 

take over a woman with 

three children? Moreover, 

our house is jointly owned, 

and I don’t think she would 

be foolish to walk away 

from all the financial 

security she has for a fling. 

So our situation suits us 

both”. 

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

country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission 

is only to provide a platform for social networking. 

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

result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore request that text must be sent through at least 

one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You 

can send your requests to 33055. For enquiries, text or call 08026651636, or 08054700825 

Urhobo youths laud Opuoru's giant 

strides 

Urhobo youths under 

the aegis of Urhobo 

Youths Leaders 

Association, have hailed the 

member representing Warri 

South Constituency 11 at the 

Delta State House of 

Assembly for his 

achievements. 

The youth leaders made the 

commendation during their 

courtesy visit to the lawmaker 

at his constituency office , 

Okumagba Avenue, Warri. 

They remarked that 

Opuoru' s achievements since 

he was elected into office were 

tremendous and laudable. 

The group also hailed 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for 

positively affecting the lives 

of youths and other Deltans, 

in terms of appointments, just 

as they commended 

members of the Delta State 

House of Assembly for 

passing the Urhobo 

language bill into law. 

The Urhobo youth 

leaders in their different 

submissions explained 

that the main purpose of 

their visit was to seek the 

support of the lawmaker 

for the Peoples 

Democratic Party ( PDP) 

unwritten gentleman 

agreement on the 

senatorial rotation of 

Delta State governorship 

seat. 

In his response, the 

lawmaker thanked the 

youths for the visits, 

saying their remarks 

would spur him into doing 

more for his constituency, 

Urhobo nation and Delta 

State. 

Ndokwa East groups drag oil firm to 

court over pollution of farmlands 

Sterling Oil Exploration 

and Energy Production 

Company Limited, has been 

dragged before the Federal 

High Court, Asaba, for 

purportedly polluting 

farmlands and source of 

drinking water in Ndokwa 

East Local Government Area 

of Delta State. 

The plaintiffs, Incorporated 

Trustees, Association of 

Community Paralegal 

Advocates, Ndokwa East, 

Monday Ebecha and Jude 

Ugochukwu Nwaedozie, are 

demanding the sum of N10 

billion as compensation for 

alleged pollution and 

environmental degradation, 

among others. 

According to the charge 

sheet with suit No. FHC/C5/ 

132/2020, the Plaintiffs 

accused the oil company of 

involving in massive 

pollution of its operational 

environment by way of 

dumping of toxic waste (Oil 

base mud), spilling of crude 

oil into the environment, 

spilling of crude oil into the 

River Niger through the 

barges that transport Crude 

Oil from Aseomuku Jetty 

belonging to the Company 

(Defendant) in Ndokwa East. 

The Plaintiffs said the 

Defendant has polluted the 

Okpai, Beneku, Afor, 

Onuaboh, Onyah, Aboh, 

Umuolu, Okpokirika, Asaba- 

Ase, Abalagada areas of its 

operations that the host 

communities who are 

predominantly farmers and 

fishermen are no longer able 

to sustain their economic 

activities because of the 

magnitude of the 

environment degradation of 

the area. 

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PRAYER DAY: School proprietors pray 

for Gov Okowa 

Members of National 

Association of 

Proprietors of Private School 

( NAPPS), Uvwie Local 

Government chapter, have 

held their second edition of 

' Prayer Day' at Unique 

Group of Schools, Effurun. 

In his key note address, the 

Delta State chairman of the 

association, Deacon 

Monday Ifoghere, disclosed 

that the event was held 

nationally by members in 

appreciation to God for his 

goodness towards their 

members. 

" We need to appreciate 

Him and also pray for 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. 

By God' s grace school will 

resume fully .We are almost 

there" 

He disclosed that the 

theme of this event was : 

'Digital Revolution Of The 

School In Revamping 

Nigeria's Education. 

Deacon Ifoghare strongly 

advised members to Key into 

digital " This is what covid- 

19 has brought us to. 

Learners can now receive 

lessons online " 

In her speech, the 

Chairman of NAPPS Uvwie 

Local Government Area 

Chapter, Mrs Rose Obi 

disclosed that NAPPS' s Day 

was celebrated annually on 

12th of October she added 

that it was a coincident that 

the event was celebrated by 

members in the 774 local 

government areas of the 

country on that day. 

