10012021 - Foreign powers fingered in Nigeria's escalating insecurity

PAGE 2— SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 10, 2021 

Why court dismissed certificate 

forgery case against Obaseki 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri, Ozioruva 

Aliu & Gabriel 

Enogholase 

Respite came the 

way of Governor 

Godwin Obaseki of 

Edo State, yesterday, the 

Federal High Court in Abuja 

dismissed the certificate 

forgery case the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

and one of its members, Mr. 

Williams Edobor, instituted 

against him. 

The court, in a judgement 

that was delivered by Justice 

Ahmed Mohammed, held 

that the Plaintiffs, failed to by 

way of credible evidence, 

discharge the burden of proof 

placed on them by the law. 

Justice Mohammed said 

there was no iota of evidence 

before the court to establish 

that Obaseki forged either his 

O’level certificate or the 

degree certificate that was 

awarded to him in 1979 by 

the University of Ibadan. 

He held that allegation of 

forgery the Plaintiffs levelled 

against Obaseki bordered on 

crime and therefore required 

to be proved beyond 

reasonable doubt. 

Credible 

evidence 

“It is quite known that he 

who alleges must prove. The 

burden is on the Plaintiffs to 

lead credible evidence to 

indeed prove that the first 

Defendant presented forged 

certificates to INEC. 

“None of the witnesses 

called by the Plaintiffs was 

able to prove that the 

certificate was forged. 

“In fact, the witnesses 

admitted that none of them 

visited the University of 

Ibadan to confirm the 

authenticity of the 

•PDP, Oyegun, Orbih, others react 

•Judgment is triumph of rule of law—Edo gov 

Jubilant supporters and members of the Legal Team of Governor Godwin 

Obaseki of Edo State after the victory of the governor as the University 

of Ibadan Certificate Forgery allegation against him was thrown out 

by the Federal High Court, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida 

certificate. 

“The Plaintiffs only relied 

on photocopies that were 

attached to the Form EC9 the 

1st Defendant submitted to 

the Independent National 

Electoral Commission”, the 

court noted. 

Discrepancies 

It held that apparent 

discrepancies in the 

documents Obaseki 

submitted to INEC, “were 

satisfactorily explained”. 

Justice Mohammed 

further noted that all the 

witnesses were in agreement 

that when the original 

document is photocopied 

with an A4-sized paper, some 

information would be cut off. 

He said the evidence of 

witnesses Obaseki produced 

in the course of the hearing, 

especially that of the Deputy 

Registrar Legal, at University 

of Ibadan, Mr. Abayomi 

Samuel Ajayi, “successfully 

put to rest the issue of whether 

or not the embattled governor 

graduated or was awarded a 

degree certificate by the 

school. 

Cost 

The court held that for the 

Plaintiffs to insist that 

Obaseki forged his certificate, 

even after the school 

confirmed the genuity of the 

document, was akin to 

alleging that someone has no 

father, even in the presence of 

the person’s father. 

Consequently, it dismissed 

the suit, though it declined to 

award cost against the 

Plaintiffs. 

The APC had in the suit it 

jointly filed with one of its 

members in Edo, Mr. Edobor, 

alleged that Obaseki forged 

the University of Ibadan 

degree certificate he 

submitted to INEC in aid of 

his qualification for the 

governorship election that 

was held in Edo State on 

September 19, 2020. 

Police rescue kidnapped couple in Ondo 

•Two arrested after demanding N20m ransom 

By Dayo Johnson, Akure 

Security operatives in 

Ondo State have 

secured the release of a 

couple, Mr and Mrs Gbenga 

lbikunle, abducted along 

Uso/Owo highway. 

Two suspects were arrested 

in connection with the 

abduction. 

The abductors had 

requested for N20m ransom 

from the family of the couple 

to secure their release. 

Reports said the couple 

were returning from their 

hometown Ebonyi to Akure 

when they were abducted by 

gunmen. The abductors, who 

reportedly emerged from the 

bush, shot at a trailer and 

forced the couple’s vehicle 

which they were traveling in 

to stop and they were 

kidnapped. 

The couple were whisked 

into the forest while their three 

children who were in the 

vehicle were left along the 

highway. 

The children reported the 

matter to the police and 

detectives were 

subsequently deployed to the 

scene where the couple’s 

abandoned Lexus vehicle 

was seen. 

After combing the forest, the 

two suspects were arrested by 

the men of the Special Anti- 

Kidnapping Squad. 

Oyegun, 

PDP, Orbih 

Reacting to the 

development, Obaseki 

described the verdict as a 

triumph of the rule of law and 

a testament to the fact that 

truth would always prevail. 

The governor, who said this 

in a statement, said the verdict 

confirmed that Edo voters 

were well-guided in trusting 

him to lead. 

According to him, “the 

verdict of the Federal High 

Court, delivered by 

Honourable Justice Ahmed 

Mohammed is well-received 

and a victory for the rule of 

law. 

“ It was a needless attempt 

by desperate individuals 

trying to undo the will of the 

people through the backdoor 

but we are happy today that 

justice and truth have 

prevailed. 

“My profound gratitude 

goes to the judiciary who have 

stood indefatigably for truth 

and justice, the President of 

the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria, President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

(GCFR), my party, the Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP), our 

party leaders and members, 

my teeming supporters, the 

good people of Edo State and 

all Nigerians.” 

Others who reacted include 

the PDP, former National 

Chairman of APC, Chief John 

Oyegun, National Vice - 

Chairman, South-South, of 

PDP, Chief Dan Orbih. 

PDP 

The PDP lauded the 

judgement, describing it as a 

triumph of justice and victory 

for democracy. 

In a statement by its 

National Publicity Secretary, 

Covid-19 : Military, police personnel, strippers among 243 persons 

arrested in Lagos clubs 

By Evelyn Usman 

ilitary and police 

Mpersonnel as well as 

strippers were among 243 

persons arrested during a 

raid of night clubs in Lagos 

for violating the Covid-19 

protocol on social distancing 

and the 12 midnight 

to 4am curfew imposed by 

the Federal Government 

Task Force on Covid-19. 

The raid, led by the Commissioner 

of Police, Lagos 

State Police Command, CP 

Hakeem Odumosu, at the 

early hours of yesterday, 

was carried out at Lounge 

38, Bode Thomas , Surulere 

and Club Victoria’s at 

Victoria Island areas of the 

state, between 12 midnight 

and 4am. 

The development came 

amid the second wave of 

coronavirus which has continued 

to claim lives while 

new records are made in the 

number of cases. 

Parading the suspects before 

they were arraigned in 

two mobile courts established 

in the premises of the 

command headquarters, 

Odumosu observed that 

many Lagosians had disregard 

for compliance with 

the Covid-19 protocol, a situation 

he described as worrisome 

considering the 

consequences of such attitude 

on the health status of 

Lagosians and the spread 

of he pandemic in the state. 

Giving a breakdown of 

the number of persons arrested, 

the Command boss 

said, “ 85 persons were 

arrested at Lounge 38, Bode 

Thomas , 152 persons at 

Club Victoria’s Island 

while six others were arrested 

for violating the Federal 

Government imposed 12 

midnight to 4am curfew”. 

He informed that the 

Command , with the help of 

other security agencies, 

would go after violators , no 

matter how highly placed 

and cause them to face the 

wrath of the law. 

Reiterating the call for 

club owners to adhere to the 

directive of immediate and 

total closure of their clubs, 

Odumosu threatened that 

they would not only be prosecuted 

but might also face 

stringent punishment such 

as confiscation of the Certificate 

of Ownership of the 

club, by the state government. 

He said , “ This position 

may be recommended to 

the state government as it 

has been observed that most 

of the club houses were not 

initially built and approved 

to be used as night clubs 

by the state government”. 

Reminding Lagosians 

that the Covid-19 pandemic 

was real and must be tackled 

collectively, the police 

boss admonished them to 

observe the Covid-19 guidelines 

and protocol religiously. 

He said: “ The general 

public is urged to be involved 

and assist the government 

in the ongoing advocacies 

to halt the spread 

of the pandemic in Lagos 

State and Nigeria at large”. 

Meanwhile, parents and 

relatives of some of the arrested 

persons thronged the 

Command to effect their 

release. 

Some of them made 

calls to top policemen, to 

prevail on the CP to release 

their wards while some 

claimed their children were 

arrested outside the clubs. 

But Odumosu refused to 

release any of them , insisting 

rather that they must 

be arraigned in court and 

that the verdict would determine 

the suspects next move. 

He also clarified , while 

addressing one of the women 

who insisted that her 

daughter was not inside the 

club, that every arrest was 

made inside the club and 

between government imposed 

curfew time. 

The suspects, who were 

charged for breach to the 

restriction of vehicular 

movement imposed by 

Governor Babajide Sanwo- 

Olu, under the Lagos State 

Lagos Infectious Diseases ( 

Emergency Prevention) 

Number 2 of 2020 , were 

Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP 

said Obaseki was re-elected 

because of his patriotism. 

His words: “The instant 

jubilation on the streets of Edo 

State at the news of the 

judgment is a resounding 

testimony that justice has 

been upheld and that 

Governor Obaseki’s election 

was in line with the wishes 

and aspirations of the 

overwhelming majority of the 

people of Edo State. 

“Unarguably, Governor 

Obaseki was re-elected 

because of his manifest 

patriotism and dedication to 

duty as demonstrated in his 

unwavering zeal towards the 

development of his state and 

the empowerment of his 

people.” 

Oyegun 

Oyegun said: “It was just 

that it was not unexpected. I 

hope they will now let the 

governor settle down to do his 

job.” 

On his part, Orbih said: 

“The victory only reaffirmed 

the verdict of the people in 

the September 19 

governorship election in Edo 

State. 

“Obaseki’s victory over the 

All Progressives Congress 

(APC), at the Court validates 

the will of Edo people as 

reflected in the poll” 

A former Chairman of APC 

in the state, Mr. Ansem 

Ojezua, said the decision of 

the Court was not a surprise, 

saying he knew Obaseki was 

qualified. 

“It is an embarrassment to 

the APC and I didn’t expect 

them to sanction by the 

leadership of the party. The 

judgement means that in a 

democratic setting the rule of 

the people will always 

prevail,” he added. 

EDO PDP 

Edo State Chairman of 

PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, in his 

reaction said: “The victory is 

sweet. We are happy and we 

dedicate it to God. We thank 

the judiciary for standing by 

the truth. They have once 

again proved they are the 

hope of the common man’’. 

OVRE-EKU: We’re Urhobo, 

not Bini 

By Jimitota 

Onoyume 

The people of Ovre- 

Eku community 

have reiterated that 

they are from Eku community, 

Ethiope East 

Local Government Area 

of Delta state, an Urhobo 

tribe, with the Ovie of 

Agbon kingdom as their 

monarch. 

Some of the community 

leaders, told newsmen 

that they were surprised 

to see a letter 

allegedly addressed to 

the Enogie of Orogho 

and some companies 

with the community addressed 

as Iwevbo and 

the oldest man in the 

area addressed as Odionwere. 

“Iwevbo is a name 

fined N20,000 each. 

While those who paid 

the fine were released to go 

to their respective homes, 

others who could not pay 

were directed by the courts 

to be remanded in police 

custody until they paid the 

fine. 

the Benis call Urhobos 

in Ovre-Eku. And our 

oldest man is called Okpako 

Ovre. We are not 

from Benin and the 

name of our community 

is Ovre-Eku”, they 

said. 

“Chief Joseph Ukueku, 

whose name was mentioned 

in the letter has 

also denied any knowledge 

of such letter as 

he cannot be part of 

such. Several members 

of a committee set up 

by Eku community to 

oversee the Ovre Eku 

have also said they were 

not party to the letter. 

“It is clear that some 

persons are trying to 

use the name “Iwevbo” 

as our community name 

in place of “Ovre Eku”, 

for selfish reasons.”, 

they added.

Uncertainty as Ohanaeze elects 

President-General today 

•Two aspirants drop out of race, allege imposition 

By Chinonso Alozie 

& Denise Agbo 

As the apex Igbo 

g r o u p , 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, 

elects its President- 

General today, there is a 

division in its fold as some 

aspirants pulled out of the 

race, citing imposition of 

candidate by the outgoing 

executive led by Chief John 

Nwodo. 

The days leading to today’s 

exercise were characterized 

by crisis following claims by 

some aspirants that South- 

East governors imposed 

Ambassador George Obiozor 

on them. 

Obiozor had emerged as a 

consensus candidate at 

Imeobi meeting convened by 

the Nwodo-led executive, but 

his emergence was described 

as unconstitutional by some 

aspirants, who said he lacked 

the powers to summon the 

forum. 

Apart from Obiozor, others 

who indicated interest in the 

job include Chief Chris 

Asoluka, Joe Nworgu, Prof 

Chidi Osuagwu, and Chief 

Gordy Uwazurike. 

Political 

parties 

As of press time, Osuagwu 

and Nworgu had dropped out 

of the race while frontline 

Igbo group, Alaigbo 

Development Foundation, 

ADF, said the exercise should 

not hold as scheduled. 

Giving reasons for his 

action, Osuagwu, who 

briefed newsmen in Owerri, 

said he took the decision 

following the decision of 

Imeobi members that the 

constitution of Ohanaeze was 

not adhered to by Nwodo. 

He explained that the 

Imeobi asked Nwodo to 

quickly hand over to the 

South-East Christian 

Association, CAN, to run the 

affairs of the association for 

two months and conduct an 

election. 

His words: “I have bought 

the form for Ohanaeze 

election, which was sold for a 

half a million naira. It is so 

strange that Ohanaeze 

expected to be serving the 

people’s interests is now being 

used for money-making like 

political parties. 

Elders 

“This is part of the problem 

at the heart of Ohanaeze. We 

saw that people could not 

differentiate their political 

interests from Ohanaeze 

election. It is good to tell you 

that some of the procedures 

did not follow the guidelines. 

That is why we are concerned 

about this whole thing. 

“On Thursday the 

members of Imeobi elders 

met and said that this election 

cannot continue because it is 

going to be an 

embarrassment to the Igbo 

nation. 

“They said Chief Nnia 

Nwodo should hand over to 

the Christian Association of 

Nigeria, CAN, South-East for 

two months so that a proper 

election can be organised. I 

am here to say that I am in of 

support this move. I endorse 

the Imeobi decision that 

things be done in the proper 

way. 

“There are no guidelines. 

There is no venue. That is 

dubiousness. Ohanaeze has a 

constitution which stated the 

guidelines for the election and 

anything done outside the 

constitution is not valid.” 

Nworgu 

Similarly, Nworgu, who is 

a former Secretary-General 

of the body, said he 

dissociated himself from 

today’s exercise. 

In a telephone conversation 

with Sunday Vanguard, he 

said: “I have dissociated 

myself from whatever they 

are doing. It is now confirmed 

that I am not in the race 

anymore. I have pulled out. 

“I heard Uche Okwukwu 

and Richard Ozobu held their 

own election. I did not 

partake. I can’t be part of that 

kind of race. I am in my 

house.” 

ADF 

Meanwhile, ADF in a 

statement by its President, 

Prof Uzodinma Nwala, 

threatened to reject the 

outcome of the exercise if its 

Ronik Comprehensive School’s Orchestra performing during the 23rd valedictory 

ceremony in Ejigbo, Lagos. 

Kano now running a realistic budget — Commissioner 

By Bashir Bello 

Rehab: FG shuts Third Mainland 

Bridge for 2 weeks on Wed 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

The Federal Govern 

ment willo shut the 

Lagos Island 

bound traffic on the Third 

Mainland Bridge for two 

weeks commencing from 

Wednesday as part of ongoing 

rehabilitation 

works. 

Federal Controller, 

Works Lagos, Engr. Popoola 

Olukayode, announced 

this in a statement, titled: 

‘Shifting of current diversion 

point towards 

Oworosonki and closing of 

the Lagos Island bound 

carriageway including the 

Adekunle slip Road”. 

Popoola, however, assured 

that the repairs 

would not be delayed unnecessary 

to allow for 

smooth traffic. 

Kano State Com 

missioner for 

Planning and 

Budget, Nura Muhammad 

Dankadai, has said 

the state is now running a 

realistic budget where it 

made provisions based on 

what it can achieve. 

Dankadai stated this 

while briefing newsmen 

in the state on the 2021 

fiscal year budget breakdown. 

This, he said, was responsible 

for why the 

state downsized its 2021 

budget. 

Governor Abdullahi 

Umar Ganduje had approved 

N177.9 billion 

budget for 2021 fiscal 

year which was less compared 

to the 219 billion 

and 206 billion in year 

2019 and 2020 budgets 

respectively. 

“The budget is year in 

and year out digital and 

we are now approaching 

a realistic budgetary provision”, 

the Commissioner 

said. 

“We realized it is necessary 

to look at all areas 

that we are collecting 

money, shooting our budget 

size and at the end of 

the day the performance 

is low. 

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 10, 2021, PAGE 3 

warning against holding the 

election is not heeded. 

According to the group:”If 

the views of Igbo groups and 

stakeholders are not 

respected, we will join forces 

with others to chart a way 

forward for the Igbo nation. 

We were briefed on the 

contending issues that appear 

to pre-determine the 

outcome of the proposed 

election and to render the 

outcome of the election null 

and void. 

“Furthermore, it is 

suspected that the interest of 

the federal government, as 

well as the interests of other 

regions are behind the 

attempts to manipulate the 

2021 Ohanaeze election. 

”The ADF Working 

Committee noted, in 

particular, the views 

canvassed through several 

letters that have been 

addressed to Chief Nnia 

Nwodo and his executive by 

the Global Igbo Leaders 

comprising key pan-Igbo 

organizations including the 

Alaigbo Development 

Foundation (ADF), World 

Igbo Congress (WIC), Igbo 

World Assembly (IWA), 

Nzuko Umunna, Aka Ikenga, 

and the Concerned Ime Obi 

Members comprising 

eminent Igbo leaders from 

the seven Igbo-Speaking 

States of Nigeria.” 

Man, 39, docked in Lagos for 

defiling 16-yr-old daughter 

By Kennedy Mbele 

“Like the Community 

Based projects where we 

earmarked N760million 

before it was N4.8billion 

in 2019 and 2020 budgets. 

After earmarking 

N4.8 billion in 2019 and 

2020, no single Kobo was 

remitted, so we need to be 

realistic”. 

An Ikeja Magistrate Court 

sitting at the Samuel Ilori 

Court House Ogba, has ordered 

the detention of a 39- 

year-old-man, Michael 

Odumagbo Segun, at the 

state’s Correctional Centre, 

for allegedly defiling his biological 

daughter (name withheld). 

The suspect was alleged to 

have defiled his 16-year-old 

daughter in February 2020 at 

Igbafefe Street, Olosha in 

Mushin area of the state. 

Prosecutor Kehinde Ajayi, 

told the court that the action 

was punishable under Section 

137 of the Criminal Laws 

of Lagos, 2015. 

His plea was not taken as 

the matter was adjourned to 

January 11. 

The court ordered the detention 

of another suspect, 

Toheeb Mustapha, for allegedly 

defiling a 13-year-old 

girl (name withheld). 

According to the prosecution, 

Toheeb (20), defiled the 

teenager in a hotel at Egan in 

Igando area of the state, on 

October 6, 2020. 

His plea was not taken as 

he was also moved to a Correctional 

Centre, pending 

advice from the Directorate 

for Public Prosecution. 

ELECTRICITY TARIFF HIKE: 

Anger, resentment greet 

latest plan 

By Tunde Oso 

Oduduwa Varsity names new VC 

By Tunde Oso 

Oduduwa University, 

Ipetumodu, Osun 

State has appointed 

Professor Segun Aribisala as 

its new Vice Chancellor, following 

the end of the tenure 

of the former VC, Professor 

Chibuzor Nwoke. 

Aribisala obtained a BSc 

degree in Mathematics 

in1994 from the Ondo State 

University (now Ekiti State 

University), where he 

emerged best graduating student. 

He had his MSc in Computer 

Science from the Federal 

University of Technology 

Akure (FUTA), Ondo State in 

1999, and later bagged PhD 

takeholders in different 

Ssectors of the economy 

have expressed disgust and resentment 

at the latest plan of 

electricity tariff hike. Many 

sectoral leaders have opposed 

the tariff increase, 

maintaining it is “ill-timed” 

and disregards the challenges 

faced by Nigerians. Firing 

the first salvo, the Manufacturers 

Association of Nigeria 

(MAN) urged the Federal 

Government to reconsider, 

while the Electricity Consumers 

Association of Nigeria rejected 

the tariff hike. 

Nigerians were ushered 

into the new year with news 

of a further increase in electricity 

tariffs in a Nigerian 

Electricity Regulatory Commission 

NERC order signed 

by the new Chairman, Sanusi 

Garba and one of its Commissioners, 

Dafe Akpeneye, 

which instructed DisCos to 

increase tariffs effective January 

1, 2021. 

In a statement sent to Sunday 

Vanguard by the Director 

General of MAN, Mr. Segun 

Ajayi-Kadir, urged the 

Federal Government to tread 

with caution on the tariff increase 

as any hike at this time 

is ill-timed. 

Ajayi-Kadir said, “As indicated 

in the previous press 

release, the sector is already 

groaning under inclement 

operating environment, including 

the debilitating impact 

of COVID-19 disruptions 

and deteriorating infrastructures. 

It is important for 

us to avoid this additional 

burden!” 

Chijioke James, President, 

Electricity Consumers Association 

of Nigeria said consumers 

reject electricity tariff 

increase under any guise. 

According to James “This 

tariff has jolted citizens – artisans, 

technicians, teachers, 

manufacturers, and industrialists. 

We see the action as illtimed, 

insensitive, and a deliberate 

move to further impoverish 

and increase the difficulties 

Nigerians are passing 

through at a time they are 

yet to recover from the shocks 

of months of COVID-19 pandemic 

lock down. 

“Nigerians today,” according 

to James, “are feeling the 

weight of increase in the cost 

of virtually everything that 

makes life worth living from 

foodstuffs to transport, petrol, 

indiscriminate bank charges, 

Medicare, house rent, 

data bill, pay TV, et c. Consumers 

are deeply concerned 

on the deaf and the dumb 

posture of the electricity regulator. 

NERC continues to 

play the ostrich while some 

portfolio investors make a 

blood meal of Nigerians.” 

However, after much uproar, 

the Nigerian Electricity 

Regulatory Commission 

(NERC) spokesman Michael 

Faloseyi refuted the reported 

increment in a statement 

stating that no approval has 

been granted for 50 per cent 

tariff increase in the tariff order 

for Discos. 

Obong Attah mourns Nsikak Eduok 

F 

ormer Governor of 

Akwa Ibom State, 

Obong Victor Attah, has expressed 

shock over the death 

of Air Marshall Nsikak 

Eduok (retd). 

Attah, in a statement, yesterday, 

said: “I received with 

great shock and sadness the 

death of ex-Chief of Air Staff, 

Air Marshall(rtd) Nsikak 

Eduok, July 11, 1947-January 

6, 2021. The two-time 

Chief of Air Staff as well as 

two-time Minister’s family 

and the Attah family had 

been very close from the 

1950s. Air Marshall Eduok, 

belongs to the long tradition 

of military officers highly regarded 

as Officers and Gentlemen 

from Akwa Ibom 

State who served Nigeria, 

Akwa Ibom, the people of the 

Niger Delta and humanity 

with total dedication, patriotism 

and humility. 

Woman, 54, held for burglary 

By Kennedy Mbele 

A 54-year-old-woman, 

Sidirat Salaudeen, has 

been arraigned before an Ikeja 

Magistrate Court sitting at 

Ogba for allegedly breaking 

and entering the shop of one 

Toure Dosussur and stealing 

goods valued at N4,046,500, 

property of the latter. 

According to the prosecution, 

the suspect committed 

the act on October 29,2020 

at 234, Old Abeokuta Motor 

Road, Agege, Lagos. 

She pleaded not guilty and 

was granted bail in the sum 

of N500,000 with two sureties 

in the like sum. 

COVID-19: Alaafin postpones 50 

years coronation anniversary 

he Alaafin of Oyo, Oba 

TLamidi Adeyemi, has 

postponed indefinitely his 50 

years coronation anniversary 

in the aftermath of the ravaging 

corona virus (COVID- 

19) pandemic. 

This is contained in a statement 

he personally signed 

yesterday. The Oba ascended 

the throne on January 14, 

1971 at the aged of 31. 

Oba Adeyemi, who had 

made adequate arrangement 

for an elaborate ceremony, 

said it was important to postpone 

the event, explaining 

that he had been able to convince 

his traditional cabinet 

on the need to postpone the 

event, as a sign of respect for 

the sanctity of human life. 

degree in Computer Science 

from Birmingham, United 

Kingdom in 2006. 

He is the first substantive 

professor of Computer Science 

at the Lagos State University 

(LASU), Lagos State. 

Aribisala’s research and 

teaching career cover two 

universities in Nigeria and 

three in the United Kingdom. 

• Professor Aribisala

PAGE 4— SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 10, 2021 

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (4th right) with the Chairman of the 

Judicial Commission of Inquiry to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the 

recent crisis in Oruku Community, Nkanu West Local Government Area, Justice 

Harold Eya (4th left) and other members of the panel, after their inauguration, at 

the Government House, Enugu, yesterday. 

Seven feared killed in fresh clash between 

herders and Amotekun in Oyo 

By Ola Ajayi, 

Ibadan 

SEVEN people have re 

portedly been killed 

at Ayete in Ibarapa North 

Local Government area of 

Oyo State when 

Amotekun operatives Officers 

and herders clashed 

in a fresh violence. This 

came just three days after 

a similar clash happened 

at Tapa. Though, a source 

in the area claimed seven 

people have been killed 

while some houses were 

razed at Okebi Village, the 

leadership of herders in the 

state confirmed that three 

of its men were killed. 

“One man and his two 

sons were killed. We don’t 

know what caused the 

fight. Some persons were 

shot. The number of people 

killed has increased to 

seven. Those who were 

shot and ran away later 

died in the bush”, a resident 

said Sunday Vanguard 

was also informed 

that the clash was between 

Bororo people and 

Amotekun corps. 

Confirming that three of 

his men were killed, Alhaji 

Yakubu Bello, former 

State Chairman of Myetti 

Allah, said, “Three of our 

men were killed. I don’t 

know what caused the crisis. 

But I was told that 

Amotekun people went 

into the houses of the herders 

and killed them there.” 

When asked if he could 

identify those alleged to 

have been killed, he said 

he didn’t know their 

names. 

The incumbent State 

Chairman of Myetti Allah, 

Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar, 

also said three people were 

killed and their bodies 

have been taken away. 

While speaking on behalf 

of Amotekun Corps, Mr 

Togun said it was the Commisioner 

of Police in the 

state who called to say 

there was a problem at Ayete. 

“The CP called me that 

there was a problem at Ayete 

area. I don’t have much 

information about it. It 

was that of Igangan that I 

heard and we have been 

there to quell it”, he said. 

The Police Public Relations 

Officer in the state, 

Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, 

when contacted by our correspondent, 

said the DPO 

at Aiyete Police Division 

had moved to the community 

to assess the situation. 

FG awaits $5.3bn Chinese loan for 

Ibadan-Kano rail line 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

THE Federal Govern 

ment will begin work 

on the construction of the 

Ibadan-Kano rail project 

as soon as the Chinese government 

approves $5.3bn 

loan application, Minister 

of Transportation, Rotimi 

Amaechi, has said. 

Amaechi, stated this as 

guest of the Nigeria Television 

Authority, NTA, 

Weekend Deal Programme, 

monitored by our 

correspondent in Abuja. 

He said: “We are waiting 

for the Chinese government 

and bank to approve 

the $5.3bn to construct the 

Ibadan-Kano. What was 

Ekiti police changing strategies 

to combat criminality — CP 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

EKITI State Police 

Command, yesterday, 

revealed that it is 

changing strategies to 

combat criminality in the 

state. The state Police 

Commissioner, Mr Babatunde 

Mobayo, said the 

Swift Response Squad 

(SRS) unit of the police has 

been decentralised to increase 

patrols across the 

16 local government areas 

of the state. 

Mobayo spoke in Ado 

Ekiti while reacting to the 

efforts being made by the 

command to curb cases of 

kidnappings in the state. 

The police boss, who 

spoke through the Command’s 

Public Relations 

Officer, ASP Sunday Abutu, 

said the new strategies 

had started yielding results. 

“We knew that kidnapping 

was a major challenge 

to our Command in 

year 2020, and if you observe 

very well, you would 

realise that the cases are 

reducing even before 

Christmas and new year 

festivities”, he said. 

“The last issue we experienced 

in December 31 

was a self- kidnap and the 

person behind this and his 

syndicates, who were perpetrators 

of this to extort a 

sum of N250,000 from a 

woman , have been arrested” 

. 

Last year, Ekiti witnessed 

high profile kidnappings 

involving a Commissioner, 

Mr Folorunso Oyebode, 

a retired US army 

officer, Major Jide Ijadare, 

a Director in the Local 

Government Service Commission, 

Mr. David Jejelowo, 

and scores of others. 

approved a year ago was 

the contract. 

“The moment I announced 

that the federal 

government had awarded 

a contract of $5.3bn to the 

China Civil Engineering 

Construction Corporation, 

CCECC to construct 

Ibadan-Kano; they assumed 

the money had 

come in. No! 

“Up till now, we have not 

Ogun Customs Command: We’re not 

killers squad — Comptroller Kolo 

By James Ogunnaike 

THE Comptroller of 

Customs in charge of 

Ogun 1 Area Command, 

Peter Chad Kolo, has declared 

that his Command 

is not a killer’s squad but 

a revenue generating 

agent operating under the 

rules and guidelines set up 

by the Federal Government. 

Kolo stated this during 

courtesy visits to Alake of 

Egbaland, Oba Adedotun 

Aremu Gbadebo, Agura of 

Gbagura, Oba Saburi Babajide 

Bakre and the Olu 

gotten the money a year 

after we have applied for 

the loan; we have almost 

finished the one of Lagos- 

Ibadan. If we don’t get the 

loan now, we can’t commence”. 

The Minister added that 

upon completion, the 

Ibadan-Kano rail would 

link the Kaduna-Kano- 

Abuja-Minna-Ilorin- 

Oshogbo-Ibadan where 

cargoes could be moved to 

Kano from Lagos. 

of Kobape, Oba Olufemi 

AllenTaylor. 

According to him, the 

Nigeria Customs Service 

is not a blood thirsty organisation 

but a government 

agent that works under 

laid down rules and 

regulations hence, the need 

for traditional rulers and 

all necessary stakeholders 

to join hands and support 

the Customs. 

Kolo therefore appealed 

to traditional rulers to educate 

and enlighten their 

subjects particularly, 

smugglers and the youths 

on the need to see Customs 

officers as friends who are 

working for the economic 

development of the nation. 

Disturbed by the recent 

killings at Ayetoro and 

Osu in Obafemi Owode 

local government area of 

the state, the Comptroller 

said he has taken some 

steps and informed Customs 

headquarters all they 

needed to do, believing 

that such incidents will not 

occur again. 

In his response, Gbadebo 

pledged his support for 

the Customs and prayed 

for the new Comptroller to 

succeed in Ogun State. 

Kolo ended his courtesy 

visit at 35 Artillery Brigade, 

Alamala, Abeokuta 

where he had a closed door 

meeting with the Brigade 

Commander, Brigadier 

General E.J. Amadasun. 

N100 BRIBE: Five dead as 

soldiers, drivers clash in 

Kwara 

By Demola Akinyemi, 

Ilorin 

FIVE persons have alleg 

edly been killed in Ilesha-Baruba 

in Baruten Local 

Government Area of Kwara 

State, at the weekend, while 

several others were severely 

injured during a bloody 

clash between the soldiers 

and the commercial drivers. 

Sunday Vanguard reliably 

gathered that the clash was 

prompted by the blunt refusal 

of one of the commercial 

drivers to part with N100 

bribe as allegedly demanded 

by one of the soldiers. 

The soldiers, Sunday Vanguard 

gathered had mounted 

road block on the Ilesha- 

Sinawu Road leading to Ilesha 

Baruba last Friday being 

a market day. 

Trouble, however, started 

Ondo monarch cries out over murder of 

kinsmen, arson, destruction of palace 

* Petitions IGP 

By Dayo Johnson, Akure 

THE traditional ruler 

of Ode community in 

Akure North council area 

of Ondo state, Oba Adewale 

Boboye, has cried out 

over the alleged murder 

of three of his kinsmen, arson 

and wanton destruction 

of his property by assailants 

who invaded his 

palace. 

Recall that the residents 

of Ode and lsinigbo community 

have been warring 

over ownership of land. 

Boboye, who is the Ajagunode 

of Ode community, 

in a petition to the Inspector 

General of Police, 

IGP, Muhammed Adamu 

accused some individuals 

within lsinigbo community 

of masterminding the 

killing of his kinsmen in his 

palace and the supervision 

of the burning and destruction 

of his palace on December 

10, 2020. 

The petition was signed 

by his solicitors, Abiodun 

Amole of Messrs Adeniyi 

Akintola (SAN) & CO. 

The monarch said those 

murdered by the hoodlums 

who invaded his palace in 

the middle of the night include 

his younger brother, 

Adebayo Boboye, driver, 

Sunday Moses Owoeye, 

and Sola Osokute. 

Boboye called on the IGP 

“to use your good offices 

and order a thorough investigation 

of the matter, in 

addition to the arrest and 

prosecution of the assailants 

without further delay 

in order to preserve peace 

and order in the Ode, and 

also serve as a deterrent to 

other criminal-minded 

individuals in the community” 

Akwa Ibom fixes dates for 

Nkanga’s burial 

By Chioma Onuegbu, 

Uyo 

AKWA Ibom State gov 

ernment has tentatively 

fixed 4th, 5th and 6th 

for the burial ceremonies 

of the former military administrator 

of the state, Air 

Commodore Idongesit 

Nkanga (retd), who died of 

Covid-19 complications 

on December 24, 2020. 

Governor Udom Emmanuel 

disclosed this 

when the Chief of Air Staff, 

Air Marshall Sadique 

Abubakar paid him a condolence 

visit at the Government 

House Uyo. 

Emmanuel also requested 

the Nigerian Air 

Force to immortalize 

former Chief of Air Staff, 

the late Air Marshall 

Nsikak Eduok (retd) following 

his immense contributions 

to the nation. 

He lamented that the 

death of Nkanga and 

Eduok, two retired top 

ranking officers of the Air 

Force, was a great loss to 

the nation and Akwa Ibom 

state in particular. 

Abubakar bemoaned the 

demise of Nkanga and 

Eduok, adding that the 

passing of the duo was a 

great tragedy and loss to 

the Nigerian Air Force and 

the country at large. 

when this particular commercial 

driver bluntly refused 

to part with N100 bribe 

to the soldiers, claiming 

that he had paid them six 

times while going to Sinawu 

market and so he could no 

longer part with money. 

The soldiers also reportedly 

became angry with the 

boldness of the driver, insisting 

that the driver must part 

with N100.. 

The soldiers were said to 

have consequently slapped 

the commercial driver several 

times for allegedly insulting 

them, while the angry 

driver was said to have 

abandoned his vehicle and 

went away to mobilise his 

members from the nearby 

motor park. 

Sunday Vanguard gathered 

that the soldiers allegedly 

discharged several gunshots 

on the commercial 

drivers with five of them 

feared killed. 

Pandemonium immediately 

enveloped the entire 

market as people in Sinawu 

market and around scampered 

for safety in order to 

avoid being hit by stray bullets. 

An eye witness said:”Today 

(Friday) is Sinawu market 

day and according to tradition, 

vehicular movement 

from and outside Sinawu is 

often high especially from 

neighboring communities, 

even as far as Oyo State. 

“The soldiers on the Ilesha- 

Baruba highway, a journey 

of 25 minutes, are fond of 

extorting commercial drivers 

who ply the road, ranging 

from N100 to N500 depending 

on the size of the 

vehicle and the load being 

conveyed. 

“It was while extorting one 

of the commercial drivers 

that the incident occurred 

which led to the shooting of 

no fewer than 5 youths. 

Meanwhile, the people are 

battling to save their lives of 

the others”. 

Contacted, the state Police 

Command Public Relations 

Officer, Deputy Superintendent 

of Police, Ajayi Okasanmi, 

who confirmed the incident, 

said investigation has 

commenced full investigation 

into the incident. 

He added that, “the state 

police commissioner, Mr. 

Mohammed Bagega has directed 

that those injured in 

the incident be taken to hospital 

for medical attention”.

#EndSARS: Mother of man killed in police hot chase 

demands N5 billion compensation 

By Shina Abubakar 

The mother of one Idris 

Ajibola, allegedly 

chased to death by Osun 

State Joint Task Force (JTF) 

on September 15, 2020, Mrs 

Titilayo Ajibola, has demanded 

N5 billion as compensation 

for the death of her son. 

Testifying before the Panel 

of Inquiry investigating police 

brutality and extrajudicial 

killings, yesterday, she 

emotionally disturbed mother 

sought the help of the panel 

to get justice for her 21- 

year-old dead son. 

She said, “I am living in 

sadness since my son was 

killed by JTF. I want the panel 

to help me get justice by 

prosecuting the officers. I suffered 

when I wanted to give 

birth to him, I raised him in 

pain and the period that he 

started taking care of me, he 

was killed. I demand N5 billion 

as compensation for what 

was done by the JTF”. 

Earlier, a survivor of the 

accident, Adedayo Oyeleke, 

a student of Osun State University, 

told the panel how 

Idris died. 

Oyeleke, while testifying 

before the panel, said they 

went to Osun mall on September 

15, 2020 to buy bread 

and on their way back were 

accosted by the JTF team who 

accused them of being internet 

fraudsters. 

He added that one of the 

officers aimed his rifle at them 

and cocked it with a threat to 

wanting to kill one of them. 

“On the morning of September 

15, 2020, together 

with Ajibola Idris and another 

friend, was cooking beans 

at home. Around 2 pm we 

went to Osun mall to get 

bread. On our way back the 

JTF people accosted us, accusing 

us of being internet 

fraudsters. One of them 

cocked the gun to shoot. He 

said if he killed one of us, the 

rest of us will succumb, we 

were scared and the driver, 

Abdulsalam Adekunle ignited 

the car and ran. The JTF 

gave us a hot chase and we 

had a fatal accident at Eastby-pass 

dual carriage road, 

Ebuoluwa area. Idris died in 

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma receives a document from Hon Peter 

Dimike and other members of his team who came to brief the Governor on Chinese Hybrid 

Rice at the Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers, Owerri . 


Listen to Kukah’s message 

— Owie 

the accident, something 

pierced through his stomach 

and all his intestines were all 

out. On seeing what happened, 

they drove-off without 

attempting to help us”, he 

said. 

Petitioner’s counsel, Mr 

Kanmi Ajibola tendered photographs 

of the scene of the 

accident and the deceased, 

Idris, to the panel and it was 

admitted. 

Corpse of missing Rivers varsity student found in mortuary 

...after visiting pastor-lover 

By Davies Iheamnachor 

Rivers State Police 

Command has 

opened investigation 

following the discovery 

of the corpse of 20-year-old 

Beauty Nwigbaranee, a final 

year student of the Department 

of Education, Rivers 

State University, in a 

mortuary. 

The said lady had allegedly 

visited a Port Harcourt 

based clergyman who is believed 

to be her lover, on the 

25th of December, and never 

returned home. 

The cleric, who was arrested 

by the operatives of 

Garrison of the 6 Division 

of the Nigerian Army, Port 

Harcourt, was later handed 

over to Rivers State Police 

Command. 

When contacted, the Public 

Relations Officer of the 

Rivers State Police Command, 

SP. Nnamdi Omoni, 

said police have commenced 

investigation into 

the matter. 

However, the counsel for 

the family of the missing 

lady, Gobari Deebom, told 

Sunday Vanguard that the 

corpse of the lady found in 

a mortuary in Ahoada Area 

of Rivers State, on Wednesday. 

He said the family got 

hint that the corpse was deposited 

at a mortuary in 

Ahoada on the 26th of December 

by an undisclosed 

person. 

Deebom said the family 

visited the mortuary and 

identified the corpse as that 

of their daughter, but wondered 

why the family was 

not alerted till ten days after. 

The counsel regretted that 

the corpse had no bruises to 

link the death to be as a result 

of ghastly motor accident. 

He expressed regret that 

the police granted bail to the 

suspect in the case when they 

had not concluded investigation 

into the matter. 

Deebom therefore urged 

the Inspector General of Police 

to intervene in the matter 

and ensure that justice is 

done. 

•Beauty Nwigbaranee 

Enugu govt donates vehicle to school of deceased accident victims 

Enugu State Govern 

ment has handed 

over a brand new 18- 

seater bus to Presentation 

Nursery and Primary School, 

Awgu, in fulfillment of the 

pledge made by Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi during the 

Requiem Mass for the seven 

pupils and two teachers of the 

school, including other victims 

who lost their lives in a 

recent fatal road accident in 

Awgu Local Government 

Area of the state. 

It would be recalled that 

Gov. Ugwuanyi, on the heels 

of the devastating incident, 

visited the recuperating survivors 

in the hospitals, and 

promised to pay their hospital 

bills, which he fulfilled 

through the Catholic Diocese 

of Awgu - the proprietor of the 

school, among other interventions. 

Presenting the bus to the 

Enugu State Catholic Education 

Secretary, Rev. Fr. Ikechukwu 

Ani, the Secretary to 

the State Government, Prof. 

Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, 

said that the gesture was in 

keeping with the governor’s 

commitment to providing 

succor to the masses as well 

as his sensitivity to quality 

education and protection of 

lives and property of the people 

of the state. 

Responding on behalf of the 

school and the Catholic Dioceses 

of Enugu, Nsukka and 

Awgu, Rev. Fr. Ani, expressed 

profound gratitude to Gov. 

Ugwuanyi for all his interventions 

since the tragedy occurred, 

recalling that the governor 

did not only go round 

to see the survivors in the hospitals, 

he also paid their hospital 

bills and was personally 

present at the Requiem 

Mass to pay his last respect 

to the deceased victims, where 

he promised the school the 

bus. 

The State Commissioner 

for Education, Prof. Uche 

Eze, witnessed the brief event. 

Convention: APC appoints Uzodinma South-East leader 

Ahead of its national 

convention, the All 

Progressives Congress 

(APC) has appointed 

Imo State Governor Senator 

Hope Uzodinma as the 

leader of the South-East 

caucus for the exercise. 

Part of his responsibilities 

is to mobilise other leaders 

in the zone to ensure a hitch 

free membership registration 

exercise, congresses 

and national convention. 

According to a letter to the 

Governor signed by the 

Chairman National Caretaker/Extraordinary 

Conversation 

Planning Committee 

and Yobe State Governor, 

Alhaji Mal Mala 

Buni , Uzodinma will also 

oversee the reconciliation 

of aggrieved members in 

the zone. 

“I write to mandate Your 

Excellency to lead the 

South-East caucus, stakeholders 

and other opinion 

leaders towards achieving 

the objectives”, the letter 

read. 

Prior to the appointment 

of Uzodinma to this role, 

the Governor had spearheaded 

the reconciliation of 

APC members both in Imo 

and the entire South-East. 

Apart from providing a 

platform for leaders of the 

zone to exchange ideas on 

how to expand the influence 

of the party in Igboland , 

Uzodinma has hosted them 

from time to time. 

Before the defection of Ebonyi 

State Governor Dave 

Umahi from PDP to APC, 

Uzodinma was the only 

governor of the party in the 

South-East. 

In one of his visits to Government 

House, Owerri, 

former Senate President, 

Chief Ken Nnamani, predicted 

that with Uzodinma’s 

leadership of APC in 

the South-East, more responsible 

Ndigbo will flock 

into the party. 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

A former Chief Whip of the 

Senate, Sir Roland Owie, yesterday, 

called on President 

Muhammadu and the All 

Progressives Congress (APC) 

to listen to the advice of the 

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto 

Diocese, Bishop Hassan Kukah, 

rather than castigate 

him. 

In a statement in Benin City, 

Owie lamented the degenerating 

situation in the country 

and advised that the Federal 

Government should listen to 

the message of Kukah for the 

safety of Nigeria. 

Describing Kukah as a 

man of impeccable character 

who should be taken seriously, 

he said: “Archbishop 

Kukah is a living legend and 

a great patriot. 

“I urge PMB and his govt 

to think more of the message 

than the messenger. A government 

that has now degenerated 

to borrowing money 

from private individual bank 

accountts should, at least, listen 

to voices of reason like 

Archbishop Kukah.” 

Ogun sets up education trust fund 

By James Ogunnaike 

Governor Dapo Abiodun 

has expressed worry 

over deplorable infrastructure 

in Ogun State owned 

tertiary institutions. 

He however disclosed that 

his government has set up a 

Tertiary Education Trust Fund 

to address the infrastructural 

deficit. 

Abiodun disclosed this 

while commissioning a stateof-the-art 

1,500-seater hall 

donated to the Ogun State 

College of Health Technology 

(OSCOTECH), Ilese-Ijebu 

by a legal luminary, Otunba 

Kunle Kalejaye (SAN) in honour 

of his sister, Mrs. Adetumbi 

Adebanjo, to mark her 

72rd birthday. 

The governor, who spoke 

through his Commissioner 

for Education, Science and 

Technology, Prof. Abayomi 

Arigbabu, promised that his 

administration was committed 

to returning the lost glory 

of education in the state. 

He said, “apart from regular 

payment of subventions 

to tertiary institutions, the 

governor said his administration 

had set aside 

N200million from the trust 

fund for infrastructural development 

in the institutions”. 

In his address, Kalejaye 

said the hall was one of his 

numerous philanthropic 

projects which included 

scholarship funds, 98 boreholes, 

churches, mosques, 

schools and hospitals. 

PDP celebrates Tambuwal @55 


The Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, has extolled 

Governor Aminu Waziri 

Tambuwal of Sokoto state on 

the occasion of his 55th birthday. 

In a statement iby spokesman, 

Kola Ologbondiyan, 

the PDP described Tambuwal 

as “an outstanding nationalist, 

democrat and excellent 

administrator, who has continued 

to demonstrate an unmatched 

patriotism and 

commitment towards the stability 

and growth of our dear 

nation as well as our great 

party, the PDP.” 

The statement further read: 

“The PDP is particularly 

proud of Governor Tambuwal 

for his selflessness in service 

leading to his excellent 

performance as the Speaker 

of the House of Representatives 

and now as governor of 

Sokoto state, where he has elevated 

the quality of life of 

his people through landmark 

infrastructural development 

and empowerment of citizens 

in all spheres of life”. 

Kilishi: Onuesoke calls for scrapping 

of RMRDC 

eoples Democratic Par 

Pty (PDP) Chieftain and 

former Delta State gubernatorial 

aspirant, Chief Sunny 

Onuesoke, has called for the 

immediate shut down of Raw 

Materials Research and Development 

Council (RM- 

RDC) over alleged non-performance. 

Recall that while responding 

to questions from a Senate 

panel last year, the Director-General 

of RMRDC, Professor 

Hussain Ibrahim, listed 

kilishi as one of the achievements 

of the agency after 30 

years of existence. Kilishi is 

meat delicacy that is common 

in the Northern part of Nigeria. 

Fielding questions from 

Journalists at Asaba, Delta, 

Onuesoke called for the immediate 

scrapping of the 

agency, stressing that it was 

disappointing that after voting 

millions of Naira on it, 

“the only achievement it can 

boast of is the production of 

Kilishi.” 

His words: “”The problem 

of Nigeria is appointing incompetent 

people in positions 

of power just because 

they know someone. It is 

amazing that after 30 years 

of existence a research agency 

is proud of mass production 

of kilishi . This is shameful. 

Both the Director-General 

and his officials should be 

sacked and the research agency 

scrapped immediately. 

“As a Nigerian, I do not 

know if I should cry or laugh. 

With all the universities in 

Nigeria, this is the best we can 

do. The fact that the man has 

the audacity to present this to 

the national body shows low 

a standard that our lawmakers 

are willing to accept,” 

Onuesoke disclosed. 

The PDP chieftain pointed 

out that what is happening in 

RMRDC is equally what is 

happening in Nigeria Space 

Agency. 

He said years of continuous 

consumption of a highly 

toxic curtail of self-deceit, 

nepotism, tribalism and religiosity 

have landed Nigerians 

on this rot.

PAGE 6 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 10, 2021 

Let’s adopt 

Chinese model 

to tackle poverty 

—Sagagi, expert in global economics 

•Says AfCFTA needs Biden’s support to succeed 

By Charles Kumolu, Deputy Editor 

Professor Murtala Sagagi is a lecturer at Dangote 

Business School, Bayero University, Kano. In this 

interview, the expert on global economics compares 

Nigeria’s relationship with the US and China under 

President Donald Trump, saying the country should 

copy the Chinese model to rescue millions out of 

poverty. 

Since it is considered impossible for 

a country to live without the 

support of the United States, how 

would you describe Nigeria’s economic 

relations with the US under President 

Trump? 

Everyone believes that Trump is a leader 

who has come up with his own style of 

governance. He believes the United 

States can do without any other country. 

This led to a crackdown on China and 

other European countries. He thinks that 

in the past the US leaders gave a lot of 

money to other countries, especially in 

terms of jobs. He thinks the jobs should 

be done by Americans. He also believes 

there are some agreements that the 

United States has entered into with the 

European Union which he believes have 

contributed to the slowdown of the US 

economy. Therefore, he came up with the 

America First idea. Any country that 

wants to deal with the United States 

should sit down with President Trump 

and come to an agreement. 

Prosper Africa 

That was why he withdrew from some 

of the agreements that have been made 

between the United States and the rest 

of the world. This also applies to many 

African countries. He thinks those who 

voted for him are the whites who are the 

ones he wants to please. Trump believes 

they are the ones who have money, 

agriculture, and industry among others. 

The economies of most countries from 

2016 to 2017 show that oil imports are 

very low because many countries have 

reduced their oil purchases. President 

Trump does not mean that he does not 

like or dislike African countries because 

he has introduced a system called 

Prosper Africa in the light of China’s 

domination of the African continent. The 

United States, under President Trump, 

came up with this plan to invest and 

double what it does for African countries, 

but because President Trump’s focus is 

not on African countries, his Prosper 

Africa programme is not being 

developed. You can say that here in 

Nigeria, President Trump has not done 

anything useful. I can say that we have 

not benefited or benefited from President 

Trump’s administration. All his 

statements on Africa are either not good 

or insulting to Africa. Surprisingly, there 

is no single benefit for African countries. 

But a survey has shown that Nigerians 

like President Trump. 

You mean Nigeria is not benefiting from 

his administration? 

Absolutely! Research shows that 

Nigerians love Donald Trump even 

though you have nothing to show for it in 

terms of economic benefit for Nigeria. But 

there are reasons for doing so. 

There are some agreements the United 

States signed with some nongovernmental 

organisations that were 

withdrawn during President Trump’s 

administration. How do you see the 

impact on African economy? 

The United States used to give African 

countries about six or seven billion 

dollars to support the African economy, 

but President Trump wants to reduce it. 

The US Congress puts such money in the 

US budget. I can tell you that aid to 

African countries has not faced any 

problems during all these years of 

President Trump’s presidency. 

Now that the election has taken place 

and outgoing President Trump will hand 

over power to Biden, what should be 

expected? 

I think things will change. For example, 

in the last few months, Nigeria has been 

included in the reduction of visa ban, which 

will allow you to live in the United States, 

along with many other African countries. I 

think he can repeal this law because the 

law does not please other 

Americans. President Trump 

does not agree with the 

multilateral agreement. He 

prefers the agreement 

between two countries. 

Why does it appear as if 

African economies are 

dependent on big global 

economies like the US? 

Africa does not have a 

strong economy. $ four 

trillion is the economic 

strength of all the 53 African 

countries while China has 

$13 trillion which is three 

times that of Africa. The US 

has 20 trillion. We are 

talking about a total of four 

trillion for African countries. 

If four trillion is divided into 

53 trillion, how much would 

each country get as its 

economic strength? We, 

Africa, don’t have the 

capacity to participate in 

President Trump’s economic 

plans. President-elect Biden 

is expected to support the 

Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, 

AfCTA, signed by President Buhari. It is an 

initiative by African countries to invest and 

enable people to participate in trade and 

economic development. The plan is 

expected to have the support of President 

Biden, whose system may be similar to that 

of former US President Bill Clinton’s African 

Growth Opportunity Act, AGOA, a 

programme that has helped some African 

countries such as Kenya. The second thing 

is that he wants to work with Africans such 

as Adewale who was appointed as Deputy 

Treasury Secretary. 

President Biden interacts with people of 

all backgrounds and religions. Trump has 

no experience in work and world politics. 

Trump is strong in business. I have read his 

books on business. Biden has worked in 

many countries, making it impossible for 

Biden to visit a country without a friend. He 

understands the global economy. I think that 

is why Americans elected him. 

China 

If African countries see trade with China 

as the best option for them, they will follow 

suit. When it comes to science and 

technology the US is ahead of China. 

But some reports claimed that the 

Chinese have the largest capacity in 

science and technology… 

Capacity does not matter here. China has 

launched a programme 

on where it wants to be 

in the next 30 years. They 

want to destroy the 

United States in this 

regard. I am talking 

China has 

lifted 900 

million people 

out of hunger 

and poverty; 

but in Nigeria, 

many people 

fall into 

poverty yearly 

•Sagagi 

about computers, 

military affairs and trips 

to the moon. The United 

States is still ahead. But 

there is no country after 

the United States except 

China. China did 

something 25 years ago 

when I went to study in 

the United States, in 

some of the most 

expensive high schools, 

in the United States only 

the rich go to the same 

schools, but before you 

see one American you 

will see two Chinese. 

Where Americans go to 

learn the latest 

technology and science, 

the Chinese also go 

there. The Chinese 

graduate and return to 

their homeland, unlike 

Nigerians. About two years ago, the United 

States issued 20,000 green cards. 

Surprisingly, 14,000 were Nigerians. Only 

6,000 were from other countries. That is why 

if you go to 

Washington State in 

the United States, 

half of the doctors 

are Nigerians. 

There was a 

time Nigerian 

government 

wanted to start 

using the Yuan 

instead of the 

Dollar… 

When the idea 

was proposed I 

knew it was not 

possible. I said 

the world 

economy is too 

strong to be 

controlled or 

changed in such 

a manner or 

direction in just one 

day. The United 

States has been 

occupying the global 

economy since the end of 

World War II. Before 

World War II almost all 

the gold in the world was 

in Europe, but after the end 

of World War II, they 

returned to 

t h e 

United 

States. 

How? 

How 

do you 

think European countries could have paid 

for the support given to them by the United 

States for weapons and military 

allowances? They didn’t pay in pounds 

sterling or any other money except gold. 

They took a large amount of gold to the 

US treasury. Since the gold is now theirs, 

the United States, they replaced the 

measurement scale of the value of gold with 

their currency which is the American dollar. 

That is why the United States goes ahead 

and imposes sanctions on any country at 

any given time because wherever you are 

dealing with money in the world, your 

money must go into the United States 

financial system. They tried to keep the 

world economy afloat. Many countries 

tried to find a way to avoid the use of the 

dollar but it didn’t work. 

You have talked so much about China, 

what should Nigeria learn from the 

country? 

In China, 40 years ago, there were about 

700 million people living in poverty who 

could not feed themselves. They could not 

eat twice a day. 

China has lifted 900 million people out 

of hunger and poverty. But in Nigeria, many 

people fall into poverty yearly. Like this year 

we expect about two million people to 

return to poverty. According to the World 

Bank report, there are about three million 

people who will go into poverty this year. 

Anyone who tells you there is a plan to lift 

Nigerians out of poverty is lying. 

There are no plans. I challenge whoever 

comes to debate it. I know there are three 

governors who have the full names of their 

unemployed people. 

Nigeria has no money. Anyone who tells 

you that Nigeria is a rich country does 

not know what wealth is. Our budget is 

now N13 trillion. Government says it 

does not have N5 trillion but it will 

borrow. It is also a problem, we need 

people to come from all over the world 

and invest in the economy of this country. 

If you ask me to invest, I will invest in 

agriculture, industry, education and 

health. Nigeria should embrace the 

Chinese model in tackling 

unemployment. In doing that, many 

people would be taken out of poverty. 

How will the security situation in the 

Gulf of Guinea affect trade between 

Nigeria, China and the United States? 

Our leaders need to start thinking 

about how to end this problem because 

the way things are, no serious investor 

would invest in a place that is not secure. 

Our strategy must change because you 

can't repeat the same mistake and expect 

a positive result.


Gen Danbazau: 

Foreign powers 

behind Nigeria’s 

security challenges 

•Warns: Katsina banditry 

must not spill over into 

Kano 

Recent attacks in Minjibir, Tudun 

Wada and Takai Local Government 

Areas, LGAs, of Kano State gave 

rise to fears that the insecurity in 

neighbouring Katsina State is gradually 

spilling over into Kano… 

With these developments, it is obvious 

that there is a need to priortize security 

issues now. We really need to be up and 

doing on the issue of security in Kano 

State. Recently, a man was seen in a video 

that went viral, lamenting that banditry 

and other criminal acts are now gradually 

coming into Kano State from 

neighbouring states. They have carried 

out attacks in Minjibir,Tudun Wada and 

also in Takai Local Government Areas. 

During the inauguration of the governor 

after he won in 2019, I was the Chairman 

of the Security Committee and, in our 

report, we informed government about 

intelligence information which stated 

that some strange looking people 

numbering between 50 and 100 were seen 

coming into the state at night on 

motorcycles in several areas of the state. 

The same report was eventually 

forwarded to the Federal Government. 

But it seems nothing was done since then. 

Even during the early stages of the Boko 

Haram insurgency, the intelligence 

community detected and reported their 

activities to government at the time but 

government was nonchalant until it was 

too late. 

Don’t you think the intelligence report 

needs to be immediately worked upon 

before it escalates? 

That is the essence of intelligence 

reports. In most cases, the intelligence 

community can detect and report possible 

threats early but sometimes such reports 

are swept under the carpet by the 

authorities until it is too late. And this is 

one of the factors that create security 

challenges. The professionalism and 

efficiency of the intelligence community 

had been deliberately downgraded 

during certain regimes. For instance, 

during one of the military regimes, the 

intelligence community was used to 

witch-hunt individuals, particularly 

military officers, because the priority of 

then Head of State was to stop anybody 

from overthrowing his government. Also, 

the Abacha regime used the intelligence 

community to victimise so many innocent 

people. The intelligence community was 

really weakened. Subsequently, it 

became very difficult for them to perform 

their professional duties efficiently. That 

is why they have been failing. 

Reports emanating from Jigawa State 

By Bashir Bello 

Brigadier-General Idris Danbazau, retd, is emphatic that foreign 

powers are behind most of the security challenges facing Nigeria. 