The Director of Unique 

School, Effurun ( venue of the 

event), Onome Ikede, in his 

brief speech , thanked God for 

the success of the event.


What propelled me into gospel music — Ese 

Mairo Ese, Nigerian-born Christian 

singer and song-writer, known for 

his eclectic blend of R&B and Soul, 

in this interview, traces his foray into music 

and more. Excerpts: 

Can you take us through your growing 

up, childhood dreams, education and 

family? 

I am the first of 4 children. I have 3 siblings. 

My dad was a businessman and my mum an 

accountant working with the Nigerian Ports 

Authority (NPA). We were neither rich nor poor, 

probably closer to being poor, but we were 

comfortable and content. My parents taught 

us the value of being content and being able 

to share with others irrespective, of how much 

or little we had. Growing up, our home was 

always open to family and strangers alike. We 

always had a full home and my parents were 

nurturers to so many people. We learnt to share 

quite early. 

I have a good relationship with my siblings 

(Kome, Orez and Oruaro). We lost our dad 

suddenly 20years ago and this brought us 

closer as a family. I started my university study 

at Delta State University, and later moved to 

the University of Lagos for my first degree. 

My childhood dream was to go to university, 

graduate, get a 9-5 job and make money! I 

had hoped to play football professionally as 

well (I love football, Arsenal fan COYG!). As a 

child, I longed to play football professionally. 

I also desired to go to university, graduate, 

have a good job and just generally have a good 

life. I basically just wanted to build a better 

life from what I had growing up. As a boy, I 

had dreams of travelling the world and living 

comfortably. 

Can we say you are living your 

How w to recover er after er COVID-19 pandemic —Rajiv Sharma 

By Ephraim Oseji 

Rajiv Sharma, is the program 

Director, Neuro-Linguistic 

Programming (NLP) Nigeria Limited. The 

Global Guru and creator of 'MARK 

Model'TM explains the framework for 

effectiveness and success Post COVID 19. 

In the last 30 years, Mr. Sharma, who has 

trained over 500,000 people in many 

countries, shared his thoughts on how people 

and companies can evolve after the 

disruption caused by the pandemic. He 

noted that the MARK Model could be 

applied to any field, be it Business, Sales, 

Leadership, Coaching, and Mentoring as 

well as Personal Life. 

Speaking on the impact created by the 

COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of 

individuals and the business environment 

as well as recovering from the impact, 

Sharma said: "A lot has already been 

written and said about what has happened 

during the pandemic. It has created a 

massive disruption in the way we live and 

has affected everyone, right from schoolgoing 

children to the leaders of the 

companies and countries. 

"We can't change the past, what has 

already happened, but the best way to 

respond to these post-pandemic situations 

is by being mindful. Conduct for the 

wellbeing and safety of yourself as well as 

others. What we can do about it is within 

our control, and this choice will make the 

difference. 

"Everything begins in our mind, so the first 

step is to create encouraging thoughts about 

your health and fitness. Your body is the 

number one asset of your life. So the first 

responsibility is towards yourself. Imagine 

abundance in all aspects of your life, be it 

physical and emotional health. 

He added: "Business leaders need to work 

t was a gathering of crème de la crème as 

Ifar as football administration is concerned 

in Nigeria when the initiative, Malaga CF/ 

Ilaji FC Project, aimed at showcasing talented 

footballers to the world, was unveiled in 

Ibadan. 

The historical unveiling ceremony, which 

was held at the Conference Hall of Ilaji Hotels 

and Sports Resort had in attendance, the 

former Minister of Sports in Nigeria, Prof. 

Taoheed Adedoja as the Chairman of the event, 

ably represented by former Secretary General 

of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chief 

Bolaji Ojo Oba; former Super Eagle Coach 

and FIFA and CAF Instructor, Chief Adegboye 

Onigbinde and Speaker, Oyo State House of 

Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, who was 

childhood dreams now? 

Thank God I am living 

exactly how God wants me 

to, and I am loving it! 

How did your journey 

into music start and 

what convinced you it 

was music? 