Danbazau also warns against banditry in Katsina spilling over into 

Kano State following recent attacks in Minjibir, Tudun Wada and 

Takai Local Government Areas, LGAs, of Kano. He provides a 

glimpse into the bureaucracy involved in deploying security forces 

promptly to crime scenes, saying the solution lies in giving state 

governors powers over security agencies. 

indicate that security challenges are 

being experienced gradually… 

I recall that there was a report that was 

published widely some time ago whereby 

photographs were shown of French 

military aircraft offloading motorcycles in 

Niger Republic and Chad. It was then 

speculated that they were meant for some 

kind of military operations and it was 

ignored. But now most of these bandits 

and insurgents operate on motorcycle. 

Also, recently, many arms and 

ammunition were discovered hidden in 

containers conveying food aid to Borno 

Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, from 

France. I now believe that foreign powers 

are behind most of the security 

challenges we are facing. 

Could you explain? 

Of course, terrorists 

move around on 

motorcycle mostly at 

night with their foreign 

weapons, mostly AK-47 & 

Rocket Propelled 

Grenade, RPG. They 

operate these weapons 

very efficiently even 

better than some security 

personnel. 

In emergencies that 

emanate from security 

challenges like the one 

we are facing now, 

massive recruitment is 

the priority. This will 

enable government to 

have sufficient number of 

security personnel to 

cover all conflict areas. 

What comes next should 

be the provision of 

equipment and 

prioritisation of the 

welfare of personnel. It is 

believed that so long as 

state governors do not 

have the power to order 

security agencies in their 

various states to respond 

to security challenges 

when they arise, 

insecurity will remain. 

The happenings in 

Katsina are a handy 

example… Yes, this is one 

of the factors that cause delay in response 

to security challenges. Because 

constitutionally, security is the 

responsibility of the Federal Government 

and for any of the security forces to 

respond to any security challenge in any 

state, the governor has to make a request 

to the Presidency. After the necessary 

The intelligence 

community can 

detect and report 

possible threats 

early but 

sometimes such 

reports are swept 

under the carpet 

approvals are granted, they are sent to 

the heads of security services in Abuja 

and they now will transmit the approval 

to the state before the security services 

in the state will act. That is the 

constitutional provision. The governor 

cannot call a military commander or even 

his Police Commissioner and instruct him 

directly. Instead, he would call the 

Presidency. The Presidency would now 

call the Inspector General of Police, IGP, 

who calls the Deputy Inspector General 

of Police, DIG. The DIG would call the 

Assistant Inspector General of Police who 

now instructs Police Commissioners. The 

same thing is applicable in other security 

services. For the military, they would tell 

the Presidency and, after approval, they 

would instruct the Minister of Defence 

who would call the Chief of Defence Staff, 

CDS. The CDS will now instruct the 

Chief of Army Staff who, in turn, will 

instruct his Principal Staff Officers who 

will instruct the General Officers 

Commanding, GOC. The GOC will 

instruct the Brigade Commander or 

Battalion Commander in 

the respective locations. 

So all these have to 

take place before an 

action is taken? 

Yes. If there is an 

attack now for instance 

and it is reported, you 

can imagine how long it 

is going to take for 

security agencies to 

respond. 

Why do you think it is 

taking long to address 

such a cumbersome 

process? 

That is why people are 

agitating for state police 

and state security 

agencies so that 

governors can have 

direct control. That is 

the reason for the 

creation of Amotekun. 

They will be able to 

respond immediately if 

there is any breach of 

security in their area. In 

the First Republic, we 

had the Dan Doka, 

Native Authority Police, 

in Northern Nigeria 

under traditional 

rulers. At the time, the 

Native Authority Police were very 

effective because these were people from 

the local community, who spoke the local 

language. They were familiar with the 

traditions, culture and religion of the 

various communities. Therefore, they 

blended very well. But they were later 

scrapped and merged with the Nigeria 

•Gen Danbazau 

Police Force. At that time, the traditional 

rulers had control over the police and 

courts but now the governor has to seek 

permission from Abuja and wait several 

hours for a response. 

Constitution 

I feel the Constitution should be 

amended to allow state-owned security 

agencies. This will help largely in 

achieving my earlier recommendation of 

recruiting sufficient personnel. The 

security agencies in the states can now 

work in consonance with the national 

agencies to ensure the provision of 

adequate security all over the country. 

Some time ago, I was privileged to 

accompany Governor Ganduje to Imo 

State. At the time Rochas Okorocha was 

the sitting governor. It was there we 

observed that Rochas had established a 

security agency for the state. It was well 

structured with various departments. The 

personnel, comprising youths, were very 

smartly dressed. In fact, when we arrived, 

they performed a quarter guard parade 

for Ganduje and they were as good as 

soldiers except that they were using 

wooden guns. Rochas informed us that 

the youths assist the police in patrolling 

the neighbourhoods in the state, thereby 

providing security in many areas. This is 

in addition to the advantage of employing 

hundreds of youths, which reduced youth 

restiveness. 

Do you think dialogue with bandits is 

the way out of banditry? 

In reality, dialogue is a very 

fundamental factor in conflict resolution. 

In fact, historically, lots of conflicts were 

resolved through dialogue. For instance, 

currently, in Afghanistan, Americans are 

trying to resolve the conflict with the 

Taliban through dialogue after years of 

fighting. In Britain, the century-old 

conflict with the IRA was resolved 

through dialogue. The Libyan warring 

factions have recently embraced dialogue 

as the chosen path to peace. But dialogue 

is only possible with reasonable 

opponents most of whom fight for a 

cause. For instance, the IRA was fighting 

to be independent of Britain. Similarly, 

the Taliban were fighting to liberate their 

country from Americans as they did with 

Russians. But the case of the Nigerian 

insurgents and bandits, they are just 

criminals who pillage our rural 

communities, killing, maiming, 

kidnapping, carting away food items and 

livestock without any reason. They do not 

have any reason for criminal acts. How 

do you dialogue with such people? 

Unfortunately, government has not been 

able to take the necessary steps to deny 

these criminals the availability of 

millions of unemployed youths who they 

easily recruit by promising them lots of 

money and drugs.

PAGE 8—SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 10, 2021 

EX-DSS DIRECTOR, EJIOFOR: 

I spent four days 

in kidnappers’ den 

without food 

•Saddest day: I was removed as Akwa Ibom State Director over ‘flimsy, 

unsubstantiated allegations’ 

•‘Why, contrary to the norm as secret police officer, I speak to the media’ 

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru 

Mike Ejiofor, a retired Director with the Department of State 

Service, is a lawyer. In this interview, Ejiofor explains why, 

contrary to the norm as DSS officer, he speaks to the media. He 

also speaks on his saddest days in service and how he was kidnapped by 

herdsmen and ransom paid for his release. Excerpts: 

As a retired security officer, you come out 

in the media to comment on national issues 

and even taking hard positions. What 

informed this? 

I am driven by patriotism. It is very rare 

as you rightly pointed out. Retired DSS 

officers don’t come to the public to talk. I 

don’t want to go into details of my 

experience in service but let me highlight 

my experience. I was a State Director in 

eight states, interacting with governors and 

when you see these people offered 

constructive advice, it becomes a problem 

and I am not a politician. I say things the 

way they are. Any governor who means well 

should be able to take advice in terms of 

policy formation and implementation from 

the State Security Service. Most times you 

see people blaming the SSS for failure to 

provide intelligence for other security 

agencies. In each of the 

states I worked, I had 

cordial relationship with 

the Commissioner of Police 

and other agencies. But 

again, because the SSS 

does not come out to the 

public to tell them “this is 

what we do, or this is what 

we have done in terms of 

maintenance of internal 

security”, the blame always 

goes to them. And I said 

when I was leaving the 

service that there was no 

way I would fold my hands 

even though I was not 

mandated by the service. 

First of all, my aim, apart 

from my patriotism, is to 

educate Nigerians on the 

functions and responsibility 

of the State Security 

Service and the 

responsibility of the 

citizens to the service in 

terms of intelligence 

gathering. So, basically, 

those were the things that motivated me 

and I have seen too that many people 

appreciate what I am doing. Some people 

ask why an SSS official should come out to 

talk in the public as if he is not part of the 

society. But I find it difficult to reconcile 

that as an SSS person but that is the policy 

of the service, they don’t come out in the 

open to tell people what they are doing. I 

can tell you that if the SSS comes out to 

tell you the number of attempts to 

destabilize government that have been 

foiled, that will create fear in members of 

the public. But at the peripheral level and 

the enlightenment level, those of us who 

are retired can talk to the public. 

Youth days 

I am a product of the media. Right from 

my youth days in the 80s, I interacted with 

journalists and there is no information I will 

look for that I can’t get through the media. 

So, I am part and parcel of them. As State 

Director, the first person I looked for on 

assumption of duty is the State Chairman 

of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, 

and I always host him in my office, tell him 

that my responsibilities are his own 

responsibilities. There was certain 

information I always shared with 

If the SSS comes 

out to tell you the 

number of 

attempts to 

destabilize 

government that 

have been foiled, 

that will create fear 

in members of the 

public 

journalists but they couldn’t publish. I am 

more or less a product of the media and that 

is why I continue to relate with the media 

even outside the service. 

Can you highlight some of the hiccups 

you had while in service? 

I enjoyed service. I am lucky and God has 

always been on my side because I am an 

absolute believer in the will of God. I joined 

the police in 1975 as a constable against 

my father’s position that police is for dropout. 

And I told him it was a question of 

service and that when I join the police I was 

not going to wear uniform. Luckily for me, 

the month I was leaving the police training 

school, a special branch came for 

recruitment and we were taken, the branch 

formed the nucleus of the Nigeria Security 

Organization, NSO, following the 

assassination of then Head 

of State, Murtala 

Mohammed. I had an 

excellent career rising to a 

State Director in seven 

states in addition to other 

command positions. Most of 

my friends were not that 

lucky. I had two regrets but 

because of my ardent belief 

in God, I wouldn’t call them 

regrets because they were 

ordained by God. I was left 

on a rank for nine years for 

no reason and I never 

complained. I was thanking 

God. I said supposing I was 

sent somewhere I would 

meet my death? The most 

important thing I asked 

God for is life and this 

month I am 67 years. God 

has been faithful. The other 

regret is that nobody 

appreciates what the SSS 

does especially there is a 

mistake. It is like football. 

Nigerians like football. 

When we are winning, nobody complains 

but when we lose, they will call for the head 

of the coach and those of the players. You 

can’t continue to win always. Life is about 

give and take. So the SSS also needs the 

support of the people to succeed, they are 

not magicians, they are Nigerians. 

Some people say that in other climes, 

security officers are for the masses, but it 

appears that in Nigeria security officers are 

only interested in protecting political office 

holders and not the masses. Is that how it 

should be? 

That is not how it should be. What we 

have most of the time now is regime 

protection instead of national interest. The 

fact is that we have not been able as 

Nigerians to different between national 

interest and personal interest. For instance, 

nobody challenges a President in Nigeria 

but look at what happened in America after 

their presidential election. Judges told 

Trump “you cannot prove your case”. Can 

you give such judgment in Nigeria? It is 

because America has strong institutions. 

Nobody in Nigeria challenges anybody in 

government. There is uproar everywhere 

now following the IGP’s directives that 

policemen attached to unauthorized people 

•Ejiofor 

should be withdrawn. They are taking 

security seriously now. 

SSS is supposed to be undercover police, 

but these days you see them bragging that 

they are security operatives. Is this a new 

norm in the service? 

SSS is an undercover intelligence 

gathering agency. But everyone has his 

own approach to issues. There was this 

Director-General, Mr. Gazama, that I 

respect so much followed by Mr. 

(Ekponyong) Ita who established the Rapid 

Response Squad. If there is an emerging 

problem, you can just go ahead and tackle 

it in collaboration with the police and other 

security agencies. 

There is this lack of trust, inter agency 

rivalry among the services, although that 

is being gradually tacked now, 

relationships among the agencies are 

getting better. Even in developed countries, 

there is rivalry but I expect that the rivalry 

should be a healthy rivalry and not a 

situation one agency tries to blackmail 

another. 

But I can tell you that if we have four 

strong institutions in the country like the 

SSS, our problems will be half solved. I am 

not saying there are no bad elements in the 

service. An average SSS man is guided by 

accountability; you cannot see a serious 

SSS officer getting involved in politics 

because they don’t have the money. An 

average SSS man fears money. If you put 

money in the custody of an SSS officer, he 

must give account, that’s why they are not 

involved in politics because they cannot be 

involved in blind looting of our treasury. 

Like some people they just loot and ask 

what you are going to do with the money, 

the next thing you will go and contest 

governorship election. If any SSS man gets 

the kind of money politicians get, he will 

use it to benefit majority of the people. 

Security agents in Nigeria are very hostile 

unlike developed countries where they 

treat people with courtesy. Is it because of 

our security agents’ orientation? 

It is the orientation. I earlier told you that 

what we have is regime protection. But that 

is not also to say that we don’t have details 

providing security for our political leaders, 

it is just that they are not as visible as our 

people. You cannot see them as you see our 

SSS operatives clustering. But because of 

our own peculiar situation, people are 

hungry, there is the tendency by people to 

cluster around the governor, it is our culture. 

I will give you an example. When I was in 

Zamfara State as Director, I was scared the 

way the governor was stopping and talking 

to Okada riders and they will block the 

road. I told Governor Yerima it was not safe 

and he would tell me, “please leave them, 

they are my people”. He bought the 

motorcycles for them. 

What is responsible for the rivalry 

amongst security agencies? 

Like I said before, two of them are 

blackmail and politics, one agency trying 

to take credit for doing what it is not 

supposed to do. The police will be doing 

the work of the SSS, the SSS will be doing 

the work of the police, the police will be 

doing the work of the army; army will be 

doing the work of the police, all to please 

the political master. So, basically, the 

reason for the agency rivalry is politics. I 

acknowledge that the functions of the 

various agencies are interwoven, 

sometimes not clearly defined. Like the 

omnibus clause in the State Security 

Service, one of the instruments 

establishing the SSS is that you can be 

given any other assignment by Mr. 

President, so if Mr. President tells you to 

go and do something, will you say you 

will not do it? However, we need to build 

strong institutions. For instance, once we 

get our electoral process right, we will 

have fewer problems because leaders 

will now emerge from a credible, reliable 

process. Even our judicial process is not 

reliable. I am sorry to say this because I 

am a lawyer but you can see that people 

now buy judgments. 

If you sit down face to face with the 

Director-General of the SSS, what advice 

will you give him to strengthen the service? 

I know him, he is my friend, but I will 

tell him to be professional, resist the 

temptation of pandering to political whims 

and caprices, look for the welfare of the 

operatives and get the service well 

equipped in line with the emerging security 

challenges. 

When you were in service, what was your 

saddest moment? 

I won’t call it sad because of my belief in 

God. My saddest day was the day I was 

removed from Akwa Ibom as State Director 

on flimsy and unsubstantiated allegations. 

Another sad day in my life was the day I 

was kidnapped but to the glory of God I 

was rescued. 

Can you share your kidnap story? 

I had left the service about three, four 

years earlier. I went to my village in Delta. 

On my way back with my driver, that is why 

I tell people to always take security 

precautions, we ran into herdsmen, 

kidnappers and they opened fire. I told my 

driver to stop because he who fights and 

runs away leaves to fight another day. We 

were taken into the bush for four days. We 

were there, they cooked food, my driver was 

eating the food but I couldn’t eat. I lived on 

cashew fruits for four days before my 

release was negotiated. 

How much did you pay as ransom? 

Well, before I was taken by the 

kidnappers, I used to tell people not to pay 

ransom because when you pay ransom, you 

encourage kidnappers but until I went in 

there and came out I now knew that you 

must pay ransom. I paid ransom but I won’t 

tell you how much.

Buhari, Air Force and Navy 

chiefs 

Note: For the sake of 

those who cannot read 

Vanguard online I now 

publish the last part of the 

article published in 

December 2020. Please 

read on: 

‘FROM US WHITE 

HOUSE TO NUT HOUSE – 

ONLY ONE STEP’ 

Will Trump 

attend Biden’s 

inauguration? 

“Will you attend Biden’s 

inauguration?” Fox TV 

interviewer. 

To that Trump gave what 

to me was the expected 

reply. “Don’t ask me about 

that.” It is doubtful if any 

American journalist would 

write what I am about to 

publish. But, I am convinced 

that Trump will not attend the 

inauguration. The reason is 

simple. His presence will 

amount to admitting the 

defeat which his now 

deranged mind would never 

allow – even if he lives a 

thousand years. 

In fact, it might be in the best 

interest of America if Trump 

does not attend. If he 

inexplicably does attend, it will 

be to create a scene which will 

draw attention away from the 

usually drab event to the 

escapade Trump will 

introduce. But, I am almost 

Email:biolasobowale@yahoo.com 

Phone Number: 08055069026 

Twitter:@DrDeleSobowale 

Instagram:delesobowalefranklyspeaking 

Website: www.delesobowale.com 

Hold on to His Word 

It’s still a New Year so we 

can still continue to say 

“ Happy New Year”. 

Indeed, it’s our desire to have 

a happy New Year and the 

Lord will make it happen in 

Jesus name. 

Brethren, most of us must 

have set our goals for the year 

but none of these can be 

achieved without God on our 

side. Failure to put God into 

our plans is the surest way for 

the plans to fail. 

In the name of Jesus, we 

shall not fail. We shall 

progress and sing victory 

songs this year. 

I’m starting this edition, with 

an amazing testimony read by 

the general overseer of 

Laughter Foundation 

International Ministry, Pastor 

Moses Gbenga Oso. 

The summary of the 

testimony goes thus: A lady 

came to the church trusting 

God for the fruits of the womb 

after, three failed IVF 

attempts and three fibroid 

operations. The trauma 

associated with these failed 

attempts is better imagined. 

certain Trump will not be there 

on January 20, 2021. 

HOW WILL TRUMP 

LEAVE 

THE 

WHITEHOUSE? 

“Men make history; but not 

just as they please” (Karl 

Marx, 1818-1883). 

Unknown to Trump’s 

supporters (or is it idol 

worshippers?), they have 

inadvertently driven the man 

into a corner. He cannot leave 

the White House the way 

other Presidents voted out of 

office did. Clinging to his selfdelusion 

that he won and was 

robbed of victory, there are 

only two options, both 

unprecedented in American 

history, left for him to leave 

the White House and an office 

which had left him. 

First, Trump could refuse to 

vacate the premises and wait 

to be physically evicted and 

provoke widespread civil 

disturbance to feed his overbloated 

ego – now deflated. 

That option will appeal to 

him if he thinks that he can 

create such massive civil 

disturbance as to allow him 

to pronounce a State of 

Emergency and suspension of 

the US Constitution. Go and 

read about how Hitler 

captured Germany if you 

think that is impossible. It can 

happen in Trump’s America. 

Second, he could join the 

former eight US Presidents 

who died in office; four were 

assassinated – William 

Harrison, 1841, Zachary 

Joyfulhomes 

2015@gmail.com 

Not considering the amount 

of money spent. The lady was 

introduced to the church and 

God visited her. She had a set 

of twins, a boy and a girl after 

19 years of waiting. 

Her elder sister, who lives in 

Europe heard of the birth of 

the baby and came on a visit. 

The elder sister was also 

without a child. She not only 

visited but also asked her 

sister, “ How did you do it? 

What gave you the 

breakthrough? 

Her sister told her it was 

JESUS. 

The new parents then 

invited the Euro based sister 

to the church before she 

travelled abroad. According 

to the testimony, the visitor 

prayed, knelt on the altar like 

Hannah and poured out her 

heart after which she returned 

to her base. 

Brethren, just last year, late 

2020; the year that many 

thought nothing good 

happened, the Euro based 

sister gave birth to a baby girl 

at the age of 57. 

In the name of Jesus, your 

The worst 

aspects of our 

national 

insecurity 

occur inland – 

mostly in the 

North 

Taylor, 1850, Abraham 

Lincoln, 1865, James 

Garfield, 1881, William 

McKinley, 1901, Warren 

Harding, 1923, Franklin 

Roosevelt, 1945 and John 

Kennedy, 1963. None killed 

himself. 

Trump could be the first 

American President to die in 

office by committing suicide. 

If you disbelieve that, then 

consider this. The man’s eggshell 

thin ego cannot abide 

ridicule. If ten thousand shout 

his praises and one man boos, 

Trump’s sensitive ears will 

pick out that lone dissenting 

voice and a tweet will follow. 

He hates losers; and although 

not as successful as he 

claimed, his defeat has made 

him a global loser. He cannot 

live long with that tag. He will 

prefer to be carried out of the 

White House, not as a former, 

but, as a late President. 

History can be funny. 

Trumps epitaph could have 

been written by a communist 

– Karl Marx. 

BUHARI, AIR FORCE 

AND NAVY CHIEFS 

“As far back as June 2018, I 

made my opinion known 

about our service chiefs and 

the Inspector General of 

Police…There is definitely a 

need for the Service Chiefs to 

go, either they are asked to go 

by the President who 

appointed them or by 

themselves being 

honourable….” Aminu 

Tambuwal, Governor of 

Sokoto State. 

Tambuwal was Speaker of 

testimony will be better. 

You will not need to get up 

to that age before you testify 

in Jesus name. 

Are in doubt that God is 

able? Do you now see the hand 

of God? 

Brother and Sister waiting 

on the Lord, do you now see 

that where medical science 

failed to produce a child, God 

produced two? 

Do you now see that a 

woman who lost every hope 

at the age of 57 became a 

mother? Her story is similar 

to that of mother Sarah. 

At 57, only God can make a 

woman have her period let 

alone produce fertile eggs. 

Brethren, God in on the 

throne. Our God has never 

stopped miracles. He has not 

shunned our cries, neither has 

He forgotten you. Provided 

that you faithfully serve and 

worship Him. 

Brethren, a new year is not 

a time to begin to run to other 

gods or allow family pressure 

to push you to a sinful life in 

order to have children. 

As a Christian, it is a grave 

sin to cheat on your spouse in 

order to have children at all 

cost. Many who did this, their 


the House of Representatives 

– elected on the ticket of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, in 2011. When he defected 

to the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in 2014, he 

was not ‘honourable’ enough 

to resign and re-contest on the 

ticket of APC. He took the 

mandate solemnly given to 

the PDP and donated it to APC 

for his own selfish end. He 

returned to the PDP without 

surrendering the mandate he 

received as APC candidate. 

Tambuwal is the last person 

to ask for others to act 

‘honourably’. 

“There is no question about 

this. Even he should have left 

too considering the state of 

insecurity in the country. 

Despite the fact that people 

are saying they are 

incompetent, he kept them 

there” - Chief Ayo Adebanjo 

on Service Chiefs. 

Tambuwal was not alone in 

the New Year call on Buhari 

to resign. Afenifere chief, Ayo 

Adebanjo, had also been 

consistent in his call for the 

dismissal of Buhari as far as I 

can remember – even before 

the security and economic 

situations reached calamity 

levels. Adebanjo’s own call 

was therefore principled and 

deserves respect – even as I 

disagree with his conclusions 

for reasons stated below. 

“No matter how thin you 

slice the bread, there are 

always at least two sides.” 

When my senior, Chief 

Adebanjo, made the 

declaration that “there is no 

question about this”, it was a 

bold attempt to shut down 

debate on the issues. With all 

due respects to Baba, I want 

to state categorically that 

there is not just a question, but, 

there are several questions 

bordering on justice and even 

security if the loud demand for 

the removal of Service Chiefs 

is acted upon by Buhari. 

“It is better that ten guilty 

persons escape justice than for 

one innocent person to suffer” 

- Sir William Blackstone, 

1723-1780, VANGUARD 

BOOK OF QUOTATIONS. 

Pa Adebanjo, an eminent 

Shift your focus 

from the challenge 

to the solution 

stories ended in tears and 

sorrow. 

That will not be your 

portion in Jesus name. 

A new year is not the time 

for desperation. Don’t allow 

anyone to push you to 

anything contrary to the word 

of God. Our God is faithful 

to his word. 

Deuteronomy 7 vs. 14 : “ 

Thou shalt be blessed above 

all people: there shall not be 

male or female barren among 

you, or among your cattle”. 

Brethren, how many barren 

animals have you seen? Not 

many, if any. 

God rates you above 

animals. So, if the Lord can 

make animals reproduce 

their kind, why won’t you have 

children? 

God want us to have 

children. Psalm 127 vs. 3 

makes it very clear: “ Lo 

children are an heritage of the 

LORD: the fruit of the womb 

is his reward”. 

Parents awaiting grand 

children, you have a duty to 

intercede for their children in 

prayers. Pray for them, do 

not put them under pressure 

and Lord will fill your home 

with laughter. Putting 

pressure on them is not the 

way of the Lord. May you not 

lawyer, should be more 

familiar with the life of Sir 

Blackstone, British jurist, 

judge and professor of law, 

than me -- an ordinary Area 

Boy in the media. The 

statement quoted above 

established the principle that 

proclaiming guilt by 

association is unjust. It is for 

this reason that I have limited 

my dissent from the pervasive 

call for removal of Service 

Chiefs to the Navy and Air 

Force. But, as usual, it is 

necessary to make some open 

declarations for the sake of 

those who might think I have 

been settled by the Service 

Chiefs. 

First, most readers might be 

shocked to learn that I don’t 

even know their names. I have 

never stepped into the Navy 

or Air Force Headquarters 

and have never met the 

current occupants of the 

positions. I can’t identify them 

– if asked. I have no contract 

with any of the services and I 

don’t intend to ask for any. At 

almost 77, I don’t want to face 

a probe by the EFCC or 

National Assembly. 

Second, I talked to two 

retired US officers who 

remain my friends and who 

had trained Nigerian officers. 

They were able to educate me 

on the responsibilities of 

various services. I am not a 

military man. But, I 

remember one thing -- “A little 

knowledge is a dangerous 

thing…” To be quite candid, 

most, if not all, of the bloody 

civilians asking for the sack 

of the Navy and Air Force 

Chiefs are totally ignorant of 

how military forces operate. 

Fairness dictates that they at 

least pause and listen to 

alternative argument. Or, at 

best – belt up. Here is why. 

The worst aspects of our 

national insecurity occur 

inland – mostly in the North. 

Consequently, the Navy has no 

role to play in the skirmishes. 

It is for the same reason that 

the US Navy is not involved 

in the Afghanistan operations. 

The security threats in 

Nigeria are taking place far 

beyond the farthest reach of 

lead your son or daughter to 

the devil. 

Are you a man under 

pressure from your parents? 

Have a standard answer, “ 

Pray for us”. 

Once you are able to say that, 

they will either be forced to 

join you in prayer or keep off. 

Brethren, in many verses of 

the Holy Bible, the Lord 

commanded that we should 

have children. Since we must 

marry first, then you can be 

sure that your marriage 

partner will locate you and 

both of you shall live to fulfill 

the command of God for to 

reproduce. 

Brethren, you have a choice. 

To either walk in the way of 

the Lord, work with the Lord 

and be fulfilled or shun His 

ways and remain unfulfilled. 

No Pastor can help you take 

that decision. Only you can. 

Let’s take a look at the word 

of God as recorded in 

Deuteronomy 30 vs. 16 ( KJV) 

: “ In that I command thee 

this day to love the LORD thy 

God, to walk in his ways, and 

to keep his commandments 

and his statues and his 

judgments, that thou mayest 

live and multiply: and the 

LORD thy God shall bless thee 

in the land whiter thou goest 

to possess it”. 

Did you take note of what 

the Lord said before He spoke 

and about long live and 

reproduction? 

Make up your mind to walk 

in the ways of the Lord. 

Brethren, are you in 

financial crisis as a result of 

the pandemic? 

That will soon be history 

once you hold on to the word 

Navy guns. The Chief of Naval 

Staff might sympathise with 

his Army colleague, but, he is 

just as much of an onlooker 

as you and me. 

The Air Force is in only a 

little better position than the 

Navy in an asymmetric war. 

The US found that out the 

hard way in the Vietnam War, 

1955-1975. Against wellentrenched 

guerrilla fighters, 

even the best Air Force in the 

world was helpless. By their 

nature, the Navy and Air 

Force, where they can, only 

operate support missions. 

Battles on the ground must be 

won, if possible, by the army. 

The best Navy and Air Force 

can never be substitutes for a 

weak army. 

“A precedent embalms a 

principle” -William Scott, 

1745-1836, VBQ p 198. 

Again, I am addressing 

myself to Pa Adebanjo – 

because I only argue with 

those I respect. Where is the 

fairness in asking Buhari to 

sack two young men for no 

reason at all? Since when 

have we descended to the level 

where the national interest is 

served by sacking innocent 

officers? Doesn’t that make 

Buhari an accomplice to 

serving injustice? How would 

that promote the national 

interest? 

One might as well ask: how 

many Federal Officers should 

be removed unjustly because 

several aspects of our national 

life are in horrible shapes? 

Why stop at Navy and Air 

Force chiefs? 

BUHARI TOO 

“You can’t beat something 

with nothing” - US Coach after 

team lost 17th game in a row 

1970. 

Tambuwal stopped short 

of asking Buhari to join the 

Service Chiefs on the way 

out. Chief Adebanjo was 

more categorical – Buhari 

also must go. I must admit 

that the call is more 

difficult to refute. The 

Buhari administration has 

been a disappointment. 

of God. 

2nd Corinthians 8 vs. 9 “ For 

ye know the grace of our Lord 

Jesus Christ, that, though he 

was rich, yet for our sakes he 

became poor, that ye through 

his poverty might be rich”. 

Are you still worried that 

you didn’t get married last 

year? Who says it is too late? 