My journey into music 

started when I gave my life 

to Christ as a teenager. At 

the time I didn’t know I 

would go into it full time, 

however, I discovered my 

love for singing in 

secondary school. After 

secondary school, I joined 

the worship team at my 

church at the time 

(Redeemed Christian 

Church of God). At 

university, I was part of the 

Sovereign Army Student 

Fellowship Choir and we 

also had a group of friends 

formed a worship team 

called Euphoria. We loved 

God and we poured our 

•Ese 

hearts in worship. I had to go for National 

Youth Service (NYSC) in Kaduna for one year 

and, while there, I attended the House on the 

Rock church in Jos and served in the choir 

too. Coming back to Lagos after National 

Youth Service year, I was approached and 

offered a full time position as Worship Leader 

at This Present House and that’s how I found 

myself working full time for God in ministry. 

I worked here for a few years, where I 

experienced immense growth and tutelage 

under Pastor Tony and Mrs. Nkoyo Rapu. 

with a new mindset to create value for their 

clients and society at large. The 

responsibility lies with the leadership and 

management team to develop their people 

to address challenges and see it as an 

opportunity. Organizations need new 

strategies to move their business forward. 

“But nothing happens if we just keep 

thinking. Ideas, how powerful they may be, 

don't take us anywhere if we don't act on it. 

“You need to be aware of how to translate 

your Mindsets into Actions. Failure to turn 

your ideas into action is the primary 

problem people face. 

“So all individuals and business 

organizations have to work on converting 

their mindsets into actions. 

Turn your strategies into 

actionable items, and then 

make sure you do it. 

“Taking actions (consistent 

actions) is the most 

challenging part of your 

journey to effectiveness and 

success. To organize your 

journey of life and make it 

more systematic, you can use 

the 'MARK Model.' 

On MARK Model and the 

ability to solve the problem 

created by any disruption 

Sharma explained, "MARK 

stands for Mindset, Action, 

Repetition, and Knowledge. 

'MARK Model' is a 

performance framework that gives you a 

map to create a New Mindset, translate 

Your Mindset to Actions, Repeat Your 

Actions to create New Habits. These habits 

lead you to Mastery Level, and you innovate 

new Knowledge. 

"Now think of Everything happening in 

your organization and your life. Isn't it based 

The first step 

is to create 

encouraging 

thoughts 

about your 

health and 

fitness 

What kind of music do 

you do and why? 

My music is essentially 

praise and worship to God, 

encouraging people to see 

the greatness and power of 

God. It is pretty much the 

expression of my walk with 

God. 

How would you define 

good gospel music and 

what are the key 

elements in a good 

sound? 

Gospel music is about the 

message of Jesus Christ. Key 

elements in a good sound 

would be the proper 

expression of the music to 

convey the message of the 

song. 

Tell us about your 

album and the journey 

behind making every 

song on it? 

Like I said earlier, my 

music conveys the experience of my walk with 

God which is exactly what this album is about. 

The title of the album is Spirit and Life. I was 

inspired by the Holy Spirit through the 

scripture John 6:63 ‘It is the Spirit who gives 

life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I 

speak to you are spirit, and they are life’. So 

this album is full of the Spirit of God and my 

prayer is that it will give life to the listeners. As 

with many projects and assignments, the road 

is not always smooth; however the end goal is 

what keeps one going. 

on how you Think, the Actions you take, 

Habits you form, and the Knowledge you 

apply and evolve? 

"You will find that your success in 

your personal or professional life all 

moves around MARK. Whether you 

like it or not, you use all these four 

components (Mindset, Action, 

Reception, and Knowledge) in an 

isolated manner. 

"A lot of studies have been done 

on these aspects disjointly. It's like 

having an old-style standalone 

phone, a different camera, and a 

separate internet device. MARK 

Model is like a smart device, where 

you have all the components 

of success and effectiveness 

in one place. 

"The power of the 

MARK Model 

framework lies in the 

process that connects 

your mindsets to 

actions and enables 

you to turn your actions into 

habits by NLP tools and 

techniques. There are steps to 

follow, and you will get excellent 

results. 

"Organizations build highperformance 

individuals and 

teams. Teams learn to execute 

more promptly, make better 

decisions, resolve more complicated problems, 

and MARK helps to enhance 

creativity and innovation. 

"Using MARK Model, it's practical to 

achieve your goals, whether you are an 

individual, a company, or a country." 

On why most people find it very difficult 

to achieve their goals and desires 

He said: Let's understand how the 

Personalities converge at Ibadan unveiling of Malaga/Ilaji 

also represented by Chairman, Committee on 

Youth and Sports, Hon. Hon. Fola Oyekunle. 

Also in attendance were ex-Super Eagles 

players and goal keeper, Felix Owolabi 

(MON), Mutiu Adepoju, Ike Shorunmu, Femi 

Opabunmi and former U-17 star, Muyiwa 

Lawal. Others include the Special Adviser to 

Governor Seyi Makinde on Youths and Sports, 

Kazeem Bolarinwa, Zonal Coordinator, 

Federal Ministry of Sports, South West Zone 

1, Femi Ajao, President General, Nigeria 

Supporters’ Club, Rafiu Ladipo, and 

Chairman, Oyo State Sports Council, Hon. 

Gbenga Adewusi. 

The brain behind the initiative and Chief 

Executive Officer of Ilaji Hotel and Sports 

Resort, Engr. Dotun Sanusi, said that the 

Malaga CF/Ilaji FC Project is to create a better 

platform for talented footballers in Nigeria 

to have a easy passage to international clubs 

to showcase their talent. 

He disclosed that the Resort has provided 

the best coaching crew to make use of already 

on ground facilities that are of international 

standard to discover, train and nurture the raw 

talents to the stardom. 

Chief Sanusi reiterated that the choice of 

Malaga CF/Ilaji FC collaboration was born 

out of the similar football ideology shared by 

both teams with a view to discovering raw 

talents and consequently nurture them to 

stardom. 

“We have started the journey of taking our 

youths from the grass roots, out of the streets 

and putting them in the right future in terms 

How do you get inspiration for your 

work and what makes it different from 

others? 

I get my inspiration from the Holy Spirit, in 

the place of prayer, which is my personal time 

with him; in studying the word of God, the 

Bible. I also get inspiration from general life 

experiences. 

As an artiste what are your set goals 

and how do you intend working to make 

them happen? 

I will say my set goals are aligned to my 

Boss. I’m like a soldier, under authority. Once 

my Commander gives me an instruction, my 

responsibility is to follow as He leads. So, 

wherever the Lord leads me I obey and He 

gives me grace to fulfil. 

From your view what are the current 

challenges of gospel music in Nigeria 

and what can be done? 

I believe the challenges cut across music in 

Nigeria, inclusive of all genres. One is the 

common enemy - Piracy. We have artists doing 

their work and not getting their worth. I believe 

effective government policies designed to 

protect the rights and intellectual property of 

artistes will go a long way. It’s a win-win 

situation as the government is also then 

able to generate revenue from the music 

industry via taxes. If music artists thrive, 

they are able to pay taxes and the 

government benefits. Another challenge 

is funding. As an artist you want to put 

out quality material, however funding 

could pose a challenge. A solution will be 

for the sector to be properly structured, 

when this happens, it has the potential to 

attract more willing investors. 

conscious mind and the subconscious mind 

function. Our conscious mind is the 'aware 

mind' and lives in the present. When 

I ask you to make a list of your 

goals or craft the strategy for 

your organization, you plan it 

with your conscious mind. You 

are writing all your goals and 

objectives with the 'aware 

mind' what you want to 

achieve in the years to come. 

"When you are done 

writing goals and strategies, 

you return to your daily 

schedule. You live 80% to 

90% of the day (I mean your 

schedule) on autopilot 

mode with the stored 

programs in your mind. 

These programs are 

•Sharma 

stored in your 

subconscious mind. And 

you picked these 

programs from your 

family and your 

environment. You got programmed, and the 

foundational programming was done when 

you were growing from the age of 0 to 7. 

"I have seen people find it very difficult to 

achieve their goals if the programs stored 

in the subconscious mind are not designed 

for their desires and goals coming from 

their conscious mind. 

"You can achieve your goals when your 

subconscious mind is aligned with your 

conscious mind. No target is going to be 

difficult when you program your 

subconscious mind to achieve your goals. 

With Mark Model, you get techniques to 

reprogram your subconscious mind." 


of sports. 

“We have formed alliance with well known 

in the world, the biggest league, La Liga, 

Malaga CF. Malaga is not a team that is just 

well known, they have vision that is parallel 

with us, how to make use of raw talents, build 

the raw talents and become the most useful in 

terms of football in the whole world,” Engr. 

Sanusi stated. 

Chief Bolaji Ojo Oba, who represented the 

Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Tahoeed 

Adedoja, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, Chief 

Rafiu Ladipo and ex-footballers lauded the 

initiative of the Ilaji Sports Resort Chairman, 

Engr. Sanusi. 