Shift your focus from the 

challenge to the solution. 

Let your spiritual eyes begin 

to see yourself caring for your 

new baby, see yourself in the 

marriage registry, see yourself 

in riches. 

What you see is what you get. 

As a Christian, you must 

allow your spirit to hold on to 

the word of God to Jeremiah 

recorded in Jeremiah 32 vs. 

27: “ Behold, I am the LORD, 

the God of all flesh: is there 

any thing to hard for me? 

God asked the question, 

you are to provide the answer. 

If you believe that nothing 

is hard for God, then you are 

already giving the testimony 

of an impending miracle. 

Should you allow any iota of 

doubt, then, your struggle with 

that particular challenge may 

take a longer time for you to 

have a break through. 

Even if a Pastor prays for you 

and you do not believe, blame 

neither God nor the Pastor. 

Mark 9 vs. 23 states: “ Jesus 

said unto him, if thou canst 

believe, all things are possible 

to him that believeth”. 

Since the Lord Jesus said 

this, it is up to you that believe. 

I see you celebrate this year 

in the name of Jesus. 

Stay with the Lord and be 

blessed in Jesus name.

PAGE 10 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 10, 2021 

It’s not easy dealing 

with trolls, insults 

—BBNaija Nengi 

By Juliet Ebirim 

Big Brother Naija ‘lockdown’ finalist, Nengi 

Rebbeca Hampson, has admitted that it is 

not easy being a celebrity and having to deal 

with trolls and negative comments daily on social 

media. 

According to the 23-year-old Bayelsa native, it 

is not easy coping with the constant insults because 

she is still human despite being a celebrity. Nengi 

revealed this after a fan asked her to share how she 

handles social media trolls and insults. 

“Nengi Pengi you are always loved. How do you 

cope with all the trolls from left, right and center? I 

hope it is not affecting your mental health. Always 

the Lord is your strength. Stay happy always 100%” 

the fan asked 

The beautiful reality TV star replied “It’s not easy 

I must say, as much as I put myself up for it, public 

figures and celebrities are still human and having 

to see the trolling and insults takes a lot of will 

power to withstand and not give up. I am happy I 

got you all that love me so that is enough for me.” 

Jude Okoye explains to DJ J Cuppy 

why Zlatan blocked her 

By Sylvester Kwentua 

Popular music producer and talent 

manager,Jude ‘Engees’ Okoye, may 

have explained to DJ Cuppy, why she 

was blocked by Zlatan on his social 

media accounts. Her inability to spell, 

may be the reason, according to the 

elder brother of Peter and Paul Okoye. 

DJ Cuppy recently made a tweet on 

her relationship with Zlatan. She 

tweeted: “10 months later and I 

sometimes still wonder why 

@Zlatan_Ibile blocked me on 

WhatsApp and Instagram without ever 

saying why; we were actually 

friends...AND “Gelato” was a hit!” 

To which Jude Okoye gave a witty 

response. He replied: “You couldn’t 

p r o n o u n c e 

Kapaichumarimarichupaco.” 

In 2019, DJ Cuppy released a song 

featuring Zlatan Ibile. The song, 

‘Gelato’ , was inspired by Cuppy‘s viral 

video with her father, Femi Otedola 

and her sister, Temi Otedola during 

their vacation in Italy. 

W 

The song was an 

instant hit when it 

was released in 

August of that year. 

However, things 

seem to have paled 

between Cuppy and 

Zlatan, for 

a long 

t i m e 

now. 

•Jude 

Okoye 

Jemiriye Joins 2Baba, AY, others 

calling for return of Tunde 

Ednut’s Instagram page 

eeks after the famous Nigerian music star turned blogger, 

Tunde Ednut’s popular Instagram page was banned, 

torrents of support have poured in demanding the return of the 

highly stimulating and richly entertaining page that was noticed 

to have been flagged down since December 22, 2020. 

US-based Nigerian vocal powerhouse, Jemiriye Adeniji, has 

joined the legendary music star, Innocent Idibia (a.k.a. 2Baba), 

Ayo Makun, Daddy Freeze and a legion of other showbiz 

heavyweights to appeal to the Instagram Team whilst also rallying 

the support of other showbiz aficionados to request the return of 

the page that was once a melting pot for the hottest Nigerian 

showbiz happenstances. 

“Understandably, there may have been breaches against 

Instagram laws, but I am lending my voice to TuBaba’s and those 

of AY, Daddy Freeze and the rest of my colleagues to ask for the 

return of that page. I’m doing this because I’m cock-sure Tunde 

Ednut wouldn’t have flouted Instagram’s rules deliberately. The 

page was for people like us, an eye through which we saw and 

kept tab on the developments of entertainment back home in 

Nigeria. It also offered us an opportunity to know who and 

who are doing what in the US aside from potpourri of other 

contents that have excited us these past months…”, 

Jemiriye words read in part. 

Tunde Ednut regrettably has co-travelers in Iyabo Ojo, 

Omo Butty and Linda Ikeji whose pages had at different 

times been banned and have had to build it back 

organically. 

You may well recall that the blogger had once lost his 

2.6 million verified page after it was reported as spam 

by an online user in 2018. 

•Nengi 

•Jemiriye 

I still wonder why Zlatan 

Ibile blocked me on 

Whatsapp, Instagram 

—DJ Cuppy 

•DJ Cuppy 

By Juliet Ebirim 

Popular singer and Disc Jockey, 

Florence Otedola, popularly 

known as DJ Cuppy has called out 

rapper, Zlatan Ibile for blocking her 

on social media without an 

explanation.The duo had once 

collaborated on a hit track. 

In a post shared on Twitter, 

the 28-year-old daughter of 

billionaire, Femi Otedola 

revealed that it had been 10 

months since she was 

blocked on Instagram and 

WhatsApp by the rapper 

and that she sometimes 

wondered why. 

Cuppy stated that prior 

to that, they were 

actually friends and the 

song “Gelato” which 

they both collaborated 

on was a hit. 

“10 months later and I 

sometimes still wonder 

why @Zlatan_Ibile 

blocked me on WhatsApp 

and Instagram without 

ever saying why; we were 

actually friends…AND 

“Gelato” was a hit!” she 

tweeted. 

Why y I can’t stay y humble 

—BBNaija Tacha Sylvester Kwentua 

Big brother Naija superstar, Tacha, whose real name is Anita 

Natacha Akide, has called out those criticizing her for 

overhyping herself once more, after being followed recently by 

American rap star, Nicki Minaj, on Instagram. Her critics are 

asking her to remain humble despite being followed by Nicki, 

because Nicki could decide to still unfollow her, according to 

them. 

However, on Wednesday, Tacha, who is not ready to slow down, 

went all out to tell her critics, that humility was not one of her 

strong qualities, because she grew up in a ghetto. 

“TACHA stay Humble, 

stay Humble!!! Do you 

know where I’m coming 

from???? I’m not your 

GRA PH Kid!! My 

neighborhood back there 

na Ghetto!! PortHarcourt 

little girl with BIG 

DREAMS!! E Choke”, she 

pointed out. 

Early Wednesday 

morning, in an Instagram 

video, the Big Brother 

Naija, pepper dem gang 

edition housemate, 

boasted she was not on 

anybody’s level, as she 

was now being followed 

by Nicki Minaj. 

Sharing the video 

T a c h a 

wrote, ”NICKI!!!!!!!!! 

I’m not your 

MATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh let 

me BRAG….@nickiminaj 

@ n i c k i m i n a j 

@ n i c k i m i n a j 

@nickiminaj If i don’t 

sleep tonight!!!!!!!” 

From investigations, it 

was discovered that Tacha 

was the only Nigerian 

celebrity being followed 

on Instagram by Nicki 

Minaj, as Skales, an Hip 

Hop artist, also has Nicki 

• Tacha 

Minaj as a follower on 

Instagram.


Dating `sugar 

daddy’ is risky 

— Ijeoma Thomas 

She’s a Nollywood actress and producer; her name is Ijeoma Thomas. 

She’s beautiful, sexy and highly talented. She’s a Business 

Administration graduate of Enugu State University and started acting 

in 2004. Here, she goes one-on-one with Potpourri. 

Genesis 

I met an actress I loved so much, I told 

her I was interested in acting and she 

introduced me into it in 2004. I’ve been 

an actress since then. 

Challenges 

There are lots of challenges. There’s 

the issue of not being paid for featuring 

in a movie. Then there’s also the 

challenge of a producer/director asking 

you to sleep with them before you can 

feature in a movie. Those are my 

challenges though. It takes a lot of 

discipline to deal with these challenges 

and I have a way of dealing with them. 

Films produced 

I started producing in 2009. My first 

movie was “Nkwucha” which I coproduced, 

and I featured a lot of stars 

including Queen Nwokoye, Chiwetalu 

Agu, Junior Pope, Uche Elendu, Uche 

Nnanna, Chinwe Owoh among others, 

as well as my humble self. Since then 

I’ve been working on getting my own 

company name out. Other movies I’ve 

produced include Just a “Wedding” and 

“Rancour”. 

Career’s high and low 

points 

The low point of my career was when 

I just joined the industry. I went through 

hell then, but I thank Uncle KOK who is 

like my godfather in the industry for 

assisting me a lot. I started from Waka- 

Pass. I can’t go back to that level 

anymore. I now play lead, sub-lead 

roles. This is a high point for me. I’m 

not there yet, though, but I’m working 

towards getting there. 

•Real One 

Opinions on sex, 

marriage and 

relationships. 

My opinion is 

that women should 

keep their pride. 

Don’t sell your 

body for movie 

roles. Be 

focused, know 

what you want 

in life and stick 

to it. Don’t mess 

around for roles. 

Meaning 

of “sexy” 

For me, sexy 

comes with an 

attitude of confidence 

and being comfortable 

with your body. In my 

opinion, it’s wrong for a 

woman to flaunt her 

endowments. 

•Ijeoma Thomas 

Impact of social media 

Social media has really increased my growth 

in so many ways. Not everyone watches movies 

on TV. A lot of people watch on YouTube and 

then go on to follow and support us on social 

media. Knowing a lot of people look up to me 

has really helped my growth. 

Embarrassing moments 

I have a lot of embarrassing moments due to 

the roles I play. Whenever I play the role of a 

bad person in a movie, people tend to tag me 

as that character. They tend to call me all sorts 

of names, forgetting it’s just an act. I enjoy it 

though, but it can be really embarrassing. 

Limits 

There’s no amount of money you can pay me 

I was called by God to use 

my lyrics to deliver people 

—Real One 

Apopular artist, Riliwan Raheem, whose stage 

name is Real One, A.K.A. Babalegelege, has 

said God told him to use the lyrics of his music 

to deliver the people of the world, especially 

Africans so that the world would pay more 

attention to blacks. 

Real One, who spoke to Potpourri on the Yuletide, said, 

“I have a big passion for my country and people, 

Nigerians, many of who pass through hardship and have 

died, many do not have money for feeding. 

“I am talking about Covid-19 time and #EndSARS 

protests.” 

On what brought him into music, he said “I was called 

by God to be a messenger by using the lyrics of my music 

to deliver the people of the world, especially my African 

people, so the world can hear the voice of the blacks.” 

He added that his latest album, titled, “Chosen one,” 

coming out early this year 2021, is for the people that 

pass through hard times. 

The artist, who is single, said his role models include 

Akon and 9ice. 

He is dedicating his latest album to God Almighty and 

his mother, Mrs Mulikat Raheem. 

‘Face of Beauty by AD’ is a 

platform to help young girls 

—Diiadem 

The Chief Executive Officer of 

Beauty by AD, a cosmetics 

brand, Adeola Chizoba Adeyemi 

popularly known as Diiadem 

has explained why she, along 

with the management of Beauty 

by AD launched a beautymakeup 

inspired beauty contest, 

•Diiadem 

•Ijeoma Thomas 

to act naked. No, I can’t do that. I’ve had 

juicy offers like that from abroad mainly 

from India, but I turned them down. No 

amount of money can make me go naked. I 

can’t do it. 

Selling points 

I honestly do not know what my selling point 

is. All I know is everything about me is 

beautiful. I have a beautiful face, body, voice... 

Take on feminism 

To me, feminism means all genders having 

equal rights and opportunities. I have 

achieved a lot as an actor. I’ve gone 

places, met people, received 

awards both at home and 

abroad. I think I’ve really done 

well for myself as an actor. 

Sacrifices 

One of the biggest 

sacrifices I’ve made in my 

acting career is not being 

paid for a job I did, acting 

for free just to put my name 

and face out there. 

Dating sugar 

daddies 

For me, dating a 

sugar daddy is risky. 

My advice to those 

doing it is for them to 

be extremely wise. 

They should just be 

careful for them not to 

be caught by their 

wives because some 

women are very 

deadly. They are ready 

to pour acid on you and 

even ready to hire 

assassins for the person, 

meaning they can kill for 

their husband so that is 

why I said be extremely 

careful 

opened to her followers on the company’s 

Instagram page @beautybyad in a chat 

with Potpourri 

According to her, The Face of Beauty by 

AD was created as a form of corporate 

social responsibility to contribute to 

society by helping young beautiful girls 

to pursue careers in modelling. 

“Face of Beauty by AD is a 

platform to help young, beautiful 

girls to pursue a career in 

modelling. It is done every year 

and winners are being selected to 

represent the brand for a period 

of one year. Beauty by AD is a 

cosmetic brand that caters to the 

diverse makeup needs of the 

average woman. Our aim is to 

raise an army of confident women 

who exude poise with our 

products,” she says 

Beauty by AD is a fast-growing 

cosmetic brand fitted to cater for 

every woman. The brand provides 

an array of products ranging from 

the finest setting powders for every 

skin tone, lip glosses, pigmented 

eye shadows, smooth brow 

pencils and beautiful highlighters 

to boost every woman’s 

confidence. 

The first winner of the contest 

emerged in August of 2019. 

Beauty by AD brand was 

launched in November 2016. The 

brand has a strong presence on 

Instagram with the name 

@beautybyad and a very active 

website www.beautybyad.com.

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 10, 2021 

countries would point at 

noticeable differences. To 

start with, the right to protest 

is a privilege in Nigeria 

The difference is still 

visibly clear 

Wednesday, January 6, 

2021 would go down 

in the history of the United 

states as a special and 

unforgettable day. It was a 

day when demonstrators 

invaded and seized the 

Capitol, the nation’s 

legislative complex. The 

country’s lawmakers led 

by Vice President Mike 

Pence were holding a joint 

session of the two chambers 

in line with the Constitution 

to certify the results of the 

last Presidential elections. 

The last time an invasion 

occurred there was during 

the 1812 war, making the 

attack an unparalleled 

shock to all. The 

demonstrations which were 

in favour of the incumbent 

President Donald Trump 

were certainly not 

unexpected considering 

Trump’s high level of 

mobilization of party 

supporters against the 

outcome of the elections. It 

was perhaps his last 

strategic effort at upturning 

the election results after the 

failure to use vote-recounts 

in several polling centres to 

validate allegations of votestealing 

and other election 

m a l p r a c t i c e s . 

Unfortunately, similar 

efforts made to get the 

Judiciary to reverse the 

results failed suggesting that 

President Donald Trump 

was essentially a bad loser. 

PhD,Department of 

Philosophy, 

University of Lagos 

08116759758 

opuruiche2000@gmail.com 

Ardent readers of the 

column, I am suspending 

continuation of the series 

entitled “The metamorphosis 

of religious fiction” by 

presenting my views on the 

election of a new Secretary- 

General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo 

which would take place today. 

The issue is significant to me 

because as an Igbo I am 

interested in who occupies 

such a demanding position 

given that he or she would play 

a decisive role in charting the 

future direction of the 

organisation and, as a result, 

contribute in resolving what 

might be called the Igbo 

predicament in the fractious 

colonial amalgam called 

Nigeria. In an important 

sense, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, 

often described as the apex 

socio-cultural organisation 

for all Igbo worldwide, is a 

child of necessity conceived 

and delivered after the 

disastrous civil war that lasted 

from July 6, 1967 to January 

15, 1970. As late Prof. Chinua 

Achebe sadly remarked, the 

conflict reduced Igboland to 

a huge smouldering rubble 

unprecedented in the history 

of Igbo people. One of its 

enduring repercussions is that 

Ndigbo lost their preeminent 

position in the educational, 

bureaucratic, professional, 

and security architectonic of 

Nigeria, a completely 

untenable situation which has 

been perpetuated ever since by 

a succession of incompetent 

mediocre leadership at the 

The attack on the Capitol 

no doubt derogated 

markedly from the 

reputation of the US as the 

acclaimed bastion of 

democracy where every 

political action was 

expected to be in accord with 

the rule of law. Democrats 

whose party had won the 

election were shattered by 

the affront on the nation’s 

pivotal political institution. 

Across the globe, many 

leading nations – UK, 

Germany, France, Russia 

etc. condemned the 

development while a few, 

notably China, mocked the 

US. In Nigeria, some critics 

wondered why we did not 

formally condemn the US 

as the latter was fond of 

doing at the end of each of 

our own general elections. 

Only last September, she 

warned that she would place 

a visa ban on any political 

actor who contributed to 

election malpractices 

before, during and after the 

Edo governor election. The 

same threat was similarly 

issued weeks later during the 

Ondo governorship. With 

what happened on January 

6, 2021, not even the greatest 

admirers of the US would 

credit the Americans with a 

better political behaviour 

than Nigerians. 

However, a closer look at 

how politics and elections 

are managed in both 

Kalu Onuma and the quest for 

the Secretary-General of 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo 

federal level. Irrespective of 

what ethnic jingoists and 

intellectually dishonest 

historical revisionists have 

been claiming, at 

independence and shortly 

afterwards the Igbo were the 

primus inter pares in relation 

to other ethnic groups in the 

country. The civil war dealt a 

devastating blow to their 

enviable position, 

necessitating concerted 

efforts by a handful of 

prominent Ndigbo to 

articulate a unifying common 

vision for the people still 

smarting from the deep 

wounds of that conflict. The 

move was welcomed by a 

broad section of Ndigbo 

because it would serve as the 

much-needed launching-pad 

for Igbo renaissance. The first 

Pan-Igbo organisation that 

emerged after the war was 

called the Igbo National 

Assembly (INA). But it was 

proscribed by the revanchist 

federal military government 

which suspected that the 

group could provide a 

platform for the defeated Igbo 

to regroup and conclude the 

unfinished business of Biafra 

independence declared on 

May, 30, 1967 by the military 

governor of defunct eastern 

region, Lt. Col. 

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- 

Ojukwu. Prof. Ben Nwabueze, 

a prominent constitutional 

lawyer and strong advocate 

of the Igbo cause, alongside 

other prominent Igbo sons 

such as Dr. Akanu Ibiam, Dr. 

Michael Okpara, Dr. Pius 

notwithstanding our 

leaders’ claims to the 

contrary. Demonstrators in 

our clime can hardly get 

close enough to our 

National Assembly whether 

legislators are in session or 

not. Indeed, to assemble at 

a public place like the Lekki 

toll gate is offensive enough 

to warrant official action 

that could lead to fatalities. 

Traditional demonstrators 

in Nigeria must have 

wondered aloud how 

aggrieved people were 

allowed into the Capitol 

with the audacity to ransack 

places like the Speaker’s 

office. One can only 

conjecture what would have 

run through the mind of our 

Speaker 

Femi 

Gbajabiamila while 

watching the destructions 

that took place at the Capitol 

last Wednesday with a near 

scoundrel taking over the 

Speaker’s seat. 

Interestingly, many 

Republicans publicly 

condemned the 

demonstrations by their 

supporters. It would have 

been extremely difficult, if 

not impossible, to find 

Nigerian politicians who 

would have similarly dared 

to disagree with any 

conduct, that was intended 

to benefit their party. Indeed, 

if the protests had occurred 

in Nigeria, the other party 

would have rented large 

crowds to attack the 

protesters. So, let no one 

attempt to use the protests 

at the Capitol to insinuate 

that Nigeria and the US are 

the same. In fact, if it were 

Nigeria, those who voted in 

support of an election 

disowned by their President 

would have since been 

The leadership 

problem in ala 

Igbo at the moment 

is becoming an 

existential threat to 

Ndigbo 

Okigbo, Chief Jerome Udorji, 

and Chief K.O. Mbadiwe cofounded 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 

1976. 

Now, although for obvious 

reasons Ohanaeze Ndigbo is 

not a political party, one of its 

core objectives is to foster unity 

among Ndigbo worldwide by 

providing a solid base on 

which the political and 

economic interests of 

Igboland can be projected and 

protected. Since its formation 

over four decades ago, the 

organisation has been 

working to advance Igbo 

interests by defending the 

rights of Ndigbo as equal 

stakeholders with Nigerians 

from other ethnic nationalities. 

But unfortunately, there is a 

strong impression across 

Igboland that over the years 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has 

performed below expectation, 

which necessitates the 

injection of new blood and 

creativity to turn things 

around for good. The 

outgoing executive led by its 

President-General, Chief John 

Nnia Nwodo, has played its 

part and elections to replace 

it will take place on January 

10, 2021. Without a doubt, 

Ndigbo are presently facing 

unprecedented challenges 

that have worsened since 

retired Maj. Gen. 

Muhammadu Buhari 

became President in 2015. 

Most Ndigbo believe strongly, 

with good reason, that Buhari 

merely tolerates anything 

Igbo, which is why majority 

ordered to recant. There 

would even have been no 

need to resort to recounting 

of votes when we can easily 

ask our election officials to 

simply declare the election 

as inconclusive. Honestly, 

It would have been 

extremely difficult, if not 

impossible, to find 

Nigerian politicians 

who would have 

similarly dared to 

disagree with any 

conduct, that was 

intended to benefit their 

party 

the decision of the 

Republican controlled states 

to accept the reality of the 

defeat of their candidate 

confirms that Nigerian and 

American attitudes to 

elections are basically 

dissimilar. 

If in any case, our 

politicians were to pretend 

to believe in judicial 

determination of issues, no 

Nigerian political party 

including the opposition 

party would remain at peace 

without seeking to influence 

our judges. While the ruling 

party may use its 

incumbency etc. to 

intimidate the judges, the 

opposition party would 

raise enough resources to 

buy several consciences. 

Hence, a recent 

investigative research on 

corruption in the country 

rated our judiciary as the 

gold winner. Let us 

remember that in our 

of them always reject him at 

the polls notwithstanding the 

shenanigans of some Igbo 

genuflecting before Fulani 

caliphate colonialists for 

primitive accumulation and 

ephemeral political 

relevance. Given the very 

daunting challenges facing 

Ndigbo at the moment, 

particularly the agitation for 

a president of Igbo extraction 

in 2023, legitimate quest for 

self-determination by the 

Indigenous Peoples of Biafra 

(IPOB), and deliberate 

marginalisation of Igboland 

by the Buhari administration 

and agbata ekee governors in 

the south-east, there is an 

urgent need to select a 

proactive executive for 

Ohanaeze motivated solely 

by the desire to protect and 

promote Igbo interests at all 

times. The leadership 

problem in ala Igbo at the 

moment is becoming an 

existential threat to Ndigbo: 

that is why those going to 

vote in the January elections 

must wash their eyes 

thoroughly and choose men 

and women of integrity, 

selflessness, critical 

intelligence, and 

unshakable commitment to 

the progress of Igboland. 

Accordingly, I strongly 

recommend Chief Ireke 

Kalu Onuma (IKO) as the 

next Secretary-General. I 

have known Chief Onuma 

for about a decade now and 

can confidently affirm that 

he will be a fantastic choice 

for the post at this critical 

time. Let us take a brief look 

at his rich bio-data to see 

why the claim above is 

justified. Chief Onuma 

served as the Personal 

Secretary and Assistant to 

the first President-General 

of Ohanaeze, Justice 

Ezebuilo Ozobu. He is the 

pioneer Administrative 

Officer of Ndigbo Lagos 

under three Presidents of 

Ndigbo Lagos Foundation, 

namely, Chief Chris Eze, 

Prof. Anya O. Anya, and 

Gen. Obi Abel Umahi. Chief 

Onuma was Research 

system, there are enough 

technical issues to be used 

to determine any case. One 

of them is to check the 

attendance register of the 

election tribunal to see if any 

of the members was absent 

any day or failed to sign the 

register. That would be 

enough to reverse an 

officially unwanted victory. 

Although President Trump 

tried ahead of the election 

to bring in more pliable 

hands to the Supreme Court, 

he failed to get them to 

record non-existent votes to 

enable him to “win” more 

votes than voters which can 

easily be done in Nigeria. 

The principle of 

responsibility by which 

leaders resign from office 

over negative issues or 

controversies is another 

obvious disparity between 

the US and Nigeria. The 

resignation of appointments 

by Trumps’ officials namely: 

Attorney General, 

Secretaries (Ministers) of 

Education, Transportation 

etc. over the President’s 

political indiscretion is 

alien to us. No one resigns 

here. During the 

administration of President 

Goodluck Jonathan when 

insurgents attacked the least 

expected places like the UN 

building and Army 

barracks, no one was asked 

to resign, not the even the 

then Inspector General of 

Police (IGP) whose 

headquarters was also 

attacked. Instead, that year, 

the concerned IGP and our 

service chiefs were listed 

among those to receive our 

National Honours Awards. 

The situation in the states is 

more interesting. At a time, 

a governor in Taraba state 

who was involved in a 

plane crash, remained 

incapacitated; but his state 

legislators voted for him to 

Assistant to the Ohanaeze 

legal team during the Oputa 

Panel, working and 

reporting to the lead 

counsels, Chief Anthony 

Mogboh (SAN) and Peter 

Umeadi (SAN). 

IKO is a tireless 

administrator and never 

shies away from any 

assignment that will uplift 

Igboland. He was part of the 

research and back channel 

team of Ohanaeze Ndigbo 

during the National 

Conference organised by 

former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo, the PRONACO 

Conference, and President 

Goodluck Jonathan’s 

Conference. He served as the 

West African Liaison 

Representative of former 

President-General of 

Ohanaeze, Amb. Ralph 

Uwechue, at which time he 

contributed immensely to 

the founding of Ohanaeze 

chapters in Mali, Republic 

of Benin and Niger 

Republic. He has been a 

member of several strategic 

committees of Ohanaeze; 

and a founding member, 

former Assistant Secretary 

and now Secretary, of the 

south-east and south-south 

professionals of Nigeria. He 

was a member of several 

coalitions that engaged in 

the struggle for equity and 

fair representation of 

Ndigbo across the country. 

Chief Onuma served as the 

PRO and roving 

ambassador of the 50 th 

anniversary of Chinua 

Achebe’s Things Fall Apart 

organising committee held 

across the seven Ohanaeze 

states. That is not all: he was 

a member of the Governors 

Forum/Ohanaeze Ndigbo/ 

Alaigbo Development fund. 

IKO is also an engaging 

editor and writer. He 

authored the book entitled 

Igbo Critical Essays and 

other articles where he 

expressed creative ideas 

about how Ndigbo can 

regain and surpass their 

previous preeminent 

position in the larger 

remain in office. Hearing 

from the media that US 

Speaker Nancy Pelosi was 

asking for the resignation 

of the relevant police chief 

as a consequence of the 

invasion of the Capitol 

underscores a basic 

difference in our political 

expectations. 

There was also another 

call by the Speaker on Vice 

President Pence to use his 

good offices to remove 

President Trump. Based on 

the posture of the House, 

she threatened to initiate 

impeachment proceedings 

against Trump if Pence 

didn’t act. While none of 

the two actions can be 

consummated in the 

remain two weeks of 

Trump’s tenure, without 

breaching some rules, such 

calls are laughable in 

Nigeria. Can our 

cooperative Senate 

President preside over an 

impeachment proceeding 

against our President? The 

other day some legislators 

allegedly apologized for 

supporting the motion to 

invite our President to 

address the House of 

Representatives over 

unending insecurity in the 

land. To some people that 

was insolence. 

Nigeria cannot threaten 

to revoke the visas of 

offending US political 

leaders because unlike us, 

they have no business 

struggling to visit Nigeria. 

Besides, they have no illgotten 

assets hidden here 

for us to seize. In all, 

whereas the assault on the 

Capitol by Trump’s 

supporters is humiliating 

for the Americans, the 

difference in the political 

development of the two 

countries remains 

transparently clear. 

Nigerian environment. 

Presently, he continues to 

work selflessly for Igboland 

and her peoples across the 

globe advocating for 

capacity building together 

with an NGO for the 

protection of rights within 

the umbrella of Ndigbo 

Lagos Foundation. Chief 

Onuma is a humble, 

unassuming and trustworthy 

human being with 

appropriate emotional 

intelligence to handle the 

functions of the Secretary- 

General of Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo at this time. Those 

that know him well, like 

Chief Martin Agbaso, Prof. 

Anya O. Anya, retired Rear 

Admiral Ndubisi Kanu can 

testify to his loyalty, sincerity 

of purpose and willingness 

to listen and learn. In a 

nutshell, he would be a 

valued asset in the executive. 

It would require several 

pages to do justice to the 

achievements of this Russiatrained 

historian and great 

son of Abiriba. But enough 

has been said already to 

establish his suitability as 

the next Secretary-General 

of Ohanaeze. On the private 

side, Chief Onuma is an 

exemplary family man, a 

loving husband and an 

adoring disciplinarian 

father. As I suggested earlier, 

the post of Secretary- 

General is very important in 

any organisation. 

Therefore, for Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo it must be entrusted 

in the steady hands of a tested, 

trusted and experienced 

indefatigable champion of 

the Igbo cause with Igboness 

in his DNA. Chief Ireke Kalu 

Onuma is such a person; the 

best man for the job. He knows 

where the rain began to beat 

our people; if elected he has 

the creative umbrella to help 

stop the rain from beating us. 