Ojo Oba expressed that the responsibilities 

attached to sports is beyond what government 

alone can take care, stating that it warranted 

the gesture from the people like Engr. Sanusi 

to come in.


Kanu 

Keshi 

Odegbami 

Bassey 

Okocha 

Ajunwa 

Abiola 

60 Nigerian sports icons: 

Izamoje, Odegbami, Okonkwo, 

Ajunwa, Onyali, Dangote make list 

Adekuoroye 

Sports journalism received a 

rare honour in Nigeria as 

the pioneer owner of sports 

radio station in the country, Brila 

FM, Dr Larry Izamoje was Friday, 

named among the 60 sports icons 

in the country. 

Izamoje pioneered specialised 

sports radio in the country when 

he launched his Brila FM radio 

station in Lagos in 2002. The 

station now has branches in 

Kaduna, Abuja and Onitsha. 

According 

to 

sportsvillagesquare.com, another 

media man that made the list is 

the legendry sportscaster, Ernest 

Okonkwo who died 30 years ago. 

He made commentaries on radio 

a delight in his life time. 

The remaining 58 icons comprise 

of the usual suspects. Members of 

the Super Eagles teams of 1980, 

1994, Atlanta 1996 as well as track 

and Field and boxing dominated 

the list that was unveiled during 

the celebration of Nigeria’s most 

outstanding sports icons of the 

last sixty years. 

The event took place at the 

Velodrome of the Moshood 

Abiola National Stadium Abuja 

last Friday. 

According to a press release from 

the media aide to the Nigerian 

sports minister, the icons will 

have their pictures on display 

for 60 days. 

According to the votes cast to 

pick the stars through various 

platforms, mercurial Super 

Eagles players like Nwankwo 

Kanu, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, 

Daniel Amokachi, Garba Lawal, 

Emmanuel Amuneke of the 

famed 1994 and Atlanta 1996 

Dream Team were selected by a 

wide spectrum of Nigerians. 

Also selected are the 1980 Green 

Eagles that won Nigeria’s 

maiden Nations Cup on home soil 

with team captain Christian 

Chukwu and Segun Odegbami 

listed individually. 

Emmanuel Okala and Mudashiru 

Lawal were also picked as 

symbols of the 1980 Green 

Eagles. 

The Golden Eaglets of 1985 that 

paraded the likes of Nduka 

Ugbade, Victor Igbinoba and 

coached by Sebastian Brodricks 

– Imasuen were also recognised. 

Nigerian first Olympics 

medallist Nojeem Maiyegun, 

first individual gold medallist, 

Chioma Ajunwa and Mary 

Onyali were listed. 

Also on the list are legendary 

footballer, Tesilimi Balogun, 

Sunday Bada, Olawunmi 

Majekodunmi, Samuel Igun as 

well as world boxing champions 

Horgan Kid Bassey and Dick 

Tiger. 

Most of the selected icons were 

either Olympic medallists or 

winners at the Commonwealth 

Games. Chidi Imoh and 

Odunayo Adekuruoye also made 

the list. 

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief 

Moshood Abiola and Chief 

Adebutu Kesington among 

others also made the icons list as 

sports philanthropists. 

Below are the names of the 

unveiled 60 Sports Icons 

1. Chioma Ajunwa 

2. Mary Onyali 

3. Jighere Wellington 

4. Odion Aikhoje 

5. Duncan Dokiware 

6. Austin Okocha 

7. Kanu Nwankwo 

8. Feyisetan Are 

9. Blessing Okagbare 

10. Garba Lawal 

11. Lucy Ejike 

12. Falilat Ogunkoya/Atlanta 96 

Women’s 4x400m Quartet 

13. Sunday Bada/Sydney 2000 

Men’s 4x400m Quartet 

14. Football Dream Team, Atlanta 

1996 Olympics 

15. Emmanuel Amunike 

16. Chika Chukwumeriji 

17. Davidson Ezinwa 

18. Odunayo Adekuoroye 

19. Modupe Oshikoya 

20. Peter Konyegwachie 

21. Olusoji Fasuba 

22. Nduka Ugbade/Sebastine 

Broadricks Emasuen/1985 

GOLDEN EAGLETS 

23. Hogan Bassey 

24. Dick Tiger 

25. Samuel Peters 

26. Barcelona 922 quartet (Men’s 

4x100m Relay) 