You can take that to the bank.


RISING INSECURITY IN S/WEST: 

How locals, others frustrate 

us— Amotekun Commanders 

…one year after 

By Dayo Johnson, Shina 

Abubakar, Deola Badru, James 

Ogunnaike and Rotimi 

Ojomoyela 

Commanders of Western Nigeria Security 

Network, WNS, also known as 

Amotekun Corps, have lamented that 

absence of cooperation from residents, failed 

roads and inadequate gadgets are frustrating 

their efforts at responding accordingly to the 

rising crime rate in the South-West. 

They particularly singled out what was 

called the absence of support from residents 

of states where they operate as a major 

challenge that may determine how far 

Amotekun may go in achieving its mandate. 

In separate interviews with Sunday 

Vanguard, they cited instances where locals 

had frustrated operations aimed at either 

apprehending criminals or visiting crime 

scenes. 

This is coming one year after the outfit was 

launched by South-West governors, in an 

apparent response to the alarming killings, 

kidnappings and farm invasions in the region 

by suspected herdsmen. 

Governors of the six states in the zone had 

converged on Ibadan, the regional 

headquarters of western Nigeria, on January 

9, 2020, and launched Amotekun to tackle 

crimes in the area. 

With membership drawn from hunters and 

Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, among others, 

the outfit, which has its headquarters in 

Gbogan, Osun State, was mandated to fight 

criminality in Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti 

and Lagos states. 

Security agencies 

The security network seeks to complement 

the Police and other state security agencies 

in the zone and not replace them, Ekiti State 

governor, Kayode Fayemi, said at the launch 

of Amotekun. 

One year after the inauguration, which had 

sparked ethnic and political tensions, findings 

by Sunday Vanguard revealed that crime rate 

in the region had reduced compared to what 

it was before Amotekun was launched. 

But in the last five months, the situation is 

becoming alarming again following renewed 

herdsmen attacks, killings, abductions, farm 

invasions, and other forms of crime in the 

region. 

In various conversations with Sunday 

Vanguard the commanders, who said the 

crime rate in the region wasn’t increasing, 

lamented that they were not getting enough 

cooperation from residents of South-West 

states. 

ONDO: 

Commander of Amotekun in Ondo State, 

Chief Adetunji Adeleye, identified inadequate 

manpower, lack of equipment and inability 

to bear sophisticated weapons as challenges 

militating against their job. 

He, however, said the state government is 

doing its best to sustain the outfit. 

His words: “You know this is a new 

organisation. For now, the first major 

challenge has to do with manpower. Second, 

we want to be better equipped. The state 

government is stretching itself to sustain us. 

We give kudos to them but we still want more. 

Arms 

“This is another challenge that is limiting 

us. The Federal Government should empower 

us to be able to face the security challenges 

by providing the same kind of sophisticated 

weapons that are allowed for other security 

agencies. In the state, we have appealed to 

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and he is aware 

of our constraints. He is trying to solve the 

problem but needs the backing of federal 

government before we can be allowed to use 

sophisticated weapons. 

Money 

“l think the crime rate is an extension of the 

social and economic problems in our society. 

First, the craze to make money no longer 

allows parents to take care of their children. 

An idle mind is always a workshop for the 

devil. Majority of our 

youths are unemployed 

and with the knowledge 

they have, they also want 

the good things of life, 

which makes it easy for 

them to delve into criminal 

activities. Most of the 

highways are bad. The 

criminals know for sure that 

vehicles will slow down and 

this creates a net to catch 

people unawares without 

much effort. I think 

insecurity is a reflection of 

what is happening in 

society at large. 

Capital punishment 

should be meted out to 

kidnappers and armed 

robbers with more drastic 

and very fast justice 

dispensation 

Another big 

challenge is 

the lack of 

cooperation 

from 

residents 

Criminals 

“Government should also 

take care of the youths by 

creating employment. 

Government should promote 

entrepreneurship while parents should also 

take care of their children. These youths will 

remain restive until they are kept busy. Let 

them be gainfully employed. Even in 

farming, they can be employed. All you need 

to do as a university graduate is for 

government to create an avenue for you to earn 

a living. Nobody is looking for white-collar 

jobs. What they want is money.” 

OSUN: 

On his part, Osun State Field Commandant 

of Amotekun Corps, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, 

stressed the need to approve arms for the 

security outfit to effectively perform its 

mandate of securing the state. 

He told Sunday Vanguard that policing in 

whatever form would be impossible if 

personnel do not bear gadgets, either to 

protect citizens’ lives and defend themselves 

or for communication purposes. 

He said: “Policing effectively is not possible 

without gadgets. It is gadgets that build 

confidence in the officers sent out to protect 

lives. Gadgets help an officer to protect the 

lives of residents and also defend himself. 

“From the foregoing, it is imperative for the 

authorities to allow the Corps to bear gadgets. 

They could be communication equipment, 

protective equipment but what is essential is 

that gadgets are necessary to effectively police 

a community. 

Collaboration 

“In 2021, we plan to establish offices in all 

the federal constituencies of the state to allow 

for wide coverage. Presently, the ad-hoc staff 

of the corps in the state are doing a fantastic 

job and we will sustain the tempo. What is 

obvious is the need for cooperation among the 

security outfits. The country is faced with 

serious security challenges and a single 

agency cannot tackle the crisis. Hence, the 

need for adequate collaboration with one 

another to effectively secure the state. 

Cooperation 

“Another big challenge is the 

lack of cooperation from the 

residents. Imagine while we 

were going on a rescue operation 

at a particular location in the 

state capital, motorists 

deliberately refused to leave the 

road even when we used a siren. 

Instead, they were insulting us. 

I implore residents to cooperate 

with security agencies for proper 

policing. 

“We also appeal to power 

distribution companies to ensure 

adequate illumination at night 

because the rate of armed 

robbery incidents increases with 

power outage at nights. Most of 

the distress calls on our 293 tollfree 

line came from areas with no 

electricity supply at night. I 

believe when there is adequate 

illumination, robbery incidents 

will drastically reduce.’’ 

OYO: 

Director-General of Amotekun 

Corps in Oyo State, Gen. Kunle Togun ,retd, 

told Sunday Vanguard that the security outfit 

cannot perform miracles one month of 

inauguration. 

According to him, “there is no resurgence 

of insecurity. There has been insecurity in the 

South-West and it was because of the high 

level of insecurity that Amotekun was 

established. 

“But people are now saying that despite the 

establishment of Amotekun, insecurity is still 

high. How long has Nigeria Police been in 

existence? How long has the Nigerian Army 

been in existence? All federal security 

agencies, how long have they been in 

existence? 

Miracles 

“Now, you people are saying that despite 

the establishment of Amotekun, insecurity in 

the South-West is still high. Amotekun has 

just commenced operation. It can’t perform 

magic. It is just one month old. In one month, 

people expect Amotekun to perform 

miracles.Do they want Amotekun Corps to 

become magicians? They can’t just stop 

insecurity in one month of operation. 

“There is no resurgence. Insecurity has been 

there and Amotekun was established to assist 

the Police to stem insecurity. Amotekun is not 

an independent body. It is to work with the 

Police to stem insecurity and it has just 

started.” 

Poison 

On the plans by the corps to stem insecurity 

in 2021, he said: “The governor has told 

Amotekun personnel what he wants them to 

do. I cannot be revealing the plans we have 

for countering insecurity. I can’t tell anybody 

about the plan.” 

Asked about challenges confronting the 

outfit in his state, Gen. Togun said: “There are 

no challenges we are facing other than the 

people opposed to the establishment of 

Amotekun. They have been making false 

allegations against Amotekun. They have 

been trying to poison the minds of people 

against Amotekun. 

Allegation 

“I wonder why some Yoruba people went 

to President Muhammadu Buhari, advising 

him to kick against the establishment of 

Amotekun. They said if the President allowed 

it to be established, people are going to use it 

for Yoruba secession. These are the same 

people constituting the challenges we are 

facing now. They will be making false 

allegations against Amotekun. People make 

false allegations to discredit Amotekun.” 

Amotekun personnel 

While debunking the insinuation that the 

Corps killed an undergraduate of the 

University of Ibadan, he said: “Amotekun 

corps did not kill any student. These are the 

false allegations to discredit Amotekun. 

“The people attacked the Amotekun Corps 

on patrol, shooting at them and they 

responded, which led to one of them being 

shot. Some people started saying Amotekun 

has killed an undergraduate. 

“Amotekun personnel can’t just fold their 

arms to be killed without defending 

themselves. It is only when you are alive that 

you can defend your community.” 

OGUN: 

In Ogun State, it was learned that 

Amotekun would commence operation this 

month. 

Already, a retired Police Commissioner has 

been appointed as Commander. 

The job of the outfit would be enhanced by 

proposed Residents Identification Cards. 

The identification would provide a reliable 

database of the people living in the state. 

It was further gathered that the delayed 

kick-off of Amotekun in Ogun was largely 

informed by paucity of funds. 

However, the state’s 2021 budget made 

provision for the funding of the outfit. 

EKITI: 

Amotekun Corps Commander, in Ekiti State, 

Brigadier General Joe Komolafe ,retd said 

there would be maximum collaboration 

among security agencies to ensure effective 

protection of lives and property of the citizens. 

He explained that traditional rulers would 

be involved in policing, saying their closeness 

to the people would be needed in resolving 

security challenges. 

Komolafe urged residents to provide timely 

and accurate information on the activities of 

criminals in their domains. 

According to him, “ our new year message 

to the criminal elements operating in the state 

is for them to relocate immediately in their 

own interest because there will be no hiding 

place for them. Our operatives are all over the 

state monitoring the nooks and crannies. 

“This is being done in collaboration with 

other sister security agencies in the state. We 

are also working with traditional rulers who 

are very close to the people. We are appealing 

to the members of the public to volunteer 

useful information on the criminal elements 

in their communities because the criminals 

are human beings and not spirits.” 

LAGOS: 

In Lagos where the Lagos State 

Neigbourhood Safety Corps Agency Law 

Amendment Bill, which made provision for 

the creation of Amotekun Corps, was passed 

last year, a commander has not been 

appointed for the outfit.

PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY10, 2021 

Time on your hand? Why not t give your love life the A-Z boost! 

Recently, I had been 

inundated with requests 

from you readers on how to 

improve your love life. And 

what better time to start than 

now to relieve the streets of the 

pandemic and the economy? 

I was musing on this when I 

came across an A to Z guide 

to a sexier you by a sexologist, 

Catherine Hood. So, I’ve 

decided to adapt it for readers’ 

delight. You’ll definitely find 

the tips worth trying. Enjoy! 

A – Is for aphrodisiacs: 

Food can spice up lovemaking. 

Include plenty of 

suggestively shaped nibbles 

you have to eat with your 

fingers like asparagus and 

bananas, and add a little 

luxury with juicy grapes, and, 

of course, chocolate. 

B – Is for bondage: We have 

five senses, all used in lovemaking. 

Using a blindfold 

can heighten other senses like 

touch. Go further and use 

restraints and your victim is 

powerless to resist. 

C – Is for contraception: 

Unless you’re planning to get 

pregnant in 2021, get yourself 

some effective contraception. 

D – Is for dating: The 

internet has opened up new 

ways to meet sexual partners 

chatting online. Or take up a 

hobby or an activity that will 

help you meet new people. 

E – Is experimentation; 

And something new from time 

to time. If you are usually 

passive in bed; take the lead 

and surprise your partner. 

F – Is for fantasy: Most men 

and women, use fantasy in 

bed. Sometimes the story lines 

are extreme; at other times 

more time and predictable. 

Thinking about another 

person while having sex is not 

infidelity. 

G – Is for sex god or 

goddess: Great sex starts with 

knowing yourself. Get in touch 

with your desires through selfplay. 

Sex toys can help you 

explore your erogenous zone 

but you can use them on your 

lover to discover theirs too. 

H – Is for hair and makeup: 

Being sexy isn’t about 

having a perfect physique, it’s 

about being confident in your 

own skin. Tone up your 

muscles through exercise and 

smooth your skin with 

exfoliation. 

I – Is for infection: Don’t 

become another sexual health 

clinic statistic. Whether you 

plan to have multiple partners 

in 2021 or to meet just one 

special person, don’t take risks 

until you’ve both had an 

infection screen. Insist on 

condoms. 

J – Is for Jealousy: There is 

little that will ruin a 

relationship quicker than 

jealousy. Keep your cool., 

K – Is kissing: There is 

nothing sexier than a really 

good kiss. Get back to basics 

and improve your kissing 

techniques. Involve your 

tongue and your teeth by 

nibbling around their lips. 

Make kissing a central part 

of your love-making. 

L – Is for libido: Stress and 

anxiety are the biggest 

passion killers so try to reduce 

the worries in your life and 

priorities some time and space 

for sex in the New Year. Make 

a resolution to tackle any 

discord in your relationship 

rather than letting resentment 

gather. If you’ve been feeling 

low, see our GP and get some 

help. 

M – Is for massage: 

Massage is a wonderful 

addition to foreplay. What 

better way to chase away the 

stresses of the working day in 

preparation for an erotic 

evening? Touching and 

caressing our lover’s body 

helps you get in touch with 

their feelings and can ignite 

the erogenous zones making 

them more receptive to love 

making. You don’t have to be 

an expert masseuse; simply 

caress the skin and ask your 

lover to give feedback about 

pressure and how quickly to 

move your fingers. Start with 

small circular movements 

with your thumbs and don’t 

press too hard. Begin with the 

FG empowers 27,000 youths in Jigawa 

By Aliyu Dangida 

Governor Muhammed 

Abubakar of Jigawa 

State has said the Federal 

Government has 

empowered 27,000 youths 

with the sum of N1.62 billion 

in the last three months. 

Speaking at the flag-off of 

the Extended Special Works 

Programme (ESWP), of the 

774,000 jobs, by the Minister 

of Water Resources, in Dutse, 

the Jigawa State capital, the 

governor said the FG’s 

initiative was aimed at 

reducing unemployment and 

redundancy among the 

youths. 

He added that the state has 

benefited a lot from FG’s 

special intervention scheme, 

such as, N-Power, Schools 

Feeding programme, Trader 

Money, Conditional Cash 

COVID-19: Buhari’s aide urges Nigerians to obey 

safety protocols 

By Tunde Oso 

Senior Special Assistant 

to President 

Muhammadu Buhari on 

National Assembly matters, 

Senator Babajide 

Omoworare has urged 

Nigerians to beat back the 

surging wave of COVID - 19 

with adherence to safety 

protocols. 

He urged Nigerians to do 

more than they did during the 

first wave of COVID - 19 in 

order to curtail its spread and 

effect. 

In a statement, Omoworare 

emphasised the need to keep 

Transfer, Youth Investment 

Trust Fund, among many 

others. 

Badaru explained that the 

1,000 beneficiaries were 

drawn from across the 27 local 

governments of the state, and 

would receive N20,000 each 

for a period of three months. 

Said he: “Each beneficiary 

adhering to beath protocols, 

maintain a positive mind set, 

caution and modesty while 

pursuing economic prosperity 

in 2021. 

According to him, defeating 

COVID - 19, its spread and 

effect was a collective 

responsibility and must be 

treated as important by all. 

“Without concerted effort, we 

will be on a vicious circle. 

While not allowing COVID - 

19 to dampen our productive 

and positive Nigerian spirit, 

we should equally do our 

collective best to end the 

pandemic,” he said. 

Omoworare also charged 

Nigerians to be positive with 

the 2021 economic outlook, 

pray for the nation and 

support the President 

Muhammadu Buhari - led 

APC government to end 

COVID - 19, cushion its effect, 

solve security, infrastructure 

and economic challenges 

facing Nigeria. 

“Permit me to explore this 

medium to charge Nigerians, 

especially the good people of 

Osun State to give maximum 

support to Governor Gboyega 

Oyetola APC government in 

Osun to sustain the ongoing 

development drive being 

experienced in Osun." 

shoulders, move down the 

back and then from the ankles 

up to the thighs. 

N – Is for new start: If you’re 

pining for a lost love or 

holding out for a reluctant 

beau, then make the New Year 

the year you move on and find 

a partner who gives you some 

love in return. Who knows 

what wonderful surprises 

2021 has in store? 

O – Is for oral: Oral sex is 

one of the favourite foreplay 

techniques. Arguably it’s a 

more intimate act than having 

penetrate sex and many find 

it just as physically satisfying. 

But not everybody enjoys oral 

sex and it’s important to 

respect your partner’s wishes. 

To protect yourself from 

sexually transmitted 

infections, use flavoured 

Delta monarch gives scholarship to 48 students 

By Festus Ahon 

THE Traditional Ruler of 

Akugbene-- Mien 

kingdom, Bomadi Local 

Government Area, Delta 

State, HRM Pere Luke SP. 

Kalanama VIII, has given 

scholarship to 48 students of 

the Kingdom. 

The monarch who made the 

will receive the sum of 

N20,000 for a period of 3 

months with a view to 

becoming self-reliant. The 

gesture has complemented 

our empowerment efforts in 

providing job opportunities to 

our teeming youths in the 

state”. 

Earlier in his speech, the 

presentation at the annual 

praise service of the Kingdom, 

extolled the giant strides of the 

State Government in the 

Educational Sector. 

Pere is the 2nd Vice 

Chairman of the State 

Traditional Rulers Council, 

described the educational 

advancement of rural 

communities under the 

Minister of Water Resources, 

Engr. Suleiman Adamu, said 

the ESWP was an outcome of 

the Pilot Special Public Works 

Program in the rural areas 

approved by President Buhari 

and implemented by the 

National Directorate of 

Employment, NDE, in 2020. 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's 

Administration as unequalled 

in the history of the state. 

According to him, 

Government had raised the 

bar in the development of 

infrastructure and provision 

of essential learning materials 

at all levels of the state school 

system. ''Governor Okowa has 

been supportive to the success 

of the scholarship scheme 

which I initiated to assist my 

people in their educational 

pursuits''. 

While urging the people to 

remain committed and 

resolute in embrasing 

government policies and 

programmes, the monarch 

told the people to continue to 

leave in peace with their 

neighbours. 

He recounted Gods' 

blessings and mercies in 2020 

inspite of the challenges of the 

year occasioned by COVID- 

19 pandemic, and changed 

Nigerians to have faith in 

God. 

He held that God has 

solutions to the multi facetted 

problems and challenges 

facing mankind. 

condoms with new partners. 

P – Is for positions: Try some 

new positions in the new year. 

The angle of penetration can 

alter sexual stimulation. 

Q – Is for question: We are 

all experts in what turns us on, 

so when you have new lovers 

take time to ask them what 

they like. We give feedback in 

bed not only by what we say, 

but also in how our body 

moves. If you’re too shy to ask 

directly then pay attention to 

what your lover’s body is 

telling you. 

R – Is for romance: Whether 

you’re dating or in a long term 

relationship there should 

always be a place for romance 

in your sex life. Romance feeds 

the emotional aspect of your 

sex drive in the same way 

intercourse satisfies the 

physical urge. Small acts can 

be just as romantic as big 

gestures – cook your lover a 

meal, send them a few 

romantic texts or run them 

relaxing bath with scented 

candles. 

S – Is for seduction: All 

good things come to those 

who wait. If you’re single and 

dating then boost your success 

rates by brushing up your 

seduction techniques. Let your 

eyes do the talking by holding 

your intended lover’s gaze for 

a title longer than normal. 

Take time to listen to what 

your lover is saying to you and 

show you’re interested in more 

than just their body. 

T – is for technique: It can 

boost your sexual confidence 

to know you can perform a 

particular erotic signature 

move. Choose a sex act you 

enjoy giving to others and 

perfect your technique so you 

can perform with confidence 

with a new partner. 

U – Is for Underwear: Is 

your knicker drawer looking 

tired, grey and uninspiring? 

Then invest in some new 

lingerie or underwear. Many 

men like to see their ladies 

wearing something fancy and 

seductive … but women too 

like to see men looking trim 

in their undies. 

V – Is for vulva pain: Painful 

sex is a common complaint 

among women. If you’ve been 

suffering in silence go and 

seek help. There are many 

potential causes, from fungal 

infections that are easily 

treated to psychosexual 

problems that can be 

improved by therapy. 

W – Is for water: If you want 

to enjoy a really indulgent and 

prolonged sex session with 

your partner then incorporate 

a shower or bath into your 

foreplay. Giving your love a 

good soap and scrub can be 

very seductive. 

X – Is for love letters: With 

e-mail, messaging and texts 

it’s easy to lose the art of 

writing a love letter but there 

is nothing quite like receiving 

a hand-written note. 

Y – Is for yes: Embrace new 

experiences in the New Year. 

If you’ve got stuck in a rut with 

a relationship or being single, 

then resolve to change your 

situation. 

Z – is for sleep: Don’t burn 

the candle at both ends. Make 

sure you get enough sleep to 

enjoy life in 2021. Your sexual 

appetite will suffer if you’re 

too tired. 

COVID-19: NICOT seeks help for 

poor Nigerians, SMEs 

By Chinonso Alozie 

The 

Nigerian 

Community in Turkey 

NICOT, has called on the 

Federal and state 

governments, corporate 

bodies, individuals to 

continue to reach out to 

Nigerians adversely affected 

by COVID-19 in order to lift 

them out of their precarious 

predicament. 

President, NICOT, Prince 

Emre Magboh, in his new 

year message delivered in 

Owerri, said it’s a fact that 

smaller businesses collapsed 

during the COVID -19 lock 

down and that the only way 

out would be to give them a 

helping hand. 

He extended his 

condolences to families who 

lost their loved ones to the 

dreaded virus. 

Magboh listed effects of the 

pandemic on world 

economies, especially the 

poor and urged government, 

individuals, groups and 

cooperate bodies to continue 

to render assistance to those 

in dire needs at “these 

perilous times.” 

Zuwedu Sanni elected IODU 

National President 

...unveils four-point agenda 


The 

Iddo-Okpella 

Development Union, 

IODU, has elected new 

national officers with the 

emergence of Zuwedu Oseni 

Sanni as the national 

president. 

Sanni, an alumnus of 

Imiegba Grammar School, 

Imiegba, Etsako East local 

government council of Edo 

state, thanked the immediate 

past national executive 

council for its selfless service 

to the Iddo-Okpella 

community, pledged the 

•Magboh 

readiness of his team to 

consolidate on the 

achievements already 

recorded while promising to 

take the union to new heights. 

He said: “We humbly 

accept with humility the 

unanimous election into the 

National Executive Council 

of Iddo Okpella Development 

Union. As the National 

President, I am humbled, 

flattered, deeply touched, 

honoured and encouraged 

with boundless gratitude for 

this leadership trust reposed 

in us by the Iddo Community".

ADETUTU AUDU 

08023849036, 

08112662587 

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 10, 2021, PAGE 15 

Ambode 

dumps social 

media handle 

Former Lagos Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode has 

abandoned his about one 

million twitter followers two 

years after leaving office. 

The last time he updated the 

page was when he handed 

over to incumbent 

Governor Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu. 

‘’To the glory of God, I 

have just handed over 

the reins of government 

in Lagos State to His 

Excellency, Mr. 

Babajide Sanwoolu, 

after a rewarding 4- 

year experience’’, he 

had said on May 28, 

2019 on his twitter 

page. 

Though he still 

•Ambode 

claims the page with 

‘Official Twitter 

account of Mr. 

Akinwunmi 

Ambode, former 

Governor of Lagos State’, there has not been a single word posted 

for two years. 

Not even New Year message from the former Governor to his 

supporters. 

Ambode had lost his bid for second term in office after he fell 

out with senior party chieftains. He has since quit public glare. 

Modupe 

Oguntade 

moves es on 

Society matriarch, Modupeola 

Oguntade, the estranged wife of 

former Nigeria’s High Commissioner 

to the United Kingdom and retired 

eminent jurist, Justice George Adesola 

Oguntade, has put her crashed union 

behind and moved on. 

The elderly powerful couple 

appeared happy together and many 

were taken aback when news of their 

difficult decision to separate went viral 

last year. 

After months of family squabbles, 

accusation of infidelity, back-biting 

and mutual distrust, the 17 year-old 

marriage of the retired Supreme 

Court Justice and his wife, Modupe, 

hit the rocks. 

Things, it was gathered, fell apart 

for the celebrated couple shortly 

after they returned to Nigeria 

following the former envoy’s threeyear 

stint in the United Kingdom. 

Months after packing out of their 

Lekki, Lagos home, Modupe has 

finally settled down to a new life 

in a mansion on the Island. 

Sources said Modupe now 

focuses on her business and 

grandchildren. 

F 

Tito Ladoja- Idakula 

celebrates hubby 

Bolatito, daughter of former Oyo 

State governor, Rashidi Ladoja, and 

alternative soul singer, Bez, celebrated 

their 7th wedding anniversary on 

Wednesday. 

Sharing a lovely photo from their 

wedding, Bez wrote on his social media 

handle, “Officially 7 years with 

@titoidakula today! Whoa!! This is to 

us and many more years to come in 

uncommon love, bliss, peace, and many 

crazy exploits! Love you babe!’’. 

Iyiola Omisore’s 

heart t of gold 

ormer Osun Deputy Governor, Sen. Iyiola 

Omisore, spent the early hours of the New Year 

day, visiting wards of the Obafemi Awolowo 

University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, and 

paying bills of patients, totaling N2 million. 

This has been his style for some years now. 

For Omisore, nobody wished to be in hospital bed 

on a glorious day like the beginning of the year. 

He did this for those who were hospitalized and 

certified fit to go home, but who could not because 

they had bills to settle. 

“These people have loved ones to be at home with, 

enjoying rice, pounded yam, meat, chicken, fish 

and gushing it down with drinks, but they cannot 

because of the bills they have to settle,” he said. 

Omisore said that was why he had to show 

love, affection, and empathy to them. 

“I want to appreciate the management of 

this world-class hospital for their service to 

humanity, as diverse people across the 

country are receiving healthcare from the 

facility. 

“In all, eleven patients were 

discharged, with about N2 million 

paid”. 

In his reaction, the Chief 

Medical Director of OAUTH, 

Prof. Victor Adetiloye, 

acknowledged Omisore’s 

gesture of coming to the 

aid of patients on annual 

basis. 

He said that the 

entire hospital 

community was always 

happy with the 

philanthropy of the 

former Senate 

Committee Chairman 

on Appropriation. 

“Omisore facilitated 

the construction of 

some of the modern 

•Iyiola Omisore buildings we have in 

this hospital”, 

Adetiloye noted.

PAGE 16 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 10, 2021 

Being a successful cougar is an art! 

Cougar’ is a 

‘ 

sophisticated word 

introduced to the dating 

scene a few years back. A 

cougar, aka Puma, aka 

American mountain lion is 

a fierce-looking animal 

who stalks its prey 

relentlessly. When it 

eventually over-powers the 

prey, the cougar tears it to 

pieces, devours it ferociously 

and licks its lips with 

satisfaction at the end of the 

‘feast’. The cougar has now 

replaced those we once knew 

as ‘senior girls’ in the society. 

Women with a lot of money 

and power but with little 

patience to start running 

after men in their age 

bracket only to find such 

men to be bitter 

disappointments in the 

bedroom. The cougar knows 

the type of men she wants – 

not so old. Young enough to 

stand to attention at the push 

of a button! 

To the ‘Cougar’s prey, the 

sky is the limit to the doors 

that might be opened to him 

– cars from his cougar’s 

garage at his disposal, lots 

of money to burn, and lots 

of business opportunities 

thrown his way. All he has to 

do is to ask ‘how far?’ when 

his cougar says ‘jump!’ As 

long as a boy-toy knows his 

place and doesn’t get 

complacent enough to start 

eyeing some of his cougar’s 

friends with the hope of 

rendering same services 

with maybe better returns, 

he’s on solid grounds. 

Nkiru, now close to 50, 

married very young. 

According to her, “I was a 

quiet 19-year-old virgin 

when my parents gave me 

out in marriage to a rich 

village chief almost 20 

years my senior. He was 

kind and dependable but I 

was shy and inexperienced, 

unable to relax and enjoy 

sex. I just assumed great sex 

was a media myth, that 

orgasms were as 

unobtainable as the moon. 

The arrival of the children 

turned me off sex even more 

and my husband didn’t 

protest. He obviously had a 

below average libido or was 

looking elsewhere for 

gratification. 

“By the time he died 16 

years into our marriage, I’d 

known enough about his 

business to run things for 

myself. He died of cancer 

and had warned his greedy 

relatives to leave me alone 

after he’d gone. Not only 

that, he’d transferred all his 

liquid cash into my account 

and given me the title deeds 

to all the property he had. 

As soon as he died and my 

traditional mourning 

period was over, I sold off 

everything, so my husband’s 

family wouldn’t lay their 

hands on it, and came to 

Lagos to find business of my 

own. 

“My first taste of 

meaningful sex came when 

one of my suppliers started 

teasing me with saucy 

innuendos. I was thrilled. 

He was married, tall, dark 

and handsome with 

mischievous eyes. That 

suited me to the ground. I 

had my four children and 

money, I wasn’t on the lookout 

for another husband. 

The day we finally got 

together was like magic. 

Like the magazine advised, 

I’d worn sexy underwear 

and spiced up my bedroom. 

We were nicely tipsy when 

we tumbled into bed. It was 

the first time I reached 

orgasm. At last I 

understood that sex could be 

mind-blowing. And I 

wanted more. 