27. Funke Oshonaike 

28. Segun Odegbami 

29. D’Tigress 

30. Segun Toriola 

31. Roland Ezuruike 

32. Mayegun Nojeem 

33. SAM IGUN 

34. Israel Adesanya 

35. Super Eagles 1994 

36. Olumide Oyedeji 

37. Blessing Oborududu 

38. Tompraba Grikpa 

39. Chidi Imoh 

40. Christian Chukwu 

41. Ajibola Adeoye 

42. Stephen Keshi 

43. Atanda Musa 

44. Muda Lawal/Emmanuel 

Okala/Green Eagles 1980 

45. Daniel Amokachi 

46. Rashidi Yekini 

47. Teslim Thunder Balogun 

48. Perpetual Nkwocha 

49. Super Falcons 

50. Power Mike 

51. Flora Ugwunwa 

52. Lauretta Onye 

53. Sam Okwaraji 

54. Nduka Odizor 

55. David Izonrite 

56. Chief MKO Abiola 

57. Dr. Larry Izamoje 

58. Mazi. Ernest Okonkwo 

59. Alh. Aliko Dangote 

60. Chief Sir Kesington Adebutu 

... Controversy trails list as Isiguzo, Obisanya, Ogbeifo-Balofin kick 

Isiguzo 

The 60 man-list of 

Nigerian sports icons 

released by the Sports 

Ministry last Friday has left 

a trail of controversies. 

Sports enthusiasts have 

given the list a thumbs-down 

and have questioned the 

yardstick used to make the 

selection. 

Ruth Ogbeifo-Balofin, a 

Ogbeifo-Balofin 

former Weightlifter weighed 

in: “The list is partial and not 

fully fit for the purpose. 

Because, in the field of 

weightlifting, my record as 

the first African and 

Commonwealth woman to 

have won an Olympic gold, 

silver medal in weightlifting 

for Nigeria was unrecognised 

and same applied to others 

without recognition. 

This is unbelievable. 

Recognition is being 

recycled in Nigeria 

and not on sports 

merit.” 

Former Nigeria 

Table Tennis coach 

Babatunde Obisanya 

added: “Yes, we may 

not know the criteria 

used, but whatever 

Izamoje 

criteria, where is Dr 

Adegboyega Efunkoya’s 

name, the corner stone of 

table tennis in Nigeria. 

Where is Chief Molade 

Okoya Thomas, a sole 

sponsor of the Asoju Oba 

table Tennis Championship 

for several years and still 

does even in death. I do not 

understand and will never 

will.” 

Finally veteran journalist, 

Ikeddy Isiguzo submitted: 

“What criteria were used that 

resulted in these oversights? 

“Mikel Obi won Olympic 

silver in 2008 and bronze in 

2016, he captained the U-20 

and Super Eagles and won 

2013 AFCON. Is it 

inconceivable he is not an 

Icon.”

PAGE 38, SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 18, 2020 

Iwobi delights Everton fans with ‘Jay Jay’ 

Okocha skill 

Alex Iwobi displayed a 

moment of real magic 

after coming on for Everton 

in the 78th minute of 

yesterday’s crunch tie 

against Merseyside rivals 

Liverpool. 

The 24-year-old 

appeared to have been 

crowded out on the rightwing 

by Andy Robertson 

and Georginio Wijnaldum, 

but he did something 

we’ve never seen before to 

retain the ball. 

Iwobi turned his back to 

the duo before pulling off 

*Napoli boss...Gattuso 

a heel flick skill of sorts to 

burst through, with 

Robertson and Wijnaldum 

left with no choice but to 

foul the ace at the same 

time to stop him. 

And Everton fans let him 

know their thoughts on 

social media. 

“Iwobi with some sick 

tekkers,” — Robby 

(@ScottMctominGod) 

“Like uncle like nephew. 

Alex Iwobi with some 

sauce,” — Marjan Feisal 

Dafala (@DafalaFeisal 

Guttuso fumes over Napoli no show 

at Juve 

Napoli coach Gennaro 

Gattuso said he was 

furious that his team failed 

to play Italian champions 

Juventus two weeks ago 

due to confusion over 

COVID-19 rules. 