I made sure he didn’t 

regret our liaison. I bought 

a lot of my raw materials 

from him, gave him money 

towards the price of a second 

hand car and bought him 

designer-clothes whenever 

we travelled. It went on for a 

few years until his wife found 

out and had the nerve to 

charge into my office 

calling me all sorts of 

derogatory names. I was 

furious and threw her out of 

my office. I might be 

bunking her husband, but I 

was sure a lot of the freebies 

I threw his way went a long 

way into giving his wife and 

children a cushy life. 

“Telling him I didn’t want 

any scandal, I cut him off 

and bought myself a few 

vibrators which kept me 

man-free for a while. Two 

years later, I met Joshua 

who was single and ready to 

mingle as they say! His 

youth made him eager to 

please and he was really 

energetic. `I love older 

women’, he said cheekily 

and he was better than any 

of the vibrators I’d used. In 

the bedroom he actually, 

made me ecstatic. He was 

matured enough not to talk 

about my private life and I 

gave him all the freedom he 

wanted. All I wanted was 

amazing sex-passion 

without responsibilities, 

And we were both free to 

sleep with other people, so I 

kept my options open. 

“Once in a while, I caught 

glimpse of jealousy in his 

eyes and I quickly called him 

to order. When he eventually 

told me he was getting 

married, I gave him my 

blessings but told him we 

were over. After that 

experience with an irate wife, 

I didn’t relish the idea of a 

`wife’ young enough to be 

my daughter shouting 

insults at me because I slept 

with her husband. 

“I’ve since met another 

man also young and virile. 

Like me, he enjoys slow, 

sensuous sex. And I’m 

having the time of my life. 

It’s difficult to believe that 

when I was younger, I 

thought orgasms were 

mythical, yet now, at my age, 

I’m having incredible sex 

and growing older has never 

been such fun! I’m looking 

forward to hitting the `great 

five-o! Who knows what 

spritely hip-wriggling stud I 

would spend that day with! 

Thank goodness all my 

children are abroad. My 

eldest son came to stay for a 

while and saw my new 

catch. He grimaced when I 

confessed we were lovers. 

`Just be careful mum’, he 

warned. `we don’t want any 

scandal!’ 

“I told him to grow up. 

Even in Britain where he 

stays, cougars abound and 

it wouldn’t hurt him, to 

experiment with one or two 

before he settles down! I 

then discovered that a lot of 

my friends are into this 

cougar thing and some have 

even slept with each other’s 

lovers without any illfeelings. 

I didn’t intend to 

take things that far and I 

insist on safe sex. I want 

excitement. I don’t intend to 

be reckless n my quest for 

meaningful sex! I want to 

be around long enough to 

see how far this adventure 

would take me!” 

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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 

Uvwie private school proprietors pray for Okowa 

Members of the 

National 

Association of 

Proprietors of Private 

Schools(NAPPS), Uvwie 

Local Government Area 

have prayed for Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa to continue 

to succeed in piloting the 

affairs of Delta State. 

They also prayed against 

the second waive of covid- 

19 and another lockdown. 

The event which held at 

St Anastasia Heights 

Montessori School, 

Effurun , attracted 

members from within and 

outside the local 

government area. 

In her keynote address, 

the chairman of the 

association in the area, 

Mrs Rose Obi, urged 

members to be optimistic 

of good things in 2021. 

She, however, advised 

that members should be 

mindful of what they say 

and hear as well as pray 

until something good 

happen to them. 

Continuing, Mrs Obi 

stated that, " As we call on 

the Almighty God , the 

creator of all good and 

perfect things today, I 

believe we will see His 

hands in everything we do." 

Speaking to newsmen 

shortly after the event, the 

host, Chief (Mrs) Anastasia 

Onisuru Agbatutu who is 

the proprietress of the 

school, reasoned that "men 

cannot fight the battle 

against Covid-19 alone; 

we must therefore take the 

battle to God." 

The highly esteemed 

Uvwie chief, however, 

urged members of the 

association to always 

abide by government 

directives aimed at curbing 

the spread of the dreaded 

pandemic. 

By Davies Iheamnachor 

The people of Oron in 

Akwa Ibom State, the 

home country of the Sole 

Administrator of the Niger 

Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, Barr. 

Effiong Akwa, have said 

they would not tolerate any 

attempt by any ethnic group 

in the Niger Delta region to 

ridicule their son, in office. 

The Oron Union, Port 

Harcourt Branch, stated 

this in a statement signed by 

its President, Surv. 

Ndekhedehe Uno, the 

Secretary, Comrade Etim 

Asuquo, and the Patron, 

Chief O. E. Otu, Patron. 

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gions were expressing solidarity 

and demonstrating 

comradeship, the Niger 

Delta was still engrossed in 

clannish and divisive posturing 

championed by politicians, 

who have failed the 

region in all ramifications. 

The statement read: “The 

recent uproar by our Ijaw 

brothers over the 

appointment of our son, 

Barr. Effiong Akwa as the 

Interim Sole Administrator 

of the NDDC, is despicable 

to say the least and that is 

the déjà vu that cannot be 

wished away. 

Charles 29, dark in 

complexion, average height, 

needs a lady, for a serious 

relationship 07030141018 

Richie 50, civil engineer, 

needs a business woman, 

aged 35-50, for a relationship. 

08164506853, 09038001942 

Joshua 28 needs a lady, 

aged 18-26, from Edo or Delta 

state, for a relationship. 

08162065737, 08057053801 

Zoe 48, from Delta state, 

needs a busty, fair in 

complexion, uncircumcised 

very tall lady, who is a 

university graduate and 

resides is Delta, aged 26-35, 

for marriage.08030722412 

Nosen 57, a widower with 

two kids, in Delta State, needs 

a born again Christian lady 

who is gainfully employed for 

marriage, a single mother or 

a widower, aged 40 and 

above.07034362180 

Felix from Anambra state, 

needs a godly and sincere lady 

from Enugu, aged 20-27, who 

is ready for a relationship that 

will lead to 

marriage.07046309800 

NDDC leadership: Oron rallies 

support for Sole Administrator 

“For the records, Barr. 

Akwa is from Oron, an oil 

bearing and producing 

community in Akwa Ibom 

State. The community hosts 

not less than ten oil 

companies in its land and 

waters including Monipulo, 

an indigenous oil company 

owned by our Ijaw brother, 

Late Chief Lulu Briggs.” 

The statement noted that 

the people of Oron have 

paid their dues in the 

development of the region 

and the country at large, 

and should also be allowed 

to lead the region.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 10, 2021, PAGE 17 

The believer’s authority 

My niece was getting married and the 

wedding was outdoors. But just as 

it was about to commence, the 

weather changed; a bleak rain cloud overshadowed 

the place. 

I called out to a so-called pastor nearby: 

“Come,” I said, “Let us shift this rain.” Immediately, 

a cloud came over him. I could see 

fear written all over his face. But I did not 

allow him to equivocate. I grabbed his hands 

and decreed that the rain must go away from 

the location for the wedding in Jesus’ name. 

Just as soon as I finished, the cloud broke 

and moved away. I could not help but laugh at 

the “pastor.” “You were so scared,” I berated 

him. “But don’t you see, the cloud has moved.” 

It rained elsewhere on that day, but no drop 

of rain came near the location of the wedding. 

Heritage of peace 

Jesus says: “Come to Me, all you who labor 

and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 

(Matthew 11:28). On his departure for Calvary, 

he gives this assurance to believers: “Peace 

I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as 

the world gives do I give to you. Let not your 

heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 

14:27). 

Jesus is our Prince of Peace. Therefore, those 

who have Christ have received the peace of 

God that surpasses that all understanding. We 

not only live in peace; we have peace to give. 

We can decree peace and God will establish it. 

This also means that a lot of prayers that 

Christians still pray are not prayers of faith. 

Jesus says: “Whatever things you ask when you 

pray, believe that you receive them, and you 

will have them.” (Mark 11:24). Since we have 

Jesus was a king 

with a difference,He 

exercised complete 

authority in all areas 

of life 

received peace, we should not act like those 

who have not received it. 

There is no point in continuing to pray 

for what we have already received. For 

instance, Peter makes us understand that: 

“(Jesus) Himself bore our sins in His own 

body on the tree, that we, having died to 

sins, might live for righteousness — by 

whose stripes (we) were healed.” (1 Peter 

2:24). 

If we were healed, then we are. It makes 

no difference if we occasionally feel sick. 

“Thank you, Lord, for healing me” is different 

from “heal me, O Lord.” Praying for 

healing now means thanking God for taking 

sickness away from us, according to 

His word. 

Asking again and again for what we have 

already received shows we are still in the 

school of unbelief. It is not surprising, therefore, 

that the psalmist says: “O Lord God of 

Heaven's Armies, how” long will you be 

angry with our prayers?” (Psalm 80:4). 

In the Book of Acts, we often find the disciples 

praying to God. But once it came to 

healing, they issued commands. When Dorcas 

died, Peter simply said to her: “‘Tabitha, arise.’ 

And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter 

she sat up.” (Acts 9:40). 

Likewise, when he saw a lame man at the Beautiful 

Gate, Peter told him: “Silver and gold I do 

not have, but what I do have I give you: In the 

name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and 

walk.” (Acts 3:6). And immediately, he lifted the 

man up and he started to walk. 

Kenneth Hagin 

Kenneth Hagin claims Jesus appeared to him 

in a vision. But while he was talking to him, an 

evil spirit crashed the meeting, causing a racket. 

Soon, he could no longer hear what Jesus 

was saying. When Jesus took no action against 

the demon, Hagin finally cried out: “You foul 

spirit, get out of here in Jesus’ name!” Immediately, 

the demon ran off. 

Jesus insisted it was up to Hagin to do something 

about the situation. He told him: “If you 

hadn't done something about that, I couldn't 

have.” 

The moral of this story is that Jesus has given 

us the authority to put the devil under our feet. 

What we do with that authority is now entirely 

up to us. Jesus says: “Behold, I give you the 

authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, 

and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing 

shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19). 

This authority does not only apply to those 

who work in deliverance ministries, it applies to 

all believers, including old and new converts. 

Jesus says furthermore: “These signs will follow 

those who believe: In My name they will 

cast out demons; they will speak with new 

tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they 

drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt 

them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they 

will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18). 

Jesus does not even talk here in terms of prayer. 

He says we only need to touch the sick and they 

will recover. This is because this prophecy is 

already fulfilled in the believer: “It shall come 

to pass in that day that his burden will be taken 

away from your shoulder, and his yoke from 

your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because 

of the anointing oil.” (Isaiah 10:27). 

Like Father, Like Son 

Jesus was a king with a difference. He exercised 

complete authority in all areas of life. 

He healed the sick and cleansed the lepers, 

exercising authority over sickness. He stilled 

the storm and walked on water, exercising 

authority over nature. He cast out demons, 

exercising authority over the forces of darkness. 

He forgave sins, exercising authority over 

sin. He awarded eternal life and raised the 

dead, exercising authority over life and death. 

Jesus cursed the fig tree and it dried up from 

the roots. He multiplied loaves and thereby 

fed the multitude. He caused fishermen to 

catch more fish than they could handle. 

“When the multitudes saw it, they marveled 

and glorified God, who had given such power 

to men.” (Matthew 9:8). 

Indeed, God has given such power and authority 

to men. This is the believer’s authority. 

John revealed that Jesus gave the power to 

become children of God to all who received 

him and believed in his name. (John 1:12). 

The bible affirms that: “He who comes from 

above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs 

to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; 

he who comes from heaven is above all.” (John 

3:31). 

The believer is born from above. He is born 

of God therefore he is above all. The natural 

man is not only earthy but under the bondage 

of elemental spirits. The believer, on the other 

hand, has full authority over them. 

The centurion understood this. He said to 

Jesus: “Lord, I am not worthy that You should 

come under my roof. But only speak a word, 

and my servant will be healed. For I also am a 

man under authority, having soldiers under 

me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; 

and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to 

my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it.” 

“When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said 

to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, 

I have not found such great faith, not even in 

Israel!’” (Matthew 8:8-10). 

J.K. Akinola. (Senior Pastor) 

The Gospel Faith Mission International 

(GOFAMINT), No. 1, Koladun Akinola 

Street, Near Sonbeam Prep School, New 

Bodija, Ibadan. 

(Telephone: 08033376660 

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

Praying into 2021: Growing upward 

and going forward in life 

INTRODUCTION 

As we started last week, special prayer 

points will be given in these serials in the 

spirit of our Annual January Victory Month of 

fasting and Prayers. These prayer points are 

highly loaded for a closer walk with God, leading 

to true prosperity. As can be seen in the 

above topic, we must first of all grow upwards 

in God before we can truly go forward in life. 

as Christians, God’s expectation is that, we 

should grow upward and go forward in life. 

Upward Growth: This is spiritual growth. It 

is our growth in Christ likeness. It is our advancement 

in our spiritual knowledge. It is 

Everlasting gospel delivered by 

the Holy Father, The 

Supernatural Teacher and Sole 

Spiritual Head of the Universe, 

Leader Olumba Olumba Obu 

(BCS) WHQ 34 Ambo Street, 

Calabar, Nigeria 

The new Heaven and new Earth 

Except we accept to live peacefully 

with everyone and to practice righ 

teousness, we shall not see God. Let 

love reign amongst you. This is the new 

heaven and a new earth where righteousness 

and peace dwell. And so only the righteous 

people have the right of inheritance 

in this Kingdom. The people of the world 

who profess to be waiting for the return of 

Christ do not have the prerequisite qualification 

to behold the Lord. They should 

be informed that without righteousness no 

one can see God, otherwise, they will be 

waiting for nothing. 

Today, God is here in our midst. Have 

growth in terms of 

joyful positive disposition 

to the 

things of the spirit: 

the word of God, 

work of God and 

His commandments. 

In life, it is 

our upward growth 

that determines who 

we will be, where we 

will be and the 

height we will attain! 

Going Forward: 

This talks about 

progress. It is about 

leaving the level you are to a better and 

higher level. This is the will of God for you 

as a child of God and your heavenly father 

desires that you should go forward in all 

ramifications. Beloved, God’s will for us as 

his children is that we should grow upward 

and go forward. As Christians; our upward 

growth is what will propel our going forward! 

JOSEPH’S CASE STUDY 

An example that readily comes to mind 

the people of the world beheld Him? 

They have not seen Him because they 

are sinners. What they can see is money 

and wealth. They fight, quarrel, and 

create confusion. They segregate, beat, 

extort money from people and carve out 

empires for themselves. This accounts 

for the proliferation of the churches in 

the world today. 

All those who believe in peace and 

accept it have seen the Lord whether 

they congregate at 34 Ambo Street, or 

not. It does not matter the distance 

from here, or where they are staying. 

Many people too have a share in the 

glory of this Kingdom even though they 

have not even come here; they are protected 

and are saved in as much as they 

have followed peace with all men and 

have practiced righteousness. 

Brethren, it is said that a stroke of the 

cane is enough for the wise. Those who 

have ears to hear let them hear. May 

the Father bless His Holy Words. Amen. 

Thank You Good Father 

on this issue is the case of Joseph: He was hated 

by his brethren and was sold into slavery when 

they thought that would frustrate his dream of 

becoming a ruler over them. In the process; 

Joseph became a slave in the house of Potiphar, 

the commander of Pharaoh’s personal guard 

in Egypt. There, Joseph found favor in the sight 

of his master. But his wife tempted Joseph with 

adultery but Joseph did not fall to it. In spite of 

Joseph’s innocence, he was thrown into prison. 

In the prison, he met with Pharaoh’s bottler and 

interpreted his to him, which came true. Years 

later, Joseph was introduced to Pharaoh – and 

his encounter with pharaoh led to his freedom 

from prison and eventual promotion to the post 

of a prime minister in Egypt. It was the upward 

growth of Joseph that gave him a chance to go 

forward. 

PRAISE AND PRAYER POINTS 

Using Isaiah 65:6, begin to bless God that 

every labour without result have ended in your 

life right from the end of the last Year 2020. 

Using Isaiah 14:3, declare that, as there are 

many lockdowns, lockups, hardships etc in 2020, 

that in this New Year 2021, you will experience 

a divine release from all such hard bondages, 

fear, torment and sorrows in Jesus Name. 

In the Name of Jesus, I break every evil connection 

and covenant with sicknesses, illness, 

and diseases, just as I have broken every connection 

with the past year 2020. 

As I am now in Year 2021, all signs and 

marks of struggles and stress associated with 

2020 should depart from my life. Let every 

power of sorcery and witchcraft be separated 

from me in 2021 just as Elymas the sorcerer 

was separated from Sergius Paulo under the 

ministry of Apostle Paul. 

Heavenly father, I pray for your help in my 

life, such as will enable me to grow in grace 

and in the knowledge of yours this year than 

ever before. 

Pray for yourself: Lord help me to daily feast 

on your word, fellowship with the Holy Spirit 

and focus my attention more on you. 

Holy Spirit, help me to desire to listen to 

you daily, follow your leading and make you 

happy. 

Oh Lord, Grant me the grace to grow in my 

love for the brethren, loving and helping others, 

more than ever before. 

Father, cause me to witness great progress 

in my spiritual journey this year 2021. 

CONCLUSION 

Our 30-Day prayer bulletin for this month 

of January is still available in any of our 

Churches nearest to you. Happy and Prosperous 

New Year 2021. 

From left: Assistant Pastor in charge of Administrative, Region 1, Pastor Adebayo Adeyemo, 

Assistant General Overseer on Admin/Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, General Overseer, 

RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye; his wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye and Pastor Rachael 

Odesola during the launch of ground breaking ceremony of the new RCCG Coastline Worship 

Centre, Ebute-Metta, Oyingbo, Lagos.


sam.eyoboka@gmail.com 

Salvation is free (2) 

By William 

Kumuyi 

Please understand that 

you can only obtain 

peace of mind through 

the grace of God, because 

Him alone has the ability to 

save you from sin and only 

Him has the monopoly of 

power to deliver you from the 

consequences sin affords and 

from the evil plots of Satan 

and that of wicked men in the 

society. That is why the scriptures 

succinctly puts it that no 

other Saviour exists as He 

does. 

Acts 4:12 "Neither is there 

salvation in any other: for 

there is none other name under 

heaven given among men, 

whereby we must be saved." 

The above scriptural reference 

is an eye opener to all 

those who seemly put their reliance 

on some other safety 

nets to secure them against the 

day of judgment: others are 

mere false hope that would 

implode to the chagrin and 

eternal hurt of your soul. 

That is why you should know 

that there is no salvation in 

occultism. Tradition and idol 

worship are all dead ends, and 

religion will not suffice for the 

high standard of the righteous 

requirements God demands 

from you. 

That is why you need to look 

away from any other personality 

and switch your reliance 

and dependence from them to 

God and receive Christ as 

your Lord and only Saviour. 

The moment you look unto 

Jesus, irrespective of your 

creed, and as you turn away 

from your sins, your salvation 

will be totally secure. 

Your salvation is the product 

of the love of God exemplified 

long before you were 

born: God sent Jesus to this 

world, that has been infested 

Rev. Emmanuel Awazie 

*Assemblies of God Church 

Nigeria, 111 Clegg Street, 

Surulere, Lagos. 

From faith to faith (2) 

Faith cannot be intellec 

tually defined; it how 

ever behooves each individual 

to enter into a relationship 

with God through 

faith in the Redemptive sacrifice 

of Jesus Christ; “Saving 

is all his idea, and all his work. 

All we do is trust him enough 

to let him do it. It’s God’s gift 

from start to finish!” Eph. 2:8, 

it is, therefore, trusting God 

that will eventually develop 

and nurture the capacity that 

sees God behind every event 

and circumstance of your life. 

Faith becomes to us, then the 

divine outcome formed in us 

by which we are enabled to 

make all the wonderful spiritual 

blessings personally ours, 

and “Because of your faith, it 

will happen.” – Mt. 9:29. The 

individual believer must be 

aggressive in his or her quest 

after God, fully aware that 

God is passionate about our 

relationship with Him and the 

eventual beneficial outcome. 

Just as the eye is the organ 

by which we see the light and 

rejoice in it, so faith is the power 

by which we see the light of 

God and walk in it. We must 

realize that in the depth of our 

soul, God reveals Himself, desiring 

to make all His wishes 

and riches known. The person 

who rises by faith therefore, 

has learnt to clinch victory 

from the jaws of defeat. It 

is here that we have the simple 

but full statement of what 

the secret of the true Christian 

Life is. It is not faith only 

Pastor William Kumuyi 

with sin, through the great love 

He loved us: and Christ perfected 

the demonstration of the 

same love when He gave up 

Himself for us at the cross of 

Calvary. 

John 3:16 "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." 

Jesus died for you on a stake, 

and cried out in bitterness of 

agony, due to the terrible things 

you have committed, which 

are difficult to utter by words 

of mouth and may not pass as 

printables. 

That singular sacrificial act 

of love makes it possible for 

you to come boldly to the 

throne of grace to receive 

mercy and pardon for sins 

committed; and the instant 

you receive Jesus as your Lord 

and Saviour, that death wish 

ticket, assigned to sinners and 

the eternal punishment reserved 

for all those who disobey 

the commandments of 

God, will no more have a noose 

effect in your life. 

Again, when the scripture 

says in Isaiah 45:22 "Look unto 

me, and be ye saved, all the 

ends of the earth:" it reveals 

that the call of God is for all 

and sundry; and it is without 

discrimination, partiality and 

exception. 

To be continued 

in certain promises of God or 

in certain blessings that we receive 

from Christ; it is a faith 

that has got a vision of how 

entirely God gives Himself to 

the soul to be, in the very deepest 

and fullest sense, life more 

abundantly. To such a soul, the 

word of St. Paul, “I can do all 

things through Christ who 

strengthened me” Phil. 4:13, 

makes great meaning. 

Think for a moment of what 

the marks of true faith are. 

Faith counts upon God to do 

all He has promised as the 

only measure of its expectation. 

It does this with the whole 

heart and all its strength. It 

yields itself to the promise that 

God will take full responsibility 

and possession; and all 

through the day and night inspires 

its hope and expectation. 

It recognizes the inseparable 

link that unites God’s promises 

and His commands and 

yields itself to do for the believer 

as fully as it trusts. The 

life of faith to which the abiding 

presence will be granted 

must needs have complete 

mastery of our whole being - 

spirit, soul and body. 

This faith will be able to 

claim and experience the 

words of the Master: “Lo, I am 

with you always” – Mt. 28:20. 

We must, therefore, build up 

and strengthen our faith base 

and consolidate it on all that 

God has revealed and promised 

in His Holy word. By this 

we can secure our positions in 

Him – by FAITH. 

Hold the Lamb 

08023145567 (sms only) 

A tribute to Archbishop Peter Yariyock Jatau 

By Casimir Biriyok 

"Ubi Caritas, ibi Deus.” 

“Where love is, there is 

God” 

Archbishop Peter 

Yariyok Jatau, will 

be remembered 

for many things. He was a 

simple man, shrewd, humble, 

reserved, astute, peace 

loving, progressive, 

thoughtful, considerate, always 

seeing the bigger picture, 

empathic, resolute 

among many things. Many 

adjectives, right? But all are 

true. His most astounding 

quality was his unreserved 

delight in the "service of 

God” and his unwaning 

passion for “education." 

His life in the Priesthood 

and educational achievements 

are testaments that 

he walked the talk. Put simply, 

he saw all things one 

way - God’s way. 

Archbishop Jatau’s love 

to serve God was unquestionable 

and unassuming. 

This was evidenced by 

whenever he was visited by 

his nieces/nephews/young 

women/men, he would always 

seize the opportunity 

to recruit for Christ by asking 

in his softly spoken 

voice “would you like to be 

a Reverend sister/father?” 

To God alone be the glory; 

his recruitment met with 

success there are many who 

ended being in the service 

of God as Lay men and 

Women in the Church, Rev 

Fathers, Sisters and Bishops. 

Baba Bishop believed the 

purpose of education in 

one’s life was for enlightenment 

and as a means of 

source of livelihood. He followed 

this up and built and 

developed schools, funded 

the education of uncountable 

number of people. He 

supported and mentored 

many in the secular arena 

in order for them to find fulfilment 

in life. 

On reflection, the uncanniness 

of Baba Bishop’s 

call to Priesthood is akin to 

God’s call on Prophet Isaiah 

(Isaiah 6:8, GNB), "Then 

I heard the Lord say, 'Whom 

shall I send? Who will be my 

messenger?' I answered, 'I 

will go! Send me!'" Baba 

Bishop answered the call of 

God and obediently served 

for over 57 years as a Priest 

and Archbishop. His delight 

in the service of his 

first love, God almighty, 

was unwavering. God rewarded 

his undiluted commitment 

with blessings. 

God crowned his passion 

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 

TEXT: JOHN 1:29 “The 

next day John saw 

Jesus coming toward 

him. John said, 

“Look! The Lamb of God! 

He takes away the sin of the 

world!” 

All men have sinned and 

have fallen short of the glory 

of God. Sin leads to damnation. 

It has untold consequences 

that grows exponentially as 

one chooses to remain in it. 

The year is filled with new opportunities. 

God means well 

and has designed 2021 to go 

well for all men. However, by 

December 31st 2021, the testimony 

will be different for a 

lot of people. 

This is so because the enemy 

within will open the door 

for the enemy without. This 

enemy within gives room for 

sin to dominate hence the need 

to understand who the lamb is 

and why we should hold on to 

the Lamb of God. 

When we examine Exodus 

12:1-3, The LORD spoke to 

Moses and Aaron in Egypt. 2 

He said, “From now on, this 

month will be your first month. 

Each of your years will begin 

with it. 3 Speak to the whole 

community of Israel. Tell them 

that on the tenth day of this 

month each man must get a 

lamb from his flock. A lamb 

should be chosen for each 

family and home. 

We find our situation similar 

to that of the Israelites. We 

are in the first month of the 

•Late Archbishop Jatau 

for 'education' with remarkable 

success both in 

his personal life and in the 

lives of those he supported 

and encouraged. 

Archbishop-emeritus Jatau, 

your humility was exemplary. 

Your Christ-like 

love for humanity was a 

divine endowment. I would 

like to express my deep 

gratitude, love and respect 

to you for all that you did 

for God and humanity. My 

dear Uncle, you were a support 

and anchor to me as a 

young man until the full 

grown man I have become. 

You were available in kind 

and deed, from my student 

years in England and 

thereafter. Your home was 

my holiday home. Wherever 

you called home, there, 

I was welcome. Your ad- 

year 2021 and from the text 

above God was introducing a 

new calendar year to the Israelites 

which was different from 

that utilized by the Egyptians. 

God in verse three instructed 

them get a lamb for each family 

Ṫhe Lord told the Israelites 

to sacrifice a lamb, which 

must have no spot, wrinkle or 

blemish. This of course was a 

shadow and a type of what will 

happen in the future. Isaiah 

53:7 says He was oppressed, 

and he was afflicted, yet he 

opened not his mouth: he is 

brought as a lamb to the 

slaughter, and as a sheep before 

her shearers is dumb, so 

he openeth not his mouth. 

In the Old Testament the 

lamb was a simple meek animal 

but in the New Testament 

the lamb is Christ Jesus. This 

was why John the Baptist recommended 

the Lamb of God 

to his disciples and follower. 

In Egypt the lamb secured protection 

from the activity of the 

spirit of death but in the new 

testament and realm of the 

spirit, the lamb secured for the 

saints all that they can ever 

need. (Revelation 5:11- 

12).And I beheld, and I heard 

Cross-over night service: Another gospel 

Paul, in his letter to the 

saints in the early 

church at Corinth, 

reproved them of being so 

gullible, in believing the 

preaching of another Jesus 

or another gospel, different 

from the one he and his colabourer 

preached to them. 

He also reproved them of 

receiving another spirit, 

through this wrong preaching- 

2 CORINTHIANS 11:4. 

Many believers in Christ, 

today are so gullible, so 

much so that they can swallow 

up, any doctrine, without 

trying the spirit behind 

such doctrine, whereas, they 

are warned not to believe 

every spirit, but to try the spirits 

whether they are of God, 

because many false prophets, 

false apostles, deceitful 

workers, ministers of Satan, 

are gone out into the world, 

giving believers in Christ 

another spirit, through the 

preaching of another Jesus 

and of another gospel—1 

JOHN 4:1; 2 CORIN- 

THIANS 11:13-15. 

Majority of believers in 

Christ do err because they do 

not know the scriptures of 

truth, which are the doctrines 

of Christ, hence they 

are seduced by strange spirits 

into obeying doctrines of 

devils, which have caused 

them to depart from the faith 

- 1 TIMOTHY 4:1. The devil 

either adds to the bible or 

takes away from the bible, 

to make up his doctrines 

which his ministers teach the 

congregation, bringing 

them under the anger of God, 

as written in REVELATION 

22:18-19, and I quote, “For 

I testify unto every man that 

heareth the words of this 

book, if any man shall add 

unto these things, God shall 

add unto him the plagues 

that are written in this book. 

And if any man shall take 

away from the words of the 

book of this prophecy, God 

shall take away his part out 

of life and out of the holy 

City and from the things 

which are written in this 

book.” 

And so, cross-over night, 

supposedly believed to usher 

believers in Christ into the 

new year is one of these doctrines 

of the devil. This was 

never observed in the early 

church, that Christ left behind. 

Observing days, months, 

years are beggarly elements 

which bring believers in 

Christ under bondage of the 

law, as written in GALA- 

dress was my address. I am 

a better man today for having 

had you grace my life 

with your presence. I take 

comfort in the fact that you 

touched my life and the 

lives of many others. 