Gattuso finally made his 

first comments on the 

controversial episode, 

which led to Napoli being 

Chelsea players 

back Kepa after 

another error 

Chelsea boss Frank 

Lampard has 

revealed his players will 

continue to stand by Kepa 

Arrizabalaga, despite 

another costly error. 

The Spaniard made a 

swift return to the starting 

line up against 

Southampton yesterday, as 

the Blues threw away the 

lead on two separate 

occasions in the chaotic 3- 

3 draw at Stamford Bridge. 

The Blues appeared to be 

cruising in the first half as 

Timo Werner opened his 

Premier League account 

with a brace.Danny Ings 

restored hope for the 

visitors before Che Adams 

capitalised on a horrendous 

lapse in concentration from 

Kurt Zouma and Kepa at 

the back to equalise. 

Kai Havertz looked to 

have won it before Jannik 

Vestergaard levelled things 

up in stoppage time from 

Theo Walcott’s shot across 

the face of goal. 

Lampard refused to throw 

his goalkeeper under the 

bus after the game, despite 

another forgettable 

afternoon in between the 

sticks. 

“He has to be strong 

enough, that is what it is 

like in elite sport and 

goalkeepers have to deal 

with that,” Lampard said. 

“He will have the support 

of myself and his 

teammates. It’s a shame, 

because he made some 

good saves.” 

handed a 3-0 defeat and 

having a point deducted 

by Serie A’s disciplinary 

committee, after his 

side’s 4-1 win over 

Atalanta on Saturday. 

“I was angrier than 

anyone,” he said, adding 

that Juve are rebuilding 

under new coach Andrea 

Pirlo and that he 

believed Napoli could 

defeat them. 

“Juventus are the team 

to beat but, at the 

moment, they are a 

construction site. We 

were on the bus and 

ready to leave. I am 

angry that we didn’t 

travel and I can assure 

you we did everything 

possible.” 

Watford boss downplays 

Troost-Ekong’s injury 

Watford boss, Vladimir 

Ivic has assured club 

fans that defender, William 

Troost-Ekong would be ready 

for their next game after he was 

pulled out in their 1-0 win over 

Derby County on Friday. 

Troost-Ekong who had to cut 

his international duty short to 

feature for Watford in the 

championship game, was 

suhstituted after he 

experienced tightness in his 

hamstring. “He [Troost-Ekong] 

felt something with his 

hamstring, but we changed 

him at the right moment 

and it’s not something 

dangerous with him, we 

hope he is okay,” Ivic told 

the club website. 

Speaking on his debut 

appearance for the club 

Troost-Ekong said. 

“[I am] happy to make 

my Watford debut tonight 

with three points and a 

clean sheet! Well done to 

the boys! On to the next 

one on Wednesday,” 

Troost-Ekong posted on 

Instagram. 

Hoddle backs Bale to thrive at Tottenham 

Tottenham Hotspur 

forward Gareth Bale 

may lack the pace he had 

five or six years ago but 

can make up for it with his 

improved passing range, 

the Premier League club’s 

former manager Glenn 

Hoddle said. 

Welshman Bale 

returned to north London 

from Real Madrid on loan 

last month and was rested 

during the international 

break to rebuild his 

fitness levels. The 31- 

year-old is set to make his 

second debut for the club 

against West Ham United 

today. 

Hoddle, the Spurs boss 

from 2001-03, said current 

manager Jose Mourinho 

could tweak his formation 

to get the best out of Bale 

*Bale 

*Master class...Alex Iwobi tops Liverpool defender 

*Troost-Ekong checkmates former England striker, Wayne Rooney 

in a more creative role. 

“Mourinho might go to 

three at the back... and 

ensure his team are 

dangerous on the counter. 

Gareth might not be that 

box-to-box player he was 

five or six years ago, when 

he was all about using his 

pace,” Hoddle said in a 

podcast. 

“Now, he might be as 

much a creator if he’s 

played deeper or drops 

deeper, much the way 

Harry Kane did when he 

provided all four goals for 

Son (Heung-min) at 

Southampton recently. I 

can see Bale doing that for 

Kane. 

“I think Bale has the 

sensational ability to pass, 

he’s not just a ‘runner’ at 

defenders, I can see him as 

the creator maybe the team 

are lacking. Gareth’s 

always been one that has 

got that ability to pass the 

ball as well, he can play 

with his head up.” 