For Baba Bishop, the following 

quotes are very 

compelling: 

“Legacy is not leaving 

something for people. It’s 

leaving something in people” 

- Peter Strople 

“They that love beyond 

the world cannot be separated 

by it. Death cannot 

kill what never dies.” - William 

Penn 

“You may speak but a 

word to a child, and in that 

child there may be slumbering 

a noble heart which 

shall stir the Christian 

Church in years to come.” - 

Charles Spurgeon 

Baba Bishop, you lived 

your motto, 

“Ubi Caritas, ibi Deus” - 

“Where love is, there is 

God.” 

You remain forever in my 

heart! Rest in peace your 

Grace. When it is my time, 

I hope to meet you in spirit 

one day to part no more. 

•Casimir Biriyok, is resident 

in London,United 

Kingdom 

the voice of many angels 

round about the throne and the 

beasts and the elders: and the 

number of them was ten thousand 

times ten thousand, and 

thousands of thousands; Saying 

with a loud voice, Worthy 

is the Lamb that was slain to 

receive power, and riches, and 

wisdom, and strength, and honour, 

and glory, and blessing. 

This year if you can hold 

unto the Lamb of God, you will 

secure all ingredients you need 

for the year 2021. For example 

you need power, riches, 

wisdom, strength, honour, glory, 

blessing etc. These are all 

embedded in the lamb. Some 

look at the lamb from afar. 

It is not sufficient to behold 

the lamb, you must hold unto 

the lamb if you want to overcome 

sin, self and Satan, these 

are man’s greatest inhibitors 

to success. And on the flip side 

you will secure all that is secured 

for humanity through 

the finished work of the lamb. 

Pray that God will grant you 

grace to receive the lamb into 

your life and to continue to 

hold unto him despite the effort 

of the world to detach you 

from him. 

TIANS 4:9-10, “But now, after 

that ye have known God 

or rather are known of God, 

how turn ye again to the 

weak and beggarly elements, 

whereunto ye desire to be in 

bondage? Ye observe days, 

and months, and times and 

years.” 

Therefore, observing every 

year under the pseudonym of 

“NEW YEAR” is bringing 

believers in Christ under 

bondage of the law, which 

Christ has abolished by His 

death. Therefore, believers in 

Christ are supposed to stand 

fast in the liberty wherewith 

Christ has made them free 

and should not be entangled 

again in the yoke of bondage- 

GALATIANS 5:1. 

CHRISTIAN GOSPEL CHURCH 

(The Truth Centre) 

Email: cgc.com.ng@gmail.com 

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

Website: www.cgc.com.ng 

Website address: www.cgcthetruthcentre.com


What God has 

determined shall 

be done (1) 

Lord's Chosen's Central Choir ministering during the Mgbidi 2021 programme titled: 'What God has determined shall be done' 

Former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha at the Lord's Chosen Mgbidi 

2021 Crusade 

Beloved, it is appar 

ently clear that an 

other relay- race 

has started; the old year 

has come to the end of its 

race and has handed the 

baton over to the New Year. 

In this kind of race there is 

no losing of baton for it is 

designed to be a smooth 

pass until Jesus comes. Just 

as it was in all such races, the 

year 2021 has accordingly 

collected the baton of political 

and economic uncertainty, 

not excluding the wave of 

COVID-19 pandemic, from 

2020. But nobody is to be 

blamed for the hues and cries 

that pervaded last year since 

everything in this world is designed 

and dictated by His 

providence of which man has 

nothing to contribute because 

it is what God has determined 

that shall be done. 

When God determined to 

make a world, He made it. 

When He determined to create 

man, He created him. 

When He determined to deliver 

His people from the 

hand of the Egyptian task 

masters, He seamlessly delivered 

them. Red Sea could not 

stop Him, neither Pharaoh, 

his Soldiers nor Wall of Jerico 

could hinder Him. He determined 

that in the month of 

Nisan, in the twenty year of 

Artaxerxes the king, Nehemiah 

would rebuild the broken 

wall of Jerusalem and its 

burnt gate, He determined 

that at a certain period a virgin 

would conceive and bear 

a Son and God would be 

manifested in the flesh and it 

was so, that He would be persecuted, 

tortured and crucified, 

and would taste death for 

every man, and it was as He 

determined it. He determined 

that the Gospel would be 

preached to all nations and 

behold it will surely come to 

fulfillment. So, the emergence 

of the Year 2021 was 

His approval and everything 

we are going to witness in it 

has all been determined and 

destined by God Almighty. 

Ps 33: 11 says, “The counsel 

of the LORD standeth for 

God’s purpose and 

decree cannot be 

frustrated, He has 

His predestination 

according to the 

counsel of His will, 

and none of the 

devices of His foes 

can frustrate His 

decree even for a 

moment 

ever, the thoughts of his heart 

to all generations” 

God’s purpose and decree 

cannot be frustrated. He has 

His predestination according 

to the counsel of His will, and 

none of the devices of His foes 

can frustrate His decree even 

for a moment. The purposes 

of humanity could be blown 

to and fro like the thread of 

Special sisters ministering to the congregants during the 

Lord's Chosen Mgbidi 2021Crusade 

delicate wool, but the divine 

purposes of God are more 

solid and firmer than the 

earth. His purpose for all 

generation stands as determined. 

Generation comes 

and goes, but the undisturbed 

mind of God moves 

on in an unbroken serenity, 

producing ordained results 

with unerring certainty. Nobody’s 

will or plan is expected 

to be carried out from 

age to age because the wisdom 

of one age may be the 

folly of another, but the 

Lord’s wisdom changes not 

and is always wise, and His 

purposeful designs run on 

from century to century. With 

Him is the fountain of life 

and in His light we see light. 

He is the giver and taker of 

life, without Him we are nothing.. 

Beloved, you need not go into 

heaven or hell to know that it 

is God that determines what 

gender you would be from 

conception, what plant should 

grow in every given climatic 

zones and species of every animals 

because that could be 

learnt even from the beast. 

Job 12: 7-10 says, “But ask 

now the beasts, and they shall 

teach thee; and the fowls of the 

air, and they shall tell thee: 8 

Or speak to the earth, and it 

shall teach thee: and the fishes 

of the sea shall declare unto 

thee. 9 Who knoweth not in all 

these that the hand of the 

LORD hath wrought this? 10. 

In whose hand is the soul of 

every living thing, and the 

breath of all mankind.” 

The vulture lives more securely 

than the dove, the lion 

than the ox, the shark than the 

dolphin, the rose than the 

thorn which tears it. That one 

is rich and the other poor is 

not by fortune or chance but 

the Lord orders these things 

according to His measure of 

grace because He has absolute 

proprietorship in all creatures. 

That God allows the righteous 

to transit or the wicked 

to exist does not imply weakness 

on His part, that He allows 

the economic situation 

or our leaders to remain is still 

to achieve His determined 

purposes. The wheels in a 

clock may be moving contrary 

one to another, yet all 

serve the intent of the workman, 

to show the time. So in 

the world, when the providence 

of God by our own calculation 

seems to run across 

His promises, it is all according 

to His predetermined intent. 

If one man takes this 

way, another runs that way it 

is all to accomplish the will 

and the purpose of God. 

God has no partner, His 

designs are His own, they are 

formed and established in His 

infinite wisdom, and none 

can oppose. He designs everyone’s 

happiness or sadness, 

and none can prevent its 

accomplishment. I don’t 

know what the enemy has 

planned against you in this 

year, neither do I want to 

know the powers behind their 

machination, but what I 

know and is sure of, is that 

none of their devices will be 

fruitful except the Lord determines 

it. If you are on the side 

of God, be assured that in the 

year 2021 He has determined 

blessing and deliverance for 

you. It shall be well with you. 

Jer 29:11 says, “For I know 

the thoughts that I think toward 

you, saith the LORD, 

thoughts of peace, and not of 

evil, to give you an expected 

end” 

God’s love is steadfast toward 

His people and He has 

determined to fulfil His promises 

when they amend their 

ways. Sometimes we fear 

God’s determinations are all 

against us; but even that 

which seems evil, is for our 

good. He will give you, not 

the expectations of your fears, 

but the expectations of your 

faith; and the end promised 

will be the best for you. Promises 

are given to assure us that 

He meant well for us. 

I want to assure you that all 

the promises He has determined 

for you this year shall 

come to pass in Jesus name. 

These promises will not depend 

upon your merits, but 

upon His own mercy, and 

kind purposes which He has 

for His people. This year He 

will surely make an end to 

your trouble according to 

your expectation. By this massage 

God has removed your 

old garment of sin, disappointment, 

poverty, sickness, 

affliction, barrenness, etc 

and has put upon you a 

new garment of success, 

wealth, sound health, prosperity, 

sanctification and 

divine immunity. So as determined 

by God these 

shall be your portion in 

Jesus name.

PAGE 20 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 10, 2021 

The Kukah homily and 

other things 

Ido often sympathize 

with Femi Adesina 

and Garba Shehu, 

two of President Buhari’s 

key spokesmen. They are 

regime insiders par 

excellence. Their work 

often involves dousing the 

wild brushfires set off by the 

President. Certainly, Buhari 

does not make it easy for them. 

His lack of insight about how 

to run the shop in the 21st 

century does leave much to 

be desired. And it is the 

unfortunate work that 

Adesina and Shehu have 

signed on to, to craft the 

defense of the President. But 

there is a problem with that. 

Take Femi Adesina as an 

example. Just a few weeks 

ago, he penned his regular 

defence of the President, on 

the President’s birthday, on 

17th December: “If only more 

Nigerians knew this 

President,” Adesina wrote, “If 

only they knew the essential 

Buhari, the quintessential 

patriot and gentleman, they 

would behave differently, 

handle him with more care, 

and show him more kindness. 

Yes, everyone needs kindness, 

even Presidents.” Adesina is 

begging Nigerians to love 

their President. But on what 

basis? Nigerians would love 

Buhari if they found Buhari 

lovable. The problem is that 

Nigerians feel duped by 

Buhari. And what makes 

Buhari a “patriot”? A patriot 

is one who embodies and 

defends the highest ideals of 

the nation. Could anyone 

truthfully say Mr. 

Muhammadu Buhari is a 

“patriot” in the real sense of 

that word? I’m afraid not. 

Is Buhari a “patriot”? the 

jury is still out. As for being a 

gentleman, I’ll not worry too 

much about that. But I’ll worry 

more about Adesina who 

suggests that because the 

President gives him “hard 

currency,” he does not consider 

him “stingy.” He has a “soft 

side.” Here is Adesina about 

the President: “… May 2018, 

I was billed for China for a 12 

days course for senior 

government officials from 

Africa. He said when the 

journey was two days away, I 

should come to see him. I did. 

You know what he said? 

‘Adesina, I know that you don’t 

have money. But you are too 

shy to ask.’ We both laughed, 

and he gave me an envelope 

which contained foreign 

currency. How much? You 

think I’ll tell you? For where?” 

First, one is distraught by this 

revelation. Mr. Adesina is the 

Chief Press Secretary to the 

President of arguably one of 

the most important nations in 

Africa. If he was more 

conscious of his role, he would 

not have gone on a 12-day 

course in China for senior 

government officials in Africa. 

It is quite beneath him. I mean 

what is China teaching that 

requires senior government 

officials in Africa? At best, the 

Foreign Ministry should have 

sent a level 13 officer; senior 

enough, but without the same 

level of potential exposure as 

the President’s Chief of Press. 

Besides, how many courses 

has the Nigerian Foreign 

Ministry organized for senior 

government officials in Asia 

to come to in Abuja? But 

secondly, why does the 

President need to give his 

Chief Press Secretary an 

envelope containing foreign 

currency as some kind of 

personal gift to go on an 

officially sanctioned 

“course.”? Two things are very 

obvious here: Adesina’s 

relationship to the President 

is based on some kind of 

paternalism. There is however 

an ethical problem which both 

Adesina and the President fail 

to see: Public officers 

exchanging monetary gifts is 

problematic. The President is 

a public officer – the Chief 

Civil and political servant of 

the state. Adesina too is a 

public servant paid from 

public treasury. His trip to 

China may have been covered 

by an already over generous 

“estacode” regime. And even 

worse is that he expects 

ordinary Nigerians who have 

lost their jobs, their businesses; 

who are sick and cannot 

afford adequate medical 

treatment; who labour under 

Every Nigerian who 

loves Nigeria agrees 

with Kukah, those 

baying for his silence 

are enemies of 

Nigeria 

one of the most primitive 

infrastructural deficits of any 

modern nation, and who have 

seen the spike as never before 

of violent crime and 

kidnapping under this regime, 

and a terrifying economic 

and social climate, to be 

impressed by Buhari’s 

personal generosity? 

Nigerians don’t even want 

that kind of “owambe 

charity.” They want the 

President to do his job. 

Adesina in another essay 

claimed that President Buhari 

is present and sentient. He is 

not “Jubril from Sudan” as 

some of his adversaries have 

claimed. But it is becoming 

increasingly uncertain that 

Buhari is still the man many 

cast their votes to elect as 

President of Nigeria. Many 

Nigerians do not for a 

moment believe that the 

President has been replaced 

by a “double.” Conspiracies 

do often happen. What one 

suspects, and too many 

Nigeria increasingly suspect 

this, is that Buhari is being 

After losing bank to Abacha, they want to take over my property 

— Ralph Obioha, ex-NADECO chief 

*’Police arrested me over 20 times’ 

*Matter will be in court soon-Ex-bank chief 

By Ugochukwu Alaribe 

A 

former chieftain of the 

National Democratic 

Coalition, NADECO, Chief 

Ralph Obioha, is not a happy 

man. He is accusing a former 

top official of the defunct First 

African Trust Bank of wanting 

to take over his property 

located at N24A Ikoyi 

Crescent, Ikoyi, Lagos State. 

Obioha alleges that the 

takeover bid is being executed 

in collaboration with his 

former lawyer. 

First African Trust Bank 

stopped functioning after 

Obioha fled abroad during 

Abacha regime. 

Obioha stated that he had 

entered into an agreement to 

complete then-unfinished 

building and share the units 

between them. 

The soft-spoken Obioha, 

who was a front liner in the 

struggle to end military rule 

in Nigeria, said he had in 

1991 acquired the land from 

the late renowned sculptor, 

Prof. Ben Enwonwu. 

Narrating his ordeal to 

Sunday Vanguard in 

Umuahia, Obioha said he 

started erecting the building 

through a firm introduced to 

him by the former bank chief 

(erstwhile employee) in 1993, 

before he had to flee into exile 

following the onslaught 

against him and other 

NADECO chieftains by the 

Abacha regime over the 

refusal of the military to swear 

in the winner of the 1993 

presidential poll, Chief 

Moshood Abiola. 

“Political unrest rocked 

Nigeria following the refusal 

of the military to swear in 

Chief M.K.O. Abiola as the 

winner of the 1993 

presidential election. The 

truncation of Abiola’s 

mandate predicated a 

massive unrest with General 

Sani Abacha assuming full 

military powers and I, being 

a front liner in the struggle, 

fled into exile in the US, partly 

for my safety and, most 

importantly, to continue with 

the struggle for the 

restoration of democracy. The 

construction of my property 

at 24A Ikoyi Crescent, which 

had foundation level, had to 

stop as my flight to US, which 

we believed will be brief, 

turned from months to years. 

I didn’t return to Nigeria until 

1998,” he said. 

Four years after his return 

from exile and the property 

lying uncompleted, the ex 

NADECO chieftain said the 

former bank chief 

approached him to allow him 

complete the building on the 

basis of sharing the four units; 

two each to himself and the 

erstwhile employee. 

According to him, the 

former bank chief also 

undertook to perfect the 

Certificate of Occupancy of 

the land and other fees. 

Obioha lamented that the 

agreement to allow the 

former employee complete 

and share the building 

between them was his major 

undoing as the latter allegedly 

rented one of the two units 

belonging to him (Obioha), 

paid rent thrice and declined 

further payment since 2018 

while still occupying the unit. 

He explained: “My 

erstwhile lawyer called me in 

the US and announced that 

he will no longer act as my 

lawyer, that I should return 

immediately to Lagos and 

collect my property file with 

him. When I returned to Lagos 

after a week, the lawyer 

refused to honour any 

invitation for us to meet, except 

once and did not return the 

property file to me till date. 

We spoke on phone and he said 

there was a fire incident in his 

office, which consumed my 

property file.” 

The former NADECO chief 

accused the former bank chief 

of having a hidden agenda 

and allegedly collaborating 

with his lawyer, to take over 

the property. Obioha further 

alleged that he had earlier 

handed over some documents 

including the agreement he 

had with the bank chief to the 

lawyer for safe keeping. 

“The bank chief wants to use 

my former lawyer to deprive 

me of my property. The 

missing agreement which my 

former lawyer claimed was 

burnt in a fire incident that 

took place in the bank chief’s 

property was contrived to 

destroy evidence, particularly 

the part that established 

things that the bank chief was 

to perfect the land title, build 

a first class finished building 

of the highest standard, 

ensuring all building 

approvals are obtained and 

consent obtained from me 

before any changes will be 

allowed. It was convenient for 

all these agreements to be 

burnt by fire as alleged by the 

erstwhile bank chief and my 

former lawyer. If there was a 

fire outbreak, there are laid 

down procedures that must be 

followed. Why didn’t the duo 

obtain a police report of the 

incident? As my lawyer, why 

didn’t my former lawyer 

swear to an affidavit of facts 

over the incident and obtain 

CTC of the burnt documents 

and make them available to 

me? 

“The former bank chief and 

my erstwhile lawyer were 

aware that the enforcers of the 

Abacha junta invaded my 

country home in 

Arondizuogu, Imo State and 

carted away title documents 

on my property holdings in 

Nigeria including the ones I 

received in respect of 24A 

Ikoyi Crescent. I felt assured 

that my lawyer, was in safe 

custody of the original 

documents of 24A Ikoyi 

Crescent. The former bank 

chief also told me Abacha 

closed the bank because of my 

NADECO activities. But it is 

regrettable that I was 

betrayed. My former 

employee believes that the 

shielded from the Nigerian 

public, while a coterie of 

power-hungry insiders has 

seized constitutional power. 

This kind of state capture is a 

coup. The Constitution of 

Nigeria makes the President’s 

well being a constitutional 

issue for a reason. It is because 

a President who is no longer 

healthy; who functions as 

some kind of marionette of 

power interests inside his 

regime; those who lie to 

Nigerians and govern in his 

name only, places the nation’s 

interests in peril. A sick 

President is a danger to a 

nation’s security. A sick 

President imperils the nation 

in too many ways. Nigeria 

could become the victim of a 

foreign capture and 

manipulations by other 

means. By gaining direct 

control of the Presidency, 

using their proxies, those 

powerful nations who 

conduct “courses for senior 

African government officials” 

take charge of the nation’s 

sovereign will. It is a 

nightmare situation. And 

Nigerians are probably living 

it. Even when Adesina tells us 

that Buhari is in charge, 

Nigerians feel that nobody 

seems actually in charge. 

Everything is in a free fall. 

Boko Haram and armed 

bandits run the North now. A 

Catholic bishop was 

kidnapped in Owerri, and it 

feels oddly normal and silent. 

In fact, just recently when the 

issue of cross border crimes 

was raised, President Buhari 

is said to have declared, “Only 

God can supervise the border 

between Nigeria and Niger”. 

Heck No! This is enough. This 

is precisely what Bishop 

Mathew Hassan Kukah has 

said which has roused both the 

fears and the fury of these 

interests that have captured 

the state. In his Christmas 

homily, Kukah spoke truth of 

the kind that rattles. The Igbo 

often say of that kind of truth 

telling, that it is not unlike 

eating roast breadfruit nuts 

and barring the teeth to show 

it in all its prurience. Here is 

the kernel of Bishop Kukah’s 

pointed homily: “As our 

country drifts almost 

rudderless, we seem like 

people travelling without 

maps, without destination and 

with neither Captain nor Crew. 

Citizens have nowhere to turn 

to. After he assumed power, a 

delegation of the Catholic 

Bishops’ Conference had 

audience with President 

Buhari. In the course of our 

discussion, the President 

shared with us his frustration 

over the state of decay and rut 

that he had met. In frustration, 

I vividly recalled him saying 

that, from the decay and 

neglect, it seemed as if 

preceding governments had 

been doing nothing but just 

eating and going to the toilet! 

Looking back, one might 

conclude that those were 

happy times because at least 

there was food to eat and 

people could go to the toilet. 

Now, a journey to the toilet is 

considered by the poor an extra 

luxury. Our country’s inability 

to feed itself is one of the most 

dangerous signs of state 

failure and a trigger to 

violence.” Every Nigerian who 

loves Nigeria agrees with 

Kukah. Those baying for his 

silence are enemies of Nigeria. 

Court issues warrant for arrest of ‘selfimposed’ 

king in Delta 

By Festus Ahon 

AMagistrate Court 

sitting in Ibusa, Delta 

State has issued a 

warrant for the arrest of one 

Mr. Rueben Raleigh Ogode, 

who is facing trial for 

installing and parading 

himself as a traditional ruler 

in Ughievwen kingdom 

contrary to the Traditional 

Rulers Council and 

Chieftaincy law of the state. 

The defendant who was 

initially charged to the 

Magistrate Court, Otu-Jeremi 

before the charge was 

transferred to the Chief 

Magistrate Court, Ibusa, 

failed to appear before the 

court on the adjourned date 

even when his counsel was in 

Court. 

The Court which sat last 

Thursday had before now 

obliged Counsel to the 

defendant an adjournment on 

the ground of alleged illhealth 

and ordered the 

Counsel to take the Registrar 

of the Court to the hospital bed 

documents to the property are 

out of sight, this is why he is 

shouting that the production 

of the documents is all he 

wants. He has even made 

claims that the land doesn’t 

belong to Prof. Enwonwu, but 

to Lagos State government. 

He was paying rent on the unit 

he rented and suddenly 

stopped. He wants to become 

a landlord through the backdoor. 

I bought the property at 

24A Ikoyi Crescent three 

years before a friend 

introduced the former bank 

chief to me and I employed 

him. “He has written several 

petitions against me to the 

Ikoyi Police Station. I have 

lost count of the number of 

times he has brought 

purported officials to seal my 

to sight the Defendant. 

Counsel to the Defendant 

failed to comply with the 

order of the court. 

At the resumed hearing last 

Thursday, the Prosecutor 

applied to the Court for the 

issuance of a bench warrant 

for the arrest of the Defendant 

property. I have been arrested 

over 20 times by the police on 

flimsy reasons. 

“Each time, the police told 

him to maintain peace. The 

former bank chief has also 

dragged me before the Lagos 

land grabbers committee, who 

washed their hands off the 

matter because they 

discovered he has no case". 

He has been playing the 

ethnic card that he is a 

Lagosian while I’m Igbo, but 

that is nonsense. I knew he was 

a Lagosian before I employed 

him in my bank.” 

Contacted, the erstwhile, 

bank chief told Sunday 

Vanguard that he was in a 

meeting, and has a wedding 

ceremony to attend but later 

said the matter would be in 

court soon. He also promised 

to talk to Sunday Vanguard 

later. 

and to bring him before the 

Court to face his trial. 

The application was 

granted by the court for lack 

of any cogent reasons for the 

absence of the defendant. 

The Court has adjourned 

the matter to January 18, 

2021, for further hearing. 

GRADUATION: Alade Aromashodu of Vanguard Media 

Ltd (2nd right), wife, Kemi (2nd left); Hamid Aromashodu 

(3rd left); Quadri Aromashodu (1st left, front row); while 

Yinka Aromashodu (1st right) and Mukandam Ahmod 

Olasunkanmi, founder of Darwas Quranic Centre, Igbenren 

Ota (3rd right) and TolaniAromashodu,(1st right, front row), 

at the Quranic Graduation of Hamid/Quadri recently.

Viewpoint 

BY ERIC EBOZELE 

don’t think I can ever be ready to accept the 

I fact that you have passed on to the great beyond. 

The pains and vacuum your demise has left 

in my heart are unimaginable. 

My mother, my first love, my true confidant, my 

prayer warrior, 'O Baby' as I fondly called you, 

how can I live a day without hearing your voice? 

Talking every day was our daily routine. 

Hmmm, God, you know the best! 

If love, money, care, could buy life you would 

still be with us now but I take solace in the fact that 

you came into this world and left behind your 

legacy, which will forever be my guide. Mummy 

your love towards your children was priceless. You 

were so supportive during my early days of life. 

You ensured I got all the necessary assistance and 

guide. 

Mummy, I am happy you were able to live and 

see me become the man you wanted me to be. I 

am happy I didn’t disappoint you. I know that 

even as you drew your last breathe, you knew you 

were going home an accomplished mother. 

Ecclesiastes 3; 1-2, says everything in life has a 

beginning and an end. I will take care of everyone. 

I have to stay strong for you, Mum, because I need 

you to smile in heaven knowing full well I am 

going to do everything possible to continue where 

you stopped. 

Rest in the bosom of God, the great Amazon of 

her time, till we meet again. Love you, mum. 

Life 

Deaconess Elizabeth Itasoa Idahosa (Nee 

Okojie) JP, was an icon of a generation of passionate 

primary health care professionals in Nigeria 

and the United Kingdom. 

It is a generation that appreciated life and 

safety above all the trims and frills of existence. 

From Irrua to London, she pursued excellence 

in midwifery and nursing up until retirement. 

So singular was her commitment to the lives 

of mothers in labour and the safety of their babies, 

that even after she built her own maternity 

hospital, she regularly left her desk as Chief 

Executive to don her latex gloves to take delivery 

of pregnant women. 

Mrs. Idahosa was called to the service of 

her Creator on October 9, 2020, in a London 

hospital, accomplished, fulfilled and surrounded 

by her children, grandchildren and in-laws. 

BY KELMA ILENRE 

THE late Mahatma Gandhi, and Indian 

leader said, “The best way to find yourself 

is to loose yourself to the service of others.” 

This statement best describe the nature of my 

late father, Pa Alfred Monday Abora Ilenbilua 

Ilenre, popularly known by friends and associates 

as Comrade Pino. 

He was of Ishan extraction, born on 28th 

January, 1940 to the family of Pa Ilenre 

Akhimien in Idumeke quarters in Iruekpen, 

Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government Area 

of Edo State. He was a product of Ishan Grammar 

School, Uromi, Edo State and the Nigerian 

Institute of Journalism, Lagos. Until his 

death on 10th January, 2017, he was a veteran 

journalist, a social crusader, environmentalist 

writer per excellence, Secretary General, Ethnic 

Minorities and Indigenous Rights Organization 

of Africa (EMIROAF), a Pan African 

organization dedicated to the protection of the 

rights and dignity of ethnic minority nationalities 

in Nigeria and by extension to the continent 

of Africa. He was also the West African 

regional co-ordinator of International Alliance 

of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of The Tropical 

Forest. 

A veteran journalist of many years of experience 

and a prolific writer per excellence, worked 

with different print media (The Nigerian Tribune, 

The Nigerian Herald, Nigerian Observer, 

Midwest echo and Midwest champion) and 

was able to use the power of the pen to communicate 

his views and opinions without fear or 

favour on wide range of sensitive issues affecting 

the social economic and political events in 

Nigeria. 

BY HAPPINESS COLLINS 

DEACONESS ELIZABETH IDAHOSA: Tribute to my mother, ‘O Baby’ 

*Deaconess Idahosa 

She was born on June 20, 1937, in the picturesque 

town of Agbor, Delta State. Her father 

was a police officer, Okojie Imayelia of 

Okiangben Ewohimi, Esan South-East Local 

Government Area of Edo State, who was conferred 

with the first chieftaincy title in Okiangben 

Ewohimi by the king. 

Her mother was Madam Agbonghohien 

Okojie, of Ajayi family of Uhie-Eguia ( a lineage 

of king crowners) of Ewohimi. 

Christianity 

She had two other daughters, the late Deaconess 

Vero Omotese Momodu and Madam 

Love Oni. 

Chief Okojie was known to have brought 

Christianity to Okiangben Ewohimi. His interest 

was kindled by Pa Oyakilome of Assemblies 

of God Church. 

He and his entire household accepted the gospel 

of Jesus Christ and he offered Pa. Oyakilome 

a space in his compound to conduct church 

services for months until a permanent church 

building was erected on the land he provided. 

Little wonder Deaconess Elizabeth Idahosa’s 

other top passion was the church. She had an 

unwavering faith in God and she influenced 

many people into the Lord’s vineyard. 

Her mother, Madam Agbonghohien, was a 

successful merchant, who traveled often to 

Sapele and Warri for business and was exposed 

to the benefits of education. She impacted this 

value on her young daughter, who she fondly 

called Dandehi. 

These early influences on young Elizabeth 

greatly shaped her future life (her thirst for continuous 

knowledge and her travels/adventures). 

Midwifery 

After her primary and secondary education 

at Ewohimi, she enrolled at the prestigious 

Zuma School of Midwifery in Irrua, presentday 

Esan Central Local Government Area of 

Edo State, where she obtained her midwifery 

Diploma. 

She worked at the Irrua Hospital for many 

years. She met and married the late Mr. Christopher 

Ebozele and the union was blessed with 

four children: Mrs. Emily Omozele Joel-Omueda, 

Ms. Gladys Omozusi Ogbede, Chief Eric 

Eromosele Ebozele and Mrs. Kate Essele 

Adetoyi. 

Alongside raising her children, she excelled 

as a young professional and grew quickly in her 

chosen career. When her marriage sadly ended, 

she focused on her job and later transferred to 

Benin City. She found love again and married 

the late Elder John Azeta Idahosa (Safe and 

Guide Stores). 