Klopp laments VAR verdict in 

Merseyside derby 

Liverpool manager 

Juergen Klopp was 

left baffled by the offside 

decision that cost his team 

victory in the Merseyside 

derby and concerned about 

two key injuries suffered in 

the 2-2 Premier League 

draw with Everton 

yesterday. 

The champions thought 

they had won the game 

with a stoppage- time goal 

from Jordan Henderson 

but a VAR review found 

the narrowest margin of 

offside and cancelled out 

the potential winner. 

Liverpool also had Dutch 

defender Virgil van Dijk 

taken off with an injury 

early in the game and 

Spanish midfielder Thiago 

Alcantara picked up a 

knock from a wild 

challenge by Richarlison 

which resulted in a red 

card for Everton’s 

Brazilian. 

“I am a real support of 

VAR. (Last season) the 

armpit was offside. Now, 

there is no armpit offside, 

everyone tells me it was 

not offside but it does not 

lift my mood. We lost one 

player with Virgil and 

maybe another with the red 

card. Not our day,” he said. 

Paddysco sports takes 

sports devt. to Ajegunle 

*As Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA opens 

Odion Ighalo 02 Arena in Tolu 

t was an amazing 

Ievent filled with funfair 

and ecstasy from the 

residents of the popular 

Ajegunle City in Lagos 

State, when it hosted a 

team of Nigerian ex-internationals 

and prominent 

government officials 

at the official opening 

of the Odion Ighalo 

02 Arena, a newly built 

artificial grass football 

field in Tolu, Ajegunle. 

Present at the event 

were ex-Super Eagles 

players led by Friday 

Ekpo, Taiwo Enegwa, 

Wasiu Ipaye, Mike Onyemachara 

to mention 

but a few. 

The unveiling of the 

wonderful football edifice 

was anchored by the 

Commissioner for Youths 

and Sports Development 

in Lagos state, Mr. Olusegun 

Dawodu and the 

host, Hon. Fatai Adekunle 

Ayoola, the Executive 

Chairman of the Ajeromi 

Ifelodun LGA of Lagos 

State under the watchful 

eyes of other Government 

officials, Stakeholders 

in the Football 

industry and residence 

of the city of Ajegunle. 

The event was masterfully 

Co-ordinated by the 

DG of Sports in the Local 

Government Area, 

Hon. McAnthony Analechukwu 

Anuforo. 

With the Odion Ighalo 

02 Arena now officially 

commissioned, members 

of the public in Ajegunle 

and environs can now 

register their Kids/Teens 

to enjoy the Paddysco 

Sports Academy packages. 

World Half-marathon: 

19-year-old Kiplimo shocks 

world-record holder to title 

The men’s title at the World Half Marathon 

Championships in Gdynia, Poland was 

captured by 19-year-old Jacob Kiplimo who beat 

three-time 2020 world-record breaker Joshua 

Cheptegei. Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir beat her 

world record to win a dramatic women’s race. 

Kiplimo from Uganda, who finished fastest after 

a slow start to the men’s race, set a Championship 

record of 58min 49sec, beating the 2007 mark of 

58:59 run by Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese; he also 

became the first Ugandan to win a medal in this 

event. 

His elder compatriot, making his first 

appearance over this distance, had to be content 

with fourth place in 59:21, with silver going to 

Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie in 58:54 and third place 

to Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn in 59:08. 

Cheptegei thus failed to become only the second 

man in the modern era to win global titles on the 

track, road and cross country, a distinction earned 

by Khalid Skah, the Moroccan who won this title 

in 1994 and in so doing became the last man to 

win the World Half on his debut at the distance. 

“I couldn’t give more than that,” Chetegei said. 

“I have been training more for 5000m and 

10,000m. I discovered I still had some fatigue in 

the legs. 

“But I’m very happy – running a sub-60 is really 

special.” 

Jepchirchir, winner in Cardiff four years ago, had 

earlier regained her title as she took 18 seconds 

off the women-only race world record she set six 

weeks ago, finishing in 1 hour 5min 16sec at the 

end of a race shaped by a dramatic late fall. 

After the leading group of seven runners had 

entered the fourth and final lap of the sharplycornered 

course Jepchirchir was hanging slightly 

back as her compatriot Joyciline Jepkosgei led the 

pace despite looking as if she was tiring. 

*Kiplimo


SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 18, 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.

18102020 - #ENDINSECURITYNOW : Convenes arrested released in Kano

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