Their union was blessed with Mrs. Joyce 

Isoken Elebesunu, Mrs. Vivian Agharese Akinbanjo 

and Mr. Emmanuel Osaze Uhunoma 

Idahosa. 

She raised her stepchildren, nieces, nephews, 

cousins, siblings and many more from both families 

alongside her own children. 

Mrs. Idahosa adjusted into the role of a mother 

of many, creating a home filled with warmth, 

love and equal opportunities. 

She was an awesome manager of people, both 

at the domestic and corporate levels. 

In the course of her work, she went on several 

transfers between 1976 and 1979, to places like 

Iguobazuwa, Egba among others. 

Juggling career and family seamlessly, she attended 

several local and international courses, 

including an exchange and training programme 

to Scotland. 

She had BMedSci, Health and Human Sciences 

at Sheffield UK, Diploma in Public Health 

and Diploma in Health Technology, at the University 

of Benin. 

Matron / Director of Nursing 

Mrs. Idahosa was a moving force, unstoppable 

in her desire to make a difference. 

In the early 1980s, she established the Idahosa 

Maternity in Ikpoba Hill, Benin-City. 

It was a 25-bed space facility for the care of 

women and children, with doctors, nurses and 

auxiliary staff. 

She retired as a Matron / Director of Nursing 

from public service. 

When an opening came up in the UK, she did 

not hesitate. She relocated in 2001 and took up 

the position. Mrs.Idahosa worked many years 

until she finally retired meritoriously with an enviable 

professional record. 

At last, mission accomplished! 

Her love for travel and adventure took her to 

Spain, Portugal and the United States of America 

at different times. 

Understandably, she also went on pilgrimage 

to the Holy land of Israel hence the Justice of 

Peace,JP, title. 

She was a devoted Christian who deeply loved 

God and was ordained Deaconess of Church of 

God Mission International, Benin City Nigeria. 

She imbibed in her family and wards, the 

knowledge and awareness of the power and 

promises the gospel assured. 

Though Mrs. Idahosa looked delicate and soft 

on the exterior, she was a figure of strength, resilience 

and determination. 

At challenging points in her extraordinary experience, 

she remained optimistic, courageous, 

dedicated, tenacious and positively ambitious. 

She always had a beautiful smile that complemented 

the loving, witty, trendy lifestyle she enjoyed. 

She is survived by seven biological children 

and step-children, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, 

grandchildren, great-grandchildren and 

in-laws. 

Mrs. Idahosa will forever be missed and will 

remain unforgettable. 

*Ebozele, Chairman/Managing Director of 

Gladtrico Intl Limited, writes from Benin-City 

ALFRED ILENRE 1940 - 2017: Tribute from son’s perspective 

*Late Alfred Ilenre 

His involvement in human and minority right 

activism started in the 70’s alongside his good 

friend and journalist, also late by name Dan 

Ikunaiye and other contemporaries either still 

alive or dead, but was more pronounced in the 

1990’s when he met his bosom friend and activist, 

late Ken Saro-Wiwa with whom he shared 

the same dream of a better Nigeria. His relationship 

with Ken was so cordial that he was 

mistaken for an Ogoni man. Ken Saro Wiwa 

was the founder of the Movement for the Survival 

of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), a movement 

he dedicated to the marginalized Ogoni 

people of Rivers State, in the Niger Delta region 

of Nigeria where the majority of the nation’s oil 

resources are harnessed. In the course of fashioning 

out a way forward for Nigeria, they both 

realized that there was no concrete plans, policy 

and programmes that guaranteed the rights 

and dignity of ethnic minority nationalities in 

the country during the years of military incursion 

in governance. In fact, they saw that the 

minority groups were becoming more marginalized 

by the day, hence the formation of the 

Ethnic Minorities and Indigenous Rights Organization 

of Nigeria (EMIRON), Ken being 

the President and my father, Secretary General. 

The organization was subsequently transformed 

into the Ethnic Minorities and Indigenous 

Rights Organisation of Africa (EMIROAF), 

in order to give it an international outlook and 

also internationalize the ethnic question, 

Apart from his relationship with Ken Saro 

Wiwa, he associated himself with other progressives 

with great minds. He was a dedicated 

Awoist and used to describe Papa Awolowo as a 

visionary leader, a true federalist, a great politician 

and his dreams of building institutions and 

human capital. He followed the footsteps of Papa 

Awolowo. He deeply respected, appreciated and 

believed in Awolowo’s dream of building an egalitarian 

Nigeria. He embraced his brand of politics 

under the platform of the defunct Unity 

Party of Nigeria (UPN), which centred on promoting 

Nigerian unity with regards to ethnic 

diversity. He was not a politician, but what endeared 

him to the party, were the policy programmes 

& manifestos, which were in conformity 

with his believe of how Nigeria should be 

Fighting for your rights without fighting 

SOME time ago I was a victim of service 

failure and right infringement by 

NIPOST, after a short course in Lagos; Ineeded 

to send my luggage back home hence I 

engaged the services of NIPOST which is relatively 

economical and reliable as compared 

with some other delivery services. After weighing 

my luggage and receipt issued, I left. A 

week after, I received a call from a NIPOST 

official asking for details of myluggage, I 

obliged and gave them full details which included 

military wares .On hearing that, the 

NIPOST official asked that I come back to the 

post officein Lagos to remove my military 

wares else they won’t deliver my 

luggage;meanwhile I had travelled back to 

Abuja where I live. On hearing that, I gotfurious 

and pointed out that the fault is theirs becauseI 

was not given priornotice despite the 

fact that I was accompanied by a military personnel 

inuniform. After much argument, I decided 

to engage the services of The Public Complaints 

Commissions (PCC). I went online, got 

their contacts and relayed theissue to them. 

Despite the fact that it was on a public holiday 

, they swungswiftly into action and within a 

few days, all my luggage was delivered to mydoorstep 

by NIPOST instead of the usual delivery 

to the NIPOST office which would require 

going to pick my luggage myself and at 

my expense. On 16 October 1975, the Public 

Complaints Commission (PCC) was created 

by the federal government of Nigeria with powers 

to control administrative excesses (nonadherence 

to procedures or abuse of law). The 

Public ComplaintsCommission or the Ombudsman 

is an institution established by the 

government to entertain citizens’complaints 

of injustice, unfair treatment, corruption and 

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 10, 2021,PAGE 21 

abuse of office bypublic officers. The commission 

is to investigate such cases and to recommendsteps 

towards discipline or correction of 

such cases, the commission is seen asa machinery 

that controls administrative excesses 

especially in situation whereby law is abused 

or not adhered to , they ensure that aggrieved 

citizens in Nigeria gets administrative justice, 

be it from bureaucratic error, omission orabuse 

by government officials or even a limited 

liability company inNigeria. The main function 

of the commission is to ensure that impartial 

investigation is provided on behalf of the 

complainant who feels aggrieved by the action 

or inaction of the government, local government 

or private companies. Not too many 

people in Nigeria are aware of the over 44 

years oldfederal government agency, the 

military is not left out as it has been in a major 

light as regards fighting for their rights, the 

run and administered. 

His involvement in the human right struggle 

for the recognition of ethnic minority rights 

and dignity of the oppressed and neglected people 

of Nigeria from economic and political slavery 

was a very bitter experience for him, especially 

during the period of Abacha’s tyrannically 

rule (1993 – 1998). A couple of times, he 

was molested and intimidated by Abacha’s security 

agents. He never for once changed his 

stance when confronted with threats and intimidation 

from any Nigerian government. In 

fact, he was never afraid of death. He was always 

focused on the struggle because he knew 

he was fighting a just cause and had the backing 

of other progressives and the international 

community. He was indeed a champion of genuine 

struggle for the emancipation of Nigerians 

from oppression and injustice through 

peaceful dialogue. He was never known to be 

violent. He feared that if care is not taken to 

embrace peaceful dialogue, a bloody revolution 

may likely spring up in the country, which 

he vehemently prayed against He was among 

the progressives alongside Dr. Beko Ransome 

Kuti (late), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Alfred 

Rewane (late) and others, dead or alive,who 

fought for the restoration of the mandate given 

to MKO Abiola in the 1993 presidential election. 

He was among the people barred during 

the Abacha junta from travelling out of the 

country, because he was seen as a threat to 

Abacha’s government. 

Continues on www.vanguard.ngr.com 

military has been labeledto always use force 

,violence and intimidation to seek redress. A 

major percentage of such actions would have 

been averted if military personnel were aware 

and made use of the services of such government 

agencies. By the way, the PCC has offices 

across all states in Nigeria and even in Local 

Government Areasand wards in Nigeria. The 

headquarters of the Public Complaints Commission 

islocated at No. 25 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, 

Council 900271, Abuja,FCT.Its 

emailsareinfo@pcc.gov.ng and 

complaint@pcc.gov.ng while its websiteis 

https://pcc.org.ng. The PCC works from Mondays 

to Friday from 9am to 6pm,however they 

are always and readily available at all times, 

take advantage oftheir services and save yourself 

the stress of fighting. 

* Collins lives in Kubwa, Abuja


By Chioma Obinna 

As health authorities in Lagos 

continued to raise the alarm over 

increasing cases of COVID-19, 

Medical Guild has urged government to 

stop the importation of the new strain of 

the virus which “spreads easily and 

damages with increased morbidity and 

mortality”.The medical body said its 

members had been seeing an increased 

incidence of persons presenting late to 

hospital where they become oxygen 

dependent which may result in worse 

outcomesThe Chairman of the Guild, Dr 

Oluwajimi Sodipo, who is also the Head, 

Family Physician, Lagos State University 

Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, insisted that 

Lagos and Nigeria at large must adopt a 

multipronged approach to stem the tide of 

the virus while reducing death from severe 

forms.The physician, who noted that it was 

difficult balancing the social and economic 

aspects with the health-related aspects, told 

Sunday Vanguard at the weekend: 

“There should be strengthening of the 

testing of returnees to the country, ensuring 

they come in with negative results and that 

a repeat test is done at about 7 days.“Those 

who are symptomatic must isolate 

promptly and get treatment”.According to 

him, government must, however, not be 

weary in finding solution to the spread of 

the virus.“There should also be continuous 

health promotion aimed at making citizens 

realized the effects of COVID-19 and the 

potential to lead to severe health challenges 

including death”, Sodipo stated.“There 

should also be enforcement of basic 

preventive measures such as the use of face 

mask, hand sanitizers and social 

distancing.”Other measures he listed 

include expanding testing of contacts of 

COVID-19 patients and ill persons with 

prompt result notification, and expanding 

treatment especially for the vulnerable and 

ill 

Ṫhe physician explained that government 

must also ensure social benefits for the most 

vulnerable while health care workers who 

bear the brunt of infections should be 

prioritized for provision of personal 

protective equipment, health and life 

insurance and appropriate hazard 

allowances.Speaking on vaccines, the 

Medical Guild Chairman, who noted that 

By Chris Onuoha 

Bioresources Development Group 

(BDG) chairman, Prof. Maurice 

Iwu has restated the efficacy of 

herbal medicine in the treatment of the 

COVID-19 cases as the virus enters 

variant stage globally. 

The former chairman of Independent 

National Electoral Commission (INEC) 

and eminent Professor of Pharmacognosy, 

Iwu, in a chat with Sunday Vanguard said 

that the effectiveness of special herbal 

drugs produced in the country, stand the 

chance of combating the disease at early 

stage, but noted that the slow pace in 

acceptance and approval hinders its 

feasibility. 

Iwu also pointed that herbal extracts 

from a plant, “Andrographis Paniculata”, 

commonly known as green chiretta, 

already approved by the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) of Thailand is on 

its way to serve as an alternative 

treatment to the severity of the ailment. 

FRESH ALARM OVER COVID-19: 

Why more Nigerians becoming 

oxygen dependent— Medical Guild 

•Lists steps to reduce impact of second wave 

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu interacting with a COVID-19 patient 

although the vaccines would not solve the 

problem completely as a maximum 

number of people must be vaccinated to 

provide the beneficial effect, said emphasis 

should be on getting the most vulnerable 

vaccinated such as the elderly, health care 

workers and those with other diseases such 

as cancer and renal disease etc.Sodipo said 

government should also use vaccines with 

verified safety and efficacy data such as the 

Oxford- Astrazeneca and the Pfizer Biotech 

vaccines.On the efforts of Lagos doctors in 

curbing the virus, he said they have played 

a critical role in battling the COVID-19 

pandemic and would continue to do 

so.Sodipo stressed that there is a need for 

the public to understand the severity of the 

illness and take precautionary measures 

such as the use of face masks, social 

distancing and presenting early to the 

hospital. 

“The Medical Guild and other medical 

associations have played a critical role in 

educating the public, advocacy to 

government and provision of personal 

protective equipment to members and have 

been involved in all aspects of the COVID- 

19 response”, the physician said.“I must say 

that Lagos government has performed well 

in terms of provision of personal protective 

equipment, increasing testing from the 

initial capacity and efforts to start the 

oxygen supply via the establishment of 

oxygen plants in various parts of the 

state.“However more can still be done and 

can do more especially in terms of ensuring 

the health and life assurance for health care 

workers, provision of testing and treatment 

support for health workers who should be 

prioritised, increasing the hazard 

allowances for all health care workers, 

whilst giving special allowances to all those 

directly involved in the COVID-19 

response”. 

100,000 doses 

Nigeria will be taking its first delivery 

of 100,000 doses of mRNA COVID-19 

vaccines for 84, 655, 749 people (40 

percent) of the country’s 200 million 

population. 

Top among those to be vaccinated first 

are health workers in isolation centres 

nationwide, 10 percent of adults above 50 

years of age, 17 percent of persons with comorbidity 

below 50 years and 12 percent 

of other risk groups. 

Other frontline workers like immigration 

officers at the airport, and personnel at 

testing centres and those categorised as 

targeted uniform personnel would also be 

prioritised for vaccination because of 

exposure. 

Giving a breakdown of how subsequent 

vaccines would be utilised, the Director of 

Disease Control and Immunisation, 

National Primary Healthcare 

Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Bassey 

Okposen, said the 100,000 doses would be 

utilised efficiently as each beneficiary will 

need a second dose after three weeks. 

Okposen further explained that states with 

a high burden of COVID would be given a 

priority. 

$8 per vaccine 

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osage 

Ehanire, had earlier said Nigeria needs 

N400 billion to vaccinate 70 percent of its 

population at $8 per vaccine. 

Ehanire said the country would be 

spending N156 billion in 2021 and N200 

billion in 2022. 

COVID-19: Iwu restates efficacy of herbal medicine treatment 

•Prof. Maurice Iwu 

He stated; “As indicated, the Thailand 

FDA has moved faster than us, although 

we discovered the drug years ago, our slow 

pace has become manifest here. The 

empirical data on InterCEDD health 

product, “IHP Detox Tea” produced by the 

Bioresources Processing Centre in 

Nigeria for the treatment of COVID-19 

which is contrary to what was forecasted. 

But COVID19 also helped to grow the e- 

commerce business. I read an article, recently, 

about the penetration and increase in mobile 

subscriptions in the country. The development 

is positive to e-commerce because more 

subscribers are actually using phones to 

engage Jumia platform. Despite the 

challenges, e-commerce will still lead the 

national economic revival, stability and 

strength 

The brick and mortar stores are 

experiencing low patronage since the 

COVID-19 pandemic. What impact 

does this have on e-commerce? 

For us, it is more like a change in 

consumers’ buying patterns. People have 

been buying foodstuffs like rice, and 

interestingly, we offer some great 

deals on the platform. I would 

admit that the need to acquire 

devices like laptops, phones, 

televisions is becoming profound 

this time. The platform is 

consistently growing. 

has been overwhelmingly positive, even 

on people with existing metabolic 

syndrome.” 

Iwu also noted that the supplement is 

still undergoing independent clinical 

trials at the College of Medicine of the 

University of Lagos, adding that the 

Center has a full anti-COVID-19 package 

that include ‘Immunovit’ and ‘Garcinia- 

IHP’. 

“Andrographis paniculata is a key 

ingredient in IHP Detox Tea, but of course, 

the IHP Detox Tea is far more effective 

than the single component,” remarked 

Iwu. 

Meanwhile, the Thailand’s health 

ministry, according to agency report has 

approved the use of herbal plant extract 

to treat early stages of COVID-19 as a 

pilot program amid a flare-up in the 

corona virus outbreak in the South-east 

Asian nation. 

“Andrographis Paniculata, commonly 

known as green chiretta, will serve as an 

alternative treatment to reduce the severity 

of the outbreak and cut treatment costs, 

RECESSION: E-commerce ‘ll champion economic recovery –Spalazzi, Jumia CEO 

By Prince Osuagwu, Hi-Tech Editor 

umia Nigeria CEO, Massimiliano 

JSpalazzi, is a consummate marketer and 

e-commerce expert. 

His years of experience in business give him 

the advantage of correctly forecasting the 

outlook of the sector every year. However, what 

Spalazzi didn’t anticipate in 2020 was that 

Covid-19 pandemic will ravage the e- 

commerce sector and world economy. With 

that experience in mind, he sees an uncertain 

2021. Notwithstanding, he believes the e- 

commerce sector will still lead the country’s 

national economic recovery. 

COVID-19 has not been friendly to 

businesses. That is in addition to the 

current recession. How much of the 

impact does e-commerce feel? 

I think we need to split the macroeconomics. 

These situations are hard for many 

businesses, but at the same time, the 

penetration of e-commerce in the country is 

actually increasing by the day. I would say 

that the key impact of the current recession on 

e-commerce is probably a slower growth, 

How did Jumia help local vendors 

during the lockdown when 

engagements were mainly online? 

What we saw last year how relevant e- 

commerce is in serving the population during 

tough times. People locked down due to the 

pandemic, purchased goods safely and 

comfortably. Again, local businesses grew 

because they automatically migrated online. 

For Jumia we put in a lot of work to 

have more engagements with local 

vendors which helped transform their 

businesses. Jumia and is still happening 

online. What we saw also was Today, 

more people are using Jumia Pay. They 

found a lot of safety in it because of our 

push towards contactless payment 

Yes, we experienced a tough year, 

absolutely, but e-commerce 

helped out. 

How are vendors 

reacting to the new 

order 

where 

competition is 

practically shifting 

online? 

Vendors who understand 

•Spalazzi 

the ministry,” says the Thai health 

ministry. 

The report also quoted Thai’s 

government official, Taweesilp 

Witsanuyotin, a spokesperson for the 

national COVID-19 response centre, 

saying that the rate of increase in local 

transmissions was alarming, adding that 

Thailand on Wednesday December 30, 

2020, reported 250 new cases, taking the 

nation’s total to almost 7,000, 

“The herbal treatment will be on a 

voluntary basis for those in the 18-60 age 

group with minor symptoms and should 

be within 72 hours of confirming 

infections, and also, government has 

banned large gatherings in high-risk 

areas,” Witsanuyotin stated. 

He also noted that the extract from the 

plant, known as Fah Talai Jone in Thai, 

can curb virus and reduce severity of 

inflammation, and that Human trials 

showed patient conditions improved 

within three days of the treatment without 

side effects if the medicine is administered 

within 72 hours of testing positive. 

this also understand the potential of e- 

commerce. Let’s keep in mind that last year 

was very important for brands because 

we did see a shift in their interest and 

much more focus on what is happening 

online and in the e-commerce sector. 

Every brand started doing their 

marketing and commercial e-commerce 

strategy. We help them in tinkering with 

those strategies and bringing the projections 

to fruition. 

With what you have seen already, how 

is Jumia preparing its platform to 

accommodate more vendors this year? 

Since March 2020 a new trend crept into 

our business. Offline businesses flooded the 

online space and the challenge to keep pace 

heightened. We simply endorsed vendors for 

regular online selling on Jumia. With 

that, they now understood what is actually 

happening and since then, there has been 

an increased growth of digitalisation. 

Presently, we have wonderful conversations 

with brands and hopefully, Jumia will be the 

central point to galvanise e-commerce growth 

and national economic boom

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 10, 2021 — PAGE 23 

Chelsea’s Ugbo commits to Nigeria 

. 

*Ugbo 

Chelsea’s striker Ike 

Ugbo has revealed 

his intentions to play for 

Nigeria ahead of England 

and France. 

The 22-year-old Ugbo 

who is on loan at Cercle 

Brugge in the Belgian 

League, scoring 10 goals 

in 16 appearances in the 

top-flight, has played for 

England U-17, but he is 

understood to have made 

case to FIFA to give him 

clearance to play for the 

Super Eagles at the 

2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

Ugbo was born and 

raised in South London 

by Nigerian parents. 

Speaking to Het Laatste 

Nieuws, Ugbo revealed 

: “The paperwork 

is not quite in order yet, 

but my agent is working 

on it. Playing a World 

Cup is every footballer’s 

dream, isn’t it?” 

Speaking on his club 

career he revealed that 

despite the poor position 

of his club in the Belgian 

league, he would love to 

remain there till the rest 

of the season and help 

the club. 

Messi has three more years, 

says Rivaldo 

Lionel Messi is back to 

his best at Barcelona 

and looks to have “at least 

two or three more seasons” 

in him “at the highest level”, 

former Brazil and Barcelona 

striker Rivaldo has 

said. 

Rivaldo told Betfair of a 

man who has contributed 

12 goals and six assists to 

Kaduna Polo tournament: Georgian Cup title 

excites Babangida 

There were lots of sun 

shine, windy evenings, 

spectacular atmosphere, 

and epic finals at the recently 

concluded 2020 Kaduna 

international polo 

tournament that reaffirmed 

EL-Amin invincibility 

as Georgian Cup kings, 

providing a fitting silver 

Jubilee anniversary for the 

all time champions. 

Unlike other Kaduna 

tourneys, this one was special 

in many ways. First it 

was the edition that heralded 

the Guinness Book 

of Record recognition of 

Georgian Cup and First 

Bank as the longest run 

sporting sponsorship in the 

world, and the 101 edition 

of the prestigious event. 

Secondly, the 2020 Kaduna 

polo extravaganza, the 

Guinness Book of Record 

candidate and unarguably 

Nigeria’s most accomplished 

team ever, EL-Amin 

polo organization made 

history on their Silver Jubilee 

celebration, defeating 

title holders, Abuja Rubicon 

for a record 15th title 

of the highly revered 

Georgian Trophy. 

First it was on this very 

ground that they archived 

their high-goal status, earning 

their first Georgian title 

in 1999. Ironically, it 

was at the same legendary 

Murtala Square that they 

lost their treasured crown 

twice to Abuja Rubicon in 

2015 and 2019. 

That accounts for their 

only defeats in 11 years of 

high-goal polo campaign, 

before sweeping past Jos 

Malcomines and defeating 

Rubicon 7-6 I in a tense final 

in Kaduna recently, to 

reaffirm their supremacy as 

kings of Nigerian polo. 

“Winning the Georgian 

Trophy on our Silver Jubilee 

anniversary means everything 

to me. I feel like 

it’s my first win,” team patron 

and defender, Mohammad 

Babangida, said. 

We started in 1995, started 

playing in the Georgian 

Cup series from 1997, 

missed 2000, 2001, and 

2017. So far we have participated 

in the Georgia 

Schalke record first win in 30 

league games 

Schalke’s American teenager 

Matthew Hoppe 

scored a hat-trick on only 

his fifth Bundesliga appearance 

to carry the struggling 

side to a 4-0 victory 

over Hoffenheim and snap 

the Royal Blues’ 30-game 

winless streak in the 

league. 

Hoppe, who made his 

Bundesliga debut in November, 

chipped the ball 

over keeper Oliver Baumann 

after a superb pass 

by Amine Harit to finish off 

a quick break three minutes 

before half-time. The pair 

combined perfectly twice 

more for the 19-year-old 

Hoppe to score again in the 

57th and 63rd minutes. 

Morocco international 

Harit then turned scorer by 

drilling in their fourth goal 

after 80 minutes as Schalke 

climbed off the bottom of the 

table. 

The California-born 

Hoppe joined Schalke in 

2019 from the Barça Residency 

Academy in Arizona. 

Schalke, whose last 

league win was back in January 

2020, were a defeat 

away from matching Tasmania 

Berlin’s German topflight 

record of 31 matches 

without a win from the 

1965-66 season. 

Cup contest twenty times, 

won fifteen times. EL- 

Amin is the only Nigerian 

high-goal team to play at 

the highest level with the 

same players for over 23 

years, he pointed out. 

“We are happy we participated 

in the tournament, 

we are happier we 

won back the Georgian 

Cup for the 15th time 

which is the longest winning 

run by any team in the 

history of the Georgian 

Cup series” he added in a 

chat. 

the Barca cause this season: 

“Lionel Messi has started 2021 

very strongly with great performances, 

goals and assists 

as we are all used to seeing. 

“It’s important for him and 

the club to maintain their relationship, 

as he might be ending 

his time as a Barcelona 

player. 

“We still don’t know if he 

will renew his contract, but at 

least we are watching him play 

near his best again, which indicates 

he should keep playing 

at the highest level for at 

least 2-3 more seasons. 

“We must appreciate the 

pleasure of watching him perform 

such magnificent football. 

“Anyway, it’s important to 

note that even when Messi isn’t 

playing at his best, he still continues 

to be the best player at 

Barcelona, which magnifies 

his quality and importance to 

the club.” 

Messi netted twice in his 

most recent appearance, as 

Barca edged out Athletic Club 

3-2, and has found the target 

on five occasions through his 

last six outings. 

Georgian Cup Kings...... Kaduna el-Amin players 

showcase their Georgian Cup prizes after defeating 

Abuja Rubicon in the final of the 2020 Kaduna International 

Polo Tournament at the Murtala Mohammed 

Square in Kaduna recently. 

Font wants Guardiola 

back at Barcelona 

*Eyes Hernandez as manager 

Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font wants to bring Pep 

Guardiola back to the Camp Nou. 

The Manchester City boss signed a new contract last year, tying him 

down at the Etihad Stadium until 2023. 

However, Font has spoken of his desire to appoint Guardiola to a 

behind-the-scenes role at Barcelona, with Xavi Hernandez his favoured 

choice for the managerial position. 

The Catalan club will hold presidential elections on January 24 

following Josep Maria Bartomeu’s resignation. 

Font is one of several candidates running for the top job at the Camp 

Nou, and his pledge to bring Xavi and Guardiola back to the club has 

won him the support of certain voters. 

“Xavi’s dream is to be a coach. We want Xavi to be the person in 

charge of the football structure,” the presidential hopeful told Marca. 

“He will have enough power to make important decisions. He’s 

clear that his dream is to be a coach, so as soon as the club need him in 

that position, it will happen. 

“We announced a structure based on what was agreed with Xavi. 

Obviously we wouldn’t have done it without his permission. 

“If that had been the case, he would have come out and said it was 

nothing to do with him. All he said was that it didn’t make sense to give 

explicit support to a single candidate. 

Australian Open: Serena, Osaka, 

Nadal, Djokovic warm-up in Adelaide 

Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka will join Rafa 

Nadal and Novak Djokovic in playing a pre-Australian 

Open warm-up exhibition in Adelaide after serving 

their quarantine in the South Australian city, Tennis 

Australia (TA) said on Saturday. 

The “A Day at the Drive” event will take place at the 

city’s Memorial Drive Tennis Centre on January 29, a 

week before the delayed Grand Slam gets underway at 

Melbourne Park. 

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley had 

already flagged that Ash Barty and Simona Halep would 

be among the eight players involved in the exhibition 

with U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem now confirmed 

as the third man. 

Adelaide will also host a WTA tour 500 level event, the 

Adelaide International, in the week after the Australian 

Open as TA look to give players every opportunity to 

compete after travelling Down Under and isolating for 

two weeks. 

“These two tournaments are a real coup for South Australia,” 

state Premier Steven Marshall said in a news 

release. 

“This is a real show of support for the way that South 

Australia has managed the COVID-19 pandemic and underlines 

our ability to attract world-class events.” 

The players will be allowed five hours a day outside 

their hotel rooms to train during their mandatory isolation 

and Tiley told the Tennis Channel that health regulations 

would be the same in Adelaide. 

Don’t make footballers Covid-19 scapegoats, Moyes warns 

Footballers “can get 

things wrong” but 

must not be “picked on” 

despite several breaches 

of coronavirus guidelines, 

says West Ham 

manager David Moyes. 

Hammers midfielder 

Manuel Lanzini was one 

of numerous Premier 

League players to attend 

a party over Christmas. 

More than 60 games in 

England have been called 

off because of coronavirus 

outbreaks at clubs. 

“We have to be careful 

that everybody isn’t picking 

on football players,” 

said Moyes. 

*Guardiola 

“We will all know people 

who have broken the 

rules in their own way. 

“The players have followed 

the protocols. Every 

day at the training 

ground they have to go 

through rituals just to get 

into the building. They 

know what their job is. 

Like most human beings 

at times, they can get 

things wrong.” 

Argentina international 

Lanzini was reminded of 

his responsibilities by the 

club and later apologised 

for his actions on Twitter. 

On Friday, he announced 

he would be donating 

to a local foodbank 

as he wanted “something 

good” to come of his 

actions. 

Moyes praised Lanzini 

for his “really good gesture” 

but does not want to 

see players treated unfairly. 

“If you are going to take 

tough measures on players, 

then you might as well 

take on the government 

people as well who have 

broken the rules because 

it’s certainly not just football 

players who have 

done it,” he said. 

“You have got to be careful. 

A lot of people are 

throwing stones in glass 

houses at the moment re- 

*Moyes 

garding this. We all know 

what the protocols are, we 

all know we have to be 

ever-vigilant and make 

sure we’re doing the right 

things.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 10, 2021 

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.

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